| Obama picked another bad one. |
[Jan. 7th, 2009|01:16 am] |
Paul Krugman
January 6, 2009, 4:44 pm
The trouble with Sanjay Gupta
So apparently Obama plans to appoint CNN’s Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General. I don’t have a problem with Gupta’s qualifications. But I do remember his mugging of Michael Moore over Sicko. You don’t have to like Moore or his film; but Gupta specifically claimed that Moore “fudged his facts”, when the truth was that on every one of the allegedly fudged facts, Moore was actually right and CNN was wrong.
What bothered me about the incident was that it was what Digby would call Village behavior: Moore is an outsider, he’s uncouth, so he gets smeared as unreliable even though he actually got it right. It’s sort of a minor-league version of the way people who pointed out in real time that Bush was misleading us into war are to this day considered less “serious” than people who waited until it was fashionable to reach that conclusion. And appointing Gupta now, although it’s a small thing, is just another example of the lack of accountability that always seems to be the rule when you get things wrong in a socially acceptable way.
[This seems to be another example of him not making good on promises. While it is a tad early to react, it hurts my feelings that someone I thought would be a great step forward for socialized medicine appoints someone who will speak in the name of money. If CNN could have him support their claims, maybe the physicians and pharmaceuticals might be able to change his mind on things. Once again we get to see how forced pluralism and corruption tend to grow in a parallel pattern. This Obama voter is crossing his fingers for a good four years.] |
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| Some Jews fear Madoff case stokes anti-Semitism |
[Dec. 26th, 2008|12:44 am] |
Thursday December 25, 12:54 pm ET
By Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press Writer
Madoff scandal fits profile of `affinity fraud,' proves particularly wrenching for Jews
NEW YORK (AP) -- Of all the words that have been used to describe the Bernard L. Madoff scandal, the most emotionally charged may be "Jewish."
The disgraced investment guru is accused of orchestrating a $50 billion Ponzi scheme that preyed heavily on fellow Jews and ultimately drained the fortunes of numerous Jewish charities and institutions.
There's nothing new about con artists targeting their own kind. There's even a word for it -- affinity fraud -- and it has struck numerous religious, ethnic and professional groups.
( Read more )
[No way! If Lehman Bros. didn’t bring said fears up months ago this surely won’t. This same exact story was published on a nationalist forum over a week ago and I find it hard to believe it made it to the headlines on yahoo news (gotta love the AP) The more disturbing thing about this story is that the media takes these preemptive defensive strikes any time our dear Zionist friends gets caught doing something bad. For instance, I didn’t hear anyone play the race card in Michael Vick’s incident with the dog fighting, he was just an NFL player that got bagged doing some deplorable things. There were no news reports that his guilt would have raised hatred of blacks, it seems that folks like these believe universally that they are the only people who matter. To name a case similar, when anyone mentions the holocaust, the first thing you hear is ‘six million Jews’ not anything regarding Gypsies, homosexuals, communists, blacks, etc. Perhaps if the Jews would like to make positive strides toward not being hated by this alleged mass of bigots, they should realize that they are not the only people who matter in the world and that they don't need any different treatment than the balance of mankind when they get into trouble.] |
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| North Carolina fifth grade teacher Diantha Harris talks with students about the electoral race. |
[Nov. 14th, 2008|11:53 pm] |
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[I voted for Obama and with any hope not regretfully so (after seeing some of his cabinet appointments.) However I have always absolutely hated teachers and others in appointed positions with subordinate captivated audiences that would risk ridicule, scorn, or even deal lower grades to students with dissenting opinion in classroom discussion or positions in papers. One of my most proud moments in college was when I decried the drowning use of the cliche 'six million jews' in my communication seminar class. I survived that remark unscathed. In my communication theory class there was that one kid who had to stand up to the neocon/military agenda every time that he could. I seldom if ever agreed with anything he said but was more disappointed with how his every word was sighed at and brought to ridicule soon after. The woman in this video I believe was acting for the camera as it was shot as footage for a documentary, but it is no excuse for her actions. Had I been the girl I would have done something between bursting into tears and fleeing the classroom or launching a textbook at her.] |
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| Protester in SF attempts to handcuff Karl Rove |
[Oct. 22nd, 2008|10:58 pm] |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- An anti-war protester confronted former Bush administration aide Karl Rove while he spoke at a San Francisco mortgage bankers' meeting. A statement by the group Code Pink identified the woman as 58-year-old Janine Boneparth, who tried to handcuff Rove in what she called a citizen's arrest for "treason." Rove, who was speaking Tuesday at the Mortgage Bankers Association's annual convention, elbowed Boneparth away as she was escorted off the stage. In total, five Code Pink members were removed from the hall during Rove's appearance. The organization says none of the five women were charged.
[This all-American peckerhead deserves to ride on a rail and be locked up in the county jail. I am surprised to see no arrests in both this case and that of the protesters attempting to halt Palin's motorcade by laying in the road. These are less than comical manifestations of my idea of declaring myself an agent of the 'police police' and writing tickets to speeding and illegally parking officers of the law.]
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| (no subject) |
[Oct. 20th, 2008|10:43 pm] |
ESPN’s Holtz apologizes for Hitler reference
By The Associated Press
Oct 18, 10:14 pm EDT
Analyst Lou Holtz apologized on air Saturday for mentioning Adolf Hitler during a college football studio show the previous night.
The former Notre Dame coach referenced Hitler while making a point about good and bad leadership during a discussion of the struggles of first-year Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.
“Last night while trying to make a point about leadership, I made an unfortunate reference,” Holtz said. “It was a mistake and I sincerely apologize.”
An ESPN spokesman said Holtz will not be further disciplined.
[Just the mention of Hitler's name always puts people in a frenzy. This makes one wonder why they don't use Stalin or Mussolini in instances such as these. My guess is that either sports journalists don't know who they are, or they at least feel that college football fans certainly don't.]
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| This is why we can't have nice things. |
[Jul. 3rd, 2008|01:50 am] |
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The following is a post from one of those '15million to lower gas prices' fb groups, there is just so much wrong here, not just the spelling, plus I'd love to see the chevy colorado get 34 mpg, if that were the case, they would outsell the ubiquitous "camery" (sic). I do like that she calls for plug-in hybrids, that are not yet on the market, by offering her disinformation that current available hybrids need to be plugged in.
Wow, if this isn't the bigggest bunch of BS I've ever heard. Just an FYI, without TRUCKS...most of the United States would quit running or be seriously crippled. You need to first off consider who uses trucks:
Farmers have them to hall cattle, produce, grain, etc. Should we just stop eating or import our food from other countries?
Utility workers ~ Use bucket trucks to get up that poll so you can have your internet so you can jump online and bitch that their truck uses too much gas. Or the water company, who has to dig a hole in the neighbor's yard because their is a water leak. Maybe they should just live with the leak and pay that extra $200 a month so that your gas prices don't go up. I'd love to see them hall all of their equipment with a little Malibu. Wouldn't that be cute? Don't forget the cable company. What would we do without them? Go outside maybe?!
Landscapers and construction crews use trucks to hall their equipment around so that the lazy joe that lives down the block and refuses to mow his lawn because it might take away from his time spent getting his manicure. And lord knows if the lawn doesn't get mowed, the neighbors will cry and whine and the Neighborhood Association will send them nasty threating letters. They also use it to haul around equipment so they can build that fancy garage for you when you buy that cute little hybrid that has to be plugged in every night! Hope you don't live in Cali. with that fancy car, when their's a power crises every summer!
Tow Trucks...hence the word truck at the end. I think the lady earlier took care of that one. And don't think you can have your friend pull you out of the mud...trucks aren't allowed remember and good luck trying to pull out you Stratus with that Camery. So with the rising water from the mass amounts of rain around the states and the little cars that get stuck in the mud guess you'll have to abandon that little Prius and hope nobody runs it over.
Here's one for the SUV...I would love to see some of those soccer mom's try to fit the 4 kids and the dog into a Toyota Carolla. Face it people...we breed like rabbits. A little 4 door gas sipper ain't gonna cut it. So your options are SUV or Van...weigh the odds, not much difference there.
Thats just some of the uses of trucks and SUV's. I could go on but I would hate for you to get all mushy and decide trucks and SUV's aren't that bad after all.
But since we're complaing about trucks and SUV's...why not take it further and complain about 18 wheelers, Busses and Tractors. Granted they use desiel, but seriously, they are big and in the way. And god forbid you get stuck behind one going 55 in a 55. You'll burn more gas waiting for them to get out of your way because your ready to do 80 in the 55. Gotta get where were going because we're all in a hurry these days. We don't need those refrigerated trucks hauling food, we're willing to drive to california to get our OJ and Kansas to get our milk and grain so we can make bread and cereal. And we'll just hop on a boat and go to columbia so we can get our coffee. Heck yeah!
Seriously people, pull your head out of your a$$e$ and think a little bit. I bitch about the gas prices because of people like Bush who are making a killing off of it. And the fact that the taxes on it are so high and we have nothing to show for it. Nothing! Our highways look like crap, our kids are getting dumber and lazier, our medicare and medicaid are a joke and our citizens are getting sick and there is nothing we can do about it because all that funding from those taxes that is supposed to go to our schools, our highway projects, our medical research and development is going to political campaign's, political agenda's, padding for politians pockets, etc. etc. Open your eyes, pull your head out of your A$$E$ and complain about the real problems facing the gas crises. It's not the trucks or the SUV's its our president and his oil mogal buddies, not to mention the friend's we've made overseas that sell us our oil.
For the record, I drive an 04' Chevy Colorado, (that's a truck for those who don't know) and I get 32-34 mpg. Better than most of your cars, except I can still haul stuff for my job if I need to or my neighbors and family, because they all went with fuel efficient cars and can't haul anything but groceries! Hope none of you have to move anywhere cause me and my truck will be unavailable to help since my truck is a gas guzzling nuisance! |
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| wicca |
[May. 10th, 2008|04:52 pm] |
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What is it? Are fat girls likely to be wiccan or do wiccans tend to be fat girls? |
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| the disbelief continues |
[Mar. 28th, 2008|09:10 pm] |
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Iam perhaps one of the worst people I've ever met. I feel like remaining introverted is the only way to keep a marginal quantity of happiness. |
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| Selling the pope ortho tri cyclen. |
[Mar. 25th, 2008|09:32 pm] |
Life has its way of making stories you'd think would only appear in the line of a Moriarty entry appear in reality. I'm going to offer the disclaimer that this is a true story.
Around one today I went over to the beauty school that offers the inexpensive haircuts I'd mentioned in the entry prior. After being told that I'd have to return at 6:30 I fumbled for my keys through my cluttered pockets as I walked back to my Rav 4. I stared into the driver's side window which was open about 3/4" to note my ring of three keys. Damnit.
So I walked to the Taunton Green about 150 yards away and spoke with the first officer of the law I came across only to find that Taunton police and fire no longer offer lockout assistance to motorists. Damnit again.
So I went back down the street the Rav was on and happened upon a 24" piece of steel wire that was remarkably similar in makeup to a steel coat hanger that was unwound and made straight. I then made my first few attempts on the keys, which rested on the driver's seat until I knocked them down to the floor, where they had no hope of being reached by my current piece of wire.
At this moment in time, a rather let's say "urban" gentleman came beside me to see what I was doing. I replied to him as I did to about 3 other passersby "I locked myself out, I'm attempting to fish out my keys." At this time I knew I needed additional reach to get the keys and I unsuccessfully attempted to craft an extension from a removed wiper blade. The urban gentleman suggested and I quote " why don't you go down to the health planning office right over there." I burst into laughter. What he was referring to was the family planning office just forty feet away. I said as my laughter continued that it would be rather awkward to ask for a coat hanger from an abortion place.
Said urban gentleman wished me luck and continued on his way. Soon after a woman came out of the abortion clinic to smoke a cigarette and was staring at me as I attempted to break into my own vehicle. To quell her suspicion, I repeated the line about how I locked myself out and told her why I felt mildly uncomfortable about entering her office to ask for a coat hanger. She seemed mildly suspicious of my at that point but after finishing her cigarette, she returned with the requested coat hanger.
With the additional reach by combining the two devices I was able to retrieve my keys and save the day.
So kids, if there's any lesson to be learned here, if you lock your keys in your car, make sure its outside an abortion clinic, they are willing to give you coat hangers. :) |
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| manbearpig |
[Mar. 25th, 2008|04:34 pm] |
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I sold my second prius last night, though today mirrors what yesterday morning was; endless standing and blackberry use. But I'm out early tonight to go get a 7 dollar haircut. I'm starting to grow rather tired of drinking keystone, but what can one do until his cash flow is steady again? |
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| stealership worker |
[Mar. 24th, 2008|11:19 am] |
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I'm standing in my new spot in the parking lot waiting for ups. We just had perhaps the longest gun meeting since I started here that father lou prob couldn't have endured. I spose its lucky I have my blackberry. Also, I might just fold and cut my hair as this gel every day thing isn't how I'd like to live. |
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| Holy Heh. |
[Dec. 31st, 2007|01:56 am] |
Good riddance 2007.
Odd numbered years have classically been the more unlucky years of my life (i.e. 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007.) This year has been no exception.
Let us review some vague points of interest from this year on the positive and negative sides.
Positive:
Two new girls made a sexy time with.
Tripped with Bryan as the Eastern Seaboard stretched before our eyes.
Secured a 2/3 triple crown position on the most important of all.
Got a better apartment and better job.
Nicky and Sylvester came along to lighten my heart.
Finished my undergrad requirements.
Negative:
Lost what I thought was a lifetime best friend, seemingly based upon trivial communication breakdowns, misunderstandings and the like.
My foundling cat Raymond died, it was a month long horrible, unmentionable struggle followed by a terrible loss.
Lost continuity with my so called “long relationship” that hurt me to no end, in more ways than one, too.
Very limited Mapela contact. Man this sucked. Only like 3 calls and a more than bitter end…end?
I was given a Ball Python, which I cannot get rid of. Yet.
Feared having caught the avian flu, lets leave that to speculation.
Had to break up with two girls, an activity that is completely foreign to me. I’m really sorry to one (from the spring) you meant a lot to me, I wish I could change things)
I’m counting the hours till its over, in fact I can hardly wait. Even if I don’t see the sunrise over Sconset. |
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| i got a nikon camera, i love to take a photograph. |
[Dec. 22nd, 2007|11:31 pm] |
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Well showing off and some misguided ebay bidding has landed me with a nikon N 50 and a nikon nikor lens 28mm f. 2.8 which will be great for documenting my travels in feb. The thing that stirred me up the most is that nikon lenses turn the opposite way of...pretty much every other camera in the universe. Now that i'm a member of such a elite, condescending cult of nikon owners, i would have imagined that i'd recieve an email to let me in on the lens mount secret. Apparently, they must know Im a canon fan... |
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| triple eight and triple e |
[Dec. 1st, 2007|12:45 am] |
I've decided that all the pics i have on myspace and fb are not to my advantage. I look terrible in all of them, but this is hard to remedy as i simply look terrible in all contexts. i saw "one crazy summer" today and had many a laugh, esp at the name of the vessel that the officials from the nantucket regatta were aboard. One of the characters was named 'ack ack' which was not just the airport code, dig it up... if you care. but that didn't make me laugh as much as something else hit its Mark. The attrition of those who care to hear from/about me has expanded in leaps and bounds this year as this is perhaps the worst year of my life. Nothing really is pulling me out of it, ive nary the aspiration to draw the next breath...oh that was a terrible analogy. Everything is so decaffeinated, so out of love and out of feeling. i can't stand how when we go over case studies in adolescent psych that i fit them uniformly.
I'm done, in more ways than one.
When this semester along side my undergrad scholarship grinds to a halt, im going to make the summer of 06 look like pregaming. I whilst have me an Olde Crow Medicine Show like you won't believe or at least might not want to believe. |
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| The sprint wireless internet i pay for is worth it. |
[Aug. 21st, 2007|01:58 am] |
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OMFG. The chronologically 13 yo and mentally 13yo that run my network have blocked my access three times today. Perhaps I'm cutting into their gaming bandwith but it has become absurd to the point where they rename the network hourly. An internet connection is always something that parents and fellow tenants always held over my heads. this is why i must pay $80 a month just for highspeed wireless i can count on. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 29th, 2007|12:48 am] |
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so joe lennox has a facebook now. unless he just created it, i dont think he gets the idea behind it as he doesn't belong to a network and has no friends listed. so he can't see or be seen, strange. |
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| Passenger 1, trying for Eagle. |
[Jul. 28th, 2007|05:12 pm] |
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tommorow i will board the eagle at 930am with my Pentax 645, the Canon hardware and a pint of Jim Beam in tow. This is my first Nantucket visit since January and both I and my companion will be there with free and clear titles, no liens or strings attached. I will promise at least a slideshow with a soundtrack and several nude underwater self portraits. |
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| riding the lightning |
[Jul. 27th, 2007|02:02 am] |
Today at work I saw a 90's flick about some sort of collapse in the Lincoln Tunnel where Sylvester Stallone was the hero that could'nt talk to save his life. In the film one of the characters cited the myth that "rubber tires are what makes you safe in a car in a lightning storm." Then enlightened with this desides to grab a sparking electrical cable that was dangling above the crashed bus she was in with her two shoes that she removed. Kids, don't try that at home. AC current is not like lightning at all, in fact even being in a car won't save you from AC, for example if an electrical wire falls onto your car, you're Westinghoused as was the Taunton teen who touched an overhead wire with a pole whilst disassembling scaffolding in Marshfield. Now to the "rubber tires save you" myth. It is not the tires that save you but rather that the car's body acts as a Faraday Cage. "Cars and aircraft. When lightning strikes an aircraft or a car the electric currents induced on it are forced to travel on the outer skin of the vehicle's body. ... The BBC television program Top Gear once sat the presenter Richard Hammond in a car while it was struck by a simulated lightning bolt of 800,000 volts at the Siemens High-Voltage lab in Berlin. [1] " Here is the clip from the show.
Also this article proves my point by saying :
"3 You are safe in your car because of the rubber tires. 4 You are safe from lightning if you are wearing rubber-soled shoes.
3. FALSE: You are safe in your car during a thunderstorm but not because of the tires. Because you are surrounded by steel, the electricity is redistributed along the metal and never reaches the inside. This doesn't work with convertibles or cars made primarily of fiberglass. 4. FALSE: If rubber tires aren't what saves you, rubber-soled shoes have no chance. DiCarlo said half an inch of rubber won't stop lightning coming from 30,000 feet in the air." (2) |
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