Cold War Civil Defense Museum
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Monday, September 27, 2004
Citizens for Tax Justice has issued a report (pdf) outlining habits of America's largest and most profitable companies, and points to an epidemic of tax-avoidance under Bush, the result of which will be an increasingly large burden for citizens now and in the future.
Many, many more Daily Reasons to Dispatch Bush from McSweeneys.net. Every one worth reading.
Undermining democracy, one voting machine at a time.
Jimmy Carter on how bias and bad technology are paving the way for another illegitimate election in Florida.
Voting arrangements in Florida do not meet "basic international requirements" and could undermine the US election, former US President Jimmy Carter says.
He said a repeat of the irregularities of the much-disputed 2000 election - which gave President George W Bush the narrowest of wins - "seems likely".
Jimmy Carter on how bias and bad technology are paving the way for another illegitimate election in Florida.
Voting arrangements in Florida do not meet "basic international requirements" and could undermine the US election, former US President Jimmy Carter says.
He said a repeat of the irregularities of the much-disputed 2000 election - which gave President George W Bush the narrowest of wins - "seems likely".
A big 10-pager NYTimes Mag article on the role of blogging in the campaign. After the election, I'm giving up political posting for good. Too much competition, not enough direct access given to those outside of the mainstream news outlets. Maybe there should be an independent online media PAC?
Sunday, September 26, 2004
You've heard about the links between the Bush administration and big oil before. Read this anyway.
"Profit-wise, things could not have been better," says Gheit, "In the last three years, they died and went to heaven .... They are all sitting on the largest piles of cash in their history."
Live in the Oil Industry circa 2004
"Profit-wise, things could not have been better," says Gheit, "In the last three years, they died and went to heaven .... They are all sitting on the largest piles of cash in their history."
Live in the Oil Industry circa 2004
Friday, September 24, 2004
The Bush administration just can't stand the idea of free elections.
Rumsfeld openly proposed a "partial election" for Iraq, with the parts that vote decided by the administration, thus guaranteeing a predefined outcome.
Meanwhile, their friends at Diebold have a production e-voting system that you might be using in November that quite literally got hacked by a monkey
Rumsfeld openly proposed a "partial election" for Iraq, with the parts that vote decided by the administration, thus guaranteeing a predefined outcome.
Meanwhile, their friends at Diebold have a production e-voting system that you might be using in November that quite literally got hacked by a monkey
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Tell The Truth.
President Bush says "our strategy is succeeding" and Iraq "is headed toward democracy." He says "Freedom is on the march."
But the CIA told Bush recently that the scenarios we're really facing there range from "an Iraq whose stability would remain tenuous" -- a quagmire -- to civil war.
Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) is calling on Bush to level with us, by releasing the CIA report, formally called a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE). Senator John McCain (R-AZ) agrees that he should.
Demand that Bush release the NIE for public review.
President Bush says "our strategy is succeeding" and Iraq "is headed toward democracy." He says "Freedom is on the march."
But the CIA told Bush recently that the scenarios we're really facing there range from "an Iraq whose stability would remain tenuous" -- a quagmire -- to civil war.
Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) is calling on Bush to level with us, by releasing the CIA report, formally called a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE). Senator John McCain (R-AZ) agrees that he should.
Demand that Bush release the NIE for public review.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
StupidSecurity.com: Exposing fake security since 2003
"A weight may soon be lifted off a Maryland woman charged with carrying a concealed weapon in an airport. It wasn't a gun or a knife. It was a weighted bookmark. Kathryn Harrington was flying home from vacation last month when screeners at the Tampa, Fla., airport found her bookmark. It's an 8.5-inch leather strip with small lead weights at each end. Airport police said it resembled a weighted weapon that could be used to knock people unconscious. So the 52-year-old special education teacher was handcuffed, put into a police car, and charged with carrying a concealed weapon. She faced a possible criminal trial and a $10,000 fine."
"A weight may soon be lifted off a Maryland woman charged with carrying a concealed weapon in an airport. It wasn't a gun or a knife. It was a weighted bookmark. Kathryn Harrington was flying home from vacation last month when screeners at the Tampa, Fla., airport found her bookmark. It's an 8.5-inch leather strip with small lead weights at each end. Airport police said it resembled a weighted weapon that could be used to knock people unconscious. So the 52-year-old special education teacher was handcuffed, put into a police car, and charged with carrying a concealed weapon. She faced a possible criminal trial and a $10,000 fine."
See whether your favorite actor or actress was ever killed off in a movie at the CineMorgue.
[Bad Neighbor Day] Rednecks (oldish, but still the standard by which all other bad neighbor lists are judged). Top 10 list. Rated by extreme bad-neighborliness.
Now that the U.S. entertainment industry has subverted Copyright law in the interest of corporate profit, they're moving on to easier targets: open-source software developers.
"We realized that the MPAA must be doing blind keyword matching against Internet content and then sending out automatic take-down notices with no real research or double checks," Smith said.
"This seems to be a huge misuse of resources, an infringement upon various global spam laws, an infringement upon our own Copyright Act under Section 102 and needless stress and cost upon small Australian organizations and companies," Smith said.
"We realized that the MPAA must be doing blind keyword matching against Internet content and then sending out automatic take-down notices with no real research or double checks," Smith said.
"This seems to be a huge misuse of resources, an infringement upon various global spam laws, an infringement upon our own Copyright Act under Section 102 and needless stress and cost upon small Australian organizations and companies," Smith said.
Kerry’s “Top 10 Bush Tax Proposals” (Letterman):
10. No estate tax for families with at least two U.S. presidents.9. W-2 Form is now Dubya-2 Form.8. Under the simplified tax code, your refund check goes directly to Halliburton.7. The reduced earned income tax credit is so unfair, it just makes me want to tear out my lustrous, finely groomed hair.6. Attorney General (John) Ashcroft gets to write off the entire U.S. Constitution.5. Texas Rangers can take a business loss for trading Sammy Sosa.4. Eliminate all income taxes; just ask Teresa (Heinz Kerry) to cover the whole damn thing.3. Cheney can claim Bush as a dependent.2. Hundred-dollar penalty if you pronounce it “nuclear” instead of “nucular.”1. George W. Bush gets a deduction for mortgaging our entire future.
10. No estate tax for families with at least two U.S. presidents.9. W-2 Form is now Dubya-2 Form.8. Under the simplified tax code, your refund check goes directly to Halliburton.7. The reduced earned income tax credit is so unfair, it just makes me want to tear out my lustrous, finely groomed hair.6. Attorney General (John) Ashcroft gets to write off the entire U.S. Constitution.5. Texas Rangers can take a business loss for trading Sammy Sosa.4. Eliminate all income taxes; just ask Teresa (Heinz Kerry) to cover the whole damn thing.3. Cheney can claim Bush as a dependent.2. Hundred-dollar penalty if you pronounce it “nuclear” instead of “nucular.”1. George W. Bush gets a deduction for mortgaging our entire future.
Monday, September 20, 2004
If you're Catholic, it's tough to be a pope, but easy to be an Anti-Pope.
Americans seem to be particularly keen on the papacy, in addition to those already cited we may add Francis Konrad Schuckardt of Spokane, Washington, who declared himself Hadrian VII in 1984 and David Bawden of Kansas who became Pope Michael I in 1990. Finally, among the Americans, there is Reinaldus Michael Benjamins or Gregory XIX who claims to have been crowned by angels in 1983.
Americans seem to be particularly keen on the papacy, in addition to those already cited we may add Francis Konrad Schuckardt of Spokane, Washington, who declared himself Hadrian VII in 1984 and David Bawden of Kansas who became Pope Michael I in 1990. Finally, among the Americans, there is Reinaldus Michael Benjamins or Gregory XIX who claims to have been crowned by angels in 1983.
Post-Modern Irrationalism got you down? PhilosophyWeb is a very nice index for modern western philosophy, with bios of the major players and links to online texts of their works.
More wacky hijinx from the laff-a-minute far-right fundamentalist Christians! Cheek-turning is out; Killing is in. Jimmy Swaggart is so tight with God, he can brag about murdering gays then lying to Him about it!
(Video stream - FF 35 minutes for the very Christian death threat).
"And I'm gonna be blunt and plain: if one ever looks at me like that, I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died."
(from the Church of Critical Thinking)
(Video stream - FF 35 minutes for the very Christian death threat).
"And I'm gonna be blunt and plain: if one ever looks at me like that, I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died."
(from the Church of Critical Thinking)
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Get the Pixies (leaked) cover of Warren Zevon's "Aint that pretty at all", from the forthcoming "Enjoy every sandwhich" tribute album before it gets yanked. They havn't lost a thing since the early 90s.
Blogger is at an all time low. Slow and inaccurate. Some day's I get about 50% of the stuff posted that I publish. Can't google lend them a few servers or something?
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
[concise, direct, accurate, and painfully obvious] Powell called Bush Administration Neo-Con's "F%*king Crazies".
GuardianUK's link to same.
GuardianUK's link to same.
"I expect the Bush administration will go down in history as the greatest disaster for public health and the environment in the history of the United States." -- Senator James Jeffers, VT
The Bush administration has accelerated resource development on public lands and has pushed to eliminate regulatory hurdles for military and industrial projects.
The Bush administration has accelerated resource development on public lands and has pushed to eliminate regulatory hurdles for military and industrial projects.
Monday, September 13, 2004
Assault weapons free-for-all starts today. Go Nuts. When kids start playing with AK47s, thank the NRA, whose answer is to start teaching kids how to handle guns safely in schools (warning: NRA link requires registration that may get you on a pro-gun mailing list)
"The 1994 federal assault-weapons ban was a bad job from the beginning, a fraudulent piece of legislation pushed through by hard-line gun-control advocates during the glory days of the Clinton era."
"The 1994 federal assault-weapons ban was a bad job from the beginning, a fraudulent piece of legislation pushed through by hard-line gun-control advocates during the glory days of the Clinton era."
All Republicans think it. Some say it. (NYTimes)
"If we do not suppress the Detroit vote we're going to have a tough time in this election."
-- John Pappageorge, Michigan Republican
"If we do not suppress the Detroit vote we're going to have a tough time in this election."
-- John Pappageorge, Michigan Republican
Sunday, September 12, 2004
There is pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills: S89 and HR 163) which call for mandatory drafting for boys and girls(age 18-26) starting June 15 2005.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5146.htm
http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html
http://www.hslda.org/legislation/national/2003/s89/default.asp
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5146.htm
http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html
http://www.hslda.org/legislation/national/2003/s89/default.asp
Friday, September 10, 2004
Send a message to the future: Each and every person, be he short or tall, weak or strong, is invited to graciously participate to the Keo Space Odyssey
Each and every person on Earth is invited to address his or her far away descendants, be it to describe his or her life, to share a thought, to pass on his or her experiences, aspirations and dreams… to introduce him or herself within a few written lines (4 pages maximum, 6000 signs, spaces included). The messages are void of censorship: all received messages shall leave on board KEO.
Type your message here by the end of 2004.
Each and every person on Earth is invited to address his or her far away descendants, be it to describe his or her life, to share a thought, to pass on his or her experiences, aspirations and dreams… to introduce him or herself within a few written lines (4 pages maximum, 6000 signs, spaces included). The messages are void of censorship: all received messages shall leave on board KEO.
Type your message here by the end of 2004.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
[The People (at party headquarters) Have Spoken!] If you needed any more proof that Bush supporters were dim, mindless shills, consider the campaing's fancy new Letter to the Editor Writer. You only need to touch your keyboard to type your name, and the party's opinions will instantly, and publicly become yours in an almost surreally-disturbing Borg-like fashion. I've said it before and I'll say it again: NO SHAME WHATSOEVER.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Jimmy Carter to Zell Miller on loyalty.
But now, there are many of us loyal Democrats who feel uncomfortable in seeing that you have chosen the rich over the poor, unilateral preemptive war over a strong nation united with others for peace, lies and obfuscation over the truth, and the political technique of personal character assassination as a way to win elections or to garner a few moments of applause. These are not the characteristics of great Democrats whose legacy you and I have inherited.
But now, there are many of us loyal Democrats who feel uncomfortable in seeing that you have chosen the rich over the poor, unilateral preemptive war over a strong nation united with others for peace, lies and obfuscation over the truth, and the political technique of personal character assassination as a way to win elections or to garner a few moments of applause. These are not the characteristics of great Democrats whose legacy you and I have inherited.
"We've got an issue in America. Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."
-- G.W. Bush
Your president said this. Out loud. I'm not joking.
-- G.W. Bush
Your president said this. Out loud. I'm not joking.
The Republican Noise Machine (Mother Jones)
David Brock, the reformed conservative noise-maker, on how the Right has sabotaged journalism, democracy, and truth.
David Brock, the reformed conservative noise-maker, on how the Right has sabotaged journalism, democracy, and truth.
Friday, September 03, 2004
"We're not in Lake Wobegon anymore" Garrison Keillor on the Republican Party.
The party of Lincoln and Liberty was transmogrified into the party of hairy-backed swamp developers and corporate shills, faith-based economists, fundamentalist bullies with Bibles, Christians of convenience, freelance racists, misanthropic frat boys, shrieking midgets of AM radio, tax cheats, nihilists in golf pants, brownshirts in pinstripes, sweatshop tycoons, hacks, fakirs, aggressive dorks, Lamborghini libertarians, people who believe Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk was filmed in Roswell, New Mexico, little honkers out to diminish the rest of us, Newt’s evil spawn and their Etch-A-Sketch president, a dull and rigid man suspicious of the free flow of information and of secular institutions, whose philosophy is a jumble of badly sutured body parts trying to walk. Republicans: The No.1 reason the rest of the world thinks we’re deaf, dumb and dangerous.
Tell it like it is, Garrison.
The party of Lincoln and Liberty was transmogrified into the party of hairy-backed swamp developers and corporate shills, faith-based economists, fundamentalist bullies with Bibles, Christians of convenience, freelance racists, misanthropic frat boys, shrieking midgets of AM radio, tax cheats, nihilists in golf pants, brownshirts in pinstripes, sweatshop tycoons, hacks, fakirs, aggressive dorks, Lamborghini libertarians, people who believe Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk was filmed in Roswell, New Mexico, little honkers out to diminish the rest of us, Newt’s evil spawn and their Etch-A-Sketch president, a dull and rigid man suspicious of the free flow of information and of secular institutions, whose philosophy is a jumble of badly sutured body parts trying to walk. Republicans: The No.1 reason the rest of the world thinks we’re deaf, dumb and dangerous.
Tell it like it is, Garrison.
[How come they never remember a past life starving in a leper colony?] Shirley MacLaine says she was a ... yawn ... princess in Egypt
Thursday, September 02, 2004
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
The government, which was designed for the people, has got into the hands of the bosses and their employers, the special interests. An invisible empire has been set up above the forms of democracy. ~Woodrow Wilson
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Diebold Voting Hack uncovered - What did you expect from the e-voting maching company headed by the man who's committed to delivering the election to Bush?
By entering a 2-digit code in a hidden location, a second set of votes is created. This set of votes can be changed, so that it no longer matches the correct votes. The voting system will then read the totals from the bogus vote set. It takes only seconds to change the votes, and to date not a single location in the U.S. has implemented security measures to fully mitigate the risks.
By entering a 2-digit code in a hidden location, a second set of votes is created. This set of votes can be changed, so that it no longer matches the correct votes. The voting system will then read the totals from the bogus vote set. It takes only seconds to change the votes, and to date not a single location in the U.S. has implemented security measures to fully mitigate the risks.
Apple unveiled their new iMac today. It looks decidedly minimalist with the processor, cards, ports, and even speakers stashed behind the flatscreen.
Behind Enemy Lines: Advice From a Partisan
If during your stay in New York you would like to join the great free-thinking herd of the diverse, simply acknowledge aloud that the war in Iraq has permanently set back the Middle East peace process and accept the blame for the following outrages: outsourcing, the French's loss of esteem for America, Mr. Ashcroft's attempt to erect a gallows in Columbus Circle, and Mr. Bush's failure instantly to stop reading "My Pet Goat" aloud to the Sarasota second graders on Sept. 11 after being informed that planes were suddenly flying into buildings.
If during your stay in New York you would like to join the great free-thinking herd of the diverse, simply acknowledge aloud that the war in Iraq has permanently set back the Middle East peace process and accept the blame for the following outrages: outsourcing, the French's loss of esteem for America, Mr. Ashcroft's attempt to erect a gallows in Columbus Circle, and Mr. Bush's failure instantly to stop reading "My Pet Goat" aloud to the Sarasota second graders on Sept. 11 after being informed that planes were suddenly flying into buildings.
Monday, August 30, 2004
The GOP plans to recall 9/11 over and over again during the convention. With the protracted failure in Iraq, the still-failing economy, the billions wasted, the sweetheart crony defense deals, and without having caught the guy who was actually responsible, is this wise?
For the person who has everything: 8 strange consumer products (Failuremag). None of them, however, are as absurd as this.
Signs of the times: Photography, ironically is verboten at the Philadelphia Constitution Center.
Here's what happened to the bikesagainstbush guy.
When Kinberg showed the police sergeant how the bicycle used a non-permanent spray chalk, the sergeant seemed to agree that it wasn't defacement, at which point Kinberg asked, "am I free to go?" After conferring about it, officers decided to call superiors, then came back moments later to place Kinberg under arrest and confiscate the bicycle.
When Kinberg showed the police sergeant how the bicycle used a non-permanent spray chalk, the sergeant seemed to agree that it wasn't defacement, at which point Kinberg asked, "am I free to go?" After conferring about it, officers decided to call superiors, then came back moments later to place Kinberg under arrest and confiscate the bicycle.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
A wireless, bike-mounted, spray paint spraying dot matrix street printer. Message the rider during the RNC, and you may get your text printed on NYC asphault.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
The 356 Days Project which featured oddball and novelty songs @ one mp3 a day for the year (2003) was taken offline at the end of its run. It's now back online and has a permanent home at ubu.
The (Syntactic) History of Protest (Fresh Air Commentary, 2002)
But you'd hope that "protest" would retain some of the sense of resistance that it acquired at the beginning of the last century. Up to now, after all, protest has been the only political action that power can't engage in.
But you'd hope that "protest" would retain some of the sense of resistance that it acquired at the beginning of the last century. Up to now, after all, protest has been the only political action that power can't engage in.
The Folk Music Archives
Digital interviews of American folk artists, groups & venues of the 50's and 60's with "Voice Clips", Pictures and Archival Information.
Digital interviews of American folk artists, groups & venues of the 50's and 60's with "Voice Clips", Pictures and Archival Information.
Monday, August 23, 2004
A Chill in Florida (NYTimes)
Florida Republicans are using state troopers to intimidate black voters.
Florida Republicans are using state troopers to intimidate black voters.
A Chill in Florida (NYTimes)
Florida Republicans are using state troopers to indimidate black voters.
Florida Republicans are using state troopers to indimidate black voters.
Intelligence vice chairman calls war unjustified
This is huge - even moreso than Pat Buchanan's latest departure from the party huddle. How this nugget slipped off the radar of our 'liberal media' is a news story unto itself.
A top Republican lawmaker has broken from his party in the final days of his House career, saying he believes that the U.S. military assault on Iraq was unjustified and that the situation there has deteriorated into “a dangerous, costly mess.”
...
“From the beginning of the conflict, it was doubtful that we for long would be seen as liberators, but instead increasingly as an occupying force,” he said. “Now we are immersed in a dangerous, costly mess, and there is no easy and quick way to end our responsibilities in Iraq without creating bigger future problems in the region and, in general, in the Muslim world.”
Bereuter said that as a result of the war, “our country’s reputation around the world has never been lower and our alliances are weakened.”
This is huge - even moreso than Pat Buchanan's latest departure from the party huddle. How this nugget slipped off the radar of our 'liberal media' is a news story unto itself.
A top Republican lawmaker has broken from his party in the final days of his House career, saying he believes that the U.S. military assault on Iraq was unjustified and that the situation there has deteriorated into “a dangerous, costly mess.”
...
“From the beginning of the conflict, it was doubtful that we for long would be seen as liberators, but instead increasingly as an occupying force,” he said. “Now we are immersed in a dangerous, costly mess, and there is no easy and quick way to end our responsibilities in Iraq without creating bigger future problems in the region and, in general, in the Muslim world.”
Bereuter said that as a result of the war, “our country’s reputation around the world has never been lower and our alliances are weakened.”
Friday, August 20, 2004
[Still no metallic silver jumpsuit/uniforms] Yet another "futurist" chimes in on what life will be like in 2014.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
[what do we want!? LUNCH! When do we want it!? 30 Minutes or less or our next visit to Applebees is half-price!]
Peaceful RNC protesters to get a coupon for Applebees in NYC? And you get a button?! I can't figure this out. What protester would eat that crap, not to mention that you get your name on some right-wing Gestapo's mall-food eating, easily-cowed, may-be-a-liberal list. Who thought this up? Why? "Democracy, civil liberties, and global stability are under assault from a corrupt, cronyist, illegitimate administration... let's go get some Mug-A-Ritas and Atkins-approved Chick'n FunFingers!". Somebody please tell me who is signing up for this trainwreck of a PR campaign!
"It's no fun to protest on an empty stomach," Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said yesterday, when he announced the program at NYC & Company, the city's tourism office, which will distribute the buttons to all comers to its Midtown office.
Peaceful RNC protesters to get a coupon for Applebees in NYC? And you get a button?! I can't figure this out. What protester would eat that crap, not to mention that you get your name on some right-wing Gestapo's mall-food eating, easily-cowed, may-be-a-liberal list. Who thought this up? Why? "Democracy, civil liberties, and global stability are under assault from a corrupt, cronyist, illegitimate administration... let's go get some Mug-A-Ritas and Atkins-approved Chick'n FunFingers!". Somebody please tell me who is signing up for this trainwreck of a PR campaign!
"It's no fun to protest on an empty stomach," Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said yesterday, when he announced the program at NYC & Company, the city's tourism office, which will distribute the buttons to all comers to its Midtown office.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Think you've got a hot little datacenter with your transparent case and neon liquid cooling system? You're nothing without a retroencabulator. (WMV ~3mb, more technobabble than a break-in scene in an 80's hacker movie)
PriceWaterhouseCoopers developed a predictive model for who's going to take what in the Olympics
Ed Charon, 69 - World champion phone-book ripper
Charon, who wears a size 16 ring, went through the first book like it was only a few pages rather than 1,004. He tossed the two pieces into a box at his feet and grabbed the next book off of a table.
Charon, who wears a size 16 ring, went through the first book like it was only a few pages rather than 1,004. He tossed the two pieces into a box at his feet and grabbed the next book off of a table.
A site for people who have learned nothing from the 3 little pigs, and build straw-bale houses to live in. (another, 2, 3)
Sunday, August 15, 2004
The Origins of American Animation (1900-1921), including some Krazy Kat stuff, all viewable online (from the American Memory Collection)
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Wilco's fantastic performance of Hummingbird on Letterman last night (rerun from 6/14) (AVI 12 MB) found on borkencode.com
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
[Honey, did you see that 1.8 Billion dollar wad I left lying around here anywhere?]
Twitchy warmonger Dick Cheney's favorite bad-boy corporation can't account for almost $US2B of their sweetheart deal money.
Twitchy warmonger Dick Cheney's favorite bad-boy corporation can't account for almost $US2B of their sweetheart deal money.
Holy crap. this is the best Soul Caliber II dance coreography I've ever witnessed: Dance, Voldo, Dance.
If you have any doubt that the government will use mental health reporting to categorize and discriminate against citizens - even children, consider this PA case where what a man told his doctor in private was reported to the government and led to his driver's license being revoked.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Whenever Bush croaks the word "Freedom", you can be sure your rights are about to get trounced like Ashcroft in a popular election against a corpse. In his latest round of radical Republican hijinx, his administration has cooked up the "President's Freedom Commission on Mental Health" which ostensibly proposes that all American "consumers" be screened and scored for mental illness. Look for child consumers to be screened in schools. What this has to do with freedom isn't clear, other than the typical partisan linguistic hijacking that the administration has applied to the word since 9/11.
What's Bush policy without a little industry cronyism thrown in? Read InterventionMag's assessment of the program.
"The New Freedom Initiative proposes to screen every American, including you, for mental illness. To this end, the president established a New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, to study the nation’s mental health delivery service and make a report. It’s interesting to note that many on the staff appointed to the Commission have served on the advisory boards of some of the nation’s largest drug companies."
What's Bush policy without a little industry cronyism thrown in? Read InterventionMag's assessment of the program.
"The New Freedom Initiative proposes to screen every American, including you, for mental illness. To this end, the president established a New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, to study the nation’s mental health delivery service and make a report. It’s interesting to note that many on the staff appointed to the Commission have served on the advisory boards of some of the nation’s largest drug companies."
Monday, August 09, 2004
The ACLU released a report today entitled the Surveillance Industrial Complex that outlines the ways that the federal government is using private companies to wage war on individual privacy and civil liberties.
"Never, in my view, had America been led by such a dangerous head of state."
-- Senator Robert Byrd (D, WV), in his book "Losing America" Reviewed in the NYTimes, and on commondreams.org.
Mr. Byrd adds: "This doctrine of pre-emption claimed by Bush should have incited a major debate in the Congress and across the country. Radical, having no basis in existing law, this new foreign policy was dangerous in the extreme. ... This green and arrogant president had made a U-turn on our tradition of working with allies and exhausting diplomatic efforts. ... Our metamorphosis on the world stage from powerful, peaceful giant to swaggering Wild West bully, with little regard for cooperative agreements, sensitivities or diplomacy in general, means a different kind of world in years to come."
-- Senator Robert Byrd (D, WV), in his book "Losing America" Reviewed in the NYTimes, and on commondreams.org.
Mr. Byrd adds: "This doctrine of pre-emption claimed by Bush should have incited a major debate in the Congress and across the country. Radical, having no basis in existing law, this new foreign policy was dangerous in the extreme. ... This green and arrogant president had made a U-turn on our tradition of working with allies and exhausting diplomatic efforts. ... Our metamorphosis on the world stage from powerful, peaceful giant to swaggering Wild West bully, with little regard for cooperative agreements, sensitivities or diplomacy in general, means a different kind of world in years to come."
Get injured in style (1880's style): Hiwheel is making new boneshaker bicyles (the ones where you sit 5 ft. high astride an enormous front wheel).
Friday, August 06, 2004
Bruce Springsteen on why he's getting political in this election (NYTimes)
I supported the decision to enter Afghanistan and I hoped that the seriousness of the times would bring forth strength, humility and wisdom in our leaders. Instead, we dived headlong into an unnecessary war in Iraq, offering up the lives of our young men and women under circumstances that are now discredited. We ran record deficits, while simultaneously cutting and squeezing services like afterschool programs. We granted tax cuts to the richest 1 percent (corporate bigwigs, well-to-do guitar players), increasing the division of wealth that threatens to destroy our social contract with one another and render mute the promise of "one nation indivisible."
I supported the decision to enter Afghanistan and I hoped that the seriousness of the times would bring forth strength, humility and wisdom in our leaders. Instead, we dived headlong into an unnecessary war in Iraq, offering up the lives of our young men and women under circumstances that are now discredited. We ran record deficits, while simultaneously cutting and squeezing services like afterschool programs. We granted tax cuts to the richest 1 percent (corporate bigwigs, well-to-do guitar players), increasing the division of wealth that threatens to destroy our social contract with one another and render mute the promise of "one nation indivisible."
Monday, August 02, 2004
Some Democrats who signed up to hear Vice President DickCheney speak Saturday were refused tickets unless they signed a pledge to endorse President Bush.
The measure was a security step designed to avoid a disruption, which Bush campaign spokesman Dan Foley alleged Democrats were planning. Democratic Party officials denied it.
The measure was a security step designed to avoid a disruption, which Bush campaign spokesman Dan Foley alleged Democrats were planning. Democratic Party officials denied it.