TumericaTumericaProgressive politics, personal poetry, food fanatacism, and beauty natterings. Freshly baked, original content. Articles
Free Speech via Journalism Equals Democracy
2008-07-12 19:33:00 Bill Moyers, in his speech to the audience at the National Conference on Media Reform,"Democracy without honest information creates the illusion of popular consent at the same time that it enhances the power of the state and the privileged interests that the state protects. And nothing characterizes corporate media today more than its disdain toward the fragile nature of modern life and its indifference toward the complex social debate required of a free and self-governing people."Journalism can make or break a democracy.In the swirl surrounding the events of September 11, 2001, was there any debate, or simply a lying down and a dogged acceptance of the established line, spoon-fed from the current administration?We desperately need media reform, as some outing of the truth from the perpe-traitors.For more on media reform, see StopBigMedia.com More About: Free , Free Speech , Equals
Impeachment on the Floor of the House Today (Thank You, Rep. Kucinich) & a
2008-07-10 10:43:00 Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Iowa sent out this missive today:Dear Friends, Congressman Dennis Kucinich will present a single Article of Impeachment to the House of Representatives sometime between 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm (EDT) today, Thursday, July 10th.Sessions of the House of Representatives are broadcast live on C-SPAN (check your local cable listings for channel) and streamed live via the Internet (www.cspan.org).The article of Impeachment will deal directly with President Bush fraudulently obtaining support for an attack on Iraq by creating a false case for war. Full details of the Article of Impeachment will be available after they are read on the floor of the House by Congressman Kucinich.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~When I signed the Kucinich online petition (which you can do to), here's what I wrote in the Comments field:Here's a simple equation:$535+ Billion U.S. Dollars1,236,000+ Iraqi Civilian Casualties, Mostly Women & Children4116 U.S soldiers killed30,000+ U.S. soldiers woun... More About: Today , Anti-War , Progressive Politics
World Hunger Summit Leaders Dine on Cockroach Ragout and Yakitori of Rat, w
2008-07-09 17:53:00 File this under major irony of 2008, but this past Sunday, the world leaders who represent all the countries concerned with the global food crisis, "sat down to an 18-course gastronomic extravaganza at a G8 summit in Japan, which is focusing on the food crisis."Did any of the diners ponder their own hypocrisy for a nanosecond as their ivory chopsticks ascended to their well-fed jowls? Jowls quivering with such delicacies as milk-fed lamb, sea urchin gonads (known as "uni" in Japan), as well as the usual sturgeon roe and sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France (ho hum)?One wonders what an appropriate dinner menu for such an illustrious gathering might be. Anyone care to add to this list? The rules are that it must be:AbundantInexpensiveEasily attainedNot harmful to the environment to raise/growHere's my suggested menu:Mosquito fritter appetizerGarden snail popcornJellyfish sashimi on kudzu leavesPinto beans puree with a soybean reduction sauceCockroach ragoutYakitor... More About: Food , World , Hunger , World Politics , Dine
It's a can! It's a car! It's Ozkan Koral's Incredible Rolling Vehicle. Wann
2008-06-29 15:05:00 Leave it to a young industrial designer from Turkey to come up with a concept for a car that's so outta the box, it's unaware there ever was a box. Meet Ozkan Koral, a 2006 graduate of Middle East Technical University School of Industrial Design. He's done a motorcycle. A hair dryer (at least I think that's what it is--but certainly, it's a work of art), an all-ceramic washbasin (no metal), an SUV dashboard, and this mind-blowing concept car for Peugeot.The images above show the car, dubbed the "Ozone," without the windshield/ windows. The image below shows the car with the shields up, but translucent. Another option is to make the shields opaque. You enter the Ozone via the ?doors? inside each wheel. You slide into the body of the car, which, like the middle of a Segway, stays aligned perpendicular to the ground as the wheels rotate around it. The Ozone is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, so is energy efficient and has zero emissions.Here's what Mr. Koral says about the car:O... More About: Vehicle , Alternative Energy , Incredible , Rolling
What Kind of Guy Would Call His Wife the C-Word? John McCain, of Course
2008-06-19 09:34:00 In The Real McCain by author, Cliff Schechter, John McCain called his wife Cindy the C-word (female body part that when used to label a woman in your presence is sure to get you smacked, broken up with, or divorced. One word to never say if you care anything about a relationship with a woman. Never.) Apparently, Cindy was toying with a strand of McCain's hair and remarked that his hair was thinning. Then, according to MomLogic: McCain's face reddened, and he responded, ?At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c*nt.? Whoa. Cindy just gave an embarrassed smile and remained silent, and the other people in the bus didn't say anything, either, Schechter tells momlogic. Everyone was utterly speechless. The other people on the bus were two aides and three reporters. Best way to keep a secret when showing the other side of your nether regions is to say it in front of reporters. Why does this bother me? No man would call me this word?in private, much less in public?a... More About: Women , Wife , Word , Issues
Fund-raising Birthday Party: Help Charity Instead of Adding to the Landfill
2008-06-16 15:44:00 This past Saturday, we threw a birthday party for our five-year-old daughter, Jaclyn. In lieu of presents, Jaclyn agreed to let us take up donations for Defenders of Wildlife to support the animals who need help. We made a lavish feast, had a wonderful, lively clown, and about 15 ecstatic children at our humble party. Fun was had by all. We set up a display on the buffet with a piggy bank for donations. We put the piggy bank on a fleece Defenders of Wildlife throw, along with a copy of the Defenders magazine and a lovely wolf print. We made a sign that read, ?Thank you for your donation to Defenders of Wildlife in Jaclyn?s honor.? Today we counted the take, and we raised $130 for Defenders! (And thankfully, have no kid?s toys that will eventually wind up in a landfill.) We received a lot of genuine support from our guests who said they loved the idea of a fund-raiser instead of the usual gift-giving melee at children?s parties. Maybe we can make this an annual event? And we?d like... More About: Science , Personal , Nature , Party , Birthday Party
Kucinich Delivered Articles of Impeachment Against Bush!
2008-06-09 19:03:00 Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich presented 35 Articles of Impeachment against George W. Bush to the House of Representatives yesterday. The House session was televised live on C-SPAN, and today is getting some noticeable media coverage (that's always an issue with these things: will the media cover it?). Thank you, Rep. Kucinich. Bless you and namaste. Thank you for the courage to do what needs to be done. Sure, there may be six months left of the most horrendous administration in history, but justice, although it's gotten a bit dusty and rusty from lack of use over the past seven years, is still a worthy ideal. Other presidents have gotten impeached for canoodling. How about impeachment for an illegal war that has devastated an entire country, costs thousands of American lives, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilian lives, and, um, bankrupted the U.S.? PHOTO: Dennis Kucinich and his preternaturally gorgeous wife, Elizabeth. Rep. K. is a vegan, practices yoga, and is courageou... More About: Progressive Politics
Panty Power: Use Your Underwear to Fight for Peace in Myanmar!
2008-05-31 23:33:00 Questions: How do you scare the bejesus out of the Myanmar (Burma) regime?Answer: Send them your panties!You got that right. A new movement is underway to protest for peace and regime change in Myanmar and the methodology, while a tad unorthodox on the surface, apparently has substance to it. The Panties for Peace campaign plays on the regime leaders? superstitious fear that contact with a woman?s underpants will rob them of their power. Women around the world are asked to post their panties to local Burmese embassies in a bid to strip the regime of its power and bring an end to its gross violations of human rights, especially those committed against Burma?s women. The leaders of the Myanmar military regime are make and superstitious. They fear any contact with female undergarments will sap power from them, effectively, emasculating them. (I am NOT making this up.) To send a loud message to a regime that has murdered thousands of its people, enslaved countless others, subjugates... More About: Power , Issues , World Politics
McCain's Evangelist Hagee: "Hitler Was Fullfilling God's Will for Israel"
2008-05-22 00:26:00 I about choked on my own spit when I read what John McCain's backer, evangelist John Hagee said, "'And they the hunters should hunt them,' that will be the Jews. 'From every mountain and from every hill and from out of the holes of the rocks.' If that doesn't describe what Hitler did in the holocaust you can't see that." "Theodore Hertzel is the father of Zionism. He was a Jew who at the turn of the 19th century said, this land is our land, God wants us to live there. So he went to the Jews of Europe and said 'I want you to come and join me in the land of Israel .' So few went that Hertzel went into depression. Those who came founded Israel; those who did not went through the hell of the holocaust. "Then god sent a hunter. A hunter is someone with a gun and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. And the Bible says -- Jeremiah writing -- 'They shall hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and from the holes of the rocks,' meaning there's no place to hide. And t... More About: Anti-War , Progressive Politics
Congratulations to Gay Couples in California on a Hard-fought Victory!
2008-05-15 22:16:00 ?In a monumental victory for the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage Thursday in a ruling that would allow same-sex couples in the nation's biggest state to tie the knot,? AP reports.As anyone who has a serious, committed gay relationship knows, being a domestic partner and being married are as different as the turtle and the moon (tsuki to suppon, in Japanese). Married couples have enormous benefits and advantages of all kinds. And marriage bestows a kiss of solidity from communities as well.Shown on the sign these couples are carrying, With marriage rights comes equal: · Health benefits for our partners and families in many jobs · Visitation rights when our partners are hospitalized · Immigration rights for lesbian and gay partners who are foreign nationals · Adoption rights and foster parent rights · Social security and pension survivors benefits · Respect for our... More About: Victory , Hard , Couples , Congratulations
40 Things a Woman Must Know to Be an Effective Woman
2008-05-09 18:19:00 How to ask for what you wantHow to host a small dinner partyHow to make sangria, a margarita, and a martiniHow to make macaroni and cheese from scratchHow to fold at least one origami character or a paper airplaneHow to figure out your correct bra sizeHow to make a preschool child laughHow to make a definitive decision and then not look backHow to sing at least one lullabyHow to make scrambled eggsHow to make chicken soup from scratchHow to braid hairHow to hang out with a gang of guys at a sporting eventHow to write a thank-you noteHow to write a letter of complaintHow to sell yourself to an employer?either for a raise or a jobHow to tell a few jokes in mixed companyHow to play Go Fish, Crazy 8, and Jin RummyHow to do the three most important yoga asanas: forward fold, downward dog, and shoulder standHow to compose a good photograph of peopleHow to say please and thank you graciouslyHow to choose your best colors to wearHow to pick shoes that are both comfortabl... More About: Feminism , Woman , Things , Effective , A Woman
Five Reasons Why John McCain Is Not a Good Guy
2008-04-25 16:54:00 Something about the crooked, yellowing grin, the unpolished verbal flubs, the heroic years spent as a prisoner of war lend Senator John McCain a vulnerable lovability?at least on the surface. My husband swears McCain is a good guy and I vehemently disagreed. He's a war-monger, honey. He'd be more than happy to mow down Iran if it so much as sneezed in Israel's direction, my dear. And look what electing someone who can't tell a Shiite from a Sunni got us, sweetheart. It's just not a good idea. Well, that didn't seem enough, or even completely believable, so I decided to scratch the calculatedly benign exterior and see what lurked beneath.Sociopath. McCain is incapable of understanding anyone whose plight is worse than his own, and feels no remorse or guilt for the pain and suffering of others. Think I am exaggerating? He?s against equal wages for women, for starters, and not ashamed to admit it. McCain gave a speech on the importance of free trade recently in a factory that was... More About: Progressive Politics , Reasons , Good , John McCain
Honey, Is That a Cyborg Bug that Just Got Fried in Our Bug-Zapper?
2008-04-09 16:37:00 A wee little flying insect flits by your face. You wave a hand to shoo it away. The bug persists. For a second, your eyes focus on it?hey, isn't that a little antenna sticking up? A little gadgetry sticking out? And isn't the drone a bit, well, electronic? That's no quotidian insect, that's a cyborg insect. A high-tech spying device or a weapon, depending on the U.S. government's intent. Sound far-fetched?Not any more: "[. . .] the Pentagon's urge to weaponize the wild kingdom is a topic [author Nick] Turse has long been familiar with and that he deals with powerfully in his remarkable new book, The Complex: How the Military Invades Our Everyday Lives. It is?believe me?the single most powerful look yet at all the subtle and complicated ways American lives have been militarized during the last decades. "Literally, researchers working for the Pentagon are growing part-electronic, part biological insects in labs right now. Moths and flying beetles are first out of the lab; with s... More About: Cyborg , Honey , Fried
Obama?Bloomberg Ticket: How Exciting Is That?
2008-03-27 16:28:00 Very exciting. To me, anyway. Clinton's continued participation in the race at this point is just to drive the media story. We've all seen it happen, say, in the build-up to the Olympics. The media finds two opposing characters, develops a story, and milks it for all it's worth to drive ratings. Voila! Excitement. If Clinton's candidacy does drive more apathetic voters to the polls, then that's a positive outcome, so I'm not sweating it. When I hear even people I love drone on about Hillary's latest foible ("I ducked for sniper fire in Bosnia?NOT!"), though, I have to stifle my yawns. Obama 's delegate lead and following is insurmountable and has been for some time.So let's move the discussion to something more productive: who might the next president choose for his running mate? How fun to consider the possibilities. A friend of mine who has friends volunteering for the Obama campaign swears that at one time Kerry was considered (that was the inside scoop). Now, I love John... More About: Bloomberg , Ticket
Let the 2008 Summer Olympics Begin with Protests
2008-03-24 16:37:00 Photo at right: Chinese riot police marching in Tibet's Shangri-la · 99 Tibetan protesters slaughtered (that is, unarmed protesters) by the Chinese government, who has only recently raised its official death toll for the protests to 22 · Pro-Tibet activists arrested in Greece in the flame-lighting ceremony there, where they face criminal prosecution · Chinese government announced U.S. House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who met with the Dalai Lama recently, is "habitually bad tempered," and proceeded to try to discredit her · The Chinese government's propaganda newspaper, The People?s Daily (think Fox News for China ) accused, "The Dalai clique is scheming to take the Beijing Olympics hostage to force the Chinese government to make concessions to Tibet independence." If the last accusation is true, then more power to Tibet. Sure, I?d hate a boycott of the Summer Olympics, but to help free the Tibetan people from their five decades of Chinese tyranny? I say, bring it on. Ex... More About: World Politics , Progressive Politics
Iraquagmire: The Endless Juggernaut Five Years Later
2008-03-19 20:37:00 (At Left: Orphans left to starve in Iraq)You know me--I never copy—“all-original content,” and all that. Today, the fifth anniversary of one of the most atrocious, wrong-headed acts in history, the war against Iraq, I simply cannot remain silent. And I could dredge up my on versions of these numbers, but, b'gosh, Give-'Em-Hell-Harry Reid and his staff have put it all together perfectly. Here is the ugly, raw truth. History that is well-understood will not be repeated.—TumericaThe Cost to Our Forces in Iraq 3,990: American troops who have died in Iraq since the start of the war. [icasualties.org, 3/17/08] 29,395: Number of U.S. service members that have been wounded in hostile action since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq. [AP, 3/11/08] 60,000: Number of troops that have been subjected to controversial stop-loss measures--meaning those who have completed service commitments but are forbidden to leave the military until their units return from war. [US News ... More About: Years , Endless
Bear Stearns Bearish, Baring Bare Backside of Unbearable Heaviness of Beari
2008-03-17 17:18:00 Here's what the Federal Reserve had to decide over the weekend: Let the U.S. markets go into a free fall, like the demoed twin towers of the World Trade Center (and WTC7), or lend ginormous sums of money—that it does not possess because of the $225 Million U.S. per day expense of the war against Iraq—to keep Bear Stearns afloat on the ice floe that's melting due to global warming. (Did I include every deadly sin of the current administration in one question? Nah—I left out illegal spying on private citizens and the overall destruction of the U.S. Constitution. Oh, yeah, and failure to rescue the people of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.) So the Fed opts to loan $30 Billion of credit dollars—not available dollars—to JP Morgan so it can acquire Bear Stearns, so it can avoid sinking into the already gurgling slushy waters of the U.S.-led world economy impending disaster.This reminds me of the brave little Dutch tyke who stuck his finger in the dike to prevent a deluge... More About: Bearish , Bare , Backside
U.S. Still Waltzing with Idea of Attacking Iran: Fallon the Next Obstacle C
2008-03-12 01:43:00 Sure, Bush has been jonesing to attack Iran , since about the time he got away with the illegal war against Iraq without any dire consequences (to himself, that is--$275 Million U.S. per day to fund the illegal war is dire enough; more than 80,000 Iraqi casualties is dire enough; almost 4,000 American casualties is dire enough too). Bush got away with it. He got away with 9/11, whatever his role in that was, and certainly, he put up with the planning of it, at the very least. Drunk on this string of successes, his own hubris ("I talk to God" and the downfall of the "It's just another goddamned piece of paper" U.S. Constitution), and his then ample poll numbers, buoyed by support or lack of spine on the part of Congress, well, his wildest Neo-Con dreams could come true. "Total hegemony in the Middle East?!? Golly Gee, Laura, we might could pull that one off too!"So attack Iran? Well, it ain't Iraq. Iran has 425,000 armed forces, 125,000 Islamic guards, and up to 11 million homegrown... More About: Idea
Misogyny by Any Other Name: No, Charlotte Allen, Women Aren't Dim, It's Rea
2008-03-07 20:38:00 Charlotte Allen , pictured at left, a contributing writer to such well-read publications as the Washington Post, the Dallas News, The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, finds herself in the middle of a conflagration caused by her own writing. The topic? Her analysis of female Obamaniacs and how the seeming mental dimness of groupie behavior leads her to conclude women, ?. . . could shriek and swoon and gossip and read chick lit to our hearts' content and not mind the fact that way down deep, we are . . . kind of dim.? (From the Washington Post article published Sunday, Mar. 3, entitled, ?We Scream, We Swoon. How Dumb Can We Get??)Allen has published articles defending the sexist comments of the previous Harvard University President, Lawrence Summers, when he referred to what he presumed to be mathematical deficiencies in the minds of the female sex by way of explaining why so few women choose academia in the sciences. Summers later stepped down over his views. Allen, however, continu... More About: Women , Feminism , Charlotte
Do You Know the Ricin Man? The Ricin Man, the Ricin Man . . .
2008-03-04 20:02:00 . . . Do you know the Ricin man,Who lives in a Utah hospital now?Here's what we know about the Ricin Man?and it's admittedly not much:Name: Roger Von BergendorffHometown: Riverton, Utah, but moved to Las Vegas one year agoPersonality: Described by a neighbor as a ?Loner, socially regressive?Found among Ricin Man?s belongings: Several vials (I almost wrote "viles") of ricin?a chemical so deadly, a dot of it the size of the head of a pin is enough to kill a normal-sized human. The amount Ricin Man carried was enough to kill a small town. Also found were "firearms and a book on anarchy, tabbed to a page on ricin." How the Ricin Man Got Outed: His cousin and friend, Thomas Tholen, turned over the offending substance after discovering it when he went to clear away Ricin Man?s things (after being hospitalized for exposure). Mr. Tholen has been forthcoming in reporting what he knows about Ricin man. Why Ricin Rings a Bell: Not to be confused with sarin, the toxic substance that... More About: Terrorism
Mini-Tuesday: Clinton Takes Texas; Obama Overpowers Ohio
2008-03-04 18:50:00 Predictions, anyone? Hillary takes Texas (Annie, get yo' gun, girl!) and Barack takes Ohio back from the Repugs. Thus leaving the contest oh-so-much-more complicated. [sigh]My friend Lemming Herder reports that, sadly, there is still some active racism in Texas. I told him I am grateful to live in a state where racism has to keep its ugly head hidden. State-wide in California, we are 1/3 Latino, but the percentage is much higher here in Southern California--and we like it that way. We also have a huge chunk of Asian and German--of all ethnicities, so the mix makes it fun and flavorful for all--at least that's the way I see it. If you are gonna be racist here, you are gonna get your block knocked off and be ostracized to boot. Social humiliation is the best normalizer--works great in Japan, I noticed.Still, it's hard to believe that someone--anyone--would choose either Barack or Hillary based solely on their ethnicity or sex (or not choose them for same). I'd like to pretend rac... More About: Obama , Mini , Clinton
Tumerica Dishes on Oscar Dresses, 2008
2008-02-25 22:23:00 Best Dressed and Worst: the Good, the Bad, and the UglyLike those Americans who watch the Superbowl in order to check out the extravagant or whacked out commercials (you know who I'm talking about), I admit to watching the Academy Awards either partly or wholly to check out the fashions--or lack thereof (honestly, the only movie I've seen was Ratatouille--which I adored). I get a naughty thrill when someone like George Clooney?s girlfriend wears a particularly dreadful dress (which she did), or when Anne Hathaway takes home the Tumerica Prize for Best Dress and Best Overall Look--which she did. This is all in fun and does my heart good to avoid facing the cosmic chaos of impending doom in the Middle East and in the environment for a while. So what did you think about these looks?Most DeliciousAnne HathawaySpectacular dress, regal and breath-taking. Loved everything about her look. The fabulous Harry Winston bling, the porcelain goddess skin. Fabulous. Could there be a more beauti... More About: Dresses , Oscar , Dishes , 2008
Other Countries Know What We Know: 9/11 an Inside Job
2008-02-25 17:27:00 JapanAt the National Diet of Japan on January 10, 2008, Councilor Yukihisa Fujita of Democratic Party of Japan questioned 9/11. This is a BIG NEWS yet Japanese MSM--and naturally the U.S. media as well--absolutely ignored it. PLEASE make sure to watch it to the VERY END of it. This clip is where Fjita points out innacuracies and impossibilities in the MSM story as related to the WTC Building 7's collapse.ItalyIn April 2007, Italian TV broadcasted a definite proof that Building 7 was demolished by explosives. For the rest of the series, go to luogocomune.net. This is a BIG NEWS yet the U.S. media, once again, absolutely ignored it. PLEASE make sure to watch it to the VERY END of it. This clip is where Fjita points out innacuracies and impossibilities in the MSM story as related to the WTC Building 7's collapse. More About: Countries , Inside , Inside Job
How to Teach Preschool Kids Where Babies Come from
2008-02-22 19:31:00 At some point, your preschooler is going to ask how animals or people make babies. This is a normal expression of curiosity. You have to say something. You want your information to be accurate, but no reason to give too much detail, right? What is appropriate for a preschooler to know? What language should you use? How do you handle your emotions during this tricky discussion? First of all, most children are interested in "reproduction," as opposed to "sex." How do creatures make more babies? This is the level on which to keep the topic. Reproduction. "The talk" can wait until later in their lives. But for now, where do babies come from? Read on to learn how to teach preschool children where babies come from.Wrap Your Mind around the IdeaFirst, to put this in perspective, imagine if you were completely new to a topic and knew nothing. You'd want some basic information about it?an overview. You wouldn't have any preconceived ideas or emotions tied up in a topic about which you knew... More About: Kids , Babies
87-year-old WWII Vet Hospitalized: My Dad the Bombardier
2008-02-18 23:18:00 A sad thing happened in my family over the weekend. My 87-year-old father was checked in to the hospital on Saturday. Turns out he has congestive heart failure, apparently in the early stages. He is in one of the state-of-the-art VA hospitals, luckily, in western North Carolina. Anyway, Dad is quite out of it. When I spoke to him a little while ago, we laughed and joked about Jaclyn, his grand daughter, but when I asked him how he did sleeping in the hospital, we was all, "What hospital?" He's disoriented and confused. He doesn't understand that he has a serious illness and keeps trying to go home. I would not want to be his nurse! Tomorrow he'll get an echocardiogram to check his heart to see how it is and to know what medications to give. If all goes well, he'll get to go home soon. If not, well, I'll let you know. Meanwhile, say a little prayer or send out good thoughts for him.He was a hero in WWII and was a bomber pilot (a bombardier) in the South Pacific. He continued ... More About: Personal , Year
Parade's Top Ten World's Worst Dictators: Where's Bush?
2008-02-18 17:21:00 Here's the list of Parade Magazine's Top Ten World's Worst Dictators : Kim Jong-ilCountry: North Korea Omar Al-BashirCountry: Sudan Sayyid Ali KhameneiCountry: Iran Than ShweCountry: Burma (Myanmar) King AbdullahCountry: Saudi Arabia Hu JintaoCountry: China Robert MugabeCountry: Zimbabwe Pervez MusharrafCountry: Pakistan Islam KarimovCountry: Uzbekistan Isayas AfewerkiCountry: Eritrea But where, may I ask, is George W. Bush ? Why do I think he's one of the world's worst dictators?First, what is a dictator?Dictator, noun, A person granted absolute emergency power, one holding complete autocratic control, or, one ruling absolutely and often oppressivelyAbsolute emergency power: National Security Presidential Directive NSPD 51 and Homeland Security Presidential Directive HSPD-20 give the President the powers to declare martial law in the event of an emergency, the definition of which is, naturally, completely up to the President, or whomever else might be in charge at th... More About: World Politics , Anti-War , Progressive Politics
Flu Shots: Illness Inhibitor or Shameless Scam?
2008-02-15 20:08:00 How many times have you been asked, "Have you gotten your flu shot yet?" Did you start to feel left out or even stupidly out of touch for not wanting to get a flu shot? Maybe you hate needles, or have been concerned about what goes into the shots. Maybe you have even questioned whether the whole flu shot thing is necessary. After all, annual flu shots are mostly U.S.-centric (with some distribution in the UK) and a product of the last 10 years or so (flu shots have been available for decades, but only recently become so readily available and so, well, promoted). Are the shots really necessary? And what's up with all the scare tactics and hype? I naturally get suspicious when I hear hype (except for coming attractions?I expect movies to be hyped?remember "Snakes on a Plane"?). So in an effort to learn more about the history and workings behind the flu shot phenomenon, here is a short course on what I found out. Part I. What's In a Flu Shot? Nothing that sounds even remotely good,... More About: Health , Medical , Shots , Scam , Illness
Both Late and Sorry: Australia Apolgizes to Her Native Peoples
2008-02-13 01:51:00 The Christian Science Monitor announced,Australia to apologize to Aborigines for injustice: how helpful?The "how helpful?" part makes me crazy. In the early 20th century, Based on the premise that "full-blood" Aborigines were a race headed for extinction, up to 100,000 mixed-race children were taken from their parents between 1910 and 1970. The children, some of them babies, were often snatched from sobbing mothers by policemen or government officials. Homes were torn apart. Children were wrenched from their families and put into foster care by strangers. Short of actually committing genocide, the cruelty the aboriginal families suffered is hard to imagine. And the writer of the article above questions whether a public apology would be helpful. Well, if you mean, as in fixing the cruelty, increasing the life expectancy of the native population, improving their poverty and living conditions, then, no, an apology would not be helpful like that directly.But indirectly, an apology is ... More About: Women , Issues , World Cultures , Late
Sneer?meister Cheney Defends Waterboarding Torture: Let's Torture Him Inste
More articles from this author:2008-02-08 00:34:00 Sure, it's Illegal to perform waterboarding on a victim in the USA, but okay if you are part of the CIA Anti-terrorism program. Seasoned professionals only, we are assured, are allowed to administer the simulated drowning torture. (Now just how did those professionals get their training? On monkeys? On each other?)Sneer-meister Cheney defends the treatment, admittedly used against the "mastermind of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks," Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. Cheney? Hello? We know YOU masterminded the attacks and we all know that you were not subjected to this torture that you refuse to even name, instead referring to it as "?a tougher program, for tougher customers.? Ewww.Now back to Khalid, who confessed to masterminding 9/11 "from soup to nuts," to paraphrase, was probably in bed with Cheney and the Neo-cons with the whole operation. He placed the explosives that brought down the towers. He helped the Bin Laden family escape, etc. Not in the way most of us would imagine m... More About: Torture , Waterboarding 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
 |
|
 |
