Thunderstorms

Iran: Will Israel start another war?

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:15:29 GMT

As I described in a previous entry here concerning Iran, the war mongering neocons in the United States and Israel believe the time to attack Iran is coming up against some deadlines. The Bush/Cheney regime is over in just one month.

The CBS News video clip above, Israel Rehearses Iran Attack, was published six months ago.

U.S. intelligence analysts say that nearly 100 Israeli warplanes staged a rehearsal air strike against nuclear facilities in Iran. David Martin reports from the Pentagon.

National Security Correspondent David Martin ends his short Pentagon report with these ominous words:

For many countries, choosing between bombing Iran and Iran with a bomb is a tough call, but there's no doubt what choice Israel would make.

The following interview with PNAC neocon and Bush's controversial appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, was conducted during the Republican National Convention, three months ago.

The Real News Network

While John Bolton is no longer actively serving as Ambassador to anything currently, he certainly can speak as an authority on the mindset of the neocons still in the U.S. government. This interview entitled, Bolton Suggests Israel Will Attack Iran, illustrates some of the beliefs and talking points of the neocons if one listens carefully to Bolton lying through his moustache. He is a professional provocateur.

Other pundits seem to think that the time has passed for any Israeli or U.S. attack on Iran. Daniel Levy of Prospects for Peace and The Century Foundation spoke with columnist and author David Frum about this topic on Bloggingheads.tv after the U.S. elections in October. In this short clip of a much longer interview, Frum suggests that "there is no possibility of an attack on Iran."

However, Daniel Levy doesn't simply suggest that all is right with the world just because Barack Obama will take the reigns of U.S. power next month. In a recent article published in Haaretz, Levy opines that the next president will face four foreign policy crises in the Middle East when he takes office. While I understand that Levy is writing for an Israeli readership, I might just point out that Levy didn't bother to include Iraq and Afghanistan in his list. It's not as if those two conflicts are somehow finished and our U.S. military commitments over, after all.

Clearly, after 8 years of the Bush/Cheney reign of terror, many people on our Pathetic Little Spinning Ball Of Mud Called Earth^� will breathe a collective sigh of relief when the new U.S. President is inaugurated next month. Obama will certainly have his work cut out for him, that much I do know.

BhTV

Is it possible for Obama to get the United States out of the corner into which Bushworld has painted us? Many pundits think that simply removing the past cowboy hubris and diplomatic obstinance might be a starting point for the next administration.

The diavlog video clip above between Anne-Marie Slaughter of Princeton and Stephen Walt of Harvard is a discussion of the foreign policy issues concerning Iran, Israel, nuclear proliferation, energy security and terrorism. It's well worth your time to view it. It's about 12 minutes long.

I certainly look forward hopefully to a more positive world. I'm also cautious about getting my hopes up too high or counting my chickens before they are hatched. Even in this electronic age, military tactics favor offensive strikes during a new moon as it offers the most darkness. There is just one new moon left (on December 27th) until Obama takes office.

Personally, I'm waiting to exhale. At least I'm not as pessimistic as when my great uncle once told me that "there will never be peace in our world as long as two men are still alive." I hope he is just wrong.

Happy Holidaze. Merry Mayonnaise.

[headphones]
SublimeMan68's Playlist

[lyric of the moment]
Tell Sanchito that if he knows what is good for him, he best go run and hide. Daddy's got a new 45. And I won't think twice to stick that barrel straight down Sancho's throat. Believe me when I say that I got somethin' for his punk ass.
� Santeria, Sublime

Iran Israel Middle East War Bush Obama Foreign Policy

Iraq: Bush's war footnote

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:34:56 GMT

Bush ducks reporter's ~~questions~~ shoes.

U.S. President George W. Bush twice nearly got hit in the face with an Iraqi TV reporter's shoes at the start of a press availability during his recent trip to Baghdad. Size 10 video of the year, FTW.

Al-Jazeera puts the incident into greater context than U.S. media sources, of course. It's an Arab perspective looking more at the entirity of Bush's Iraq War compared to simply saying that "the surge is one the greatest successes in the history of the United States military," as Bush told the audience of troops serving in Baghdad.

Al Jazeera on YouTube

The International Herald Tribune reports that the 28-year-old Iraqi TV reporter, Muntadhar al-Zeidi, had once been kidnapped by al Qaeda Iraq (AQI) and also detained by U.S. forces in the last several years. Apparently, he has no love for any of the foreign influences in his country. In the eyes of many Iraqis, he is a hero for his defiant act.

I hope al-Zeidi survives the consequences of his outburst.

If the surge is such a success, why then have the U.S. and Iraqi governments just signed a 3-year extension to the military occupation?

[headphones]
MurphMan's SoundClick Playlist

[lyric of the moment]
Mr. Charming, did you think you were pure? Mr. Alarming, in nocturnal rapport. Uncovering things that were sacred, manifest on this earth. (Oh)Conceived in the eye of a secret. Yeah, they scattered the afterbirth.
� Ozzy Osborne, Mr. Crowley

Media Iraq Propaganda War Bush Terror Lies

Iran: Neocon deadlines

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:12:11 GMT

There is still time for the Bush administration neocons to force a third major war upon our Pathetic Little Spinning Ball of Mud Called Earth^�. The convenience of the public's sleepy and distracting holiday season combined with the very real deadline of the end of the Bush regime worries me.

It's been obvious to those paying attention that Bush/Cheney neocons have been trying to sell the idea of a war with Iran since the Iraq war began. I've written about it for the last several years a number of times.

Am I just an alarmist? If I'm so worried about this, why hasn't there been a war already? If there hasn't been a war, why should anyone else be concerned at all?

Obviously, people get paid big think tank bucks to analyze the complicated machinations of the foreign policy of the United States. Look, I'm just an amateur hobbyist blog publisher who simply pays attention to this topic.

The Bush/Cheney regime is fond of working "in the shadows," as Cheney likes to muse. Combine that secrecy with the seemingly schizophrenic public policies and it makes any declarations by outsiders nothing more professional than simply shaking a magic 8-ball and reading the message it gives.

The Bush/Cheney public policy schizophrenia is indicative of the struggle in all circles of U.S. government power between the hardcore neocons who want war and the pragmatists who believe in real politik. One side rattles their sabers and the other side favors negotiation.

This back-and-forth, toward and away from war, is usually what causes me to write about Iran. One of the people less on the outside (than you or I) is investigative journalist, Seymour Hersh. In the very short video below, Hersh describes the aspect of manufacturing consent with the American public for a war with Iran.

The Real News Network

I shouldn't have to cite again news media articles with links of the number of times Bushworld has tried to ramp up public support for a war with Iran. If you've forgotten, read some of the archives here.

Google "Scott Ritter," the former weapons inspector. He has been quite outspoken on this matter. He's often said that he only hopes that the Iranians are smart enough not to fall for any Bushworld bait to escalate tensions.

In the video above, Hersh talks about the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) having a mandate from Bushworld to act on its own to snatch up so-called "high value targets." It's no coincidence that the neocon Kyl-Lieberman initiative in the U.S. Congress added Iranian military organizations to the official terrorist list. It wasn't all about economic sanctions.

Since the war mongering neocons are closing in on that hard deadline when Bush/Cheney are no longer actively running things, I feel Bushworld may try to use the wild card they always have in their hand in the middle east.

IDF preparing options for Iran strike

The IDF is drawing up options for a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities that do not include coordination with the United States, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

While its preference is to coordinate with the US, defense officials have said Israel is preparing a wide range of options for such an operation.

The Jerusalem Post, December 4th, 2008

Look at the manufacturing consent sublimals on the Jerusalem Post (JP) page. It's there for a dumbass bricklayer from Detroit like me to see. JP should stand for Jewish Paranoia, not Jerusalem Post.

Top left: the JP link to Iran News has a nuclear symbol next to it.

Topic banner for these articles: called "The Iranian Threat" with stop signs behind a goofy-looking Iranian president (because Iranians are crazy, right?)

Poll: Strike Iran, good or bad idea?

Banner ad: "How will Obama handle the Iranian Crisis?" > Vote here.

Now, despite the fact that the losing Republican choice for Vice President had trouble describing the Bush Doctrine in an interview, I'll give it to you with a quote from the war mongering neocon horse's ass, Stephen Hadley:

"The doctrine of preemption remains sound and must remain an integral part of our national security strategy. We do not rule out the use of force before the enemy strikes."

Perhaps the pragmatists have won the day and Bush will simply leave without a stupendously stupid and irrational final act. Then again, If Israel strikes and Iran retaliates, the sheeple in the United States will undoubtedly be glued to the likes of Fox News Channel and we'll all go down that rabbit hole once again.

[headphones]
SublimeMan68's Playlist

Media Israel Propaganda War Bush Terror Lies

Media: Politics 2.0

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:04:25 GMT

The election of Barack Obama is a marker in American history. Most people note the racial significance, which is a valid discussion. Certainly, I'm not one to shy away from a discussion about racial issues, but I believe the election of Obama had more to do with a generational identification and change. McCain was the old guy. McCain was not plugged into new media, and when his campaign tried to be hip, it was absolutely foolish. New media has changed how politics is being done.

Meet James Kotecki.

Kotecki CitizenTube interview

Being a C-Span junkie, I like poltical news websites like Politico.com. James Kotecki is both a humorous and informative commentator. He's not a mainstream corporate news bunny who has no idea what he is reading off of a teleprompter or cue card.

He's smart � maybe a little too smart � because I just don't believe his feigned ignorance about political news reporters all hanging out in the same bar.

Hello? Ana Marie Cox works at frackin' Time now. She was the Wonkette. And, since I'm a digital dinosaur, I remember when she was at Suck.com, probably because of my more active back-in-the-days on Plastic.com.

Mainstream corporate news media have been whining for several years that people have stopped watching their evening news broadcasts and the cool kids are all now just watching Jon Stewart.

Oh, wait.

You mean the same mainstream corporate media propaganda machine that aided and abetted the Bush Crime Family to lie us into a war? What's that saying again about fooling us once every minute, again, or whatever?

The pathetic little spinning ball of mud^�, called Earth, is done with the fear-and-loathing distraction ideology of the old world. Yeah, I don't even watch the Daily Show on that thing you really old people call a television.

[headphones]
SublimeMan68's Playlist

Media Propaganda War Bush Terror Lies

Politics: Jordan's Queen Rania

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:39:42 GMT

Queen Rania of Jordan

Accepting the first ever YouTube Visionary Award via taped message, Queen Rania Al Abdullah spoofed the famous Top 10 format from David Letterman to explain why she launched her channel.

10. Because I didn't have enough friends on Facebook.

9.   Because anything Queen Elizabeth can do, I can do better.

8.   Because I was tired of people thinking that Jordan was just a basketball player.

7.   Because Barack Obama said, "Yes we can!" so I thought "So can I." And by the way, congratulations America.

6.   Because my original idea of "Where the hell is her majesty?" had already been taken.

5.   Because I wouldn't have got past an audition in front of Simon Cowell.

4.   Because I couldn't get a camel on a skateboard.

3.   Because what you know about Arabs shouldn't just come from Jack Bauer.

2.   Because if Madonna can get millions of hits cleaning the floor ...

1.   Because suspicion, intolerance and mistrust are driving us apart.

Queen Rania is a very hip monarch, obviously. After the humorous Top 10 List, she does get down to a more serious riff.

"And that's why I wanted to kick start a conversion on the world's largest community because we're stronger when we listen and smarter when we share.

And that's what I love about YouTube -- the way it encourages us to be active participants in that conversation -- making our voices heard, giving us the power to broadcast ourselves, increasing knowledge of each other, breaking down the barriers between us, clip by clip.

So let's use that power. I'm not claiming a video can change the world, but maybe it can help us change some minds, and that's where real progress starts."

Hat tips to Professor Juan Cole for posting the video on his blog, Informed Comment. He also includes the recent two-part video interview of Queen Rania by Fareed Zakaria on CNN (part 1, part 2).

After listening to the last eight years of Bushworld neocon propaganda and the politics of fear and division, Queen Rania's message of tolerance and moderation is a forward-looking breath of fresh air from a head of state.

Let's hope that the recent attack in Mumbai doesn't cause a return to the Bush/Cheney mindset. The corporate news media will undoubtedly hype up the fear for ratings (advertising revenue) but let's keep things in perspective.

CNN, for example, ran a piece highlighting several recent terror attacks and suggested that the new threat will be Europeans with easy access to the United States. Look, terrorism isn't new. Terrorism in Europe isn't new. Despite the manufactured hype, the sky is not falling.

The deaths and injuries in Mumbai are tragic, of course. At the same time, about 100 people die and 15,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S. each year from peanuts. Politicians aren't asking us to support a new War on Peanuts.

Last year, 1554 children were murdered in the United States. Is anyone concerned about that?

[headphones]
Sinja's Project Playlist

[lyric of the moment]
If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?
� Lynyrd Skynyrd, Freebird

Police State Propaganda War Bush Terror Lies

NASA: Videos and eClips

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:58:52 GMT

NASA STS-126 mission astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshin-Piper made international news when she lost her tool bag while out on EVA to repair the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ). Personally, I just enjoy hearing broadcasters trying their best to pronounce her name correctly.

Canadian amateur astronomer, Kevin Fetter, claims to have a video of the tool bag as it streaked across the night sky. BBC 5 Live explains how this is totally plausible, despite the doubters. Besides, NORAD is now tracking the tool bag's orbit.

The STS-126 mission has been extended one day in order to complete repairs and continue the extreme home improvements on the International Space Station. Space Shuttle Endeavor is now scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, November 30th, at 1:18 p.m. EST. You can watch that on NASA TV.

Did you know that in addition to a new YouTube channel (ReelNASA), NASA has countless hours of video footage and educational programs? One section of the NASA website I just discovered recently, NASA eClips, is part of NASA's Digital Learning Network and Project 2061. Project 2061 is a program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to help all Americans become literate in science, mathematics and technology.

NASA eClips are short, educational videos produced for students of all ages.

I just watched an episode of NASA 360, a light and lively program series produced for the general public. Click on one of the category links above to check out the playlists for each category. You can watch any video streaming in your web browser.

<snark> Some of you may want to start with the Grade K-5 category and work your way up. </snark> Yeah ... I could not resist that one. Happy Thanksgiving.

[headphones]
JfZ's WXXL Orlando Playlist

[lyric of the moment]
Heard they'd do anything for a Klondike. Well, I'll do anything for a blonde dike.
� Kanye West, Stronger

NASA Expedition 18 STS-126 ISS Tool Bag NASA eClips

Music: The Prodigy

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:48:20 GMT

Sadly, I'm not much of a dancer, nor do I plan to learn any moves anytime soon. I don't enjoy singing very often, at least not when others can hear it. I do enjoy listening to nearly all genres of music, though. Drum and Bass, Dance Club, House, Techno and Rave almost make me want to dance wildly in public. I found these two fave songs from The Prodigy and thought I'd share their YouTube videos with you.

BREATHE

Breathe

Egg sale! Egg sale! Egg Sale!

Powdered Whole Eggs
Bulk 13.5 Pound Case

Oh. Exhale ... right. Frackin' Brits.

FIRESTARTER

Firestarter

The Fat Of The Land

[headphones]
Jude's Gaming Playlist

[quote of the moment]
I'm the Firestarter!
� Jarvik Torkan

Music The Prodigy The Fat of the Land Breathe Firestarter Guild Wars

Conspiracy Theory: Zeitgeist Movie

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:38:41 GMT

Conspiracy Theory in the Imajica Menu
[ Intro ] [ Contents ] [ Submit Your Theory ] [ Resource List ]

Zeitgeist, the movie (122 minutes)

I've watched "Zeitgeist, the movie" three times in the past few days in order to better wrap my mind around what the film makers were trying to communicate. The movie is divided into three parts and each part is worthy of its own detailed conspiracy theory research.

The tagline for this film is "What does Christianity, 9/11 and the Federal Reserve all have in common?" I believe the three seemingly different parts can be thematically tied together into one larger concept: how are you controlled, individually or as a member of a larger society, by whom, and why?

Part 1 - The Greatest Story Ever Told

Christianity, as it is historically portrayed, regarded and practiced in our modern society is a lie. It is a myth. Christians who abjectly believe what their neighborhood preacher is selling them are being told lies, likely by a man with a mail-order diploma in theology.

It is not in the interest of the preacher man to tell you about the astrological and pagan origins of Christianity. It is in his interest to tell you to simply believe what he tells you that your Bible says. Have faith.

The Judao-Christian Bible is a highly plagiarized version of earlier Sun god myths from other cultures, but most strikingly similar to the Egyptian religious myths of Horus. Jesus was the pagan sun god of the Gnostic Christian sect.

Over the next dozens of centuries, Christianity was simply politicized for societal control. Respect those in authority over you. We are the law givers. God annoited us to rule over you. Believe what we tell you. Have faith.

The first forty minutes of Zeitgeist may cause you to question your faith. Knowing the true origins and subsequent history of your religious beliefs should be a good thing though, right?

Part 2 - All The Worlds A Stage

9/11 was an inside job. There are more facts pointing to 9/11 as a false flag operation to enable the post 9/11 changes in our society than facts supporting the official myth that the 9/11 commission report would have us believe.

The official 9/11 myth handed down from the leaders in the U.S. government and our corporate news media goes like this:

19 hijackers, directed by Osama bin Laden, took over four commercial jets with box cutters, and while avoiding the air defense system (NORAD), hit 75% of their targets. In turn, World Trade Centers 1, 2, and 7 collapsed in pancake fashion, while the plane that hit the Pentagon vaporized upon impact, as did the plane that crashed in Shanksville. The 911 Commission found that there were no warnings for this act of terrorism, while multiple government failures prevented adequate defense.

Now, there isn't time and space for me to address each point that the Zeitgeist movie highlights. In fact, there are entire websites devoted to examining every minute detail and omission of the 911 Commission report. Google "911 truth" and pick a detail to research further. I may pick out one or two details in the future for a conspiracy theory topic, but not today.

All major wars in post-industrial era in the United States were initiated by a manufactured or allowed incident, or false flag operation, to mobilize public opinion and allow the government to become engaged in a war. The historical evidence is there.

World War I - The sinking of the cruiseliner Lusitania. World War 2 - The attack on Pearl Harbor. Vietnam war - The Gulf of Tonkin incident. The Global War on Terror - The 9/11 attacks.

Part 3 - Don't Mind The Men Behind The Curtain

For those of you who do not understand the reference for the title of Part 3, check the wiki for the plot of the film "The Wizard of Oz." The men behind the curtain in this case are the international bankers that control central banks and specifically, the federal reserve banking system.

Zeitgeist goes through the history of central banking and the banking families like Rockefeller, Morgan, Marburg, and Rothschild -- and the creation of the U.S. Federal Reserve System in 1913. It also teaches you about how the system is used.

What is money? When I described this part of the movie to a friend recently, he said, "Well, U.S. dollars are backed by all the gold in Fort Knox" In fact, that is not true. The U.S. went off the "gold standard" during the administration of president Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.

Ever notice the cyclical frequency of economic boom and bust, war and peace? It seems that every generation of ruling elites needs to make their money from the blood and profit of wars, oftentimes making money on both sides of the given conflict.

Even between U.S. wars, people can make money from death. For those of you old enough to remember the Reagan administration, you might recall how Reagan/Bush had a fondness for covert ops in the Middle East, South and Central America.

So what does all this mean? Why is this happening? A little alternate education is the beginning. You'll have to watch the end of the movie for the answers.

Also, "Zeitgeist Addendum" was just recently released. It is an update. It touches on the control mechanisms from Parts 1 and 2, but it explains the central banking model and fractional banking more fully.

Addendum also explains the alternative to the economies of scarcity, division, fear and control. It also gives you five things you can do, right now, to start to shed the manipulated reality. Addendum has more Matrix motifs at the end. I'll save further thoughts about that for next week.

[headphones]
Jude's Project Playlist

[lyric of the moment]
You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan. Designed and directed by his red right hand.
� Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Red Right Hand

Conspiracy Theory New World Order Christianity Zeitgeist 911 Truth

NASA: STS-126 Launch

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:24:40 GMT

NASA is scheduled to launch space shuttle Endeavor for the STS-126 mission tonight at 7:55 P.M. EST. You can watch it live on NASA TV.

Personally, I plan to cart out to a nearby golf course, cast my eyes to the south-east and watch Endeavor blast off into the night sky. It's an impressive sight to behold ... unless there is too much cloud cover. Shuttle launch control has a 30% no-go chance due to possible negative weather conditions.

STS-126 mission is impressive

Endeavor will dock with the International Space Station and deliver needed equipment and supplies to increase the ISS capability to host more ISS expedition members. The STS-126 crew will also EVA (spacewalk) to repair the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) which allows the huge ISS solar arrays to track the sun to provide maximum energy to the station.

Previous missions have built the ISS out. Node 2, Columbus, and KIbo modules added the basic livable space to the station. Now, the STS-126 crew will install the needed equipment into that new space.

"It's the most jam-packed logistics module we have ever carried up there. We're taking a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house and turning it into a five-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a gym."

STS-126 Commander Chris Ferguson

One of the most impressive pieces of equipment (besides the spare space toilet) is the Environment Control and Life Support System (ECLSS). The ECLSS recycles all the liquid waste water on the ISS that normally gets dumped.

Although it may sound distasteful to some of you, this system basically captures moisture in the air from crew members breathing and their urine in the waste system. It then purifies all of it into drinkable water.

After installation, the ECLSS will go through a number of tests before anyone drinks the water produced by it. Recycling water and not wasting it is an important step toward long term space exploration goals, such as going to Mars.

[headphones]
Jude's Project Playlist

[quote of the moment]
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
� Henry David Thoreau

NASA Expedition 18 STS-126 ISS

Media: NY Times imagines the future

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:29:58 GMT

New York Times Special Edition

The New York Times published a special edition for July 4th, 2009. It is a must read for anyone who believes in a sane future. People on the street seem to like it.

New York Times Special Edition Video News Release - Nov. 12, 2008
from H Schweppes on Vimeo.

If you really want to feel happy about the end of the disastrous Bush/Cheney regime in the United States, read some of the articles in the NY Times Special Edition. Here's a list of headlines linking to the articles on nytimes-se.com:

WORLD

Last to Die in Battle Remembered, American and Iraqi

United Nations Unanimously Passes Weapons Ban

Troops to Return Immediately

Court Indicts Bush on High Treason Charge

U.S.

Education Department Plans National Tax Base for Schools

Crumbling Infrastructure Brings Opportunities

National Health Insurance Act Passes

Popular Pressure Ushers Recent Progressive Tilt

Torture, Rendition "Not Such Good Ideas After All"

War Brides (and Husbands) Find Their Place in a New Iraq

Senate Gets Tough On "Limited Liability" to Rein in, Humanize Corporations

Public Relations Industry Forecasts a Series of Massive Layoffs

OPINION

The End of the Experts?

Special Edition

Fog of Peace

Public Health Opporunities in Cuba

A Baboon Study Remembered

Lobbyists are Citizens Too

Hope for Iraqi Refugees

We Apologize

HEALTH

National Health Insurance Act Passes

Pharmaceutical Law Revised to End Corruption

EDUCATION

Education Department Plans National Tax Base for Schools

Congress Returns Civics to High School Curriculum

All Public Universities To Be Free

University to Rescue Iraqi Scholars

Popular "America's Army" Video Game, Recruiting Tool Cancelled

What do you think the New York Times special edition is? Is it just a parody?

Is it part of an Alternate Reality Game? Is it The Secret on a national scale?

Is it Change You Can Believe In?

[headphones]
NASA Deep Space Communications Beatles Music Video

[lyric of the moment]
Words are flying out like endless rain into a paper cup.
� The Beatles, Across the Universe

Media NYT-SE Future Change The Secret

LBOH v.06: Police State

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:42:39 GMT

The internet is the vast collective digital mind of the puny humans living on our pathethic spinning ball of mud called Earth. It is a growing electronic organism of unimaginable size and shape. Even powerful governments and multi-national corporations can't fully control it.

We are all part of it as contributors and spectators: buying and selling, listening and telling.

Every grand dream and dark nightmare in human history can be found within a few moments of your desire to know it. It can be a path to enlightenment and a little box of horrors.

Surfin' USA

The International Association of Chiefs of Police is holding its 2008 conference in San Diego this week. 15,000 law enforcement professionals are expected to attend. Apparently, it's like a huge gun show � the exhibitors list reads like a who's who of scary corporations � except there is better food and entertainment. Haute Chili is performing popular cover tunes during the big banquet tonight.

Militarization of Civilian Police

If you're curious where the U.S. police state is headed that Bush/Cheney amped up with their post 9-11 Shock Doctrine, check out the extensive conference program offered to law enforcement professionals at this event.

The Shock Doctrine

Selected 2008 IACP Conference program topics

� Implementation of Intelligence Led Policing - Centralized Investigations with support of all area commands is transitioning to an Intelligence Led Policing model. To accomplished this goal, a BJA grant was obtained and infrastructure was put into place to ensure its success.

� Combat Stress Injuries: Stigma, treatment and implications for police work after combat - The severity of combat stress injuries ranges from expected reactions to combat trauma and return to functioning, to severe PTSD. It is important to realize that the majority of those exposed to combat trauma will not develop a syndrome that will impair their functioning in their military jobs or jobs in law enforcement.

� Radicalization in the West - This presentation will involve discussion of the evolution of the threat to the United States; how it has changed over the past 20 years, and how the data on terrorists refutes conventional wisdom. Additional discussion will describe the process of radicalization as well as outline a typical trajectory of a terrorist career. This session will be closed to the press.

� Honor Israel National Police for Counter Terrorism Exchanges - (This program had no description, but I suggest it might be called "How to occupy a country for 60 years")

� Following, Forfeiting and Sharing the Money - The U.S. Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section (AFMLS) will present a workshop focusing on (1) following the money of criminal enterprises through financial investigations and (2) sharing forfeited funds with state and local law enforcement.

� Addressing the IED Threat: Enhancing Bombing Prevention and Response Efforts by Harnessing Partnerships, Training, Information-Sharing, Public-Awareness, and Planning

That last selected workshop is for your local law enforcement officers to learn about improvised explosive devices (IED). The Shock Doctrine not only works on the average citizen, it works on the law enforcement community too. Nothing like filling your local traffic cop's head with visions of you possibly exploding your car when he pulls you over for speeding on the highway. Somehow I want to say something like "Bush wants Boston to be like Baghdad" now.

Bush Crime Family

With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the Bush administration merged civilian crime prevention with the military and intelligence communities. It's a familiar theme in the Bush Crime Family.

George H.W. Bush was responsible for merging international drug interdiction, the military, and civilian asset forfeiture domestically while flooding U.S. cities with Columbian cocaine to fund his pet covert ops projects around the planet for his ideological and corporate cronies.

It's all fun and games until the neocon nutjobs start using all that expensive high-tech surveillance and military weapons systems on U.S. citizens domestically. The Terror President has used fear to create a huge domestically-focussed military industrial complex worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

[headphones]
Sinja's Project Playlist

[lyric of the moment]
If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?
� Lynyrd Skynyrd, Freebird

Police State Propaganda War Bush Terror Lies

Veterans Day 2008

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:14:42 GMT

Today is Veterans Day. According to the Veterans Administration, there are an estimated 23.4 million living veterans in the United States of America. Of that population, some 17.4 million veterans served during wartime including the last living U.S. veteran of World War I, Frank Buckles.

As the official poster on the left says, Veterans Day is the day to honor all who served. Many people seem to confuse today's holiday with Memorial Day which is intended to honor those that have died during the course of their military service to the country. You probably know someone in your family, or a co-worker, or a neighbor who is a military veteran. Today is the day to thank them for their service.

Most of the retirees wintering here in Florida served in military service because of the military draft. However, many volunteered to serve their country during the draft. There are military veterans from all branches of the service who served in World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

One neighbor who lived across the street from me was career military. He retired as a First Sergeant. He has sinced moved, but I remember seeing his 82nd Airborne flag proudly flying everyday when he was here. I just called him "Top."

Then earlier this year, I noticed the other neighbor next to him getting up really early and leaving each morning wearing Navy dress whites. He was driving to the nearby Florida national cemetery that I visited on Memorial Day. He was part of a military honor group that would give one last honor to the veteran being buried there.

Gulf War 3.0

Today, there are men and women currently deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hostile areas around the globe. Veterans serving in combat return home with a number of serious issues with which they and their families must contend.

The transition to civilian life can be difficult notwithstanding any of the physical or mental injuries these combat veterans may have to endure. Substance abuse, PTSD, homelessness and suicide are veterans issues the American public haven't seen since the Vietnam era.

I still say to people, "Whether you feel you are from a red state or blue state politically, keep some military green in your heart for the troops serving." I support the work of Veterans for Common Sense who has been a watchdog of the Veterans Administration and an advocate for all military veterans.

Community of Veterans

Another veterans group, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), has just recently developed a social networking site at communityofveterans.org which also has useful information and provides fellowship for their members.

You may have seen the founder and executive director of IAVA, Paul Rieckhoff, giving various television interviews or heard him on Rachel Maddow's radio show. The video above shows him on Olbermann last year.

This year, 15 members of Iraq Veterans against the War (IVAW) were in a Nassau County, New York courtroom facing disorderly conduct charges relating to their antiwar protest during the final presidential debate at Hofstra University. This despite the fact that Iraq veteran Sgt Nick Morgan had his face crushed by a Nassau County police horse that night.

[headphones]
Sinja's Project Playlist

[quote of the moment]
I like an escalator because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an escalator temporarily out of order sign, only an escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience.
� Mitch Hedberg, Best of Comedy Central

Iraq Afghanistan War Veterans Day IAVA IVAW Antiwar

Obama: Zombies!

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:44:32 GMT

The Onion

Some people have worried that political comedy could die from an Obama administration. I mean, what's funny about the guy? The Onion scores the first comedy goal for me with "Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are."

Well, it's also time for me to add another category to the blog here. I shall call it "Obama." Some people assume just because I have been Bush bashing for so long that I must be some mindless moonbat liberal. That's probably not true.

You see, when the people in power in my government screw up or act criminally, I'm going to say something about it. There are only 2-1/2 months left of the disastrous Bush/Cheney administration.

Still, that's plenty of time to do something else stupid or criminal. I mean, think about it. Bush goes to Beijing to watch the Olympic Games and the neocons in the Republican party nearly start a frackin' war with Russia. Remember Russia?

Of course the new job approval rating for Bush came out today and hit an historic low at 17%:

"The challenge Obama faces has never been greater. No president has ever come to office during a time when the public's mood has been this low. In the 34 years that this question has been asked, the number who say things are going well has never fallen below 20 percent."
� Keating Holland, CNN's polling director

Now, I always like to turn things around. I have to play Devil's Advocate. 17% of the people polled actually approve of the job Bush is doing.

Who are these people that think that Bush and Cheney are doing a good job? Where the frack do these people live? Did they think John Dean was lying when he wrote "Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush" or are these mouth-breathing Bush supporters not into fancy, high filluting book learning?!

I just realized who these morons are. They are the people who still think Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim. So what if he is?

I think our country can survive the outbreak of Obama zombies. All we need to do is hand out video game controllers.

[headphones]
Deirdre's project playlist

[quote of the moment]
"Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most egregious abuses of medical research: human cloning in all its forms, creating or implanting embryos for experiments, creating human-animal hybrids, and buying, selling, or patenting human embryos."
� George W. Bush

Politics Election Comedy Obama Biden Zombies

Got Milk?

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:08:11 GMT

God Is Imaginary

I thought the above video was short, to the point, and humorous. I found it after I checked out the websites of the producers of the video below. The video below is a little longer, but I was amazed to see that it had 3.4 million views and generated 448,000 comments on YouTube!

Why Won't God Heal Amputees?

This video is called "10 Questions Every Intelligent Christian Must Answer" but it obviously applies to Jews and Muslims, too.

It is thought-provoking. I especially focussed in on the end of the video when the narrator asks, "Why does it matter?" It matters because people who believe in imaginary beings are delusional.

Taken a step further, it answers the question, "Why isn't there peace in the Middle East?" There isn't peace in the Middle East because you are dealing with two (three, if you count Christians) groups of highly delusional people who have decided to kill each other over their own imaginary God's holy lands.

If you have a comment to offer after watching these two videos, feel free to leave one.

I have two additional questions related to the first video.

Question #11. "Are Atheists lactose intolerant?"

Question #12. "If I pray to cheese instead of milk, will I become constipated?"

[headphones]
Murphman's Soundclick Playlist

[quote of the moment]
"When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion."
Abraham Lincoln

Bush Iraq War Iran Ahmadinejad Israel Palestine

Movies: Total Recall 2070

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:26:51 GMT

Watch it on Hulu

Fans of cyberpunk and dystopian future science fiction should enjoy the sci-fi TV series "Total Recall 2070 - Machine Dreams." Originally airing in 1999 and unfortunately only lasting one season, this dark future follows the crime-fighting of Agent David Hume of the Citizen's Protection Bureau. While there are elements of the blockbuster "Total Recall" movie of the same name, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the visual world created for us in this TV series also resembles the "Blade Runner" dystopia, starring Harrison Ford.

Agent David Hume is played by Michael Easton who is now most noted as portraying John McBain on "One Life to Live." Easton's portrayal of David Hume in this series reminded me most of Keanu Reeves in "Matrix."

"Total Recall 2070 - Machine Dreams" is a hybrid of science fiction based upon the writing of Philip K. Dick. Dick's 1968 novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" was adapted into the 1982 film "Blade Runner." Dick's 1966 short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" inspired the plot of the 1990 film "Total Recall."

"We live in a society in which spurious realities are manufactured by the media, by governments, by big corporations. We are bombarded with pseudo-realities manufactured by very sophisticated people using very sophisticated electronic mechanisms. I do not distrust their motives. I distrust their power."

� Philip K. Dick *

This television series does have huge powerful consortium companies seemingly running the planet, one of which is called Rekall that is involved in memory transplantation and virtual vacations. Another company called Uber Braun is involved in the development of androids, following the Blade Runner plotline.

I've watched 6 of the 22 episodes on Hulu so far. The series is not for young children. It is rated R. There is some nudity, violence, and strong language. There are plotlines that seem to involve prostitution and drug use.

Make some popcorn and watch a few episodes at a time. That's the beauty of Hulu's video on demand.

* Philip K. Dick died in 1982 and yet I feel he describes the current dystopian elements embodied in our world by international conglomerate corporations more powerful than all but a few nations, globalization of market economies, mega-cities, and the police state that Bush/Cheney ushered in.

[headphones]
Jude's Project Playlist

[quote of the moment]
"Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are."
� Aurelius Augustinus (aka Saint Augustine)

Movies VoD TV Sci-Fi Hulu Philip K. Dick

Politics: Historic Election

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:19:19 GMT

Graphic Designer Jess Bachman posted a typographical mashup image of the following historical information on his wallstats blog.

389 years ago, the first slave ship lands in the American colonies.

354 years ago, John Castor becomes the first legally recognized slave, ruled "property for life" by Virginia courts.

320 years ago, Mennonite Quakers sign an anti-slavery resolution.

303 years ago, the slave codes are enacted to regulate the growing slave population. "If any slave resists his master ... correcting such a slave and shall happen to be killed in such correction ... the master shall be free of all punishment ... as if such accident never happened."

296 years ago, a major slave revolt kills 25 whites.

256 years ago, George Washington buys the Mount Vernon estate with 18 slaves. By the time of his death, in 1799, more than 300 slaves resided at Mount Vernon.

233 years ago, Rhode Island becomes the first colony to ban the import of slaves.

218 yeaars ago, the first census is taken. There are 757,000 blacks in the United States. 9% are free.

200 years ago, the importation of slaves is outlawed. Over the next 50 years, 250,000 slaves are illegally imported.

178 years ago, there were more than 2 million black slaves in the United States.

177 years ago, Nat Turner leads a revolt killing 60 whites. A year later, slavery is abolished in Canada.

149 years ago, the last slave ship arrives.

143 years ago, after the Civil War, slavery is abolished in the United States.

138 years ago, black Americans are given the right to vote.

133 years ago, the Civil Rights Act is passed guaranteeing equal rights to black Americans in public accomodations.

127 years ago, public transportation is segregated.

125 years ago, the Civil Rights Act is overturned by the Supreme Court.

112 years ago, Plessy v. Ferguson establishes the doctrine of "seperate but equal."

107 years ago, the last African American Congressman of the Reconstruction Era gives up his seat. No African American would serve in Congress for the next 28 years.

99 years ago, the NAACP is formed.

95 years ago, the federal government is segregated.

87 years ago, race riots in Tulsa, Oklahoma leave over 300 African Americans dead.

79 years ago, the first African American is elected to Congress since the Reconstruction.

66 years ago, the first African American is accepted into the Marine Corps.

61 years ago, the first African American is accepted into Major League Baseball.

55 years ago, Hulan Jack becomes the first African American borough president of Manhattan.

54 years ago, the Supreme Court declares public school segregation unconstitutional. That same year, Emmet Till is lynched in Mississippi; he was 14. That same year Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.

51 years ago, the Civil Rights Act is passed further protecting the right of African Americans to vote.

45 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr had a dream.

43 years ago, Malcolm X is assassinated. The Voting Rights Act is signed into law. The Watts uprising occurs.

42 years ago, Robert Weaver becomes the first African American to hold a cabinet post. The Black Panther Party is formed. Edward Brooke becomes the first African American to be popularly elected to the U.S. Senate.

41 years ago, Thurgood Marshall became the first African American Justice on the Supreme Court. Race riots in Detroit; 43 killed, 7,000 arrested.

40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is assassinated. 35,000 are injured in the wake of the uprisings.

38 years ago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Detroit elect their first African American mayor.

33 years ago, WGPR becomes the first black-owned television station.

29 years ago, Frank E. Petersen, Jr becomes the first African American general in the Marine Corps.

26 years ago, Bryant Gumbel becomes the first African American news anchor on a major network.

19 years ago, Ronald H. Brown is elected chair of the Democratic National Committee.

15 years ago, Toni Morrison becomes the first black American to win the Nobel Prize in literature.

10 years ago, James Byrd, Jr is lynched by white supremacists in Jasper, Texas.

7 years ago, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice become the first African Americans to hold the positions of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor.

4 years ago, Barack Obama becomes the fifth black Senator in U.S. history.

5 months ago, Barack Obama becomes the first black Democratic Nominee.

and on November 4th, the people of the United States elected their first African American President and his name is Barack Obama. Now that's progress.

Visit wallstats.com and check out the amazing flash app and poster Bachman created that graphically depicts the U.S. Federal Budget, Death and Taxes 2009. Heck, I suggest you buy the poster and send it to your own Congress critter.

[headphones]
JfZ's WXXL playlist

[quote of the moment]
"You've got to vote for someone. It's a shame, but it's got to be done."
� Whoopi Goldberg

Politics Election 2008 Campaigns Obama Biden Jess Bachman

Politics: Help me, Obama-won

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:04:48 GMT

This was just fracktarded

You're our only hope

I watched the election unfold last night via CNN live video stream. Apparently, CNN reporter Jessica Yellin � who thankfully doesn't scream like someone talking on the first bad cell phone call � speaks with Wolf Blitzer via CNN's first (dun dun dun!) hologram.

Wolf Blitzer reminds Jessica Yellin, "You're a hologram now."

Yellin makes an obligatory Princess Leia reference and explains the complete waste of technology and resources it took to bring us the future of news broadcasting. I'm just happy that I'm too poor to own shares of TWX stock.

My Election Night

Thankfully, despite the stupidity of the corporate news media (something upon which nearly everyone can agree despite political affiliations), Barack Hussein Obama will become the 44th President of the United States of America on January 20th, 2009.

The best part of the night occurred for me when two of my favorite friends called me to chat, both of whom voted for Obama yesterday. One was going to vote Libertarian, initially. The other has voted mostly Republican in the past.

They are my friends not because they voted for Obama, of course. They are my friends because they are smart people who think things through, care about the future, and both have a sense of humor and wit.

McCain concedes

I watched Senator John McCain concede the election more than once. I didn't do that simply so I could point and yell "Hah-Ha!" like Nelson Muntz, but that thought did indeed cross my mind.

I watched it more than once because I was chatting away on the phone when McCain actually conceded and I had the video stream's audio muted. My (mostly) Republican friend said that McCain had sounded classy, reasonable and conciliatory in his concession speech.

After watching him wave his little arms to admonish his booing mouth-breathers, I can only imagine he's just happy he doesn't have to see those freaks he and Sarah Palin have whipped up into a lather any longer. I'm just hopeful that this is the last time I have to mention the delusional Alaskan governor's name.

Obama claims victory

I have to admit it. It's been a very long time since I have felt that the future of the U.S. or the planet could trend positively. I am actually hopeful, for now.

Last night, Obama summarized my optimism and patriotism when he simply declared, " ... that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory."

For those die-hard right-wing cynics who constantly claim that Obama is just only rhetoric, I say words matter. Words convey ideas. Ideas become policy. Policy shapes reality.

On January 20th, 2009, America will be removing the Terror President, George W. Bush. I almost feel like I can breathe again.

[headphones]
JfZ's WXXL playlist

[quote of the moment]
"You've got to vote for someone. It's a shame, but it's got to be done."
� Whoopi Goldberg

Politics Election 2008 Campaigns Obama Biden Jessica Yellin

Politics: Last Day to Vote

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:24:15 GMT

5 Friends Vote PSA

Today is the last day to vote. For some, it is the day to vote. For those of you who will vote today, plan on long lines, bring your ID and cell phone, and try to be patient. Below are the links to more information about the presidential candidates by party affiliation.

Democratic Party: Barack Obama / Joe Biden [more info]

Republican Party: John McCain / Sarah Palin [more info]

Libertarian Party: Bob Barr / Wayne Root [more info]

Green Party: Cynthia McKinney / Rosa Clemente [more info]

Peace and Freedom Party: Ralph Nader / Matt Gonzales [more info]

Constitution Party: Chuck Baldwin / Darrel Castle [more info]

Socialist Party: Brian Moore / Stewart Alexander [more info]

Because of individual state ballot access rules and regulations, not all of these candidates will likely be on your state's ballot. Check your state's election rules to see if they allow or count votes from write-in ballots, if your preferred candidate is not listed on your ballot.

Hopefully by now, you have done your homework and know for whom you will vote. If this election is the first one in which you will vote, however, you may not know exactly where it is you should go to cast your ballot today. As the video above promoted, you can simply enter your home address into this page at google.

I prefer the voter application at voteforchange.com to the google app. In addition to locating your specific polling place, it has information on the sidebar answering basic questions about your state's ID requirement and what to do if you encounter problems voting. It also lists some of your neighbors with their phone numbers who may need a ride to the same place. I think that is pretty cool.

The reason I told you to bring your cell phone is simply because there are problems in many voting precincts across the country. Take this number with you to the polls today: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). If you encounter problems voting, call that toll-free number. You can follow the election protection coalition's incoming calls at ourvotelive.org. EFF for the win, as always.

Oh. Check out videothevote.org. That site should be hoppin' today. Also, Starbucks is giving everyone who asks a free cup of coffee today. Ben & Jerry is giving away a free scoop of ice cream and Krispy Kreme is giving away a free donut. Just remember that caffeine and extra sugar works against any anger management skills you may possess. /snark.

[headphones]
CNN news radio stream

[quote of the moment]
"You've got to vote for someone. It's a shame, but it's got to be done."
� Whoopi Goldberg

Politics Election 2008 Campaigns Vote Vote Vote

Politics: Palin Prank Called

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:27:57 GMT

Sarah Palin gets prank called

Oh. Em. Effin. Gee.

Two Montreal (a city in Canada for the geographically-challenged) radio comedians called Republican VP nominee Governor Sarah Palin and posed as French President Nicholas Sarkozy. The prank call is funny to some, yet scary to me.

Listening to Palin chit-chat with whom she thinks is the leader of another country and NATO ally sends chills up my spine. Her ignorance is breath-taking. Her nervous laughter is such a huge tell.

And for you right-wing fracktards that may be as dumb as Palin: Steph Carse is not the Prime Minister of Canada. Stephen Harper is.

Keith Olbermann had a nice montage of Sarah Palin answers to another simple yet important question: "What does the vice president do?" I have to say this. If McCain and Palin somehow win the election on Tuesday, people all over the planet will simply pull out the map of the United States and stamp it: EPIC FAIL.

[headphones]
Nova M radio stream

[quote of the moment]
"What can I say? I screwed up."
� John McCain on Letterman

Politics Media 2008 Campaigns Grampy McSame Caribou Barbie McCain Palin

Politics: Change for America

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:04:30 GMT

Election 08 on Hulu

Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama recently aired a 30-minute Prime Time Special. Since I don't have traditional television, I watched it on Hulu.com and embedded it here for you.

Some people on the flying-monkey-right disparage the broadcast as just an infomercial. While the 30-minute broadcast is obviously produced and scripted, I appreciate that it is informative and educational. He bullet-points his political plans to move the country foreward. That's helpful to voters who might only have had time to catch the 2-minute video clips filtered through the corporate news media gate-keepers. McCain wastes my time attacking Obama and doesn't offer any solutions.

There are personal profiles, or anecdotal stories, in it. They are good examples to make his points -- unlike the McCain campaign's typical Republican strategy of dumbing the message down to a bumper sticker and insulting our intelligence with the likes of Joe the (fake) Plumber (and soon-to-be country music sensation).

This video really cracks me up. Like many plumbers, Joe doesn't actually show up when he says he will. McCain is even more lame when he declares, "Well, you're all Joe the Plumbers." What an adlib from a rich elitist dumbass. It really shows his disconnection from the average American who works for a living.

Have you even seen Joe the Plumber? That mouth-breathing moron looks like someone who was an extra in the television series Prison Break, I must say.

And no, John McCain, we're not all Joe the Plumber. I'm a mother-frackin' bricklayer from Detroit. Barack Obama has a plan to rebuild America after the last eight disastrous years of Republican war and pillage and John McCain does not have a friggin' clue.

[headphones]
Nova M radio stream

[quote of the moment]
"What can I say? I screwed up."
� John McCain on Letterman

Politics Media 2008 Campaigns Grampy McSame Joe the Plumber McCain Obama