FRIDAY F U N

• Software writers often insert comments into the coding in order to explain a line or section of the code. Sometimes, when the code writing becomes a frustration, they'll insert their opinions too. (warning, some fucking profanity)
• Close-to-complete Ideology and Religion Shit List
• Sleevefaces - finishing the album cover
• Hot women from the original Star Trek series
• Well, apparentlly I've got profanity on the brain today, so here's a sh*tload of flash games
• Click an image of an everyday household item and see it magnified to 20 microns
• Free audiobooks that you can download
  
• The stories behind the rhymes

Bits and Pieces for the Christmas Week of December 23 - 29

Huckabee takes a shot literally at the press. Also, Huckabee director of research confirms that Huckabee once inferred that homosexuality is not as bad as necrophilia. Thank you, "Huck", for clearing up that confusing issue. (Mike)

I hate to always be the cynic but once again tragedy works perfect for the bu$h administration. "Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated today." bu$h get's to keep his puppet general, the war on Islam continues to be fueled and chaos in the middle east reigns supreme. And worst of all... more innocents will continue to die!! RIP Benazir Bhutto. (7 of 6)

I'll believe it when I hear testimony! "The Senate has passed strong reforms to the 1989 whistle-blower protection law, counteracting the gag orders, retaliatory investigations and other harassments that have become shamefully standard practice during the last seven years." (7 of 6)

New face on the same law-breaking bill-signer. (Mike)

"Researchers at West Point's Combating Terrorism Center found that 41 percent of the (al Qaeda) fighters were Saudi nationals." Libyan's were "the second largest group entering Iraq... with about 19 percent... Syrians and Yemenis each at 8 percent, Algerians with 7 percent and Moroccans at 6 percent." Where are all the wicked Iranians? (7 of 6)

In this article, the continuing fight against Unionized Labor in this country. That's right, corporate minions will prevent you from having decent wages, reasonable healthcare, tolerable working conditions and now... communications by e-mail among Union workers. Can we now say that National Labor Relations Board serves corporate interests above employee interests? (7 of 6)

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE (part I)

"Who We Are"

In an age of monarchy, we believe in democracy. In an age of executive privilege, we believe in the rule of law. In an age of unjust war, we believe in peace. In an age of torture, we believe in human rights. In an age of terrorism, we believe in stopping it, not manipulating it. In an age of fear, we believe in strength. In an age of empire, we believe in multinationalism. In an age of mass media, we believe in the individual mind. In an age of propaganda, we believe in asking questions. In an age of corporate plutocracy, we believe in human community. In an age of rapacious greed, we believe the Earth is our home. In an age of kakistocracy, we believe in meritocracy. In an age of immunity, we believe in accountability. In an age of class warfare, we believe in liberty and justice for all. In an age of bigotry, we believe in equality. In an age of suppression, we believe in expression. In an age of ignorance, we believe in enlightenment. In an age of religious hypocrisy, we believe in the human conscience. In an age of medievalism, we believe government should be secular. In an age of ideologues, we believe in pragmatics. In an age of arrogance, we believe in humility. In an age of personality, we believe in objectivity. In an age of intolerance, we believe in compassion. In an age of suffering, we believe in reaching a hand. In an age of hatred, we believe in love. In an age of homogenization, we believe in inspiration. In an age of plodding, we believe in song and dance. Turkana - The Left Coaster

Commentator Judith adds:

Where there is ignorance, we believe in education.

Where there is division, we believe in unity.

Where there is falsehood, we believe in truth.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from Mike and Seven of Six

"Today the top 5% of Americans have all the money, while the bottom 95% seem to have all the debt. Why so much (expletive deleted) debt on the part of the bottom 95%? Well, they’re to keep up their standard of living, and can’t do it on what they make. So how do they manage? This is how…today both the husband and wife work, and they also do a lot of borrowing." Richard Russell, Dow Theory Letters

Source

Just in case you haven't heard the latest lighthearted medical news of the week:

7 Common Medical Myths Debunked Researchers Say There's No Evidence for Some Widely Held Beliefs By Miranda Hitti WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDDec. 20, 2007 Can you separate medical myth from fact? A new report may help you do just that. Take a look at these seven medical myths, noted in BMJ (formerly called the British Medical Journal). The debunkers include Rachel Vreeman, MD, a fellow in children's health services research at Indiana University's medical school in Indianapolis. 1. Medical Myth: Drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Reality: There's no evidence that you have to drink that much water to assure adequate fluid intake -- and drinking too much water can be unhealthy. 2. Medical Myth: We use only 10% of our brains. Reality: Most of the brain isn't loafing. Detailed brain studies haven't found the "non-functioning" 90% of the brain. 3. Medical Myth: Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death. Reality: Hair and fingernails don't keep growing after death. But it may seem that way because dehydration can make the skin shrink back from hair and nails, making them look longer. 4. Medical Myth: Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight. Reality: Dim light isn't great for focusing, but it's "unlikely to cause a permanent change in the function or structure of the eyes," Vreeman's team writes. 5. Medical Myth: Shaving causes hair to grow back faster or coarser. Reality: "Shaving does not affect the thickness or rate of hair regrowth," write Vreeman and colleagues. But shaved hair doesn't have the fine taper of unshaved hair, making it seem coarser. 6. Medical Myth: Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals. Reality: "Rigorous testing in Europe found minimal interference and only at distances of less than one meter [about 3.28 feet]," write the researchers. But that may be a point of controversy. In September, Dutch doctors reported that cell phones may interfere with critical care equipment and shouldn't be used within a meter of medical equipment or hospital beds. 7. Medical Myth: Eating turkey makes people especially drowsy. Reality: Turkey isn't all that rich in tryptophan, the chemical linked to sleepiness after eating turkey. But eating a big, decadent meal can cause sleepiness, even if turkey isn't on the menu. SOURCES: Vreeman, R. BMJ, Dec. 22-29, 2007; vol 335: pp 1288-1289. WebMD Medical News: "Turn Off Cell Phones in Hospital Rooms." © 2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

Probably only turkeys are disappointed about this news.

Bits and Pieces for the Week of December 16 - 22

I, like most progressive Democrats, am confused and angry about the Democratic leadership in the Senate and House of Reps. (i.e. Reid and Pelosi). Thanks to this revealing piece by Glen Greenwald, I'm less confused but angrier. (Mike)

One Veteran says, "Thank God for Mr. Kucinich." Kucinich helped expedite a law for Veterans who have been waiting since 2003. The new law was to make sure that Veterans received their retirement pay and disability compensation for military related health problems. At least Kucinich is doing his job, too bad he won't be our President! (7 of 6)

Torture DOES work!...... Oh, wait, it doesn't (Mike)

The majority of Iraqis want us out! But please, let's continue to give bu$h more money for this idiotic occupation. (7 of 6)

The amount of disability payments (which equals their service connected rating) to Veterans depends on their location. I have found in my V.A. experience some doctors actually listen to and treat their patients. (7 of 6)

Highly-respected foreign affairs analyst Steve Clemons has written an insightful opinion on Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama. (Mike)

Before the NIE released info showing that Iran had ceased development of a nuclear weapons program, most presidential candidates said they would "keep all options on the table" (if elected). See what they say now. (Mike)

I've used jv16 Power Tools for years. It's the best program I know to keep your computer running well. You can get it at 20% off here. I strongly recommend this program. Why? Because it's really good and this may be the only time you'll ever hear about it. (Mike)

While we are bogged down in Iraq, the Taliban are killing employees of a U.S. security firm in Afghanistan. Two battle fronts in the Islamic world, only 'Neo-Cons' think it can work! Gee, if the Islamic extremist's are not in Iraq, I wonder where they have gone? (7 of 6)

Presidential candidates are ignoring the cities this time, so the mayors have put up their own web site to attract attention (Mike)

I had this article laying around since last Wed. 12/12/07. Everyone seems to be putting it up now. ‘Not us. We’re not going.’ "Soldiers in 2nd Platoon, Charlie 1-26 stage a ‘mutiny’ that pulls the unit apart." Standing up for what they thought was right. At least they came home alive. (7 of 6)

The British pull out of Basra, Iraq. "In the end it is what Iraqis think that matters most... 86 per cent of Iraqis thought the overall effect of having British troops in Basra province since the 2003 invasion had been negative." (7 of 6)

FRIDAY F U N

• Do you suffer from adultitis?
• Amazing sidewalk art. Remember, everything is actually painted flat.
  
• Hate your kids? Let them try these fun projects
• Thousands of TV theme songs (that you can even download)
• Shuffle - fun online game
• Try to eat the pie in 15 bites
  
• Fascinating and creepy video of a boy who ages 70 years
  
• 30 years of Star Wars christmas cards
• Have Excel on your computer but don't know how to use it? Try this short, free online course
• Too much chaffing? Try some Anti Monkey Butt Powder
• Best funny TV ads of 2007
• Over-decorated front yards at Christmas, plus really bad Nativity scenes
• Here's Santa and some of his reindeer singing White Christmas

Racism: Alive and Well in Arizona

It's the same old hate here in Phoenix: Racist whites and the nauseatingly humorous, few, long-time resident, wait until it happens to them, misguided Hispanics: Against realistic-thinking Whites, Hispanics and the impoverished, persecuted illegal immigrants who will do any job for minimum wage yet are accused of every crime known to man.

No one understands how much this will cripple the local economy here if the scumbag, sheriff Joe, and (new stance on immigration because he was on Lou Dobbs for 10 minutes) Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon get their way on enforcing this new, racial profiling, immigration law. Basically what the new law means is they can hold anyone who looks Hispanic for an unspecified period of time until they can prove they are a citizen or here legally! Welcome to the police state of Arizona.

I pity the racist idiots who don't relize how much the underground Hispanics pump into the local economy. Who do these 'uppity white folk' think washes their cars, cleans their offices, serves them fast food, mows their lawns, buys their products and helps to pay the taxes of this state? Seems like it's back to the late 1800's and Chinese immigrant labor and laws all over again.

As far as local crime goes, we had a policeman killed by an illegal immigrant this year. So now, every crime that happens, it's illegals.

Two other local officers were killed by white men. The Baseline Serial Rapist and Murderer was a black man. The Phoenix Serial Shooter: two white guys.

In the last 3 years there has been an upswing in the theft of copper from new home construction and installed construction sites. News media outlets claimed illegals were suspect. Turns out, a man was found to be electrocuted with his hands still on a live line; yep, (toasted) white guy. Two more theives got caught when they took their copper to a recycle center; yep, two (dumb) white guys. I guess those illegals are so smart, they don't get caught with copper.

Why don't these racists admit: Crime crosses all ethnic barriers. We don't even need to talk about who commits corporate white collar crime: The most profitable and least prosecuted of all crimes.

In my honest opinion, I think U.S. Customs and Border Protection should be investigating more human smuggling operations (coyotes) and big businesses who profit from cheap labor.

Please people, start treating all human beings with respect for one another and follow "The Golden Rule". And if you're the religous sort, the ever popular saying, "What would Jesus do?", applies most wholeheartedly.

"We will cross Mountains, Deserts, and yes... even Borders to feed our families! Wouldn't you?"

This week: preemptive prosecution used in counterterrorism....

Dan Fogelberg - Leader of the Band

RIP Dan.

It was Fogelberg's enivormental activism that initially got me believing that our Earth is the only Planet that man has to live on. So it's up to Man to take care of our home. We certainly cannot rely on corporations and their minions to look out for our Planet when the almighty dollar is the bottom line. His song "Face the Fire" told the story of 'the 3 Mile Island accident' and the dangers of corporate overlords.

Face The Fire I hear the thunder three miles away The Island's leaking into the bay The poison is spreading The demon is free And people are running from what they can't even see (Chorus) Face the fire You can't turn away The risk grows greater with each passing day The waiting's over The moment has come To kill the fire and turn to the sun They'll take your money And then take your health To line their pockets with unequalled wealth These men are under the power of gold We won't be safe until we shut them down cold (Chorus) The people came to the capitol town One hundred thousand of them laid their hearts down They screamed in anger and broadcast their fears Just to have them fall on deaf ears (Chorus) Kill the fire and turn to the sun

"Leader of the Band" was one of the few songs I could find.

I received this today from one U.S. Senator from my state who has not failed to disappoint us during this session of congress:

Dear Mr. (Mike): Thank you for writing regarding the Bush Administration's request for legislation that would provide liability relief for telecommunications companies that are alleged to have provided assistance to the National Security Agency after September 11, 2001. I appreciate your thoughts on this topic, and welcome the opportunity to respond. The Senate Intelligence Committee approved a bill on October 18th amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) by a vote of 13-2. That bill, among many provisions, would provide immunity for such companies if they were specifically requested or directed to provide assistance to the government. The Intelligence Committee's report on the bill includes declassified text stating that the Executive branch provided letters to electronic communication service providers at regular intervals. These letters all directed or requested assistance and noted that the assistance was authorized by the President and was legal. The Committee's report can be found at http://intelligence.senate.gov/071025/report.pdf. I voted for the FISA legislation that passed out of the Intelligence Committee by a bipartisan vote of 13-2. The Senate Judiciary Committee did not take action on the portions of the bill dealing with immunity. The bill is now scheduled to go to the Senate floor. I am keeping an open mind to whether some other legislative approach besides immunity would be best. Rest assured that I will make every effort to ensure that new FISA legislation will protect the privacy rights of all Americans without restricting the intelligence community's ability to protect us from attack. Again, thank you for writing. I hope that you will continue to write on matters of importance to you. Should you have any further comments or questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841. Best regards. Sincerely yours, Dianne Feinstein United States Senator

In nutshell, she feels that since the Bush Administration told the telecoms to illegally hand over private information on U.S. citizens, they shouldn't be held liable. Senator Feinstein apparently believes that corporations have more rights than citizens. She is very much like Hillary Clinton in this regard. Which is why I can't support either of them. I thought women, on whole, were more pragmatic and progressive than men?! I guess that's no longer the case.

The New Pentagon Lie: "No Soldier Illnesses from Depleted Uranium"

Somebody should tell this so-called "expert in the field of Depleted Uranium" and Pentagon staffer, that he is not coming off very convincing in the recent article from Stars and Stripes.

The U.S. military has yet to discover a case of an American servicemember becoming ill due to its use of depleted uranium over the past few decades, a Pentagon official says. Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, deputy director of force health protection and readiness for the Pentagon’s department of health affairs, doesn’t rule out the possibility of that happening.

Is he paid to say this or to just cover everyone's ass? Later in the article he plainly states:

But Kilpatrick said the DOD has been monitoring 70 servicemembers who were heavily exposed to depleted uranium in the Gulf War — some still carrying small fragments of the substance in their bodies — and they haven’t developed illnesses linked to the substance. He said more than 2,000 U.S. servicemembers have been tested in recent years and only 10 were found to have traces of depleted uranium in their bodies. Most of those were exposed during the first days of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, when U.S. forces were battling enemies in tanks.

Let me reiterate: "10 were found to have traces of depleted uranium in their bodies." Did these troops ask for treatment for a sickness? Were they volunteers? What about servicemembers who have complained of different maladies but were told by the VA that it had nothing to do with DU?

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The Pentagon can temporarily try and cover their asses (and the bu$h administration) but like Agent Orange, in the coming years, Depleted Uranium will prove to be more costly in dollars but more importantly, human lives.

Here is some 2001 research that has surfaced from the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute.

The Persian Gulf War resulted in injuries of US Coalition personnel by fragments of depleted uranium (DU). Fragments not immediately threatening the health of the individuals were allowed to remain in place, based on long-standing treatment protocols designed for other kinds of metal shrapnel injuries. However, questions were soon raised as to whether this approach is appropriate for a metal with the unique radiological and toxicological properties of DU. The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) is investigating health effects of embedded fragments of DU to determine whether current surgical fragment removal policies remain appropriate for this metal. These studies employ rodents implanted with DU pellets as well as cultured human cells exposed to DU compounds. Results indicate uranium from implanted DU fragments distributed to tissues far-removed from implantation sites, including bone, kidney, muscle, and liver. Despite levels of uranium in the kidney that were nephrotoxic after acute exposure, no histological or functional kidney toxicity was observed. However, results suggest the need for further studies of long-term health impact, since DU was found to be mutagenic, and it transformed human osteoblast cells to a tumorigenic phenotype. It also altered neurophysiological parameters in rat hippocampus, crossed the placental barrier, and entered fetal tissue. This report summarizes AFRRI's depleted uranium research to date.

If we have only scratched the surface of studying the effects of DU on these soldiers, one thing is certain: these Doctors aren't walking the same footsteps the troops have taken.

"Things I've Learned While Blogging"

This gig has given me many chances to improve my state in life. I’ve learned a lot about my fellow man and his views about many matters. I’ve learned that, no matter how hard you try, someone isn’t going to agree with you and chances are good he never will. I’ve learned not to worry about it. I’ve also learned a lot about the profession of writing, and have distilled it all to a few simple rules. 1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects. 2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with. 3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. 4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive. 5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat) 6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration. 7. Be more or less specific. 8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary. 9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies. 10. No sentence fragments. 11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used. 12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos. 13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous. 14. One should NEVER generalize. 15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches. 16. Don't use no double negatives. 17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc. 18. One-word sentences? Eliminate. 19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake. 20. The passive voice is to be ignored. 21. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas. 22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice. 23. Kill all exclamation points!!! 24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them. 25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas. 26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed. 27. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know." 28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly. 29. Puns are for children, not groan readers. 30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms. 31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed. 32. Who needs rhetorical questions? 33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement. And finally... 34. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out. Lurch at "Main and Central"

Democrats are Putting Forth Solid Legislation and Being Fought Every Step of the Way

I frequent, no, you could say I have a second home as a commentator at The Left Coaster. It's a blog where I can express my opinion on the politics at hand and have friendly disagreements with other like minded liberals like myself.

One of the things that bothers me most is when a troll will come in and start throwing out talking points straight from the "Repuli-con Attack Machine" (RAM) or Ru$h "the Ultimate Merchant of Hate" Limbaugh. Especially disheartening to hear is how great the minority party is doing for progress in America. This is completely false! From the pResident down, the Republi-cons are stopping all the important legislation put forth by the Democratic majority in Congress and foiling the will of the people.

For some reason, the Neo-Con, knuckle draggers think it's only the weak Democrats that are the reason for low congressional polling numbers. However, I am positive obstructing republi-cons will continue to lose more elections because of their current mindset. I don't delude myself thinking the "Dino Dems" in control of House and Senate committee chairs are doing all they can to combat this rogue bu$h administration. But let's be clear, the weak Democrats are facing a scheming republi-con minority.

Let me show you some stats (click on for a larger view) from Campaign for America's Future:


As of July 23rd, 2007 there had been almost 3 times as many cloture votes than the previous 17 congresses!! Now how does a simpleton, knuckle dragger not see Republi-con obstruction? They are fighting the weak Democrats every step of the way.

Add to this the threat of a bu$h'$ pResidential veto and there is no wonder why our government is crawling. Yet, because the Democrats took the election last year they are taking the heat in the MSM for nothing getting done. Let's take a look at the bu$h veto threats, once again, from Campaign for America's Future:

Bill Number / Title / Date of Veto Threat HR 6 Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 12/7/07 HR 4156 Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act, 2008 11/14/07 HR 3996 Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007 11/8/07 HR 3355 Homeowners Defense Act 11/6/07 HR 2419 Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 11/6/07 HR 1495 Water Resources Development Act of 2007 11/2/07 HR 2262 Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 11/1/07 HR 3920 Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007 10/30/07 HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 10/25/07 HR 3685 The Employment Non-Discrimination Act 10/23/07 HR 505 Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2007 10/22/07 S 1710 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 10/17/07 HR 3773 To amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes 10/16/07 HR 2102 Providing conditions for the Federally compelled disclosure of information by certain persons connected with the news media 10/16/07 HR 2095 Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007 10/10/07 HR 3056 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the authority of the Internal Revenue Service to use private debt collection companies, and for other purposes 10/10/07 HR 2895 National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 10/9/07 HR 3093 Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 10/4/07 HR 3246 Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of 2007 10/3/07 HR 2740 MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007 10/3/07 HR 3222 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2008 10/2/07 HR 928 To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to enhance the independence of the Inspectors General, to create a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and for other purposes 10/1/07 HR 3121 Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 9/26/07 HR 976 Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007 9/25/07 HR 2881 FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007 9/19/07 S 1275 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 9/18/07 HR 2761 Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision and Extension Act of 2007 9/17/07 S 1789 Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 9/11/07 HR 2764 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 9/6/07 S 1645 Military Construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 9/4/07 HR 3221 New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act 8/3/07 HR 2276 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act 8/3/07 HR 3159 Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act 8/2/07 HR 3162 The Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 8/1/07 HR 3161 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY 2008 7/31/07 S 1893 Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007 7/30/07 HR 2831 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 7/27/07 S 1644 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008 7/25/07 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007 7/25/07 HR 3093 Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 7/24/07 HR 3074 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bills, 2008 7/23/07 HR 3043 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 7/17/07 HR 2946 To require the Secretary of Defense to commence the reduction of the number of United States Armed Forces in Iraq to a limited presence by April 1, 2008, and for other purposes 7/12/07 S 1547 National Defense Authorization Act, FY 2008 7/10/07 HR 2669 College Cost Reduction Act of 2008 7/10/07 HR 2829 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, FY 2008 6/26/07 HR 2643 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY 2008 6/25/07 HR 800 Amending the National Labor Relations Act 6/20/07 HR 2764 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 6/19/07 HR 2641 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY 2008 6/13/07 HR 2642 Military Construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY 2008 6/13/07 HR 2638 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, FY 2008 6/12/07 HR 6 Creating Long-term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (CLEAN) Act 6/12/07 S 5 Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 6/7/07 HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 6/6/07 HR 1252 Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2007 5/23/07 HR 2264 No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007 (NOPEC) 5/22/07 HR 1585 National Defense Authorization Act, FY 2008 5/16/07 HR 2237 To provide for the redeployment of United States Armed Forces and defense contractors from Iraq 5/10/07 HR 2206 U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 5/10/07 HR 2207 Agricultural Disaster Assistance and Western States Emergency Unfinished Business Appropriations Act, 2007 5/10/07 HR 1684 Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for FY 2008 5/9/07 HR 1529 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 5/3/07 S 1082 Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act 5/1/07 S 3 Medicare Fair Prescription Drug Price Act of 2007 4/17/07 S 372 Intelligence Authorization Act of FY 2007 4/12/07 S 5 Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 4/10/07 S 965 U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 3/27/07 HR 1401 Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007 3/27/07 HR 1433 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 3/20/07 HR 1591 U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act 3/19/07 SJR 9 United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 3/14/07 HR 1255 Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 3/13/07 HR 985 Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 3/13/07 HR 720 Water Quality Financing Act of 2007 3/8/07 HR 800 Employee Free Choice Act of 2007 2/28/07 S 4 Improving American's Security Act of 2007 2/28/07 HR 6 Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (CLEAN) Act 1/17/07 HR 3 Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 1/11/07 HR 4 Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007 1/11/07

Okay, I lost track after counting over 75 Bills that bu$h has threatened to veto since the Democrats have taken office!

Now please, tell me again, who is not cooperating with the other party? Plain and simple the Democrats are putting up good laws to be voted on. They are doing their job. The republi-cons need to get out the way, let the Dems lead and do the job the American people asked them to do.

I'd love for the weak Democrats to stand up to bu$h and stop the minority from getting it's way but it will never happen as long as the Dems are facing the threat of a pResidential veto and Republi-con filibuster in the Senate.

Joseph L. Galloway

Commentary: The Disgraceful Treatment of our Veterans As you do your holiday shopping this year and think about a big turkey dinner and piles of gifts and the good life that most Americans enjoy, please spare a thought for those who made it all possible: Those who serve in our military and the veterans who've worn the uniform. There are some new statistics that give us reason to be ashamed for the way that our country has treated those who've served and sacrificed for us. Those statistics damn the politicians who start every speech by thanking the troops and veterans and blessing them. They indict our national leaders who turn up at military bases and the annual conventions of veteran's organizations and use troops and veterans as a backdrop for their photo-ops. Consider this: * An average of 18 veterans commit suicide each and every day of the year, according to recent statistics from the Veterans Administration (VA). That’s 126 veterans who kill themselves every week. Or some 6,552 who take their own lives each year. Our veterans are killing themselves at twice the rate of other Americans. * One quarter of the homeless people in America are military veterans. That’s one in every four. Is that ragged man huddled on the steam grate in a brutal winter wind a Vietnam vet? Did that younger man panhandling for pocket change on the street corner fight in Kandahar or Fallujah? For the past four years, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been insisting that it’s doing everything it needs to for the nation’s veterans. That's simply not true, particularly when it comes to the VA's treatment of mental health issues. As my McClatchy colleague Chris Adams has reported in a series of groundbreaking stories this year, the VA mental health system — even by its own measures — wasn’t prepared to give returning veterans the mental health care they need. The experts say that between 20 and 30 percent of all troops returning from combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But many of VA hospitals didn’t have the special PTSD programs that experts say are vital. Soldiers returning from Iraq are allowed to slip unnoticed into their old lives, and neither the Department of Defense nor the VA does anything to monitor their mental health. The VA keeps telling Congress that all is well. That's not true, either. As Adams reported, the VA has been using fudged or inflated numbers to do so. And after years of promising that it's getting a growing backlog of disability compensation applications under control, things actually got worse this year. No matter whether they've been wounded and need follow-up care and support, or whether they're coming apart at the seams and feeling suicidal, they sometimes must wait months for an appointment to be evaluated and treated at VA medical centers. The same people who don’t blink at spending $3 billion a week on their war of choice in Iraq were the ones who cut the VA budget and privatized maintenance at Walter Reed Army Hospital and opposed every attempt to expand benefits for veterans old and young. They're the same people who turned a blind eye as their corporate sponsors and private donors looted billions of dollars from the Treasury with no-compete contracts and bloated bills for everything from food for the troops to fuel for their tanks and trucks. As a wave of wounded troops suffering brain injuries from the blasts of roadside bombs and landmines poured into military hospitals, these people, posing as fiscally responsible budget makers, were cutting in half the money spent on research into brain injuries. These frauds who love to pose as wartime leaders sat back and did nothing as a cruel bureaucracy sent bill collectors out to harass double amputee veterans for thousands of dollars because they neglected to turn their armored vests and other gear in to the supply sergeant after they were blown apart on the battlefield. They did nothing as the Army became ever more conservative, even stingy, in the number of injured and wounded soldiers it judged worthy of full disability pensions. Soldiers who suffered brain injuries and PTSD so severe that they couldn't function were put on the street with a 30 percent disability pension — $700 a month — to support a wife and three children. Neglecting our war veterans and the widows and orphans that result from our wars is as American as apple pie. It’s nothing new. But in the past we always waited until after the war’s end to forget those who'd fought the war. This may be the first time in our history that we began to neglect and forget our troops during a war. All of this is shameful — shameful for a people whose freedom and prosperity rests on the backs of those soldiers but who've forgotten them so completely that they haven't held their Congress and their president responsible for this stain on our honor. The next smarmy politician who shouts, “God bless our troops” ought to be tarred and feathered and ridden out of Washington on a rail for sheer hypocrisy. - Joseph L. Galloway / McClatchy Newspapers

FRIDAY F U N

• Stop alien abductions with the Thought Screen Helmet
• Best license plate of the year
• See the Daxophone and other Odd Musical Instruments
• KaBomb (Zwingo) - online game
• Top Ten Astronomy Photos of 2007
  
• Duelity - Watch two videos about evolution: one that supports the religious explanation but done in a scientific fashion, the other a spiritually-composed explanation of Darwinianism. Click "Watch" and then "Duelity" to see them side-by-side.
• Glow-in-the-dark cats plus Cat wigs
  
• A Christmas music album for adults
• Running out of new TV shows to watch? 10 Web Shows To Watch During the Writers Strike
• Creepy wall animation
• "My mom said I could!"
• I know nothing about this movie except that it has a cool trailer
• Here's a really cute 3-min video about the pitfalls of bad plumbing on a first sleep-over date.
  

This week's offering: resistance to improved medical care:

Bits and Pieces for the Week of December 9 - 15

FinancialTimes.com has a terrific web site filled with articles and columns about the worldwide credit crisis. Great resource for all of us.

Congress hears pleas for VA to help suicidal vets (Mike)

California homeowners could have avoided the sub-prime mortgage mess if only their state government wasn't so corrupt. (Mike)

I hate to break it to Hillary and Obama fans; "On the Democratic side, Edwards performs best against each of the leading Republicans." Yes, I wish it weren't true folks but racism and misogyny still exist in America today. I'll repeat it, Edwards is the only electable Progressive in the Democratic field. (7 of 6)

Your tax dollars hard at work (Mike)

This movie turned out to be a pleasant, entertaining diversion to my overwhelming weekend activities. I highly recommend it. (Mike)

"...Social Security disability claims have left hundreds of thousands of people in a kind of purgatory, now waiting as long as three years for a decision." Gee, sounds just like the Veteran's Administration. America's new motto, "Give me your healthy, strong, wealthy and fuck the rest, they are just a burden on society!" (7 of 6)

This bears repeating, this is huge! "Major crude producer Iran has completely stopped carrying out its oil transactions in dollars... ...labelling the greenback an 'unreliable' currency... Iran has also reduced its dollar assets held in foreign banks and urged OPEC to take collective action to price oil in other currencies such as the euro..." (7 of 6)

I just found out about this cool hidden feature in Windows XP. Do a search for chkrzm.exe on your C: drive. Look for

C:\Program Files\MSN Gaming Zone\Windows\chkrzm.exe

Click the file name (to start the game) and you will be connected to the internet where you can play checkers live with another person!

The Rude Pundit: 12/11/07

On the Whole, We're Fucked: So let's just get this straight. Sometimes you just gotta look at the karmic ledger. In the last couple of days, here's what we've learned: Despite being told not to, the CIA destroyed tapes that show the interrogations of two al-Qaeda suspects. An former agent who was there says that the interrogators, who may or may not have been CIA agents, waterboarded at least one of the men, a multiple-personalitied low-level operative. Yes, says the agent, they got information that may have helped disrupt plots, but that's spin and might not be true, and, frankly, who knows if we could have gotten the information without the torture. A woman working for Halliburton/KBR was gang-raped by her demi-human co-workers in Iraq, and then the company imprisoned her in a shipping container lest she tell people that she was, you know, gang-raped, and she had to be rescued by the State Department, and it seems, due to the tangle of rules that say that contractors can do fuck-all they want without recrimination or justice, the rapists are gonna get away with it. Oh, and the Justice and State Departments are probably covering up for Halliburton. A deranged man shoots up a couple of churches in Colorado, and Family Research Council President Tony "God, I'm an Anal-Lovin' Whore for the Media" Perkins essentially blames the "secular" media. Meanwhile, over at that urinal of opinion, Townhall.com, we learn that the woman who shot the shooter was not only the right armed person with a gun at the right time (and a security guard), but she's a goddamn vessel of godly retribution who shows us all how much we should be dry-humping our guns. Thomas Sowell orgasmically cries, "At Last," and the blog over there has various commentators commentating on how splendiferous an armed public is, not even recognizing the irony that...oh, fuck, never mind. On the plus side, the Supreme Court said that judges can actually use judgment. And New Jersey's probably gonna outlaw the death penalty. Yeah, lessee, toss in that the crazed Baptist who thinks people with AIDS should be quarantined and thanks an invisible sky wizard for his surge in the polls is pretty much leading the Republicans, and the ledger reads: we're so fucked. More tomorrow on said crazed Baptist.

Watch as a major candidate for President self-destructs:


Rudy Giuliani on 'Meet the Press'

Bits and Pieces for the Week of December 2 - 8

Oh man, this is huge! "Major crude producer Iran has completely stopped carrying out its oil transactions in dollars... ...labelling the greenback an 'unreliable' currency... Iran has also reduced its dollar assets held in foreign banks and urged OPEC to take collective action to price oil in other currencies such as the euro..." (7 of 6)

Uh oh, Bill O'Reilly is on to us! Quick, hide the pitchfork. (Mike)

Wal-Mart could increase its minimum wage to $10 per hour and greatly boost the well-being of its low-income workers with little financial impact on most shoppers (Mike)

Quote Of The Month: John Cole on GOP candidates McCain, Huckabee and Paul: "....what does it say about your party when people are deemed unelectable because they oppose torture?" (Mike)

The latest remarks by bu$h on Iran's "...intelligence report finding it halted its development of a nuclear bomb". A halted WMD program is a "warning signal"? WTF!! THE MAN IS A DANGEROUS IDIOT!! (7 of 6)

Last week, Defense Department officials further defined policy "If you are wounded in combat and discharged as a result, you will not have to pay back your enlistment bonus..." However, they never mentioned what happens if you are injured or disabled and part of the, "...Army Advantage Program, a new recruitment incentive package which will dole out $40,000 to enlistees willing to fulfill a five-year commitment in the service..." (7 of 6)

The nominee for V.A. Secretary, Dr. James Peake, (major bu$h crony), "denies having first hand knowledge of problems at Walter Reed when he was Army Surgeon General." But Dr. Peake, you were the Army Surgeon General in charge! Oh yeah, he also "promises quick reforms if confirmed as V.A. Secretary". If the Veterans get treated the same as the Walter Reed Vets do, I have a feeling it will be the status quo or worse for returning Veterans to get their benefits. (7 of 6)

FRIDAY F U N

• Unusual (photoshopped) clocks
• Jokes you choose via a collaborative filtering algorithm
• A tesla coil christmas tree and Merry Inverted Christmas
• The disappearing car door - way cool!
• How are we men supposed to avert our eyes when you women wear these?
• Forbidden photos
• Hi-def photos of Antarctica
• Don't abuse Pleo too much
• How to talk your way out of a speeding ticket
• This optical illusion is quite cool
• Here's the visual definition of a well-trained dog:

And finally, here's one of my favorite songs, the theme from the 1980 movie, Ordinary People:

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

Blogs are, among other things, a forum for expressing opinions. Mitt Romney implied, this week, that Americans without religious beliefs shouldn't be allowed to participate in government. So let me say a few things about my "religious beliefs".

I am an atheist. There is nothing that exists as an invisible, living entity with superpowers (benevolent or otherwise). That there could be is pure fantasy.

All religious books, doctrines, groups, churches and so forth are based on opinions of humans and on their imaginations.

Religions developed for many reasons, chief among them being a vehicle for comforting the anxiety of death by creating imaginary places one might "go" when his/her body no longer maintains viability. Religion is also used by powerful groups as a social device to control the behavior of masses of people.

If persons seek comfort and moral direction through personal religious beliefs, then I fully support them in their endeavor, as long as they don't attempt to influence me by imposing their beliefs and behaviors onto my life. If they want to express their beliefs through celebration, worship, literature or other medium, then I fully support them as long as I am not forced to hear, see, touch, taste or participate in manifestations of their beliefs.

For whatever reason, many people lead happier and more productive lives when they practice a religion of their choice. Other people lead miserable and restricted lives when they choose to follow some or all of the tenets of their religion (their misery makes me sad). The point is, it's their choice and I accept it.

It is a common assumption that religious people are morally and ethically superior to the rest of humanity. I base my behavior, morals and ethics on common sense, honesty and respect of others. I do so not because I fear, if I fail, some form of punishment by an invisible entity, but because my conscience has evolved such that I must behave so. I do not think my morals or ethics are superior or inferior to those of religious people, but rather that they are uniquely mine.

If others believe that they are morally and ethically superior to me, then I have no problem with that. I insist only that they keep that belief out of my life, my schools, my health care and my government.

So I guess I shouldn't be looking for a job in the Mitt Romney Administration.

Mike

"Remember Manuel Cordova"

Not exactly what I was expecting in an Op-Ed representing the Arizona Republic. However, it is outstanding when a major media outlet will recognize that illegal immigrants are human beings.

I am proud of the fact that my Congressman, Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva, (District 7 - AZ), feels that this man should at least be allowed a work visa.

What do you think?

Illegal immigrant. Fighting words. Unwelcome people. But people, nonetheless. The act of one of those people on Thanksgiving Day saved a little boy's life. You've heard the story. Manuel Jesus Cordova, 26, was walking across the desert when he came across 9-year-old Christopher Buchleitner, whose mother died in a car crash. The child was alone. The man had been walking for two days, on his way to find work. Illegally. He stopped. Gave the child his sweater, built a fire and stayed with the little boy through the night. They didn't speak the same language, but he made the child comfortable. He watched him as he slept. Authorities said if it hadn't been for this illegal immigrant, the child might have died. Help came. The child was rescued and Cordova was returned to Mexico. He came to the border Tuesday to pick up a certificate of appreciation for what he did. He talked of the night he became a hero. He said he'd been afraid that nobody would come to help the boy. Before he met the child, his fears had been precisely the opposite. He didn't want to be found then. His goal then had been to evade detection and get to a job. Funny, isn't it, how human beings change their plans to help each other? Funny, too, how the current debate over illegal immigration focuses on the negative and forgets the human. Remembering that illegal immigrants can be decent human beings doesn't change the need to reform a broken immigration system. But it could change the tone of the diatribes about the problem. It should do that. Rep. Raul Grijalva plans to introduce legislation that would allow Cordova to get a special visa and come here to work. That probably won't happen. But Grijalva deserves credit for trying. As Arizona works through the challenges of being a border state at a time when the federal government's failure to deal with illegal immigration has resulted in crisis, Cordova - this illegal immigrant - has already done important work here. He saved a child. He reminded Arizona that undocumented immigrants are people with the same range of good and bad attributes as any other group of people.

This is damn good news:


[click for larger image]
Source: KnowledgeNews

Here's part II of a fascinating story (part I here):

Now that all U.S. Intelligence Agencies conclude that Iran hasn't had an active nuclear weapons program since 2003, guess what excuse Bush is going to use to justify bombing Iran. No, really, guess. Because I have no friggin' clue. And as Josh Marshall says:

"....it shows us once again, for anyone who needed showing, that everything this administration says on national security matters should be considered presumptively not only false, but actually the opposite of what is in fact true, until clear evidence to the contrary becomes available. They're big liars. And actually being serious about the country's security means doing everything possible to limit the amount of damage they can do over the next fourteen months while they still control the US military and the rest of the nation's foreign policy apparatus.

From an update on the slow-moving train wreck known as the U.S Economy:

"....Other forecasters are warning that the resulting housing slump won’t bottom for at least another year, will most probably wipe up to 1.5 per cent from GDP, and will result in at least a half a million jobs being lost. The losses being touted from the sub-prime mess are estimated up to $500 billion and rising, with up to $4 trillion being sucked out of credit markets. Credit Suisse Group estimates that problems with resetting home mortgages will continue to rise through to 2010 until over 1.5 million homes are in default. Some analysts are less sanguine and think this estimate is way too conservative...."

The 1990s under the leadership of Bill Clinton is looking increasingly like the the U.S.'s Golden Age.

The best progressive candidate with a chance of winning the presidency laid it all out on the Charlie Rose Show

"A Lambasted Landscaper's Lament"

From E.J. Montini's blog at the Arizona Repulic:

He's been a Valley landscape contractor for years; he pays decent wages and provides health benefits; he considers himself a loyal, patriotic American. But he asks that I keep his name out of the paper because some of his employees are illegal immigrants and because, he says, “People are nuts. They don't want to talk about this. They just want to yell at you and string you up.” Arizona's employer sanctions law will not kick in until next month, assuming it doesn't get tied up in court. The landscaper says that he'll comply with the new rules. For now, however, he wonders if he could make a few points without getting shouted down. Only if there were no one around to hear you, I say. He begins by discussing the notion that illegal immigrants fill jobs that Americans don't want. “When I put ads in the paper that we have openings, there is not one white guy busting down my door asking to push a lawnmower,” he says. “It does not happen. Same with the guys I know who do roofs. Same with other contractors. Why does Arizona have to be a cowboy and go after the businessmen here?” Some would say that it's because the federal government isn't doing anything, I tell him, and that someone has to take the lead. “That's a joke,” he says. “This is going to hurt Arizona. I have painting contractor friends. Framers. Roofers. When this law takes effect and they have to fire people – like I will – do you think those employees will go away? No. They'll start working for themselves and everything we put into them, all of the training, will be used against us. Only they'll be working for cash and paying no taxes.” He pauses and then adds, “And what happens then to Social Security?” The landscaper says that his average employee makes about $400 a week. From that, each pays the federal government over $30 in taxes. He matches that amount. “When the government gets the money and finds that it can't match an employee's name with a Social Security number, does it send me back a check saying, ‘Sorry, we don't know what to do with this money?' No,” he says. “They keep it. Why? Because they need it.” The Social Security system has received billions from illegal immigrants who will never collect benefits. Some suggest that without that money, the system would collapse. “We need a program where people can be identified and can work here,” the landscaper says. “Maybe a system that says if you don't have a job you have to leave. But as it is, I might have to fire a guy who has worked for me for 10 years. He is married to a U.S. citizen. He has never been in trouble. Owns a house. A truck. Has two kids who are citizens. He's been paying a lawyer 10 years to get citizenship and still hasn't got it. Now I'm supposed to fire him because (Gov.) Janet (Napolitano) and some others got on a bandwagon and are mad at Mexicans? That's not right. Why not punish everybody else who deals with illegals or makes money from them?” He includes those who might sell supplies to such people. And groceries. And clothes. As well as individuals who use their services. And everyone who benefits, directly or indirectly, from illegal immigrants. Every business with a “se habla español” signs in its window, for instance. Or those who own Spanish language newspapers, TV stations and radio stations. “What would happen if we punished everyone who has benefited from illegals?” he asks. “What would it be like then?” For one thing, I say, there'd be no one left to shout down a frustrated landscaper.

You really should read some of the vitrolic comments in this thread. Everyone will understand how touchy a subject illegal immigration is in Arizona.

But... but... what would Jesus do?

UDATE: Phoenix Officials Feel Heat Over Migration as Protests Continue

As protests and arrests of undocumented workers continued near a Phoenix furniture store over the weekend, a Washington-based think tank is researching whether to sue Phoenix over its immigration policies. Judicial Watch, a 13-year-old conservative think tank best known for its lawsuits against the Clinton administration, sent its chief investigator to Phoenix on Friday to review public documents related to immigration...