Check out Eminem's bitter and spot-on Anti-Bush video, "Mosh" (quicktime)
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Friday, October 29, 2004
Kerry's the One (from, get this, The American Conservative)
Bush has behaved like a caricature of what a right-wing president is supposed to be, and his continuation in office will discredit any sort of conservatism for generations. The launching of an invasion against a country that posed no threat to the U.S., the doling out of war profits and concessions to politically favored corporations, the financing of the war by ballooning the deficit to be passed on to the nation’s children, the ceaseless drive to cut taxes for those outside the middle class and working poor: it is as if Bush sought to resurrect every false 1960s-era left-wing cliché about predatory imperialism and turn it into administration policy.
Bush has behaved like a caricature of what a right-wing president is supposed to be, and his continuation in office will discredit any sort of conservatism for generations. The launching of an invasion against a country that posed no threat to the U.S., the doling out of war profits and concessions to politically favored corporations, the financing of the war by ballooning the deficit to be passed on to the nation’s children, the ceaseless drive to cut taxes for those outside the middle class and working poor: it is as if Bush sought to resurrect every false 1960s-era left-wing cliché about predatory imperialism and turn it into administration policy.
With all of these terrorists running around our streets and backalleys, you think that the Bush's Department of Homeland Security would be pretty busy. When they're not busy looking under rocks for turbaned evildoers, they're intimidating toystore owners over complete and utter nonsense. Terrorists may have an unlimited supply of firearms due to the shoddy handling of the Assault Weapons ban renewal, and literally tons of conventional explosives courtesy of ignoring a known weapons cache, but you'll never catch them with a fake Rubik's cube.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
By now you've heard the widespread reports of Republicans' subversion of the democratic process by intimidation, cheating, lying, and attempting to otherwise block people from voting. The situation is expected to worsen on election day, as they plot to take advantage of the flurry of activity and lack of on-site support at polling places.
MoveOn has created a wallet-size pdf you can print and bring with you to use if Republican thugs try to prevent you from exersizing your right to vote in this election.
Download here (Acrobat reader req'd)
MoveOn has created a wallet-size pdf you can print and bring with you to use if Republican thugs try to prevent you from exersizing your right to vote in this election.
Download here (Acrobat reader req'd)
[More evidence of GOP hatred of democratic process] Republicans criticize student-run get-out-the-vote campaign.
The children do not wear any partisan buttons or clothing, and they do not encourage people to vote one way or another. Participation is voluntary, and parents are required to give their approval, he said.
The children do not wear any partisan buttons or clothing, and they do not encourage people to vote one way or another. Participation is voluntary, and parents are required to give their approval, he said.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
New Florida vote scandal feared (BBC)
Two e-mails, prepared for the executive director of the Bush campaign in Florida and the campaign's national research director in Washington DC, contain a 15-page so-called "caging list".
"Quite frankly, this process can be used to slow down the voting process and cause chaos on election day; and discourage voters from voting."
Two e-mails, prepared for the executive director of the Bush campaign in Florida and the campaign's national research director in Washington DC, contain a 15-page so-called "caging list".
"Quite frankly, this process can be used to slow down the voting process and cause chaos on election day; and discourage voters from voting."
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Early voting reports tell that Republican tampering and blatant disregard for voting law is rampant - even going so far as hanging flattering pictures of Bush and Cheney directly above voting booths (with captions thanking them!). This corrupt and illegal practive cannot be tolerated and must be stopped in its tracks:
If you witness any questionable election activity, phone the nonpartisan "Lawyers Committee for Election Protection" 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) or 202-347-1835.
If you witness any questionable election activity, phone the nonpartisan "Lawyers Committee for Election Protection" 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) or 202-347-1835.
Conversations with Conservatives at Mother Jones:
Former Commerce Secretary Peter Peterson
Former EPA Chief Russell Train
(both video, various formats)
Former Commerce Secretary Peter Peterson
Former EPA Chief Russell Train
(both video, various formats)
Monday, October 25, 2004
[Grand Old Voter Intimidation] Republicans redefining 'low' on a daily basis. They've launched a formal plan to interrogate and challenge voters - at the polls - in a desperate attempt to keep Bush in power. (NYTImes)
Friday, October 22, 2004
;">The Art of Stealing Elections
It was Richard Nixon, that scoundrel's scoundrel, who resisted the temptation to mount a court challenge to the Illinois result because he felt the country couldn't take it. Imagine longing for the days when we had Republican leadership as principled as Nixon's.
It was Richard Nixon, that scoundrel's scoundrel, who resisted the temptation to mount a court challenge to the Illinois result because he felt the country couldn't take it. Imagine longing for the days when we had Republican leadership as principled as Nixon's.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Hunter Thompson: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 2004 (Rolling Stone)
He lifted his shirt and showed me a scar on his back put there by young George. "He burned this into my flesh with a red-hot poker," he said solemnly, "and I have hated him ever since. That jackass was born cruel. He burned me in the back while I was blindfolded. This scar will be with me forever."
There is nothing new or secret about that story. It ran on the front page of the Yale Daily News and caused a nasty scandal for a few weeks, but nobody was ever expelled for it. George did his first cover-up job. And he liked it.
He lifted his shirt and showed me a scar on his back put there by young George. "He burned this into my flesh with a red-hot poker," he said solemnly, "and I have hated him ever since. That jackass was born cruel. He burned me in the back while I was blindfolded. This scar will be with me forever."
There is nothing new or secret about that story. It ran on the front page of the Yale Daily News and caused a nasty scandal for a few weeks, but nobody was ever expelled for it. George did his first cover-up job. And he liked it.
Transcript of the 1963 Newspaper article that inspired Bob Dylan to write 'The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carol'
A 1964 article by Phil Ochs on the same.
A 1964 article by Phil Ochs on the same.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Fiddle Tunes of the old Frontier: The Henry Reed Collection
is a multi-format ethnographic field collection of traditional fiddle tunes performed by Henry Reed of Glen Lyn, Virginia. Recorded by folklorist Alan Jabbour in 1966-67, when Reed was over eighty years old, the tunes represent the music and evoke the history and spirit of Virginia's Appalachian frontier.
is a multi-format ethnographic field collection of traditional fiddle tunes performed by Henry Reed of Glen Lyn, Virginia. Recorded by folklorist Alan Jabbour in 1966-67, when Reed was over eighty years old, the tunes represent the music and evoke the history and spirit of Virginia's Appalachian frontier.
Bad news for rich corporations that treat local economies like consumable goods.
Maytag took incentives, then left the town of Galesburg, Ill for cheaper, foreign labor, leaving 1600 people unemployed. Galesburg wants to sue to recoup their losses. (NYTimes)
"We gave Maytag these incentives, and they accepted them," said Mr. Mangieri, a Navy veteran who grew up in a small town not far from here in western Illinois. "We did it based on faith and trust. If we don't do anything now, it sends a message that we lack the resolve to treat the rich and privileged the same as everybody else."
The town is still faced with economic devastation due to Maytag's greed-based decisionmaking, but It's encouraging that small, midwestern towns aren't standing for the corrupt Republican ideal of making the little guy pay the way for wealthy corporations.
Maytag took incentives, then left the town of Galesburg, Ill for cheaper, foreign labor, leaving 1600 people unemployed. Galesburg wants to sue to recoup their losses. (NYTimes)
"We gave Maytag these incentives, and they accepted them," said Mr. Mangieri, a Navy veteran who grew up in a small town not far from here in western Illinois. "We did it based on faith and trust. If we don't do anything now, it sends a message that we lack the resolve to treat the rich and privileged the same as everybody else."
The town is still faced with economic devastation due to Maytag's greed-based decisionmaking, but It's encouraging that small, midwestern towns aren't standing for the corrupt Republican ideal of making the little guy pay the way for wealthy corporations.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
There are people who believe that the number 47 occurs more frequently than it has any right to. Others work to make sure that this trend continues.
The 1930's WPA NYC Photography of Berenice Abbott
Online photos organized by neighborhood, with maps, from the Museum of the City of New York
This web presentation includes all 307 images from Abbott's 1935-1939 Changing New York project, and the full text of the unparalleled publication, Berenice Abbott: Changing New York (The New Press, 1997).
Online photos organized by neighborhood, with maps, from the Museum of the City of New York
This web presentation includes all 307 images from Abbott's 1935-1939 Changing New York project, and the full text of the unparalleled publication, Berenice Abbott: Changing New York (The New Press, 1997).
Free Air (New Yorker)
How the broadcast industry got something for nothing, and expects to take more.
Washington anticipated that it would get all the old spectrum back by 2006. But now broadcasters have come up with a new plan: they’ll keep the new spectrum and hold on to the old spectrum, too. And Congress appears to be going along with it. Last month, the Senate Commerce Committee killed a bill that would set a reasonable but firm deadline of 2009 for the return of the analog channels. In its place, the committee adopted a bill—backed by the broadcasters, naturally—that could enable them to hold on to most of their spectrum indefinitely.
How the broadcast industry got something for nothing, and expects to take more.
Washington anticipated that it would get all the old spectrum back by 2006. But now broadcasters have come up with a new plan: they’ll keep the new spectrum and hold on to the old spectrum, too. And Congress appears to be going along with it. Last month, the Senate Commerce Committee killed a bill that would set a reasonable but firm deadline of 2009 for the return of the analog channels. In its place, the committee adopted a bill—backed by the broadcasters, naturally—that could enable them to hold on to most of their spectrum indefinitely.
Monday, October 18, 2004
A couple had some shoddy work done on their house by a spray-on siding company (?!), and created a web-site for themselves and others to complain about the company. They're now being sued by the corporation and may lose the very house that Spray-On botched.
the plaintiff: http://www.sprayonsiding.com/
the defendant homeowners: http://www.spraysiding.com/
the plaintiff: http://www.sprayonsiding.com/
the defendant homeowners: http://www.spraysiding.com/
Friday, October 15, 2004
CP: Can a supple hand curry favor with the judges?
SR: Well, if you have some gnarly looking hands [that could be a detriment], but not necessarily. You can try and play the refs a little bit. Say, "It's an honor to be here. I've heard you're a great referee." But they're well-trained. I'm a certified referee myself. [As a referee], you just say "that's a nice-looking hand," but that's as far as it goes.
This guy will beat you in rock-paper-scissors.
Here's the tournament page.
Sinclair's Disgrace (Salon, reg. req'd or one day free pass)
Sinclair's unprecedented move once again raises questions about the effects of rampant media consolidation, the deregulation that allows a small number of large conglomerates to own so many outlets, let alone use them to advance an obvious political agenda.
Sinclair's unprecedented move once again raises questions about the effects of rampant media consolidation, the deregulation that allows a small number of large conglomerates to own so many outlets, let alone use them to advance an obvious political agenda.
Bush Like Me - Ten weeks undercover in the grass roots of the Republican Party (RollingStone)
Part of my job, I soon came to understand, was to be supportive when people like portly Tampa sheriff's deputy Ben Mills came in to share their very serious utopian ideas -- like the benefits of having a society guarded by a clone army. "We'd save a hell of a lot on benefits and medical expenses," he said. " 'Cause you know if they got wounded..."
"You could just shoot them," I said.
"Exactly -- pow! Just shoot 'em dead, right in the ground."
Part of my job, I soon came to understand, was to be supportive when people like portly Tampa sheriff's deputy Ben Mills came in to share their very serious utopian ideas -- like the benefits of having a society guarded by a clone army. "We'd save a hell of a lot on benefits and medical expenses," he said. " 'Cause you know if they got wounded..."
"You could just shoot them," I said.
"Exactly -- pow! Just shoot 'em dead, right in the ground."
Thursday, October 14, 2004
“You’re not going to make Iraq safe for democracy,” the sergeant said. “You are going for one reason alone: oil. But you’re still going to go, because you signed a contract. And you’re going to go to bring your friends home.” Hoffman, who had his own doubts about the war, was relieved—he’d never expected to hear such a candid assessment from a superior. But it was only when he had been in Iraq for several months that the full meaning of the sergeant’s words began to sink in.
Mother Jones article on soldiers breaking rank and protesting the occupation of Iraq.
A nice point-by-point recap of the trouncing that Bush took at last night's final debate. (CNN's Paul Begala)
Monday, October 11, 2004
Thursday, October 07, 2004
It seems as though Bush is responding to the lambasting he took in last week's debate against a far more prepared, intelligent, and articulate Kerry by resorting to abject nastiness - a strategy that has all but defined his entire tenure in court-appointed office. How he thinks that insult and estrangement of not only Kerry's views, but of those of no less than half the country are a viable strategy to win support and confidence is something that only the most cynical, desperate minds could devise.
When the neo-conservatives mock a challenge for reasons to go to war, they mock half of America. When they call reasonable dissent anti-patriotic, they insult half of America. When they defend corrupt, back-door no-bid deals with well connected cronies as 'necessary', they're spending money that half of Americans object to. Bush has crossed the line, and he's no longer playing politics with Kerry. He's attacking the views of half of us, and flaunting the disregard for consensus and reasonable conduct he's always sadly displayed.
When the neo-conservatives mock a challenge for reasons to go to war, they mock half of America. When they call reasonable dissent anti-patriotic, they insult half of America. When they defend corrupt, back-door no-bid deals with well connected cronies as 'necessary', they're spending money that half of Americans object to. Bush has crossed the line, and he's no longer playing politics with Kerry. He's attacking the views of half of us, and flaunting the disregard for consensus and reasonable conduct he's always sadly displayed.
Yesterday, Michigan Republicans called for the arrest of Michael Moore. His crime: giving away clean underware to anyone who will vote in the upcoming election.
The state of Michigan (where we spent most of last week) reported that over 100,000 young people recently registered to vote, a record that no one saw coming. The Slacker Tour has turned into a huge steamroller with a momentum all its own.
So, the Republican Party, to show their gratitude that so many young people will now be involved in our system, has demanded that I be sent to jail for trying to "bribe" students to vote.
The state of Michigan (where we spent most of last week) reported that over 100,000 young people recently registered to vote, a record that no one saw coming. The Slacker Tour has turned into a huge steamroller with a momentum all its own.
So, the Republican Party, to show their gratitude that so many young people will now be involved in our system, has demanded that I be sent to jail for trying to "bribe" students to vote.
[The hideous face of Conservatism] Fox News doesn't turn a blind eye toward fake, lying journalists on their staff - they lightly slap them on the wrist.
"Didn't my nails and cuticles look great? What a good debate!" the article by the Cameron read, purportedly quoting Kerry after the event.
"Carl has been reprimanded," Schur said Sunday, defining further comment.
Contact FoxNews, and demand that they fire the chief political correspondent and lying fraud Carl Cameron for his obscene violation of journalistic integrity.
"Didn't my nails and cuticles look great? What a good debate!" the article by the Cameron read, purportedly quoting Kerry after the event.
"Carl has been reprimanded," Schur said Sunday, defining further comment.
Contact FoxNews, and demand that they fire the chief political correspondent and lying fraud Carl Cameron for his obscene violation of journalistic integrity.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Strange Haze is for conspiracy-minded people who want to know why those vapor trails in the sky are there. Pictures and speculation galore.
Why do we think what we think? Well, apart from the repeated, intense, and unusual flight-patterns, odd illnesses will sometimes strike people shortly after these chemtrail episodes; multiple witnesses have also reported a cobweb-like substance seen falling from the sky. You should also know that a lab-analysis of some "goo" which fell to the ground revealed the presence of biological-agents: Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Streptomyces, and a restriction enzyme used to create viruses
Why do we think what we think? Well, apart from the repeated, intense, and unusual flight-patterns, odd illnesses will sometimes strike people shortly after these chemtrail episodes; multiple witnesses have also reported a cobweb-like substance seen falling from the sky. You should also know that a lab-analysis of some "goo" which fell to the ground revealed the presence of biological-agents: Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Streptomyces, and a restriction enzyme used to create viruses
Someone skinned 64 tickle-me Elmos and made a giant, red, vibrating coat. For such a great idea, the site is pretty light on pics/video of the project. This one has more.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Dear Mike, Iraq sucks. Letters to Mike Moore from soldiers (via the Guardian, UK)
Mike, I am a truck driver right now in Iraq. Let me give you this one small fact because I am right here at the heart of it: since I started this job several months ago, 100% (that's right, not 99%) of the workers I am aware of are inflating the hours they claim on their time sheets.
Mike, I am a truck driver right now in Iraq. Let me give you this one small fact because I am right here at the heart of it: since I started this job several months ago, 100% (that's right, not 99%) of the workers I am aware of are inflating the hours they claim on their time sheets.
Decline of the Creative Class
Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, and others are spending more on research and development and shoring up their universities in an effort to attract the world's best--including Americans.
Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, and others are spending more on research and development and shoring up their universities in an effort to attract the world's best--including Americans.
Friday, October 01, 2004
"I'm going to fight booze until hell freezes over, and then I'm going to buy a pair of ice skates and fight it some more," he boomed in a lyrical staccato. "Men and women, I challenge you! Get on the water wagon and let's fight this dirty business!"
-- Gene Amondson, Prohibition Party candidate in this election. His party was last a threat to Woodrow Wilson in '16 (NYTimes)
-- Gene Amondson, Prohibition Party candidate in this election. His party was last a threat to Woodrow Wilson in '16 (NYTimes)
"They need to make Americans forget what happened tonight," said ultraconservative Joe Scarborough on MSNBC, speaking on what he believed the Bush campaign needed to do post-debate. (truthout)
DHS Cyber Security Chief Abruptly Resigns
The government's cybersecurity chief has abruptly resigned after one year with the Department of Homeland Security, confiding to industry colleagues his frustration over what he considers a lack of attention paid to computer security issues within the agency.
The government's cybersecurity chief has abruptly resigned after one year with the Department of Homeland Security, confiding to industry colleagues his frustration over what he considers a lack of attention paid to computer security issues within the agency.
A nice recap of the debate by CNN's Paul Begala. The almost universal consensus is the Bush got soundly beaten last night. In that light, Rudy G's post debate commentary (that Bush easily out-debated Kerry) seemed downright dishonest. In keeping with the Republican party line that if you say something enough, people will believe it, he praised Bush's hamfisted handling of even the slowpitch issues that he should have nailed. Republican repetition is looking less like solidarity and more like deceit and shameful denial.
Bush's footing on the domestic issues is going to be even more shaky. Let's hope that Kerry calls Bush to task for Ashcroft's mere presence in office, let alone his abomination of a public record, as well as Cheney's backroom dealings with polluters.
Bush's footing on the domestic issues is going to be even more shaky. Let's hope that Kerry calls Bush to task for Ashcroft's mere presence in office, let alone his abomination of a public record, as well as Cheney's backroom dealings with polluters.