Archive for August, 2010
The Fascist Noise Channel
I’m listening to Mario Solis Marich on AM760 in Denver. A guy just called in and referred to Fox News as the “Fascist Noise Channel.”
I like that. I like that a lot. It fits and it’s more appropriate than a name like “Faux News,” which doesn’t really capture the cold-blooded, ruthless nature of FNC.
Hey, in my opinion, Fox can be as fascist as it wants to be — I’m a free speech nut – I just wish they’d quit lying to people about being a “news” organization; that they’d come clean and give themselves a name that reflects the truth.
Break Time — World’s Largest Drawing
Jesus — it’s amazing what our “liberal media” doesn’t cover. They stick to the revolving three-stories-a-day when if they had any imagination whatsoever, they could spice it up a bit with interesting tidbits like this:
This spectacular artwork is the world’s largest drawing and at 12.5 square miles it would be able to find room for 4,469 Wembley football pitches.
Etched onto the surface of Lake Baikal, in Russia’s windswept and frozen Siberia, it was created by land artist extraordinaire Jim Denevan and his team in March of this year.
Commissioned by clothing firm Anthropologie to create the work for their advertising tie-in series The Anthropologist, Jim, 49, spent 15 days on the surface of Lake Baikal completing the drawing.
So cool (no pun intended).
Burning the Quran is a Dangerous and Stupid Move
Undoubtedly you heard about the Florida fundamentalist “Christian” pastor, Terry Jones, who is planning on holding a Quran-burning ceremony on 9/11. Well, he and his congregation, and those who support him, have no idea how dangerous and stupid a move that is:
The threatened bonfire burning of the Quran, however, is a different matter — with more severe connotations. Even if undertaken by Jones, a Florida bigot with a minuscule congregation, most of whom likely could not find the Middle East on a map, it is seen as an act of religious warfare. Domestically, the Dove Church may already feel like old news, but in the Middle East, the resonance is deep, clear and threatening.
“Attacking the religious symbols of others is a kind of terrorism,” the Rev. Andrea Zaki Stephanous, vice-general director of the Protestant Church of Egypt,told The Root. “It dehumanizes and is a form of violence.”
Whatever happened to the feeling that we wanted to be” better” than the terrorists?
Two More Terror Attacks on American Muslims
Two more terror attacks on American Muslims have been reported today:
One in Seattle: Man Charged in Racially-Charged Attack of Turban-Wearing Man, and one in upstate New York: Five Teens Arrested in Connection With Violence at Mosque.
I am ashamed of us. Wish these attackers would just join al Qaeda and be done with it.
Halloween Candy Displays in the Stores Already?
Just got back from the grocery store — where I saw a huge display of Halloween candy. Halloween candy in August! Halloween is two freakin’ months away!
Good Morning!
It’s a good morning because fall is in the air and I can’t – can’t, can’t, can’t – wait to see this:
It’s coming.
Obama Says He Can Kill You — An American Citizen — on Sight
H/t to Glenn Greenwald:
It’s true. President Obama claims he has the power to kill American citizens without due process.
This from a guy who taught Constitutional law?
UPDATE: The father of the first American citizen targeted by Obama’s “power to order American’s killed without due process” is suing.
Thank God. I thought Obama would stop the insanity but instead, he’s perpetuating it.
Flipper is Going to Be Hacked to Death Tomorrow
Imagine “harvesting” dolphins.
Think about it for ten or twenty seconds and ask yourself, what happened to us humans, supposedly the most intelligent beings on the planet?
It’s true. The dolphin “harvest” begins tomorrow in Japan and thousands of dolphins are going to be hacked to death:
You can help put an end to this barbaric, unholy thing here.
Please!
Is Glenn Beck the White Malcolm X?
This has got to be the weirdest comparison yet: “Is Glenn Beck Really Malcolm X?“
…Glenn Beck has emerged as the white Malcolm X. Whereas Malcom X embraced militant black separatism, Beck marries a stridently emotional style with political views that wouldn’t have been out of place at a 1950s Elks Lodge event. But like Malcolm X, Beck terrifies mainstream liberals, who see something sinister in his inexplicable ways. And just as Malcolm X mellowed in his old age, embracing a more traditional interpretation of Islam shortly before his death, Beck seems to be self-consciously moving past the politicized anger that defined his program for much of the past two years towards a heavy emphasis on spiritual uplift for his people.
[...]
But something else is happening as well. Many commentators have noted that Glenn Beck scrupulously avoided political commentary during the rally. We’re seeing early signs that this movement that Beck is building is about more than the midterm elections, and more than defeating President Obama in 2012. One gets the impression that Beck, like Malcolm X and many others before him, intends to lead a spiritual revival, if not a Great Awakening. Somehow I suspect we’ll be hearing about Beck for many, many years to come.
What the hell’s going on around here? It’s getting crazier and crazier. Malcolm X has been radioactive (on both sides) for decades but suddenly a winger (the author of this article), pulls him out of the teeny tiny corner of the universe to which he has been banished and claims he stands side-by-side with Glenn Beck?
You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding.
It was only yesterday that same crowd compared Malcolm X to…Jeremiah Wright:
Hey, Psst, the Republicans Have a Plan
Republicans finally have a proposal, an actual, concrete proposal, for what they might do if they take control of Congress in November — shut the government down (their wet dream):
Republican pollster Dick Morris told conservative political activists that newly elected Republicans should shut down the government next year. Morris said the party must elect lawmakers who will stand up and say “No” to President Obama’s requests for more government spending and predicted a repeat of how Republicans forced a shutdown under President Clinton after they won control of Congress.
“There’s going to be a government shutdown, just like in ’95 and ’96 but we’re going to win it this time and I’ll be fightin’ on your side,” Morris said at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation Conference on Friday in Washington.
Now, that’s not exactly campaign trail material, but it’s a fascinating glimpse into what Republicans may put into action should they win back control of Congress. Morris’ suggestions, memes and talking points frequently end up in GOP campaign materials, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on this one to see if Republicans will back up his promise for a government shutdown.
Hey, yeah, that’s what we need boys!
It’s going to be very, very interesting to see what happens (I say while biting all ten fingernails at once).
Break Time — Minas Mirith
Look at this amazing — I can’t imagine the patience involved — reproduction of Minas Mirith from Lord of the Rings — made of matchsticks and exhibited at the Iowa State Fair earlier this month:
More photographs here.
Cancer Patients Forgoing Treatment Because of Cost
Man, is this ever sad: Millions of U.S. Cancer Patients Forgo Treatment Due to Cost:
At least 2 million Americans whose cancer went into remission decided against getting recommended follow up treatment mostly because their health insurance wouldn’t fully cover it. That cost-cutting and life-threatening decision was made by one in six cancer “survivors” in the country, according to research published last week headed by Kathryn Weaver of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. The study was based on data collected between 2003 and 2006, before the recession hit and unemployment figures skyrocketed.
The number of people avoiding treatment must be much higher now.
This is a national tragedy. People shouldn’t have to die because they’re poor. And you don’t have to be “poor” not to be able to afford follow-up cancer treatment. Heck, if what my husband’s cardiologist charges is any indication — roughly $300.00 for five or six minutes — a visit to an oncologist, never mind the cost of tests, is enough to make you think twice about going (or not).
Howard Kurtz’s Huge Conflict of Interest
Howard Kurtz, the host of CNN’s Reliable Sources, claims to be a media watchdog and critic, keeping an eye on all things unethical and sleazy in medialand. Only problem is, he’s a leader of the pack when it comes to bad behavior; all he has to do is look in the mirror to find a big juicy story about unethical “journalists:”
The Washington Post‘s media critic Howard Kurtz today uses his Post column to send a gushing love letter to Time Magazine and its executives. Entitled “Thinner Time magazine still manages to stand out,” it reads like a Time Warner Press Release heaping praise on its magazine for great success. The first sentence crowns Time Editor-in-Chief Rick Stengel as “the last man standing,” trumpets Time‘s success in comparison to the struggles of Newsweek and U.S. News, and claims — most hilariously of all — that “Time has done it mainly with serious journalism.”
What makes this so amazing is that Kurtz himself does not merely sound like an employee of Time Warner; he is one. Time Warner pays him a substantial salary — and gives him a prominent television platform — for hosting CNN’s Sunday morning show, Reliable Sources. In return, Kurtz then uses his Post column to glorify Time Warner’s magazine and its executives.
Really disgusting, really disturbing and frankly, downright low.
Good Morning
It’s a good morning because there are only two more days left in August and then it’ll be September.
I love September!
Humans Who Slaughter Dolphins
I’m forcing myself to watch “The Cove” on AnimalPlanet.
Really, really hard to do but kudos to AP for airing it.
Rupert Murdoch Owns Stuff You Encounter Every Day
The other day I put up a post about Rupert Murdoch owning the National Geographic Channel, which got me thinking about all the other stuff he owns under the umbrella of his “News Crop.“ — an unbelievable array of media outlets. The guy is everywhere.
Take for example these, to name but a few:
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox Espanol
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox International
Fox Sports
Britain’s Sky News
Sky Brazil
Sky Italia
Sky Mexico
The Staples Center
The Times of London newspaper
TV Guide
The Weekly Standard
News Broadcasting Japan
News of the World
Nickelodeon UK
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Fox Television Stations
Fox Business Network
Fox News Channel
Fox Sp0rts Net
FX
National Geographic Channel — US
National Geographic Channel Worldwide
STAR Channel
Speed Channel
The New York Post
The Wall Street Journal
The Dow Jones
Harper-Collins book publishers, which includes,
Avon books
William Morrow books
Walden Pond books
American Idol
AskMen
MySpace
These are the biggies. (I have a detailed, single-spaced list (hard copy) in front of me that is four pages long and includes more than 200 brands.)
So, if you don’t like the idea of giving money to Rupert Murdoch (or to the Saudis or Republicans), it’s not just about staying away from Faux News, unfortunately. Wish it were that easy.
American Terrorists
Fire at Tennessee Mosque Building Site Ruled Arson:
Federal officials are investigating a fire that started overnight at the site of a new Islamic center in a Nashville suburb.
Ben Goodwin of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to CBS Affiliate WTVF that the fire, which burned construction equipment at the future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, is being ruled as arson.
Special Agent Andy Anderson of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told CBS News that the fire destroyed one piece of construction equipment and damaged three others. Gas was poured over the equipment to start the fire, Anderson said.
The ATF, FBI and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation into the fire, Anderson said.
WTVF reports firefighters were alerted by a passerby who saw flames at the site. One large earth hauler was set on fire before the suspect or suspects left the scene.
The chair of the center’s planning committee, Essim Fathy, said he drove to the site at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning after he was contacted by the sheriff’s department.
“Our people and community are so worried of what else can happen,” said Fathy. “They are so scared.”
I wish to hell Obama would come out and condemn this for what it is, Americans terrorizing Americans. I mean, you don’t have to be a Muslim to be scared. The people who are doing this think their way is The Way and they will go after anyone who is different from them and The Way — be it religiously or otherwise.
They’re Making Some Strong LSD These Days
Don’t Wait Until You’re Dying…
A friend sent me this article this morning, “Regrets of the Dying.”
I think most of us know, in our heart, what is most important in life but sometimes it’s hard to live those truths on a daily basis. Here a reminder that we’ve got to keep trying:
For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
[...]
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
[...]
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
[...]
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
[...]
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
[...]
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
Good Morning
It’s a good morning because it’s Sunday and my husband always makes breakfast on Sunday. Yesterday we went to the farmers’ market and bought some real “farm fresh eggs,” so he’s making bacon, toast and eggs “over easy.” Can’t wait to taste them.
I’ve been around since the 1950′s but far as I know, I’ve never eaten anything other than factory-farm-produced eggs. How ridiculous is that?
UPDATE: The eggs didn’t taste any different from the pass-produced kind, but they looked different in that their yolks were orange instead of yellow.
Beautiful Baby
Look at this beautiful baby / beautiful picture — the four-day-old daughter of British PM David Cameron — Florence Rose Endellion Cameron:
Ugh. Gorgeous.
David Vitter is an Adulterer But He Wins in Louisiana?
Is it any wonder the God fearin’, sanctity-of-marriage GOP wants to slash funding for schools and teachers? The dumber the voters are the better: David Vitter [an admitted adulterer] Easily Wins GOP Nomination in Louisiana.
What a happy-looking couple:
(Via.)
I ♥ Halliburton!
I came across a shot of someone wearing a T-shirt like this today when I was looking at stuff about the Beckathon, but I can’t find it now.
(Wish I had an “assistant” and a “staff.”)
Picking up on the theme of can-you-believe-anyone-would-wear-a-T-shirt-like-this, I want one that says, “I ♥ Salmonella.”
Tweet of the Day
So true, but one isn’t supposed to think this much when it comes to what Glenn Beck says or does, because then none of it makes any sense.
