My Deepest Apologies

Much to my chagrin, I must take another involuntary hiatus from my beloved blogosphere.

My computer is infected. Infected beyond the reach of Symantec AntiVirus. I've done what my limited skills have enabled me to do - and it has not helped. Today is the worst yet. My computer is sluggish and I keep getting viral notifications that say things like, "Clean failed." "Quarantine failed." and "Access denied."

That CAN'T be good.

So, I must bid you all an abrupt but heartfelt adieu - for it is off to the computer-geek repair shop.

I'll see you on the other side - and after my wallet is undoubtedly $100 lighter.

Snooch to the booch.

Read More

Dirty Rudy

- J.D. Crowe

Read More

Status Kuo

A great post from David Kuo as a response to an op-ed (heavily laden with Christianist rhetoric) by Sam Brownback.

Money line:

Brownback is scaring me. The GOP will succeed to the "the degree that it is faith-filled." Hello? The GOP will win if it is religious? What a terrifying, terrifying thought. If anyone needs further proof as to what the GOP will become if it tries to become a church, look no further than the current White House.

Yeah.

Read More

Torture By Definition

Contrary to popular opinion, [waterboarding] is not a simulation of drowning - it is drowning.

This from Malcom W. Nance, instructor and Master Training Specialist in the Wartime Prisoner-of-War, Peacetime Hostile Government Detainee and Terrorist Hostage survival programs within the U.S. Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school.

You want more? Okay.

SERE emphasized that enemies of democracy and rule of law often ignore human rights, defy the Geneva Convention and have subjected our men and women to grievous physical and psychological harm. We stress that enduring these calumnies will allow our soldiers to return home with honor.

So... I guess that the United States is now an enemy of democracy.

Thanks George.

Read More

Uncomfortably Close

I've never been one who understands the high prices of art. I love to look at paintings, drawings, photography, etc... I can definitely appreciate the skill and creativity that goes into a masterpiece like DaVinci's the Last Supper.

However, if I want that painting in my house - I'll just go out and buy a reprint of it from an art store.

Anyway, I thought that this was interesting. You can zoom in on the picture/painting and examine the tiniest details. Good stuff.

Read More

Straight Talk

Video:



Now, I don't think that mudslinging is good politics. If it had been McCain that called senator Clinton a bitch, then I would be upset with him (to clarify: I would not be upset with Johnny Mac because he called Hillary a bitch, rather I would be disheartened because he resorted to name-calling).

BUT, because it was a supporter of his that stooped to the juvenile level of Hillary-taunting, I do not understand what all of the uproar from the left-wingy-blogger community is about. He didn't say anything bad. Quite to the contrary, the senator said that he "respects senator Clinton."

Oh, and David Brooks appears to be in LOVE with McCain (and yet it's a good column - read it Brian).

Anyway - I still say that Johnny Mac could pull it off and completely blow Rudy out of the water. At least I hope he does. I really don't like Rudy.

Read More

Oops

First there were accusations (and admissions) of planted questions in town-hall meetings. Now, it appears that the American flag is attacking the junior senator from New York:



Oh, and this is rich - apparently it was an attempt to smear Hillary:

You got to be out of your mind if you think this was an accident. Just who was this person who opened the curtain just enough so she could put her hand out to tip the flag over? Where is the mainstream media scrutiny over this?

Rrrright.

If you ask me - and I assume you do because you are reading my crap - I think that this is just the beginning of a long, downward spiral for the Clinton campaign.

Hey, a guy can dream can't he?

Read More

Honor

A humble salute to all those who have served - and those who currently serve.

Thank you.

Read More

Fortune Cookie

My family went to the buffet this weekend with my parental units and my Uncle Tilman. I ate my fill of honey chicken and crab rangoon, after which I got a chillingly accurate fortune:

Now is a good time to expand your repertoire of skills and knowledge.

Yikes.

This stay-at-home-dad thing is just the right environment to do just that. I've been mulling over my future professional goals lately... and I'm unsure of where I am headed. Thoughts?

Oh powerful fortune cookie - tell me my future!

Read More

Rock The Barack

It's long. It's very long.

But, despite it's length it's worth watching.

Read More

Trojans

DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!

I'm hit! I'm hit!

Yeah, I got hit bad. Trojan virus. Slowed down my system... bad. Still working out the bugs. Hopefully, I won't need to take my tower to the fix-it guy. I can't take the hit to my wallet too.

Have scanned, re-scanned and scanned some more. Symantec has quarantined several files.

I hate hacker-bastards.

F**kers.

Any suggestions/feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Read More

Definitions

- Adam Zyglis

Read More

Flabbergasted

Apparently, the good senator from Arizona feels the same as I do.

Speechless.

Read More

Put... The Pen... Down.

Finally. Congress has grown some balls.

------
Photo: Larry Downing/Reuters

Read More

Lest We Forget

Now that Pat Robertson has officially endorsed "America's Mayor" Rudy Giuliani (who has built his ENTIRE presidential run on his leadership of New York City following the attacks of September 11th, 2001), I wouldn't want any of us to forget what P-Rob (and Jerry Falwell) said about that fateful day:

Rrrright.

Read More

What The F**k?

In today's installment of What The F**k?, we look at uber-neo-conservative-nutbag Deroy Murdock and his extremely warped view on waterboarding.

Quote:

While the White House must beware not to inform our enemies what to expect if captured, today’s clueless anti-waterboarding rhetoric merits this tactic’s vigorous defense. Waterboarding is something of which every American should be proud.

Uh... what?

Proud. Really? Proud of degrading another human being? Proud of ruining (what is left of) America's good name around the globe? Proud of putting our fighting men and women in danger of similar (or likely) worse treatment?

Look, I'm all for catching the bad guys and getting them to spill the proverbial beans about anything and everything that would be useful to our intelligence services. But this argument that 'if we don't torture our enemies there will be another 9/11' is bunk. So is the idea that 'well, if we aren't torturing the bad guys, we must be coddling them'. Granted, prisoners should get good meals and health-care, but you take away someone's freedom, and it gets rather uncomfortable. That's hardly coddling anyone.

Finally, there is much dispute over whether torture actually works.

Check out this article. Money quote:

Interviews and interrogations are not about making someone talk. They are about making them want to.

Something to think about.

Read More

Shocker!

This headline is so unbelievable, that I have to give it the Shocker tag:


Yeah. The Shocker.

I want to expand on this subject later, but for now I'll just say this: What is going on?! How is it that the most liberal Republican presidential nominee in, well... EVER is getting the endorsement of Pat Robertson?

Crazy.

Read More

Fortune Cookie

Interesting one this time:

Next time, order the shrimp.

No kidding. That's what it says.

Apparently, my sweet & sour chicken is upsetting the Fortune Cookie Gods.

Read More

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

- Olle Johansson

Read More

Drāno

I knew it was only a matter of time before our current Commander in Chief would be less-popular than Nixon.

By 64%-31%, Americans disapprove of the job he is doing. For the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50% say they "strongly disapprove" of the president. Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48%, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974.

Hmmm... let's examine what I believe are the main causes for the Bush popularity decline, shall we?

In no particular order, kind of...

1:: War. Of course the war in Iraq takes the main stage at the Conflict Concert, but let us not forget that we are currently embroiled in not one, but TWO ADDITIONAL wars: the war in Afghanistan and the amorphous War On Terror. All three of these fracas can be traced directly to the attacks of September 11th, 2001. Afghanistan and the War On Terror are direct results of the attacks - whereas the war in Iraq is more of a rhetorical link that has been graciously provided to us by the Bush administration. Americans are sick and tired of war. We are hearing the drum beats for engagement with Iran now - and I really don't think that our country will put up with it. Moreover, G.W. Bush and his homies really dropped the political ball when they didn't go after Osama bin Laden. I think that his approval ratings would be MUCH higher if we had at least TRIED to catch this guy. Ugh.

2:: Gas. Prices in my neighborhood are $3.00 per gallon. I live in the 'sticks', so I can only imagine what a gallon of regular-unleaded costs in the city. I know that I cannot blame Bush and Cheney for the high price of gas - that is partially my fault (and yours) for needing so damn much of it. It doesn't help when every soccer-mom that I see drives a f**kin' GMC Yukon Denali. HOWEVER, our nation's recent foreign policy has definitely had some affect on the price of a barrel of oil (which is now hovering right around $100 per barrel - a record high). This means that my second point (gas) is directly related to my first point (war). In fact, there are those who would argue that it's the other way around...

3:: Healthcare. Okay, so you don't want universal health care coverage for everyone. That makes you a likely Republican and that's just fine with me. BUT - how can Mr. Bush think that Americans are going to get behind this zany idea that kids who cannot afford health care don't deserve it?! If you are an adult, get out and get yourself a job to pay for YOUR health care - or go uninsured. Under his thought process, Mr. Bush is seemingly blaming kids for having parents who happen to be down on their luck, unemployed, underemployed or are just simply dead-beat-parents. How is that the kids' fault? This isn't about "Hillary-care" (as Mitt and Rudy LOVE to trumpet) folks, this is about kids getting the medical coverage the need and deserve.

I would think that those three arguments would be enough to prove why the numbers are low, but I'm going to add one of my pet peeves to the mix:

4:: Fiscal Responsibility. The last time that I checked, the GOP was the "party of fiscal conservatism". Republicans want to cut wasteful spending, and keep the budget balanced. Currently, our national debt stand at just under $9.2 trillion. That's trillion with a T-R people. You always hear conservatives complaining about the Democrats wasteful spending and what-not. Up until a year ago, the government was almost COMPLETELY controlled by Republicans - and it was all directed by George W. Bush. This national debt issue has not been getting a lot of play with the media and with the 2008 presidential candidates (from either party) - but I think that it should. If we cannot get our debt under control, it could be our children who are adversely affected.

Our country is rapidly losing it's moral standing in the global community because of wars and issues like torture and habeas corpus. We may soon lose our effectiveness in the trade community because of looming debts. This president and his loyalists are, for the most part, to blame. It does not surprise me in the least that president Bush's approval numbers are in the toilet.

It's time to flush the toilet America.

Or at least get out the Drāno...

------
Photo: Larry Downing/Reuters

Read More

Depressing Numbers

More U.S. troops have died in 2007 than in any other year of the war in Iraq... and there are still two months left.

At least 852 American military personnel have died in Iraq so far this year - the highest annual toll since the war began in March 2003, according to AP figures.

The grim milestone passed despite a sharp drop in U.S. and Irraqi deaths here in recent months, after a 30,000-strong U.S. force buildup. There were 39 deaths in October, compared to 65 in September and 84 in August.

I will concede that the "surge" appears to be working. That said, one question remains: Has it been worth the cost?

Read More

Grab Your Board And A Mountain Dew

"I can't wait to hop into my Jeep Liberty, drink some Mountain Dew and go waterboarding!"



Oh, and a possible snafu on my part. Apparently, whether or not Jon Stewart is actually paying his writers out of his own pocket is up for debate (scroll to the bottom of the page for the updated info). One account says that he's paying his staff through his production company, Busboy. Another account (his management) says that he's not paying his staff at all.

I'll keep you updated.

Read More

Money Bomb

BOOM!

Ron Paul. Who'da'thunk'it?

Press release.

Graph.

24 hours of donations on Guy Fawkes Day.

Remember remember the Fifth of November...

I would think (hope) that the other GOP candidates are starting to fear this man. If not, they may be grossly underestimating the effect that Dr. Paul will have on the election.

Over $3.8 million raised yesterday.

Crazy.

------
Photo: Reuters

Read More

What The Fawkes?

Remember, remember, the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Some grassroots supporters of Ron Paul's campaign are using Guy Fawkes' memory (and that of the Gunpowder Plot) to raise money... AND IT'S WORKING. REALLY WORKING.

Nearly $2.6 million at current count.

Wow. Observe. That's a grassroots movement kids.

Read More

Edwards Hits Hard

I'm not a huge fan of John Edwards... but this ad is great!

Read More

What's The Deal?

Really Fred? You had a former drug-dealer working on your campaign?

Yikes.

Read More

Respect

For the most part, I've really ignored the Writers' Guild strike news. I understand the demands that the writers have - as they should get that for which they are asking. BUT we as a nation are currently involved in no less than three wars (and a fourth seems like it's on the horizon no matter how much I hate the idea), the price of gasoline is soaring to record highs and it now seems that the nation of Pakistan is nearing a tipping point in which that nation's nuclear arsenal could fall into the "wrong hands". I just think that some film and television writers wanting more out of their contracts falls a bit short of BIG news.

However, this caught my eye.

I watch the Daily Show with Jon Stewart on a... well... daily basis. The show is funny - yes - but it's also timely, smart and most-of-all - based on FACTS. It's the real news with a humorous slant.

Jon Stewart has always impressed me as a guy who can take something that could usually be classified as boring (see: CSPAN) and turn it into real entertainment.

The fact that he is going to pay the writers on his show, AND the writers on the Colbert Report WITH HIS OWN MONEY is beyond impressive to me. It's selfless. It's inspiring.

I'd LOVE to work for someone like that.

Happy Monday.

------
Photo: Reuters

Read More

Animator Vs. Animation

This is perhaps one of the coolest/most creative things I've seen in a while. Here's the link.



Head Nod: Sullivan

Read More

Ding, Ding

... and off come the gloves:

Democrat Barack Obama, the only black candidate for president, accused rival Hillary Clinton on Friday of hiding behind her gender after she was pummeled in a debate with six male candidates.

“I am assuming and I hope that Sen. Clinton wants to be treated like everybody else,” the Illinois senator said in an interview with NBC’s “Today Show.”

“When we had a debate back in Iowa awhile back, we spent I think the first 15 minutes of the debate hitting me on various foreign policy issues. And I didn’t come out and say: ‘Look, I’m being hit on because I look different from the rest of the folks on the stage’,” he said.

“I assumed it was because there were real policy differences there, and I think that has to be the attitude that all of us take. We’re not running for the president of the city council. We’re running for the presidency of the United States.”

That was a nice one-two combo there. Let's hope that people take notice - because for whatever reason, Hillary continues to climb in the polls... Ugh.

------
Photo: Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty Images

Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Around and around we go.... again.

I certainly hope that Chimpy McFlightsuit doesn't veto health care for kids again. I was simply stunned that he did it the first time.

Read More

It's Over... For Now

Unfortunately for us. Ugh.

Why can't South Carolina be cool? Buzzkill.

Read More

Hack-Master

Read More