Want proof of a Bush dictatorship? Here ya go!
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, spent hours poring over secret opinions issued by the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) — and he took notes.
Here are a few of the highlights from Thinkprogress.org.
1. An executive order cannot limit a President. There is no constitutional requirement for a President to issue a new executive order whenever he wishes to depart from the terms of a previous executive order. Rather than violate an executive order, the President has instead modified or waived it.
2. The President, exercising his constitutional authority under Article II, can determine whether an action is a lawful exercise of the President’s authority under Article II.
3. The Department of Justice is bound by the President’s legal determinations.
The above are just examples of the way Bush is making up his own rules without regard for the Constitution. Senator Whitehouse is a lawyer, a former U.S. Attorney, a former legal counsel to Rhode Island’s Governor, and a former State Attorney General, so he can recognize when something is legal or not and he was outraged. He made an impassioned speech on the floor of the Senate today. Watch it here.
UPDATE: Here is the text of Senator Whitehouse's speech. Read it, it's very important and then call your Congressperson right now!
Friday, December 07, 2007
Bush Approval Drops Among Military Families
President Bush’s approval rating among Military families has started to slide big time. This is somewhat of an anomaly since military families are usually the most supportive group during wartime. About 6 out of 10 families disapprove of the way Bush is handling the war.
The poll was conducted by the LA Times. More info here.
The poll was conducted by the LA Times. More info here.
Remembering Pearl Harbor - December 7, 1941
It was 66 years ago when the US fleet was devastated by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. That event woke a sleeping public to the reality of war that was already raging in Europe and the Far East. Today a few survivors of that attack will honor their fallen comrades in ceremonies and services around the country.I visited the monument that stands over the watery grave of the battleship Arizona when I was in Hawaii many years ago. It is a sobering sight, the sunken grave of hundreds of service men and women still leaks oil forming a perennial slick on the water above. What I found strange there was in the souvenir shop. They had color booklets of the memorial with archive pictures of the attack. The first one I picked up seemed somewhat strange, and once I looked beyond the compelling photo on the cover, I found I was holding a Japanese translation of the visitor guide. The USS Arizona is a popular attraction for Japanese tourists. They visit the memorial with the same respect and somber mood as that of US tourists. For Japan, Pearl Harbor marked the beginning of a tragic period in their history, just as it was in ours.
Though we dictated the terms of the surrender, both sides in that conflict endured grievous losses and untold pain. WWII was a tragedy for the whole world not just the losing or winning side. Today, Japan is one of our staunchest allies, just as is Germany. I can only hope that someday we have the same relationship with our neighbors in the Middle East. After all, we share the same planet together, and it gets smaller every day.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Hate Crimes Legislation Including Gays & Lesbians Falls By The Wayside
Welcome to the side of the road! If you are a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender American, Congress has just thrown you under the bus. The hate crimes bill which was attached to a military spending bill by Senator Edward Kennedy, failed to garner enough support to pass the House. Though many Democrats were for the bill and even some Republican moderates (if such an animal truly exists) supported the bill, many were worried that voting for it inside a spending bill for the War effort would make them look too hawkish. And so GLBT people once again take a back seat in Congress.
Senate backers of the bill expressed their disappointment at the reluctance in the House but in the end they could do nothing about it. The sad truth is it was the last chance this year to get any meaningful legislation passed to protect GLBT people from hate crimes. Once again GLBT people are second class citizens and once again Congress has shown it has no backbone when it comes to gay issues.
The answer? Elect even more liberal representatives to the House to offset the alleged "moderates" who vote like conservatives. The alternative, moving to Canada, just doesn’t sit well with me, yet.
Senate backers of the bill expressed their disappointment at the reluctance in the House but in the end they could do nothing about it. The sad truth is it was the last chance this year to get any meaningful legislation passed to protect GLBT people from hate crimes. Once again GLBT people are second class citizens and once again Congress has shown it has no backbone when it comes to gay issues.
The answer? Elect even more liberal representatives to the House to offset the alleged "moderates" who vote like conservatives. The alternative, moving to Canada, just doesn’t sit well with me, yet.
CIA Destroys Video Evidence of Torture
The lack of accountability in the Bush administration really seems to grow greater every day. On the latest news that the CIA destroyed videotapes of its, "harsh interrogation" techniques used on two Al Qaeda operatives because the tapes, "could expose agency officials to greater risk of legal jeopardy."
Hell yes it could expose it to legal jeopardy, especially since they were using illegal techniques, otherwise why destroy the tapes. This is beginning to remind me of the films the Nazi’s made documenting their war crimes, never figuring they would ever be called to task for them.
Time for a reckoning for the CIA and the Bush administration. When will impeachment be "back on the table"?
Hell yes it could expose it to legal jeopardy, especially since they were using illegal techniques, otherwise why destroy the tapes. This is beginning to remind me of the films the Nazi’s made documenting their war crimes, never figuring they would ever be called to task for them.
Time for a reckoning for the CIA and the Bush administration. When will impeachment be "back on the table"?
California E-Voting Machines Easy to Hack!
For those still following the E-Voting mess, a group in California managed to crack open Diebold, Sequoia and ES&S voting machines using common office supplies and easily available code cracking technologies. The Red Team researchers proved that electronic voting as it stands now is unreliable and easily tampered with. No surprise there.
Read more about it on ars tehnica.
Read more about it on ars tehnica.
Pharmaceuticals Made in China May Mean Trouble for U.S.
Here’s a cheery holiday note! Seems since so many people have been worried about tainted Chinese goods, they’ve done a little research. A story in the Kansas City Star notes that ingredients in many drugs come from China. With the cheaply manufactured ingredients China has cornered the market on key parts of drugs like cipro and doxycycline both used in the fight against Anthrax and other potential bio-weapons.
More alarming is the fact that Chinese companies produce almost one third of over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen sold in the US. With the kind of quality control found in Chinese toys, and the non-existent regulation for their safety, should we be worried about their drugs? I do.
Now the most interesting thing to me is this. Our government or at least the Bush government has long claimed that we cannot import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada because of the possibility of poor quality or dangerous drugs entering the country. That argument was specious as best and now just sounds silly when major drug companies herein the US are making drugs with dirt cheap Chinese ingredients. Remember all that lack of quality control on their toys? Why should Chinese drug companies be any different. Time for country of origin labeling on every product sold in the US. If you can’t tell where it was made, don’t buy it!
Alarmist? Consider this quote from the story:
More alarming is the fact that Chinese companies produce almost one third of over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen sold in the US. With the kind of quality control found in Chinese toys, and the non-existent regulation for their safety, should we be worried about their drugs? I do.
Now the most interesting thing to me is this. Our government or at least the Bush government has long claimed that we cannot import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada because of the possibility of poor quality or dangerous drugs entering the country. That argument was specious as best and now just sounds silly when major drug companies herein the US are making drugs with dirt cheap Chinese ingredients. Remember all that lack of quality control on their toys? Why should Chinese drug companies be any different. Time for country of origin labeling on every product sold in the US. If you can’t tell where it was made, don’t buy it!
Alarmist? Consider this quote from the story:
The Chinese and Indian companies are all but exempt from oversight by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“Only 13 inspections were conducted in China in 2007,” Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, said at a hearing Nov. 1. “At this rate, it would take the FDA 55 years just to clear this backlog.”
Mall Shooter Sought Fame & Forgiveness
In his suicide note he said he was sorry, but he said so much more. The note made reference to not being a burden to anyone anymore and then the disturbing line, "I have been a piece of shit all my life, now I’ll be famous."
With that the boy, 19 years old, became "the gunman" referred to by the news media. This boy, who had just lost his job at McDonald’s took an SKS assault rifle and went down to the mall. There he began shooting people randomly to achieve his fame. What he left was a tragedy of 9 people dead and many more wounded but I will not use his name, that would bring him the "fame" he wanted.
Whatever went wrong in his life, in his mind and in his character, the story says something about us as well. It says that in our society, we can value fame over life, we can value violence as a way to solve problems and we can express our sorrow for our actions, yet still go on to commit murder. Surprisingly, I don’t find this mind-boggling. I see very clearly how a young man could develop these beliefs.
As a society we endorse killing as a way to stop killing. We do this in our capital murder cases with the death penalty and we do this in our politics with "preemptive wars". As a society we value fame over character. We reward the vapid troubled celebrities like Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears, yet find little compassion for people who work 6 to 7 days a week just to make ends meet in our inner cities. As a society, and particularly in some forms of religion, we value hollow words over actions and character.
I do not excuse what this disturbed man did. It is horrible and tragic for him, his victims and their families. I understand how he could have reached the conclusions he did, and that is what bothers me more. I am disturbed by living in a society where his actions might indeed bring him fame and where others might see him as an example of how they too might achieve it. Fame, or in this case infamy should have less value, but only we can weigh the costs. Only we can change our currency from the gilded shine of celebrity to the solid rock of love and compassion.
With that the boy, 19 years old, became "the gunman" referred to by the news media. This boy, who had just lost his job at McDonald’s took an SKS assault rifle and went down to the mall. There he began shooting people randomly to achieve his fame. What he left was a tragedy of 9 people dead and many more wounded but I will not use his name, that would bring him the "fame" he wanted.
Whatever went wrong in his life, in his mind and in his character, the story says something about us as well. It says that in our society, we can value fame over life, we can value violence as a way to solve problems and we can express our sorrow for our actions, yet still go on to commit murder. Surprisingly, I don’t find this mind-boggling. I see very clearly how a young man could develop these beliefs.
As a society we endorse killing as a way to stop killing. We do this in our capital murder cases with the death penalty and we do this in our politics with "preemptive wars". As a society we value fame over character. We reward the vapid troubled celebrities like Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears, yet find little compassion for people who work 6 to 7 days a week just to make ends meet in our inner cities. As a society, and particularly in some forms of religion, we value hollow words over actions and character.
I do not excuse what this disturbed man did. It is horrible and tragic for him, his victims and their families. I understand how he could have reached the conclusions he did, and that is what bothers me more. I am disturbed by living in a society where his actions might indeed bring him fame and where others might see him as an example of how they too might achieve it. Fame, or in this case infamy should have less value, but only we can weigh the costs. Only we can change our currency from the gilded shine of celebrity to the solid rock of love and compassion.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
White House Reveals Bush Lying Again!
Big news! Bush lied again. This is news? It is when the White House actually comes out and proves he is lying! From ThinkProgress.com comes this stunner.
The White House statement released by Dana Perino tonight also states McConnell told Bush "the new information might cause the intelligence community to change its assessment of Iran’s covert nuclear program."
Now even his own staff is calling his bluff. Come on Congress, impeach this liar and be done with it!
The White House statement released by Dana Perino tonight also states McConnell told Bush "the new information might cause the intelligence community to change its assessment of Iran’s covert nuclear program."
Now even his own staff is calling his bluff. Come on Congress, impeach this liar and be done with it!
35% of Toys On Shelves Have Toxic Levels of Lead!
I am getting tired of the lead paint in toys story, but every day there seems to be another new twist. Today the Michigan-based Ecology Center along with the national Center for Health, Environment and Justice released a study that showed only 20% of the 1200 tested toys showed no trace of lead, and a full 35% had levels over the federal limit. Here’s the alarming part, these toys are still on shelves and no recall has been issued on them.
I suggest if you are buying for a child this Christmas, check out the Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys. (http://www.healthytoys.org) Though there are not many that are not poisoned, there are still a few that pass muster and you can always buy your kids books! (If they are printed in the US or Europe!)
By the way, guess where most toys are made today? China...BINGO! Time for American consumers to insist that the government enforce product safety standards on imported goods.
I suggest if you are buying for a child this Christmas, check out the Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys. (http://www.healthytoys.org) Though there are not many that are not poisoned, there are still a few that pass muster and you can always buy your kids books! (If they are printed in the US or Europe!)
By the way, guess where most toys are made today? China...BINGO! Time for American consumers to insist that the government enforce product safety standards on imported goods.
Fred Thompson on the NIE - "It's a Conspiracy!"
So Fred Thompson, the great white hope of the GOP has now officially joined the ranks of the conspiracy wackos. His take on the recent NIE announcement that Iran stopped its nuclear weapons development program back in 2003? Conspiracy!
He somehow figures that it was just too convenient for the report to be issued when in his words, "…the administration gets to say its policies worked; the Democrats get to claim we should have eased up on Iran a long time ago: and Russia and China can claim sanctions on Iran are not necessary. Who benefits from all this? Iran."
So Iran is somehow behind the report from our own intelligence agencies! Puleeeze! Thompson is living proof that the delusional can rise to high status and that anyone, absolutely anyone can run for President!
He somehow figures that it was just too convenient for the report to be issued when in his words, "…the administration gets to say its policies worked; the Democrats get to claim we should have eased up on Iran a long time ago: and Russia and China can claim sanctions on Iran are not necessary. Who benefits from all this? Iran."
So Iran is somehow behind the report from our own intelligence agencies! Puleeeze! Thompson is living proof that the delusional can rise to high status and that anyone, absolutely anyone can run for President!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
America's First Gay Ambassador Resigns
Back in 2001 when Bush appointed Michael Guest as ambassador to Romania I had hopes that things were changing. At that time when he was confirmed, then Secretary of State Colin Powel even recognized Guest’s partner, Alex Nevarez, during the swearing-in ceremony. Guest was the first openly gay ambassador appointed by the Bush administration. It was a landmark event.
Today that auspicious beginning comes to an inauspicious close. Michael Guest resigned because of the State Department’s failure to treat the partners of gay and lesbian foreign service officers the same as the spouses of heterosexual officers. In his words he publicly lambastes the State Department and its leadership.
"For the past three years, I’ve urged the Secretary and her senior management team to redress policies that discriminate against gay and lesbian employees. Absolutely nothing has resulted from this. And so I’ve felt compelled to choose between obligations to my partner — who is my family — and service to my country. That anyone should have to make that choice is a stain on the Secretary’s leadership and a shame for this institution and our country."
Today that auspicious beginning comes to an inauspicious close. Michael Guest resigned because of the State Department’s failure to treat the partners of gay and lesbian foreign service officers the same as the spouses of heterosexual officers. In his words he publicly lambastes the State Department and its leadership.
"For the past three years, I’ve urged the Secretary and her senior management team to redress policies that discriminate against gay and lesbian employees. Absolutely nothing has resulted from this. And so I’ve felt compelled to choose between obligations to my partner — who is my family — and service to my country. That anyone should have to make that choice is a stain on the Secretary’s leadership and a shame for this institution and our country."
Monday, December 03, 2007
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
December 17, 2007 7:00-8:30pm at Charis Books and More(1189 Euclid Ave NE in the Little Five Points Business District in Atlanta, GA)December 17th is the 5th annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. This event was created to call attention to hate crimes committed against sex workers all over the globe. Please join us as we celebrate this important day of action with a sex worker open mic, a few brief video screenings and inspiring conversation on the movement for sex workers rights, dignity and de-criminalization!
This event is free and open to everyone, however to participate as a performer in the open mic, the organizers request that you be a current or former sex worker. For more information, please visit: http://www.myspace.com/redumbrellaatlanta
Danny Glover - Rescue the Constitution
This one speaks for itself. Unfortunately, FOX refuses to run it.
Kellie Picker - Proof The Some Stereotypes Are Based In Fact
OK, all my feminist friends will kill me for this, but I had to post this because it is absolutely unbelievable. Kellie Picker, who I Googled and found out was a recording artist, appeared recently on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader". Here is a spoiler...she isn't! This has to be an act because nobody is this clueless!
Wolfowitz Is Back! Now WMD Intelligence Czar
Sometimes the old adage about the bad penny rings true. Take that perennial bad penny Paul Wolfowitz. He left the Bush administration much to the relief of many and ended up at the World Bank. There he became the center of a scandal and was forced to leave. And now, guess what? Back in the Bush administration.
I guess with the Bush folks, there is no such thing as burning a bridge, as long as you are loyal to our glorious leader. Wolfowitz is loyal. So, Bush created a new position that will not require Senate approval, and bingo, Wolfie is back!
The revolving door for criminals and cronies at the White House is a disgrace, but the Congress apparently has no problem with it. Write your Congressperson and let them know what is going on, I suspect they are living in an alternate reality and haven’t got a clue.
What's worse is the position he is in. Head of intelligence for WMD! If you recall he was deeply involved in the pumped up claims of Saddam's WMDs in the lead up to the war. Go figure?
I guess with the Bush folks, there is no such thing as burning a bridge, as long as you are loyal to our glorious leader. Wolfowitz is loyal. So, Bush created a new position that will not require Senate approval, and bingo, Wolfie is back!
The revolving door for criminals and cronies at the White House is a disgrace, but the Congress apparently has no problem with it. Write your Congressperson and let them know what is going on, I suspect they are living in an alternate reality and haven’t got a clue.
What's worse is the position he is in. Head of intelligence for WMD! If you recall he was deeply involved in the pumped up claims of Saddam's WMDs in the lead up to the war. Go figure?
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Texas Legislators Defrauding Votes in the Texas Legislature
State Representatives have been voting for each other using the push button system in the Texas Legislature. Crookedness knows no boundries especially in Texas!
12% of Iraq Police Can't Read - Time To Party!
Glad to see our training has paid off in Iraq. Got this video from an Iraqi blogger who is frustrated by the unprofessional attitudes of the Iraqi police. He said in a recent report released by the Iraq government that a full 12% of the police force is illiterate. How can they check ID's if they can't read.
Enjoy the party!
Enjoy the party!
GOP - Gay Old Party? More Larry Craig Encounters.
At least four more men have come forward and are willing to put their names in print as having had "encounters" with Sen. Craig. Add this to the growing rumors about Trent Lott and the previously outed Republicans and you have to wonder if the GOP is not the party of choice for closeted gay men?
I would be willing to say that if you hear a Republican loudly arguing against gay rights, there is a good chance he is a closeted queer. (I use the term queer not as an epithet, just for your politically correct folks.) Me thinks they protesteth too much!
I would be willing to say that if you hear a Republican loudly arguing against gay rights, there is a good chance he is a closeted queer. (I use the term queer not as an epithet, just for your politically correct folks.) Me thinks they protesteth too much!
Bush Claims Records of Abramoff's Visits Are State Secrets
Shhh! It’s a secret. At least that is the word from the Bush administration. Records that might show how many times Jack Abramoff visited the White House are being withheld because according to White House lawyers, "the Secret Service has identified a category of highly sensitive documents that might contain information sought in a lawsuit about Abramoff’s trips to the White House."
Bush is playing the national security card again, and I feel he is over playing his hand. The tired lie that everything that happens in the White House if directly involved in the nation’s security is not working. The White House is the nation’s house, the presidency is our realm, we in a democracy decide what and who is welcome there. It’s time the people spoke and turned the current residents of our house out!
Bush is playing the national security card again, and I feel he is over playing his hand. The tired lie that everything that happens in the White House if directly involved in the nation’s security is not working. The White House is the nation’s house, the presidency is our realm, we in a democracy decide what and who is welcome there. It’s time the people spoke and turned the current residents of our house out!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Michigan Loses Its Delegates To Democratic Convention
Another state has lost its delegates to the Democratic Convention. This time it’s Michigan because of moving their primary too early in violation of rules. In addition to having their delegates stripped, these states will see no campaigning by Democratic hopefuls. Candidates have pledged to only campaign in states that abide by party rules.
More on this at Raw Story!
More on this at Raw Story!
I-35 Is God's Highway? Pat Robertson - Still Crazy After All These Years
This clip from the 700 Club is about a wacky as it gets. As a Christian, I find this kind of simplistic brain dead theology offensive. As a gay man, I find it obscene...but it's still somewhat amusing.
World AIDS Day - Always A Good Time To Remember
On World AIDS day I find myself becoming bit maudlin as I searched the Names Project Quilt online. Finding far too many panels that bore the names of friends I finally decided to just log off and write.I listened to an interview this morning on CNN with a leader in the African American community talk about how it was time that the black churches in America came forward to help stop the spread of AIDS. I found myself talking to the TV saying that, "20 years ago was the time ALL churches came forward to stop the spread of AIDS." And the story was followed by our glorious leader lying about how well abstinence programs are working.
Sometimes I think we live in some sort of alternate universe? Instead of kicking in the TV, I decided it would be better if I continued to work on behalf of people living with AIDS and continue to try educating my community about safer sex. It might not be as dramatic as putting my foot through the TV, but it just might save a life.
The quilt panel here was for John Thomas, a friend and tireless AIDS activist. God blessed us with his presence.
Bush Uses Another Signing Statement To Circumvent The Law
So our glorious leader has once again used a signing statement, a dubiously legal trick, to assert that he will not obey 11 provisions in the Military Appropriations Bill he signed yesterday. In a typical Friday news-dump, he quietly added the "signing statement" to the bill.As this president continues to add up these signing statements, which claim executive power over the law of the land, he again breaks the record of any other president in their use. Bush has enacted a de facto dictatorship and Congress is silent. Why? That is the $64,000 question.
Write your Congressperson and ask that question. Of course you may not get an answer unless you include the $64,000. The sad truth is that our government is run by the Golden Rule. He who has the most gold, rules!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Updated List of Toys & Products With Lead Paint - Merry Christmas!
Here is the Consumer Product Safety Commissions latest list of lead related recalls:
Children's Metal Jewelry Recalled by Buy-Rite Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Cherrydale Fundraising Recalls Bracelets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Children’s Metal Jewelry Recalled by Colossal Jewelry & Accessories Due to Risk of Lead Exposure La Femme NY Inc. Recalls Children’s Necklace and Earring Sets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Pure Allure Recalls Metal Jewelry Sold at Michaels Stores Due to Risk of Lead Exposure to Children Metal Jewelry Sold by Family Dollar Stores Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure to Children Dollar Tree Stores Inc. Recalls Children's Jewelry Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Children's Metal Jewelry Recalled By WeGlow International Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Bendable Dinosaur Toys Recalled by Kipp Brothers for Excessive Lead Key Chains Recalled by Dollar General Due to Risk of Lead Exposure TOBY N.Y.C. Expands Children’s Metal Jewelry Recall Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Children’s Spinning Wheel-Metal Necklaces Recalled By Rhode Island Novelty Due to Risk of Lead Exposure
Lead Paint Slipcovers Used With Boppy Pillows Recalled Due to Choking Hazard and Risk of Lead Exposure Children’s Pencil Pouches Recalled by Raymond Geddes & Co. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Discount School Supply Recalls Paint Brushes Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Hobby Lobby Stores Recalls Halloween-Themed Baskets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Children's Sunglasses Recalled by Dollar General Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Curious George Plush Dolls Recalled By Marvel Toys Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Schylling Associates Recalls Collectable Toy Robot Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard Schylling Associates Recalls Dizzy Ducks Music Box Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard Additional Spinning Top Recalled by Schylling Associates Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard Schylling Associates Recalls Duck Family Collectable Toy Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard Toy Cars Recalled by Dollar General Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) International Sourcing Ltd. Recalls Toy Dragster and Funny Car Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Northern Tool & Equipment Recalls “Big Red” Wagons Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Toy Figures Recalled by Henry Gordy International Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Halloween "Ugly Teeth" Recalled By Amscan Inc. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Pearl-like Bead Attachment Sold with Girl’s Gift Sets Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard; Sold exclusively at Limited Too Stores Toys "R" Us Recalls Elite Operations Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard SimplyFun Recalls Ribbit Board Games Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Family Dollar Stores Recalls Halloween Pails Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard DecoPac Inc. Recalls Football Bobble Head Cake Decorations Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Jo-Ann Stores Expands Recall of Children's Toy Garden Tools Due to Violation of Lead in Paint Standard Fisher Price Recalls Go Diego Go Boat Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Albert's Recalls Halloween Skull Pails Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Antioch Publishing Recalls Additional Bookmarks Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Guidecraft Inc. Recalls Children’s Puppet Theaters Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard J.C. Penney Recalls Breyer Stirrup Ornaments Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard J.C. Penney Recalls Deluxe Art Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard J.C. Penney Recalls Disney™ Winnie-the-Pooh Play Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® Recalls Travel Art Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Riddell Recalls Collectible Mini Racing Helmets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Kahoot Products Inc. Recalls Cub Scouts Totem Badges Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Sports Authority Recalls Aluminum Water Bottles Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Antioch Publishing Recalls Bookmarks and Journals Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard CKI Recalls Children’s Decorating Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard; Sold Exclusively at Toys “R” Us Dollar General Recalls Tumblers Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Eveready Battery Co. Recalls Toy Flashlights Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Kids II Recalls Baby Einstein Color Blocks Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard KB Toys Recalls Wooden Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Guidecraft Inc. Recalls Children’s Puppet Theaters Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Children’s Toy Rakes Sold Exclusively at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Recalled Due to Violation of Lead in Paint Standard RC2 Recalls Knights of the Sword Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Target Recalls Children’s Toy Gardening Tools and Chairs Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) RC2 Corp. Recalls Additional Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Fisher-Price Recalls Bongo Band Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Fisher-Price Recalls Geo Trax Locomotive Toys Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Mattel Recalls Various Barbie® Accessory Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español)
Seem like a lot? You bet and this is only the recent stuff. Our friendly trading partner China makes almost all this stuff and obviously has absolutely no safety enforcement. The reason? Profit!
Eventually, we as American Citizens will become weary of having our children poisoned by cheap unsafe goods and will be willing to pay higher prices for toys made with safe materials, maybe even in the good old USA?
Children's Metal Jewelry Recalled by Buy-Rite Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Cherrydale Fundraising Recalls Bracelets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Children’s Metal Jewelry Recalled by Colossal Jewelry & Accessories Due to Risk of Lead Exposure La Femme NY Inc. Recalls Children’s Necklace and Earring Sets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Pure Allure Recalls Metal Jewelry Sold at Michaels Stores Due to Risk of Lead Exposure to Children Metal Jewelry Sold by Family Dollar Stores Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure to Children Dollar Tree Stores Inc. Recalls Children's Jewelry Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Children's Metal Jewelry Recalled By WeGlow International Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Bendable Dinosaur Toys Recalled by Kipp Brothers for Excessive Lead Key Chains Recalled by Dollar General Due to Risk of Lead Exposure TOBY N.Y.C. Expands Children’s Metal Jewelry Recall Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Children’s Spinning Wheel-Metal Necklaces Recalled By Rhode Island Novelty Due to Risk of Lead Exposure
Lead Paint Slipcovers Used With Boppy Pillows Recalled Due to Choking Hazard and Risk of Lead Exposure Children’s Pencil Pouches Recalled by Raymond Geddes & Co. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Discount School Supply Recalls Paint Brushes Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Hobby Lobby Stores Recalls Halloween-Themed Baskets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Children's Sunglasses Recalled by Dollar General Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Curious George Plush Dolls Recalled By Marvel Toys Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Schylling Associates Recalls Collectable Toy Robot Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard Schylling Associates Recalls Dizzy Ducks Music Box Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard Additional Spinning Top Recalled by Schylling Associates Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard Schylling Associates Recalls Duck Family Collectable Toy Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard Toy Cars Recalled by Dollar General Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) International Sourcing Ltd. Recalls Toy Dragster and Funny Car Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Northern Tool & Equipment Recalls “Big Red” Wagons Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Toy Figures Recalled by Henry Gordy International Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Halloween "Ugly Teeth" Recalled By Amscan Inc. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Pearl-like Bead Attachment Sold with Girl’s Gift Sets Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard; Sold exclusively at Limited Too Stores Toys "R" Us Recalls Elite Operations Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard SimplyFun Recalls Ribbit Board Games Due to Risk of Lead Exposure Family Dollar Stores Recalls Halloween Pails Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard DecoPac Inc. Recalls Football Bobble Head Cake Decorations Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Jo-Ann Stores Expands Recall of Children's Toy Garden Tools Due to Violation of Lead in Paint Standard Fisher Price Recalls Go Diego Go Boat Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Albert's Recalls Halloween Skull Pails Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Antioch Publishing Recalls Additional Bookmarks Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Guidecraft Inc. Recalls Children’s Puppet Theaters Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard J.C. Penney Recalls Breyer Stirrup Ornaments Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard J.C. Penney Recalls Deluxe Art Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard J.C. Penney Recalls Disney™ Winnie-the-Pooh Play Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® Recalls Travel Art Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Riddell Recalls Collectible Mini Racing Helmets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Kahoot Products Inc. Recalls Cub Scouts Totem Badges Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Sports Authority Recalls Aluminum Water Bottles Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Antioch Publishing Recalls Bookmarks and Journals Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard CKI Recalls Children’s Decorating Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard; Sold Exclusively at Toys “R” Us Dollar General Recalls Tumblers Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Eveready Battery Co. Recalls Toy Flashlights Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Kids II Recalls Baby Einstein Color Blocks Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard KB Toys Recalls Wooden Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Guidecraft Inc. Recalls Children’s Puppet Theaters Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Children’s Toy Rakes Sold Exclusively at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Recalled Due to Violation of Lead in Paint Standard RC2 Recalls Knights of the Sword Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Target Recalls Children’s Toy Gardening Tools and Chairs Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) RC2 Corp. Recalls Additional Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Fisher-Price Recalls Bongo Band Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Fisher-Price Recalls Geo Trax Locomotive Toys Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español) Mattel Recalls Various Barbie® Accessory Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Español)
Seem like a lot? You bet and this is only the recent stuff. Our friendly trading partner China makes almost all this stuff and obviously has absolutely no safety enforcement. The reason? Profit!
Eventually, we as American Citizens will become weary of having our children poisoned by cheap unsafe goods and will be willing to pay higher prices for toys made with safe materials, maybe even in the good old USA?
Curious George Plush Toy - Recalled For Lead Poisoning Hazard
Curious George! Damn, now even one of my favorite kids characters is contaminated with lead paint! Marvel Toys issued a quiet recall on Curious George plush toys because of unsafe levels of lead paint on the hat and other details of the dolls. The mischievous monkey has long been a children’s favorite and a perennial toy favorite as well.
This recall, issued on the 9th of this month adds another unsafe Chinese toy to the extensive list of unsafe and poisoned toys from Asia. I have to wonder when toy brands will finally look at their bottom line and stop making toys in countries where there is no enforcement of safety regulations? Oh yes, they won’t until people stop buying their products. See the connection here?
This recall, issued on the 9th of this month adds another unsafe Chinese toy to the extensive list of unsafe and poisoned toys from Asia. I have to wonder when toy brands will finally look at their bottom line and stop making toys in countries where there is no enforcement of safety regulations? Oh yes, they won’t until people stop buying their products. See the connection here?
Video Thursday! Mike Gravel's Groovy Music Video!
Mike Gravel is kinda kooky, but he knows it and he is unashamedly kooky and that counts for something. Watch this new video by Mike on YouTube:
Huckabee Talks To God On Cell Phone - God Loves Bush!
It sometimes amazes me the insanity that passes for both politics and religion in this country!
GOP Candidates Insult Openly Gay General During Debate
This question shows the problem the GOP has with anything remotely relating to GLBT Americans. It made me uncomfortable to watch it, not because of the subject matter, but because of the amazing hubris shown by the candidates as they talked around the issue and openly insulted the Brigadier General asking the question about gays in the military.
Read the whole story on www.pageoneq.com.
Read the whole story on www.pageoneq.com.
Personal Rant - Death of Customer Service & Brand Name Quality
I am convinced that the first time I ever said the words, "when I was a kid" in response to some modern day dilemma I officially became a fossil. Well that right of passage happened to me back when I was only in my 20’s so I guess now I am a full-fledged geezer! The latest "geezer moment" happened today while taking my laptop back to Micro Center for the second time to get the same problem fixed. First a little background.
I bought a brand new laptop from Micro Center back a bout 5 months ago. It was an HP, and I made the mistaken assumption that a major brand might be slightly better than an off brand unit. The thing began going on the fritz a few weeks ago and I called the friendly folks in India, where HP phone lines lead, to get assistance. Somewhere in Bangalore, a friendly woman who spoke broken English asked me a battery of questions for personal information and then transferred me to someone in the US who got none of the info I had given previously. He told me that the India folks never forward the information correctly, so I answered the battery of questions again.
Finally I got down to the problem, which he promptly told me was a virus. He said that even though I had the latest updates for my virus protection it must have gotten through and I had to reformat my hard drive. To do this HP has a secondary drive in the laptop…however, this did not work as described, prompting another call to Bangalore and then back to the US. This time the tech person sold me a backup disk, since one was not supplied. $35 later I had a disk being shipped to me.
I re-imaged the hard drive according to instructions and within 3 hours the computer froze again. Off to Micro Center to have their folks look at it, after all I bought a $300 Gold Protection plan, why not use it?
There I was greeted by a guy who took very poor notes about the problem and told me a technician would call me. He did and said it was a software problem, they re-imaged the disk, $75 charge not covered by the Gold Plan. I came back to pick up the computer and asked if they had run it for a while to be sure it was not a hardware problem. They said the diagnostic showed it was OK, a clever way of not really answering the question. Finally after I assured them I would be very unhappy should it crash again, they agreed to keep it a few days and "stress test" it.
I picked it up yesterday and promptly went home to reinstall all my programs. This morning it locked up exactly as before and I returned to Micro Center…and as promised, I was not happy! After explaining the problem again and showing them a picture of the screen when it crashed (I love camera phones), they took it back to a technician. After a few minutes they returned and said that it was indeed a hardware problem.
Now comes the geezer part. When I was younger, stores prided themselves on customer service. Some places would even just replace the product the minute they understood you were having trouble with it. They made the customer feel like you were valued and a genuine human being to be respected and catered to. Boy do I feel old.
The experience with Micro Center and HP has shown me that I am no longer a valued customer, just another sheep to be sheered. I am a number on a profit and loss page and unless I become too much of a liability, I will be dealt with in the most efficient manner possible for the company. With the exception of the last customer service person I spoke with, everyone treated me like I was incompetent, stupid or just another warm body. I was not listened to, I was not treated with respect that I think should be due to every customer and I was not impressed.
UPDATE: Well MicroCenter has made good on their warranty and they replaced my computer with a comparable one. Problem was it was an HP and when I got it home I found the wireless LAN card was defective! Sooo...I took it back and exchanged it for a Toshiba. No more HP for me. The MicroCenter Manager was very understanding and he listened to me (a good thing). He gave me a store credit on the difference in the Toshiba price and the HP and won me over.
I have to retract my rant about MicroCenter, at least as far as their manager in Dallas is concerned. Now about HP? Well still haven't heard from them from my first service case. I guess Bangalore is too far to really care about my "computer being personal again."
I bought a brand new laptop from Micro Center back a bout 5 months ago. It was an HP, and I made the mistaken assumption that a major brand might be slightly better than an off brand unit. The thing began going on the fritz a few weeks ago and I called the friendly folks in India, where HP phone lines lead, to get assistance. Somewhere in Bangalore, a friendly woman who spoke broken English asked me a battery of questions for personal information and then transferred me to someone in the US who got none of the info I had given previously. He told me that the India folks never forward the information correctly, so I answered the battery of questions again.
Finally I got down to the problem, which he promptly told me was a virus. He said that even though I had the latest updates for my virus protection it must have gotten through and I had to reformat my hard drive. To do this HP has a secondary drive in the laptop…however, this did not work as described, prompting another call to Bangalore and then back to the US. This time the tech person sold me a backup disk, since one was not supplied. $35 later I had a disk being shipped to me.
I re-imaged the hard drive according to instructions and within 3 hours the computer froze again. Off to Micro Center to have their folks look at it, after all I bought a $300 Gold Protection plan, why not use it?
There I was greeted by a guy who took very poor notes about the problem and told me a technician would call me. He did and said it was a software problem, they re-imaged the disk, $75 charge not covered by the Gold Plan. I came back to pick up the computer and asked if they had run it for a while to be sure it was not a hardware problem. They said the diagnostic showed it was OK, a clever way of not really answering the question. Finally after I assured them I would be very unhappy should it crash again, they agreed to keep it a few days and "stress test" it.
I picked it up yesterday and promptly went home to reinstall all my programs. This morning it locked up exactly as before and I returned to Micro Center…and as promised, I was not happy! After explaining the problem again and showing them a picture of the screen when it crashed (I love camera phones), they took it back to a technician. After a few minutes they returned and said that it was indeed a hardware problem.
Now comes the geezer part. When I was younger, stores prided themselves on customer service. Some places would even just replace the product the minute they understood you were having trouble with it. They made the customer feel like you were valued and a genuine human being to be respected and catered to. Boy do I feel old.
The experience with Micro Center and HP has shown me that I am no longer a valued customer, just another sheep to be sheered. I am a number on a profit and loss page and unless I become too much of a liability, I will be dealt with in the most efficient manner possible for the company. With the exception of the last customer service person I spoke with, everyone treated me like I was incompetent, stupid or just another warm body. I was not listened to, I was not treated with respect that I think should be due to every customer and I was not impressed.
UPDATE: Well MicroCenter has made good on their warranty and they replaced my computer with a comparable one. Problem was it was an HP and when I got it home I found the wireless LAN card was defective! Sooo...I took it back and exchanged it for a Toshiba. No more HP for me. The MicroCenter Manager was very understanding and he listened to me (a good thing). He gave me a store credit on the difference in the Toshiba price and the HP and won me over.
I have to retract my rant about MicroCenter, at least as far as their manager in Dallas is concerned. Now about HP? Well still haven't heard from them from my first service case. I guess Bangalore is too far to really care about my "computer being personal again."
Buyer Beware - Texas Legislature Has Gutted Consumer Protections
In the wake of the recent flood of defective and poisoned Chincese products being sold in the US, I was reading a few comments in local papers about consumers experiences with them. What I found in Houston was pretty disturbing. A lawyer wrote to the Chronicle regarding a client who had come to him seeking redress for a defective toy.
It seems this toy pinched the finger of her child and it was amputated as a reslt. The pinching hazard is something that is a recognized problem and is regulated here in the US. The toy was branded by a US company and sold in a US store. The problem was hat the toy was manufactured in China. Here in the Great State of Texas, our legislature, a governing body hat is completely in the pocket of corporate lobbyists, passed a law back in 2003 (H.B.4) that limits liability for sellers and companies here in Texas. In his letter Randal Roberts explains.
“Unfortunately, the toy set was manufactured in China. I had to explain to this mother that in the name of protecting the "innocent retailer," the Texas Legislature in 2003 granted immunity to every business that had profited from the sale of this unsafe product, except for the shop somewhere in China that actually made this toy set. Sellers, even the largest national retailers, distributors, wholesalers and importers, have no liability for the harm caused by the products they sell in Texas. They cannot be held accountable, so long as they can identify the "responsible" manufacturer in court.”
Under the disguise of helping to protect “mom and Pop” stores, the real agenda funded by national retailers protects the deep pockets of Wal-Marts and others. Once again proving that our laws and our lawmakers are employees of big business and not public servants. It’s time to change that.
It seems this toy pinched the finger of her child and it was amputated as a reslt. The pinching hazard is something that is a recognized problem and is regulated here in the US. The toy was branded by a US company and sold in a US store. The problem was hat the toy was manufactured in China. Here in the Great State of Texas, our legislature, a governing body hat is completely in the pocket of corporate lobbyists, passed a law back in 2003 (H.B.4) that limits liability for sellers and companies here in Texas. In his letter Randal Roberts explains.
“Unfortunately, the toy set was manufactured in China. I had to explain to this mother that in the name of protecting the "innocent retailer," the Texas Legislature in 2003 granted immunity to every business that had profited from the sale of this unsafe product, except for the shop somewhere in China that actually made this toy set. Sellers, even the largest national retailers, distributors, wholesalers and importers, have no liability for the harm caused by the products they sell in Texas. They cannot be held accountable, so long as they can identify the "responsible" manufacturer in court.”
Under the disguise of helping to protect “mom and Pop” stores, the real agenda funded by national retailers protects the deep pockets of Wal-Marts and others. Once again proving that our laws and our lawmakers are employees of big business and not public servants. It’s time to change that.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
More Cheney Predictions - Dubai?
Back in March, Halliburton moved its corporate headquarters to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Around that same time I made the prediction that Dick Cheney would soon resign and move there to be closer to his money. Well I was wrong. Cheney has refused to follow my prediction, so I will have to revise it I guess.
I still believe he will resign before the end of his term and move to Dubai. It just my take longer than I figured. Still the latest news of his heart problems leads me to believe his cover story of a bad heart will still work for the ploy to put possible Republican Presidential candidate in the VP seat for the incumbent boost.
Again, revising my prediction, McCain, who is no longer much of a candidate won’t get the VP prize. I suspect it may be someone trusted like Condi Rice, who would be a valuable part of a GOP ticket should she accept a VP seat. Stay tuned!
I still believe he will resign before the end of his term and move to Dubai. It just my take longer than I figured. Still the latest news of his heart problems leads me to believe his cover story of a bad heart will still work for the ploy to put possible Republican Presidential candidate in the VP seat for the incumbent boost.
Again, revising my prediction, McCain, who is no longer much of a candidate won’t get the VP prize. I suspect it may be someone trusted like Condi Rice, who would be a valuable part of a GOP ticket should she accept a VP seat. Stay tuned!
RNC Out Quarter Of A Million To Recover Rove Email
As the RNC struggles to recover the lost email that was destroyed by Karl Rove they have had to hire former FBI agents to do it. Rove apparently destroyed extensive records before leaving and now since those records are under investigation by Congress, the RNC has to get them back.
The price tag for the electronic archeology so far, $250,000. Sounds like things re starting to get expensive for the RNC, and maybe, just maybe these emails will hold the smoking gun that can finally get Rove, Bush and the rest of the criminals brought to justice.
The price tag for the electronic archeology so far, $250,000. Sounds like things re starting to get expensive for the RNC, and maybe, just maybe these emails will hold the smoking gun that can finally get Rove, Bush and the rest of the criminals brought to justice.
Ashcroft Defends Waterboarding - Would Undergo It Himself!
The part time crooner and former Attorney General John Ashcroft is going around the country defending Waterboarding and other torture used by the US. In a recent speech at the University of Colorado he even intimated he would be willing to undergo it himself.
I would like to formally offer to help Mr. Ashcroft out and do the procedure myself to him. I have experience with it since I have used it in interrogations in dungeon setting. Of course I give anyone I play with "safe word" to stop the procedure at any time. I suspect our interrogators don’t use such safe sane and consensual rules.
So what about it John?
I would like to formally offer to help Mr. Ashcroft out and do the procedure myself to him. I have experience with it since I have used it in interrogations in dungeon setting. Of course I give anyone I play with "safe word" to stop the procedure at any time. I suspect our interrogators don’t use such safe sane and consensual rules.
So what about it John?
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Trent Lott Gay Sex Rumors?
The Trent Lott gay sex scandal rumors have taken on a life of their own. The DC blog, BigHeadDC has published what it claims are emails from the escort who is the alleged liaison of Sen. Lott. They are well parsed and worded to really make me wonder. Additionally, why would someone make this stuff up when there is already plenty of scandal spinning around Trent Lott. Of course the hints from Larry Flynt that he has a bombshell of a sex scandal coming may also be what is fueling these rumors. Your decide!
Lott Retirement May Be Scandal Related After All!
According to the American Spectator, a right wing magazine, Trent Lott might be retiring for other reasons than previously stated.
"Lott, Stevens, as well as Rep. Dennis Hastert all have ties to Bill Allen, a larger than life Alaskan businessman who owned Veco, an oil-field services company, and who was a huge benefactor of Republican politicians."
So I stand corrected, perhaps. I assumed Lott was getting out while the revolving door to Lobbyland was still working, however the real reason may be preparing his defense team. Durn I love the smell of scandal in time for the holidays!
UPDATE: In the probably not true department, Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler, says this about Lott's hasty departure:
"HUSTLER Magazine has received numerous inquiries regarding the involvement of Larry Flynt and HUSTLER in the resignation of Trent Lott. Senator Lott has been the target of an ongoing HUSTLER investigation for some time now, due to confidential information that we have received."
"Lott, Stevens, as well as Rep. Dennis Hastert all have ties to Bill Allen, a larger than life Alaskan businessman who owned Veco, an oil-field services company, and who was a huge benefactor of Republican politicians."
So I stand corrected, perhaps. I assumed Lott was getting out while the revolving door to Lobbyland was still working, however the real reason may be preparing his defense team. Durn I love the smell of scandal in time for the holidays!
UPDATE: In the probably not true department, Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler, says this about Lott's hasty departure:
"HUSTLER Magazine has received numerous inquiries regarding the involvement of Larry Flynt and HUSTLER in the resignation of Trent Lott. Senator Lott has been the target of an ongoing HUSTLER investigation for some time now, due to confidential information that we have received."
Big Red Wagons - Tinted With Lead Paint
Now another icon of American childhood falls victim to the Chinese lead paint fiasco. The "Big Red Wagon" from Northern Tool has been recalled just in time for Christmas. The classic wagon, very much resembling the Radio Flyer wagons has excessive levels of lead paint.
Check the recall notice in the link above. And have a Merry Lead-free Christmas!
Check the recall notice in the link above. And have a Merry Lead-free Christmas!
GOP Resignations & The Revolving Door of Lobbyists
With the announcement of Trent Lott’s resignation following that of Dennis Hastert and other GOP faithful, I began wondering what caused the wave of exits. Thanks to my friends at ThinkProgress.org, I have found a possible explanation. New rules go into effect after the first of the year making the revolving door between elected office and paid lobbyist more problematic. In order to skirt those new ethics regulations, the rats are jumping ship early to settle comfortably into lobbyist jobs.
I guess the old excuse "spend more time with my family" will now mean, "get rich as a lobbyist" instead of "I am preparing my defense team". So once again the GOP shows it’s true color, green - the color of money. I have no problem with money, but I do have a problem with the bloated and corrupt lobby system on Capitol Hill and the endless stream of ex-Republican officials that occupy those offices over on K Street.
Next time you hear of an elected official retiring early, give them a call and ask them which lobby firm they are going to work for.
I guess the old excuse "spend more time with my family" will now mean, "get rich as a lobbyist" instead of "I am preparing my defense team". So once again the GOP shows it’s true color, green - the color of money. I have no problem with money, but I do have a problem with the bloated and corrupt lobby system on Capitol Hill and the endless stream of ex-Republican officials that occupy those offices over on K Street.
Next time you hear of an elected official retiring early, give them a call and ask them which lobby firm they are going to work for.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Dick Cheney's Heart and Other Fictional Creatures
At the risk of being somewhat of a conspiracy nut, I think you might find some interesting stuff in todys news about our real president Dick Cheney.
In a recent Fortune magazine interview, Dick Cheney conceded that as Halliburton CEO he opposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, even though he now strongly supports them. IN fact his company, Halliburton set up an offshore subsidiary in order to circumvent the law prohibiting doing business with "Rogue Nations", as in Iran!
Now comes the news that Dick has an irregular heartbeat. No surprise there since he has a history of heart problems. I predict he will decide to resign this year because of health reasons, opening the VP position to the GOP front runner or whoever made a backroom deal with Bush. He will need a friend in the VP seat when he is impeached so he can be pardoned.
In a recent Fortune magazine interview, Dick Cheney conceded that as Halliburton CEO he opposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, even though he now strongly supports them. IN fact his company, Halliburton set up an offshore subsidiary in order to circumvent the law prohibiting doing business with "Rogue Nations", as in Iran!
Now comes the news that Dick has an irregular heartbeat. No surprise there since he has a history of heart problems. I predict he will decide to resign this year because of health reasons, opening the VP position to the GOP front runner or whoever made a backroom deal with Bush. He will need a friend in the VP seat when he is impeached so he can be pardoned.
Trent Lott To Resign
Trent Lott (R-MS) is resigning. What does that mean for America? Well it’s one less voice of bigotry and intolerance in the Senate. Lott was forced to step down as Senate Majority Leader back in 2002 when he praised Strom Thurmond at his 100th birthday with a comment that had Thurmond been elected President when he made his unsuccessful bid, the country "wouldn’t have all these problems." It was a not so veiled remark about segregation and nobody was fooled.
Lott stepping down before the end of the year will trigger a special election in Mississippi, and though that may or may not change the party affiliation of the seat, I suspect it will give us a glimpse into the inner thoughts of Mississippi’s political views.
I have a dear friend whose family is from Mississippi, and he remarked to me several months ago that his mother, who had long been a staunch Republican had taken to referring to the President as that "Bastard in the White House". Apparently the Deep South can change.
Lott stepping down before the end of the year will trigger a special election in Mississippi, and though that may or may not change the party affiliation of the seat, I suspect it will give us a glimpse into the inner thoughts of Mississippi’s political views.
I have a dear friend whose family is from Mississippi, and he remarked to me several months ago that his mother, who had long been a staunch Republican had taken to referring to the President as that "Bastard in the White House". Apparently the Deep South can change.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Latest List of Recalled Chinese Poisoned Toys
Speaking of Chinese recalled goods….here is the list for this month:
Slipcovers Used With Boppy Pillows Recalled Due to Choking Hazard and Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Children's Pencil Pouches Recalled by Raymond Geddes & Co. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Children's Metal Jewelry Recalled by Buy-Rite Due to Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Cherrydale Fundraising Recalls Bracelets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Children's Metal Jewelry Recalled by Colossal Jewelry & Accessories Due to Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
La Femme NY Inc. Recalls Children's Necklace and Earring Sets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Pure Allure Recalls Metal Jewelry Sold at Michaels Stores Due to Risk of Lead Exposure to Children (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Discount School Supply Recalls Paint Brushes Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Metal Jewelry Sold by Family Dollar Stores Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure to Children (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Merry Christmas! Might want to consider a book or software for your kids instead of poison toys.
Slipcovers Used With Boppy Pillows Recalled Due to Choking Hazard and Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Children's Pencil Pouches Recalled by Raymond Geddes & Co. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Children's Metal Jewelry Recalled by Buy-Rite Due to Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Cherrydale Fundraising Recalls Bracelets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Children's Metal Jewelry Recalled by Colossal Jewelry & Accessories Due to Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
La Femme NY Inc. Recalls Children's Necklace and Earring Sets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Pure Allure Recalls Metal Jewelry Sold at Michaels Stores Due to Risk of Lead Exposure to Children (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Discount School Supply Recalls Paint Brushes Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Metal Jewelry Sold by Family Dollar Stores Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure to Children (Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:00:00 GMT)
Merry Christmas! Might want to consider a book or software for your kids instead of poison toys.
Court Ruling Has Implications In Legal Abortions For Texas
Well the "activist judges" have done it again. This time they have provided a nice backdoor way to stop legal abortions in the state in the guise of a homicide law. In the case of Lawrence Vs. State of Texas the Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that homicide laws extend to the deaths of fetuses even if they are not viable outside the womb.
This issue came from a case where Terrance Lawrence was convicted of murdering his girlfriend after finding out she was between 4 to 6 weeks pregnant. In the ruling the judge stated, "The Supreme Court has emphasized that states may protect human life not only once the fetus has reached viability but 'from the outset of the pregnancy'. The Legislature is free to protect the lives of those whom it considers to be human beings."
Though this was about a criminal case, abortion foes will seize this as legal precedent to begin pressing for criminal prosecutions of doctors offering abortions. Just wait for the dust to settle. I doubt that these same folks who have decried "Activist Judges" will have little but praise for this decision.
This issue came from a case where Terrance Lawrence was convicted of murdering his girlfriend after finding out she was between 4 to 6 weeks pregnant. In the ruling the judge stated, "The Supreme Court has emphasized that states may protect human life not only once the fetus has reached viability but 'from the outset of the pregnancy'. The Legislature is free to protect the lives of those whom it considers to be human beings."
Though this was about a criminal case, abortion foes will seize this as legal precedent to begin pressing for criminal prosecutions of doctors offering abortions. Just wait for the dust to settle. I doubt that these same folks who have decried "Activist Judges" will have little but praise for this decision.
Another Rant About China - Go Figure?
After spending the entire day yesterday reinstalling Windows Vista because of a supposed virus that the kind folks at the HP Tech Center in India insisted I had, I have my computer crash yet again. Not wanting to confront the language barrier again I took it to my local HP Service center. Luckily it’s under warranty.
These people told me, ironically in a thick Indian accent, that it was probably the hard drive.
Oh boy! I just love these kinds of problems. I bought an HP because I figured it had better quality components that other off-brand machines. Wrong again! The drives are all made in China by 3 or 4 companies with different brands put on them for export.
Yes America has faded from the manufacturing playing field, and we have relinquished all our technology to a budding 3rd world superpower. Now not only do we get tainted toys filled with unsafe levels of lead, drug components with poison ingredients, dog food that kills our pets, but every laptop and desktop is actually made in China by semi-slave labor and the profits line the pockets of corporate fat cats in the US.
Ranting? You betcha! If I could find an American made computer I would buy it in an instant, but alas, they no longer exist. So my advice to you is, buy the cheapest off-brand you can find, because the only difference in that no-name bargain brand and the big name one is the label. And of course the year end bonus for the CEO and board of the American company that sold off all the jobs and the quality to China for a fast buck. Sometimes I think America deserves to fade as a superpower. We have so little faith in ourselves and our people that we gut our industry in the name of profits. Wonder where the consumers will come from in a few years when no Americans can afford the cheap Chinese-made goods?
These people told me, ironically in a thick Indian accent, that it was probably the hard drive.
Oh boy! I just love these kinds of problems. I bought an HP because I figured it had better quality components that other off-brand machines. Wrong again! The drives are all made in China by 3 or 4 companies with different brands put on them for export.
Yes America has faded from the manufacturing playing field, and we have relinquished all our technology to a budding 3rd world superpower. Now not only do we get tainted toys filled with unsafe levels of lead, drug components with poison ingredients, dog food that kills our pets, but every laptop and desktop is actually made in China by semi-slave labor and the profits line the pockets of corporate fat cats in the US.
Ranting? You betcha! If I could find an American made computer I would buy it in an instant, but alas, they no longer exist. So my advice to you is, buy the cheapest off-brand you can find, because the only difference in that no-name bargain brand and the big name one is the label. And of course the year end bonus for the CEO and board of the American company that sold off all the jobs and the quality to China for a fast buck. Sometimes I think America deserves to fade as a superpower. We have so little faith in ourselves and our people that we gut our industry in the name of profits. Wonder where the consumers will come from in a few years when no Americans can afford the cheap Chinese-made goods?
State Rep. Kirk England & The Changing Wind In Texas
While attending my monthly meeting of the Dallas Stonewall Democrats I got the opportunity to meet and talk with State Representative Kirk England of Grand Prairie. He seems like a nice enough guy and I suspect his switch from Republican to Democrat may have something to do with the failures of the Republican legislature to address the real needs of his constituents. However, part of me has to wonder about the timing.
It came at a time when the majority of urban areas in Texas are turning blue and as the Republicans lose favor, mainly because of the Iraq War and President Bush and his cronies high jinks in Washington. It would not be the first time a politician, sensing the way the wind was blowing changed parties to avoid being ridden out of town with the trash. Those old enough to remember will recall Phil Gramm when he was a conservative Democrat. Now that the breeze is blowing blue, I suspect we will se more GOP folks rediscovering their “moderate” side.
The real test for Representative England will be when he has to vote on the tough issues for any politician, and that means things like including gender identity in legislation and assuring gay and lesbian parents that they can continue to be foster parents and adopt. These issues keep resurfacing in the Texas Legislature every year or so. Stay tuned. The encouraging thing was that Kirk England took the time to sit down with GLBT Dallasites and actually discuss substantive issues. Of course the good food at Ojeda’s Restaurant didn’t hurt matters!
It came at a time when the majority of urban areas in Texas are turning blue and as the Republicans lose favor, mainly because of the Iraq War and President Bush and his cronies high jinks in Washington. It would not be the first time a politician, sensing the way the wind was blowing changed parties to avoid being ridden out of town with the trash. Those old enough to remember will recall Phil Gramm when he was a conservative Democrat. Now that the breeze is blowing blue, I suspect we will se more GOP folks rediscovering their “moderate” side.
The real test for Representative England will be when he has to vote on the tough issues for any politician, and that means things like including gender identity in legislation and assuring gay and lesbian parents that they can continue to be foster parents and adopt. These issues keep resurfacing in the Texas Legislature every year or so. Stay tuned. The encouraging thing was that Kirk England took the time to sit down with GLBT Dallasites and actually discuss substantive issues. Of course the good food at Ojeda’s Restaurant didn’t hurt matters!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Australia Gives Howard The Boot
I rarely look at politics down under, but the stunning defeat for John Howard and the conservatives of Australia really give me hope. For years Howard’s conservative faction held a grip on politics in Australia. The election this week which delivered 81 seats of he 150 in parliament to the Labor Party.
Unlike the GOP leadership in the US, Howard took full responsibility for the defeat. ``I accept full responsibility for the Liberal Party campaign, and I therefore accept full responsibility for the coalition's defeat in this election campaign,'' Howard said in his concession speech in Sydney.
A key part of his oppositions platform was immediately signing the Kyoto Protocols and withdrawing from Iraq. Sound familiar?
Unlike the GOP leadership in the US, Howard took full responsibility for the defeat. ``I accept full responsibility for the Liberal Party campaign, and I therefore accept full responsibility for the coalition's defeat in this election campaign,'' Howard said in his concession speech in Sydney.
A key part of his oppositions platform was immediately signing the Kyoto Protocols and withdrawing from Iraq. Sound familiar?
Friday, November 23, 2007
Wal-Mart Rates "Don't Buy" From HRC
My friends already know I won't shop at Sam's or Wal-Mart because of their policies toward labor and their promotion of offshore manufacturing. Now I have another reason to avoid the big box behemoth. The HRC gave Wal-Mart a "red" rating or "do not buy" due to their refusal to provide domestic partner benefits for their employees.
Target, my favorite discounter, rated an 80 on the same scale or a "green" rating from HRC. I always knew there was a reason besides the clean stores, stylish merchandise and great advertising that I liked Target.
Target, my favorite discounter, rated an 80 on the same scale or a "green" rating from HRC. I always knew there was a reason besides the clean stores, stylish merchandise and great advertising that I liked Target.
Republican Senator "Underwhelmed" With Bush Knowledge Of Iraq
It’s interesting that even a few Republicans are finally getting the picture of what a mess we have in the White House. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) "raised some eyebrows" with his recent remarks about President Bush. After a visit with the president Senator Corker said, "I was in the White House a number of times to talk about the issue, and I may rankle some in the room saying this, but I was very underwhelmed with what discussions took place at the White House."
When asked to clarify his remarks he continued that when discussing the situation in Iraq, "I just felt a little bit underwhelmed by our discussions, the complexity of them, the depth of them."
When the Republicans realize that we have incompetence in the White House, it’s really bad. Even their characteristic ideological myopia seems to be failing. Time for Impeachment to be back on the table!
When asked to clarify his remarks he continued that when discussing the situation in Iraq, "I just felt a little bit underwhelmed by our discussions, the complexity of them, the depth of them."
When the Republicans realize that we have incompetence in the White House, it’s really bad. Even their characteristic ideological myopia seems to be failing. Time for Impeachment to be back on the table!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Florida Gets No Deligates For Democratic Convention
This whole "our primary is first" fiasco is getting really out of hand. Today the Democratic National Committee told the state of Florida it’s delegates will not be seated at the national convention because the Florida legislature moved it’s primary so early it violates party rules. The DNC rules state that states that have not been granted a special waiver have to schedule presidential nominating contests after Feb. 5. To make matters worse, there are no hotel rooms reserved for the Florida delegation.
This harsh penalty was designed to encourage other states not to start upping the dates of their primaries, thus making the primary process even more chaotic than normal. The state legislature now has 30 days to comply or the ruling will be final.
Another part of the problem is the Florida legislature is controlled by Republicans. Many think they pushed the date froward precisely to get this kind of response from the DNC. Personally, I think that is a given. Needless to say the lawsuits continue.
This harsh penalty was designed to encourage other states not to start upping the dates of their primaries, thus making the primary process even more chaotic than normal. The state legislature now has 30 days to comply or the ruling will be final.
Another part of the problem is the Florida legislature is controlled by Republicans. Many think they pushed the date froward precisely to get this kind of response from the DNC. Personally, I think that is a given. Needless to say the lawsuits continue.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Oral Roberts Calls "Emergency Meeting" at ORU
Things at ORU are heating up. Yesterday Oral Roberts himself addressed an "emergency meeting" of the faculty to address the problems at the school bearing his name. The faculty had previously vote several no-confidence measures in the then head of the school, Richard Rogers. Rogers stepped down in the wake of the scandal and according to many faculty at the school, there will be mass resignations if he returns.
Scott McClellan's New Memoir Implicates Bush In PlameGate!
Scott McClellan has finally written a tell all book about his time at the White House. What he tells is no surprise to me, but it’s nice to hear it from someone inside the White House as confirmation. According to his memoir Scotty puts the blame for the Valerie Plame scandal directly at Bush’s feet. Time to call another congressional investigation and this time get Scott on the stand. Then tell me why impeachment is off the table?
Read the rest at Think Progress and then call your Senator and Representative!
Read the rest at Think Progress and then call your Senator and Representative!
Hate Crimes Rise 8% for 2006
In a report marked by spotty and uneven reporting the FBI concluded that Hate Crimes are up 8% for the year 2006. Southern states are the worst at reporting hate crimes whereas states like California are more efficient.
Most criminals who perpetrate hate crimes are white 59% and most victims are minorities. Black account for victims of most racially biased crimes, Jews fall victim of religiously motivated hate crimes, Hispanics are the ethnic victim of choice and no surprise gay men lead the list of sexual orientation.
Though the report gives no conclusions of what it means, I think it’s safe to say a lot of the rise has to do with the timbre of public discourse in recent years. As far right evangelicals cry for punishment of gays and lesbians and the media drums up racial divisions it is no surprise that hate crimes are on the rise. Biased reporting and programs that promote stereotypes add to the problem, but they are not the root cause.
The real problem is in the hearts of Americans. Our country has always been a melting pot, but with that mix comes fear ignorance and prejudice. We have had times of much worse violence against minorities, but that is no excuse. What we need is a new way of understanding what it means to be an American. I think we have dome a disservice to our kids when we fail to teach them about the great waves of immigrants that settled this country. When we fail to teach them about the past prejudices and problems, they will be clueless when they have to handle them.
We need to be spreading a message of not just tolerance, but acceptance. So long as our politicians and church leaders use wedges to divide us from them, we will continue to have the problem of hate crimes.
It’s time someone actually started teaching the golden rule as something other than a platitude.
Most criminals who perpetrate hate crimes are white 59% and most victims are minorities. Black account for victims of most racially biased crimes, Jews fall victim of religiously motivated hate crimes, Hispanics are the ethnic victim of choice and no surprise gay men lead the list of sexual orientation.
Though the report gives no conclusions of what it means, I think it’s safe to say a lot of the rise has to do with the timbre of public discourse in recent years. As far right evangelicals cry for punishment of gays and lesbians and the media drums up racial divisions it is no surprise that hate crimes are on the rise. Biased reporting and programs that promote stereotypes add to the problem, but they are not the root cause.
The real problem is in the hearts of Americans. Our country has always been a melting pot, but with that mix comes fear ignorance and prejudice. We have had times of much worse violence against minorities, but that is no excuse. What we need is a new way of understanding what it means to be an American. I think we have dome a disservice to our kids when we fail to teach them about the great waves of immigrants that settled this country. When we fail to teach them about the past prejudices and problems, they will be clueless when they have to handle them.
We need to be spreading a message of not just tolerance, but acceptance. So long as our politicians and church leaders use wedges to divide us from them, we will continue to have the problem of hate crimes.
It’s time someone actually started teaching the golden rule as something other than a platitude.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Cities Install Cameras To Prevent Public Sex - Why Not Put On A Show?
Seems like a lot of cities have the idea that they can put cameras in areas where people have public sex and stop the problem. Perhaps, but it does offer a possible secondary use. I am not a fan of public sex, I feel it places people in non-consensual situations and that goes against my grain. However, the use of surveillance cameras also bothers me. I would like to propose an entertaining and practical solution for both problems.
In communities where the cameras are installed, some enterprising performance artists, dancers, actors, etc, should take advantage of the free screen time, especially if these are posted online like those proposed in Miami, Fl. Why not find the cameras and at times when public sex is known to happen, put on a show for the surveillance cameras? Nothing pornographic or racy, just good old fashioned song and dance. If the cams are online, you have instant exposure, and your activity will deter any public sex. It might even entertain the police who watch hours and hours of dreary footage with nothing happening but a few shadowy figures involved in whatever constitutes that type of crime.
Whoever succeeds in this, please send me the video if you can get it. I would love to see this put into action as both a statement against the "big brother" aspects of the cameras and as a creative way of deterring public sex.
In communities where the cameras are installed, some enterprising performance artists, dancers, actors, etc, should take advantage of the free screen time, especially if these are posted online like those proposed in Miami, Fl. Why not find the cameras and at times when public sex is known to happen, put on a show for the surveillance cameras? Nothing pornographic or racy, just good old fashioned song and dance. If the cams are online, you have instant exposure, and your activity will deter any public sex. It might even entertain the police who watch hours and hours of dreary footage with nothing happening but a few shadowy figures involved in whatever constitutes that type of crime.
Whoever succeeds in this, please send me the video if you can get it. I would love to see this put into action as both a statement against the "big brother" aspects of the cameras and as a creative way of deterring public sex.
Senate Stays In Session Through Thanksgiving Holidays To Block Bush Appointments
In a welcome show of "cajones" the Democratically controlled Senate will stay in session during the holidays in order to prevent President Bush from making recess appointments of judges and from passing legislation as "executive orders". With the Senate still in session Bush cannot claim any need for such boondoggle appointments of people who would not hold up to Senate scrutiny.
So write Harry Reid a letter of thanks for protecting our democracy.
So write Harry Reid a letter of thanks for protecting our democracy.
Rudy Giuliani and 9/11 The GOP's One Trick Pony
If you have heard Giuliani speak you have heard the phrases, "on September 11", "post 9/11" or the famous "since September 11". You would think he could find another way to connect with the American people, but instead he has only one trick and he keeps going back to it again and again.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
GOP Rep. Bob Allen Convicted and Resigns
Republican State Representative Bob Allen of Florida resigned last week in the wake of a conviction for solicitation. Seems the Honorable Representative was caught in a restroom offering to have sex with another man, and unfortunately for him it was an undercover officer. Once again the party of Character and Morals has been shown to be the party of hypocrisy and sleaze.
The growing number of busted GOP folks is starting to look like a pattern. If you are uncomfortable with your sexuality, or ashamed of being homosexual, you become a Republican and try to pass as straight. More importantly, if you are closeted enough, you become an elected official who persecutes openly gay people. Now I am not a doctor, but that’s a pathology in my book.
And by the way, if you are in the GOP and somehow can bring yourself to be openly gay, join the Log Cabin Republicans. There you can pretend that your party gives a damn about your rights and you can continue to give money to the folks who actively work to deny those rights. Now that’s really a pathology!
The growing number of busted GOP folks is starting to look like a pattern. If you are uncomfortable with your sexuality, or ashamed of being homosexual, you become a Republican and try to pass as straight. More importantly, if you are closeted enough, you become an elected official who persecutes openly gay people. Now I am not a doctor, but that’s a pathology in my book.
And by the way, if you are in the GOP and somehow can bring yourself to be openly gay, join the Log Cabin Republicans. There you can pretend that your party gives a damn about your rights and you can continue to give money to the folks who actively work to deny those rights. Now that’s really a pathology!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Back From Orlando - Boy Are My Legs Sore!
Well I survived the IAAPA convention and trade show. That is the Amusement Park convention to those who don't know. It is a zoo, but fun. The convention center in Orlando is about a 1/4 mile square and was full to overflowing with exhibits and suppliers.
Full sized rides set up both inside and outside. Free food, all fried of course, and lots of noise. After standing for 4 days and walking my ass off (unfortunately not literally) I am glad to be back in Dallas.
Didn't make it to any of the theme parks in Orlando, but I did get away one night to watch Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3-D. That is a must see! The movie was not shot in 3-D but they used a very sophisticated conversion process to make it that way and it rocks. I suspect it took many thousands of hours to do it. Also saw a preview of a new live action movie shot in Digital 3-D that will be out in the spring. Also eye popping and fun.
I got some good business leads and made valuable contacts and caught up with a lot of old friends. Overall a good time. No pics, since they would not let cameras on the floor! (suppliers are so worried about their new ideas I guess)
Speaking of new ideas, I saw several cool new rides. I'll give descriptions soon.
Full sized rides set up both inside and outside. Free food, all fried of course, and lots of noise. After standing for 4 days and walking my ass off (unfortunately not literally) I am glad to be back in Dallas.
Didn't make it to any of the theme parks in Orlando, but I did get away one night to watch Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3-D. That is a must see! The movie was not shot in 3-D but they used a very sophisticated conversion process to make it that way and it rocks. I suspect it took many thousands of hours to do it. Also saw a preview of a new live action movie shot in Digital 3-D that will be out in the spring. Also eye popping and fun.
I got some good business leads and made valuable contacts and caught up with a lot of old friends. Overall a good time. No pics, since they would not let cameras on the floor! (suppliers are so worried about their new ideas I guess)
Speaking of new ideas, I saw several cool new rides. I'll give descriptions soon.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Orlando, Florida Blogging - At The IAAPA!
I am attending the IAAPA convention and trade show this week in Orlando. It is the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions for the uninitiated. The trade floor is filled with vending supplies, games, consultants and even full sized rides. It is like a trade show on steroids and lots of fun as well as exhausting.
So why am I here? Well, I used to be in that business and now that I produce films and video I am soliciting business from parks and suppliers for industrial documentaries and instructional videos. Also, having a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
I will post pictures of the madness in the next day or so from my camera/phone. Back to politics as usual soon.
So why am I here? Well, I used to be in that business and now that I produce films and video I am soliciting business from parks and suppliers for industrial documentaries and instructional videos. Also, having a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
I will post pictures of the madness in the next day or so from my camera/phone. Back to politics as usual soon.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
More Poison Chinese Toys - Time For A Change and A Boycot
OK folks this is getting out of control. China just announced it has confirmed the presence of poison on toy beads sold to children around the world. In this country the near toothless Consumer Product Safety Commission says now, seven children are sick from the toy beads.
The toys called Aqua Dots are made using toxic glue that is activated when the bad are exposed to water. Here’s the kicker, that’s how you play with them! When wet they stick together, big fun! Oh yea, and they poison you!
If the government won’t do it the American people need to. Time to boycott toys from China until the companies shipping the work overseas can assure the public their toys are safe. So I propose giving your kids books this Christmas, printed in the USA or Europe. For toys, consider some of the companies that actually make them here still or those from Europe. Chinese toys have been shown to be unsafe and manufactured in an irresponsible manner. If the government won’t stop it, the people must!
The toys called Aqua Dots are made using toxic glue that is activated when the bad are exposed to water. Here’s the kicker, that’s how you play with them! When wet they stick together, big fun! Oh yea, and they poison you!
If the government won’t do it the American people need to. Time to boycott toys from China until the companies shipping the work overseas can assure the public their toys are safe. So I propose giving your kids books this Christmas, printed in the USA or Europe. For toys, consider some of the companies that actually make them here still or those from Europe. Chinese toys have been shown to be unsafe and manufactured in an irresponsible manner. If the government won’t stop it, the people must!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Fox News Awash In Gratuitous Sex & Nudity
As Fox blares its criticism of TV sex and nudity, it fills its shows with it and actively tries to titillate viewers. Hypocrisy? Duh!
Friday, November 09, 2007
Tom Delay Still Lying About Health Care - Big Time!
Tom Delay was bad enough when he was the Speaker of the House, now he is speaking on the road and he is still a lying sack of poo. At a recent engagement in the UK, Delay stated the following:
“By the way, there’s no one denied health care in America. There are 47 million people who don’t have health insurance, but no American is denied health care in America.”
The crowd laughed derisively at the ludicrous lie. And here is why:
"Observers estimate that anywhere from one to 18 percent of Americans are denied health insurance because of pre-existing health conditions. These conditions can range from heart disease to high cholesterol to yeast infections to being too skinny. "
As a person who was recently denied insurance coverage because I had a slightly high reading on a glucose tolerance test. Not diabetes or pre-diabetes but just one elevated number was enough to throw me into the “High Risk Pool”. This means if I want to pay 3 times the rate of anyone else in the state I can get insurance. For me it would be approximately $1500 a month! Might as well just deny it, but no, in Texas we have this phony pool so the insurance companies can lie and pretend that they do have insurance available for everyone. If I could afford $1500 a month for health insurance I wouldn’t need it. I could self-insure and that is what I have to do.
Now back to Mr. Poo Sack. He began his speech by predicted that if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, he or she would seek to install a universal health care, similar to the system in Britain. The crown applauded thunderously!
So Mr. Delay, shut up and head back to Texas so you can be prosecuted for whatever charges Ron Earl can dig up on you!
“By the way, there’s no one denied health care in America. There are 47 million people who don’t have health insurance, but no American is denied health care in America.”
The crowd laughed derisively at the ludicrous lie. And here is why:
"Observers estimate that anywhere from one to 18 percent of Americans are denied health insurance because of pre-existing health conditions. These conditions can range from heart disease to high cholesterol to yeast infections to being too skinny. "
As a person who was recently denied insurance coverage because I had a slightly high reading on a glucose tolerance test. Not diabetes or pre-diabetes but just one elevated number was enough to throw me into the “High Risk Pool”. This means if I want to pay 3 times the rate of anyone else in the state I can get insurance. For me it would be approximately $1500 a month! Might as well just deny it, but no, in Texas we have this phony pool so the insurance companies can lie and pretend that they do have insurance available for everyone. If I could afford $1500 a month for health insurance I wouldn’t need it. I could self-insure and that is what I have to do.
Now back to Mr. Poo Sack. He began his speech by predicted that if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, he or she would seek to install a universal health care, similar to the system in Britain. The crown applauded thunderously!
So Mr. Delay, shut up and head back to Texas so you can be prosecuted for whatever charges Ron Earl can dig up on you!
Tom Harkin Derides "King" George Bush
Tom Harken (D-Iowa) made one of the best and most impassioned speeches about the confirmation of Mukasey and the disregard for the rule of law by Bush that I have ever heard. I only wish there had been Senators in the chamber to hear him. I suspect it was to a mostly empty chamber.
He is so far as to call Bush a “king” and makes the valid point that even the King of England was held to the writ of Habeas Corpus as delineated in the Magna Carta. Watch it on Raw Story, it should make you shudder
He is so far as to call Bush a “king” and makes the valid point that even the King of England was held to the writ of Habeas Corpus as delineated in the Magna Carta. Watch it on Raw Story, it should make you shudder
Democrats Cave In and Confirm Mukasey as Attorney General
So last night the Democrats caved in and confirmed Michael Mukasey as Attorney General. This is the man who didn’t know if waterboarding was torture, even though the US had prosecuted other countries for war crimes for the practice. This spirit of reconciliation would be a good thing if we were dealing with a reasonable President. Bush is not such a man. He is a driven and corrupt ideologue who will not give an inch on anything he wants.
By caving in to his nominee, the Democrats have sent a dangerous signal to a would-be despot. They have told him it’s a green light for most anything he wants to do, and though there is much talk of a victory in the form of an overridden veto on the Water Projects Bill, I see nothing that indicates Bush is ready to work together with anyone.
For the record, 6 Democrats voted with Republicans to confirm Mukasey. For their names, go here. If they are your representatives, write them a letter asking them why they are giving Bush a free hand in his choice for Attorney General.
Those Democrats in Congress who are heady with success on the veto over ride, need to wake up and smell the dictatorship.
By caving in to his nominee, the Democrats have sent a dangerous signal to a would-be despot. They have told him it’s a green light for most anything he wants to do, and though there is much talk of a victory in the form of an overridden veto on the Water Projects Bill, I see nothing that indicates Bush is ready to work together with anyone.
For the record, 6 Democrats voted with Republicans to confirm Mukasey. For their names, go here. If they are your representatives, write them a letter asking them why they are giving Bush a free hand in his choice for Attorney General.
Those Democrats in Congress who are heady with success on the veto over ride, need to wake up and smell the dictatorship.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
AT&T Whistleblower Admits Connecting All Traffic to NSA Spy Operation
Big Brother is really out there! According to a whistleblower on the AT&T – NSA illegal wiretapping scandal. He was interviewed on MSNBC’s Countdown program today. He told host Keith Olbermann that he installed the splitters that routed all internet traffic to a secret room in San Francisco where the NSA monitors everything that goes through it.
Legal? Not at all, yet AT&T and the government are doing it. The Bush administration at work to spy on you without your permission or without a warrant again!
Legal? Not at all, yet AT&T and the government are doing it. The Bush administration at work to spy on you without your permission or without a warrant again!
ENDA Impeachment & Failures of Congress
Significant things are happening in Congress, but they are not the kind of significance I want to see. First was the pathetic squashing of Kucinich’s resolution to impeach Dick Cheney. Kucinich showed he has the pulse of the American people and introduced a resolution that clearly outlines Cheney’s crimes and at the very least would put on official record the lies and deceptions that Dick Cheney has pushed to the American people.
Because of a gutless showing by Democrats and a sneaky and very predictable tactic by the Republicans the measure has “gone to committee”, or in plain English, “shit canned”. Face it, the Republicans still control the House. They can successfully intimidate the Democrats and get their way even though they are in the minority.
The second significant thing was the passage of ENDA. I agree it is a landmark that such a bill that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is not only needed, but long overdue. The problem is it will be a hollow gesture and end up vetoed by Bush. The second problem is that it was done at the expense of gender identity. That part of the legislation was stripped out partly at the suggestion of the White House which will not sign the bill in the first place, so why is it gone? Imagine a Civil Rights Bill for Hispanics and Asians only. Would that be hailed as a great advancement?
So yes I am glad they passed ENDA even without the Baldwin Amendment, but it is a hollow victory. So pardon me if I don’t dance in the street. We still are not protected under federal law and until a bill is passed that actually gets signed into law, I will differ my celebration.
Because of a gutless showing by Democrats and a sneaky and very predictable tactic by the Republicans the measure has “gone to committee”, or in plain English, “shit canned”. Face it, the Republicans still control the House. They can successfully intimidate the Democrats and get their way even though they are in the minority.
The second significant thing was the passage of ENDA. I agree it is a landmark that such a bill that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is not only needed, but long overdue. The problem is it will be a hollow gesture and end up vetoed by Bush. The second problem is that it was done at the expense of gender identity. That part of the legislation was stripped out partly at the suggestion of the White House which will not sign the bill in the first place, so why is it gone? Imagine a Civil Rights Bill for Hispanics and Asians only. Would that be hailed as a great advancement?
So yes I am glad they passed ENDA even without the Baldwin Amendment, but it is a hollow victory. So pardon me if I don’t dance in the street. We still are not protected under federal law and until a bill is passed that actually gets signed into law, I will differ my celebration.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
House Passes ENDA!
Nancy Pelosi speaks prior to the passage of the Employment Non Discrimination Act H.R. 3685, by a vote of 235-184.
John Lewis, one of my heroes speaks in favor of ENDA.
John Lewis, one of my heroes speaks in favor of ENDA.
Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn Targets by Senate Committee
More news about the investigation of Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn, the local area televangelists. Senator Grassley’s committee has requested audited financial statements and information about executives' pay and benefits, including private jets. These television ministries claim exemption as churches and claim exemption not only from paying taxes but from providing basic financial data.
In a quote from the Dallas Morning News, Senator Grassley said, "The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls-Royces."
I have no problem with ministers being well paid, but I do have a problem with them hiding their financial doings and claiming tax exempt status with no oversight. My church files the forms and goes through a financial audit on a regular basis, why not theirs?
For further reading I suggest this site, Trinity Foundation. They investigate and expose church tax scams and televangelist abuse.
In a quote from the Dallas Morning News, Senator Grassley said, "The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls-Royces."
I have no problem with ministers being well paid, but I do have a problem with them hiding their financial doings and claiming tax exempt status with no oversight. My church files the forms and goes through a financial audit on a regular basis, why not theirs?
For further reading I suggest this site, Trinity Foundation. They investigate and expose church tax scams and televangelist abuse.
Lots Of Government Snooping on My Blog - Welcome Folks!
Funny how all of a sudden I have lots of hits from Virginia, and most of them from government organizations or contractors? Also, most of those hits are going to the article about the Cheney Impeachment measure that was recently blocked. Some hits even came from the Naval Research Lab, just down the street from Mr. Cheney’s abode at the Naval Observatory. I gotta wonder if there might be a connection.
So to all those snoopers form the government, I am not a threat. I am only expressing my opinions on the issues of the day. The last time I checked, this was still in the Constitution, at least for now. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me and ask. I am about as open and accessible as anyone.
To the folks at Homeland Security and the TSA, I would appreciate the items you stole from my luggage a few weeks ago. These were checked at the Tampa Airport and mysteriously disappeared before arriving in Dallas. One was a legal stungun, the kind that I use for kinky fun, and the other was a collapsible police baton, also used for the above mentioned fun. Both were in my checked luggage and legal to transport.
To anyone else reading this, sorry for the digression, but I had to let them know. I send a claim, but I doubt I will ever hear anything from them. A word of caution. TSA and the folks inspecting your bags apparently have sticky fingers. If it’s valuable, carry it with you and if it’s not legal to carry on a plane, ship it or leave it home.
So to all those snoopers form the government, I am not a threat. I am only expressing my opinions on the issues of the day. The last time I checked, this was still in the Constitution, at least for now. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me and ask. I am about as open and accessible as anyone.
To the folks at Homeland Security and the TSA, I would appreciate the items you stole from my luggage a few weeks ago. These were checked at the Tampa Airport and mysteriously disappeared before arriving in Dallas. One was a legal stungun, the kind that I use for kinky fun, and the other was a collapsible police baton, also used for the above mentioned fun. Both were in my checked luggage and legal to transport.
To anyone else reading this, sorry for the digression, but I had to let them know. I send a claim, but I doubt I will ever hear anything from them. A word of caution. TSA and the folks inspecting your bags apparently have sticky fingers. If it’s valuable, carry it with you and if it’s not legal to carry on a plane, ship it or leave it home.
Government Sex Education Programs Fail - Abstenence Only Doesn't Work
The government is spending vast amounts of our money on what it calls sex education. What they teach is abstinence only sex education. What does this mean? Well it means just say no to sex. Want to know how well that works?
When I was much younger I attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. At the time since the school was a Baptist university, there were strict rules of behavior for students, at least for female students. Women at Baylor had a curfew, men did not. I suspect this was to keep the sweet virginal Baptist girls safe at night, a form of forced abstinence. Baylor had at that time the greatest number of unwanted pregnancies of any school in the Southwest Conference. See how well that worked?
Today a non partisan group released findings that pretty much say the same thing as other studies, abstinence only sex education is ineffective. The words of the study are clear when it comes to teenagers, “At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners….”
So the Bush Administration, those same folks who allegedly are for fiscal responsibility are pouring many millions of dollars into sex education programs that have been proven to be ineffective. In other words we’ve been duped again! How many times will this happen before the American people figure out that Bush and his bunch are ideology driven at the expense of fiscal responsibility and common sense? Come on folks wake up and smell the reality!
When I was much younger I attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. At the time since the school was a Baptist university, there were strict rules of behavior for students, at least for female students. Women at Baylor had a curfew, men did not. I suspect this was to keep the sweet virginal Baptist girls safe at night, a form of forced abstinence. Baylor had at that time the greatest number of unwanted pregnancies of any school in the Southwest Conference. See how well that worked?
Today a non partisan group released findings that pretty much say the same thing as other studies, abstinence only sex education is ineffective. The words of the study are clear when it comes to teenagers, “At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners….”
So the Bush Administration, those same folks who allegedly are for fiscal responsibility are pouring many millions of dollars into sex education programs that have been proven to be ineffective. In other words we’ve been duped again! How many times will this happen before the American people figure out that Bush and his bunch are ideology driven at the expense of fiscal responsibility and common sense? Come on folks wake up and smell the reality!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Third Secret Torture Memo Surfaces!
And just as the Senate blindly prepares to approve another Bush toady as Attorney General another “secret memo” on torture activities is released by the ACLU. It is Gonzales handiwork and has been withheld in the investigation of illegal torture techniques used by the CIA.
Call or write your Senator and urge him to reconsider confirming Mukasey as AG.
Call or write your Senator and urge him to reconsider confirming Mukasey as AG.
Cheney Impeachment Vote Blocked By Democrats & GOP
Dennis Kucinich brought the measure to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney to the House today as promised. Surprisingly the GOP backed it at the last minute trying to force a floor vote. What they knew was the Democrats were spineless and feared debate as much as the GOP. Instead the measure was sent to committee and essentially trashed.
Dennis Kucinich may very well be the most honest and courageous man in Congress. His candidacy for President has been derided as a long shot. Mostly that would be because of the press. The media loves to burlesque people who are different, and Dennis is different. He is honest and liberal and unafraid to tell truth to power. Because of that the media has discounted him as unelectable. I wish the American people would prove them wrong, however I suspect that will not happen.
Cheney’s impeachment would have sent the kind of message that the American people sent the Democrats to Congress for. The problem is that once someone actually tells it like it is, the big forces behind the scenes squelch them for fear of changing the status quo.
I had hoped Barak Obama would be such a man, but his embrace of the homophobic singer Donnie McClurkin has left me speechless. Whoever Obama’s advisors are, they should be fired. In that one move he lost the LGBT vote while trying to pander to the African American community. The sad truth is that the African American community is behind Hillary more than Barak and so the effort is backfiring.
Some dismiss Kucinich as a wacko, but having met the man and listened to him speak, I think he has more sense than the rest of the Democratic and Republican field combined. Not to mention he has a smokin’ hot wife! (Yes even a gay man can appreciate that!) Give ‘em hell Dennis! You got my vote.
Dennis Kucinich may very well be the most honest and courageous man in Congress. His candidacy for President has been derided as a long shot. Mostly that would be because of the press. The media loves to burlesque people who are different, and Dennis is different. He is honest and liberal and unafraid to tell truth to power. Because of that the media has discounted him as unelectable. I wish the American people would prove them wrong, however I suspect that will not happen.
Cheney’s impeachment would have sent the kind of message that the American people sent the Democrats to Congress for. The problem is that once someone actually tells it like it is, the big forces behind the scenes squelch them for fear of changing the status quo.
I had hoped Barak Obama would be such a man, but his embrace of the homophobic singer Donnie McClurkin has left me speechless. Whoever Obama’s advisors are, they should be fired. In that one move he lost the LGBT vote while trying to pander to the African American community. The sad truth is that the African American community is behind Hillary more than Barak and so the effort is backfiring.
Some dismiss Kucinich as a wacko, but having met the man and listened to him speak, I think he has more sense than the rest of the Democratic and Republican field combined. Not to mention he has a smokin’ hot wife! (Yes even a gay man can appreciate that!) Give ‘em hell Dennis! You got my vote.
Televangelists Investigated by Senate Committee
Now it seems that the chickens are coming home to roost. The Senate is finally investigating the televangelism racket. Six prominent TV preachers are under scrutiny as to their tax exempt status. Among them Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long.
Senator Grassley, the Iowa Republican, is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to evade taxes and shield lavish lifestyles. Interesting that a Republican should lead this effort? Does this signal a turn away from the radical fundamentalists that have been the GOP base for so long?
I eagerly await their findings.
Senator Grassley, the Iowa Republican, is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to evade taxes and shield lavish lifestyles. Interesting that a Republican should lead this effort? Does this signal a turn away from the radical fundamentalists that have been the GOP base for so long?
I eagerly await their findings.
Homeland Security Visits My Blog
My post on the Homeland Security proposal "Secure Flight" apparently got the attention of Homeland Security. The HS folks spent a few minutes reading the post and my profile so who knows if I will be able to fly in the future?
To the HS folks, welcome to free speech in our country! The proposals, though I understand is intended to help make things more secure, has that backfire potential that makes it not worth the effort. The next step would lead to closing our borders and after that I don't even want to think about.
To the HS folks, welcome to free speech in our country! The proposals, though I understand is intended to help make things more secure, has that backfire potential that makes it not worth the effort. The next step would lead to closing our borders and after that I don't even want to think about.
Someone Stole My Book - Part 2
Well I sent a letter to Scribd notifying them that the material that was posted was copyrigted and not authorized to be on their site. I was plesantly surprised when the removed it within a few hours.
I appreciate their diligence, however there seems to be something wrong with this system. They have a site that has absolutely no requirement for copyright verification when was posted by "Annon" . Now come on folks, if you don't even track who posts the stuff it seems to me you are aiding in the problem. Would a check cashing place cash checks on accounts without insisting on ID? Not if they wanted to stay in business long. The problem here is Scribd has nothing to lose. The make the copyright owners police the site for infractions and then correct the matter if it is caught.
If it is caught is the key. Over 2000 people read my book online according to the Scribd log. That might mean 2000 potential sales and that costs me money. Now I don't make squat from these books anyway, but that doesn't mean I worked all that time for nothing. Additionally I paid a very skilled artist to make the illustrations in the book. These were online as well.
Well enough of the rant. My point is you can parse the words in the mission statement, but having no verification for material posted sucks.
I appreciate their diligence, however there seems to be something wrong with this system. They have a site that has absolutely no requirement for copyright verification when was posted by "Annon" . Now come on folks, if you don't even track who posts the stuff it seems to me you are aiding in the problem. Would a check cashing place cash checks on accounts without insisting on ID? Not if they wanted to stay in business long. The problem here is Scribd has nothing to lose. The make the copyright owners police the site for infractions and then correct the matter if it is caught.
If it is caught is the key. Over 2000 people read my book online according to the Scribd log. That might mean 2000 potential sales and that costs me money. Now I don't make squat from these books anyway, but that doesn't mean I worked all that time for nothing. Additionally I paid a very skilled artist to make the illustrations in the book. These were online as well.
Well enough of the rant. My point is you can parse the words in the mission statement, but having no verification for material posted sucks.
Monday, November 05, 2007
I Feel Violated - Someone Stole My Book!
I was surfing the net yesterday during a break in teaching a class at Kinky Kollege in Chicago when what to my wondering eyes appears, but the full text and illustrations from my book, “Family Jewels” online!
Now I am not a fat cat author who lollygags around all day dining at Spago and sipping mineral water. I am a poor sucker who works freelance and makes a slight, very slight income from the sale of my books. I found the site called http://www.scribd.com/. It is a site designed to steal intellectual property from the rightful owners and distribute it for free. Now I have as much angst toward “the man” as the next old burned out hippy, but come on folks! First Napster now this? For God sakes the book is available in some libraries, and if you can scrape together $13 bucks you can own a copy. Send it to me and I’ll even sign it, but don’t steal it!
This kind of crap, though it may be done in the name of “freedom of information” makes as much sense as “freedom of money” as a justification for robbing banks. I am pursuing legal remedies to persuade the misguided folks at scribed to remove the book, and I would encourage all authors to check the site for their works. Mine was posted with an intentional misspelling in the title to avoid search engines finding it, but I found it and I am not happy about it. I don’t have the funds to mount a big law suit and I sincerely hope they will remove it voluntarily.
To the folks at Scribd, give me a break! Authors toil for years in some cases to produce their work and they have a right to make a living from what they write. If I stole the code that runs the Scribid website, I suspect you would not be pleased.
To everyone else, don’t download stuff from this site that is in obvious violation of copyright law. Stealing is stealing weather it is done with a keyboard and a mouse or a gun and a mask. Enough already!
Now I am not a fat cat author who lollygags around all day dining at Spago and sipping mineral water. I am a poor sucker who works freelance and makes a slight, very slight income from the sale of my books. I found the site called http://www.scribd.com/. It is a site designed to steal intellectual property from the rightful owners and distribute it for free. Now I have as much angst toward “the man” as the next old burned out hippy, but come on folks! First Napster now this? For God sakes the book is available in some libraries, and if you can scrape together $13 bucks you can own a copy. Send it to me and I’ll even sign it, but don’t steal it!
This kind of crap, though it may be done in the name of “freedom of information” makes as much sense as “freedom of money” as a justification for robbing banks. I am pursuing legal remedies to persuade the misguided folks at scribed to remove the book, and I would encourage all authors to check the site for their works. Mine was posted with an intentional misspelling in the title to avoid search engines finding it, but I found it and I am not happy about it. I don’t have the funds to mount a big law suit and I sincerely hope they will remove it voluntarily.
To the folks at Scribd, give me a break! Authors toil for years in some cases to produce their work and they have a right to make a living from what they write. If I stole the code that runs the Scribid website, I suspect you would not be pleased.
To everyone else, don’t download stuff from this site that is in obvious violation of copyright law. Stealing is stealing weather it is done with a keyboard and a mouse or a gun and a mask. Enough already!
Airport Blogging - TSA & Our Freedoms
As I sit here stranded in Airport limbo, I hear the continuous announcements that blare over the PA system. “The Transportation Security Administration and Homeland Security remind you that any liquids of gels must be contained in a plastic bag…”
Now I am not a chemist, but I do know a little about the basics and there are a large number of binary or other substances that explode that can be mixed up in just a few minutes from small quantities of liquids or gels. So why does a plastic bag do anything to prevent this? The answer is that it does not. It’s just a security blanket for American travelers to feel safe. It also comes from the numerous complaints TSA and Homeland Security got after banning all liquids and gels.
Like the half-assed screenings that delay travelers and make flying absolutely no fun at all, these are for our minds, not our protection. If we see screening, we feel that the government is doing something. It is a seductive illusion, but it is nothing more than an illusion. OH sure the most clumsy bad guy or girl could be picked up by this technique, but someone really intent on doing harm is going to find a way through.
The “shoe bomber” tried to light the fuse of his bomb with a match. So lighters were eliminated. Now, however, I can buy a lighter in the airport gift shop. What changed? Well they screen your shoes now! Big deal! There are lots of other ways and that isn’t the problem. All this is a technique to keep us afraid. A fearful public is malleable and will consent to the loss of personal liberties at the expense of perceived security. In the end, we live in a state of terror…and isn’t that what the terrorists want?
So who is the winner and loser? Well the average American is the loser and those who seek more power and control over our lives are the winners. The new regulations proposed by TSA and Homeland Security that are scheduled to go into effect in February will make things for travelers even more difficult. We will have to have all our travel approved by the government. It makes driving a lot more attractive, but with the escalating gas prices, even that is tough.
I hate to make comparisons to folks like the Nazis, because when I use that word most people are conditioned to not take me seriously. How could we be like them? Well if you want to know exactly how, read some of the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer written during the 1930’s. You will find an erie similarity to today’s climate of fundamentalist madness. Then it was a “Germanic Religion” that was seeping into everything. A deadly combination of church and state. Today it’s faith based initiatives and pandering to the Radical Fundamental Christians. We have developed an American religion. A perverse blend of nationalism and apocalyptic nuttiness born from the fiction of Tim LaHay and the rantings of the Jerry Falwells of this country. A cross wrapped in a flag. It’s an image Jesus would be sickened by, but it is showing up in more and more places.
Now I am not a chemist, but I do know a little about the basics and there are a large number of binary or other substances that explode that can be mixed up in just a few minutes from small quantities of liquids or gels. So why does a plastic bag do anything to prevent this? The answer is that it does not. It’s just a security blanket for American travelers to feel safe. It also comes from the numerous complaints TSA and Homeland Security got after banning all liquids and gels.
Like the half-assed screenings that delay travelers and make flying absolutely no fun at all, these are for our minds, not our protection. If we see screening, we feel that the government is doing something. It is a seductive illusion, but it is nothing more than an illusion. OH sure the most clumsy bad guy or girl could be picked up by this technique, but someone really intent on doing harm is going to find a way through.
The “shoe bomber” tried to light the fuse of his bomb with a match. So lighters were eliminated. Now, however, I can buy a lighter in the airport gift shop. What changed? Well they screen your shoes now! Big deal! There are lots of other ways and that isn’t the problem. All this is a technique to keep us afraid. A fearful public is malleable and will consent to the loss of personal liberties at the expense of perceived security. In the end, we live in a state of terror…and isn’t that what the terrorists want?
So who is the winner and loser? Well the average American is the loser and those who seek more power and control over our lives are the winners. The new regulations proposed by TSA and Homeland Security that are scheduled to go into effect in February will make things for travelers even more difficult. We will have to have all our travel approved by the government. It makes driving a lot more attractive, but with the escalating gas prices, even that is tough.
I hate to make comparisons to folks like the Nazis, because when I use that word most people are conditioned to not take me seriously. How could we be like them? Well if you want to know exactly how, read some of the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer written during the 1930’s. You will find an erie similarity to today’s climate of fundamentalist madness. Then it was a “Germanic Religion” that was seeping into everything. A deadly combination of church and state. Today it’s faith based initiatives and pandering to the Radical Fundamental Christians. We have developed an American religion. A perverse blend of nationalism and apocalyptic nuttiness born from the fiction of Tim LaHay and the rantings of the Jerry Falwells of this country. A cross wrapped in a flag. It’s an image Jesus would be sickened by, but it is showing up in more and more places.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
TSA & "Secure Flight" - The Implementation of The Police State
OK time to get serious. This coming February, the TSA and Homeland Security will implement new regulations. They call it Secure Flight Plan. Most are hard to understand and cloaked in byzantine language, but here is the gist.
To travel overseas, American Citizens will have to be cleared by Homeland Security. Get it? You will need permission from the Government to leave the country or enter. Now in case you are younger than me, you may not have learned the history lesson taught when I was a child. It was the story of Germany in the 1930’s and that fatal day when the Nazis began controlling who left and entered Germany. It was the beginning of the “final solution” and that should be something you do know about.
I am not saying that the US government has any such plans for a “solution” but the idea of having to have all my travel cleared by the Government makes me angry and sad at the same time. How could our lawmakers, the people we elected do this to us? Easy, they are easy dupes for this kind of thing. Wrap a bad law in a patriotic name and the Congress will vote for it rather than to have to explain to their constituents what it means.
We have become a passive nation, where we blindly accept anything that is fed to us. I thank TV for that. As our collective asses grow wider from sitting and ingesting the junk food of TV news we have become sheep. Sheep serve a couple of purposes on a farm. They can be periodically sheered for wool and slaughtered for meat. So we are sheered by big corporations and slaughtered fighting wars to save those corporations money in the global marketplace.
I am not a conspiracy nut, but I do see a real problem with this new law, and it scares the hell out of me.
Please, please read the article on Daily Kos about this. If you are not upset by it, then line up for the guy with the sheers!
To travel overseas, American Citizens will have to be cleared by Homeland Security. Get it? You will need permission from the Government to leave the country or enter. Now in case you are younger than me, you may not have learned the history lesson taught when I was a child. It was the story of Germany in the 1930’s and that fatal day when the Nazis began controlling who left and entered Germany. It was the beginning of the “final solution” and that should be something you do know about.
I am not saying that the US government has any such plans for a “solution” but the idea of having to have all my travel cleared by the Government makes me angry and sad at the same time. How could our lawmakers, the people we elected do this to us? Easy, they are easy dupes for this kind of thing. Wrap a bad law in a patriotic name and the Congress will vote for it rather than to have to explain to their constituents what it means.
We have become a passive nation, where we blindly accept anything that is fed to us. I thank TV for that. As our collective asses grow wider from sitting and ingesting the junk food of TV news we have become sheep. Sheep serve a couple of purposes on a farm. They can be periodically sheered for wool and slaughtered for meat. So we are sheered by big corporations and slaughtered fighting wars to save those corporations money in the global marketplace.
I am not a conspiracy nut, but I do see a real problem with this new law, and it scares the hell out of me.
Please, please read the article on Daily Kos about this. If you are not upset by it, then line up for the guy with the sheers!
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