The world, my country and my state

Tomgram: Michael Klare, The Blowback Effect, 2020
Posted by Michael Klare at 4:10pm, January 5, 2010.



McCain Gets It, Obama Doesn’t
Posted on Jan 6, 2010
Obama and McCain
AP / Haraz N. Ghanbari

Facing off: Sen. John McCain looks on as President Barack Obama meets with members of Congress to discuss immigration last June 25 at the White House.
By Robert Scheer


KPBS discusses the State of the State

update: speech transcript

Privatizing prisons, getting more than 78 cents back for every dollar we send to Washington DC (NM gets back twice what they send to DC) spending more on Universities than we do on prisons and dealing with the 20 billion dollar budget shortfall. I could be wrong, but it sounded like the pensions for State workers will be changed. Hmm, what State pensions? Wall street already got their greedy fucking paws on the State pensions.

American on Purpose

by Craig Ferguson


I am a big fan of Craig Ferguson, I think he's hilarious on The Late Late Show , so I knew it was only a matter of time before I bought and read his autobiography American on Purpose.

It was going to be a gift for my neighbor who recently got her citizenship, but that's not going to work. She's such a foofy girl I think she would act shocked. It's hard to say if she really would be shocked, but I think for her kid's sake I'll get her something pretty and feminine. I don't mean foofy in a negative way, she's really nice, it's just going to be a baffling and miserable shopping trip for me. She's from a country that alcohol is illegal in, and she's still learning English, so the book would probably be a bit baffling to her.



I love the book, Craig Ferguson is really funny, and unlike me, a good writer.

I will probably read "Between the Bridge and the River," by Ferguson also.

Surprise! The Fed says don't blame the Fed

Paul R. La Monica, editor at large
January 4, 2010: 1:15 PM ET


Bwaaaah ha ha ha ha ha hahahahahaha


The Structure of the Federal Reserve System
Responsibilities

Religion sucks #21

UPDATED ON:
Sunday, January 03, 2010
20:57 Mecca time, 17:57 GMT
Egypt court upholds exam veil ban

"The government said it banned the niqab in part because students, male and female, were attending exams disguised as other candidates by wearing a face veil."

Why don't religious zealots have any common sense?

Starz Inside: Unforgettably Evil

Someone asked Javier Bardem who he thought of while trying to find inspiration for the character of Anton in No Country for Old Men ? George Bush. I would love to find the film clip, if there is one.

I liked watching this series of interviews. I never wanted to see the Kill Bill movies and I still don't, but watching this made me decide to stop questioning why Joel and Ethan Cohen and Quentin Tarantino are so popular. They're brilliant. I find most of their work revolting, and somewhat patronizing of their audiences, but they are good at displaying over-the-top characters who can be riveting and horrifying.

Suicide Attack in Pakistan Kills 75

* JANUARY 2, 2010
By ZAHID HUSSAIN

"A suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden truck into a crowd of people gathered to watch a volleyball game in a village in northwest Pakistan, killing at least 75 in an attack seen as a retaliation against locals who had formed a progovernment militia.

The attack -- in an area near South Waziristan, a center of Taliban and al Qaeda activities..."

Wow. The local people are already working with the government, do these turds think that killing 75 people is going to endear them to the locals?

AlQaeda and Taliban ain't the sharpest tools in the shed are they?


Pakistan suicide bombing toll nears 100
By Mark Magnier and Zulfiqar Ali
January 2, 2010 | 7:13 a.m.

Fed Judge Gives Blackwater Huge New Year's Gift, Dismisses All Charges In Iraq Massacre

By Jeremy Scahill

"...In a memo defending his opinion, Urbina cited a similar rationale used in the dismissal of charges against Iran-Contra figure Oliver North—namely that the government violated the rights of the Blackwater men..."



I'm sure that Jeremy Scahill's mouth is not hanging open in stunned silence. Mine is. The 14 innocent Iraqis the Blackwater assholes slaughtered in this particular incident right's weren't violated, right?

*sigh*

This decade sucked. Big-time. I'm really glad it's almost over. You'd think that after a year of Fucktard (43) being gone I'd hate him a little less, right? Nope, we ain't never getting out from under the mess that retard made.

Happy Fucking New Year.

Water is important and investors know it

Cookie Jill brought my attention to this
State bond lets firms profit from water
Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau
Sunday, December 27, 2009


Flow

"From both local an global perspectives, this documentary examines the harsh realities behind the mounting water crisis Learn how politics, pollution and human rights are intertwined in this important issue that affects every being on Earth. With water drying up around he world and the future of human lives at stake, the film urges a call to arms before more of our precious natural resource evaporates."



Blue Gold: World Water Wars.

The narration in Blue Gold is done by Malcolm McDowell who is extremely good in Tank Girl.

One of my favorite films. I'll bet the French hate Blue Gold.

As Foreclosure Nightmares Increase, Will More Homeowners Pay Off Their Bankers in Violence?

By Scott Thill, AlterNet. Posted November 9, 2009.

The economic crisis revealed late-capitalism's central offense: Human beings are being transparently treated if they were mere transactions. And they're going postal over it.

...their attack on Dean and Garcia crossed a line laid down by the rule of law. But that rule, as everyone from voters to homeowners to municipalities and more have come to fully realize during the last decade, rarely applies in both directions...(.Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:24pm EDT)

Yup, I figured stuff like this would happen, I just hadn't heard about this case of torture in LA. Now can we please investigate the abuses of the wealthy and powerful? Starting with the Federal Reserve and the structural similarities to the Western European Banking system we fought and died to prevent during the Revolutionary War?

Yemen is the new Afghanistan

Abdulmutallab, A Banker's Son Turned Muslim Radical
Family Says Accused Northwest Bomber Ceased All Contact Months Ago
By RICHARD ESPOSITO and BRIAN ROSS
Dec. 28, 2009

{..."The Obama administration has been admitting lately, that Yemen is the new Afghanistan," said Clarke. "It is the new sanctuary. The new al Qaeda base, where people from around the world, who want to be trained are sent. No longer to Afghanistan, but to Yemen."...}

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

New?

Osama bin Laden's father is from Yemen.

Crap-ola. The whole "War on Terror' is going to be the same miserable failure that the "War on Drugs" is, and for the same reasons. The reasons for terrorism are not addressed, just like the reasons for the drug trade, the sex trade, the human traffiking are not addressed.

A) A grossly unfair economic system tilted in favor of developed countries and wealthy banksters.
B) Overpopulation stressing availability of needed natural resources for development.
C) Poverty, ignorance and desperation versus advanced military weapons systems.

Merry Christmas

Whew. House is trashed. Love it. We have a tradition of having a paper fight. You gotta grab your gifts and scootch them into a corner or an out of the way place or they end up in the paper fight. None of that staid, fussy ''wrap goes in this bag and ribbons go in this bag'' to be put on a gift next year, we go for it. I'm pooped and ready for a nap, but I have way too much coffee on board.

My sister is awesome. I almost lost it when I realized she gave money for tree seedlings through Heifer International.

Shaping up and getting ready

Shopping √
Wrapping √
Tree done √
Outside lights √
Xmas Eve dinner shopping √
Guests RSVPd √

Duuuuuuuuuuude.

Ready for take-off.

I think I'll paint my nails tonight.

Learning new things

Tamales. Pollo con mole (chicken, vegetables and mole). Puerco (pork with chile colorado). Dulce (sweet masa with nuts, raisins and sprinkles). My kid brought home the industrial dorm germs from hell so I am sick. I don't touch the tamales once they are done. I think this batch will bring the total to approximately 340, but I'm so delirious I'm not sure. I never knew what the big deal was about tamales. Now I know. I snuck into the kitchen at 4 Am the other night and I must have looked like a starving street child as I scarfed that thing over the kitchen sink.

My friend Annie is a great teacher, and she's quite amused at my efforts. Needless to say I fear I may never be an expert at the whole spreading the masa on the corn husk thing. No doubt I look as doofy as I feel, but laughter is good.

40 qt. tamale steamer

Hired by Customs, but Working for Mexican Cartels

WAR WITHOUT BORDERS
By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD
Published: December 17, 2009

Just another example of how retarded the whole War on Drugs is.

Chasin the Xmas blues away

Ok ladies and gents here's the scoop. Christmastime sucked big time at the old Nunya house when she was growing up. She's sort of tried to change some things so that it didn't suck for her kid. Wasn't always successful but she's here to tell ya that this year she's going to try even harder and is in the process of letting Anne's irrepressible holiday cheer teach 'ol Nunya some newer, more improved tricks.

Nunya is going to learn how to make tamales this year, and food always makes Nunya happy :). Even more important Annie is going to teach Nunya how to spread holiday cheer instead of being Grinchina.

So wish Nunya luck, new adventures are always a little scary, but it's off to a bright new world, eh? Nunya has complete confidence in Annie, who happens to be all that and a bag of chips. Especially when it comes to teaching people how to be cheerful.

There's More to Sex Than a Cum Shot to the Face: What Men Should Unlearn from Hardcore Porn

By Vanessa Richmond, AlterNet. Posted December 12, 2009.

No, porn does not turn men into crazed sex fiends. But it's clear that pornography has affected the way we view -- and have -- sex. Here's how to counter porn's effects.
(click on the title link for the article, and I found the comments there hilariously predictable)

Do I like porn? NO. I never have, I just never felt the need to blog about it before. Am I a prude? No way, not by any means and I never have been. Do I think it is your right to stay deluded (I'm talking to those of you with a penis, who are heterosexual by the way) by enjoying those fantasies? Sure, just don't expect that shit from a real, honest female. If you do, you are not only deluded you are STUPID. You goddamned fucking morons think we like that shit because you saw it in a porn flick? I DON'T want your nasty-ass spooge on my face, it's disgusting to me. AND I don't want my feet wrapped behind my neck, it HURTS. You try it, ya like it?

Get a fucking clue, guys, porn stars get paid to do that shit, and most of the girls are loaded on God only knows what drugs.

And men wonder why women are bitter? Fucking idiots. There are only so many times that women will put up with bad porn sex, and then it's ta-ta dear, go pay a whore, and leave me the hell alone.

Make Love Not Porn

Whack-A-Bankster

An arcade game that allows people to vent their anger at bankers has proved so popular the owner keeps having to replace worn out mallets.

Key provisions of Wall Street regulation bill
By The Associated Press (AP) – 1 day ago

Provisions look pretty useless to me.

Copenhagen and capitalism December 12, 2009
Minqi Li: No legally binding agreement the result of elites seeking short term profits first

You have to watch this!

December 11, 2009

Organizers George Goehl and Heather Booth on turning anger into action.

Howard Zinn
Renowned historian Howard Zinn has chronicled centuries of people's struggles against oppression. He joins Bill Moyers to discuss the voices of today's people — facing big interests' outsized influence — and his new film THE PEOPLE SPEAK.

A Bill Moyers Essay.

I am REALLY going to miss Bill Moyers Journal, but hey - the man deserves to retire sometime.

Spyro Gyra - Shaker Song

Now is it obvious that I love my hometown?

Tiger Woods?

Who cares? I don't get it.

The True Meaning of 2012

Thank you Mr. Perkins. I looked at the trailers for the 2012 movie and couldn't help but wonder if Cusack needed to finance one of his other projects and that's why he did it? The movie looks like utter nonsense. I'm looking forward to the predicted 1000 years of peace.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Movie choices

A feel good movie about helping someone in poverty? (Fiction, hey I like it, and I love Sandra Bullock. Yeah, I know it's sort of based on Michael Oher's life )



Or drive an hour and a half in the rain to get a fucking clue watching a totally depressing documentary?

(Feh, it'll be on Netflix in no time and I know what they are going to say. Frankly it sucks to be an informed American. I wish I could climb back into the warm cocoon of ignorance )

When Saudi Oil Minister Calls Oil Prices 'Perfect', Ladies Better Secure Your Handbags

How many people in the US have no clue how far out of US corporate control the oil industry is and how long that slippage has gone on?

Why has our basic infrastructure never adjusted to that?

Refineries shut down and damaged here in the US.

US Refinery Status: Fire Damages Unit At Husky Ohio Plant

Refineries built in Armenia and Brazil
Armenia
Brazil

Fledgling biofuel industry in the US

Federal Biofuel Awards Made for Green Refinery Projects in 15 States, Including Pilot Plants for Sapphire Energy, BioEnergy Intl.
Bruce V. Bigelow 12/4/09

Dick Durbin Won't Commit To Support Budget For Afghanistan

Shirley Bassey - History Repeating

"Soviet personnel strengths and casualties

Between December 25, 1979 and February 15, 1989, a total of 620,000 soldiers served with the forces in Afghanistan (though there were only 80,000-104,000 serving at one time)...

...The total irrecoverable personnel losses of the Soviet Armed Forces, frontier, and internal security troops came to 14,453. ...

....There were 469,685 sick and wounded, of whom 53,753 or 11.44 percent, were wounded, injured, or sustained concussion and 415,932 (88.56 percent) fell sick....

...Materia­l losses were as follows:[citation needed]

* 451 aircraft (includes 333 helicopters)
* 147 tanks
* 1,314 IFV/APCs
* 433 artillery guns and mortars
* 1,138 radio sets and command vehicles
* 510 engineering vehicles
* 11,369 trucks and petrol tankers...­"
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Aetna Forcing 600,000-Plus To Lose Coverage In Effort To Raise Profits

Aetna makes



"$4 million in profit per day, or almost $400,000 an hour, on average...­.Here are the 2008 total compensation figures for the biggest insurance companies: Aetna, Ronald A. Williams: $24,300,11­2;..."



http://www.prwatch.org/node/8723
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Infrastructure deficit

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Unnnh huh. The road I have to use to get to my house is heavily traveled and crumbling. A police car with flashing lights was parked behind a dangerously elevated piece of concrete surrounding a cast iron sewer cover for at least 5 hours today. Since it is rush hour there is no way I am venturing out to see if the police car is still there or the city maintenance workers (or sub-contractors) are fixing the problem. The city has a $179 million budget deficit.

Next round of cuts? Analysis: Sanders’ Budget Proposes Sweeping Cuts

Senator Sanders unfiltered

I'm still reading

slowly.

Afghanistan is not about terrorism

It's about pipelines. Energy. Who will control and profit from them and the booming Asian economies, legal and illegal?

Shit. Fuck. Goddamnit people.

What

The

Fuck?

Go read Pepe.

Think that Wall Street's ability to screw us all in the ass for their own selfish greed and avarice and the rich's ability to force less fortunate people to fight their wars have nothing in common?

Rinse and repeat the top of this blogpost.

Fuck it, I'm gonna go watch old Dead Like Me shows, or something.

Yay Tweety

Chris Matthews: Dick Cheney is a ‘troll’
By John Byrne
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 -- 9:10 am

This is what happens to you when you execute 4 police officers

Seattle police kill suspect in Tacoma officers' slayings

Huckabee Granted Clemency To Maurice Clemmons, Person Of Interest, In Ambush That Killed 4 Cops
Huckabee Granted Clemency To Maurice Clemmons, Person Of Interest, In Ambush That Killed 4 Cops stumble reddit del.ico.us RSS
AP / Huffington Post
First Posted: 11-29-09 12:54 PM | Updated: 11-30-09 08:55 PM

The system was broken by Ronald Reagan, not Mike Huckabee. This man was mentally ill as a teenager and I don't think stints in our prison system did anything but exacerbate the problems.

"Cuts in funding for mental health services continued throughout the 1980s, with the emphasis being on the provision of services via the private sector... Those without medical insurance frequently did not receive adequate care."

DJ Jaffe
Co-Founder: Treatment Advocacy Center
Posted: December 1, 2009 09:00 AM
Maurice Clemmons: Mental Illness Does Cause Violence