Detroit Stuff
Rapper Obie Trice shot while driving the Lodge freeway, he's in good condition at Providence Hospital.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Friday, December 30, 2005
Happy New Year
Be safe, healthy, and happy. I'll be too busy to post much the next couple of days, so I'd like to share one of my most favorite songs. Click anywhere on the last line to hear the music.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!
(repeat all 2 times)
Words and music by
Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
1955
Peace,
-Desi
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!
(repeat all 2 times)
Words and music by
Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
1955
Peace,
-Desi
Another heart is Broken
Jameela Abbas, left, weeps over the loss of her youngest son, Eissa, as his 9-year-old sister Hanin Rasul is seen right, in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005. Three months ago she bathed him, helped him get dressed, combed his hair and sprayed him with perfume before the six-year-old left with his father for Syria. Nearly four hours later, her husband called to say their son was mistakenly killed by U.S. fire, becoming one of the many Iraqis who die simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Troop reduction in Iraq in '06?
Those rumors of the beginnings of a US troop withdrawal in '06 have all been smoke and mirrors. Just the word withdrawl tossed around in a salad of words like could, possible, maybe, and depends. Enough to quiet the dissent down enough to gain Bush a few more points in the polls. Remember Peter Pace recently saying "The enemy has a vote in this, and if they were to cause some kind of problems that required more troops, then we would do exactly what we've done in the past, which is give the commanders on the ground what they need. And in that case, you could see troop level go up a little bit to handle that problem." . . . well, here you go:
A “significant number” of members from the Fort-Wayne based 122nd Fighter Wing will be deployed overseas within the next three weeks for Operation Iraqi Freedom, the wing’s commander, Col. Jeffrey Soldner, said Friday.
The exact number of members being deployed or where they will be going in Iraq will remain classified until the unit has arrived, he said.
The Indiana Air National Guard unit – nicknamed the Blacksnakes – is being deployed on a rotation with two other National Guard units from Atlantic City and Burlington, Vt.
A typical rotation lasts about 120 days, but the length of their deployment is subject to change, Soldner said.
The deployment will be the largest the unit has seen since October 1961, when the entire unit was sent to Chambley Air Base in Chambley, France, unit leaders said. It is unclear how many soldiers were part of the unit then.
Today the unit has 989 members, 329 of which are full-time employees, according to unit statistics.
The madmen in the White House have no intention of leaving Iraq while their in office. Voluntarily, anyways. You also won't see the twins over there fighting, or the 101st fighting keyboarders.
A “significant number” of members from the Fort-Wayne based 122nd Fighter Wing will be deployed overseas within the next three weeks for Operation Iraqi Freedom, the wing’s commander, Col. Jeffrey Soldner, said Friday.
The exact number of members being deployed or where they will be going in Iraq will remain classified until the unit has arrived, he said.
The Indiana Air National Guard unit – nicknamed the Blacksnakes – is being deployed on a rotation with two other National Guard units from Atlantic City and Burlington, Vt.
A typical rotation lasts about 120 days, but the length of their deployment is subject to change, Soldner said.
The deployment will be the largest the unit has seen since October 1961, when the entire unit was sent to Chambley Air Base in Chambley, France, unit leaders said. It is unclear how many soldiers were part of the unit then.
Today the unit has 989 members, 329 of which are full-time employees, according to unit statistics.
The madmen in the White House have no intention of leaving Iraq while their in office. Voluntarily, anyways. You also won't see the twins over there fighting, or the 101st fighting keyboarders.
The glaring, basic differences in American vs Canadian Healthcare
Two women, two cancers, and two health-care systems.
[Thanks Prior Aelred for sharing.]
[Thanks Prior Aelred for sharing.]
Another head hangs lowly
An Iraqi man grieves over the coffin of a relative who was among the 11 Shi'ite family members killed in Latifiya during a funeral in Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad December 30, 2005. Six assailants broke into a house just south of Baghdad on Thursday and killed 11 members of the same Shi'ite family by slitting their throats, police said. They said the family had been warned by insurgents to move out of the largely Sunni district of Latifiya, around 20 km (13 miles) south of the capital, but had not done so. [REUTERS/Ali Abu Shish]
"Compassionate Conservatism"
NYT:
Churches, social service agencies and immigration groups across the country are rallying against a provision in the recently passed House border-security bill that would make it a federal crime to offer services or assistance to illegal immigrants.
The measure would broaden the nation's immigrant-smuggling law so that people who assist or shield illegal immigrants would be subject to prosecution. Offenders, who might include priests, nurses or social workers, could face up to five years in prison. The proposal would also allow the authorities to seize some assets of those convicted of such a crime.
Benny, get the word out to your soup kitchens. No dark-skinned people without checking their papers first. Nurses, if the risk of HIV, Hepatitis C, and a host of others hasn't killed your desire to help your fellow man wherever you may run into one in need -- now you can't help an injured child on the street if you aren't certain they are legally in the country -- you could even lose your home. Social workers, if you still have a soft spot for abused families and getting them to safety is your thing . . . if they don't have the papers, send 'em back to the hell from whence they came. Or else.
Direct any and all questions to the following compassionate conservatives:
Representative F. James Sensenbrenner Jr.
2449 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4905
Telephone: (202) 225-5101
sensenbrenner@mail.house.gov.
George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
comments@whitehouse.gov
Churches, social service agencies and immigration groups across the country are rallying against a provision in the recently passed House border-security bill that would make it a federal crime to offer services or assistance to illegal immigrants.
The measure would broaden the nation's immigrant-smuggling law so that people who assist or shield illegal immigrants would be subject to prosecution. Offenders, who might include priests, nurses or social workers, could face up to five years in prison. The proposal would also allow the authorities to seize some assets of those convicted of such a crime.
Benny, get the word out to your soup kitchens. No dark-skinned people without checking their papers first. Nurses, if the risk of HIV, Hepatitis C, and a host of others hasn't killed your desire to help your fellow man wherever you may run into one in need -- now you can't help an injured child on the street if you aren't certain they are legally in the country -- you could even lose your home. Social workers, if you still have a soft spot for abused families and getting them to safety is your thing . . . if they don't have the papers, send 'em back to the hell from whence they came. Or else.
Direct any and all questions to the following compassionate conservatives:
Representative F. James Sensenbrenner Jr.
2449 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4905
Telephone: (202) 225-5101
sensenbrenner@mail.house.gov.
George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
comments@whitehouse.gov
Thursday, December 29, 2005
How long 'til someone blames Bill?
Treasury Secretary John Snow on Thursday said the United States could face the prospect of not being able to pay its bills early next year unless Congress raises the government's borrowing authority, now capped at $8.18 trillion.
Let Bush raise the money for his own gotdamn war and secret spy programs.
Let Bush raise the money for his own gotdamn war and secret spy programs.
Top 50 Music Videos
Top* 50 music videos of 2005.
*This is someone else's compilation of videos, and I don't agree that they're even mostly all the top 50.
*This is someone else's compilation of videos, and I don't agree that they're even mostly all the top 50.
Remodeling
Am trying to get haloscan back on board, and the site isn't cooperating. Please be patient. Thanks.
Update: I think we're all set. Since blogger still thinks that *I* am a spambot [$@%&!!@*^&#@] I couldn't auto-install the haloscan. I had to enter the code myself, and the new template I chose -- I think -- is a little trickier to place your comment code into. Hopefully, all is well now. What do you think?
Update: I think we're all set. Since blogger still thinks that *I* am a spambot [$@%&!!@*^&#@] I couldn't auto-install the haloscan. I had to enter the code myself, and the new template I chose -- I think -- is a little trickier to place your comment code into. Hopefully, all is well now. What do you think?
Dr. Score
Dr. Steven Feldman of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center gives us 'DrScore'.
Every doctor in the United States is listed on the site. Patients can answer questions about their doctor's bedside manner, office staff and waiting times. Rate your doctor, or use it as a tool to help find a new one.
Every doctor in the United States is listed on the site. Patients can answer questions about their doctor's bedside manner, office staff and waiting times. Rate your doctor, or use it as a tool to help find a new one.
SOTU
Josh Marshall reminds us it isn't too soon to start thinking about what Chimpy McFlightsuit will have to say about the state of the union. Thoughts?
The unhappy Minority
Six assailants broke into a house just south of Baghdad on Thursday and killed 11 members of the same Shi'ite family by slitting their throats, police said.
They said the family had been warned by insurgents to move out of the largely Sunni district of Latifiya, around 20 km (13 miles) south of the capital, but had not done so.
The gunmen arrived at the house in two cars, broke in and bound the hands of the 11 and killed them before driving off, leaving the bloodied bodies in the house.
But, it is *not* a civil war. Also, Blogs are evil. Ignore me or you'll die.
They said the family had been warned by insurgents to move out of the largely Sunni district of Latifiya, around 20 km (13 miles) south of the capital, but had not done so.
The gunmen arrived at the house in two cars, broke in and bound the hands of the 11 and killed them before driving off, leaving the bloodied bodies in the house.
But, it is *not* a civil war. Also, Blogs are evil. Ignore me or you'll die.
Michigan republican Congressman gets slap on wrists . . .
For driving while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, AND hit and run. Blames his sick wife.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Some things better left in the Past
CLEVELAND — An immigration judge today ordered John Demjanjuk, a retired autoworker accused of being a Nazi concentration camp guard, deported to his native Ukraine.
Demjanjuk, 85, has been fighting for nearly 30 years to stay in this country. During the long legal battle, he was suspected for a time of being the notoriously brutal guard known as Ivan the Terrible and was nearly executed in Israel.
When even Israel released this man, I can't help but be confused about why prosecutors in our country would be so adamant about persuing Mr. Demjanjuk these past 30 years. He's 85 years old, and has lived a relatively quiet life in Seven Hills, Ohio with his wife and children. Why tear them apart now?
Demjanjuk, 85, has been fighting for nearly 30 years to stay in this country. During the long legal battle, he was suspected for a time of being the notoriously brutal guard known as Ivan the Terrible and was nearly executed in Israel.
When even Israel released this man, I can't help but be confused about why prosecutors in our country would be so adamant about persuing Mr. Demjanjuk these past 30 years. He's 85 years old, and has lived a relatively quiet life in Seven Hills, Ohio with his wife and children. Why tear them apart now?
The more you give, the more they'll take
Nearly half of America is willing to live with their heads up their asses whilst their Constitutional rights are stripped away. Regarding secret NSA wiretapping:
"The online Zogby Interactive poll, taken Dec. 20-21, found that nearly half of likely voters, 49 percent, say Bush has the constitutional powers to approve such a plan, while 45 percent say he does not."
I blame the evil 'liberal' media for not making it clear enough to the general public that our Emperor could have done his wiretapping legally, and in complete secrecy -- yet chose not to -- without ever explaining just why that is.
"The online Zogby Interactive poll, taken Dec. 20-21, found that nearly half of likely voters, 49 percent, say Bush has the constitutional powers to approve such a plan, while 45 percent say he does not."
I blame the evil 'liberal' media for not making it clear enough to the general public that our Emperor could have done his wiretapping legally, and in complete secrecy -- yet chose not to -- without ever explaining just why that is.
Another open letter to John Stossel
Dear Mr. Stossel,
I'm writing today in response to your article: Top Ten List of Foolish Myths
In particular, the following paragraph:
In America, even poor people have homes, cars, and access to music and other entertainment that was once only available to royalty. Pollution? The air and water keep getting cleaner. I jumped in the Hudson River not long ago to illustrate the point. There I was, swimming away and looking up at the Empire State building. Despite eight million people flushing nearby, the health department says swimming in the Hudson is now perfectly safe.
Are you counting the tents that the Katrina victims in the south are living in as 'homes'? If so, it hardly seems right being's that there are no bathroom facilities inside a tent. Also, the snow banks that the frozen homeless are plucked from in my area is really stretching anyones definition of a home, methinks.
As for cars, yes, the poor can carjack cars . . . I'm just sayin'. If they're really lucky they get caught so they can go to prison and enjoy the free warm bed, and healthcare. I think there may also be televisions, and possibly music, but I couldn't say for certain.
The air and water keep getting cleaner, and to illustrate you jumped into the Hudson River? I just want to know where is a giant squid when you need one?
Sincerely,
Desi
I'm writing today in response to your article: Top Ten List of Foolish Myths
In particular, the following paragraph:
In America, even poor people have homes, cars, and access to music and other entertainment that was once only available to royalty. Pollution? The air and water keep getting cleaner. I jumped in the Hudson River not long ago to illustrate the point. There I was, swimming away and looking up at the Empire State building. Despite eight million people flushing nearby, the health department says swimming in the Hudson is now perfectly safe.
Are you counting the tents that the Katrina victims in the south are living in as 'homes'? If so, it hardly seems right being's that there are no bathroom facilities inside a tent. Also, the snow banks that the frozen homeless are plucked from in my area is really stretching anyones definition of a home, methinks.
As for cars, yes, the poor can carjack cars . . . I'm just sayin'. If they're really lucky they get caught so they can go to prison and enjoy the free warm bed, and healthcare. I think there may also be televisions, and possibly music, but I couldn't say for certain.
The air and water keep getting cleaner, and to illustrate you jumped into the Hudson River? I just want to know where is a giant squid when you need one?
Sincerely,
Desi
Band of Brothers
Swing State Project has the details on this new group -- Band of Brothers -- designed to help Veterans get elected as Dems. Backed by Max Cleland, to name just one.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Jeebus
It's an alternate universe. Now if we could just get them to take their pols, their war, et al with them . . .
Embrace tolerance --- Kick intolerance in the Ass
SSquirrel shares his thoughts on abortion. Besides being a wonderful post, the link to the WaPo article on abortion in South Dakota is a must read, as that red state is a model of what free women everywhere struggle to prevent. Imagine, only one hospital in your entire state to get an abortion in the event of a life-threatening situation?
Whoa.
Raw Story:
President Bush and other top officials in his administration used the National Security Agency to secretly wiretap the home and office telephones and monitored private email accounts of members of the United Nations Security Council in early 2003 to determine how foreign delegates would vote on a U.N. resolution that paved the war for the U.S.-led war in Iraq, NSA documents show.
Two former NSA officials familiar with the agency's campaign to spy on U.N. members say then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice authorized the plan at the request of President Bush, who wanted to know how delegates were going to vote. Rice did not immediately return a call for comment.
The former officials said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also participated in discussions about the plan, which involved "stepping up" efforts to eavesdrop on diplomats.
Now can we get the torches and pitchforks?
President Bush and other top officials in his administration used the National Security Agency to secretly wiretap the home and office telephones and monitored private email accounts of members of the United Nations Security Council in early 2003 to determine how foreign delegates would vote on a U.N. resolution that paved the war for the U.S.-led war in Iraq, NSA documents show.
Two former NSA officials familiar with the agency's campaign to spy on U.N. members say then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice authorized the plan at the request of President Bush, who wanted to know how delegates were going to vote. Rice did not immediately return a call for comment.
The former officials said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also participated in discussions about the plan, which involved "stepping up" efforts to eavesdrop on diplomats.
Now can we get the torches and pitchforks?
Monday, December 26, 2005
A Day in the Life
“The police officer had sustained three injuries to the chest. The wounds were the result of a terror attack. Vital signs unstable. He was seriously injured. He was dying. There were eight doctors working on him; three were specialists. When he was declared dead, his fellow officers attacked the doctors and nurses. They blamed us for his death. They then destroyed our emergency room. In the last few months, such attacks have become the norm.”
- DR. AHMED MUTHAFAR
Emergency room doctor
[Photo:Adam Nadel/Polaris, for The New York Times]
Then there were 6
“My grandfather and I took down our curtains in our home so we could wrap the dead boys in them. He did not want them to lie exposed, uncovered, in the streets. First, we tore the curtains in half. Then my grandfather and I went into the street. Together we wrapped my dead friends. We used to play soccer 11 on a side. Now there’s only enough for three against three.”
- MUHAMMAD SATTAR, 11, second from left
Twin brother was killed in a bombing
[Photo:Adam Nadel/Polaris, for The New York Times]
Penny-pinching Bureaucrats
WaPo:
The spiraling cost of post-traumatic stress disorder among war veterans has triggered a politically charged debate and ignited fears that the government is trying to limit expensive benefits for emotionally scarred troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the past five years, the number of veterans receiving compensation for the disorder commonly called PTSD has grown nearly seven times as fast as the number receiving benefits for disabilities in general, according to a report this year by the inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs. A total of 215,871 veterans received PTSD benefit payments last year at a cost of $4.3 billion, up from $1.7 billion in 1999 -- a jump of more than 150 percent.
Experts say the sharp increase does not begin to factor in the potential impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, because the increase is largely the result of Vietnam War vets seeking treatment decades after their combat experiences. Facing a budget crunch, experts within and outside the Veterans Affairs Department are raising concerns about fraudulent claims, wondering whether the structure of government benefits discourages healing, and even questioning the utility and objectivity of the diagnosis itself.
. . .
PTSD experts summoned to Philadelphia for the two-day internal "expert panel" meeting were asked to discuss "evidence regarding validity, reliability, and feasibility" of the department's PTSD assessment and treatment practices, according to an e-mail invitation obtained by The Washington Post. The goal, the e-mail added, is "to improve clinical exams used to help determine benefit payments for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."
"What they are trying to do is figure out a way not to diagnose vets with PTSD," said Steve Robinson, executive director of the National Gulf War Resource Center, a veterans advocacy group. "It's like telling a patient with cancer, 'if we tell you, you don't have cancer, then you won't suffer from cancer.' "
Hogenson, the VA spokesman, said the department is not seeking to overturn the established psychiatric criteria for diagnosing PTSD.
"We are reviewing the utility and the objectivity of the criteria . . . and are commenting on the screening instruments used by VA," he said. "We want to make sure what we do for screening comports with the latest information out there."
I need to write some letters to politicians. The bureaucrats sitting on their asses in the VA cannot make screening procedures a priority that they waste millions of dollars on. They need to focus on finding sucessful methods of treatment that lead to either full recovery, and/or the highest quality of life possible. In addition, out-reach to Vets who won't seek help is needed. Look at the numbers cited percentage-wise for Vietnam Vets who sought treatment, as that says it all.
We're talking about the men and women who were sent off to war by chickenhawks, who sacraficed their blood, guts, and often their souls to stay alive and come back with a pulse. You want war, you pay the price. Deal with it, motherfuckers.
The spiraling cost of post-traumatic stress disorder among war veterans has triggered a politically charged debate and ignited fears that the government is trying to limit expensive benefits for emotionally scarred troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the past five years, the number of veterans receiving compensation for the disorder commonly called PTSD has grown nearly seven times as fast as the number receiving benefits for disabilities in general, according to a report this year by the inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs. A total of 215,871 veterans received PTSD benefit payments last year at a cost of $4.3 billion, up from $1.7 billion in 1999 -- a jump of more than 150 percent.
Experts say the sharp increase does not begin to factor in the potential impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, because the increase is largely the result of Vietnam War vets seeking treatment decades after their combat experiences. Facing a budget crunch, experts within and outside the Veterans Affairs Department are raising concerns about fraudulent claims, wondering whether the structure of government benefits discourages healing, and even questioning the utility and objectivity of the diagnosis itself.
. . .
PTSD experts summoned to Philadelphia for the two-day internal "expert panel" meeting were asked to discuss "evidence regarding validity, reliability, and feasibility" of the department's PTSD assessment and treatment practices, according to an e-mail invitation obtained by The Washington Post. The goal, the e-mail added, is "to improve clinical exams used to help determine benefit payments for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."
"What they are trying to do is figure out a way not to diagnose vets with PTSD," said Steve Robinson, executive director of the National Gulf War Resource Center, a veterans advocacy group. "It's like telling a patient with cancer, 'if we tell you, you don't have cancer, then you won't suffer from cancer.' "
Hogenson, the VA spokesman, said the department is not seeking to overturn the established psychiatric criteria for diagnosing PTSD.
"We are reviewing the utility and the objectivity of the criteria . . . and are commenting on the screening instruments used by VA," he said. "We want to make sure what we do for screening comports with the latest information out there."
I need to write some letters to politicians. The bureaucrats sitting on their asses in the VA cannot make screening procedures a priority that they waste millions of dollars on. They need to focus on finding sucessful methods of treatment that lead to either full recovery, and/or the highest quality of life possible. In addition, out-reach to Vets who won't seek help is needed. Look at the numbers cited percentage-wise for Vietnam Vets who sought treatment, as that says it all.
We're talking about the men and women who were sent off to war by chickenhawks, who sacraficed their blood, guts, and often their souls to stay alive and come back with a pulse. You want war, you pay the price. Deal with it, motherfuckers.
Executive Order 12949
I received a copy of this E.O. signed by Bill Clinton back in '95 in email today, but the sender didn't have any comment along with it, so I didn't know what -- if anything -- they were getting at.
Perhaps Think Progress has it covered here.
Perhaps Think Progress has it covered here.
Holiday Gatherings
T: "Where's Jeff, dude?
A: "Gone, man, didn't you hear?"
T: "Gone? Transferred?"
A: "Blown up in Iraq. Gone."
T: "Shit. But, I thought he was all done with the Reserves?"
A: "So did he."
R: "Hope all the fuckwits who voted for Bush are happy."
T: "Don't dump that shit on me, man. I voted my party line."
R: "Exactly, you voted republican."
T: "Exactly right! Bush ran republican, but the motherfucker is a fascist."
R: "Fascist. Impeach the motherfucker is what we ought to be doing."
[Several people at once]: "I can't believe Jeff is dead, he . . . was always the life of the party . . . had such a promising career . . . wasn't he engaged? This is so wrong."
A: "Gone, man, didn't you hear?"
T: "Gone? Transferred?"
A: "Blown up in Iraq. Gone."
T: "Shit. But, I thought he was all done with the Reserves?"
A: "So did he."
R: "Hope all the fuckwits who voted for Bush are happy."
T: "Don't dump that shit on me, man. I voted my party line."
R: "Exactly, you voted republican."
T: "Exactly right! Bush ran republican, but the motherfucker is a fascist."
R: "Fascist. Impeach the motherfucker is what we ought to be doing."
[Several people at once]: "I can't believe Jeff is dead, he . . . was always the life of the party . . . had such a promising career . . . wasn't he engaged? This is so wrong."
After the Tsunami
I received this beautiful tale of life after tragedy from reader Alison K.:
Last year, as Paramesvaran's three children were getting ready to celebrate his 40th birthday on Dec. 26, the deadly waves struck. Triggered by a magnitude-9 earthquake off Indonesia, the tsunami would leave at least 216,000 people dead or missing in countries around the Indian Ocean.
"I vividly remember how my son Kirubasan woke me up from the bed and wished me a happy birthday. My two daughters brought me tea, wished me many happy returns and kissed me," said Paramesvaran.
"I still remember how my daughters' shrill cries for help were buried by surging water and I vainly tried to save my son, holding him to my chest."
His voice trailed off as he held a framed picture of the three children. The photograph of 12-year-old Rakshanya, 9-year-old Karunya and Kirubasan, 5, was taken just a few days before the tragedy last year.
That fateful Boxing Day morning, Paramesvaran had taken his three children and seven relatives of his wife to a nearby beach for a stroll. They were playing Frisbee when the sea rose.
Paramesvaran had no chance to rescue his daughters. He caught hold of his son for a few seconds before the killer waves wrested the boy away from his clutches. The man saved himself by clinging to a palm tree.
When the water receded, Paramesvaran and his wife Choodamani found the bodies of their children and seven relatives among hundreds of others on the beach.
"I washed and dressed my children's bodies and then dug a grave in the burial ground with my own hands. (With the) whole town being closed, I could not buy flowers or coffins for them. Before placing all three of them in (one) grave, I kissed them and begged forgiveness for not being able to get them a proper burial," said Paramesvaran in a tear-choked voice.
The distraught couple was contemplating suicide when "God asked" them to stop grieving and start a new life with some other poor children who became orphans of the tsunami.
"We were terribly depressed and felt life without our own children was meaningless on this Earth," said Choodamani.
"Then in our neighbourhood, when we saw the miseries of some just-orphaned children and heard a voice from God offering us consolation, we found hope of a new life."
Just a month after the tragedy, the couple brought four orphans to their home. Soon some other children followed from the fishing villages of Nagapattinam, where the tsunami took about 8,000 lives. More than 250 children in the area lost both parents and about 900 a mother or father.
Paramesvaran, an oil technician in a state-owned company, turned the ground floor of his large villa into a home for 16 tsunami orphans and named it Nambikkai ("hands of hope"). Because of strict government rules, he has not been able to adopt the children formally. But Paramesvaran has taken full responsibility for their upkeep, including their schooling.
I can't think of a greater testament to the love for their children, or of the greatness of the human spirit.
Last year, as Paramesvaran's three children were getting ready to celebrate his 40th birthday on Dec. 26, the deadly waves struck. Triggered by a magnitude-9 earthquake off Indonesia, the tsunami would leave at least 216,000 people dead or missing in countries around the Indian Ocean.
"I vividly remember how my son Kirubasan woke me up from the bed and wished me a happy birthday. My two daughters brought me tea, wished me many happy returns and kissed me," said Paramesvaran.
"I still remember how my daughters' shrill cries for help were buried by surging water and I vainly tried to save my son, holding him to my chest."
His voice trailed off as he held a framed picture of the three children. The photograph of 12-year-old Rakshanya, 9-year-old Karunya and Kirubasan, 5, was taken just a few days before the tragedy last year.
That fateful Boxing Day morning, Paramesvaran had taken his three children and seven relatives of his wife to a nearby beach for a stroll. They were playing Frisbee when the sea rose.
Paramesvaran had no chance to rescue his daughters. He caught hold of his son for a few seconds before the killer waves wrested the boy away from his clutches. The man saved himself by clinging to a palm tree.
When the water receded, Paramesvaran and his wife Choodamani found the bodies of their children and seven relatives among hundreds of others on the beach.
"I washed and dressed my children's bodies and then dug a grave in the burial ground with my own hands. (With the) whole town being closed, I could not buy flowers or coffins for them. Before placing all three of them in (one) grave, I kissed them and begged forgiveness for not being able to get them a proper burial," said Paramesvaran in a tear-choked voice.
The distraught couple was contemplating suicide when "God asked" them to stop grieving and start a new life with some other poor children who became orphans of the tsunami.
"We were terribly depressed and felt life without our own children was meaningless on this Earth," said Choodamani.
"Then in our neighbourhood, when we saw the miseries of some just-orphaned children and heard a voice from God offering us consolation, we found hope of a new life."
Just a month after the tragedy, the couple brought four orphans to their home. Soon some other children followed from the fishing villages of Nagapattinam, where the tsunami took about 8,000 lives. More than 250 children in the area lost both parents and about 900 a mother or father.
Paramesvaran, an oil technician in a state-owned company, turned the ground floor of his large villa into a home for 16 tsunami orphans and named it Nambikkai ("hands of hope"). Because of strict government rules, he has not been able to adopt the children formally. But Paramesvaran has taken full responsibility for their upkeep, including their schooling.
I can't think of a greater testament to the love for their children, or of the greatness of the human spirit.
Politics makes strange bedfellows
WASHINGTON - Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith has an unusual bedfellow in the Supreme Court fight over her late husband’s fortune: the Bush administration.
The administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer filed arguments on Smith’s behalf and wants to take part when the case is argued before the justices.
If Pickles didn't know about this, she does now. It's all over the media.
The administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer filed arguments on Smith’s behalf and wants to take part when the case is argued before the justices.
If Pickles didn't know about this, she does now. It's all over the
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Bitter Irony
When I try to post, I now have to fill in a word verification box because:
"
Your blog requires word verification Blogger's spam-prevention robots have detected that your blog has characteristics of a spam blog. (What's a spam blog?) Since you're an actual person reading this, your blog is probably not a spam blog. Automated spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and we sincerely apologize for this false positive.
Before we can turn off mandatory word verification on your posts we'll need to have a human review your blog and verify that it is not a spam blog. Please fill out the form below to get a review.
Find out more about how Blogger is fighting spam blogs."
I should explain for those who don't already know. My original blog -- Greatscat! -- was hijacked/taken over by porno spammers. I tried to get help from Blogger, but still have received only computer generated responses to date now about 2 months later.
"
Your blog requires word verification Blogger's spam-prevention robots have detected that your blog has characteristics of a spam blog. (What's a spam blog?) Since you're an actual person reading this, your blog is probably not a spam blog. Automated spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and we sincerely apologize for this false positive.
Before we can turn off mandatory word verification on your posts we'll need to have a human review your blog and verify that it is not a spam blog. Please fill out the form below to get a review.
Find out more about how Blogger is fighting spam blogs."
I should explain for those who don't already know. My original blog -- Greatscat! -- was hijacked/taken over by porno spammers. I tried to get help from Blogger, but still have received only computer generated responses to date now about 2 months later.
Whiny ass titty babies
Via The Stakeholder:
In a last-ditch effort to secure a speedy trial, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's attorneys asked Friday for the state's highest criminal court to dismiss charges against him or order a lower court to try him immediately.
The money laundering and conspiracy case against the Republican congressman has been on hold while prosecutors appeal a judge's dismissal of some of the charges.
DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin took the case to the all-GOP Texas Court of Criminal Appeals a day after a lower appeals court denied his request that the case be sent back to the trial court or expedited through the appeals process.
DeLay has been pressing for a quick resolution to his case so he can regain his post as majority leader before his colleagues call for new leadership elections next month.
The congressman is accused of illegally funneling corporate campaign contributions to GOP candidates for the state Legislature. Under Republican House rules, he was forced to step down when he was indicted in September.
DeGuerin said he asked the criminal appeals court for an expedited ruling, which he speculated could come as early as Tuesday.
If the justices decline to intervene, DeLay will have to wait for a ruling from the Third Court of Appeals, which could take months.
In his request, DeGuerin said Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is deliberately holding up DeLay's effort to clear his name and hurting DeLay's constituents and fellow GOP lawmakers.
"The business of the United States Congress has been adversely affected," he said.
As jesselee said: "It's true. Medicaid and student loans almost didn't even get cut -- how would Earle have felt then? Has he no conscience?"
In a last-ditch effort to secure a speedy trial, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's attorneys asked Friday for the state's highest criminal court to dismiss charges against him or order a lower court to try him immediately.
The money laundering and conspiracy case against the Republican congressman has been on hold while prosecutors appeal a judge's dismissal of some of the charges.
DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin took the case to the all-GOP Texas Court of Criminal Appeals a day after a lower appeals court denied his request that the case be sent back to the trial court or expedited through the appeals process.
DeLay has been pressing for a quick resolution to his case so he can regain his post as majority leader before his colleagues call for new leadership elections next month.
The congressman is accused of illegally funneling corporate campaign contributions to GOP candidates for the state Legislature. Under Republican House rules, he was forced to step down when he was indicted in September.
DeGuerin said he asked the criminal appeals court for an expedited ruling, which he speculated could come as early as Tuesday.
If the justices decline to intervene, DeLay will have to wait for a ruling from the Third Court of Appeals, which could take months.
In his request, DeGuerin said Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is deliberately holding up DeLay's effort to clear his name and hurting DeLay's constituents and fellow GOP lawmakers.
"The business of the United States Congress has been adversely affected," he said.
As jesselee said: "It's true. Medicaid and student loans almost didn't even get cut -- how would Earle have felt then? Has he no conscience?"
Friday, December 23, 2005
Imagine Nixon with the capability to spy on the entire Planet.
Today's Times:
Since the disclosure last week of the N.S.A.'s domestic surveillance program, President Bush and his senior aides have stressed that his executive order allowing eavesdropping without warrants was limited to the monitoring of international phone and e-mail communications involving people with known links to Al Qaeda.
What has not been publicly acknowledged is that N.S.A. technicians, besides actually eavesdropping on specific conversations, have combed through large volumes of phone and Internet traffic in search of patterns that might point to terrorism suspects. Some officials describe the program as a large data-mining operation.
. . .
Several officials said that after President Bush's order authorizing the N.S.A. program, senior government officials arranged with officials of some of the nation's largest telecommunications companies to gain access to switches that act as gateways at the borders between the United States' communications networks and international networks. The identities of the corporations involved could not be determined.
The switches are some of the main arteries for moving voice and some Internet traffic into and out of the United States, and, with the globalization of the telecommunications industry in recent years, many international-to-international calls are also routed through such American switches.
One outside expert on communications privacy who previously worked at the N.S.A. said that to exploit its technological capabilities, the American government had in the last few years been quietly encouraging the telecommunications industry to increase the amount of international traffic that is routed through American-based switches.
The growth of that transit traffic had become a major issue for the intelligence community, officials say, because it had not been fully addressed by 1970's-era laws and regulations governing the N.S.A. Now that foreign calls were being routed through switches on American soil, some judges and law enforcement officials regarded eavesdropping on those calls as a possible violation of those decades-old restrictions, including the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which requires court-approved warrants for domestic surveillance.
The internets have become a possible weapon of mass destruction for possibly the most paranoid President ever. It's quite possible that virtually everyone is being listened to, and we all know that too often the most innocent words can be interpreted to mean something other than their original intent. Aside from the many levels of wrong in this whole scenario is the chance to abuse -- for lack of a better word for a program of such dubious legality -- thats only alleged purpose is to track terrorists.
Who thinks for a moment now that say communications within the Fitzgerald investigations are 'safe'?
Since the disclosure last week of the N.S.A.'s domestic surveillance program, President Bush and his senior aides have stressed that his executive order allowing eavesdropping without warrants was limited to the monitoring of international phone and e-mail communications involving people with known links to Al Qaeda.
What has not been publicly acknowledged is that N.S.A. technicians, besides actually eavesdropping on specific conversations, have combed through large volumes of phone and Internet traffic in search of patterns that might point to terrorism suspects. Some officials describe the program as a large data-mining operation.
. . .
Several officials said that after President Bush's order authorizing the N.S.A. program, senior government officials arranged with officials of some of the nation's largest telecommunications companies to gain access to switches that act as gateways at the borders between the United States' communications networks and international networks. The identities of the corporations involved could not be determined.
The switches are some of the main arteries for moving voice and some Internet traffic into and out of the United States, and, with the globalization of the telecommunications industry in recent years, many international-to-international calls are also routed through such American switches.
One outside expert on communications privacy who previously worked at the N.S.A. said that to exploit its technological capabilities, the American government had in the last few years been quietly encouraging the telecommunications industry to increase the amount of international traffic that is routed through American-based switches.
The growth of that transit traffic had become a major issue for the intelligence community, officials say, because it had not been fully addressed by 1970's-era laws and regulations governing the N.S.A. Now that foreign calls were being routed through switches on American soil, some judges and law enforcement officials regarded eavesdropping on those calls as a possible violation of those decades-old restrictions, including the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which requires court-approved warrants for domestic surveillance.
The internets have become a possible weapon of mass destruction for possibly the most paranoid President ever. It's quite possible that virtually everyone is being listened to, and we all know that too often the most innocent words can be interpreted to mean something other than their original intent. Aside from the many levels of wrong in this whole scenario is the chance to abuse -- for lack of a better word for a program of such dubious legality -- thats only alleged purpose is to track terrorists.
Who thinks for a moment now that say communications within the Fitzgerald investigations are 'safe'?
Our Tax Dollars at Work
Laura Bush is shown the White House gingerbread house by White House pastry chef Thaddeus DuBois, on display in the State Dining Room.
[WhiteHouse Photo: Shealah Craighead]
Home is where you pitch your Tent.
December 23, 2005 As winter approaches, many Hurricane Katrina victims are still homeless. Here, Deborah Lewis stands outside of a tent she shares with her mother and a friend. The tents are set up in long, straight rows, and distinguished only by addresses painted on their exteriors.
(Photo: Ozier Muhammad / The New York Times)
Troop Withdrawal a Farce
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld announced Friday that the number of U.S. combat troops in Iraq would be reduced by about 7,000 early next year.
Rumsfeld said the long-anticipated "adjustment" was made possible by political progress demonstrated in the country's heavily attended and largely peaceful elections last week and the development of Iraq's U.S.-trained police and army.
However once you get past the triumphant sounding declaration, the truth still stares you in the face:
The troop reduction, which will amount to just over 5 percent of the roughly 138,000 U.S. combat forces, will be accomplished by diverting two brigades set to deploy to Iraq.
The Defense Department later announced that the troops affected by the new staffing order would be portions of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kan., which had been scheduled to deploy to Iraq. Some members of that division, however, still will go to Iraq to conduct missions such as training Iraqi security forces. The 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division, based in Baumholder, Germany, will remain in Kuwait as a call-forward force instead of moving into Iraq. Officials will determine when that brigade can return home based on the situation developing in Iraq, the military said.
This is by no means bringing a single soldier home, nor is it even a guarantee that they will not all end up in Iraq.
Merry Christmas, indeedy.
Rumsfeld said the long-anticipated "adjustment" was made possible by political progress demonstrated in the country's heavily attended and largely peaceful elections last week and the development of Iraq's U.S.-trained police and army.
However once you get past the triumphant sounding declaration, the truth still stares you in the face:
The troop reduction, which will amount to just over 5 percent of the roughly 138,000 U.S. combat forces, will be accomplished by diverting two brigades set to deploy to Iraq.
The Defense Department later announced that the troops affected by the new staffing order would be portions of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kan., which had been scheduled to deploy to Iraq. Some members of that division, however, still will go to Iraq to conduct missions such as training Iraqi security forces. The 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division, based in Baumholder, Germany, will remain in Kuwait as a call-forward force instead of moving into Iraq. Officials will determine when that brigade can return home based on the situation developing in Iraq, the military said.
This is by no means bringing a single soldier home, nor is it even a guarantee that they will not all end up in Iraq.
Merry Christmas, indeedy.
Athens
A young boy is reflected in a Christmas ball in central Athens today. The city has planned a series of festivities for Christmas and New Year's Eve, including the launching of 2006 fireworks over the ancient Acropolis.
(AP Photo)
Anapolis
A young girl looked at ornaments in Annapolis, Md., today. Analysts are calling for this to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year as consumers look to get their last-minute shopping done.
(AFP Photo)
New Orleans
A sign hung in a window display today in the French Quarter of New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
(Getty Images Photo / Ethan Miller)
South Korea
Postmen dressed as Santa Claus on delivery bikes waved before leaving to deliver letters in Seoul, South Korea, today.
(AP Photo)
Sarajevo
Volunteers acted in a live nativity scene in downtown Sarajevo today. The city celebrates holidays of all four religions present in Bosnia - Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Islam, and Judaism.
(AP Photo)
Baghdad
An employee put Christmas trees outside his shop in Baghdad, Iraq, today. Christians are believed to make up just 3 percent of Iraq's 26 million people.
(AP Photo)
Bethlehem
A Palestinian man dressed as Santa Claus pinched the chin of a girl after giving her a gift at the Bethlehem Peace Center today. Thousands of Christians are expected to descend on the birth town of Jesus Christ over the weekend to celebrate Christmas.
(AFP Photo)
Around the World
A Christmas tree sat in front of the GUM department store in Moscow's Red Square today. Christmas falls on Jan. 7 for Orthodox Christians who use the old Julian calendar instead of the 16th-century Gregorian calendar.
(AP Photo)
A Clear and Present Danger
When he wasn't busy trying to take away a woman's right to have control over her own body, Samuel Alito had other goals that Bush would admire:
Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito defended the right of government officials to order domestic wiretaps when he worked for the Reagan Justice Department, documents released Friday show.
Let's toss this wingnut with the bad combover back into the pits.
Atrios.blogspot.com
You can never be sure when it might not be safe to have liquids in your mouth when you go to read there.
You know it ain't Easy
Sales of new homes plunged last month by 11.3 percent. That's the largest drop in nearly 12 years, and provides more evidence that the red-hot housing market is Cooling as mortgage interest rates continued to rise.
Somehow, I imagine the repubs will continue to blame Bill Clinton for things such as this rather than finally long for those 8 years of peace and prosperity.
Somehow, I imagine the repubs will continue to blame Bill Clinton for things such as this rather than finally long for those 8 years of peace and prosperity.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
7 Stuff
Well, I've been tagged by KenoshaKid *and* Eli of MultiMedium to answer these seven-y things, and I have no idea what I'm going to say. So I'll just start typing and hope some magic happens... and yes, I'm copying Eli's format, Feh!
Seven Things To Do Before I Die
1. Attend one of the Eschacon get-togethers.
2. Watch the Bush impeachment proceedings on television.
3. Send religious pamphlets to Tom DeLay whilst he's in prison.
4. Convince Atrios to blogroll my new blog being's as he blogrolled the old one and all that shouldn't be THAT MUCH to ask before I go and bloody die, now should it?!?
5. Convince the media that Ann Coulter shouldn't be seen *or* heard.
6. Remember to ask Eli why in the name JeebusChristmas he would want to make a milkshake out of a perfectly good avacado.
7. Watch Rick Santorum fade away into obscurity.
Seven Things I Cannot Do
1. Kill the ugly shrub in the backyard.
2. Eat 'fast' food.
3. Live without caffeine.
4. Wear the color green.
5. Organize my home office as much as my work office.
6. Fall asleep without music.
7. Stand on my head.
Seven Things That Attract Me To... Blogging
1. Fame.
2. Fortune.
3. It's free.
4. The need to spew random thoughts into the air.
5. Sense of community.
6. Delusional vanity.
7. The hope that I might someday come up with an idea that helps the Democratic party turn itself around and start kicking some ass. (See: Vanity, delusional.)
Seven Things I Say Most Often
1. "Oy."
2. "Heh."
3. "gotdamn."
4. "Is it just me, or..."
5. "Jeebus christ on a cracker."
6. "I am your father, Luke."
7. "We don't know what the fuck we're doing here, but we look marvelous doing it dahling!"
Seven Books That I Love
1. The Bible [Shut up!]
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. Flowers for Algernon
4. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
5. Rachel and her Children
6. Angela's Ashes
7. America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
Seven Movies That I Watch Over And Over Again
1. Monty Python anything
2. All the Christmas classics at holiday time
3. Wizard of Oz
4. Fried Green Tomatoes
5. A Beautiful Mind
6. The Star Wars movies
7. Boys on the Side
Seven People That I Want To Join In Too
1. Grace Nearing of Scriptoids
2. The Squirrel
3. Lynne, BigFatLiberal
4. StealthBadger
5. KC of RoguePlanet
6. EconAtheist
7. Ava of PeaceTakesCourage
Seven Things To Do Before I Die
1. Attend one of the Eschacon get-togethers.
2. Watch the Bush impeachment proceedings on television.
3. Send religious pamphlets to Tom DeLay whilst he's in prison.
4. Convince Atrios to blogroll my new blog being's as he blogrolled the old one and all that shouldn't be THAT MUCH to ask before I go and bloody die, now should it?!?
5. Convince the media that Ann Coulter shouldn't be seen *or* heard.
6. Remember to ask Eli why in the name JeebusChristmas he would want to make a milkshake out of a perfectly good avacado.
7. Watch Rick Santorum fade away into obscurity.
Seven Things I Cannot Do
1. Kill the ugly shrub in the backyard.
2. Eat 'fast' food.
3. Live without caffeine.
4. Wear the color green.
5. Organize my home office as much as my work office.
6. Fall asleep without music.
7. Stand on my head.
Seven Things That Attract Me To... Blogging
1. Fame.
2. Fortune.
3. It's free.
4. The need to spew random thoughts into the air.
5. Sense of community.
6. Delusional vanity.
7. The hope that I might someday come up with an idea that helps the Democratic party turn itself around and start kicking some ass. (See: Vanity, delusional.)
Seven Things I Say Most Often
1. "Oy."
2. "Heh."
3. "gotdamn."
4. "Is it just me, or..."
5. "Jeebus christ on a cracker."
6. "I am your father, Luke."
7. "We don't know what the fuck we're doing here, but we look marvelous doing it dahling!"
Seven Books That I Love
1. The Bible [Shut up!]
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. Flowers for Algernon
4. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
5. Rachel and her Children
6. Angela's Ashes
7. America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
Seven Movies That I Watch Over And Over Again
1. Monty Python anything
2. All the Christmas classics at holiday time
3. Wizard of Oz
4. Fried Green Tomatoes
5. A Beautiful Mind
6. The Star Wars movies
7. Boys on the Side
Seven People That I Want To Join In Too
1. Grace Nearing of Scriptoids
2. The Squirrel
3. Lynne, BigFatLiberal
4. StealthBadger
5. KC of RoguePlanet
6. EconAtheist
7. Ava of PeaceTakesCourage
2005 Misinformer of the Year Award
Media Matters is going to announce the winner of the 2005 Misinformer of the Year tomorrow. One of the following three is the winner:
+ Brit Hume
+ Chris Matthews
+ Robert Novak
Predictions?
+ Brit Hume
+ Chris Matthews
+ Robert Novak
Predictions?
From my earlier thread on Dumb Quotes of '05
"You simply get chills every time you see these poor individuals...many of these people, almost all of them that we see are so poor and they are so black, and this is going to raise lots of questions for people who are watching this story unfold." —CNN's Wolf Blitzer, on New Orleans' hurricane evacuees
Click anywhere on the quote to see the video.
Click anywhere on the quote to see the video.
Thought for the day.
Yes, the good Prior Aelred is co-blogging today, and offers this thought for the day:
Anthony DeMello has a great little parable about a pious woman who
attends mass daily in her little village church. One day, she comes to
the doors of the church only to find them locked; she looks and sees a
note tacked to the door, with the messsage, "I'm out there".
Thank-you kindly, Prior. Keep 'em coming. :)
Anthony DeMello has a great little parable about a pious woman who
attends mass daily in her little village church. One day, she comes to
the doors of the church only to find them locked; she looks and sees a
note tacked to the door, with the messsage, "I'm out there".
Thank-you kindly, Prior. Keep 'em coming. :)
"I know you want your legs back, but I want my 90% Approval rating Back."
[REUTERS/Paul Morse/The White House/Handout]
A note about this photo -- that's the young soldier's mother on the left wearing what appears to be hospital isolation garb -- yet Bush isn't wearing any. I'll let you draw your own conclusions, if any. Perhaps any readers with medical backgrounds would care to comment?
Fuck the poor, elderly, college students, and law enforcement . . .
Via The Stakeholder:
Channel 9 has discovered that taxpayers have spent more than a quarter of a million dollars in the past six months mailing out brochures for two Central Florida lawmakers.
Keller's chief of staff was unapologetic about the cost of the brochures, even when other Florida congressmen spend far less on mailers.
Keller has kept the post office busy in 2005. His office mailed out 10 brochures to inform registered voters, letting them know he was "cutting wasteful spending" and "working to make sure Central Florida receives its fair share of tax dollars."
According to records just released to Channel 9, in six months time, Keller managed to spend $115,000 on printing and postage, more than any other of the 25 congressmen from Florida.
Brown-Waite came in a very close second, spending nearly the same amount. She represents part of south Lake County.
But many other Florida congressmen were far more frugal. Ten of them spent less than $15,000 on mailers. One spent only $1,300.
Yeah, cut that 'wasteful' spending, and funnel the cash into re-electing selfish, hypocritical repubs. Good luck with that strategy against your Dem contenders in '06.
Channel 9 has discovered that taxpayers have spent more than a quarter of a million dollars in the past six months mailing out brochures for two Central Florida lawmakers.
Keller's chief of staff was unapologetic about the cost of the brochures, even when other Florida congressmen spend far less on mailers.
Keller has kept the post office busy in 2005. His office mailed out 10 brochures to inform registered voters, letting them know he was "cutting wasteful spending" and "working to make sure Central Florida receives its fair share of tax dollars."
According to records just released to Channel 9, in six months time, Keller managed to spend $115,000 on printing and postage, more than any other of the 25 congressmen from Florida.
Brown-Waite came in a very close second, spending nearly the same amount. She represents part of south Lake County.
But many other Florida congressmen were far more frugal. Ten of them spent less than $15,000 on mailers. One spent only $1,300.
Yeah, cut that 'wasteful' spending, and funnel the cash into re-electing selfish, hypocritical repubs. Good luck with that strategy against your Dem contenders in '06.
Fitzmas is Coming!
Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under indictment for fraud in South Florida, is expected to complete a plea agreement in the Miami criminal case.
[Another tip o' the hat to Prior Aelred]
[Another tip o' the hat to Prior Aelred]
Pelosi Hits 'em with a Chair!
Via Kos on the budget cuts:
Furthermore, Democrats were able to force changes to the legislation, requiring the House to reconsider the legislation. The House is in recess, and while Republicans would love to approve the cuts via unanimous consent, Pelosi won't let them. She's forcing a recorded vote.
Now remember, Republicans are afraid to bring the House back in session because it could force a leadership fight. It's the reason Hastert is keeping the House shut down until late January rather than early in the new year as is the usual custom. So it looks like the cuts are on hold for at least a month.
It also means that some endangered Republicans could be put on the spot. The cuts passed the house by six votes. Six Democrats and 10 Republicans missed the vote. Nine Republicans voted against the cuts. Of the Republicans who didn't vote, at least one is in a dogfight of a reelection -- Hostettler in Indiana's bloody eight.
Time to contact the repub leaders from your state! [ALL the Dems voted against these cuts.]
[Hat tip to Prior Aelred!]
Furthermore, Democrats were able to force changes to the legislation, requiring the House to reconsider the legislation. The House is in recess, and while Republicans would love to approve the cuts via unanimous consent, Pelosi won't let them. She's forcing a recorded vote.
Now remember, Republicans are afraid to bring the House back in session because it could force a leadership fight. It's the reason Hastert is keeping the House shut down until late January rather than early in the new year as is the usual custom. So it looks like the cuts are on hold for at least a month.
It also means that some endangered Republicans could be put on the spot. The cuts passed the house by six votes. Six Democrats and 10 Republicans missed the vote. Nine Republicans voted against the cuts. Of the Republicans who didn't vote, at least one is in a dogfight of a reelection -- Hostettler in Indiana's bloody eight.
Time to contact the repub leaders from your state! [ALL the Dems voted against these cuts.]
[Hat tip to Prior Aelred!]
Even Nixon would be Shocked
While the Department of Homeland Security hasn't been able to quite figure out what to do with themselves -- besides get color-coded, and spiffy new uniforms -- Tom DeLay has had a few little things for them to do. Spy on Democrats. Larisa has the details Here at HuffPost.
Priorities
Leonard Thomas, 23, cries after a SWAT team burst into his family's flooded home on Monday. Neighbors had reported that they were squatting in the house in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but the authorities left after his family proved they owned the house.
[PHOTO: AP]
I'm not certain how I missed this outrageous event during the Katrina debacle, perhaps because there was so much to be outraged about or the fact that this was in a newspaper in Taiwan.
Whilst I know most of you don't need this spelled out for you, for the .05% who do -- our government couldn't save the poor and the black victims of Katrina -- but by Jeebus they had SWAT teams handy in case of black 'squatters.'
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Action Alert
It's come to light that Representative Pete Hoekstra, R., MI 2nd District has participated in 'at least 6 briefings' regarding the illegal wiretapping of American citizens by the NSA since 2004 in his capacity as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. He's 'OK' with violating your Constitutional rights.
It's time to do some letter writing, and ask Mr. Hoekstra -- why -- when wiretaps are conducted around the country every day, the FISA Court alone approves something like a half a dozen a day in highly classified national security or espionage related cases, why the president decided to go around the normal rules that govern such surveillance, why he chose to make himself above the law. And how can Mr. Holland be 'OK' with that.
While Rep. Hoekstra states that he is 'too busy' to respond to anyone but the residents of the 2nd District, he can be contacted by one and all:
District Offices
Holland
184 South River Avenue
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 395-0030
Fax: (616) 395-0271
Muskegon
900 3rd Street, Suite 203
Muskegon, MI 49440
(231) 722-8386
Fax: (231) 722-0176
Cadillac
201 1/2 North Mitchell Street
Cadillac, MI 49601
(231) 775-0050
Fax: (231) 775-0298
Washington, D.C. Office
Washington, D.C.
2234 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-4401
Fax: (202) 226-0779
Email Here
"Are there no torture Chambers?"
"Are there no secret prisons? If the poor would rather die than go there, then they'd better hurry up and do it and decrease the surplus population!" Ebeneezer Cheney says "Fuck the poor. Hard."
Impeach. Remove. Jail.
Does this mean we can just impeach the whole bloody lot of 'em at once?
And no, I won't mind resetting the clock on my countdown to Bush's last day at all.
And no, I won't mind resetting the clock on my countdown to Bush's last day at all.
Out in the Cold
Thousands trudged across the Brooklyn Bridge in frigid weather yesterday and others waited hours for commuter trains after a strike halted New York subways and buses. A judge imposed a $1 million-a-day fine on the transit union. (Nicholas Roberts/ AFP/ Getty Images)
Celebrating Freedom from a Tyranical Dictator
An Iraqi resident lies unconscious in a hospital after he being wounded during mortar attack by insurgents in the neighbourhood of Mahmodia district in Baghdad December 21, 2005. The trial of Saddam Hussein on charges of crimes against humanity resumed on Wednesday and the former Iraqi president, who boycotted the previous session after telling judges to 'go to hell', appeared in the dock. [REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani]
To everything spin, spin, spin
"You know, it's not an accident that we haven't been hit in four years."
-- Dick Cheney directly linking the nation's safety since the 9/11 attacks to Bush's illegal wiretapping program.
But, I thought we were fighting terror over there so we didn't have to fight it over here?
-- Dick Cheney directly linking the nation's safety since the 9/11 attacks to Bush's illegal wiretapping program.
But, I thought we were fighting terror over there so we didn't have to fight it over here?
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Let's play Dolls
"The girls we spoke to see Barbie torture as a legitimate play activity, and see the torture as a 'cool' activity," said Agnes Nairn, one of the University of Bath researchers. "The types of mutilation are varied and creative, and range from removing the hair to decapitation, burning, breaking and even microwaving."
Researchers from the university's marketing and psychology departments questioned 100 children about their attitudes to a range of products as part of a study on branding. They found Barbie provoked the strongest reaction, with youngsters reporting "rejection, hatred and violence," Nairn said.
Yeah, I've heard all the allegedly feminist rants that Barbie is responsible for everything from low-self esteem in girls, to the downfall of the Roman Empire. But, gotdamn, when I was a kid we had to take care of our toys. Or at least try not to break them if possible. There were various rights of passage at different ages, and none of them involved blowing anything up in a microwave.
Am I getting really old, or are children getting to be really twisted? Or is it something else? Answer carefully, people!
Prisoner Exchange?
The German authorities confirmed on Tuesday the release of a Hezbollah member who had been serving a life sentence in prison in the country for hijacking a jet of Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 1985.
A spokeswoman for the Frankfurt prosecutor's office confirmed that Mohammed Ali Hamadi, wanted by the United States for killing a U.S. Navy diver, was released from jail last Thursday, the German news agency DPA reported.
The timing raised speculation that his release was connected with that of German archeologist and aid worker Susanne Osthoff by Iraqi kidnappers on Sunday, but a German Foreign Office spokesman denied it.
I rather doubt this came up during Condi's recent visit abroad. Perhaps she didn't impress our foreign neighbors as much as she did herself.
A spokeswoman for the Frankfurt prosecutor's office confirmed that Mohammed Ali Hamadi, wanted by the United States for killing a U.S. Navy diver, was released from jail last Thursday, the German news agency DPA reported.
The timing raised speculation that his release was connected with that of German archeologist and aid worker Susanne Osthoff by Iraqi kidnappers on Sunday, but a German Foreign Office spokesman denied it.
I rather doubt this came up during Condi's recent visit abroad. Perhaps she didn't impress our foreign neighbors as much as she did herself.
Found on road Dead.
An Iraqi hospital worker moves a body from the back of a truck toward the morgue in Falluja, Iraq, Tuesday Dec. 20, 2005. American troops found Tuesday 14 decaying corpses on the outskirts of Falluja, some of them handcuffed and allegedly tortured, an official from Falluja hospital said.(AP Photo/Kadir Saadi)
High Flight
WaPo:
A federal judge has resigned from the court that oversees government surveillance in intelligence cases in protest of President Bush's secret authorization of a domestic spying program, according to two sources.
U.S. District Judge James Robertson, one of 11 members of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, sent a letter to Chief Justice John D. Roberts Jr. late Monday notifying him of his resignation without providing an explanation.
Two associates familiar with his decision said yesterday that Robertson privately expressed deep concern that the warrantless surveillance program authorized by the president in 2001 was legally questionable and may have tainted the FISA court's work.
Robertson, who was appointed to the federal bench in Washington by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and was later selected by then-Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist to serve on the FISA court, declined to comment when reached at his office late yesterday.
Next?
A federal judge has resigned from the court that oversees government surveillance in intelligence cases in protest of President Bush's secret authorization of a domestic spying program, according to two sources.
U.S. District Judge James Robertson, one of 11 members of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, sent a letter to Chief Justice John D. Roberts Jr. late Monday notifying him of his resignation without providing an explanation.
Two associates familiar with his decision said yesterday that Robertson privately expressed deep concern that the warrantless surveillance program authorized by the president in 2001 was legally questionable and may have tainted the FISA court's work.
Robertson, who was appointed to the federal bench in Washington by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and was later selected by then-Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist to serve on the FISA court, declined to comment when reached at his office late yesterday.
Next?
Weekend Update with Tina Fey
Tina Fey, from SNL's Weekend Update, reports on George Bush's take on the economy and other issues.
Screams in the Night
Abramoff just rolled:
Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under criminal investigation, has been discussing with prosecutors a deal that would grant him a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against former political and business associates, people with detailed knowledge of the case say, The New York Times will report.
I'll sleep tonight dreaming of what Congress will look like after he finishes spilling his guts. I'll have a blue Christmas without youuuu . . .
Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under criminal investigation, has been discussing with prosecutors a deal that would grant him a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against former political and business associates, people with detailed knowledge of the case say, The New York Times will report.
I'll sleep tonight dreaming of what Congress will look like after he finishes spilling his guts. I'll have a blue Christmas without youuuu . . .
Whole lotta terroristing goin' On.
Yesterday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said President Bush’s warrantless spying activies were part of a “very concentrated, very limited program.”
But during today’s press briefing, Fox News White House correspondent Wendell Goler stated his “understanding” that the program was used “18,000-plus times.” Scott McClellan refused to confirm or deny Goler’s numbers:
GOLER: It’s our understanding this power has been used 18,000-plus times. Are we to presume that there are that many al Qaeda agents in this country?
MR. McCLELLAN: I’m not going to get into talking about more than what we’ve said publicly. That’s getting into more than what we’ve talked about publicly, so I’m not in a position to confirm or deny the numbers that you threw out there.
Continue reading at Think Progress.
But during today’s press briefing, Fox News White House correspondent Wendell Goler stated his “understanding” that the program was used “18,000-plus times.” Scott McClellan refused to confirm or deny Goler’s numbers:
GOLER: It’s our understanding this power has been used 18,000-plus times. Are we to presume that there are that many al Qaeda agents in this country?
MR. McCLELLAN: I’m not going to get into talking about more than what we’ve said publicly. That’s getting into more than what we’ve talked about publicly, so I’m not in a position to confirm or deny the numbers that you threw out there.
Continue reading at Think Progress.
Motion to Censure
Ranking House Judiciary Democrat Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has introduced a motion to censure President Bush and Vice President Cheney for providing misleading information to Congress in advance of the Iraq war, failing to respond to written questions and potential violations of international law, RAW STORY has learned.
The resolutions were quietly introduced Sunday evening along with a third resolution (HR 635) to create a Select Committee to investigate the administration’s intent to go to war prior to congressional authorization. The committee would also be charged with examining manipulation of pre-war intelligence, thwarting Congressional oversight and retaliatory attacks against critics. As part of this resolution, House Judiciary Democrats seek also to explore violations of international law as pertaining to detainee abuse and torture of prisoners of war.
We're not gonna take it anymore.
The resolutions were quietly introduced Sunday evening along with a third resolution (HR 635) to create a Select Committee to investigate the administration’s intent to go to war prior to congressional authorization. The committee would also be charged with examining manipulation of pre-war intelligence, thwarting Congressional oversight and retaliatory attacks against critics. As part of this resolution, House Judiciary Democrats seek also to explore violations of international law as pertaining to detainee abuse and torture of prisoners of war.
We're not gonna take it anymore.
Again, I'm just shocked. Truly.
BP AND EXXON MOBIL were charged by an Alaska state authority with conspiring to withhold natural gas from U.S. markets and reinforce control over North Slope supplies in an effort to drive up prices.
Shocked that anyone charged the motherfuckers for a crime, that is.
Shocked that anyone charged the motherfuckers for a crime, that is.
Cults-N-Kooks
According to Pat Robertson, I 'worship atheism' because I believe in evolution. My pastor will prolly be surprised to hear this.
ROBERTSON: You know, what we have got to recognize just there in this case is that the evolutionists worship atheism. I mean, that's their religion. And evolution becomes their religion. It is a matter of religion. So this is an establishment of religion contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. And the fact that somebody comes along and says, "We are not sure that it's accurate, it's a theory and not a fact" -- how can you say it's a fact? You are talking about 10 to 15 billion years ago. Who was there?
But, I think he also just made a case against creationism. I mean, you're talking about 10 to 15 billion years ago. Who was there?
ROBERTSON: You know, what we have got to recognize just there in this case is that the evolutionists worship atheism. I mean, that's their religion. And evolution becomes their religion. It is a matter of religion. So this is an establishment of religion contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. And the fact that somebody comes along and says, "We are not sure that it's accurate, it's a theory and not a fact" -- how can you say it's a fact? You are talking about 10 to 15 billion years ago. Who was there?
But, I think he also just made a case against creationism. I mean, you're talking about 10 to 15 billion years ago. Who was there?
Bush's worthless speechifying
From the results of the USA Today/CNN Gallop Poll, it doesn't seem all the talk from Bush on Iraq has improved public opinion on the situation. Possibly the most telling of the results like with the results of the public's belief that it is unlikely -- says 63%, unchanged from Nov.'05 -- that Iraq will be able to prevent terrorists from using the country as a base of operations for planning attacks against the United States.
Monday, December 19, 2005
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.
The American Civil Liberties Union charged yesterday that FBI counterterrorism investigators are monitoring domestic U.S. advocacy groups engaged in antiwar, environmental, civil rights and other causes.
The disclosure comes amid recent revelations about the extent of domestic spying by the government after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Those disclosures include the expansion within the United States of military intelligence and databases covering, among others, peace activists; increased use of "national security letters" by the FBI to examine personal records of tens of thousands of citizens; and, most recently, warrantless eavesdropping of overseas telephone calls and e-mails by U.S. citizens suspected of ties to terrorists.
ACLU leaders contend that the memos show that FBI and government Joint Terrorism Task Forces across the country have expanded the definition of domestic terrorism to people who engage in mainstream political activity, including nonviolent protest and civil disobedience.
My mother used to say that as a child she couldn't turn her back on me for a moment, but never in even her wildest dreams would she have imagined that I, too, could be a target for the FBI or NSA.
The disclosure comes amid recent revelations about the extent of domestic spying by the government after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Those disclosures include the expansion within the United States of military intelligence and databases covering, among others, peace activists; increased use of "national security letters" by the FBI to examine personal records of tens of thousands of citizens; and, most recently, warrantless eavesdropping of overseas telephone calls and e-mails by U.S. citizens suspected of ties to terrorists.
ACLU leaders contend that the memos show that FBI and government Joint Terrorism Task Forces across the country have expanded the definition of domestic terrorism to people who engage in mainstream political activity, including nonviolent protest and civil disobedience.
My mother used to say that as a child she couldn't turn her back on me for a moment, but never in even her wildest dreams would she have imagined that I, too, could be a target for the FBI or NSA.
Home is where you park your Ventilator
Home from the war: Alexander Burleson crawls between his father's legs while his mother, Kristi, adjusts Dad's respirator at their home near Springhill, La. During a firefight in Baghdad, a sniper's bullet tore through Burleson's head, leaving him paralyzed.
Dirty Little Secrets
Jonathan Alter: "I learned this week that on December 6, Bush summoned Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger and executive editor Bill Keller to the Oval Office in a futile attempt to talk them out of running the story. The Times will not comment on the meeting,
but one can only imagine the president’s desperation."
If this is true, I'm quite surprised that Bush didn't just go extraordinary rendition on their asses and fly them off to some secret prison until they came to see the error of their ways.
but one can only imagine the president’s desperation."
If this is true, I'm quite surprised that Bush didn't just go extraordinary rendition on their asses and fly them off to some secret prison until they came to see the error of their ways.
Monday, Monday
Three bodies of victims of an attack on the convoy of Baghdad's Deputy Gov. Ziad Tariq, lie in foreground, on stretchers at a hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday Dec. 19, 2005. At rear a fourth body under a blanket is seen, a victim of another attack, a suicide car bomb near a children's hospital, which killed at least two people and wounded 11, including seven policemen, officials said. [AP Photo/Karim Kadim]
Rockefeller reveals sealed July '03 letter to the White House
As the original New York Times article detailing the secretly authorized eavesdropping of the NSA on American citizens stated, reservations about aspects of the program have been expressed by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, the West Virginia Democrat who is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Today, Senator Rockefeller shared a handwritten letter he wrote to the White House back in July of 2003, the day he first learned of the warrentless domestic spying program. Think Progress has the details.
Today, Senator Rockefeller shared a handwritten letter he wrote to the White House back in July of 2003, the day he first learned of the warrentless domestic spying program. Think Progress has the details.
Not the Brightest Bulbs at NBC . . .
Via Media Matters from the 'Liberal' Today Show:
From the December 19 broadcast of NBC's Today:
COURIC: At the same time, Tim, you know, considering the Constitution, the rule of law, is this going to be a case of a debate by legal analysts and constitutional scholars versus Americans, who say civil liberties are important, but we don't want another September 11?
RUSSERT: Exactly right. The court of public opinion and what's going on in Congress.
Repeat Josh Marshall:
"From perusing a few headlines it seems the White House and some editors are taking to arguing that surveillance or domestic wiretapping is necessary for national security, that it saves lives.
Of course, it does. What a stupid thing to say, or for the White House, what a disingenuous thing to say.
Wiretaps are conducted around the country every day. The FISA Court alone approves something like a half a dozen a day in highly classified national security or espionage related cases.
The only issue here is why the president decided to go around the normal rules that govern such surveillance, why he chose to make himself above the law."
From the December 19 broadcast of NBC's Today:
COURIC: At the same time, Tim, you know, considering the Constitution, the rule of law, is this going to be a case of a debate by legal analysts and constitutional scholars versus Americans, who say civil liberties are important, but we don't want another September 11?
RUSSERT: Exactly right. The court of public opinion and what's going on in Congress.
Repeat Josh Marshall:
"From perusing a few headlines it seems the White House and some editors are taking to arguing that surveillance or domestic wiretapping is necessary for national security, that it saves lives.
Of course, it does. What a stupid thing to say, or for the White House, what a disingenuous thing to say.
Wiretaps are conducted around the country every day. The FISA Court alone approves something like a half a dozen a day in highly classified national security or espionage related cases.
The only issue here is why the president decided to go around the normal rules that govern such surveillance, why he chose to make himself above the law."
Harriet, where for art thou?
WASHINGTON -
President Bush brushed aside criticism over his decision to spy on suspected terrorists without court warrants Monday and said he will keep it up "for so long as the nation faces the continuing threat of an enemy that wants to kill American citizens."
"As president of the United States and commander in chief I have the constitutional responsibility and the constitutional authority to protect our country," he said at a year-end White House news conference.
Dub, no matter how many times you use the word 'constitutional' you're still violating the Constitution.
Shouldn't someone be telling him to shut up and let his attorney deal with this? Jeebus Christmas!
President Bush brushed aside criticism over his decision to spy on suspected terrorists without court warrants Monday and said he will keep it up "for so long as the nation faces the continuing threat of an enemy that wants to kill American citizens."
"As president of the United States and commander in chief I have the constitutional responsibility and the constitutional authority to protect our country," he said at a year-end White House news conference.
Dub, no matter how many times you use the word 'constitutional' you're still violating the Constitution.
Shouldn't someone be telling him to shut up and let his attorney deal with this? Jeebus Christmas!
"Don't Despair."
An Iraqi man comforts a woman after a suicide bomb attack against a police colonel in Baghdad, December 19, 2005. [REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber]
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