Unless you live under a rock or somewhere else deep inside the earth, you know that too many calories and not enough exercise will make you fat. Well, there is a new study out that claims that air pollution is also contributing to America’s big butt epidemic.
Researchers cautioned that the evidence is preliminary at this point, but what they are seeing is chemicals in the air that triggers a process called adipogenesis, which in laymen’s terms is fat-cell activity. The findings were presented at last month’s American Association for the Advancement of Science. Scientists even have a name for these fat causing chemicals. They are called “obesogens.”
So what do we do now? Stop breathing?
*********
Well, god love her, that old fossil Phyllis Schlafly is apparently still alive with foot still firmly planted in her mouth. You would think she would’ve choked on it by now. But not so. The former head of the very conservative right wing organization Eagle Forum, has reared her doddering gray head to tell us that women can not be raped by their husbands.
According to Dr. Phyl, once a woman enters into marriage she consents to sex whenever and where ever hubby wants it, period. Schlafly also thinks and says that women are physically inferior to men and should not be firefighters, soldiers, police officers or construction workers, among other things.
No female soldiers? Hmmmm. What about all the women who are fighting and dying in Iraq, sent there by Dr. Phyl’s political party of choice. She dares to call these women inferior?
And speaking of inferior, anyone check on Schlafly’s gay son lately? Or is he still bound and gagged and quietly in the closet?
***********
Burger King, number two and apparently trying harder, has decided to be more humane about the food it is serving up. The giant fast food chain has decided that in the future it will only serve eggs and pork purchased from free range animal farmers instead of from those who confine their livestock to crates and cages. PETA and other animal rights organizations applauded the decision as the humane way to go.
Inquiring minds want to know.....If you’re patronizing Burger King or Mickey D’s, or Jack in the Box or whom ever, do you really give a damn about how the animal was humanely kept or put to death before it got to your plate?
Don’t you really only worry about whether it’s fast, hot, and not breathing on the bun before you sink your teeth into it?
If humane really meant anything don’t you think you’d be vegetarian? Just asking...
3.26.2007
Color Me Happy and Pass the Almond Joy
I’m at that age where most stuff that I consumed in my younger days will now either kill me, make me fat, increase my cholesterol, or give me gas. Eating is no longer the pleasure it once was. I eat now because I have to, to stay alive, not because I necessarily enjoy what it is I have to eat. The good stuff has long disappeared from my diet except for the occasional binge, for which I pay dearly. Until today, that is.
Chocolate, dark, rich, creamy chocolate is back in my diet and soon to be in my mouth, thanks to a study recently presented to the American College of Cardiology Scientific, which met in New Orleans, last week.
According to the study, dark chocolate significantly increases blood flow function. The study was conducted by one Dr. Valentine Yanchou Nijike of the Yale Research Prevention Center.
During a six week study, 45 people were given cocoa without sugar, cocoa with sugar, or a placebo every day of the study.
Doctors then used ultrasound to measure the upper arm’s artery’s ability to relax and expand to accommodate increased blood flow.
The folks who got the dark chocolate showed a major increase in blood flow. Even those who got the sugared cocoa showed a significant increase. Those who got the placebo showed no increase.
Researchers said the study, while very promising, is not meant to be taken as a sign to binge on chocolate. Further studies are required say the researchers.
Okay. I’ll still take my meds, but I’m no longer passing up the Hershey bars, snickers, milky ways, or baby ruth bars. I need them to make my blood flow better.
Chocolate, dark, rich, creamy chocolate is back in my diet and soon to be in my mouth, thanks to a study recently presented to the American College of Cardiology Scientific, which met in New Orleans, last week.
According to the study, dark chocolate significantly increases blood flow function. The study was conducted by one Dr. Valentine Yanchou Nijike of the Yale Research Prevention Center.
During a six week study, 45 people were given cocoa without sugar, cocoa with sugar, or a placebo every day of the study.
Doctors then used ultrasound to measure the upper arm’s artery’s ability to relax and expand to accommodate increased blood flow.
The folks who got the dark chocolate showed a major increase in blood flow. Even those who got the sugared cocoa showed a significant increase. Those who got the placebo showed no increase.
Researchers said the study, while very promising, is not meant to be taken as a sign to binge on chocolate. Further studies are required say the researchers.
Okay. I’ll still take my meds, but I’m no longer passing up the Hershey bars, snickers, milky ways, or baby ruth bars. I need them to make my blood flow better.
3.21.2007
Rapex? Trojan...Trojan? Rapex
From the “I can’t make this up category” comes a new product from South Africa. It’s called RAPEX.
Rapex is a new kind of condom designed to combat the crime of rape. This is a condom for women and is inserted with an applicator much like a tampon. Inside the condom are teeth that attach to the head and shaft of the penis when it is inserted during penetration.
According to the website, it is a device that can be worn for up to 24 hours and should be inserted prior to dates with men you don’t know, when you know you’re going to be walking down some dark street or alley at midnight, if you’re going out clubbing, if you’re working alone in the office late at night, or in any situation where you’re just not sure about the men surrounding you.
It can even be used if you have an abusive husband who is constantly demanding sex when you have a headache.
This device, which was invented a few years ago by a woman named Sonet Ehlers, is designed to cause the man great pain, if he gets caught in it. According to the Rapex website; http://www.rapestop.net, it’s better than the proverbial “kick in the groin” that martial artists teach women as a form of defense.
Once it bites, according to Ms, Ehlers, it won’t come off without medical aid.
Ms. Ehlers says the condom was tested on a fake vagina and fake penis so no real men were maimed during the experiments. She also says the condom is undetectable in case the would-be rapist decides to inspect before inserting.
Critics have called the inventor a man hater for coming up with such a device.
Give me a break, rape is not a crime of sex...it is a crime of power. Men who rape don’t love their victims. If women want to “bite back,” then so be it. It will save money on dental bills.
And what about protection against the guy who breaks into your house while you’re sleeping? Well, that’s easy. Keep Rapex by the bed. You can quickly insert and be ready for him when he climbs on top of you, as you lay there cowering, like little women do, when under attack.
Hmmmm...think I’d rather put my trust in a 38, loaded, laying in the spot where I would normally keep my Rapex.
Rapex is a new kind of condom designed to combat the crime of rape. This is a condom for women and is inserted with an applicator much like a tampon. Inside the condom are teeth that attach to the head and shaft of the penis when it is inserted during penetration.
According to the website, it is a device that can be worn for up to 24 hours and should be inserted prior to dates with men you don’t know, when you know you’re going to be walking down some dark street or alley at midnight, if you’re going out clubbing, if you’re working alone in the office late at night, or in any situation where you’re just not sure about the men surrounding you.
It can even be used if you have an abusive husband who is constantly demanding sex when you have a headache.
This device, which was invented a few years ago by a woman named Sonet Ehlers, is designed to cause the man great pain, if he gets caught in it. According to the Rapex website; http://www.rapestop.net, it’s better than the proverbial “kick in the groin” that martial artists teach women as a form of defense.
Once it bites, according to Ms, Ehlers, it won’t come off without medical aid.
Ms. Ehlers says the condom was tested on a fake vagina and fake penis so no real men were maimed during the experiments. She also says the condom is undetectable in case the would-be rapist decides to inspect before inserting.
Critics have called the inventor a man hater for coming up with such a device.
Give me a break, rape is not a crime of sex...it is a crime of power. Men who rape don’t love their victims. If women want to “bite back,” then so be it. It will save money on dental bills.
And what about protection against the guy who breaks into your house while you’re sleeping? Well, that’s easy. Keep Rapex by the bed. You can quickly insert and be ready for him when he climbs on top of you, as you lay there cowering, like little women do, when under attack.
Hmmmm...think I’d rather put my trust in a 38, loaded, laying in the spot where I would normally keep my Rapex.
3.19.2007
Shock and Disgust
Four years later and the “shock and awe” of the assault on Iraq has turned to anger and disgust. Those of us who were alive during Vietnam can rightfully say “we told ya so.” This latest quagmire was never about liberation, freedom or the war on terror. It was about politics, religion and rich men’s dreams of getting richer at the expense of the rest of us.
The war platform was built on lies which were shaped by cherry picked intelligence to bolster the prevarications that we needed to liberate the Iraqi people in order to protect our country from terrorism. The war platform was shaped by right wing religious fervor of spreading Christianity to the “heathens.” Bring them to “our” god and making the world a “safer” place. The war was the method that some thought could bring control of the oil rich territories to the west, insuring our energy supplies.
We now know by looking backward that this administration sent our troops over there without proper equipment, armor, and in some cases, training. This administration sent our national guard troops to fight and die in an illegal conflagration that left this country exposed to the elements. Helpless when it came to fighting the natural disasters that have ravaged us in the past few years. There was no one to help those victimized by Katrina except an inept, uncaring group of political hacks appointed by this White House, in order to fulfill campaign promises. There is no one, now, to dig out from under the series of tornadoes and storms that have cut wide paths of destruction across much of the southern half of this country.
Iraq is mired in a religious civil war. We are caught in the middle. Our president is sending more troops while Congress stands around with its thumb up its ass.
3200 dead. We’re running out of troops. The war goes on...........
**********
“Another N**** Dead, “ So What!
When I was about 11 years old, a three year old cousin of mine, who was named after my mother, was hit and killed by a car. It was her fault. She ran into the street, chasing a cat. She didn’t see the car. The driver didn’t see her. She died instantly.
Three days later she was buried. The funeral was held in Cleveland and while the procession wound down Euclid Avenue, I remember looking out a window as my father drove and seeing a young, skinny white dude, jumping up and down and clapping his hands singing a made up song; “another nigger dead, another nigger dead, another nigger dead.” He didn’t stop until all the cars had past him. It didn’t make any difference that we were burying a little girl who just wanted to play with her kitty cat.
This memory came back to me as I watched the news conference about the indictments of the police officers who executed Sean Bell on his wedding day. They were indicted for first and second degree manslaughter. Serious charges, if they are convicted.
But I wanted to hear the word “murder” somewhere in the official reckoning. This was an execution, plain and simple. There was no equivocation. One cop shot 50 rounds. He had to reload at least once. He knew what he was doing.
Another nigger dead, another nigger dead, another nigger dead. So what.
45 years later and I still can’t get that phrase out of my head.
The war platform was built on lies which were shaped by cherry picked intelligence to bolster the prevarications that we needed to liberate the Iraqi people in order to protect our country from terrorism. The war platform was shaped by right wing religious fervor of spreading Christianity to the “heathens.” Bring them to “our” god and making the world a “safer” place. The war was the method that some thought could bring control of the oil rich territories to the west, insuring our energy supplies.
We now know by looking backward that this administration sent our troops over there without proper equipment, armor, and in some cases, training. This administration sent our national guard troops to fight and die in an illegal conflagration that left this country exposed to the elements. Helpless when it came to fighting the natural disasters that have ravaged us in the past few years. There was no one to help those victimized by Katrina except an inept, uncaring group of political hacks appointed by this White House, in order to fulfill campaign promises. There is no one, now, to dig out from under the series of tornadoes and storms that have cut wide paths of destruction across much of the southern half of this country.
Iraq is mired in a religious civil war. We are caught in the middle. Our president is sending more troops while Congress stands around with its thumb up its ass.
3200 dead. We’re running out of troops. The war goes on...........
**********
“Another N**** Dead, “ So What!
When I was about 11 years old, a three year old cousin of mine, who was named after my mother, was hit and killed by a car. It was her fault. She ran into the street, chasing a cat. She didn’t see the car. The driver didn’t see her. She died instantly.
Three days later she was buried. The funeral was held in Cleveland and while the procession wound down Euclid Avenue, I remember looking out a window as my father drove and seeing a young, skinny white dude, jumping up and down and clapping his hands singing a made up song; “another nigger dead, another nigger dead, another nigger dead.” He didn’t stop until all the cars had past him. It didn’t make any difference that we were burying a little girl who just wanted to play with her kitty cat.
This memory came back to me as I watched the news conference about the indictments of the police officers who executed Sean Bell on his wedding day. They were indicted for first and second degree manslaughter. Serious charges, if they are convicted.
But I wanted to hear the word “murder” somewhere in the official reckoning. This was an execution, plain and simple. There was no equivocation. One cop shot 50 rounds. He had to reload at least once. He knew what he was doing.
Another nigger dead, another nigger dead, another nigger dead. So what.
45 years later and I still can’t get that phrase out of my head.
3.12.2007
Presidential Fiddle Faddle
Hillary, Obama, enough with the JFK comparisons. Neither one of you can fill those shoes, before he became president, and certainly not after. Let’s stick to some issues. Any issues besides Iraq. You’re both Senators, let’s do something in Congress for a while. We’ve got time before 2008.
Obama, how about a platform of ideas to spark my interest. So far, the only thing you’re offering is a beautiful smile, and a lot of charisma. Makes me want to marry you, but not necessarily to vote for you.
Hillary, you are proving to be exactly what you are, a professional politician who happens to wear a dress. Please, give me a reason to support you besides your gender, it ain’t enough.
Fred Thompson, please don’t throw your hat into the ring. Your flip flops between acting and politics makes you seem very untrustworthy. If you’re bored go ask David Wolf to write another Law and Order series where you get most of the face time instead of just two minutes of phony prosecutorial pontification from your office.
Bill Richardson, how about the rest of us? There aren’t enough legal Hispanics in this country to put you into the White House without some input from the rest of us.
Dennis Kucinich, I take you seriously, but you don’t have a snow ball’s chance of winning. You’re still the short guy from Cleveland not the John Wayne types we Americans usually get bamboozled into voting for. Besides, you actually have a brain. But vegetarianism is not a selling point in this carnivorous country.
Rudolf Giuliani, your leadership during 9/11 was good. But then showing up Dubya is easy. Cheating on your wife and then marrying your mistress is not a career move. Neither is wearing a dress, unless you’re Hillary. You show a decided lack of follow through...from us attorney to mayor to now wannabe president? Your game may play in New York. It’s not working too well here in the Midwest.
Newt, who the hell wants a President named after a lizard, especially when he acts like one. Slimy. Your mea culpa about what you did to your wife, while persecuting Bill Clinton, isn’t good either. Do you really think the people will trade one hypocrite for another? They might, but it won’t be you.
Mitt Romney. I honestly have a problem with guys who follow religions that listed black people as subhuman as late as 1978. Your flip flops on LGBT issues and pro choice issues means you don’t have even a snow ball’s chance with me.
John McCain. I used to like what you said, way back in 2000, but you’ve got that flip flopitis going on too. Pandering to the right in order to get elected leaves a nasty taste in my mouth.
If you do, by some chance get the nomination, selecting Joe Lieberman to be your running mate won’t work either.
And as for all the other guys whose names that I’ve forgotten, well that says it all doesn’t it. Keep your day jobs.
Obama, how about a platform of ideas to spark my interest. So far, the only thing you’re offering is a beautiful smile, and a lot of charisma. Makes me want to marry you, but not necessarily to vote for you.
Hillary, you are proving to be exactly what you are, a professional politician who happens to wear a dress. Please, give me a reason to support you besides your gender, it ain’t enough.
Fred Thompson, please don’t throw your hat into the ring. Your flip flops between acting and politics makes you seem very untrustworthy. If you’re bored go ask David Wolf to write another Law and Order series where you get most of the face time instead of just two minutes of phony prosecutorial pontification from your office.
Bill Richardson, how about the rest of us? There aren’t enough legal Hispanics in this country to put you into the White House without some input from the rest of us.
Dennis Kucinich, I take you seriously, but you don’t have a snow ball’s chance of winning. You’re still the short guy from Cleveland not the John Wayne types we Americans usually get bamboozled into voting for. Besides, you actually have a brain. But vegetarianism is not a selling point in this carnivorous country.
Rudolf Giuliani, your leadership during 9/11 was good. But then showing up Dubya is easy. Cheating on your wife and then marrying your mistress is not a career move. Neither is wearing a dress, unless you’re Hillary. You show a decided lack of follow through...from us attorney to mayor to now wannabe president? Your game may play in New York. It’s not working too well here in the Midwest.
Newt, who the hell wants a President named after a lizard, especially when he acts like one. Slimy. Your mea culpa about what you did to your wife, while persecuting Bill Clinton, isn’t good either. Do you really think the people will trade one hypocrite for another? They might, but it won’t be you.
Mitt Romney. I honestly have a problem with guys who follow religions that listed black people as subhuman as late as 1978. Your flip flops on LGBT issues and pro choice issues means you don’t have even a snow ball’s chance with me.
John McCain. I used to like what you said, way back in 2000, but you’ve got that flip flopitis going on too. Pandering to the right in order to get elected leaves a nasty taste in my mouth.
If you do, by some chance get the nomination, selecting Joe Lieberman to be your running mate won’t work either.
And as for all the other guys whose names that I’ve forgotten, well that says it all doesn’t it. Keep your day jobs.
3.06.2007
Designer Vaginas, The Search for the Perfect P****
I guess it was inevitable. Some rather enterprising Ob-Gyns, have opened up a new frontier in plastic surgery designed, I can only surmise, to separate stupid women and the men who love them, from more of their money. A report in today’s Washington Post likens the new procedures to dying one’s hair to cover encroaching grey.
Laser vaginal rejuvenation is what it’s called. What it purports to do is to rebuild the muscles of your “cat” to make it more enticing to your partner, that is if you can get him to look at it in the first place. It’s not a body part that we women can see or can stare at on a daily basis, and lesbians don’t have this problem, so it’s obviously a “man-thing,” made up by men, for men.
I didn’t know that the muscle walls were the site of sexual gratification. I thought that was the “G” spot” inside. That’s the reason why men have tools, so they can reach it, isn’t it?
Anyway, there is this board certified brother in DC who offers what he calls the “wonder woman makeover .” For about 15-grand he will tighten up the muscles in your vag-JJ, raise your breasts off your navel, make them bigger with implants, suck the fat out of your stomach to give you that nubile washboard look, and blow your butt up to look like J-Lo’s or any naturally endowed sister walking down the street.
If you really want to go all the way, then you can even have your hymen put back, so hubby or boyfriend can re-enact the taking of your cherry, like he thought he did way back when the two of you first had sex.
I’m sure he will probably do your lips, too. All of this is designed to make your man happy and want to continue screwing you instead of that 18 year old office assistant at work.
Revirginization, as the hymen procedure is called, is said to be the newest and latest gift for the man who has everything. One surgeon claiming to have performed 150 of these “gifts” says his clients are celebrating new relationships or second honeymoons.
The article is filled with happy face testimonials from clueless women who begged borrowed or stole the money in order to have the procedures done for their guys.
Gee whiz, and I’ve always thought that the brain was the best sex organ, guess I’m wrong. All these years, and I’ve been using the wrong head. Damn!
Laser vaginal rejuvenation is what it’s called. What it purports to do is to rebuild the muscles of your “cat” to make it more enticing to your partner, that is if you can get him to look at it in the first place. It’s not a body part that we women can see or can stare at on a daily basis, and lesbians don’t have this problem, so it’s obviously a “man-thing,” made up by men, for men.
I didn’t know that the muscle walls were the site of sexual gratification. I thought that was the “G” spot” inside. That’s the reason why men have tools, so they can reach it, isn’t it?
Anyway, there is this board certified brother in DC who offers what he calls the “wonder woman makeover .” For about 15-grand he will tighten up the muscles in your vag-JJ, raise your breasts off your navel, make them bigger with implants, suck the fat out of your stomach to give you that nubile washboard look, and blow your butt up to look like J-Lo’s or any naturally endowed sister walking down the street.
If you really want to go all the way, then you can even have your hymen put back, so hubby or boyfriend can re-enact the taking of your cherry, like he thought he did way back when the two of you first had sex.
I’m sure he will probably do your lips, too. All of this is designed to make your man happy and want to continue screwing you instead of that 18 year old office assistant at work.
Revirginization, as the hymen procedure is called, is said to be the newest and latest gift for the man who has everything. One surgeon claiming to have performed 150 of these “gifts” says his clients are celebrating new relationships or second honeymoons.
The article is filled with happy face testimonials from clueless women who begged borrowed or stole the money in order to have the procedures done for their guys.
Gee whiz, and I’ve always thought that the brain was the best sex organ, guess I’m wrong. All these years, and I’ve been using the wrong head. Damn!
3.04.2007
Rhythm, Race and Politics
I guess I should be happy that finally, America is talking openly about race. We’ve got new laws and resolutions to ban the “N” word. We’ve got re-enactments of bloody Sunday down in Selma, recalling the events that culminated in the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
We’ve got blogs and news programs and major magazines debating whether or not Obama is black enough and accepted by “real black” Americans. Others want to know if Hillary and her card carrying black man of a husband will steal the White House away from the “blood born” black man that is Barack.
We’ve even got the Cherokee Nation kicking out the descendants of their slaves because they are not Native American by blood. Yes, Native Americans owned black slaves, in case that lesson was omitted from your history book. And up until yesterday, the slave descendants were considered part of the Cherokee Nation. The vote to rescind tribal membership was 76 percent in favor. Some are calling the vote racist. Others say it is self determination.
This Obama thing is funny. For most of this country’s history, what defined people as black was “one drop” of black blood, never mind what the skin color was. Obama is fully 50 percent black, so what is the problem? He looks black. He married black. His kids are black. He goes to a black church. Black man!
If white supremacists ever kick off their racial holy war, Obama will be right there next to Tiger Woods getting his head blown off with the rest of us obviously real blacks. So why question his ethnicity now when he’s running for president? Unlike young Eldrick, he doesn’t appear conflicted about who he is, so why should we be?
Anyone remember the Rainbow coalition. Jesse Jackson used to tell us that there were 64 shades of blackness. Black people, Jackson used to say, come in all colors and shades.
African Americans are a living, breathing rainbow. Obama is one shade of that rainbow.
Again I ask, what is the problem? Maybe it’s because he doesn’t feel black. Bill Clinton feels like a black man even though he isn’t and that is hard to explain. There is a rhythm to blackness... a musical....lyrical way of reacting to and within the universe. I’ll be honest, I don’t feel that rhythm with Obama. But I do feel that rhythm with Bill Clinton. I don’t feel that rhythm with Hillary Clinton. Hillary is a white girl, brilliant, but rhythm-less. Clarence Thomas is very obviously a black man. But he is rhythm-less and clueless and I’m not feeling him at all.
But my feelings don’t make Obama any less black. I can still relate to the brother and I suspect that most of my fellow blacks can too.
Now can we get on with the real issues of this campaign?
We’ve got blogs and news programs and major magazines debating whether or not Obama is black enough and accepted by “real black” Americans. Others want to know if Hillary and her card carrying black man of a husband will steal the White House away from the “blood born” black man that is Barack.
We’ve even got the Cherokee Nation kicking out the descendants of their slaves because they are not Native American by blood. Yes, Native Americans owned black slaves, in case that lesson was omitted from your history book. And up until yesterday, the slave descendants were considered part of the Cherokee Nation. The vote to rescind tribal membership was 76 percent in favor. Some are calling the vote racist. Others say it is self determination.
This Obama thing is funny. For most of this country’s history, what defined people as black was “one drop” of black blood, never mind what the skin color was. Obama is fully 50 percent black, so what is the problem? He looks black. He married black. His kids are black. He goes to a black church. Black man!
If white supremacists ever kick off their racial holy war, Obama will be right there next to Tiger Woods getting his head blown off with the rest of us obviously real blacks. So why question his ethnicity now when he’s running for president? Unlike young Eldrick, he doesn’t appear conflicted about who he is, so why should we be?
Anyone remember the Rainbow coalition. Jesse Jackson used to tell us that there were 64 shades of blackness. Black people, Jackson used to say, come in all colors and shades.
African Americans are a living, breathing rainbow. Obama is one shade of that rainbow.
Again I ask, what is the problem? Maybe it’s because he doesn’t feel black. Bill Clinton feels like a black man even though he isn’t and that is hard to explain. There is a rhythm to blackness... a musical....lyrical way of reacting to and within the universe. I’ll be honest, I don’t feel that rhythm with Obama. But I do feel that rhythm with Bill Clinton. I don’t feel that rhythm with Hillary Clinton. Hillary is a white girl, brilliant, but rhythm-less. Clarence Thomas is very obviously a black man. But he is rhythm-less and clueless and I’m not feeling him at all.
But my feelings don’t make Obama any less black. I can still relate to the brother and I suspect that most of my fellow blacks can too.
Now can we get on with the real issues of this campaign?
2.26.2007
Can You Feel A Brand New Day
Or is it that we really are at the end of days as some religious folk would have us believe. Because if Jesus ascended in both body and spirit to heaven 40 days after resurrection, then whose bones has James Cameron unearthed outside Jerusalem?
Film maker James Cameron, you know the one who made Titanic and my personal favorite, The Terminator, says he along with some others have found the bones of Jesus, his mother Mary, Mary Magdalene and their son.
What’s he trying to do, remake The Da Vinci Code as a documentary? If the discovery proves to have any credence at all then what about the Bible and Christianity itself? Is the Bible really a work of fiction? Is Christianity an extremist cult that simply got out of hand? Should we still all be practicing paganism and worshiping the earth?
We will have to wait for the great reveal.
**************
Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond cousins...man that makes my day. Put another nail in that coffin filled with present day white denial about what went on during slavery and after.
Present day white denial is based in “I can’t be held responsible for what my ancestors may have done....besides you can’t prove it anyway........”
Well.....”WAY!”....Apparently it can be proven.........there’s an old saying about the “sins of the father being visited upon the son...........you can run, but you can’t hide.
I can just hear the cries for reparations, seeing that there are precedents for paying such here in America.
As for me, you can keep the mule....But I will take my forty acres.
***************
Congress is set to try and put the genie back into the bottle. The Auguste body will try to revoke Dubya’s permission to go to war that they gave him a few years back.
And while they’re at it, there is a measure to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Seems the army needs more bodies for the surge. This measure has bipartisan support, supposedly.
Darth Cheney has been traveling the world stroking our allies into believing that we’re winning in Iraq and Afghanistan and should stay the course. Darth desperately needs a vacation. Go ahead, Scottie, push the button and beam him up, please.
****************
The Oscars............man! Was that the worst show in years. The last time it was so boring I stopped watching the broadcast for 20 years. The only reason I tuned in last night was to see if Jennifer Hudson could pull off the trifecta. She did.
I can’t stand Ellen De Generis. I don’t think she’s funny. I don’t like her show. Her fidgeting drives me absolutely nuts.
For me, she is a female Jerry Seinfeld. He is like Woody Allen. I don’t find them funny or even remotely amusing, just boring.
I just don’t see it. Except for that shadow dance troop, the show was an absolute waste of time.
Film maker James Cameron, you know the one who made Titanic and my personal favorite, The Terminator, says he along with some others have found the bones of Jesus, his mother Mary, Mary Magdalene and their son.
What’s he trying to do, remake The Da Vinci Code as a documentary? If the discovery proves to have any credence at all then what about the Bible and Christianity itself? Is the Bible really a work of fiction? Is Christianity an extremist cult that simply got out of hand? Should we still all be practicing paganism and worshiping the earth?
We will have to wait for the great reveal.
**************
Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond cousins...man that makes my day. Put another nail in that coffin filled with present day white denial about what went on during slavery and after.
Present day white denial is based in “I can’t be held responsible for what my ancestors may have done....besides you can’t prove it anyway........”
Well.....”WAY!”....Apparently it can be proven.........there’s an old saying about the “sins of the father being visited upon the son...........you can run, but you can’t hide.
I can just hear the cries for reparations, seeing that there are precedents for paying such here in America.
As for me, you can keep the mule....But I will take my forty acres.
***************
Congress is set to try and put the genie back into the bottle. The Auguste body will try to revoke Dubya’s permission to go to war that they gave him a few years back.
And while they’re at it, there is a measure to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Seems the army needs more bodies for the surge. This measure has bipartisan support, supposedly.
Darth Cheney has been traveling the world stroking our allies into believing that we’re winning in Iraq and Afghanistan and should stay the course. Darth desperately needs a vacation. Go ahead, Scottie, push the button and beam him up, please.
****************
The Oscars............man! Was that the worst show in years. The last time it was so boring I stopped watching the broadcast for 20 years. The only reason I tuned in last night was to see if Jennifer Hudson could pull off the trifecta. She did.
I can’t stand Ellen De Generis. I don’t think she’s funny. I don’t like her show. Her fidgeting drives me absolutely nuts.
For me, she is a female Jerry Seinfeld. He is like Woody Allen. I don’t find them funny or even remotely amusing, just boring.
I just don’t see it. Except for that shadow dance troop, the show was an absolute waste of time.
2.22.2007
Equal Pay for Equal Work
Well, it’s about time. The Brits have finally decided to award equal prize money to men and women at Wimbledon this year.
The old boys of All England Tennis have refused for years to give women their just due, saying that men deserved more prize money because they play five sets while the women play just three.
All grand slams are now on the same page, sort of.....The French always seeing things differently only give the male and female champions an equal check. Other women from second place down will still get less than their male counterparts.
Now it’s time to work on Golf. While Tiger Woods is making millions per tournament, the women of the LPGA are left to split maybe a one million dollar kitty. That means the winning check is usually just a couple of hundred thousand dollars instead of multi millions.
And lest we forget the WNBA. Those women must still play overseas in order to supplement what they make in the American league. All this while the men pocket millions, destroy the game and, other than the all star game, don’t offer any real entertainment.
*********
Question: Why is Congress taking so long to pull the plug on Dubya’s war? Nonbinding resolutions aren’t worth the paper on which they’re written. Why bother?
*********
Question #2: What is Condi doing in the Palestine? Does she really understand what is going on there?
I usually don’t say stuff about a sister, but man, this child needs some help, fast. “Wake up girlfriend.” This administration is sinking and it’s taking you and your once pristine reputation with it.
*********
Feeding Frenzy
Good news...James Brown is finally going to be buried.
Bad news...the Anna Nicole reality show goes on. Please bury this woman before she melts on the coroner’s autopsy slab.....Please...take that baby away from Howard Stern....and Please...send her mother home without the body..
Finally...somebody please reprimand this Judge in Florida...talk about an a**hole.
The old boys of All England Tennis have refused for years to give women their just due, saying that men deserved more prize money because they play five sets while the women play just three.
All grand slams are now on the same page, sort of.....The French always seeing things differently only give the male and female champions an equal check. Other women from second place down will still get less than their male counterparts.
Now it’s time to work on Golf. While Tiger Woods is making millions per tournament, the women of the LPGA are left to split maybe a one million dollar kitty. That means the winning check is usually just a couple of hundred thousand dollars instead of multi millions.
And lest we forget the WNBA. Those women must still play overseas in order to supplement what they make in the American league. All this while the men pocket millions, destroy the game and, other than the all star game, don’t offer any real entertainment.
*********
Question: Why is Congress taking so long to pull the plug on Dubya’s war? Nonbinding resolutions aren’t worth the paper on which they’re written. Why bother?
*********
Question #2: What is Condi doing in the Palestine? Does she really understand what is going on there?
I usually don’t say stuff about a sister, but man, this child needs some help, fast. “Wake up girlfriend.” This administration is sinking and it’s taking you and your once pristine reputation with it.
*********
Feeding Frenzy
Good news...James Brown is finally going to be buried.
Bad news...the Anna Nicole reality show goes on. Please bury this woman before she melts on the coroner’s autopsy slab.....Please...take that baby away from Howard Stern....and Please...send her mother home without the body..
Finally...somebody please reprimand this Judge in Florida...talk about an a**hole.
2.14.2007
Hollow Resolution
My city council in Cincinnati,Ohio, has passed a resolution expressing “deep concern” about Dubya’s 21,000 troop surge in Iraq. Now while I applaud them for taking a stand, I just wish they would take a stand a little closer to home.
I mean what about this city’s crime rate? Can’t we take a stand, to hire more police, and to deal with the underlying causes of all the murders, shootings, etc? How about dealing or showing “deep concern” for the black male school drop out rate that is fueling much of this street violence.
How about some “deep concern” for the continuing loss of population. How about the crumbling public school system. How about dealing with the fruitless efforts to draw business back into the downtown without having to bribe them with tax breaks?
How about dealing with all this snow and ice that has paralyzed this city for the past week. It’s too damn cold, nobody is on the streets and we still can’t get plowed, c’mon! The trees are falling down around me because of the ice that fell last night, two of them in my backyard, one of them on my fence. It’s beautiful to look at, but the trees are taking down power lines causing power outages that won’t be fixed until Thursday, says Duke Energy ( I remember CG&E being better than this). The city readily admits it can’t handle ice, the plows that they use are for snow, only. I guess the melting agent is too, go figure?
So why are we all of a sudden talking about Iraq? The war has gone on for awhile now. Why is my council, all of a sudden trying to tell the person that they all probably voted for in the first place ( Ohio did put Dubya back in the White House), how to run this country, when they can’t collectively run a city.
Sure, the money from the surge could be used to help cities, but that’s been the case from the beginning. Why didn’t council stand up and demand some help from this administration before, after it helped put this administration back in office. This administration owes Ohio. Why wasn’t it held accountable before?
Like it or not, the troop surge is going on because “the decider” said so. Congress is currently debating the issue for the next two days, because it wants to look congressional I guess. They could pull the money for the surge. There is a precedent for it. They could even pull the troops out. There is precedent for that too. Reagan backed out of Lebanon after he was dumb enough to think we could end that civil war there and after 200 some marines paid the ultimate price for his folly. Dubya always cites Reagan as his hero. Well he needs to pay attention all of the stuff that Reagan did or didn’t do. Our troops are stuck in the middle of escalating violence in Iraq. We don’t need to be there. But we already know this. The debate has been raging since the last election.
A resolution from the City of Cincinnati’s city council, now, is okay, I guess, but it is little or no comfort when people are still dying on the streets of Cincinnati in record numbers, for the same reasons that have plagued this city for longer than the war has lasted.
I mean what about this city’s crime rate? Can’t we take a stand, to hire more police, and to deal with the underlying causes of all the murders, shootings, etc? How about dealing or showing “deep concern” for the black male school drop out rate that is fueling much of this street violence.
How about some “deep concern” for the continuing loss of population. How about the crumbling public school system. How about dealing with the fruitless efforts to draw business back into the downtown without having to bribe them with tax breaks?
How about dealing with all this snow and ice that has paralyzed this city for the past week. It’s too damn cold, nobody is on the streets and we still can’t get plowed, c’mon! The trees are falling down around me because of the ice that fell last night, two of them in my backyard, one of them on my fence. It’s beautiful to look at, but the trees are taking down power lines causing power outages that won’t be fixed until Thursday, says Duke Energy ( I remember CG&E being better than this). The city readily admits it can’t handle ice, the plows that they use are for snow, only. I guess the melting agent is too, go figure?
So why are we all of a sudden talking about Iraq? The war has gone on for awhile now. Why is my council, all of a sudden trying to tell the person that they all probably voted for in the first place ( Ohio did put Dubya back in the White House), how to run this country, when they can’t collectively run a city.
Sure, the money from the surge could be used to help cities, but that’s been the case from the beginning. Why didn’t council stand up and demand some help from this administration before, after it helped put this administration back in office. This administration owes Ohio. Why wasn’t it held accountable before?
Like it or not, the troop surge is going on because “the decider” said so. Congress is currently debating the issue for the next two days, because it wants to look congressional I guess. They could pull the money for the surge. There is a precedent for it. They could even pull the troops out. There is precedent for that too. Reagan backed out of Lebanon after he was dumb enough to think we could end that civil war there and after 200 some marines paid the ultimate price for his folly. Dubya always cites Reagan as his hero. Well he needs to pay attention all of the stuff that Reagan did or didn’t do. Our troops are stuck in the middle of escalating violence in Iraq. We don’t need to be there. But we already know this. The debate has been raging since the last election.
A resolution from the City of Cincinnati’s city council, now, is okay, I guess, but it is little or no comfort when people are still dying on the streets of Cincinnati in record numbers, for the same reasons that have plagued this city for longer than the war has lasted.
2.12.2007
Good Intentions, Bad Law
A small community in Texas wants to ban the “N”-word. Furthermore it wants to charge up to 500-dollars in fines, if you get caught using it. The proposed legislation comes from the Mayor of the hamlet of Brazoria, Texas, with a population of little more than 27-hundred people, 81-percent of them white. Blacks make up a bit more than 10-percent of city residents with Asians and Native Americans filling out the rest of the demographic. A total of 736 families reside inside city limits.
The way it works is citizens who hear someone use the word can then report the usage to police who will come and issue a citation. The offender then appears in court where a judge sets the fine for bad linguistic behavior, which, as I said can run as high as 500-dollars.
Now, while I am on record as being in favor of no longer using the term, I am not in favor of this proposal. The intentions behind the measure are probably very good, but face it, the very people who should be protected by this law, will probably be the very ones cited and fined. Blacks use the term openly, and in many more contexts than whites and others. So if the word is heard in public, it’s probably going to be some black kid walking down the street with his friends.
What makes the word so insidious is the number of whites who use it covertly, in like minded company, when they think blacks aren’t listening. These users, who are probably the targets of the proposed legislation, more than likely, will not be reported. So you have a situation much like the Rockefeller drug laws of the 70's where the very people who were supposed to be protected, end up victimized, arrested and jailed.
Besides, I am against banning words. Say, the N-word gets banned. What’s next, the F-word, or the MF-word, or the J-word or the K-word? It goes on and on. Banning words, banning books, banning television, attempting to legislate behavior, does not work and is in violation of our first amendment rights.
Brazoria’s mayor is not the only legislator thinking along these lines. There is also a “ban the N-word movement” in upstate New York and also in Congress. Reportedly, New York Representative Charles Rangel is contemplating writing national legislation on this subject.
I applaud these folks for trying to do the right thing. Their hearts are in the right place, but this is a very bad use of legislative powers. It’s just bad law and no good will come of it.
The way it works is citizens who hear someone use the word can then report the usage to police who will come and issue a citation. The offender then appears in court where a judge sets the fine for bad linguistic behavior, which, as I said can run as high as 500-dollars.
Now, while I am on record as being in favor of no longer using the term, I am not in favor of this proposal. The intentions behind the measure are probably very good, but face it, the very people who should be protected by this law, will probably be the very ones cited and fined. Blacks use the term openly, and in many more contexts than whites and others. So if the word is heard in public, it’s probably going to be some black kid walking down the street with his friends.
What makes the word so insidious is the number of whites who use it covertly, in like minded company, when they think blacks aren’t listening. These users, who are probably the targets of the proposed legislation, more than likely, will not be reported. So you have a situation much like the Rockefeller drug laws of the 70's where the very people who were supposed to be protected, end up victimized, arrested and jailed.
Besides, I am against banning words. Say, the N-word gets banned. What’s next, the F-word, or the MF-word, or the J-word or the K-word? It goes on and on. Banning words, banning books, banning television, attempting to legislate behavior, does not work and is in violation of our first amendment rights.
Brazoria’s mayor is not the only legislator thinking along these lines. There is also a “ban the N-word movement” in upstate New York and also in Congress. Reportedly, New York Representative Charles Rangel is contemplating writing national legislation on this subject.
I applaud these folks for trying to do the right thing. Their hearts are in the right place, but this is a very bad use of legislative powers. It’s just bad law and no good will come of it.
2.11.2007
And on the 7th Day, She Rested
Haven’t felt much like writing this past week. I guess, sometimes the brain needs to take a break from creation. Makes me wonder how God did all that stuff in six days. Makes me understand why she rested on the seventh. Throughout my rest, I’ve suffered daily guilt at not putting fingers on keyboard to create. I’ve played solitaire. I’ve done crossword puzzles. I’ve answered tons of email. Just no literary creations, and I’m still not ready, but my angst at not writing, is driving me crazy. So I’m back.
There has been plenty to talk about, this past week, and I have been paying attention, just not enough to engage in my own personal spin on things. Until now that is.
Super Bowl redux
Yeah, I know, the Bears lost. I went with my heart instead of my head. I know Peyton is the best quarterback, but the last time Chicago was in the big game, it won without having a real quarterback. Anybody remember Jimmy Mac for anything other than his headbands and clashes with the commissioner? I rest my case. Grossman had as good a chance as any to win. He will be a good QB someday.
Besides Prince and half time was the real drawing card this year. But I’m wondering why the musical midget’s massive phallic display, which went on for several minutes, escaped notice? Janet flashed a nipple for a couple of seconds, you had to tivo and rerun it to see it...and she causes an uproar that is still reverberating.
Why is penis display okay while an accidental female nipple reveal is not?
*******************
Anna Nicole
Her sudden death wasn’t really a surprise, and I can’t really say that I am stunned by the massive media coverage. I make the distinction between media and news because it’s no longer news coverage. The news died when Walter Kronkite retired several years ago. We are in an age of celebrity for the sake of celebrity. People make the news now a days for simply being famous, no accomplishment or talent necessary. For several years now we have been in the age of infotainment or a blending of information (real or made up), gossip and news.
One of the TV stations in my town has the slogan “where the news comes first.”.....Then it opened it’s newscast with the death of Anna Nicole. The next day it led with 100 year old Prince what’s his name, Zsa Zsa Gabor’s apparently senile husband, claiming paternity of the dead woman’s five month old baby.
Meantime, 30 people died in yet another bombing in Iraq, another black hawk was shot down, and our president continues to try to steer us into a war with Iran.
There was a poll of high school students published a couple of weeks ago in the Washington Post. It said that most kids want to be famous and rich, in that order. Used to be that kids wanted to pursue a career, like fireman, policeman, teacher, lawyer, doctor. Kids wanted to grow up and help others, first. Don’t get me wrong, everyone wants to make a lot of money, but today no one hides the greed or the desire for material stuff.
Makes me understand why we’re in an age of humiliation television. This world abounds with people willing to do anything for 15 minutes of fame no matter what the cost to their psyche and dignity. Even the money has become secondary to that fleeting 15 minutes of spotlight. I think that I am most bothered by the huge audience for these pseudo reality shows. Millions of people tune in to watch daily, as people degrade and humiliate themselves in the quest for celebrity. As a people, we haven’t progressed very far from the romans watching their caesar feed Christians to the lions in some amphitheater.
*******************
ET’s Back
That astronaut lady really is a rocket scientist, albeit a very confused one, at the moment. I can understand tossing the wig and the weapons after the botched attack on the other woman...but 600-dollars? Why throw away the money? Didn’t she need it to fund her escape?
I really think it’s time for one of those alien autopsies for real, to determine what came back from space inside Astronaut Nowak.
************************
Wow! It’s Black History Month.....did anyone notice?
*****************
Not A Homo!
Man! After three weeks of intensive prayer therapy, the Reverend Ted Haggard is really, really, really, really, really, really, heterosexual. He said so.....again as he skips gaily off into the sunset hand in hand with his heavily in denial wife, as they pursue joint degrees in psychology at some closeted Midwestern university.
Careful Rev. Ted...gay boys are everywhere, even in the Midwest...think Brokeback Mountain... you don’t have to be in Kansas to find friends of Dorothy...but then, you probably already know that.
There has been plenty to talk about, this past week, and I have been paying attention, just not enough to engage in my own personal spin on things. Until now that is.
Super Bowl redux
Yeah, I know, the Bears lost. I went with my heart instead of my head. I know Peyton is the best quarterback, but the last time Chicago was in the big game, it won without having a real quarterback. Anybody remember Jimmy Mac for anything other than his headbands and clashes with the commissioner? I rest my case. Grossman had as good a chance as any to win. He will be a good QB someday.
Besides Prince and half time was the real drawing card this year. But I’m wondering why the musical midget’s massive phallic display, which went on for several minutes, escaped notice? Janet flashed a nipple for a couple of seconds, you had to tivo and rerun it to see it...and she causes an uproar that is still reverberating.
Why is penis display okay while an accidental female nipple reveal is not?
*******************
Anna Nicole
Her sudden death wasn’t really a surprise, and I can’t really say that I am stunned by the massive media coverage. I make the distinction between media and news because it’s no longer news coverage. The news died when Walter Kronkite retired several years ago. We are in an age of celebrity for the sake of celebrity. People make the news now a days for simply being famous, no accomplishment or talent necessary. For several years now we have been in the age of infotainment or a blending of information (real or made up), gossip and news.
One of the TV stations in my town has the slogan “where the news comes first.”.....Then it opened it’s newscast with the death of Anna Nicole. The next day it led with 100 year old Prince what’s his name, Zsa Zsa Gabor’s apparently senile husband, claiming paternity of the dead woman’s five month old baby.
Meantime, 30 people died in yet another bombing in Iraq, another black hawk was shot down, and our president continues to try to steer us into a war with Iran.
There was a poll of high school students published a couple of weeks ago in the Washington Post. It said that most kids want to be famous and rich, in that order. Used to be that kids wanted to pursue a career, like fireman, policeman, teacher, lawyer, doctor. Kids wanted to grow up and help others, first. Don’t get me wrong, everyone wants to make a lot of money, but today no one hides the greed or the desire for material stuff.
Makes me understand why we’re in an age of humiliation television. This world abounds with people willing to do anything for 15 minutes of fame no matter what the cost to their psyche and dignity. Even the money has become secondary to that fleeting 15 minutes of spotlight. I think that I am most bothered by the huge audience for these pseudo reality shows. Millions of people tune in to watch daily, as people degrade and humiliate themselves in the quest for celebrity. As a people, we haven’t progressed very far from the romans watching their caesar feed Christians to the lions in some amphitheater.
*******************
ET’s Back
That astronaut lady really is a rocket scientist, albeit a very confused one, at the moment. I can understand tossing the wig and the weapons after the botched attack on the other woman...but 600-dollars? Why throw away the money? Didn’t she need it to fund her escape?
I really think it’s time for one of those alien autopsies for real, to determine what came back from space inside Astronaut Nowak.
************************
Wow! It’s Black History Month.....did anyone notice?
*****************
Not A Homo!
Man! After three weeks of intensive prayer therapy, the Reverend Ted Haggard is really, really, really, really, really, really, heterosexual. He said so.....again as he skips gaily off into the sunset hand in hand with his heavily in denial wife, as they pursue joint degrees in psychology at some closeted Midwestern university.
Careful Rev. Ted...gay boys are everywhere, even in the Midwest...think Brokeback Mountain... you don’t have to be in Kansas to find friends of Dorothy...but then, you probably already know that.
2.04.2007
Sunday Morning Tidbits
It’s Super Bowl Sunday, so not much else is going on in my brain this day. I’m a Bears fan who plans on attending a Colts party this afternoon, should be interesting.
I predict: Bears 24-17 over Peyton Manning’s Colts...and I like the Colts, actually. Just not today.
***********
Did you know that 87% of respondents to an MSNBC poll say Dubya should be impeached? More than 418,856 people responded to the poll.
As I’ve said before, ITMFA!
***********
Poor Mary Cheney. She’s written an article defending her right to have a baby with wife Heather and she wants us to leave her alone, because her baby is not a political tool for either the right or the left in this country.
Mary can’t help it...she is the neocons’ version of Paris Hilton......Mary and Paris have a lot in common...They apparently think their blondness, their richness, their whiteness, their name allows them to do anything they want without criticism, repudiation, or justification.
*************
Did you know that Congress passed a bill in 2005 mandating that everyone have a national driver’s license by 2008? It’s called REAL ID and is supposed to combat terrorism and keep illegals from faking identification in order to stay in this country. After 2008 all state motor vehicles departments will be linked, so information can be called up anywhere. In 2008, if you don’t have a REAL ID, you won’t be able to board a plane or open a bank account...It’s the law folks....unless Congress acts...
***********
Global Warming....”we has seen the enemy and it is us”....according to a report issued this past week by some expert scientists.
***********
Hillary wants to nationalize Exxon Oil’s record breaking profits from last year....Love me some Hillary, but that’s a bit too socialistic for me....Despite the inequities of capitalism...I’m still
more afraid of big government/ big brother in my life....
Now...can we get back to this war thing? When is Congress going to pull the plug on this? There is precedent for it, why all the foot dragging?
Even Ronald Reagan changed his mind and did a military about face...remember Lebanon?
**************
Daylight savings time comes three weeks early this year....on March 11th...It will end one week later on November 1st......Congress made it so, a couple of years ago....supposed to save us money on gas, light bulbs, since we will be outside in the daylight, and give the kids more time to collect candy on Halloween.....
Critics (where were they when this thing was just proposed legislation) liken this to a mini Y2K. All kinds of computers and schedules may be interrupted and confused by the new law. Check your computer....you may have to manually set yours to daylight savings time this year, depending on how old your ‘puter is.
********
Why is anyone paying attention to Joe Biden? His bid for the presidency was dead on arrival when he declared. Does anyone outside his state or us political junkies even know who this dude is...or cares what he says?
Please!
I predict: Bears 24-17 over Peyton Manning’s Colts...and I like the Colts, actually. Just not today.
***********
Did you know that 87% of respondents to an MSNBC poll say Dubya should be impeached? More than 418,856 people responded to the poll.
As I’ve said before, ITMFA!
***********
Poor Mary Cheney. She’s written an article defending her right to have a baby with wife Heather and she wants us to leave her alone, because her baby is not a political tool for either the right or the left in this country.
Mary can’t help it...she is the neocons’ version of Paris Hilton......Mary and Paris have a lot in common...They apparently think their blondness, their richness, their whiteness, their name allows them to do anything they want without criticism, repudiation, or justification.
*************
Did you know that Congress passed a bill in 2005 mandating that everyone have a national driver’s license by 2008? It’s called REAL ID and is supposed to combat terrorism and keep illegals from faking identification in order to stay in this country. After 2008 all state motor vehicles departments will be linked, so information can be called up anywhere. In 2008, if you don’t have a REAL ID, you won’t be able to board a plane or open a bank account...It’s the law folks....unless Congress acts...
***********
Global Warming....”we has seen the enemy and it is us”....according to a report issued this past week by some expert scientists.
***********
Hillary wants to nationalize Exxon Oil’s record breaking profits from last year....Love me some Hillary, but that’s a bit too socialistic for me....Despite the inequities of capitalism...I’m still
more afraid of big government/ big brother in my life....
Now...can we get back to this war thing? When is Congress going to pull the plug on this? There is precedent for it, why all the foot dragging?
Even Ronald Reagan changed his mind and did a military about face...remember Lebanon?
**************
Daylight savings time comes three weeks early this year....on March 11th...It will end one week later on November 1st......Congress made it so, a couple of years ago....supposed to save us money on gas, light bulbs, since we will be outside in the daylight, and give the kids more time to collect candy on Halloween.....
Critics (where were they when this thing was just proposed legislation) liken this to a mini Y2K. All kinds of computers and schedules may be interrupted and confused by the new law. Check your computer....you may have to manually set yours to daylight savings time this year, depending on how old your ‘puter is.
********
Why is anyone paying attention to Joe Biden? His bid for the presidency was dead on arrival when he declared. Does anyone outside his state or us political junkies even know who this dude is...or cares what he says?
Please!
1.31.2007
By His Own Words
Dubya, in the big apple today, talking economy. He says we’re doing well as a country. Stronger than it’s ever been, and you can thank him and his administration for it.
Talking with business leaders on Wall Street today, Bush said the salaries of CEOs should be linked to performance. He told the leaders that Americans are sickened and resentful of the massive compensation that CEOs have been pulling in for the past several years without demonstrating that they deserve all that money.
Okay, let’s take fearless leader’s words and apply them to him. Does he deserve his paycheck based on his performance of the past six years?
We already know how he’s screwed up both foreign and domestic policy, the court system, and health care. What about this strong robust economy that he is bragging about.
Since Dubya took office, the federal deficit has sunk into the trillions of dollars from the surplus that Clinton presided over.
Since Dubya took office, one in five manufacturing jobs has disappeared...that’s 2.96 million jobs lost.
Since Dubya took office, the trade deficit is expected to hit a record mark for the fifth consecutive time when it is announced next month.
Since Dubya took office, gas prices have climbed through the roof, despite falling prices per barrel of oil.
Since Dubya took office, household incomes have stagnated, while the richest 1-percent have gotten richer.
Since Dubya took office, the number of the people living in poverty has increased dramatically.
Since Dubya took office, interest rates, while stable for the past couple of months, have risen to uncomfortable levels.
So, should he continue to get his paycheck based on his performance in the White House?
Hell No!
ITMFA, please!
Talking with business leaders on Wall Street today, Bush said the salaries of CEOs should be linked to performance. He told the leaders that Americans are sickened and resentful of the massive compensation that CEOs have been pulling in for the past several years without demonstrating that they deserve all that money.
Okay, let’s take fearless leader’s words and apply them to him. Does he deserve his paycheck based on his performance of the past six years?
We already know how he’s screwed up both foreign and domestic policy, the court system, and health care. What about this strong robust economy that he is bragging about.
Since Dubya took office, the federal deficit has sunk into the trillions of dollars from the surplus that Clinton presided over.
Since Dubya took office, one in five manufacturing jobs has disappeared...that’s 2.96 million jobs lost.
Since Dubya took office, the trade deficit is expected to hit a record mark for the fifth consecutive time when it is announced next month.
Since Dubya took office, gas prices have climbed through the roof, despite falling prices per barrel of oil.
Since Dubya took office, household incomes have stagnated, while the richest 1-percent have gotten richer.
Since Dubya took office, the number of the people living in poverty has increased dramatically.
Since Dubya took office, interest rates, while stable for the past couple of months, have risen to uncomfortable levels.
So, should he continue to get his paycheck based on his performance in the White House?
Hell No!
ITMFA, please!
1.27.2007
Halfakin American!?.....”Yo Mama!”
I don’t usually waste time listening to the would-be commentators of the far, far right who pass off their racism under the guise of Christian conservatism or pseudo-political punditry. I would rather watch grass grow than spend time reacting to these walking wastes of oxygen.
But once in a while, one of these bottom feeders rises from the muck and says something that pushes my buttons releasing my inner Laqitta Shaquitta Jefferson, making me want to go ghetto on their behind.
Rush Limbaugh has taken to referring to Barack Obama as a Halfakin American, apparently in reference to his white mother and black father. Limbaugh apparently can’t find anything of substance with which to attack Obama at this time so early in his run for the White House, so he resorts to veiled racism, playing to the race mixing fears of his listening audience.
Halfakin, indeed!
Say what you really mean Limbaugh. Use the word you really, really want to use. No need to hide. We already know what you are.
Halfakin, indeed!
Everybody in America is half something. The only racially pure people in America are the ones who recently swam the Rio Grande or hopped off an airplane from somewhere else. We are a nation of half-somethings....ALL OF US! It’s what makes us Americans.
Halfakin, indeed!
Truth be told, Rush and Obama are probably cousins twice removed. Or, Rush, can you prove your granddaddy didn’t go into the slave quarters for some midnight chocolate delight. It’s one of those open American secrets that next to being sandwiched by lesbians, the second most popular fantasy of white guys Rush’s age is having sex with a black woman.
Prior to the repeal of laws banning miscegenation, white guys were very busy making Halfakins, some of which were light enough to pass into the mighty Caucasian race. So, Rush, do you know where your ancestors have been?
Hell, who’s yo daddy.....what is yo mama s’posed to be, eh? She passin’? You passin’?
Halfakin American, indeed!
Here’s an idea...take your hillbilly heroin addicted, viagra poppin’, bloated ass back to the bottom of the barrel. Better yet, let’s strap your big butt onto the next unmanned NASA rocket headed to the sun and thereby do something to improve the air quality on earth for the rest of us.
Halfakin, indeed!
But once in a while, one of these bottom feeders rises from the muck and says something that pushes my buttons releasing my inner Laqitta Shaquitta Jefferson, making me want to go ghetto on their behind.
Rush Limbaugh has taken to referring to Barack Obama as a Halfakin American, apparently in reference to his white mother and black father. Limbaugh apparently can’t find anything of substance with which to attack Obama at this time so early in his run for the White House, so he resorts to veiled racism, playing to the race mixing fears of his listening audience.
Halfakin, indeed!
Say what you really mean Limbaugh. Use the word you really, really want to use. No need to hide. We already know what you are.
Halfakin, indeed!
Everybody in America is half something. The only racially pure people in America are the ones who recently swam the Rio Grande or hopped off an airplane from somewhere else. We are a nation of half-somethings....ALL OF US! It’s what makes us Americans.
Halfakin, indeed!
Truth be told, Rush and Obama are probably cousins twice removed. Or, Rush, can you prove your granddaddy didn’t go into the slave quarters for some midnight chocolate delight. It’s one of those open American secrets that next to being sandwiched by lesbians, the second most popular fantasy of white guys Rush’s age is having sex with a black woman.
Prior to the repeal of laws banning miscegenation, white guys were very busy making Halfakins, some of which were light enough to pass into the mighty Caucasian race. So, Rush, do you know where your ancestors have been?
Hell, who’s yo daddy.....what is yo mama s’posed to be, eh? She passin’? You passin’?
Halfakin American, indeed!
Here’s an idea...take your hillbilly heroin addicted, viagra poppin’, bloated ass back to the bottom of the barrel. Better yet, let’s strap your big butt onto the next unmanned NASA rocket headed to the sun and thereby do something to improve the air quality on earth for the rest of us.
Halfakin, indeed!
1.23.2007
Dick’s Other Daughter, Liz
Well, at least this one talks. Liz Cheney, who works at the state department and is Mary’s older sister penned an Op-Ed piece in today’s Washington Post, that reads like Daddy dearest wrote the script.
It was an attack on Hillary Clinton and the rest of the big bad politicians who are daring to go against Darth and Dubya on the Iraq question. Nothing new put forth, just more partisan neocon attacks, albeit from a baby neocon.
What gets my goat is that instead of attacking Hillary directly, as they would any front running male candidate, the head neocon in charge rolls out one of his mute and spineless female offspring. That’s like trying to turn the pillow dwelling, rhinestone collared, miniature shih tsu into an attack dog, to ward off the pit bull confronting you on the sidewalk.
Give me a break. The least they could have done was to send a woman to do the job. Where’s Lynn Cheney? Where’s Libby Dole? Don’t they know how to cat fight?
Isn’t that what all straight guys want anyway, two women duking it out for male pleasure? Isn't that the real desire powering the Condi-Hillary dream race talk?
Despite what you may think of Hillary, she is a real candidate with real money, who has a real possibility of taking the nomination and the White House. Don’t insult her with baby neocons. Send in the heavyweights. She can handle it. Apparently, nothing scares a man more then when the woman behind, steps out front to deal with the situation.
C’mon Darth, you can do better than this. Where’s Scooter? Oh, I forgot. He’s on trial for obstruction. What about the brain? Is he still at the White House? How about the Minister of misinformation, Tony Snow? He’s probably snowed under trying to spin Dubya, these days.
Well, let me see...who can talk for this administration?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..............maybe the babies are the only ones left.
It was an attack on Hillary Clinton and the rest of the big bad politicians who are daring to go against Darth and Dubya on the Iraq question. Nothing new put forth, just more partisan neocon attacks, albeit from a baby neocon.
What gets my goat is that instead of attacking Hillary directly, as they would any front running male candidate, the head neocon in charge rolls out one of his mute and spineless female offspring. That’s like trying to turn the pillow dwelling, rhinestone collared, miniature shih tsu into an attack dog, to ward off the pit bull confronting you on the sidewalk.
Give me a break. The least they could have done was to send a woman to do the job. Where’s Lynn Cheney? Where’s Libby Dole? Don’t they know how to cat fight?
Isn’t that what all straight guys want anyway, two women duking it out for male pleasure? Isn't that the real desire powering the Condi-Hillary dream race talk?
Despite what you may think of Hillary, she is a real candidate with real money, who has a real possibility of taking the nomination and the White House. Don’t insult her with baby neocons. Send in the heavyweights. She can handle it. Apparently, nothing scares a man more then when the woman behind, steps out front to deal with the situation.
C’mon Darth, you can do better than this. Where’s Scooter? Oh, I forgot. He’s on trial for obstruction. What about the brain? Is he still at the White House? How about the Minister of misinformation, Tony Snow? He’s probably snowed under trying to spin Dubya, these days.
Well, let me see...who can talk for this administration?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..............maybe the babies are the only ones left.
1.20.2007
President Hillary
She’s not the first woman to make a run for the White House, but she is the first woman who actually has a chance. She is considered the democratic front runner for the nomination and has a real war chest with which to make the run. She is a very real and viable candidate.
I should be happy that she announced today, but I’m conflicted. I want a woman president. This country needs a woman president. The USA needs a feminine touch to dilute the overwhelming testosterone agenda that has been pushed, well since the formation of this republic and has been seeping like a garbage spill from the White House for the past six years.
But Hillary? I have a problem with giving her my support solely based on her gender.
I don’t support candidates simply because they are black. I don’t support candidates simply because they are gay or lesbian. I don’t support one issue candidates, no matter how strongly I feel about that one issue.
Hillary Clinton is extremely intelligent. She is a United States Senator. She is a former first lady and has lived in the White House. She’s married to Bill. I like Bill. I would love to see him as first husband.
So what’s wrong? Well, she feels like a professional politician to me and I just don’t trust professional politicians. By that I mean, the ones who will say anything to get elected. The ones who pander to all racial groups or hot topic grassroots groups while standing in front of them, but then take the money, only to disappear on the important issues when the vote comes up.
That’s just crazy. I said previously that I like Bill and he is the consummate politician. Bill Clinton can sell snowballs to Eskimos, as the saying goes. Yet I trust him to ultimately do the right thing. His loyalty to the people of this country has never been in question. It just hides behind his libido sometimes.
But Hillary? She never stood up to Bush in the past six years. She voted for the war on Iraq, a vote which she has yet to repudiate. She went along like a good little professional politician, more interested in protecting her job than leading her people.
She courts the LGBT vote, but has yet to really do anything to derail the blatant discrimination against gays and lesbians coming out of Washington.
She courts blacks, but I don’t see it reflected in her stance on anything in particular.
I’m curious about where she is on immigration or legalizing illegals. Does she have an illegal maid in the closet like Bush did? Don’t know.
She is the junior Senator from New York. Yet, I haven’t heard her say anything about the Sean Bell execution by New York City cops, this past December.
I want to support her. I need to support her. But I want some answers first.
I want to get rid of this hollow feeling inside that if I support her and she does get elected, that it won’t be more of the same.
I want the fun back in the White House. I want a return to glamour and an end to cowboy chic and school marm logic. I want the fanatics to go back to church and ask God for forgiveness for what they’ve done to this country. I want the Neocons to apologize. I want my civil rights back. I want to feel protected by the Constitution, the Justice Department, the FBI and CIA. I want New Orleans rebuilt. I want the guts put back into FEMA.
I want Homeland Security to do its job and not be the dumping ground that it is for stupid, sycophantic, political hacks who must be appointed to something because they can’t get elected.
I want to fight the war on terror for real, not the vendetta called war that is now civil war in Iraq.
I want the sunset clause removed from the 1965 voting rights act. I want “don’t ask, don’t tell” repealed.
I want our schools to go back to educating the young rather than teaching them how to take tests.
There is so much to be done. There is also another saying in this country, “if you want the job done right, send in a woman to get it done.”
I just hope Hillary is up to the task.
I should be happy that she announced today, but I’m conflicted. I want a woman president. This country needs a woman president. The USA needs a feminine touch to dilute the overwhelming testosterone agenda that has been pushed, well since the formation of this republic and has been seeping like a garbage spill from the White House for the past six years.
But Hillary? I have a problem with giving her my support solely based on her gender.
I don’t support candidates simply because they are black. I don’t support candidates simply because they are gay or lesbian. I don’t support one issue candidates, no matter how strongly I feel about that one issue.
Hillary Clinton is extremely intelligent. She is a United States Senator. She is a former first lady and has lived in the White House. She’s married to Bill. I like Bill. I would love to see him as first husband.
So what’s wrong? Well, she feels like a professional politician to me and I just don’t trust professional politicians. By that I mean, the ones who will say anything to get elected. The ones who pander to all racial groups or hot topic grassroots groups while standing in front of them, but then take the money, only to disappear on the important issues when the vote comes up.
That’s just crazy. I said previously that I like Bill and he is the consummate politician. Bill Clinton can sell snowballs to Eskimos, as the saying goes. Yet I trust him to ultimately do the right thing. His loyalty to the people of this country has never been in question. It just hides behind his libido sometimes.
But Hillary? She never stood up to Bush in the past six years. She voted for the war on Iraq, a vote which she has yet to repudiate. She went along like a good little professional politician, more interested in protecting her job than leading her people.
She courts the LGBT vote, but has yet to really do anything to derail the blatant discrimination against gays and lesbians coming out of Washington.
She courts blacks, but I don’t see it reflected in her stance on anything in particular.
I’m curious about where she is on immigration or legalizing illegals. Does she have an illegal maid in the closet like Bush did? Don’t know.
She is the junior Senator from New York. Yet, I haven’t heard her say anything about the Sean Bell execution by New York City cops, this past December.
I want to support her. I need to support her. But I want some answers first.
I want to get rid of this hollow feeling inside that if I support her and she does get elected, that it won’t be more of the same.
I want the fun back in the White House. I want a return to glamour and an end to cowboy chic and school marm logic. I want the fanatics to go back to church and ask God for forgiveness for what they’ve done to this country. I want the Neocons to apologize. I want my civil rights back. I want to feel protected by the Constitution, the Justice Department, the FBI and CIA. I want New Orleans rebuilt. I want the guts put back into FEMA.
I want Homeland Security to do its job and not be the dumping ground that it is for stupid, sycophantic, political hacks who must be appointed to something because they can’t get elected.
I want to fight the war on terror for real, not the vendetta called war that is now civil war in Iraq.
I want the sunset clause removed from the 1965 voting rights act. I want “don’t ask, don’t tell” repealed.
I want our schools to go back to educating the young rather than teaching them how to take tests.
There is so much to be done. There is also another saying in this country, “if you want the job done right, send in a woman to get it done.”
I just hope Hillary is up to the task.
1.19.2007
It’s the End of the World, As We Know It
Well, for the first time since 2002, the Doomsday Clock has been adjusted. The minute hand has been moved to five minutes to midnight and that is not a good thing.
The Doomsday Clock was created by the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project in 1945. It was unveiled to the world in 1947, after America bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II. The scientists of the Manhattan Project invented the bomb, in case you missed that day in history class. They decided a simple clock would be the best way to make people understand the gravity of nuclear power. Midnight on the doomsday clock symbolizes the end of the world. The closer we get to midnight reflects just how close we are to blowing ourselves up.
The BAS, which stands for The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, says the move reflects the perilous times in which we are currently living. They say we stand on the brink of a second nuclear age.
According to the announcement from the BAS. You can read it here.
Life, as we know it is threatened by 27,000 nuclear bombs, with 2000 of them capable of being armed within minutes. Couple this with world climate change, which directly affects human habitation and you have a very good recipe for annihilation.
The doomsday announcement doesn’t surprise me, considering the number of crazy men who now have access to “the button.”
Take that fool in Korea, the minuscule idiot in Iran, toss in the nut who runs America along with the crazies in India, Pakistan, Israel and probably every other black market arms dealer from Russia or in Africa, and you have a world gone mad, possibly all the way to oblivion.
Even Japan is thinking of changing its enforced pacifist world stance. The Japanese government is currently debating whether to re-arm itself in these trying times. Japan, you will recall from your history lessons, was forced into pacifism by the USA after losing World War II. The pacifism was actually written into their constitution. Those clauses must be removed before Japan can jump into the nuclear race and buy itself a bomb.
World watchers think Japan wants to re-arm because of the 800 pound gorilla named China that sits on its doorstep. China, with it’s massive globe-killing population, its blossoming economy and its penchant for killing girl babies, which is leading to a testosterone fueled, overwhelmingly aggressive, totally masculine future, will be the next superpower to dominate the world stage. As anybody who watches chop-socky martial arts movies knows, there is no love lost between China and Japan.
Since its creation, the doomsday clock has only been adjusted 17 times, the last time, as I said, back in 2002, following 9/11.
The BAS does offer solutions to the problem. It asks that the United States and Russia take a step back from launch readiness and completely remove nuclear weapons from day to day military operations.
The BAS also wants 20,000 nukes dismantled and destroyed over the next ten years, and to find a better and safer way to store the dangerous material.
The scientists are also asking that all production of nuke materials be stopped, for both military and civilian use.
And finally, the BAS is asking that the world leaders start talking to one another again, rather than using military tactics to make a point.
Ya listening, George?
I should insert some kind of joke at this point to downplay the seriousness of which I write, but I don’t have one.
The end of the world isn’t funny. It’s just the end, senseless and preventable.
The Doomsday Clock was created by the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project in 1945. It was unveiled to the world in 1947, after America bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II. The scientists of the Manhattan Project invented the bomb, in case you missed that day in history class. They decided a simple clock would be the best way to make people understand the gravity of nuclear power. Midnight on the doomsday clock symbolizes the end of the world. The closer we get to midnight reflects just how close we are to blowing ourselves up.
The BAS, which stands for The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, says the move reflects the perilous times in which we are currently living. They say we stand on the brink of a second nuclear age.
According to the announcement from the BAS. You can read it here.
Life, as we know it is threatened by 27,000 nuclear bombs, with 2000 of them capable of being armed within minutes. Couple this with world climate change, which directly affects human habitation and you have a very good recipe for annihilation.
The doomsday announcement doesn’t surprise me, considering the number of crazy men who now have access to “the button.”
Take that fool in Korea, the minuscule idiot in Iran, toss in the nut who runs America along with the crazies in India, Pakistan, Israel and probably every other black market arms dealer from Russia or in Africa, and you have a world gone mad, possibly all the way to oblivion.
Even Japan is thinking of changing its enforced pacifist world stance. The Japanese government is currently debating whether to re-arm itself in these trying times. Japan, you will recall from your history lessons, was forced into pacifism by the USA after losing World War II. The pacifism was actually written into their constitution. Those clauses must be removed before Japan can jump into the nuclear race and buy itself a bomb.
World watchers think Japan wants to re-arm because of the 800 pound gorilla named China that sits on its doorstep. China, with it’s massive globe-killing population, its blossoming economy and its penchant for killing girl babies, which is leading to a testosterone fueled, overwhelmingly aggressive, totally masculine future, will be the next superpower to dominate the world stage. As anybody who watches chop-socky martial arts movies knows, there is no love lost between China and Japan.
Since its creation, the doomsday clock has only been adjusted 17 times, the last time, as I said, back in 2002, following 9/11.
The BAS does offer solutions to the problem. It asks that the United States and Russia take a step back from launch readiness and completely remove nuclear weapons from day to day military operations.
The BAS also wants 20,000 nukes dismantled and destroyed over the next ten years, and to find a better and safer way to store the dangerous material.
The scientists are also asking that all production of nuke materials be stopped, for both military and civilian use.
And finally, the BAS is asking that the world leaders start talking to one another again, rather than using military tactics to make a point.
Ya listening, George?
I should insert some kind of joke at this point to downplay the seriousness of which I write, but I don’t have one.
The end of the world isn’t funny. It’s just the end, senseless and preventable.
1.11.2007
Failure to Communicate
An Open Letter to the President
Dear Mr. President,
I listened intently to your speech last night, waiting patiently for clarity, and some indication that you finally understand what you’ve done by sending American troops into Iraq. I waited and waited for you to reveal the logic behind your actions. I waited to see you return to the realm of sound thinking about the way we, as a country, deal with the rest of the world.
Instead, with mind firmly planted in the old west, you handed us more platitudes, lies and denials fueled by the religious fervor of your arrogance. The smugness with which you have tried to sell this travesty to the American people is still very much in evidence.
You just don’t get it. You still refuse to face the reality of your actions. You are going ahead with sending more troops into danger, despite the recommendations of your generals, whom you’ve now replaced with puppets. You have turned your back on the Baker-Hamilton commission and their recommendations for getting us out of this trouble. You have steadfastly refused the counsel of the United States Congress, circumventing them and bypassing the Constitution at every given opportunity.
Sir, you were elected President, not Emperor of the United States. The last King George lost, and you will too. The difference is that he didn’t take us down with him, but you might accomplish the destruction of America, if you continue down this perverse path. History will not treat you well. Your legacy is in shambles.
You say that you are fighting the war on terror, keeping it away from American shores. I understand the move into Afghanistan. I understand going after Osama Bin Laden. It makes sense to go after the people who have tried to harm us. I even understand the recent retaliation bombings in Somalia, albeit late in coming.
But your move to Iraq and your wrong headed decision to stay there boggles the brain. What are you thinking?
There was no Al Quaida in Iraq before you invaded. Now the whole country has been turned into a terrorist practice ground ready for export to the rest of the world.
There were no weapons of mass destruction.
The man who tried to kill your Dad has been hanged.
Your policy of forcing democracy with the business end of a gun has not worked.
You haven’t tried diplomacy and you should. It served your father well. Maybe you should ask Dad for some help.
The new Iraqi government is a sham. Your puppet, Maliki, is a joke and unable or unwilling to confront the Shia death squads that are dominating the streets of Baghdad.
You asked for more money, a billion dollars more, to rebuild and restructure Iraq. This after you’ve already poured billions into the country and your cronies' coffers for the past four years to do this very thing.
Yet, the people still don’t have the necessary comforts of safety, electricity, and water.
You want to rebuild a country when you can’t even rebuild Louisiana and Mississippi after Katrina.
I guess what scares me most are your blatant threats against Iran and Syria. Threats such as the ones you issued should only be made from a position of power. We have none. Our dog in this fight is the little one in the corner, not the pit bull with the big teeth.
You have taken us from being the one true superpower to a shadow of our former competence.
We don’t have the troops to open another front in your war on the middle east. Some of your generals have recently asked for repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," thereby bolstering military numbers and enlistments, while providing more cannon fodder for your fatal dream of a democratic middle east.
Your mea culpa comes four years and 3000-plus lives too late. How many more are going to die for your ego and your perceived legacy?
You have ruined this country financially for years to come. We are a debtor nation in debt to China which is slowly buying us one highway at a time.
My fervent hope is that Congress will finally stand up to you by refusing to support this death march that you call a surge.
Saner heads are needed now. You, Mr. President, and your invisible vice president, need to step aside and let more rational people take over, before you take us from civil war in Iraq to global World War III. A war that I fear, given the current climate, we may not win.
With sadness and little respect,
Jo Anne Moore
1.09.2007
You’ve Had Worse Things in Your Mouth
I’ll admit, right off the bat, that I’ve run across some pretty disgusting food in my travels. Some of it has even ended up in my mouth, since I will usually try anything once, as long as it doesn’t appear to be poisonous and I’m allowed to spit it out, if I don’t like the taste.
However, I do draw the line at things that have been consumed by others, both animal and/or human first.
I recently came across something called Kopi Luwak, which roughly translates to “cat coffee.” Cat coffee, I’m told, is a much sought-after coffee served in the far eastern lands of Indonesia and Vietnam. It is made from coffee beans that are gathered from the “cat sh**” of a weasel like animal known as the palm civet. Its closest north American cousin is the skunk, I’m told.
This coffee has apparently been around for hundreds of years, with most people who’ve heard of it, thinking it was an urban legend. Well, I’m here to tell you Kopi Luwak is real and has made its way to America and is being sold at select coffee houses around the country. But I don’t think you can buy it at Starbucks, just yet.
It is being sold for about 10-dollars a cup, which to my mind is outrageous. But then I think Starbucks prices are outrageous.
I’m not a coffee drinker and never have been. Other than a sip of my sister’s vanilla bean frappachino, a couple of years ago, I’ve never had Starbucks coffee.
Back to Kopi Luwak. In some circles, it is actually called monkey coffee, but except for hanging in coffee trees, the cat has no resemblance to a monkey.
The cat loves to eat ripe coffee cherries and while digesting the fruit, it poops out the allegedly untouched coffee bean. Harvesters then walk around picking up coffee beans off the ground. After the s*** is cleaned off, the beans are shipped out to coffee houses to be brewed and consumed by the discerning coffee lover.
The washing, I’m told also helps lower the bacteria content making consumption safe, even though in China, civets have been linked to the SARS outbreak. The Chinese used to eat civet steaks until the SARS disease began killing people. Sale of civet meat has now been banned.
Some who have had the coffee say it has a strong aroma, why am I not surprised. They also say it tastes good, coffee-like but a little musty.
Thank you, but please don’t pass the coffee, somehow I can’t imagine it being good to the last drop.
However, I do draw the line at things that have been consumed by others, both animal and/or human first.
I recently came across something called Kopi Luwak, which roughly translates to “cat coffee.” Cat coffee, I’m told, is a much sought-after coffee served in the far eastern lands of Indonesia and Vietnam. It is made from coffee beans that are gathered from the “cat sh**” of a weasel like animal known as the palm civet. Its closest north American cousin is the skunk, I’m told.
This coffee has apparently been around for hundreds of years, with most people who’ve heard of it, thinking it was an urban legend. Well, I’m here to tell you Kopi Luwak is real and has made its way to America and is being sold at select coffee houses around the country. But I don’t think you can buy it at Starbucks, just yet.
It is being sold for about 10-dollars a cup, which to my mind is outrageous. But then I think Starbucks prices are outrageous.
I’m not a coffee drinker and never have been. Other than a sip of my sister’s vanilla bean frappachino, a couple of years ago, I’ve never had Starbucks coffee.
Back to Kopi Luwak. In some circles, it is actually called monkey coffee, but except for hanging in coffee trees, the cat has no resemblance to a monkey.
The cat loves to eat ripe coffee cherries and while digesting the fruit, it poops out the allegedly untouched coffee bean. Harvesters then walk around picking up coffee beans off the ground. After the s*** is cleaned off, the beans are shipped out to coffee houses to be brewed and consumed by the discerning coffee lover.
The washing, I’m told also helps lower the bacteria content making consumption safe, even though in China, civets have been linked to the SARS outbreak. The Chinese used to eat civet steaks until the SARS disease began killing people. Sale of civet meat has now been banned.
Some who have had the coffee say it has a strong aroma, why am I not surprised. They also say it tastes good, coffee-like but a little musty.
Thank you, but please don’t pass the coffee, somehow I can’t imagine it being good to the last drop.
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