The Hot Oil Treatment

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

By the way - my position on drilling is to only drill using the safest technology available and only use that oil as additional reserves for United States consumption. Unfortunately, we are going to pay high gas prices from now on. But we need to prepared for something even worse. Any day, because of any number of reasons (supply, war, transportation breakdown), our imports could stop on a dime. So while we quickly embrace alternative energy sources, we should carefully drill domestically only to increase our reserves in the event we are left with only our own natural resources. Think of it as insurance rather than relief.

Thank You!

It was very satisfying to hear that Barack Obama echoed my sentiment from this morning's blog where I wrote:

He [McCain] should address these issues seriously, he should take the process seriously, he should take the voters seriously and stop this deadly attempt to deepen the division and ignorance that has dominated American political discourse for the past generation.

Obama, commenting on the tire gauge mindlessness being spewed by the Right wing, said:

The other thing is, they are making fun of a step that every expert says would absolutely reduce our oil consumption by three to four percent,” Obama said. “It’s like these guys take pride in being ignorant. They think it’s funny that they’re making fun of something that is actually true.”

[I can hear the right wing media now: "Obama is calling all of you stupid". Just to be clear, stupid is more akin to lacking the ability to learn or understand. Ignorant is to be uniformed. The right wing have worked tirelessly over the years to keep the American people away from facts. John McCain knows he needs to keep enough Americans distracted and uninformed (ignorant) if he is to have any chance of winning the election. Even if it cost us the nation. Here are the definitions for your convenience.]

IGNORANT: destitute of knowledge or education

STUPID: slow of mind; given to unintelligent decisions or acts; acting in an unintelligent or careless manner; lacking intelligence or reason

Tuesday Roundup

Back to work and it looks like I will be non stop busy for the next 8 months!

So much to write about: each topic worth of a long article. But it would take me days to do that so I will have to be brief.

First of all, the Presidential Campaign has taken a disappointing turn for the worst. John McCain has evolved into the typical Karl Rove candidate, mocking his opponent, over-simplifying the issues and pandering to the ignorant and hateful. Like I said the other day, if this strategy proves to be a success, it will end this experiment in Democracy. This isn't an overstatement. People of my generation have seen this our whole lives and the younger folks coming in, I believe, will not have the patience to "wait until next time" that we have. If ignorance and hatred wins the day then I think Americans will start looking for another way. John McCain has some serious policy issues differences with Barack Obama. He should address these issues seriously, he should take the process seriously, he should take the voters seriously and stop this deadly attempt to deepen the division and ignorance that has dominated American political discourse for the past generation.

Next, it's the Anthrax case. Why in the world would they close this case just because a scientist they say they suspected is dead? The investigation should continue. It should also be expanded to determine why and how the Anthrax attacks were used to push the war in Iraq. Something here smells and the fact that they want to close this case now just makes it reek even more.

I am disappointed that the mainstream media has not reminded the public that the Anthrax attacks were a case of domestic terrorism by the Right Wing. If you look at the people who were sent the Anthrax it is the hate list of Rush Limbaugh and his flock. We all remember Oklahoma City and the militia movement of the 1990's. Let’s not pretty this up - let's tell the truth: the voices of the right setting the debate encourage hatred which has consistently leads to domestic terrorism by these same conservatives. Just last week there was that church shooting by a guy echoing what is heard in the right wing media. Coincidence after coincidence after coincidence? Absolutely not.

Seymour Hersh, one of the most accurate and respected journalist in America history, reported the other day that Dick Cheney wanted to dress up Americans as Iranian soldiers to instigate military action against that country. In a place once known as The United States of America, that would have been an outrage and criminal. In what we have now it’s an afterthought at best. That's what happens when long term ignorance and hatred breeds deep cynicism.

Cartoon Commentary

Respect

I have been wanting to comment on how quickly I am losing respect for John McCain. His campaign lately has sunk far below what I expected from this once honorable man. (On top of that, he appears to have a lack of a detailed understanding of most issues. On ABC's "This Week" last Sunday George Stephanopolis had to correct, remind or cover for McCain so often it was embarrassing.) If McCain keeps up this same old divisive politics and wins - he and others will be in for a rude surprise. The division won't heal this time. Faith in democracy will be gone. That's no joke. Is John McCain really willing to lose this country to win an election. I certainly hope not.

Old Timers Day

Gates will open to the public at 12:30 p.m. ET and introductions are scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. ET with the traditional Old-Timers' game to follow. Of course it is raining.

Hoffman Update: TPD Negligent

Rachel Hoffman is forever gone, but her family and friends took some solace Friday from a grand jury's judgment that Tallahassee police were negligent in her death. more

Happy Friday! (New iPhone Edition)

Wired in The City

The Internet at the apartment has been down for a couple days. It's back now but I'm not sure for how long. I will get back to regular posting as long as the connection holds. The cable people coming tomorrow to fix it so at least by Friday I will be re-wired

Rachael Hoffman Update

ABC's news show 20/20 did a story about Rachael Hoffman last week. You can watch it here. I have a feeling that this case will become a huge factor in exposing the farce called the "War on Drugs" as well as the long standing incompetence and abuse of power by the Tallahassee Police Department.

Back to the very heart of it

in old New York.

If I Can Make It There

I fly back to New York today. It's been the best vacation ever. While I'm cruising at 40,000 feet I will be looking out the window. Why? Check out this video.

Cartoon Commentary

Got Messiah?

One of the new myths being built by the Republican establishment is that Barack Obama’s followers looking at him as if he was the Messiah. They call it Obamessiah, and Rush Limbaugh and his dittoheads have taken to repeat it like mindless parrots in a cage. Typically, this is not only untrue – but also best describes their own tendencies over the years.

First of all, the Obama supporters I know, have heard or read, look to him to help rescue America from the politics of division and dishonesty. There is no significant or organized attempt to portray him as someone who will save the world or our soul. There is no attempt by the campaign or the Democratic Party to claim that he is a direct messenger from God and no one is elevating him anywhere near the heights that we have seen for Ronald Reagan and, up until recently, George W. Bush. Indeed, when you take a look at the Right, you see that presenting their politicians as “God’s Choice” is pretty darn close to S.O.P for the G.O.P.

Next, let’s look at Ronald Reagan. An untrained observer could easily be lead to believe that Reagan all but walked on water. They claim that he single handedly brought down communism, saved the economy and restored morality to the USA. Not only do Republicans speak of him as if he was a supernatural being, but when they took over Congress they couldn’t name enough things after him!! Everyone now sees all the roads, buildings and other things that now have Reagan’s name plastered on it. If that is not hero worshiping, myth building and yes – Messiah creating – I don’t know what is.

Finally, we all recall the Presidential campaigns for George W. Bush. Not only did he personally appear to believe that God wanted him to be President but, up to a couple years ago, most right wing churches and talking heads also pushed that narrative. Listen to any call in programs and you would have heard George W. Bush either compared to Jesus or described as His modern day successor. In fact, if it wasn’t for the idea that Bush was God’s chosen candidate – he never would have become President at all. Bush Messiah indeed!

For any Republican to criticize Obama as trying to be a Messiah with this sad history is the height of hypocrisy. Yet we must respond no matter how ridiculous the charges.

McCain Flip Flops

Sixty nine of them - and counting.

One Human Family - Yes We Are!

How nice to see an American Presidential candidate connect with other citizens of the world. While the USA has been dragged down by the "citizens of the far right", who apparently reside on some isolated planet called Limbaugh, Obama hit the perfect tone in his speech yesterday - praising the USA despite our imperfections while acknowledging (gasp!) that all of us in the world are interconnected. video

Oh My God

HUBRIS! I say. What gall - what arrogance to put an ad like this out. Just who does John McCain think he is? By the look of this poster - God! Look at this thing: John McCain, floating in the clouds, overlooking the world, using his infinite wisdom to bring peace to the planet. Kumbaya and Hallelujah! How offensive - how presumptuous.

The (Pro-McCain) Media Bias

Here we go again. Since at least the time of Ronald Reagan, the Republicans have perpetuated a myth that "the media" is liberally biased against them. Of course, this is complete nonsense designed only to "work the refs" against progressive candidates. John McCain, finding his campaign for President sputtering, has returned to this same refrain. Why? Because it works!

We all know how George W. Bush has gotten a near free pass on his lies and unconstitutional activities over the past 8 years. We all also remember the non-stop persecution of Bill Clinton during the 1990's. The mainstream media clearly has spent at least the last generation bending over backwards to "prove" they are not liberal. That was the plan by Republicans and it works up to this day.

You know, if I was a Republican and I really thought the media has been liberally biased, then I would be thrilled to death that they are doing it again this year. Why? Because if the media has been left wing - the GOP seems to have benefited. They won the Presidential races in 1980, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2004 and congressional races in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004. All this success with a so-called liberal media scheming against them! Therefore, it seems that having the media against you is a recipe for success! So what are they whining about? (Or is that why they are, in fact, keeping the myth alive?)

Secondly, having John McCain complain about a biased media is like George W. Bush complaining about someone is becoming successful because of their family name. A quick look at the long list of mistakes, misstatement and out right falsehoods by McCain that have gone under reported would make your head spin. Imagine if Barack Obama had mentioned Czechoslovakia numerous time or said that Iraq borders Pakistan. The media, again to prove their fairness, would eviscerate him. Meanwhile McCain get pass after pass after pass.

Here is the latest example. Yesterday John McCain was interviewed by Katie Couric for the liberal CBS News. In that interview he got his facts so wrong about the timeline between the Anbar awakening and the troop surge in Iraq, it should have been Breaking News on every network.

But what did the left wing CBS News do? (This is really shocking) They edited out the false statements and edited in a slam against Obama. Watch the video because it is really stunning to see just how misinformed (I'll be nice and not say "dishonest) McCain is and just how biased toward the GOP candidate the media really is.
UPDATE: Here is CBS News' (non)response.

Free Hugs!

I was talking about this video with the family last night. Seems not everyone is familiar with it. It's pretty cool so check it out!

Reality Bites!

Been really taking it easy since getting to Florida but I do have to comment on the bounty of positive news in the past few days. I say positive because it all reinforces the positions of Barack Obama and those of us who have spent years calling for a reality check. Looks to me that the check is not only in the mail, but also going to nearly every household in the world - yep, even that house at 1600 Pennsylvania avenue.

1. Dialogue with Iran. The Bush Administration, after 7 1/2 years of ineffectively using the stick, has move to trying carrots with Iran. While they deny it, the discussion they are having are contradictory to what the Bush/McCain doctrine has been for years and lines up pretty closely with the Obama position.

2. Troop withdrawal from Iraq. While the Bush Administration hopes that calling the timeline a "time horizon" will fool people, it is apparent that they are looking to remove troops from Iraq and increase the presence in Afghanistan. Hmmm ... where have I heard that before.

3. Iraqi PM agrees with Obama position. His words: "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes," - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Imagine how the Reds would be jumping on this if Maliki had said "we need troops here indefinitely - please do make any plans to go". He didn't say that.

After 8 (I would say 28) years of falling under the spell of myth making and reality busting politicians - it appears that the American people are breaking free from this hypnotic illusion. The rest of the world, no longer fearing Bush's bombs and sensing the change in the USA (Obama's near nomination having a large part to do with it), are also becoming more free to speak truth to power and more willing to interact with a nation who's people seems to be regaining their sanity.

It is very late in coming - we'll see if it is too late - but I suppose it's better than if it had never come at all.

Safe at Home

After a long and (thankfully) uneventful journey, I made it to South Florida safe and sound. Let the vacationing begin!

Too Far To Walk

Vacation time and I'm heading to the airport to fly down to Miami (follow me: AA 1559). It will be a great week and a half hanging out with the family. I sure am looking forward to it.

HELPFUL: "Cheat Sheets" for major Computer Programs

Thought you all might find some of this useful.

Ever wanted to master the keyboard shortcuts and get more productive on the web? Here is everything you need - 7 quick cheat sheets for some of the most widely used tools on the web. Download, print and stick them somewhere near your desk.

Campaignin' Time

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

What a game!

All Star games can often be very boring affairs. That certainly was not the case last night. I watched all the festivities and every one of the 15 innings from the comfort of my bedroom just a mile or so from the Stadium. It was great to see the old baseball greats and it was touching to see George Steinbrenner come out at the end. The game was really exciting. Even though it was about 5 hours long - the game itself moved t a brisk pace - it just lasted 15 innings. When the AL finally won I cheered and went to sleep. I can only hope now that the Yankees get to the World Series to get to take advantage of the home field advantage. Last night also made me even more excited about the very last regular season game at the Stadium in September. It will certainly be a bitter sweet night saying goodbye to The House That Ruth Built.

Cartoon Commentary

Happy Friday!

Stop-motion filmmaker known as "Pes" turns candy corn into flames and bubble wrap into boiling water in his latest short, "Western Spaghetti." Pes takes everyday objects like Post-it Notes, a Rubik's Cube and dollar bills and morphs them into key ingredients for a very unconventional meal in the clip.(source)

Happy Birthday Zach ! ! ! !

Happy Birthday Zach!

I can't wait to see you next week. I hope you have a great birthday.

Love you,

Uncle Mark

Passing (on) the plate

Barack and Hillary have been in the city for a joint fundraiser. Obama eventually got around to asking his supporters to think about giving a little to Clinton. I am not sure I'll take him up on that offer. I'm open to change my mind but right now I can't see giving my money to pay for a campaign that I think was unnecessarily ugly and personal. A lot of that debt came in even after it was obvious she couldn't win - I'm not paying for that!

Iraq to USA: Get Out!

They don't want us in their country anymore.

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki proposed Monday that negotiators include a timetable for the departure of U.S. troops in any agreement to continue the American presence in Iraq beyond the end of the year. ... The Iraqi leader also recognizes that American opinion has turned against the war and believes his country should not wait for a decision to be made in Washington to pull out troops, according to lawmakers from his Islamic Dawa Party. source

So that makes the list of people who want the US out of Iraq: The Iraqi people, the Iraqi government, Liberals, Moderates, "real" Conservatives and the world community. The list of those who want us to stay: George W. Bush, John McCain and the conservative media. Easy solution here. Those who want us to stay - go to Iraq. Those who want us to come home - return home. The Iraqi people and government can figure what they want with the Fox Newsers and National Review tough guys once they get there.

Yes We Can? No You Can't ! (Wear an Obama T-Shirt on Today)

Saturday on the Today show, Hot Dog eating Champion Joey Chestnut was shown during a tease wearing an "Obama/Chestnut 2008 shirt." When the interview took place nine minutes later, he had put on a blue Today show shirt over the Obama T. (source - mediabistro)

61 Year Old Asks: "Why is this offensive"?

Great Commercial!

Potential Running Mates

Some possible vice-presidential picks for the Democratic and Republican tickets
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JEFF ZELENY

Mile High Obama

NBC News has a new embed feature for their videos. Here is my favorite political pundit, Chuck Todd, from Today's Today show.

FOX News

They distort - I just sigh.

The Unseemly Adoration of Jesse Helms

I found a summary of the Right Wings gushing response to the death of Jesse Helms. As I'm sure everyone knows, Helms fought racial integration up until his dying breath, was an foreign policy extremist and prevented social progress every step of his career. Frankly, he was a hateful, selfish man who came to make the conservative movement reflect his distasteful personality and misguided priorities. The meanness and backwards thinking he brought to the political table probably retarded America's progress by 50 years. He was an extremist - outside the mainstream of humanity. He represented many people, that's what democracy is all about, but I think it would be easy to look back and admit that it would have been better to change those peoples mind rather than pander to them. Not so. Helms and the Conservative movement is not about doing what's right - it is about power. Get it any way you can and hurting anyone you have to. Jesse Helms certainly had the power and her certainly gained it at the expense of the weakest among us.

Conservatives, that's what they call themselves, are not good at much, but they do know how to make heroes out of their own. Myth building is one of the few real talents of these dillusionists. So read this summary of comments (two posted below) and see how the political right maintains a deep loyalty to the man and his ideas irregardless of the damage it did to the country they ridiculously claim to love. (more)

"Conservatives are taking a line that I might have regarded as an unfair smear just a week ago, and saying that Helms is a brilliant exemplar of the American conservative movement.

And if that's what the Heritage Foundation and National Review and the other key pillars of American conservatism want me to believe, then I'm happy to believe it. But it reflects just absolutely horribly on them and their movement that this is how they want to be seen -- as best exemplified by bigotry, lunatic notions about foreign policy, and tobacco subsidies."

------

"Some of my conservative friends often complain about the difficulty of constructing a "usable history" out of the movement's recent past, and I sympathize with their plight. When leading exemplars of your political tradition were trying to preserve segregation less than four decades ago, it's a bit hard to argue that your party, which is now electorally based in the American South, is really rooted in a cautious empiricism and an acute concern for the deadweight losses associated with taxation. That project would really benefit, however, if more of them would step forward and say that Helms marred the history of their movement and left decent people ashamed to call themselves conservative. The attempt to subsume his primary political legacy beneath a lot of pabulum about "limited government and individual liberty" (which did not apparently include the liberty of blacks to work amongst whites or mingle with other races) is embarrassing. But if it goes unchallenged, what are those of us outside the conservative movement to think?"

A Great Night at the Stadium

For more years than I care to count, I have watched the New York Yankees on television - cheering them on as they played in "The House That Ruth Built". Last night I saw those Yanks beat the dreaded Red Sox in extra innings. It was a great night at the Stadium.

I have been to dozens of Yankee games now over the past three seasons and I always find myself stopping to pause and think how lucky I am to be able to do that. Sunday night though, the halfway point of the final season at the Stadium, an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia really took me over. As I crossed the Macomb Dams Bridge watching The Stadium grow closer with every step, I realized that this may be the last night game and the last game against the Red Sox that I would see at the original Yankee Stadium.

I hang out with a group of people at my regular seats: Sarah, Jason, Chris, Josh, Rich and others who are always there for the Sunday games. Last night, I walked over to The Stadium on my own as everyone else was running late. I go almost exclusively to afternoon games, so it was an unusual treat to stride toward Yankee Stadium in the twilight. I got there a half hour early which is about 60 minutes before I usually get there, thanks to those I know who are part of the 90% of people who just can't get anywhere on time. (Really, when did being punctual become extraordinary?).

As I took my seat before the game, I slowly scanned the stadium as if it was the first time - or maybe the last time - taking in every chair, every sign, all the field and even every light on the monstrous bank of floodlights that I have seen on television all my life. With no one around me engaging in pre-game banter, in the early evening darkness - it was nice to sit alone and drink in the atmosphere and think about how many Red Sox/Yankee Sunday night games I had watched on TV over the years, never dreaming I would get to see one in person.

It was a classic game, the lead going back and forth and electricity in the sold out stands at a fever pitch. As with any TV game, they do drag on because of all the commercial breaks, but I didn't mind at all. By the time the game moved into the 10th inning, all my friends who had arrived in the 2nd, had left to go home, understandable with them having to work on Monday. So I sat nearly alone during the 8th, 9th & 10th, taking in, once again, all the wonder of the evening and the joy of an extra inning victory for the Yankees.

In a way, I was a little bit disappointed that we won so quickly. If there was any time, I was ready, willing, able and WANTING to sit around for countless hours, it was last night. With tomorrow off and the feeling of nostalgia that had solidly set in me, I was willing to be the last guy in the stands watching the 22nd inning at 4 in the morning.

As I strolled back home around midnight, I could not wipe the grin from my face that had been there all evening. It was a good win for the Yankees and that made me happy. But, more that that, it was an early appreciation and a first good bye to a historic house that makes me feel like a little kid at Christmas every time I walk inside.

Cartoon Commentary

Bush's Farewell Tour

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

Latency (If I can't do it - nobody should be able to)

I have long believed and written about the concept of "latency" as it relates to peoples political and personal beliefs. While I would not over simplify or overgeneralize, I do believe that often times people who are (over?) enthusiastic advocates for or against something in particular do so based on their own desires. The most common example of this is homosexuality. While I certainly believe that a majority of people who are against gay marriage or anti-homosexual do not fall in this category, I do think that the most vocal and strident anti-homosexual folks are simply fighting off their own demons. There are academic studies and anecdotal evidence to back this up.

I believe that, very subtly and often only semi-consciously, those who are the strongest "family values" types are secretly jealous (yes, that's the right word) that others are getting away with something they secretly want to do. They don't do it themselves for a variety of reasons. They may be frightened or they may genuinely think it is immoral. The reason is unimportant, it is the reaction that I am focusing on. Since they can't or won't be gay (when deep down they want to), they insist that others must not be allowed to be either.

In my case I seem to always fight against greed and corruption. I have admitted before that just below my surface is a jealousy that I wish I were rich or wish that I could get into being greedy. Believe me, this is a struggle with me. I have a lot of persuasive skills, I am a great sales person, I come across as believable and honest - I could so take advantage of people and get their money in my hands. But for ever reason - morals or just the inability to do this (to my great frustration at times) I just do my own thing - honest and above the board. I make my money and sleep well at night. But I see how I could be so much more sucessful in this American life if I were greedy. That's the way modern Capitalism is set up. Let the buyer beware, letter seller take advantage. I see clearly how to take advantage of people. Because I can't get myself to do that (like I say, I often wish I could) I really get burned up when others do so. I think (semi - to fully consciously) that my anti-greed perspective comes from the attitude of - Since, I am unable (again, for whatever reason) to make all this money by taking advantage of people, no one should be allowed to either.

Which brings me to the current Administration in Washington and the contemporary Republican party. I am old enough to remember the Cold War and I clearly recall how the right wingers were the loudest in denouncing evil "Communism" and the powerful state government of the old Soviet bloc. While I didn't see it then, I have noticed something over the past decade that surprised me. I believe that the reason the "conservatives" so vehemently lambasted the Communists in the past is because they were jealous of the power they had. Yep, these folks were latent authoritarians the whole time and ohhh boy, has it ever risen to the surface.

I think it would be difficult to deny that the Bush Administration has seized more power and offered less accountability than any Administration in recent history. No one alive during the Cold War would mistake the eerie similarities between their rhetoric of the Soviets in the 1970's and 80's and that from the Bush Administration today. The strong State-ism, the reliance of cronyism over competence, the mandatory display of symbols to prove patriotism, the dismantling of our civil liberties, the imminent knock on the door (or phone tap) at night, and of course the torture. All these were specific issue railed AGAINST the communists back in the day! Yet today they are embraced with great pride by the Righties. (And don't make me get into what happens to those of us who protest this. Much like the USSR, our patriotism is challenged and we don't get to enjoy any of the spoils of the government provides.)

So there you have it - a self analysis. I am a closet greedy, power hungry Republican. (Honestly, would I like to be overpaid simply because of my connections, have control of the levers of power in this country to advance my narrow beliefs and reward my friends and punish my enemies with wild abandon - HELL YES!) But I don't. So no one else can either.

So there!

Hoffman Update

The attorney for Rachel Hoffman's family said Monday that Tallahassee police "proximately" caused her death through errors that started with their "foolish" plan to have her buy drugs and a gun and ended with their failure to locate her, although she was just minutes away.

"Rachel had no experience with guns," Block said. "She was a 23-year-old college student who smokes marijuana. She wasn't a gun dealer." Hoffman's autopsy has revealed that she died of "multiple gunshot wounds," but police have not said what type of gun was used to kill her. Her body was found in Taylor County on May 8. story

Amy and Nelson: Together At Last

My favorite, Amy Winehouse, made it out of the hospital and one of her regular health scares to perform last night in London. I'm glad to see she is doing better. I'm also thrilled that Nelson Mandela has reached the ripe old age of 90. As I wrote about back in 1999 and 2000, if it was up to Dick Cheney, Mandella would still be in jail. If you are not familiar with the history check it out. As I warned then, for Dick Cheney to go out on a limb and stand nearly alone in voting against a Congressional condemnation of Mandela imprisonment, showed me (correctly I might add), that Dick Cheney is an inherently mean spirited man, unworthy of public office. Ooops. Too late. Anyway good for Amy for making it to yesterday and good for Mandela for overcoming the closed minded hatemongers in his own country, and in ours.

The McCain Sermon

This is a very interesting piece talking about the religion of John McCain. The reporter had an extensive discussion with him about it back in 1996. Seems that McCain is far from the Christian fundamentalist that characterizes our current Commander-In-Chief. In fact, he seems down right indifferent to the view of Christianity that has dominated the political landscape recently. That's just my opinion. Read it for yourself and decide. Here is an excerpt from a sermon McCain said he gave while a POW in Vietnam.

One day I talked about the parable of when they asked Christ whether they should pay taxes and he held up a coin and said, “Render unto Caesar, etc.” My point was and still is that when we were flying in combat, we weren’t doing God’s work. We were doing Caesar’s work. So for us to go to prison and then ask God to get us out was not fair to God, to our religion, to our beliefs and to ourselves. It wasn’t a miracle that sent a SAM [surface-to-air missile] to hit my airplane. It was a guy, a technician at a SAM site.

Bearing arms (with restrictions)

I applaud this decision. The constitution clearly gives citizen the right to bear arms, but practicality calls for the ability to control this right. Today's decision adequately addresses both realities:
"Although we do not undertake an exhaustive historical analysis today of the full scope of the Second Amendment, nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms."

As far as the slim 1 vote margin, I think it would be a mistake to assume that an alternative position would have automatically meant an across the board ban on guns or unreasonable restrictions. The difference, as seen in the dissent, are less stark than one might initially assume and has more to do with allowing elected official determine the confines of restrictions of gun ownership by their citizens:

The Court would have us believe that over 200 years ago, the Framers made a choice to limit the tools available to elected officials wishing to regulate civilian uses of weapons, and to authorize this Court to use the common-law process of case-by-case judicial lawmaking to define the contours of acceptable gun control policy. Absent compelling evidence that is nowhere to be found in the Court’s opinion, I could not possibly conclude that the Framers made such a choice.

I would have probably been inclined to sympathize with the dissenting opinion, but unlike some who pick and choose which opinions to follow (re: Guantanamo detainees), I think everyone should accept the decision and move on. That shouldn't be a problem. I have long thought that the "gun" argument in contemporary politics was simply one of the many straw men built up by the right wing. They scared some people into thinking that liberals were coming in the middle of the night to take their guns. As someone who spends a lot of time with liberals (from the far left to center/left) I can assure you all that very, very few people want all or even most guns removed from the USA and none have any interest in coming to your home to get them. Not only is it impractical, but as the Court ruled today, it would be unconstitutional. I only hope that the self-proclaimed Patriots, who demand absolutely no control on weaponry will also accept this decision.

Tainted Red For Years To Come

In the news this week is the confirmation that the Justice Department ... OUR Justice Department (you know, the government agency responsible for making sure we are a nation of laws) was filled with political hacks who's main qualifications for the job of protecting justice in the USA were being loyal "conservative" solders. For years to come we will feel the repercussions of a system of Justice that, for eight years, worked only as a method to destroy the rule of law that differentiates us for rogue nations.

Scores of highly credentialed young lawyers and law students were denied interviews for coveted positions at the Justice Department because of an illegal screening process that took political and ideological views and affiliations into account rather than merit, Justice Department investigators concluded in a report released Tuesday.

Investigators said they were unable to conclude who gave the orders to start employing a political litmus test, though the report says some of the people interviewed pointed to former Gonzales aide Monica M. Goodling, who resigned last year after acknowledging in sworn testimony that she might have violated the law in evaluating applicants for career positions. Many of the records associated with the interviews were destroyed, the report says.

Now, here is another example of how this political cult operates. The Environmental Protection Agency (OUR environment) was rebuffed by the White House from publicising a Supreme Court mandated (you know the Supreme Court - the ones "conservatives" want to remodel in their own image) because the facts of their report did not mirror the pre-determined facts "conservatives" embrace. The unnecessary dangers that all earth inhabitants now face because of these people is immeasurable. Again, let me stress with urgency and clarity, when I call these "conservatives" anti-American fascists, it is not because I disagree with them and use words that I am unaware of the meaning. It is because they are exactly what I say they are.

The White House in December refused to accept the Environmental Protection Agency’s conclusion that greenhouse gases are pollutants that must be controlled, telling agency officials that an e-mail message containing the document would not be opened, senior E.P.A. officials said last week. The document, which ended up in e-mail limbo, without official status, was the E.P.A.’s answer to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that required it to determine whether greenhouse gases represent a danger to health or the environment, the officials said.

White House pressure to ignore or edit the E.P.A.’s climate-change findings led to the resignation of one agency official earlier this month: Jason Burnett, the associate deputy administrator. Mr. Burnett, a political appointee with broad authority over climate-change regulations, said in an interview that he had resigned because “no more constructive work could be done” on the agency’s response to the Supreme Court. He added, “The next administration will have to face what this one did not.”

Amazing Building!

This six minute video describes a building currently being construct in Dubai that may revolutionize sky scrapers in the future. Worth a watch.

Mr. 26%

Happy Friday!

Finally, someone has put to music the REAL reason this nation is going to Hell in a bright pink hand basket!

Reverse Graffiti

Alert the Hangman!

"There is no longer any doubt that the current administration committed war crimes. The only question is whether those who ordered torture will be held to account."

U.S. Major Gen. Antonio Taguba

Taguba bio

CNN story

Taguba statement

WasPo Story

Analysis, Comments & Video

Off the Charts!

Found a great website HERE. It puts hundreds of songs in graph form. Here are two you might enjoy!

more graph humor and song chart memes

more graph humor and song chart memes

Punching Hal in NYC - Tonight

Funny Stuff. Be there!

Trick Question: What planet is this?

answer

They Hate Us For Our Freedom

One of the most serious dangers to our nation is the so-called "conservative movement". As have argued for years, these people are not really conservatives and, in my view, not really Americans. They are a subculture who have non-Democratic tendencies and advances a belief structure for the sole purpose of misleading and manipulating those who would follow them. They use techniques seen most often with religious cults, to create an alternate reality which (no other word for it) brainwashes their followers. They start with the young and they use familiar indoctrination techniques to advance their strain of anti-Americanism.

By disguising themselves as Americans with "conservative" political opinions, they have been given legitimacy by the media and the American public as a whole. However, in truth, they hate America for it's freedom. They know how they want to live their lives. They believe everyone should live that way. And, they are willing to generate an alternate universe to make their way of life seem consistent with the real world.

I have been following them for a very long time and be forewarned, they are (for now) non-violent domestic terrorists. Mark my words, they will stage a coup or initiate a civil war in the United States in the very near future. They are setting up their followers to live in an alternate universe and they will continue to manipulate the minds of their followers until the day comes when they will be ordered to follow the will of (their conservative movement version of) God and destroy the USA.

So what has got me all worked up now? Something very simple but highly instructive. Everyone is familiar with Wikipedia. It's an online encyclopedia that covers just about everything. Well the "movement" has decided to tell their legions that wikipedia is a liberal menace and have started their own alternative site "Conservapedia". Why would conservatives need their own encyclopedia? Their entry on Barack Obama says it all. Check it all out because you will see exactly how people who have been convinced to ignore the mainstream of human thought are being 'educated'.

"If elected, Obama would be the first Affirmative Action President," - Conservapedia.

While I have no problem with people criticizing politicians, when an entire movement deliberately separates themselves intellectually from the rest of the world, it is nothing short of a cult. This cult, like many others, believe in the end of times and that they hold the Supreme Truth. America gives people the right to be stupid and mentally lazy. But once again, I urge you to heed my warning - these people are determined to destroy the United States! [I also want to make sure everyone understands that I believe people can be religious and conservative and not be a part of this subversive movement. But I strongly believe that to underestimate the power, influence and sinister intentions of this cult would be foolish and dangerous.]

You're Out!

Two big New York baseball Stories:

Willie Randolph, the former Yankee player, has been fired as manager of the Mets. I like Willie so it is a bit sad. Everyone likes Willie. Willie is a likable guy and that was probably what doomed him. Randolph comes across as a mellow, easy going, introverted person. That's wonderful for many jobs, but not as baseball manager - especially in New York City. It was probably a good move to let him go because after their meltdown last year and slow start this year the Mets need a jolt to get back going. Willie Randolph is not a "jolt" kind of guy. Look for him to join Joe Torre in LA where they can sit, side by side, all droopy eyed and drowsy.

The other story really burns me. The Yankees starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang was severely injured running the bases during an Inter league game and will miss up to 2 months. Now in the American League, where the Yankees play, a pitcher does not bat or run the bases - we use a pitch hitter. But the National League, where the Astros live and where the Yankees were playing, do have their pitchers hit. Because we were playing in their park, Major League Baseball says we have to play by their rules. What a waste. Admittedly, this is a convenient time for me to bring this up now and it's definitely closing the barn door after the horse has escaped, but MLB ought to consider using pinch hitters in Inter league games. It is really worth losing one of the leagues premiere players just for the novelty of seeing him hit? I don't think so.

Monday Roundup

Anyone who knows me knows that I hate to wait. If I see a line that looks too long or seems to be moving too slowly I will walk out of an establishment. Whether or not I have the time is not the issue, I just don't have the patience. So you can imagine my frustration at spending all day today trying in vain to buy All-Star Game tickets. I don't know if it is Ticketmaster, the Yankees or Major League baseball - but what a freakin' mess. Hours worth of effort and I couldn't even get a CHANCE to buy any tickets. And I'm supposedly a "preferred" customer. Arrrrrrrrgg. I just got an e mail from the Yankees apologizing for the problem which they claim was "beyond their control" Oh, they are sold out now too.

I got a Bluetooth for my phone and of course could not set it up. A few people at work tried to help me but it still didn't work. So I walked across the street to get the people who sold it to me yesterday to help. They would be happy to - for $15!!! One of the skills I have developed in New York is being the loud and angry customer. If you want something in this city you have to speak up to get it. After about 5 minutes of a loud temper tantrum one guy hooked it up for me (he said). It seems to be working now.

I still haven't gone back to Dunkin Donuts yet even though they built one (amazingly fast I might add) RIGHT next to my subway station. Bastards!

Got my tickets to go to Miami. I will look into getting Marlin tickets in the next couple of days. I will be in contact with those of you who said they were interested in going. Anyone else wanting to go let me know. I bet it will be easier to see the fish than the All Stars. Also, our seatmates for the regular season Yankee games are selling their "Final Game Ever" tickets for $350 each. Good price but I would want more. Much more. My e mail is located at the top left of this page.

My VP picks are already looking shaky. Democrat Mark Warner has said he is taking himself out of contention to run for Senate. He could change his mind, but with so many good possibilities on the Democratic side, it hardly seems worthwhile to try to convince him otherwise. My GOP pick, Bobby Jindal, has gotten an endorsement for the position by none other than Newt Gingrich. Not sure if that will help or be the kiss of death.

Eye In The Sky: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Russert Death as Breaking News

Like anyone else who follows politics closely, I was shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Tim Russert. Rather than try to repeat all the accolades you can find on television right now, I want to mention HOW I learned of this sad news. Since Russert was a newsman, he would probably appreciate just how fast the news got out and how much detail was made available to the public.

Russert died around 3pm. I had the day off and was listening to the radio - staying away from the TV and computer for the day. However, I am signed up for "Breaking News" from CNN and MSNBC with Twitter. Whenever news breaks, I get a text. Of course I love that. Anyway .. less than 20 minutes after Russert died I got a text informing me of the news. Less than 20 minutes!!!

I turned on the TV and starting watching the coverage, expecting the details to begin slowly trickle in. Not the case. Immediately we learned the details about when the heart attack struck, what he was doing, how CPR was tried, an ambulance came and when he was pronounced dead. A lot of details, very quickly. Most amazing, when I checked MSNBC at 7:30 ( I turned the TV off after seeing Keith Olberman boo-hooing - I'm not much into watching that) I was amazed to see Russert's doctor on the air talking, in great and graphic detail, about the autopsy he has already completed! Astounding. They were not leaving anything out. By 8:30 pm, I was already burned out by the coverage.

I mention this because it all seems so fast to me. For me to get a text even before (literally) the body got cold still amazes me. The fact that ALL the details of is death were made public immediately also was surprising. The fact that an autopsy was done with a couple hours of his death and the findings explained to the public before the news really sunk in was, frankly, a bit surreal. And the fact that within 4 or 5 hours of his passing away I was already over saturated by the news also demonstrates the times we live in.

I'm not criticizing the coverage at all. In fact, I am writing about this becomes I am impressed. For news junkie, to learn about what happened so quickly and in so much detail is really what we want. In his career Tim Russert was respected for his ability to get to the facts as directly and accurately as possible. The coverage of his death, as suffocating as it was, was in many ways an appropriate tribute to this true newsman.

Amazing Photo: Iowa Tornado

This is one of the most amazing pictures of a tornado I have ever seen.

A huge tornado funnel cloud touches down in Orchard, Iowa, Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. The Globe Gazette and Mitchell County Press News reported that Lori Mehmen of Orchard, took the photo from outside her front door

Happy Friday!! Borat at the Gym

PREDICTIONS: The Vice Presidential Picks

"Veepstakes".. it's the parlour game all political junkies are playing at this time - trying to guess who the Democratic and Republican nominees will be. For the most part, those high paid pundits on TV and radio are hedging their bets - giving only a short list - at best. Since, I doubt either candidate will make their final choice for many weeks, it takes a brave person to jump ahead of these guys and boldly predict exactly what they will do before they even know it themselves. I am that brave person.

I have been trying to get into the mind of Barack Obama and John McCain to determine how they would go about choosing a running mate. What factors would they think were important, how do they make decisions, what messages are they trying to send, what electoral advantage are they jockeying to get .. all these factors went into me predicting what they nominees will do. Here goes..

I predict that Barack Obama will make a very good choice by selecting Mark Warner of Virginia as his running mate.

There will be a lot of reasons for this choice. Mark Warner is young, a former governor and from Virginia, a swing state in this election. He’s a family man with a strong Christian background. He is very smart and was a capable and popular chief executive of his state. He is respected by the activists as well as the old standard bearers of the Democratic party. He also connected well with many Republicans and Independents in his state and did well with voters in the Appalachian Mountain region where Obama will need some help. These are all excellent qualifications for Warner to be Obama's VP choice. However, the most important reason he will get the nod, in my opinion, is Barack Obama insistence on a “no drama” operation. Warner is a cool cat, very serious, smart and talented. He is post-partisan and rejects the divisive politics that Obama has been running against. His personality and his politics blend perfectly with that of Barack Obama making him the best choice as his running mate.

John McCain is an entirely different story. His campaign seems at a loss as to how to take the shine off his young, fresh opponent. Therefore, I believe, he will miscalculate and make the poor decision of choosing Bobby Jindal of Louisiana as his GOP Vice Presidential running mate.

So far in this campaign McCain seems to be trying to mimic Obama's strengths in an attempt to weaken his opponents message and image. He has adapted a new slogan “A leader we can believe in” that is a take off on the one Obama has used for over a year “Change we can believe in”. McCain has had his website redesigned to look like Obama's and he portrays himself as much of a change agent as Obama. He seems to be trying to run a "copy cat" campaign.

Keeping with this misguided strategy, McCain will make the foolish choice of Governor Bobby Jindal for his running mate. To be painfully blunt, The biggest reason McCain will make this choice is that Jindal is young (36) and dark skinned - just like Obama! I believe McCain thinks this will peel off some support from Barack. It won't. Not only is McCain's strategy to confuse the differences between the two campaigns ridiculous and doomed to failure, I can think of no voting block that would be more inclined to vote for McCain because of the inclusion of Jindal. It is a plan without a purpose (also, it would be an insult to Jindal to propel him to the VP slot under this scenario). Yes, Jindal is a governor (has been for a few months now) and a strict conservative, but just like when Bob Dole tried to go "young and right" with Jack Kemp, McCain will miss with his attempt to generate excitement with this unorthodox pick.

McCain should actually pick Mike Huckabee. You all know I’m a big fan of his, but from a strictly strategic point of view, Huckabee would be a smart choice. He is the only person I know of that can compete rhetorically with the Obama campaign (which John McCain and Jindal clearly cannot). Huckabee beat McCain in the South even after McCain was all but the presumptive nominee, and he maintains strong support in that region. McCain may feel that the South is already locked up for the GOP but I do not. Huckabee could hold the base that McCain needs to have any chance of winning in November.

Now, Huckabee has said some nutty things over the past months and years, but I’m pretty sure McCain himself will corner the market this Fall on uncomfortable sound bites. As much as I like him, as a Democrat I also fear Mike Huckabee. He is very smart, shrewd and could, with a crafty plan and his sliver tongue, find a way to score an upset in November. A long serving governor, Mike Huckabee, in my opinion, could handle the job of President if he were to have to serve.

So there you have it. It will be Obama/Warner vs. McCain/Jindal. Of course, this far in advance anything can happen and I may have to revise these picks later. Warner is currently running for Senate and would have to be convinced to drop out of that race and Jindal could (and should) take himself out of the picture to focus on the needs of his new job. But unless and until something extraordinary happens I will make this "earliest in the blogosphere" prediction of the candidates choices for running mates.

And they're off!

click graph to enlarge

Happy 50th Birthday Prince

I have been a Prince fan for a very long time.

Happy Birthday

Why They Lie

Because it works.

The World's Strangest Animals!

Here are ten of the strangest looking animals on the planet.Proboscis Monkey

Hillary Didn't Lose. Barack Won.

click to enlarge (source)
Looking closely at the graph you notice that Hillary Clinton started strong and stayed steady throughout the campaign. Barack Obama however, started as a virtual unknown and kept getting stronger. One might have assumed, from watching the weekly primary contests, that the candidates' popularity would have been switching up and down through the months. But actually, Hillary's graph line pretty much starts and ends in the same place and has very few sharp variations whereas Obama's poll numbers go from one corner to the next with a nice jump after the Iowa caucuses. I wonder what that suggests for the election in November. Also, while I am not for selecting Clinton as VP, do these poll numbers argue for or against making her the running mate. Comments?

Talking About My Generation

I have always heard people say that they felt old for the first time when the President of the United States is younger than they are . Barack Obama (thankfully) is older than me - but only by a few months so I guess I have the best of both worlds. First, a Presidential candidate that represents my generation for the first time, but also I can say that I am "younger than the President". It's clear to me that one of the reasons I have supported Obama from the start is that he spoke like I thought. No politician has reflected my perspective so closely and articulated it so clearly probably because they have all been a generation or more older than I am. As we move to the general election it will be in many way a battle of generations: My dad's (who is a few months younger than John McCain) vs. my own generation. This has happened sooner than I expected but then again, George W. Bush has changed the landscape of America and the political world to make it necessary.

The boomers could not let the 1960's go and the Clinton's, Bush's, Rove's and Limbaugh's seemed unable or unwilling to stop fighting the culture wars from that era. They also (especially on the Right) developed a younger generation who, despite having no memory of an era prior to their birth, are filled with the same anger and resentment that had driven their mentors into politics. What that has left us is polarized and blind to the real problems that face the USA. We may be on the verge of this all coming to an end.

In an ironic twist, John McCain is a little too old to be a part of the 60's mess (although he will probably rail against it) and Obama, of course, is too young to have been tainted by all that. So while pundits and some campaign officials will try to reignite the flames of discontent that has defined our politics for the past generation, Barack Obama will move beyond that and John McCain will be unpersuasive about it. It's happened sooner than I thought it would be but it looks like my generation may now get the responsibility to repair the breech of that troubled era.

UPDATE: Found this related commentary in a UK newspaper.

Daytona Beach (Quick) Sand

Daytona Beach is my favorite beach of all times. All those childhood vacations and weekend trips from college have given me a variety of terrific memories. One of my favorite things about Daytona was that you could drive right on the beach! You could park, soak in the sun, get a chili dog, go swimming and then just load the car back up and drive away.

It's been a while since I have been there and I know that they have restricted cars on the beach in recent years. Probably a good idea. I saw this today and found it interesting.

Nearly 100 cars sank and became stuck in unusually soft sand on Daytona Beach, forcing beach patrol officers to close parts of the beach to all vehicles. "I have not seen it this bad in my lifetime," Beach patrol Capt. Tim Cunningham said. "Right now, the sand is like powder. It is just months and months of no rain."

Get Well "Frasier"

Actor Kelsey Grammer is recovering after suffering a mild heart attack Saturday, according to his publicist. "Grammer experienced symptoms Saturday morning after paddle boarding with his wife Camille at their Hawaiian home," Stan Rosenfield said in a statement. "Grammer was immediately taken to an area hospital where it was determined that he had a mild heart attack. He will be released from the hospital early this week," he said. Grammer, 53, is best known for playing radio psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on "Cheers" and its spinoff, "Frasier." source

Bye Bye Bo .. and Thank You

I just heard that Bo Diddley has died. I certainly have fond memories of him not only for his music (video) but for the kindness he extended to me. When I was just starting in radio, I talked the station manager into letting me do a Saturday evening entertainment show. It was a hard sell, mostly because finding entertainment in Tallahassee can be a struggle anyway -trying to make a radio show out of it would be real tough. Well, I got the show and sure enough, on that first Saturday evening, Bo Diddley was in town to do a concert. I tried to get an interview with him for the live 6pm program and he agreed! So here I was a newbie on the radio, with a cell phone the size of a loaf of bread interviewing Bo Diddley for a full hour. He was a great guy, very nice and very cool. He talked to me as if I was a long time pro in the music biz rather than a young-ish new radio guy just trying to make a name for himself. Bo Diddley really helped me look good and undoubtedly advanced my radio career . His agreeing to give me, an unknown person on a tiny AM station in a small town, a live 60 minute interview will always be appreciated.

Screengrab from donut sleeper cell training video surfaces

from BOING BOING (with history of scarf)

16

The number of dollars Dunkin Donuts did NOT get from me this week because of them caving to lunatics.
3 cups of coffee - $5
2 muffins - $3
bag of coffee - $8