OK so I don't make a fortune from the books I have written, at least I get a few bucks now and then in royalties for my hard work. I am no J.K. Rowling and I never will be writing the kinds of non-fiction that I do, but at least I get the knowledge that some folks find what I write and publish to be worth buying.
That brings me to the website Scribd.com. This site is to literature and intellectual property what Napster was to music. Their high and mighty mission is about making information available etc, etc...but what the site does is post and steal intellectual property. Now the owners will say that is not their intent, yet the allow folks named "anonymous" to put anything at all online and claim they are the owners of the copyright. Funny, I have never read a book published by "anonymous" except the Big Book of AA.
One of my books has shown up on this pirate site 3 or 4 times. Now, granted they do remove it after I send them a stern legal notice, but that is lame. If they are going to continue to allow "anon" to keep putting it up there then they are complicit in the intellectual theft. Funny how no publishing house has sent this before a Congressional Committee like the music industry did to the pirates at Napster?
I am for the free and open exchange of information, but I am not for putting something written by another author online and claiming I own the copyright. Doing that is what is called THEFT and just because its a book doesn't mean you can steal it. Of course these are the same folks who "share" files over the internet and essentially steal movies and music as well.
Enough rant. Now I have to see if Scribd.com will really take my book off their site or not. Wonder if J. K. Rowling has seen Harry Potter on this site? I did find Angels and Demons a few months ago and I know that surely wasn't written by "anon627". Go figure!
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Friday, May 08, 2009
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Maine Becomes 5th State To Allow Same Sex Marriage
The State of Maine has become the latest to allow same sex marriage. The governor signed the bill into law today making it the 5th state to allow equal rights for LGBT people.
I can only hope the Supreme Court of California realizes how wrong Prop 8 was! Now if Texas can only figure this out!
I can only hope the Supreme Court of California realizes how wrong Prop 8 was! Now if Texas can only figure this out!
Bristol Palin - Spokesperson For Abstinence?
The Bizarro World of the right wing keeps popping up on TV lately. The latest glimpse into the cognitive dissonance of the right is Bristol Palin promoting the virtues of "abstinence" on Good Morning America. Say what?
Yes the poster child/unwed mother whose unexpected pregnancy was trotted before the media as part of her mothers political campaign is promoting abstenince as the best form of birth control. Of course this ignores the reality that premarital abstinence pledges among teens are ineffective and often counterproductive -- teens are just as likely to have sex but less likely to use condoms or other forms of birth control according to a major study.
Of course Palin said back in February that abstinence is "not realistic at all." Apparently she had not yet seen the media opportunity as an abstinence proponent. Like her mother, Bristol is showing all the signs of becoming a media whore. (This is not a reference to her unexpected pregnancy with her boyfriend!)
Yes the poster child/unwed mother whose unexpected pregnancy was trotted before the media as part of her mothers political campaign is promoting abstenince as the best form of birth control. Of course this ignores the reality that premarital abstinence pledges among teens are ineffective and often counterproductive -- teens are just as likely to have sex but less likely to use condoms or other forms of birth control according to a major study.
Of course Palin said back in February that abstinence is "not realistic at all." Apparently she had not yet seen the media opportunity as an abstinence proponent. Like her mother, Bristol is showing all the signs of becoming a media whore. (This is not a reference to her unexpected pregnancy with her boyfriend!)
Ford Announces New Electric Car
The guys at Ford apparently really do have a better idea. They announced the rollout of the Ford Focus...Electric Model!
Scheduled to appear sometime in 2011 the electric Focus will run 100 miles between charges and be an ideal car for city dwellers and folks with short commutes. This morning news came that a former SUV plant in Wayne, Michigan will get a $550 million makeover to produce the new electric cars.
Ford is leveraging technology from Magna International to produce the car. Meanwhile, GM is struggling to produce the Volt completely in-house. With a proposed $40,000 price tag I seriously doubt if I will be driving a Volt in the future, but a reasonably priced Ford? Might happen.
Scheduled to appear sometime in 2011 the electric Focus will run 100 miles between charges and be an ideal car for city dwellers and folks with short commutes. This morning news came that a former SUV plant in Wayne, Michigan will get a $550 million makeover to produce the new electric cars.
Ford is leveraging technology from Magna International to produce the car. Meanwhile, GM is struggling to produce the Volt completely in-house. With a proposed $40,000 price tag I seriously doubt if I will be driving a Volt in the future, but a reasonably priced Ford? Might happen.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Dom DeLuise Dies
A man who made me laugh more than just about anyone has passed away. Dom DeLuise star of TV and Movies passed away this morning. Dom was lloved by everyone who worked with him and his death will be felt throughout the industry.
Joe The Plumber - Your 15 Minutes Is Up!
So who gave this guy a microphone? Joe the Plumber, (not really a plumber nor a "Joe" since his legal name is Samuel Wurzelbacher), has opened his big mouth again and this time he is slurring me and my friends. In one of his rants he invokes some very bad theology and claims that God was very specific that he wanted none of this "queer" stuff. Then he says he would never let his children near any homosexuals, even though some of them are his friends.
Earth to "Joe". Your 15 minutes of fame is up!
Earth to "Joe". Your 15 minutes of fame is up!
Michael Savage Banned From UK
Well our old friend Michael Savage, aka Scumbag, has been banned from entering the United Kingdom because he is considered to be fostering extremism and hatred. What could they be thinking. After all this is the humanitarian who says an autistic child is just "a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out."
Extreme? Savage calls the Quran, the sacred Muslim holy book, a "book of hate". (Obviously he has never read it.)
OK, most of that was intended as ironic, I know my conservative readers don't do irony, but I just can't help myself. Michael Savage is a loud-mouthed provocateur in the same league as Ann Coulter. If he has a genuine well considered opinion, it is so clouded with his hate filled rants that no one can hear it.
The UK realizes this and classifies him in the same league as Fred Phelps and Egyptian cleric Safwat el-Higazi. Thes efolks are really cut from the same cloth. Savage is just another extremist. His difference is he wears an American flag pin insteas of a turban, but he is just as dangerous. It's time US radio stations realized that and turned him off. The air would be so much clearer.
Extreme? Savage calls the Quran, the sacred Muslim holy book, a "book of hate". (Obviously he has never read it.)
OK, most of that was intended as ironic, I know my conservative readers don't do irony, but I just can't help myself. Michael Savage is a loud-mouthed provocateur in the same league as Ann Coulter. If he has a genuine well considered opinion, it is so clouded with his hate filled rants that no one can hear it.
The UK realizes this and classifies him in the same league as Fred Phelps and Egyptian cleric Safwat el-Higazi. Thes efolks are really cut from the same cloth. Savage is just another extremist. His difference is he wears an American flag pin insteas of a turban, but he is just as dangerous. It's time US radio stations realized that and turned him off. The air would be so much clearer.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Closing The Offshore Tax Loophole
When US companies like Halliburton or Caterpillar change their corporate headquarters to the Cayman Islands, they don't move their offices, just their legal mailing address for tax purposes. Why? So they don't have to pay taxes in the US. It's a complicated loopholes and I am simplifying the technique, but you get the idea.
These corporations are making their profits in the US and then stealing the tax dollars they should be paying on their gains.
President Obama has proposed changing the tax laws to close this loophole. In the process the US will get several billion in taxes in the next few years, and we need that.
It's about time!
These corporations are making their profits in the US and then stealing the tax dollars they should be paying on their gains.
President Obama has proposed changing the tax laws to close this loophole. In the process the US will get several billion in taxes in the next few years, and we need that.
It's about time!
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Cowboys Practice Structure Collapses On The Team
The line of thunderstorms that just passed through Dallas left a swath of wind damage in their wake. The most visible damage was the training facility at the Cowboys Valley Ranch facility. The team was on the field during a training exercise as the 60 mph winds tore the walls and cause the entire football-field sized structure to collapse.
Just saw the video from cameramen on the scene as it happened. The whole building began buckling and lights swayed just prior to the collapse. About 10 people are reported to be injured from the falling structure.
Severe storms continue in the area.
Just saw the video from cameramen on the scene as it happened. The whole building began buckling and lights swayed just prior to the collapse. About 10 people are reported to be injured from the falling structure.
Severe storms continue in the area.
Friday, May 01, 2009
N1H1 May Have Started In The US
N1H1 is hardly as catchy as "Swine Flu" but every bit as serious, and contrary to the shouts of the right wing who have tried to make this an "immigration issue", this strain probably started in the US.
The CDC is now saying it looks like the strain began back in 1998 in US hog farms. The cases found in Mexico may have actually paralleled some here, but it's too early to tell.
The CDC is taking this very seriously, and comedians ridiculing the situation aside, the folks in Virology are not amused. The virus is a hybrid of a swine/avain/human influenza and that means it can travel from human to human.
"We're in unprecedented territory really," said Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., which operates a laboratory that works with the World Health Organization. So far, the virus is treatable with antiviral medicines. It appears less deadly than first thought, as long as good medical care is within reach.
The outbreak was detected early in Mexico and that may be a saving grace. A worldwide pandemic on the scale of the Spanish Flu has been expected for a long time. Let's hope this isn't the one.
The CDC is now saying it looks like the strain began back in 1998 in US hog farms. The cases found in Mexico may have actually paralleled some here, but it's too early to tell.
The CDC is taking this very seriously, and comedians ridiculing the situation aside, the folks in Virology are not amused. The virus is a hybrid of a swine/avain/human influenza and that means it can travel from human to human.
"We're in unprecedented territory really," said Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., which operates a laboratory that works with the World Health Organization. So far, the virus is treatable with antiviral medicines. It appears less deadly than first thought, as long as good medical care is within reach.
The outbreak was detected early in Mexico and that may be a saving grace. A worldwide pandemic on the scale of the Spanish Flu has been expected for a long time. Let's hope this isn't the one.
Hannity Still Silent On Waterboarding Demonstration
Sean Hannity, far-right standard bearer and media whore, has yet to make good on his boast that he would volunteer to be waterboarded for charity. He claimed this would prove it wasn't torture.
Since then Keith Olbermann has posted a $1000 per second prize for Hannity for every second he can endure the torture. So far no word from Hannity.
I'll help out. Since I have experience waterboarding people (albeit in a consensual SM sense as part of an interrogation role-play) I will galdly volunteer to perform the duites. I suspet I will not be taken up on my offer, and it's a good one too. My version of the turture is much milder than the kind indulged in by the CIA and other rogue government agencies. They bring their victim to the verge of drowning, a potentially deadly practice that risks getting water in the victims lungs. That often leads to pnuemonia.
So Mr. Hannity, my offer is this. I will assist in whatever capacity needed to help you raise funds for charity. I assure you that I won't do any permanent damage, but that you will gleefully confess to just about anything to get me to stop.
Sounds sadistic? You betcha.
Since then Keith Olbermann has posted a $1000 per second prize for Hannity for every second he can endure the torture. So far no word from Hannity.
I'll help out. Since I have experience waterboarding people (albeit in a consensual SM sense as part of an interrogation role-play) I will galdly volunteer to perform the duites. I suspet I will not be taken up on my offer, and it's a good one too. My version of the turture is much milder than the kind indulged in by the CIA and other rogue government agencies. They bring their victim to the verge of drowning, a potentially deadly practice that risks getting water in the victims lungs. That often leads to pnuemonia.
So Mr. Hannity, my offer is this. I will assist in whatever capacity needed to help you raise funds for charity. I assure you that I won't do any permanent damage, but that you will gleefully confess to just about anything to get me to stop.
Sounds sadistic? You betcha.
Danny Gans Dies In Las Vegas
If you have never been to Las Vegas you might not have heard of Danny Gans. Gans was voted entertainer of the year numerous times in Las Vegas and had his own theater at the Wynn Encore Hotel & Casino.
Gans died unexpectedly last night at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 52.
Gans died unexpectedly last night at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 52.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Maine Senate Passes Same Sex Marriage Bill!
Word just came in through Americablog that the Maine Senate has passed the Gay Marriage bill. Same sex marriage in Maine is one step closer to reality. Now it moves to the House where an easier time is expected.
Republican Virginia Foxx - Certified Idiot! - Calls Mathew Sheppard Murder A Hoax?
Republicans love to rewrite history. Take Rep.Virginia Foxx, who tried to tie the swine flu to a democratic administration. She said it's "interesting that it happened before under Carter in 1976."
If she had bothered to look at the dates, she would find it happened under Ford. But let's not let reality get in the way of the GOP agenda. She also blamed the Smooth Hawley act on FDR, an act written by Republicans and enacted under Herbert Hoover! Of course she also called it the "Hoot-Smalley" act. Face it Foxx is an idiot!
Then this walking bag of misinformation went on to call the Mathew Sheppard murder a hoax! Someone needs to put duct tape over her mouth before she says something even more outrageous.
Keith Olbermann has the details!
If she had bothered to look at the dates, she would find it happened under Ford. But let's not let reality get in the way of the GOP agenda. She also blamed the Smooth Hawley act on FDR, an act written by Republicans and enacted under Herbert Hoover! Of course she also called it the "Hoot-Smalley" act. Face it Foxx is an idiot!
Then this walking bag of misinformation went on to call the Mathew Sheppard murder a hoax! Someone needs to put duct tape over her mouth before she says something even more outrageous.
Keith Olbermann has the details!
Swine Flu - Redux?
In 1976 I caught the Swine Flu. It was a real ordeal and I spent a week stuck in a hotel room during my travels getting various medications from a local doctor in Agawam, Massachusetts.
Now I figured I would be naturally immune to the newest strain but the doctors tell me differently. Apparently the crafty virus has mutated into a novel form of the virus and just like everyone else, I am vulnerable.
Living in Texas, the state with the largest border with Mexico, the launching point for this wave of pandemic, does make me a bit nervous. The best consolation comes from people taking precautions seriously and schools closing to avoid spreading the disease. Schools are a breeding ground for diseases. Lots of kids, sneezing, coughing and in close contact spreading whatever they have to each other. Share and share alike?
My hope is that parents who keep their children at home will not decide to bring them to work with them. If they do, the same problem will persist, but this time it will be adults who spread it.
The flu in Mexico seems to be more deadly than other countries, and that is a mystery. The fact that this flu is killing the young and strong is also a mystery. It bears a frightening resemblance to the Spanish Flu epidemic that decimated the worlds youth in 1918. Let's hope that isn't repeated.
So what to do? Listen to the recommendations of the CDC and be reasonable. Avoid close contact with large crowds, but don't hide at home and shiver.
Wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes, and just maybe we can nip this in the bud.
Now I figured I would be naturally immune to the newest strain but the doctors tell me differently. Apparently the crafty virus has mutated into a novel form of the virus and just like everyone else, I am vulnerable.
Living in Texas, the state with the largest border with Mexico, the launching point for this wave of pandemic, does make me a bit nervous. The best consolation comes from people taking precautions seriously and schools closing to avoid spreading the disease. Schools are a breeding ground for diseases. Lots of kids, sneezing, coughing and in close contact spreading whatever they have to each other. Share and share alike?
My hope is that parents who keep their children at home will not decide to bring them to work with them. If they do, the same problem will persist, but this time it will be adults who spread it.
The flu in Mexico seems to be more deadly than other countries, and that is a mystery. The fact that this flu is killing the young and strong is also a mystery. It bears a frightening resemblance to the Spanish Flu epidemic that decimated the worlds youth in 1918. Let's hope that isn't repeated.
So what to do? Listen to the recommendations of the CDC and be reasonable. Avoid close contact with large crowds, but don't hide at home and shiver.
Wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes, and just maybe we can nip this in the bud.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Long, Slow Demise Of Michael Steele
It's like watching a slow motion train wreck. Michael Steele, the token minority chairperson of the GOP has steadily had his power extracted by the ultra-conservative faction that runs the party now. The latest slap in Steele's face is a resolution, calling for a new set of checks and balances on the chairman's power to dole out money including new controls on awarding contracts and spending money on outside legal and other services.
Steele is the "dead man walking" of the GOP and apparently he doesn't know it yet.
Steele is the "dead man walking" of the GOP and apparently he doesn't know it yet.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Arlen Specter Switches Parties!
If I were looking for a real indicator of a "sea change" in American politics, this would be it. Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania is switching parties. The longtime moderate voice of the GOP has thrown in the towel and says freely that the party has moved away from his beliefs.
"Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."The GOP is fast becoming a fringe party and none too soon for me. The radical far-right factions that have kidnapped the GOP are pushing it into irrelevance. Once Al Franken is seated as Senator from Minnesota, Specter will give the Democrats a filibusterer proof majority and the real work of rebuilding our country can begin.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Iowa Gay Weddings Start Today
Wedding bells will be ringing in Iowa starting today for same-sex couples. Though there is a three day waiting period after getting a license, a judge can grant an immediate license.
Iowa has not state residency requirements for marriage!
Iowa has not state residency requirements for marriage!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Hatred Kills Again - 11 Year Old Suicide
The next time someone defends anti-gay bigotry as a religious issue, ask them if they believe in killing children. That's the sum total of what hatred can do.
In the case of Jaheem Herrera, an 11 year old from DeKalb county Georgia, the hatred he experienced in school was too much. He hanged himself rather than continue to suffer the bullying he received because students perceived him as gay.
He was discovered hanging in his room by his 10 year old sister who tried in vain to rescue him.
According to a story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Jaheem was bullied relentlessly, his family said. Keene said the family knew the boy was a target, but until his death they didn’t understand the scope.
Bullying has made the news lately from another case in Massachusetts when another 11 year old boy hanged himself after relentless bullying for his preceived sexual orientation.
What these cases point to is a need to recognize that hatred can kill. I know lots of people will say, it was the boys fault he died, after all it was suicide. To them I can only say, until you have experienced being the target of a vile hatred so strong that it makes your every waking hour a nightmare, shut your mouth!
Parents and preachers and politicians are the villans here. They are the ones who carefully teach their children to hate anyone different from themselves. They instill the prejudices well and their offhanded remarks often are taken as absolute truth by impressionable children.
There is a song in the musical South Pacific called "You've Got To Be Taught". Perhaps everyone should read them?
In the case of Jaheem Herrera, an 11 year old from DeKalb county Georgia, the hatred he experienced in school was too much. He hanged himself rather than continue to suffer the bullying he received because students perceived him as gay.
He was discovered hanging in his room by his 10 year old sister who tried in vain to rescue him.
According to a story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Jaheem was bullied relentlessly, his family said. Keene said the family knew the boy was a target, but until his death they didn’t understand the scope.
Bullying has made the news lately from another case in Massachusetts when another 11 year old boy hanged himself after relentless bullying for his preceived sexual orientation.
What these cases point to is a need to recognize that hatred can kill. I know lots of people will say, it was the boys fault he died, after all it was suicide. To them I can only say, until you have experienced being the target of a vile hatred so strong that it makes your every waking hour a nightmare, shut your mouth!
Parents and preachers and politicians are the villans here. They are the ones who carefully teach their children to hate anyone different from themselves. They instill the prejudices well and their offhanded remarks often are taken as absolute truth by impressionable children.
There is a song in the musical South Pacific called "You've Got To Be Taught". Perhaps everyone should read them?
"You've got to be taught to hate and fear,
you've got to be taught from year to year,
it's got to be drummed in your dear little ear---
you've got to be carefully taught!
You've got to be taught to be afraid
of people whose eyes are oddly made,
and people whose skin is a different shade---
you've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught before it's too late,
before you are six or seven or eight,
to hate all the people you relatives hate---
you've got be carefully taught!"
---You've Got to be Taught, from South Pacific
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) Advocates Assassination
If I were to make the remark that this Bozo made, the FBI would be at my door in a minute. His threat was against the governor of Illinois and was not at all veiled. In an article in the Chicago Tribune he is quoted as saying:
“I think that the decision to raise taxes by 50 percent in Illinois is political suicide,” Kirk said of Quinn’s proposal to raise the tax rate to 4.5 percent from 3 percent, coupled with an increase in the personal deduction. “I think the people of Illinois are ready to shoot anyone who is going to raise taxes by that degree.”The Republicans are playing with fire when they try these kinds of hate based rallying cries. There are enough wackos out there that one or more of them are going to take these statements as permission to go on a shooting spree and then we will all be in a mess of #*@t.
CWA In Financial Hot Water
I am concerned! The CWA, Concerned Women of Ameirca are broke. Their financials this year show them with a deficit of $767,716. Seems the recession has hit them too.
No before you get too concerned, this group is not about women, nor is it much about women's concerns. It is really a front for anti-gay hate mongering spearheaded by Beverly LaHaye and her son. That's the same Lahaye family of the "Left Behind" series, some really bad fiction and even worse theology.
Seems the group has a serious addiction to telemarketing. They spend more than half of all the funds they raise for marketing. Now that's a cause for concern.
Wouldn't it be a pity if they went broke alltogether? (holding my tongue firmly in my cheek)
Pam's House Blend has more.
No before you get too concerned, this group is not about women, nor is it much about women's concerns. It is really a front for anti-gay hate mongering spearheaded by Beverly LaHaye and her son. That's the same Lahaye family of the "Left Behind" series, some really bad fiction and even worse theology.
Seems the group has a serious addiction to telemarketing. They spend more than half of all the funds they raise for marketing. Now that's a cause for concern.
Wouldn't it be a pity if they went broke alltogether? (holding my tongue firmly in my cheek)
Pam's House Blend has more.
Glen Beck, Succession & Texans
Last night I saw a clip of Glen Beck, the wingnut to end all wingnuts, talking about Texas succession. Now let's put this in perspective. A demonstration organized and promoted by Fox News and masquerading as a grassroots thing took place yesterday at the Alamo.
Those in attendance, a few hundred mostly white, fringe folks who would be better suited to a Ron Paul rally than the GOP listened to some odd speeches about tyranny and oppression. Funny, not a single one of them looked oppressed and most hadn't a clue what tyranny really meant.
Amidst all this faux-drama were a couple of signs calling for succession. Mr' Beck took this as a great groundswelling of public opinion and postulated on the topic endlessly on his show and others.
Beck is a fool. Succession is not by any means something people are demanding and he and his network are just using this as a launching pad for some kind of panic to drive people to the GOP and away from reality. Those two are mutually exclusive.
Can someone please tell him to shut the hell up and go back to wherever he is from and leave us peace loving Texans alone?
Those in attendance, a few hundred mostly white, fringe folks who would be better suited to a Ron Paul rally than the GOP listened to some odd speeches about tyranny and oppression. Funny, not a single one of them looked oppressed and most hadn't a clue what tyranny really meant.
Amidst all this faux-drama were a couple of signs calling for succession. Mr' Beck took this as a great groundswelling of public opinion and postulated on the topic endlessly on his show and others.
Beck is a fool. Succession is not by any means something people are demanding and he and his network are just using this as a launching pad for some kind of panic to drive people to the GOP and away from reality. Those two are mutually exclusive.
Can someone please tell him to shut the hell up and go back to wherever he is from and leave us peace loving Texans alone?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Teabaggaing Protests Were Flacid
Watching Rachael Maddow tonight, I saw the videos of the "teabagging" protests that happened around the country. One word: pitiful!
What Fox News is claiming was the largest grassroots protest in the country looked like a few hundred rain soaked middle aged loonies. The signs were racist and the message was very mixed. Considering nobody check to get permits for the "dumping of the teabags" they had to immediately scoop them up and leave. And then some brain donor tossed a box of tea over the fence at the White House. Throwing powdered substances at the White House will get the Secret Service on you faster than a duck on a June bug, and the protest became a robot inspected terrorist scare.
Teabagging indeed!
What Fox News is claiming was the largest grassroots protest in the country looked like a few hundred rain soaked middle aged loonies. The signs were racist and the message was very mixed. Considering nobody check to get permits for the "dumping of the teabags" they had to immediately scoop them up and leave. And then some brain donor tossed a box of tea over the fence at the White House. Throwing powdered substances at the White House will get the Secret Service on you faster than a duck on a June bug, and the protest became a robot inspected terrorist scare.
Teabagging indeed!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Japanese Robot Suit - Real Life Ironman?
File this one under "Gee Wiz". A company in Japan called Cyberdyne® starts selling a new robotic suit. The device called a HAL® (Hybrid Assisted Limb® device) is a wearable robot that senses your body's movements and increases your strength from 2 to 10 times normal.Designed for people with disabilities and for heavy labor support at factories, rescue support at disaster sites, as well as in the entertainment field. A real live "Ironman" suit minus the bullet proof part!
According to the company it has a 5 hour battery life and is virtually weightless, since the suit supports itself. We are moving into Robocop territory folks and it's getting exciting...and a little weird.
*CYBERDYNE*, *ROBOT SUIT*, *ROBOT SUIT HAL*, *Hybrid Assistive Limb*, and *HAL* are trademarks (TM) or registered trademarks (®) of CYBERDYNE, Inc. protected by Japanese and Foreign trademark Laws.
Governor Perry Invites Rush Limbaugh To Move To Texas
Here in the Great State of Texas, our esteemed governor, Rick Perry has made a proclamation. Seems the Guv has opened his arms to the head of the Republican Party, Rush Limbaugh. Perry has invited the right wing gas bag to move to Texas. Damn I love this crazy state sometimes!
According to the Dallas Morning News, Perry stated:
So, if Rush does move to Texas it will make our state the home of two certified idiots, Bush and Rush. Sort of seems fitting doesn't it?
According to the Dallas Morning News, Perry stated:
"He's not unlike other people who want to go to a place that's got low taxes and fair regulations and a balanced legal system and a skilled work force. Excellence in Broadcasting hires a lot of people. So if he wants to go somewhere where he works hard and keeps more of what he makes, Texas is the place to do that."Well if that isn't ass-kissing I don't know what is and Gawd knows Rick Perry is good at GOP ass-kissing. Rumor has it he's good at a lot of things but that is a different story.
So, if Rush does move to Texas it will make our state the home of two certified idiots, Bush and Rush. Sort of seems fitting doesn't it?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Spain Will Prosecute Bush Administration Attorneys
According to The Daily Beast, Spanish prosecutors have decided to press forward with a criminal investigation targeting former U.S. attorney general Alberto Gonzales and five top associates over their role in the torture of five Spanish citizens held at Guantánamo.
South Pacific - Restored Roadshow Version on Blu-Ray
I don't review movies here very often, much less ones that are 50 years old, but South Pacific is a different story. I remember loving this musical as a child and was delighted when it became available on Blu-Ray disc in HD.
First of all, if you never saw the film during it's original roadshow engagement, which I did, you haven't seen the full film. It was a 3 hour event that had about 18 minutes trimmed from it for general release. That 18 minutes might not seem like much, but it was far from fluff material.
In the restored Blu-Ray version, the film gets a letterbox treatment even with an HD monitor. Shot in Todd-AO, once billed as the successor to Cinerama, it is spectacular in it's scope. The crystal clear vistas of the South Pacific are stunning. Shot in 65mm, any visible film grain is almost imperceptible except in scenes with a very low light level.
The film's director, Joshua Logan, tried a risky technique of using multiple colored filters on the camera to approximate the theatrical effects of stage lighting. Later he regretted this decision, and since it was an in-camera effect, it was permanent. Personally, I have always liked the color shtick. The rich hues accentuate the emotional tone of the songs and give the musical numbers a surrealistic quality.
I won't go into the plot, since everyone knows it well, however I did find why this film was one of my favorites as a prepubescent yet-to-be-out gay kid. The abundance of bare chests and hunky male physiques are astounding. Today this film might get a PG rating for all the man-skin. Back then people figured it was just hot on the islands and guys never wore shirts.
Add that to the musical numbers where the guys are dancing with each other or even more obviously dressed in drag, and it's a homoerotic treat! I have yet t9o watch the numerous extras included with the two disk set, but I feel pretty sure they will be good.
The only distracting thing was the replaced scenes from the roadshow version. This cut had been lost. No negatives or printing elements were known to exist, and so the restoration relied on an old print found in London and scraps of workprint to replace the missing scenes. Because of this, the quality of these scenes is obviously of poorer quality. Still once I got used to this anomaly, it became invisible.
The sound track is a treat. Multi-channel digital sound reproduces the multi-track analog sound used for Todd-AO to perfection and I found myself singing the songs days after watching the film.
If you have never seen South Pacific, or if you only remember it from Television, you should not pass up this restoration. Mitzi Gaynor, Rossano Brazzi and Ray Walston never looked or sounded so good!
First of all, if you never saw the film during it's original roadshow engagement, which I did, you haven't seen the full film. It was a 3 hour event that had about 18 minutes trimmed from it for general release. That 18 minutes might not seem like much, but it was far from fluff material.
In the restored Blu-Ray version, the film gets a letterbox treatment even with an HD monitor. Shot in Todd-AO, once billed as the successor to Cinerama, it is spectacular in it's scope. The crystal clear vistas of the South Pacific are stunning. Shot in 65mm, any visible film grain is almost imperceptible except in scenes with a very low light level.
The film's director, Joshua Logan, tried a risky technique of using multiple colored filters on the camera to approximate the theatrical effects of stage lighting. Later he regretted this decision, and since it was an in-camera effect, it was permanent. Personally, I have always liked the color shtick. The rich hues accentuate the emotional tone of the songs and give the musical numbers a surrealistic quality.
I won't go into the plot, since everyone knows it well, however I did find why this film was one of my favorites as a prepubescent yet-to-be-out gay kid. The abundance of bare chests and hunky male physiques are astounding. Today this film might get a PG rating for all the man-skin. Back then people figured it was just hot on the islands and guys never wore shirts.
Add that to the musical numbers where the guys are dancing with each other or even more obviously dressed in drag, and it's a homoerotic treat! I have yet t9o watch the numerous extras included with the two disk set, but I feel pretty sure they will be good.
The only distracting thing was the replaced scenes from the roadshow version. This cut had been lost. No negatives or printing elements were known to exist, and so the restoration relied on an old print found in London and scraps of workprint to replace the missing scenes. Because of this, the quality of these scenes is obviously of poorer quality. Still once I got used to this anomaly, it became invisible.
The sound track is a treat. Multi-channel digital sound reproduces the multi-track analog sound used for Todd-AO to perfection and I found myself singing the songs days after watching the film.
If you have never seen South Pacific, or if you only remember it from Television, you should not pass up this restoration. Mitzi Gaynor, Rossano Brazzi and Ray Walston never looked or sounded so good!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Train Station Dance - Sound Of Music!
Sometimes I think there is not enough magic in the world, and the I find this video. It was a publicity stunt for a TV program, and T-Mobile also has used a similar gag in a British train station, but it is still magic. Imagine being just anywhere and suddenly a Hollywood musical starts happening around you complete with hundreds of dancers. Now that's entertainment!
Friday, April 10, 2009
It's A Bird, It's A Plane, No It's A Zeppelin!
Call me a romantic, but I love the idea of Zeppelins! My partner and I had tried to get a ride when we were in Germany a few years ago, but the season was already booked up in Frederickshafen, but now there is a Zeppelin in the US.
An enterprising couple in San Francisco have brought one of the huge airships to the bay area. When the weather is good, they offer sightseeing rides over the city and surrounding area. The trips leave from Moffeft Field and last around 2 hours.
I really can't imagine anything quite as spectacular as floating over the Golden Gate at sunset in the modern descendant of the 1930's airship. More here.
An enterprising couple in San Francisco have brought one of the huge airships to the bay area. When the weather is good, they offer sightseeing rides over the city and surrounding area. The trips leave from Moffeft Field and last around 2 hours.
I really can't imagine anything quite as spectacular as floating over the Golden Gate at sunset in the modern descendant of the 1930's airship. More here.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Betty Brown And Those Darned Asians
I love Texas. It's a great state to live in except for the idiots we have as our representatives.
Case in point: Rep. Betty Brown. Seems Betty has trouble pronouncing the names of people of Asian descent. So to save her actually having to learn how to say the names correctly, she feels those pesky Asians should Americanize their names instead. This is what she actually told Chinese American representative, Ramey Ko the following:
“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?”
So by that standard, I guess "One Stone" would be better than Einstein and someone named Abercrombie should be called "Swamp Land " a loose translation of the Celtic surname. Maybe folks named Buckingham should Americanize their names by using the root meaning, "Beech Tree Town". Kind of flows off the tongue doesn't it?
Betty is an idiot. Let's not mince words here. She is a bigot disguising her bigotry as some kind of semantic simplification exercise. What she is really saying is, "Wouldn't it just be easier if everyone was just like me?"
Well Betty (by the way you have a Dutch name originally "Beatrice"), how about taking a few moments to use the education you got in school and learn how to pronounce the names correctly. You don't have to know Chinese, since everyone's name in this country is already "Americanized" by the fact that it is phonetically spelled in our alphabet, or actually the "Latin" alphabet. So why not just shut up and go crawl under an Einstein.
Case in point: Rep. Betty Brown. Seems Betty has trouble pronouncing the names of people of Asian descent. So to save her actually having to learn how to say the names correctly, she feels those pesky Asians should Americanize their names instead. This is what she actually told Chinese American representative, Ramey Ko the following:
“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?”
So by that standard, I guess "One Stone" would be better than Einstein and someone named Abercrombie should be called "Swamp Land " a loose translation of the Celtic surname. Maybe folks named Buckingham should Americanize their names by using the root meaning, "Beech Tree Town". Kind of flows off the tongue doesn't it?
Betty is an idiot. Let's not mince words here. She is a bigot disguising her bigotry as some kind of semantic simplification exercise. What she is really saying is, "Wouldn't it just be easier if everyone was just like me?"
Well Betty (by the way you have a Dutch name originally "Beatrice"), how about taking a few moments to use the education you got in school and learn how to pronounce the names correctly. You don't have to know Chinese, since everyone's name in this country is already "Americanized" by the fact that it is phonetically spelled in our alphabet, or actually the "Latin" alphabet. So why not just shut up and go crawl under an Einstein.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
This Night Is Indeed Different From All Other Nights - Passover At The White House
Talk about change! President Obama will attended a Seder Thursday night, making him the first US president to attend a White House Passover. The event will occur on the second night of Passover which begins at sundown on Wednesday to allow those in attendance to spend the first Seder with their families.
The guest list was not immediately available, though it is likely to include top Obama advisors David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel, both of whom are Jewish, as well as some of the key Jewish donors to Obama's presidential campaign.
I just wish I was there to see the Obama children look for the afikomen!
The guest list was not immediately available, though it is likely to include top Obama advisors David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel, both of whom are Jewish, as well as some of the key Jewish donors to Obama's presidential campaign.
I just wish I was there to see the Obama children look for the afikomen!
Jack Wrangler Dies
Once the first "name" porn star, Jack Wrangler died peacefully at age 62.
Wrangler was a gay icon in the 1970's and his films, yes then they were film not video, really put gay porn in the spotlight. Masculine and rugged looking Wrangler's look spawned the "Marlboro Man gay clone". His films were wildly successful. Later Jack moved into straight porn and finally into acting on stage and directing.
He was married to singer Margaret Whiting in what was perhaps one of the most happy and to many inexplicable couplings of all time.
Wrangler was a gay icon in the 1970's and his films, yes then they were film not video, really put gay porn in the spotlight. Masculine and rugged looking Wrangler's look spawned the "Marlboro Man gay clone". His films were wildly successful. Later Jack moved into straight porn and finally into acting on stage and directing.
He was married to singer Margaret Whiting in what was perhaps one of the most happy and to many inexplicable couplings of all time.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Gay Marriage Now Legal In Vermont!
From the Human Rights Campaign:
The state Senate voted 23-5 and the House of Representatives voted 100-49 to override Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto, making Vermont the first state to recognize marriage for committed lesbian and gay couples through the legislative process. The Vermont legislation goes into effect September 1.
“This historic vote in the Vermont legislature reminds us of the incredible progress being made toward equality. Less than five years ago, lesbian and gay couples began marrying in Massachusetts. Now, with the Iowa court decision last Friday and today’s vote in Vermont, there will be four states recognizing the right to marry for loving, committed lesbian and gay couples,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We congratulate Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, Speaker of the House Shap Smith, the other legislators who voted for marriage, the Vermont
Freedom to Marry Task Force, and MassEquality for ensuring that all couples will now enjoy the freedom to marry in Vermont. This is a law that will strengthen families and give meaning to the promise of equal rights for all.”...Vermont becomes the first state to recognize marriage equality for lesbian and gay couples through legislation. California’s legislature has twice passed similar legislation that was vetoed and not enacted into law. Vermont is the fourth state, after Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa, to extend marriage equality to committed lesbian and gay couples. Iowa’s state supreme court unanimously ruled on April 3, 2009 that the state constitution guarantees lesbian and gay couples the equal right to marry.New York recognizes marriages by lesbian and gay couples legally entered into in another jurisdiction. California recognized marriage by lesbian and gay couples between June and November of 2008, before voters approved Proposition 8, which purports to amend the state constitution to prohibit marriage equality. The Proposition 8 vote has been challenged in court; a decision by the state supreme court is expected by June.
Lesbian and gay couples do not receive federal rights and responsibilities in any state. To learn more about state by state legislation, visit here.
Focus On The Family Employee Target Of Underage Sex Sting
It seems the right wing fringe group, Focus on the Family is the focus of an investigation of an underage sex scandal. A Colorado man who works as a Bible narrator for the group was arrested by police after he solicited sex online from an investigator posing as a teenage girl.
This is not the first far right evangellical group to have sex scandals, and considering Colorado is a hotbed (no pun intended) for these groups, it is just one more shocking incodent. Last year the Colorado evangellical community was rocked by Rev. Ted Haggard's sex and drug scandal.
More from Page OneQ.
This is not the first far right evangellical group to have sex scandals, and considering Colorado is a hotbed (no pun intended) for these groups, it is just one more shocking incodent. Last year the Colorado evangellical community was rocked by Rev. Ted Haggard's sex and drug scandal.
More from Page OneQ.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Activists Push For A Harvey Milk Stamp
Activists are an optomistic group. They can see what the world should be like and believe they can actually make a change in the right direction. That's what the group of kitchen-table activists in San Francisco are doing in their quest for a Harvey Milk US Postage Stamp.Artist Jim Leff has been creating stamp artworks since the 1980s. His works depict just about any subject you can think of, including a few far too racy for the real USPS. However, his artwork depicting slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk fits right in with a push by another group to have Milk commemorated on a stamp.
According to a story in the Bay Area Reporter:
Daniel Drent, an openly gay man who lives in Cincinnati, is coordinating the effort to convince the U.S. Postal Service’s Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to issue a Milk stamp. He would like to have approval of the stamp to coincide with what would have been Milk’s 80th birthday on May 22 in 2010. Should the committee select the Milk stamp next year, it would not be released until 2012 at the earliest.
For a chance to buy one of these stamps, I might even take up philately again!
Friday, April 03, 2009
Iowa Supreme Court Says Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional
Deep in the heartland of the USA, the Supreme Court of Iowa has unanimously ruled that a ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional!
This is amazing stuff. Iowa now becomes the third state where gay marriage is legal.
That is a very telling ruling. The court recognized the unfair nature of the anti-gay marriage laws and said so. I suspect now there will be an outcry for impeachment of the entire court in Iowa, but that is unlikely to happen. It seems Iowa values human rights more that ideological dogma and that is a hopeful sign!
This is amazing stuff. Iowa now becomes the third state where gay marriage is legal.
That is a very telling ruling. The court recognized the unfair nature of the anti-gay marriage laws and said so. I suspect now there will be an outcry for impeachment of the entire court in Iowa, but that is unlikely to happen. It seems Iowa values human rights more that ideological dogma and that is a hopeful sign!
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Walgreens Offers Jobless Free Clinic Visits
Last month FedEx Office made a generous offer to those seeking employment. They had a "free resume day" at their locations where job seekers cold print off 25 copies of their resume for free. It was not just a successful PR move, but it actually helped people in need.
Now another corporation understands the economic climate and the problems faced by unemployed. Walgreens is offering free clinic visits at its network of "Take Care" clinics across the country. For people who loose their jobs after March 31, the drug store giant will offer free health care and treatment for respiratory problems, allergies, infections and skin conditions, among other ailments.
Quest Diagnostics, the lab associated with the drug store will also offer free tests for a variety of diseases as part of the plan.
Bravo for them! It's refreshing to see companies use some of their "bandwidth" to help out in tough times. Now the real problem is getting Congress to get off their duffs and pass effective health care reform for our country.
What do I mean by "effective"? Well my version goes like this. If you are an American citizen, you can walk into just about any hospital or doctor's office in the country and get treatment without going bankrupt. The system would be a "single payer" health insurance system and the government would be that payer. Private health insurance would still be an option if you really wanted to waste a lot of money, but a basic level of health care would be considered a right not a privilege.
What about all the insurance companies? Well I hear them complain constantly about rising health care costs and how little they make on health insurance, so this will help them out of a tough business. Maybe they could start selling dirivitaves?
Now another corporation understands the economic climate and the problems faced by unemployed. Walgreens is offering free clinic visits at its network of "Take Care" clinics across the country. For people who loose their jobs after March 31, the drug store giant will offer free health care and treatment for respiratory problems, allergies, infections and skin conditions, among other ailments.
Quest Diagnostics, the lab associated with the drug store will also offer free tests for a variety of diseases as part of the plan.
Bravo for them! It's refreshing to see companies use some of their "bandwidth" to help out in tough times. Now the real problem is getting Congress to get off their duffs and pass effective health care reform for our country.
What do I mean by "effective"? Well my version goes like this. If you are an American citizen, you can walk into just about any hospital or doctor's office in the country and get treatment without going bankrupt. The system would be a "single payer" health insurance system and the government would be that payer. Private health insurance would still be an option if you really wanted to waste a lot of money, but a basic level of health care would be considered a right not a privilege.
What about all the insurance companies? Well I hear them complain constantly about rising health care costs and how little they make on health insurance, so this will help them out of a tough business. Maybe they could start selling dirivitaves?
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
The Queen's iPod & A Special Gift
After being widely criticized for the gifts President Obama gave to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his children, his gift for the Queen was much more thoughtful.
You will see a lot of press about the iPod he gave her, loaded with video of her visit to the United States in 2007. Nice gift and very personal. What you probably won't hear about is the additional gift which was a rare record album autographed by Richard Rogers of Rogers and Hammerstein fame.
The Queen and her husband Prince Phillip are big fans of the song, "People Will Say We're in Love" from the musical Oklahoma. They used to hum it to each other as a personal signal when others were around. Very thoughtful gift as well.
And for the Obama's...well the standard framed photo of the Queen and Prince.
You will see a lot of press about the iPod he gave her, loaded with video of her visit to the United States in 2007. Nice gift and very personal. What you probably won't hear about is the additional gift which was a rare record album autographed by Richard Rogers of Rogers and Hammerstein fame.
The Queen and her husband Prince Phillip are big fans of the song, "People Will Say We're in Love" from the musical Oklahoma. They used to hum it to each other as a personal signal when others were around. Very thoughtful gift as well.
And for the Obama's...well the standard framed photo of the Queen and Prince.
Qualcomm Organic Hybrid Network
Qualcomm has created the next generation in mobile computing. Organic based wireless networks.
Watch:
Happy April 1!
Watch:
Happy April 1!
Norm Coleman Moves Closer To Conceding Defeat
Norm Coleman, the Every Ready Bunny of the GOP, has lost another battle to change the results of a recount in the Minnesota Senatorial race.
An article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:
Read more here.
An article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:
Norm Coleman's lawyers all but conceded defeat Tuesday and promised to appeal after a panel of three judges ordered no more than 400 new absentee ballots opened and counted, far fewer than the Republican had sought to overcome the lead held by DFLer Al Franken.
Read more here.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Congresswoman Murkowski On Jindal's "Volcano Monitoring" Comment
Being a bit of a vulcanology enthusiast myself, I know the importance of the "volcano monitoring" that Bobby Jindal railed against in the GOP response to President Obama's speech a few weeks back. So do the folks in Alaska.
Aw Nuts! Another Salmonella Scare - Pistachios This Time
Seems our food supply has just not been as safe as it should be. Take the latest recall of pistachios. The FDA issued a warning on any foods containing pistachio nuts because of Salmonella found in bags of nuts shipped from California-based Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc. the nation's 2nd largest pistachio supplier.
The FDA learned about the problem last Tuesday, when Kraft Foods Inc. notified the agency that routine product testing had detected salmonella in roasted pistachios. Kraft and the Georgia Nut Co. recalled their Back to Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix the next day.
Time to put teeth back into the FDA and other inspection and regulation agencies!
The FDA learned about the problem last Tuesday, when Kraft Foods Inc. notified the agency that routine product testing had detected salmonella in roasted pistachios. Kraft and the Georgia Nut Co. recalled their Back to Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix the next day.
Time to put teeth back into the FDA and other inspection and regulation agencies!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Mt. Redoubt Still Erupting
This amazing photo is from the geostationary satellite MTSTAT from the National Weather service. It show Mt. Redoubt's volcanic ash cloud from space. And to think that Bobby Jindal thinks we don't need anything called "volcano monitoring"? Ask the residents of Ankorage if they think we don't need it!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Spanish Court Considering Criminal Charges Against Bush Era Officials
From the folks who brought you the arrest warrant for Augusto Pinochet comes news that the same court in Spain is highly likely to issue warrants for the arrest of 6 Bush ear officials on war crimes charges. Among those whose names will be in a criminals list in Europe will be Alberto Gonzales.
Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, who is known for his tough minded approach to international criminals, terrorists and human rights violators will be reviewing the charges, According to a report in the New York Times, a Spanish official said that it was “highly probable” that the case would go forward and that it could lead to arrest warrants.
Seeing the Bushies brought up on charges would be a real banner day for the cause of human rights and justice in the eyes of the world. I only hope this story comes to fruition and arrests are made.
Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, who is known for his tough minded approach to international criminals, terrorists and human rights violators will be reviewing the charges, According to a report in the New York Times, a Spanish official said that it was “highly probable” that the case would go forward and that it could lead to arrest warrants.
Seeing the Bushies brought up on charges would be a real banner day for the cause of human rights and justice in the eyes of the world. I only hope this story comes to fruition and arrests are made.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Alec Baldwin - Great Clip!
OK, I rarely post ads here unless they are for a specific cause I support, but this one is amazing. Hulu, the NBC branded version of YouTube gets the 30 Rock treatment. Enjoy!
Shady AIDS Charity Ads On Front Page Of USA Today
You'd think in the 21st century most American's would be immune to the 19th century "snake oil " salesman. You would be wrong.
Just watch TV late night and see the parade of demonstrably bogus products being touted for everything from Arthritis cures to "male enhancement", whatever that is. Most of these products are classified as "Herbal Supplements", a sneaky classification that puts them on the fringe of real medicine and yet having some kind of cache of authenticity.
These products are usually a blend of well known herbs that have little or anecdotal effect on the miladies they are intended to treat, and the labels make sure you know that no medical claims are made...but plenty are implied in the TV ads! Just ask Smiling Bob!
OK so this was a long route to get to the point, and that's why I am not a journalist. USA today carries an ad on its web site that promotes "The Center for AIDS Prevention". Sounds like a good thing, and by the name alone you might even consider making a contribution. Here's the catch, the Center for AIDS Prevention is a front.
Created as a money making venture by an herbal supplement marketer whose previous product was touted as a replacement for anti-retroviral therapy. Say what?
Yup. This alleged foundation claimed on its web site to have had a history of "Fighting the HIV Epidemic for over 20 Years". That claim is a lie, and according to the group's PR guy it is coming down from the site. Worse still is the "advice" for prevention that the site carries. In one paragraph it states clearly that birth control pills help stem the spread of AIDS. Most kids in high school can tell you that one is false.
The real crime, and I am convinced that is the appropriate word here, is that this dubious charity is sapping funds from "real" non-profits that are in desperate need of money.
The larger implication is that you don't need any credentials or facts to set up a sham charity in this country or to sell a bottle of colored water as a miracle cure. Such is the legacy of deregulation and something that must be addressed by the new administration as they try to clean up the mess left by 8 years of Bush/Cheney.
Meanwhile, I have a new "male enhancement" product I'd like to sell you. It is a secret blend of di-hydrogen oxide and C12H22O11. Guaranteed to put a little pep in your pants!
Just watch TV late night and see the parade of demonstrably bogus products being touted for everything from Arthritis cures to "male enhancement", whatever that is. Most of these products are classified as "Herbal Supplements", a sneaky classification that puts them on the fringe of real medicine and yet having some kind of cache of authenticity.
These products are usually a blend of well known herbs that have little or anecdotal effect on the miladies they are intended to treat, and the labels make sure you know that no medical claims are made...but plenty are implied in the TV ads! Just ask Smiling Bob!
OK so this was a long route to get to the point, and that's why I am not a journalist. USA today carries an ad on its web site that promotes "The Center for AIDS Prevention". Sounds like a good thing, and by the name alone you might even consider making a contribution. Here's the catch, the Center for AIDS Prevention is a front.
Created as a money making venture by an herbal supplement marketer whose previous product was touted as a replacement for anti-retroviral therapy. Say what?
Yup. This alleged foundation claimed on its web site to have had a history of "Fighting the HIV Epidemic for over 20 Years". That claim is a lie, and according to the group's PR guy it is coming down from the site. Worse still is the "advice" for prevention that the site carries. In one paragraph it states clearly that birth control pills help stem the spread of AIDS. Most kids in high school can tell you that one is false.
The real crime, and I am convinced that is the appropriate word here, is that this dubious charity is sapping funds from "real" non-profits that are in desperate need of money.
The larger implication is that you don't need any credentials or facts to set up a sham charity in this country or to sell a bottle of colored water as a miracle cure. Such is the legacy of deregulation and something that must be addressed by the new administration as they try to clean up the mess left by 8 years of Bush/Cheney.
Meanwhile, I have a new "male enhancement" product I'd like to sell you. It is a secret blend of di-hydrogen oxide and C12H22O11. Guaranteed to put a little pep in your pants!
New Hampshire Steps Closer To Gay Marriage
The dominoes are starting to fall. New Hampshire has moved a step closer to allowing same-sex marriage. Already having a civil union statute, the New Hampshire House voted 186-179 to approve the gay marriage bill and send it to the state Senate.
New Hampshire will be the third state to allow same-sex marriages should the bill become law. Another measure is in discussion in Vermont and New Jersey. If passed it would make New England a safe haven for LGBT people seeking to wed.
As more and more states allow same-sex marriage, the question of recognition will be more and more difficult for states who have passed so-called "Defense of Marriage" laws.
New Hampshire will be the third state to allow same-sex marriages should the bill become law. Another measure is in discussion in Vermont and New Jersey. If passed it would make New England a safe haven for LGBT people seeking to wed.
As more and more states allow same-sex marriage, the question of recognition will be more and more difficult for states who have passed so-called "Defense of Marriage" laws.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Ashcroft Defends Torture - No Regrets
I just watched a clip of the not-yet-prosecuted criminal John Ashcroft. He danced around whether or not waterboarding is torture. Now I don't know what he calls waterboarding, but what I call waterboarding is TORTURE. Funny thing is, the Geneva Convention calls it torture as well.
Ashcroft is a sociopath. He has no conscience and no thought of anything that does not advance his agenda. That would be the definition of ruthless and his defense of torture proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
He is another of the Bush minions who is touring the country trying to rewrite the Bush legacy. Surely people are not stupid enough to buy this crap!
Ashcroft is a sociopath. He has no conscience and no thought of anything that does not advance his agenda. That would be the definition of ruthless and his defense of torture proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
He is another of the Bush minions who is touring the country trying to rewrite the Bush legacy. Surely people are not stupid enough to buy this crap!
Michael Steele - Clueless Token
It's no secret that Republicans live in their own reality, often a delusional one. The sad thing is when they don't even know it. Take Michael Steele, titular head of the GOP.
Steele thinks he is in a postion of power, but the reality is he is a front-man. To use even less tact, he is a "token" and the sad thing is he doesn't even know it. The latest example of his delusion is his appearance on CNN where he explains his whole dust-up with Ruch Limbaugh as part of his "strategy". That is like a kid who falls on the playground saying, "I meant to do that!"
Further proof of his cluelessness is his assertion that he is ready to be the candidate for the GOP in 2012. Please, someone get this man into treatment. He has as much chance of being the GOP nominee as I do. That would be less than a .0001% chance, or statistically impossible.
My appologies to anyone who is offended by my use of the word token, but in this case it's true!
Steele thinks he is in a postion of power, but the reality is he is a front-man. To use even less tact, he is a "token" and the sad thing is he doesn't even know it. The latest example of his delusion is his appearance on CNN where he explains his whole dust-up with Ruch Limbaugh as part of his "strategy". That is like a kid who falls on the playground saying, "I meant to do that!"
Further proof of his cluelessness is his assertion that he is ready to be the candidate for the GOP in 2012. Please, someone get this man into treatment. He has as much chance of being the GOP nominee as I do. That would be less than a .0001% chance, or statistically impossible.
My appologies to anyone who is offended by my use of the word token, but in this case it's true!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Obama Uses A Teleprompter And Other Non-Stories
I have to wonder why there is all this kerfuffle over President Obama using a teleprompter? Every president since Carter has used one and so does every news anchor, most reporters and public speakers. It's just like having paper in front of you, except you can actually look at your audience while you read.
The Associated Press's Ron Fournier apparently thinks Obama is the first president to use one. Guess what? Not! Watch every speech Bush made in a controled environment and you will see the familliar teleprompters, though you would have never known he used one because his reading skill was so impared.
I guess it's just the right-wing trying toi snipe at President Obama with whatever meager verbal amunition they have left. Short of calling him names like Rush Limbaugh and other purile idiots, these guys just have to find fault with something.
Give it a rest!
The Associated Press's Ron Fournier apparently thinks Obama is the first president to use one. Guess what? Not! Watch every speech Bush made in a controled environment and you will see the familliar teleprompters, though you would have never known he used one because his reading skill was so impared.
I guess it's just the right-wing trying toi snipe at President Obama with whatever meager verbal amunition they have left. Short of calling him names like Rush Limbaugh and other purile idiots, these guys just have to find fault with something.
Give it a rest!
Anonymous Violent Sex Ad Leads To Murder
Former ABC Newsman, George Weber cruised the Internet looking for "violent sex" what he got was murdered.
Weber placed an ad on Craigslist seeking what he described as "violent sex' and found a partner in a 16 year old from Brooklyn. The boy, now in police custody said things got "out of hand", and that during a drug induced stupor he stabbed and killed Weber at his apartment.
The press has already started characterizing this as a sadomasochistic killing. That figures! The sad truth is had Weber been open about his desires and sought a partner in the BDSM/leather community, he would probably be alive today.
Anonymous sex, as exciting as it may seem to some is dangerous business. It's risky from a legal standpoint since often anonymous partners are lying about their age. It's risky because anonymous partners often lie about their health status. It's risky because the very fact that they are anonymous means they are hiding something!
How often do we have to read about these kind of encounters before people realize that finding a partner online is often risky and sometimes deadly! What ever happened to meeting someone in person and getting to know them? What happened to checking their reputation before submitting to a potentially life-threatening scene?
I am not trying to blame the victim entirely for this crime, but sometimes people really are "asking for it" when they play these dangerous games. You can have rough sex and still be safe. That's what I have spent most of my life trying to teach people. Just because it's rough, doesn't mean it's dangerous. Having rough sex with a complete stranger...now that's dangerous!
Weber placed an ad on Craigslist seeking what he described as "violent sex' and found a partner in a 16 year old from Brooklyn. The boy, now in police custody said things got "out of hand", and that during a drug induced stupor he stabbed and killed Weber at his apartment.
The press has already started characterizing this as a sadomasochistic killing. That figures! The sad truth is had Weber been open about his desires and sought a partner in the BDSM/leather community, he would probably be alive today.
Anonymous sex, as exciting as it may seem to some is dangerous business. It's risky from a legal standpoint since often anonymous partners are lying about their age. It's risky because anonymous partners often lie about their health status. It's risky because the very fact that they are anonymous means they are hiding something!
How often do we have to read about these kind of encounters before people realize that finding a partner online is often risky and sometimes deadly! What ever happened to meeting someone in person and getting to know them? What happened to checking their reputation before submitting to a potentially life-threatening scene?
I am not trying to blame the victim entirely for this crime, but sometimes people really are "asking for it" when they play these dangerous games. You can have rough sex and still be safe. That's what I have spent most of my life trying to teach people. Just because it's rough, doesn't mean it's dangerous. Having rough sex with a complete stranger...now that's dangerous!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
American's Without Health Insurance Rising - Costs Everyone
The problem of uninsured American's might seem like a problem for somebody else, but it's yours.
Roughly 8% or about $1,100 per year of average family's health insurance is actually a cost shifted to them due to our broken system that fails to cover the uninsured.
In 2007 and 2008 roughly 87 million Americans went without health insurance at some point. As unemployment rises another 14,000 lose their health insurance every day. Furthermore according to a report from the Center for American Progress:
Isn't it time for a national health insurance plan? We are the only industrialized country without one and we rank far down the scale on the quality of our health care.
Roughly 8% or about $1,100 per year of average family's health insurance is actually a cost shifted to them due to our broken system that fails to cover the uninsured.
In 2007 and 2008 roughly 87 million Americans went without health insurance at some point. As unemployment rises another 14,000 lose their health insurance every day. Furthermore according to a report from the Center for American Progress:
The uninsured pay more for care—and get less—than those with insurance. But when the uninsured cannot pay, health care providers shift those costs to those who can pay—those who have insurance coverage. This leads to higher premiums for those who buy their insurance on the individual market, as well as workers who get insurance for themselves and their families through their job.Our health care system in the US is broken. Putting the burden of health insurance on employers makes us less competitive with the rest of the world and as more and more companies cut payrolls the number of uninsured will increase. More unemployment pulls the economy down as well..
Isn't it time for a national health insurance plan? We are the only industrialized country without one and we rank far down the scale on the quality of our health care.
GOP Would Rather Cheney Returned To Undisclosed Location
Remember when Dick Cheney was that shadowy figure lurking somewhere at an undisclosed location? Well the GOP wishes he would return to his lair.
According to an article in The Hill, Republican legislators find Cheney's recent media appearances detrimental to their cause. Cheney has been on a series of talk shows defending the Bush-Cheney legacy, and though it is understandable, many in the GOP would rather he didn't.
According to the report Rep. John Duncan of Tennessee said,"He became so unpopular while he was in the White House that it would probably be better for us politically if he wouldn’t be so public."
Another noted, "Cheney did House Republicans no favors,” adding, “I could never understand him anyway."
Such is the real legacy of Dick Cheney.
According to an article in The Hill, Republican legislators find Cheney's recent media appearances detrimental to their cause. Cheney has been on a series of talk shows defending the Bush-Cheney legacy, and though it is understandable, many in the GOP would rather he didn't.
According to the report Rep. John Duncan of Tennessee said,"He became so unpopular while he was in the White House that it would probably be better for us politically if he wouldn’t be so public."
Another noted, "Cheney did House Republicans no favors,” adding, “I could never understand him anyway."
Such is the real legacy of Dick Cheney.
Monday, March 23, 2009
JP Morgan Uses Bail Out Funds To Buy Luxury Private Jets
I guess the fat cats at JP Morgan never had to go through their pockets to find enough change to buy gas just to get to work. I would bet they never had to negotiate with a creditor a payout agreement for an overdue bill. I would also bet they haven't traveled by a means of public transportation since college, if then.
These guys are so out of touch they have no idea how "real people" live, and that's why they are buying new luxury private jets. Yup, the same guys who took the $25 billion in TARP funds are tossing a cool $138 million for a couple of new Jetstream runabouts. Top that off with their plans to build a new hanger in Westchester for another $18 mill and you have a whole lot of crazy going on.
Needless to say, outrage has followed this decision, and rightly so. Next time these guys need to go somewhere, wouldn't a first class ticket on a commercial flight be good enough? Heck they would even afford a few extra cigars and hundred dollar bills to light them with.
If the business tycoons who got us into this mess don't wise up and start behaving like the failed businessmen they are, I wouldn't be surprised if the current populist trend doesn't turn into full blown socialism. It won't take much more for folks to storm their offices with torches and pitchforks. Wise up guys!
These guys are so out of touch they have no idea how "real people" live, and that's why they are buying new luxury private jets. Yup, the same guys who took the $25 billion in TARP funds are tossing a cool $138 million for a couple of new Jetstream runabouts. Top that off with their plans to build a new hanger in Westchester for another $18 mill and you have a whole lot of crazy going on.
Needless to say, outrage has followed this decision, and rightly so. Next time these guys need to go somewhere, wouldn't a first class ticket on a commercial flight be good enough? Heck they would even afford a few extra cigars and hundred dollar bills to light them with.
If the business tycoons who got us into this mess don't wise up and start behaving like the failed businessmen they are, I wouldn't be surprised if the current populist trend doesn't turn into full blown socialism. It won't take much more for folks to storm their offices with torches and pitchforks. Wise up guys!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Portia De Rossi - Sorry For Getting Married
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi got married before Proposition 8. Now Portia apologizes to all the people their marriage hurt.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Ted Haggard - Media Whore Again!
Just when you think a tired story has thankfully disappeared from the media radar, here it comes again! Ted Haggard, former evangelical preacher and media whore is making a joint appearance with his wife in court. Not just any court though, but TV's "Divorce Court"!
Appropriately the show will air April 1, and these two April Fools will be discussing how Ted's "struggle with homosexuality" has made their marriage stronger. Funny place to do it on a show about divorce?
According to Huffington Post:
Come out Ted! We have all had enough of your tortured existence in the media. Let your wife go and find a nice twink to settle down with. Give us all a rest!
Appropriately the show will air April 1, and these two April Fools will be discussing how Ted's "struggle with homosexuality" has made their marriage stronger. Funny place to do it on a show about divorce?
According to Huffington Post:
The couple will be paid an undisclosed amount for the interview, the latest in a
series of public appearances that started in January when Ted Haggard began
promoting an HBO documentary about his time in exile.
Come out Ted! We have all had enough of your tortured existence in the media. Let your wife go and find a nice twink to settle down with. Give us all a rest!
Michael Steele - Open Mouth, Insert Foot!
Seems Michael Steele just can't quit talking. The beleagured GOP party figure-head is back on the airwaves and he charasticly makes another gaff. This time he misquotes the First Ammendment to the Constitution. You know the one about freedom of the press, religion and freedom to assemble?
Well on Bill Bennett's radio show today he agreed with a caller who said that trying to tax Wall Street Bailout recipients was against the first ammendment, "the first amendment…specifically states that a law cannot be passed to specifically target a person or a group of people.”
Well actually that's way off the mark. Perhaps he was referring to Article I of the U.S. Constitution which bans bills of attainder. Or perhaps he was just carried away with the moment. Either way, he continues to be an easy target for those who want him gone.
Well on Bill Bennett's radio show today he agreed with a caller who said that trying to tax Wall Street Bailout recipients was against the first ammendment, "the first amendment…specifically states that a law cannot be passed to specifically target a person or a group of people.”
Well actually that's way off the mark. Perhaps he was referring to Article I of the U.S. Constitution which bans bills of attainder. Or perhaps he was just carried away with the moment. Either way, he continues to be an easy target for those who want him gone.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
City Council Members Call For Judge Lander To Resign
When I hear calls for Judge C. Victor Lander to resign I am awestruck. He has been accused of using racially charged language when he praised District Attorney Craig Watkins. Judge Lander said, "black folks have been cleaning up white folks' messes for hundreds of years."
Truer words have rarely been spoken and though they were intended as a dose of irony, some have taken it without a grin. Lander is an African-American judge who as been on the bench for 12 years and with that time has come a lot of wisdom and a good understanding of irony. Apparently, some on the city council live in an "irony free zone".
I sincerely hope the judge stays put. As for the city council? Well maybe they should lighten up and understand that there is a lot of truth behind the remark Judge Lander said.
Truer words have rarely been spoken and though they were intended as a dose of irony, some have taken it without a grin. Lander is an African-American judge who as been on the bench for 12 years and with that time has come a lot of wisdom and a good understanding of irony. Apparently, some on the city council live in an "irony free zone".
I sincerely hope the judge stays put. As for the city council? Well maybe they should lighten up and understand that there is a lot of truth behind the remark Judge Lander said.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
US Signs UN Gay Rights Declaration
It's about time! The US will finally signed the UN declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality. Obama is doing what Bush refused to do and brings us into accord with 27 European Union members as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and three dozen other countries.
When the United States the supposed beacon of freedom in the world is one of the last to sign this declaration, it's pretty sad. I am grateful that President Obama is bringing us into the 21st Century!
When the United States the supposed beacon of freedom in the world is one of the last to sign this declaration, it's pretty sad. I am grateful that President Obama is bringing us into the 21st Century!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
AIG Bonus Contract Exposed!
God bless Barney Frank and Andrew Cuomo! They have rooted out the rats at AIG and exposed their shenanigans to daylight.
The bonuses paid as "retention bonuses" are nothing of the sort. Eleven (11) of the people receiving them no longer work for AIG which I believe would be the opposite of retention.
According to Cuomo's office the following details were revealed when the contracts were examined:
The bonuses paid as "retention bonuses" are nothing of the sort. Eleven (11) of the people receiving them no longer work for AIG which I believe would be the opposite of retention.
According to Cuomo's office the following details were revealed when the contracts were examined:
- The top recipient received more than $6.4 million;
- The top seven bonus recipients received more than $4 million each;
- The top ten bonus recipients received a combined $42 million;
- 22 individuals received bonuses of $2 million or more, and combined they
received more than $72 million; - 73 individuals received bonuses of $1 million or more; and
- Eleven of the individuals who received "retention" bonuses of $1 million
or more are no longer working at AIG, including one who received $4.6
million;
Again, these payments were all made to individuals in the subsidiary whose performance
led to crushing losses and the near failure of AIG. Thus, last week, AIG made more than 73
millionaires in the unit which lost so much money that it brought the firm to its knees, forcing taxpayer bailout. Something is deeply wrong with this outcome. I hope the Committee will
address it head on.
We have also now obtained the contracts under which AIG decided to make these
payments. The contracts shockingly contain a provision that required most individuals' bonuses to be 100% of their 2007 bonuses. Thus, in the Spring of last year, AIG chose to lock in bonuses for 2008 at 2007 levels despite obvious signs that 2008 performance would be disastrous in comparison to the year before. My Office has thus begun to closely examine the circumstances under which the plan was created.
More details are available including a scan of the letter from the New York Attorney General are available on Huffington Post.
Pope Says Condoms Don't Prevent AIDS - Say What?
Pope Benedict XVI is doing his part to help spread the HIV virus. He boldly proclaimed on his way to Africa that "You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms...on the contrary, it increases the problem."
The Vatican apparently is living in the fantasy world that the GOP inhabits when they push abstinence only sex education and watch the pregnancy rate and STD rates rise. I suspect the pope feels that by admitting that condoms can indeed stop the spread of the disease he would in some way undermine the church's stand on procreation. Whatever his reason it is a strange position for the man who claims the right as the "Vicker of Christ" to take. He would rather see people infected and die than use any method of birth control. That is a really odd "sanctity of life" argument.
The spread of AIDS is not just an African problem. In a recent study, our nation's capital has an astounding infection rate of 3% of the population. That is 2% higher than the official benchmark at which a disease becomes a "generalized and severe" epidemic. In Africa things are even worse and one would think the sanctity of preserving life would trump the idology of condeming condom use, but I guess I am just not pious enough to get it.
The Vatican apparently is living in the fantasy world that the GOP inhabits when they push abstinence only sex education and watch the pregnancy rate and STD rates rise. I suspect the pope feels that by admitting that condoms can indeed stop the spread of the disease he would in some way undermine the church's stand on procreation. Whatever his reason it is a strange position for the man who claims the right as the "Vicker of Christ" to take. He would rather see people infected and die than use any method of birth control. That is a really odd "sanctity of life" argument.
The spread of AIDS is not just an African problem. In a recent study, our nation's capital has an astounding infection rate of 3% of the population. That is 2% higher than the official benchmark at which a disease becomes a "generalized and severe" epidemic. In Africa things are even worse and one would think the sanctity of preserving life would trump the idology of condeming condom use, but I guess I am just not pious enough to get it.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Alan Livingston - Creator of Bozo Dies
My friend, the late Larry Harmon, used to bristle at the name Alan Livingston. Livingston was the man who created Bozo the Clown for Capitol Records back in 1946. Larry was the man who rescued Bozo from obscurity and turned the red haired clown into a national brand long after the 78rmp records of Bozo at the Circus had joined the landfills.
Today comes news that Alan Livingston has died at age 91. Alan outlived Larry by about 7 months. Both men were part of a childhood tradition for millions of Americans. Though the creator and chief evangelist for Bozo are gone, Bozo still lives on. I suspect that someday the venerable clown will make a comeback.
Today comes news that Alan Livingston has died at age 91. Alan outlived Larry by about 7 months. Both men were part of a childhood tradition for millions of Americans. Though the creator and chief evangelist for Bozo are gone, Bozo still lives on. I suspect that someday the venerable clown will make a comeback.
Steele Will Limit His Media Exposure...Forever?
The long slow descent of Michael Steele continues. Word comes now that he will curtail his media appearances for a while...meaning he will quietly fade away.
The Washington Post says that Steele will take some time off from his media appearance to work on the "nuts and bolts" of the party. I suspect nest will be his taking time away to "spend more time with his family". That is GOP doublespeak for getting canned!
Steele has made one gaff after another with the "base" of the Republican Party. I suspect most are not happy to see a diverse face on the GOP. The base of the party knows what it is and Steele is not even close.
The illusion that the GOP is a "big Tent" faded a log time ago and to try to continue that by adding a few minorities in places of prominence is a side show, not the main event.
The Washington Post says that Steele will take some time off from his media appearance to work on the "nuts and bolts" of the party. I suspect nest will be his taking time away to "spend more time with his family". That is GOP doublespeak for getting canned!
Steele has made one gaff after another with the "base" of the Republican Party. I suspect most are not happy to see a diverse face on the GOP. The base of the party knows what it is and Steele is not even close.
The illusion that the GOP is a "big Tent" faded a log time ago and to try to continue that by adding a few minorities in places of prominence is a side show, not the main event.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Harlow Cuadra Guilty!
Never heard of Harlow Cuadra? Welcome to the club.
Gay porn star, Cuadra was convicted of murdering Bryan Kocis, 44, at Kocis' Dallas Township home in January 2007. That is Dallas Township, Pennsylvania, not Texas.
Apparently Mr. Cuadra decided to kill Bryan Kocis as a business decision. Seems Kocis was a rival adult star and because he wanted to work with adult gay film actor Sean Lockhart, who was a contract actor for Kocis' company, Cobra Video.
Strange times these.
Gay porn star, Cuadra was convicted of murdering Bryan Kocis, 44, at Kocis' Dallas Township home in January 2007. That is Dallas Township, Pennsylvania, not Texas.
Apparently Mr. Cuadra decided to kill Bryan Kocis as a business decision. Seems Kocis was a rival adult star and because he wanted to work with adult gay film actor Sean Lockhart, who was a contract actor for Kocis' company, Cobra Video.
Strange times these.
Dow Closes Up Again!
The Dow closed up again today for the third straight day - 7,233.98 up 53.92!
That's a ray of hope in the doom and gloom that has overtaken Wall Street. Glad to see it. I have to wonder if it isn't a result of Jim Cramer being rendered impotent last night on the Daily Show?
That's a ray of hope in the doom and gloom that has overtaken Wall Street. Glad to see it. I have to wonder if it isn't a result of Jim Cramer being rendered impotent last night on the Daily Show?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Jon Stewart Eviscerates Cramer - Best TV Interview In Years
I just watched Jon Stewart eviscerate Jim Cramer on his show live and face to face and Cramer doesn't even know he is being destroyed. Stewart is mad as hell and echos the feelings of the country. He exposes Cramer's illegal trading ion the tape of him describing his techniques as a hedge fund manager and then proceeds to indict the whole financial broadcast industry.
Stewart is doing what the press should have done all along with these financial liars. This is a program worthy of an Emmy as an example of great journalism.
When he asks Cramer who he is responsible to. His assessment that the networks have been irresponsible and facilitated the wild swings in the market. He reminds Cramer who pleads innocent that as a reporter, he should investigate the statements that companies and executives make with impunity. Stewart has asked the real question of the decade and that is when did journalism stop seeking the truth and started just reprinting press releases?
Watch the whole uncensored interview here.
Stewart is doing what the press should have done all along with these financial liars. This is a program worthy of an Emmy as an example of great journalism.
When he asks Cramer who he is responsible to. His assessment that the networks have been irresponsible and facilitated the wild swings in the market. He reminds Cramer who pleads innocent that as a reporter, he should investigate the statements that companies and executives make with impunity. Stewart has asked the real question of the decade and that is when did journalism stop seeking the truth and started just reprinting press releases?
Watch the whole uncensored interview here.
Michael Steele Angers The Base Again!
Watching Michael Steele as he continues his slow death spiral as head of the RNC is not very much fun. It's no secret his decline started when he angered Rush Limbaugh, the real leader of the GOP, and now he's gone and directly attacked the base.
In an interview with GQ, Steele said unequivocally that he believed in a woman's right to choose when it came to abortion.
Steele is caught in a trap. He is a very smart guy, but he is not ready for the careful dance that is part of leading a party with as hard-boiled a base as the Republicans. His inability to tread the thin line between reality and idology is his downfall and I expect his resignation to "spend more time with his family" in a week or so.
In an interview with GQ, Steele said unequivocally that he believed in a woman's right to choose when it came to abortion.
And now after a firestorm of criticism, he is recanting. Now he states that he supports overturning Roe v. Wade and has always been pro-life.GQ: Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?
STEELE: Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.
Steele is caught in a trap. He is a very smart guy, but he is not ready for the careful dance that is part of leading a party with as hard-boiled a base as the Republicans. His inability to tread the thin line between reality and idology is his downfall and I expect his resignation to "spend more time with his family" in a week or so.
Chicago GOP Chair Caught With Prostitutes! But Wait, There's More!
Sometimes real life is much better than fiction. Even the writers of Desperate Housewives couldn't top this juicy tidbit.
Cook County Republican Chairman Gary Skoien, (thank God it's a Republican this time) was beaten by his wife. Now spousal abuse is never a good thing and I condemn it, but you have to admit, this one might bring a grin to you. Seems, according to police reports, Mr. Skoien was caught by his wife in his children's playroom with two prostitutes!
Nice move, bringing home a couple of working girls and having a tryst in the kids playroom! Apparently Mrs. Skoien was not amused and the diminutive woman, 5-foot-4-inches and 110-pounds, picked up an electric guitar and began walloping her husband for his indiscretion.
The police report says she also beat him with her fists, but how could you follow the scene with the electric guitar?
Mrs. Skoien spent two nights in jail before being released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. I suspect after a jury hears this, and stops laughing, they might acquit her.
Cook County Republican Chairman Gary Skoien, (thank God it's a Republican this time) was beaten by his wife. Now spousal abuse is never a good thing and I condemn it, but you have to admit, this one might bring a grin to you. Seems, according to police reports, Mr. Skoien was caught by his wife in his children's playroom with two prostitutes!
Nice move, bringing home a couple of working girls and having a tryst in the kids playroom! Apparently Mrs. Skoien was not amused and the diminutive woman, 5-foot-4-inches and 110-pounds, picked up an electric guitar and began walloping her husband for his indiscretion.
The police report says she also beat him with her fists, but how could you follow the scene with the electric guitar?
Mrs. Skoien spent two nights in jail before being released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. I suspect after a jury hears this, and stops laughing, they might acquit her.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Another Thought About Jim Cramer
I rarely post twice about a subject, but I just watched the Jim Cramer clip again where he discusses with glee how he and other hedge fund gurus manipulate the market. Not only is it illegal, but he is proud of his crime. Amazing!
It's time the whole wall street system gets a good shakedown. Scumbags like Cramer are gaming the system like Enron did the energy trading market. Hell, Las Vegas is a safer bet than the markets with folks like Cramer in positions of power.
The SEC needs to get it's teeth back.
It's time the whole wall street system gets a good shakedown. Scumbags like Cramer are gaming the system like Enron did the energy trading market. Hell, Las Vegas is a safer bet than the markets with folks like Cramer in positions of power.
The SEC needs to get it's teeth back.
War On Rich, Who Is The Enemy?
Newsweek has a really insightful column on what has been widely billed as the "War on the Rich". That alleged war is not being waged by the middle class or Washington, but by greedy rich people themselves. It's an enlightening read.
For almost every one of the current economic problems faced by banks or investment firms Newsweek's Daniel Gross traces the root cause...and it is often the same people experiencing the crisis.
For almost every one of the current economic problems faced by banks or investment firms Newsweek's Daniel Gross traces the root cause...and it is often the same people experiencing the crisis.
Bristol Palin & Levi Johnston Call Off Wedding - More Alaskan Drama!
I suspect that nobody believed the "engagement" that was announced at the GOP convention between Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston. That shotgun wedding announcement was meant to appease the base and preserve what little virtue the Palin family might have left.
Today comes word that the engagement is "off". Is anyone really surprised?
Now Sarah and her family go back to the trailer park drama that is their life. Do my words sound tinged with schadenfreude? A little, yes. I feel so ashamed...yeah, that's it, ashamed!
Today comes word that the engagement is "off". Is anyone really surprised?
Now Sarah and her family go back to the trailer park drama that is their life. Do my words sound tinged with schadenfreude? A little, yes. I feel so ashamed...yeah, that's it, ashamed!
Jim Cramer Admits To Illegal Activities - Market Manipulation
Pretty shocking footage. Cramer, the wacky stock guru admitting to illegal practices while trading.
GOP Descends Into "Race War"
The Republican "race war" is heating up. I call it a race war because it centers on Michael Steele, the token minority seated as GOP chairman to put a more inclusive face on the party. That hasn't set well with the party loyalists, old white men.
Now former member of a Whites Only club, South Carolina GOP leader Katon Dawson is pushing hard for the "no confidence" vote on Steele. No surprise since Dawson was once considered a front runner for the post of GOP Chair.
Time for me to sit back and watch the carnage!
Now former member of a Whites Only club, South Carolina GOP leader Katon Dawson is pushing hard for the "no confidence" vote on Steele. No surprise since Dawson was once considered a front runner for the post of GOP Chair.
Time for me to sit back and watch the carnage!
Cramer Flails While Stewart Giggles
Jim Cramer, the loudmouth wild man of financial analysis is looking worse and worse. What started as a simple bit on the Daily Show has become a feud, and a hilarious one at that.
Jon Stewart has lampooned Cramer for his extremely bad advice to "buy Bear Stearns", a statement that Cramer first denied. Stewart and his staff then browsed through the archive and found numerous clips of Cramer touting Bear Stearns as a good deal just days before its colapse.
Cramer instead of just rolling with the punches began a furious campaign to deny any mistakes on every NBC talk show he could get on. That was a fatal mistaken because the more he squawked, the more foolish The Daily Show made him look.
What started as a comedy bit has become a one-sided war. Cramer furiously fighting while Steward sits on the sidelines and throws spit-balls. Trying to fight a comedian, especially one who has a battery of video tape to support his comedy is futile, and that's what makes this so funny.
Here's the latest salvo in the "war":
Jon Stewart has lampooned Cramer for his extremely bad advice to "buy Bear Stearns", a statement that Cramer first denied. Stewart and his staff then browsed through the archive and found numerous clips of Cramer touting Bear Stearns as a good deal just days before its colapse.
Cramer instead of just rolling with the punches began a furious campaign to deny any mistakes on every NBC talk show he could get on. That was a fatal mistaken because the more he squawked, the more foolish The Daily Show made him look.
What started as a comedy bit has become a one-sided war. Cramer furiously fighting while Steward sits on the sidelines and throws spit-balls. Trying to fight a comedian, especially one who has a battery of video tape to support his comedy is futile, and that's what makes this so funny.
Here's the latest salvo in the "war":
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Steele Faces Vote Of "No Confidence" From GOP
I'll put this in the "I told you so" column. Michael Steele looks like he is facing a "no confidence" vote after the special election on March 31 -- regardless of whether Republicans win the seat or not.
The Republican's brief flirtation with inclusion has produced predictably disastrous results. The GOP is not inclusive and never will be in its current incarnation. The idea of an African American as GOP party chair might have looked good in a focus group, but in practice it just makes the white bigots in the party angry. Additionally, because Steele is not particularly a great leader, it makes the idea of a minority as the leader of the GOP look like an inherently bad concept.
Aside from Steele's qualifications, he also dismissed the real party head, Rush Limbaugh and that was his diwnfall. As long as the figure head is obedient and doesn't rock the boat, the GOP is happy to have a token face as its symbol. Once that symbol flexes his power....well that's a different story.
The Republican's brief flirtation with inclusion has produced predictably disastrous results. The GOP is not inclusive and never will be in its current incarnation. The idea of an African American as GOP party chair might have looked good in a focus group, but in practice it just makes the white bigots in the party angry. Additionally, because Steele is not particularly a great leader, it makes the idea of a minority as the leader of the GOP look like an inherently bad concept.
Aside from Steele's qualifications, he also dismissed the real party head, Rush Limbaugh and that was his diwnfall. As long as the figure head is obedient and doesn't rock the boat, the GOP is happy to have a token face as its symbol. Once that symbol flexes his power....well that's a different story.
Jon Stewart Exposes Jim Cramer's Crap
Jon Stewart once again does what the mainstream media should do, check facts! Wacko screaming stock guru Jim Cramer gives me a headache. His wild gesticulations and pontifications are as silly as my alliterations, but some people listen to him and worse, CNN sells him and his snake oil.
Stop Worrying About A "Depression"
Listening to the 24 hour news cycle on TV and Radio will make you crazy! Every other story is a ratcheted up "gloom and doom" scenario about the economy. One pundit says the stimulus will destroy us and another says it will save us! In reality is will do neither.
I have been listening to Warren Buffett lately and he seems to think things are bad, but will get better. Now Buffett is no oracle, after all he encouraged people to buy stocks a few months ago and I doubt if those who listened are very happy, but his overall philosophy is probably right.
The people running around with their hair on fire are not the ones you should be following. They are mostly reactionaries and have little sense of long term trends. I prefer to watch those folks who take a measured approach and ride out the rough patches with calmness.
As to the stimulus package? Well I suspect more will be needed to keep the economy afloat. Those Republicans who just want to go ahead and let industry and banking fail are driven by ideology and not practicality. I know the stimulus spending is costing us a lot, but doing nothing would cost more. It is the do nothing, regulate nothing policies of the former Bush administration that helped get us into this mess and it will take time and money to get us out of it.
My suggestion, and it is only a suggestion, is to stay calm, save a little and don't listen to CNBC or FOX all day. Your blood pressure will stay lower and you will be able to enjoy your life more. Don't stop spending on everything. Treat yourself to a movie now and then and go out to eat if you can afford it. Don't charge up your credit cards...that's just good advice anytime! Save them for emergencies.
If we cower in fear and cease doing anything we will stall our economy to a crawl. I know we can't spend our way out of this, but we can use common sense. Hopefully, Congress will get back to the business at hand, re-regulate the financial institutions that got us into this mess and set us back on an even keel.
I am reminded that my parents lived through the Great Depression and they survived. This is not a Great Depression and we can avoid that if we saty calm and encourage our elected officials to act now.
I have been listening to Warren Buffett lately and he seems to think things are bad, but will get better. Now Buffett is no oracle, after all he encouraged people to buy stocks a few months ago and I doubt if those who listened are very happy, but his overall philosophy is probably right.
The people running around with their hair on fire are not the ones you should be following. They are mostly reactionaries and have little sense of long term trends. I prefer to watch those folks who take a measured approach and ride out the rough patches with calmness.
As to the stimulus package? Well I suspect more will be needed to keep the economy afloat. Those Republicans who just want to go ahead and let industry and banking fail are driven by ideology and not practicality. I know the stimulus spending is costing us a lot, but doing nothing would cost more. It is the do nothing, regulate nothing policies of the former Bush administration that helped get us into this mess and it will take time and money to get us out of it.
My suggestion, and it is only a suggestion, is to stay calm, save a little and don't listen to CNBC or FOX all day. Your blood pressure will stay lower and you will be able to enjoy your life more. Don't stop spending on everything. Treat yourself to a movie now and then and go out to eat if you can afford it. Don't charge up your credit cards...that's just good advice anytime! Save them for emergencies.
If we cower in fear and cease doing anything we will stall our economy to a crawl. I know we can't spend our way out of this, but we can use common sense. Hopefully, Congress will get back to the business at hand, re-regulate the financial institutions that got us into this mess and set us back on an even keel.
I am reminded that my parents lived through the Great Depression and they survived. This is not a Great Depression and we can avoid that if we saty calm and encourage our elected officials to act now.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Saudi's Give 40 Lashes To 70 Year Old Woman for "Mingling"
Once again I really have to wonder what kind of allies we have. Saudi Arabia, one of our alleged allies is a kingdom with a medieval justice system that would be seen as barbaric anywhere else in the world, yet we continue to call them our buds.
Today comes news that an elderly Syrian woman has been sentenced to 40 lashes...that's right "lashes" as in with a whip and deportation for having two unrelated men in her house.
Saudi Arabia is an example of fundamentalism run rampant! The Wahhabist justice system prohibits "mingling" something that would be considered a basic human right in any other civilized country. Yet, in Saudi Arabia, it can bring a woman a brutal whipping and imprisonment.
Of course if they didn't have OIL we would condemn them, but since we rely on the Saudi's to fuel our oil addiction we conveniently ignore their inhumane actions.
The faster we can become energy independent the better!
Today comes news that an elderly Syrian woman has been sentenced to 40 lashes...that's right "lashes" as in with a whip and deportation for having two unrelated men in her house.
Saudi Arabia is an example of fundamentalism run rampant! The Wahhabist justice system prohibits "mingling" something that would be considered a basic human right in any other civilized country. Yet, in Saudi Arabia, it can bring a woman a brutal whipping and imprisonment.
Of course if they didn't have OIL we would condemn them, but since we rely on the Saudi's to fuel our oil addiction we conveniently ignore their inhumane actions.
The faster we can become energy independent the better!
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Not Just Another Cat Video
AmericaBlog.com seems to always find the most interesting videos that somehow relate to my life!
This one is an "Engineer's Guide to Cats", and living with an engineer, as well as cats, I really identify.
This one is an "Engineer's Guide to Cats", and living with an engineer, as well as cats, I really identify.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Specter Under Pressure To Leave GOP
Latest rumblings are that Arlen Specter is being pressured to leave the Republican Party. He has opposition in the upcoming primaries from former Rep. Pat Toomey a conservative who ran against the incumbent Senator and nearly won last time. The Pennsylvania Republican Party has taken a decidedly more conservative turn and it might leave Specter out in the cold.
Unlike Connecticut, where Joe Lieberman could run as an independent, after deserting the Democrats, Pennsylvania has no such provision. Specter’s moderate voice has often sided with Democrats on the hill, so it would not be a stretch to see him running as a Democrat.
Time will tell.
Unlike Connecticut, where Joe Lieberman could run as an independent, after deserting the Democrats, Pennsylvania has no such provision. Specter’s moderate voice has often sided with Democrats on the hill, so it would not be a stretch to see him running as a Democrat.
Time will tell.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Bush Library News
Seems the Bush Library is having trouble being found by search engines. Here is my personal contribution to that effort. Lying War Criminal Library.
Perhaps this little link can help people who are trying to find Mr. Bush and prosecute him. Let's hope so. By linking to the site, search engines rank keywords in order of most relevant. Therefore if everyone linked to the library using the above words, Lying War Criminal Library, well you get the idea!
Perhaps this little link can help people who are trying to find Mr. Bush and prosecute him. Let's hope so. By linking to the site, search engines rank keywords in order of most relevant. Therefore if everyone linked to the library using the above words, Lying War Criminal Library, well you get the idea!
Michael Steele's Blog Is No More - The Wrath Of Rush!
Want further proof Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the GOP?
Michael Steele, token minority face and front for the "newer more inclusive' Republican Party used to have a blog. The key word here is "used". His blog has been cut off by the RNC.
I give him until Monday to mysteriously resign to spend more time with his family.
Michael Steele, token minority face and front for the "newer more inclusive' Republican Party used to have a blog. The key word here is "used". His blog has been cut off by the RNC.
I give him until Monday to mysteriously resign to spend more time with his family.
Close Call With Asteroid - A Near Miss!
There was a wake up call for some real basic research that came in the middle of the night and most folks on Earth missed it. Actually it missed Earth.
Asteroid 2009 DD45 flew past our tiny planet at an altitude above the Earth of only 48,800 miles, and that puts it close to the orbits of some of our communications satellites. That is close.
The space rock was only spotted in February by an Australian observatory. Within a few hours of its discovery scientists realized it would not strike Earth, but the message is clear. We are constantly being bombarded by space debris and it is only a matter of time before something big will get here with disastrous results. What we need is more data.
That means much more work tracking asteroids and comets to give us as much warning as possible. Then we need a plan to deal with a big asteroid that might not burn up in the atmosphere. Remember the dinosaurs? They might be walking around as sentient and dominant life forms today had not a huge asteroid crashed into the earth somewhere near the Gulf of Mexico. That impact wiped out most life on earth and there is absolutely no reason it couldn’t happen again.
Basic research into asteroids and space can warn or possibly prevent this but that will take funding and the will of the people of Earth. I speak of us as one people, because such a catastrophic event would not respect any artificial borders. We need to have a plan.
There are some organizations doing this kind of research, but they are underfunded and working in a scientific backwater. Their efforts need to be brought to the forefront. Just to give you a sense of proportion, the next time an object will get closer to Earth will be in 2029 when an 885-foot asteroid called 99942 Apophis comes within 20,000 miles. There may be others we don’t know about, and that is the problem.
Sleep on it and then write your Congressperson.
Asteroid 2009 DD45 flew past our tiny planet at an altitude above the Earth of only 48,800 miles, and that puts it close to the orbits of some of our communications satellites. That is close.
The space rock was only spotted in February by an Australian observatory. Within a few hours of its discovery scientists realized it would not strike Earth, but the message is clear. We are constantly being bombarded by space debris and it is only a matter of time before something big will get here with disastrous results. What we need is more data.
That means much more work tracking asteroids and comets to give us as much warning as possible. Then we need a plan to deal with a big asteroid that might not burn up in the atmosphere. Remember the dinosaurs? They might be walking around as sentient and dominant life forms today had not a huge asteroid crashed into the earth somewhere near the Gulf of Mexico. That impact wiped out most life on earth and there is absolutely no reason it couldn’t happen again.
Basic research into asteroids and space can warn or possibly prevent this but that will take funding and the will of the people of Earth. I speak of us as one people, because such a catastrophic event would not respect any artificial borders. We need to have a plan.
There are some organizations doing this kind of research, but they are underfunded and working in a scientific backwater. Their efforts need to be brought to the forefront. Just to give you a sense of proportion, the next time an object will get closer to Earth will be in 2029 when an 885-foot asteroid called 99942 Apophis comes within 20,000 miles. There may be others we don’t know about, and that is the problem.
Sleep on it and then write your Congressperson.
FedEx Office Offers Free Resume Printing
Sure it's a PR gimmick, but it's a socially responsible one and that is something I can get behind. FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko's) has announced it will offer, "FedEx Office Free Resume Printing Day” on March 10, 2009, offering to print up to 25 copies of each customer’s resume for free. In troubled economic times it's nice to see a company, particularly a very big one trying to help.
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent and the number of unemployed persons increased to 11.6 million in January 2009. With so many people looking to get their printed resumes in the hands of recruiters and hiring managers, FedEx Office is prepared to help.
Now if the banks would follow suit and losen up their credit instead of paying out big bonuses, we could all get over this rough patch and grow the economy again.
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent and the number of unemployed persons increased to 11.6 million in January 2009. With so many people looking to get their printed resumes in the hands of recruiters and hiring managers, FedEx Office is prepared to help.
Now if the banks would follow suit and losen up their credit instead of paying out big bonuses, we could all get over this rough patch and grow the economy again.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Calls For Steele To Go! More GOP Meltdown.
So it looks like Michael Steele might be out soon. Dr. Ada Fisher a member of the Republican National Committee has called on Steele to step down. She is one of a growing number of voices calling for his head. Steele has tried to be hip and relevant like the idiots at the GOP wanted. He tried to be the “minority” face of the party and peppered his comments with as many buzz words as possible. Bad idea!
Now that Steele has angered Rush Limbaugh, the real leader of the party, he is suddenly the party’s Jonah, and now he may be jettisoned. Rush is not to be toyed with and his power as far as what is left of the GOP base is awesome. Now it’s damage control and lots of back-peddling. Personally, I figure he has about a month before leaving to spend more time with his family.
Ada Fisher was on Rachael Maddow tonight and she is not happy and though she is making as many excuses as she can think of, it's all about Rush. Here's why. Rush is the base and they bring the money and without the base, no GOP.
Now that Steele has angered Rush Limbaugh, the real leader of the party, he is suddenly the party’s Jonah, and now he may be jettisoned. Rush is not to be toyed with and his power as far as what is left of the GOP base is awesome. Now it’s damage control and lots of back-peddling. Personally, I figure he has about a month before leaving to spend more time with his family.
Ada Fisher was on Rachael Maddow tonight and she is not happy and though she is making as many excuses as she can think of, it's all about Rush. Here's why. Rush is the base and they bring the money and without the base, no GOP.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Bank TV Spot Features Transgender Character
It isn't often that a bak advertisement makes me cry but this one from the Spanish bank, Banco Provincia really does the trick. What a first! A transgender woman shown in a positive light with no jokes or winking. Enjoy.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Rush Limbaugh - The Real Face Of The GOP
Watching tapes of Rush Limbaugh at the CPAC gathering this week really showed me how bankrupt the GOP is. I listened to his ad-lib speech, which sounded a lot like someone who was high on pain-killer, and marveled. He simultaneously misquoted the Constitution, as well as the Declaration of Independence and went on to reaffirm his wish that our president fail in his attempts to reinvigorate the economy.
Worse still was his and the rest of the speakers attempts to distance themselves from the Bush administration. Say what? Last year at this same meeting the audience chanted "four more years" when President Bush took the stage. Apparently the Republican talent for denying reality is very well developed.
Limbaugh even went so far as to group Bush and Obama in the same sentence referring to our economic policy as the "Bush/ Obama" policy.
If anyone ever had any doubts they were erased at that meeting. Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party. Michael Steele is just a convienent token puppet to enable the GOP to "re-brand" itself.
Re-branding is a difficult task, just ask the coal industry how well that "clean coal" thing is going.
Worse still was his and the rest of the speakers attempts to distance themselves from the Bush administration. Say what? Last year at this same meeting the audience chanted "four more years" when President Bush took the stage. Apparently the Republican talent for denying reality is very well developed.
Limbaugh even went so far as to group Bush and Obama in the same sentence referring to our economic policy as the "Bush/ Obama" policy.
If anyone ever had any doubts they were erased at that meeting. Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party. Michael Steele is just a convienent token puppet to enable the GOP to "re-brand" itself.
Re-branding is a difficult task, just ask the coal industry how well that "clean coal" thing is going.
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