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Keep the Homeland Secure First
(photos by DiAnne Grieser)
It is enough to make a person crazy. On the one hand, some experts are reported to project an increase in the threat of domestic terror attacks, and the "fear factor" is a time-proven way to garner support for military spending and troop increases. At the same time, the Bush administration turns around and cuts domestic preparedness spending.
Recently, the Department of Homeland Security announced state and city grants to help increase their security against terrorism. My state of Washington had its funding cut by 10 percent from last year's levels. Probably your state has had a big cut too. One of my Senators (Patty Murray) is an architect of a bill which takes real security needs into account. That bill could easily be vetoed by the White House, even though it has broad support of Republicans as well as Democrats! It passed the Appropriations Committee with a unanimous vote! A 2/3 majority would be required to override a Presidential veto. The homeland security bill is the first of 12 spending measures that the Senate must pass before Oct. 1, when the 2008 fiscal year begins.
It was against this backdrop of conflicting and troubling information that I began to notice the brightly colored containers flanking the Seattle city skyline each time I approached the city from the south. Always my vantage point was from a bridge or overpass where I could not safely stop. Finally, I braved the industrial district in my little VW bug, carefully avoiding the Burlington Northern "yard bulls" and pulling over abruptly to get this shot. Then, just yesterday, I was down on the waterfront at a public event and watched this huge amount of container cargo enter Elliot Bay. These are underinspected and those that aren't unloaded here are shipped out by train.
What a travesty it is to hear about "fighting them over there so they won't chase us home" as these containers and the ferries are sitting ducks. This post is about my city, where our New Year's celebration was severely curtailed at the Millennium, and where terrorist Ressam was apprehended bringing in materials from Canada via the ferry system sufficient to blow up LAX. Wherever you live, consider that cuts in Homeland Security affect your first responders and domestic security adversely, which is a supreme hypocrisy given what is being spent to wage war overseas in the name of the global war on terror.
From the Port of Seattle's website:
Since 9/11, trade and travel security has been an international priority. The Port of Seattle incorporated this priority into its business strategies, with goals to reinforce safety and security at all Port assets, collaborate with other organizations and governments for an integrated security approach, and participate in national and global security efforts while facilitating the smooth flow of international commerce.
In 2003, the Port of Seattle joined the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation's STAR program (Secure Trade in the APEC Region) as an integral partner in the Bangkok/Laem Chabang Efficient and Secure Trade project. The project demonstrated end-to-end supply chain security between Thailand and the U.S.
At the APEC meeting in October, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell presented a Port-produced video overview of the project as a model of security measures to be considered for broader application. The audience included nearly 500 CEOs of multinational corporations.
Many other efforts are underway to meet our security goals. The airport has worked to improve passenger flow through federally-operated security checkpoints, and keep travelers informed about changes. The seaport has cooperated with Tacoma and Everett to secure federal grants for facility security projects, and is participating in Operation Safe Commerce with the Port of Tacoma.
From Patty Murray, Senator (D-WA):
"The Port of Seattle has long recognized the critical need for increased port security measures and has voluntarily employed cargo safety practices that are pioneering by today's standards. They have also been a steadfast partner in my own efforts to institute a comprehensive port security system throughout the United States. Their ability to handle strenuous commercial traffic while simultaneously instituting critical safeguards should serve as a model for American seaports."
From John Kerry, during the 2004 debates:
Our container ports, bridges, & plants are not secure
KERRY: 95% of our containers coming into this country are not inspected today. When you get on an airplane, your bag is x-rayed but the cargo hold isn't x-rayed. Bush chose a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans over getting that equipment out into the homeland as fast as possible. We have bridges and tunnels that aren't being secured. Chemical plants, nuclear plants that aren't secured. Hospitals that are overcrowded with their emergency rooms. If we had a disaster today, could they handle it?
BUSH: We've tripled the homeland security budget from $10 to $30 billion. We'll do everything we can to protect the homeland. We need good intelligence. Right after 1993 he voted to cut the intelligence budget by $7.5 billion.
KERRY: Pres. Bush just said to you that we've added money. The test is not if you've added money. The test is have you done everything possible to make America secure. He chose a tax cut for wealthy Americans over the things that I listed to you.
Source: Second Bush-Kerry Debate, in St. Louis MO Oct 8, 2004
As usual, the most amazing photos, DiAnne! Your way with words that pierce with truths is superceded only by the visuals that accompany those words. I especially love the last photo, which shows you on the job!
Karen
I have looked at that photo quite a few times and never noticed the reflection! Funny how we don't hear much about duct tape now.
Yeah, funny ha-ha or funny just plain weird?
The duct tape meme may just be the most memorable stupid moment of the past six years. As we come up to the anniversary, let's be sure to remind the newly-awakened of how "secure" this administration really wanted us to be.
Reading "Armed Madhouse" by Greg Palast.
He says that there were TWO competing plans for the invasion and occupation of Iraq:
Plan A was supported by the State department and Colin Powell (supposedly). This plan just called for the removal of Saddam Hussein and another dictator to be quickly installed in his place. This would all happen over a couple of weeks and U.S. troops would not stay.
Plan B was much more ambitious. Iraqi government assets were to be sold off. The oil industry sold off and privatized. Most Iraqi government functions would be privatized - free market economic theory would prevail. Plan B - backed by the Neo Cons; Cheney, Wolfowitz, Elliot Abrams - was the plan that was adopted. BTW under Plan B election of an Iraqi government was only a long term and low priority goal. Most of the plan dealt with privatizing and free market initiatives.
Portland will have "Noble Resolve" preparedness drills during this month, which are supposed to coordinate different agencies and levels of personnel in the event of a disaster. People who know about it are suspicious, given the timing of the new legislation that was "temporarily" passed re surveillance, etc. Disturbing haikus are being written about "false flag" operations etc.
Why haven't we just inspected incoming cargo from overseas before it goes onto trains and planes, rather than going to war with no real plan or rationale or evidence and performing endless police/military drills?
Ralpheh
I'm reading that book too (shudder). I read "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" when it came out. It's no wonder the guy moved out of the country.
Here is the August Portland war game
http://www.jfcom.mil/about/experiments/nobleresolve.html
Read more here
http://portland.indymedia.org/
Discusses some suspicions people are having
Wow! Dianne really terrific thread header and magnificent pictures. I am going to send this to my 'wingnut' family.
Also, please post it at Kos too. More people deserve to see this.
(With regards to the 'salty' conversation on the last thread, I looked like Mary Poppins plunking my nonsalty posts there. lol.)
Dianne, was that bottom picture taken in Chicago with me? I think it was over by the Printer's Row district we visited before leaving.
How did posting on karls daddys c*ckrings and being mounted to death by a camel ever be mistaken as 'sultry'...?
E. Ghad.
PS. Nice header Dianne.
And I mean that in a totally non-sultry way.
Good video on You Tube from PBS Frontline:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvJYezckT6g
Je ne sais pas! Of course, I was talking about the 'hot' movie you watched last night. (And i have no idea what 'Mucha" is.)
Sparrow
The train photo was taken outside Seattle last Monday.
The ship photo was taken yesterday alongside the Harbor.
The duct tape one was taken in Seattle in 2003 when we were all supposed to buy duct tape, but you may have seen something similar in Chicago.
This is something that affects people all over the country.
I have heard that a quarter of the Homeland Security jobs sit vacant. Meanwhile the war games continue, because they're fun for the "boys," just like the militia stuff with the night goggles along the border.
& we all pay.
Speaking of "hot," my husband watched "Black Snake Moan," which Chrisy mentioned a few days ago. & Mucha is a pretty cool (Belgian, I think) turn-of-the-century artist who did some nice posters of women. (Google "Images" for "Mucha") It's Art Nouveau.
Christy, I was using the word "sultry" euphemistically -- and in memory of late night JK blog commentary that tended to get, well...
racy, anyway! Lots of early morning cleanup on that blog...
I was not referring to the Rove Dad story or the camel, both of which are more in the eeeuuuwww-get-that-picture-out-of-my-head category, but rather your commentary on videos you were watching.
Not that DiAnne is pure of heart, so to speak! She can wench with the best of us! Sparrow is, however, pure of heart...always!
Ralpheh
Cheney has been getting alot of video action lately.
I wouldn't be surprised if soon there is some kind of move to censor or suppress YouTube.
Don't get me started on that movie again. Good googly gaga.
Alphonse Mucha is considered "The Father of Art Nouveau'.
He is the only artist I have ever heard critics use only one word for...'Perfect.'
He painted women, beautiful, vibrant, incredible women. You can tell just by looking at his work, he adored women.
Art nouveau is not usually my thing. But as soon as I came face to face wth two of his lithographs, I changed my mind.
Sparrow is pure of heart. She is a sweetheart!
& I saw her literally give someone the shirt off her back!
The duct tape meme may just be the most memorable stupid moment of the past six years. As we come up to the anniversary, let's be sure to remind the newly-awakened of how "secure" this administration really wanted us to be.
Posted by: karen at August 20, 2007 10:17 AM
Amen!
Christy
I do love art nouveau, including the architecture and furniture. It's because it was a reaction to industrialization, which undermined aesthetic references to "nature" - that's why so much of art nouveau stuff is handmade, with best of quality, natural woods, all the swirls and detail.
I love Hector Guimard, who designed the entrances to the Paris Metros & alot of other stuff, and wierd ones like Gaudi in Barcelona. There is alot of it in Germany and Austria too, each with its own style.
"I was not referring to the Rove Dad story or the camel, both of which are more in the eeeuuuwww-get-that-picture-out-of-my-head category,..."
HAHAHAHA!
OMG!
Where else can you get a conversation like this one?
HAHAHA! I love you guys!
DiAnne:
Thanks for that Hanjin terrorist ship picture - shows the urgency of your message.
Hanjin owns Korean Air, which gambled with its paying passengers' lives (and lost) by flying a CIA mission into the USSR using a packed 747.
Posted by: Not My President at August 20, 2007 11:43 AM
Nice images in Google. I know you're not suppose to admit to not knowing things and forgetting to think of googling things, but I didn't think of doing that before.
Of course, I thought you and Christy both meant Macho instead of Mucha. (Another thing I probably shouldn't admit to.)
And then I thought Mucha meant "a lot" or "much"... (Ok! I keep mentioning the very things I probably shouldn't admit to...)
NMP, me too, I like looking at strange art. It is so strange what can suddenly strike you as beautiful.
I think I never liked art nouveau before because I never really studied it until I met Mucha.
I like art that is bold, in your face, dramatic. Muchas work is like looking at a vision. It shimmers and gets deeper the longer you look at it.
I have to agree with the critics, he was...perfect.
Perfect tone, tint and color. Perfect stroke, perfect eye for shape and shadow. Perfect flow and balance. It is hard to look at it sometimes, because it is almost too beautiful. They are in perfect condition.
They are so perfect, you almost want them to be flawed.
I told Rossi, after I finally claimed them for myself, a gift from my mother... I told Rossi, I feel greedy just looking at them. I still do when I look at them, spoiled and greedy.
I wish I could open the frames and touch them, but I don't dare.
Besides, whoever made those frames was one hell of a frame maker. I have never seen so much thought put into a simple looking gold frame.
Off-topic:
Queen of Mean, Leona Helmsley, is dead.
She was best known for saying "I don't pay taxes. Only little people pay taxes." So disgusting, but so true.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20358637/?GT1=10252
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070820/ap_on_re_us/torture_psychology
US psychologists scrap interrogation ban
SAN FRANCISCO - The nation's largest group of psychologists scrapped a measure Sunday that would have prohibited members from assisting interrogators at Guantanamo Bay and other U.S. military detention centers.
(Pleases read entire short article. This is... well, words fail me in attempting to express my profound horror and shame....)
Posted by: NonnyO at August 20, 2007 12:59 PM
So can we set up a detention camp for sadistic psychologists?
OMG--Karen, I had forgotten those racy August 2004 threads. Those were a hoot! Yes, the janitor crew had to arrive early. ;)~
And nmp...I only gave her the shirt off my back because she was admiring the same shirt on YOUR back! (And since I had a tank top on underneath, there was nothing for anyone else to get excited about--as if they would!)
Might I add, it was a hot, steamy day and...
So can we set up a detention camp for sadistic psychologists?
Posted by: karen at August 20, 2007 01:14 PM
We did. It's called The White House.
racy, anyway! Lots of early morning cleanup on that blog...
I was not referring to the Rove Dad story or the camel, both of which are more in the eeeuuuwww-get-that-picture-out-of-my-head category, but rather your commentary on videos you were watching.
Not that DiAnne is pure of heart, so to speak! She can wench with the best of us! Sparrow is, however, pure of heart...always!
Posted by: karen at August 20, 2007 11:44 AM
Hahahahah I remember that, little bit racy, poor Dick did he have to do the cleanup.
I was not referring to the Rove Dad story or the camel, both of which are more in the eeeuuuwww-get-that-picture-out-of-my-head category, but rather your commentary on videos you were watching.
Posted by: karen at August 20, 2007 11:44 AM
I told you, you were bad Christy Hahahahahaha you always find those eeeuuuwww-get-that-picture-out-of-my-head category,Hahahaha
I told Rossi, after I finally claimed them for myself, a gift from my mother... I told Rossi, I feel greedy just looking at them. I still do when I look at them, spoiled and greedy.
Posted by: Christy at August 20, 2007 12:05 PM
Darn, She only sent me the pics of them, could have sent the real things for my birthday.
(Pleases read entire short article. This is... well, words fail me in attempting to express my profound horror and shame....)
Posted by: NonnyO at August 20, 2007 12:59 PM
Nothing surprises me today, with what is happening in Georgies America, after all he believes it is his America not the citizens
So can we set up a detention camp for sadistic psychologists?
Posted by: karen at August 20, 2007 01:14 PM
Why not? They're not doing anyone any good where they're at. (Gawd, but I SO want out of this nightmarish surreal painting that keeps slipping over edges that keep moving.... Every time I think I can't get any more ashamed of this country than I already am, I get more ashamed with articles like that one.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Additional info for the perusal of all:
http://www.americanprogress.org/cartoons/2007/08/082007_terror.html
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/08/19/matt-cooper-says-rove-did-leak-valerie-plames-identity-to-him/
Matt Cooper Says Rove DID Leak Valerie Plame’s Identity To Him: UPDATED!
http://abcnews.go.com/politics
Click on "VOTE: Who Won the Dems' Debate?" in the scroll menu in the middle of the page. When I voted, Kucinich was way out front....
http://www.politichoice.com/resultsanalysis.aspx?Page=0
Match your views to the candidates....
Registration is free. I took this quiz for sh*ts and giggles and was amused to find that just answering blind and getting the results at the end my views matched Kucinich 96.85%. True, I have discovered that practically everything I've read/heard/seen on video regarding Kucinich has matched my views, and I've wondered why his common sense words haven't been getting any attention (nice short sound bytes, concise language, if Lamestream Media would pay him any attention; it was something like 25 minutes before Stephanopolous called on him last Sun) - but I honestly didn't expect that result in this little poll (which I assume, like the ABC web site, is not scientific).
We did. It's called The White House.
Posted by: monkey at August 20, 2007 01:24 PM
The place will have to be fumigated and de-bugged in more ways than one before the next president can move in....
Nothing surprises me today, with what is happening in Georgies America, after all he believes it is his America not the citizens
Posted by: rossiann at August 20, 2007 02:38 PM
There's a cure for what ails us if Congress Critters would only obey their constitutional duties and impeach! Damned fools!
Then there's the matter of those subpoenas that have been ignored.... Inherent Contempt charges need to be issued and the Sergeant-at-Arms can be called to jail those miscreants until they find their voices, and all without interference from the executive or judicial branches. Again, IF Congress Critters would only DO SOMETHING instead of shuffle papers and beg and plead with the spoiled brat to cooperate with their investigations...! Damned fools!
Inherent Contempt charges need to be issued and the Sergeant-at-Arms can be called to jail those miscreants until they find their voices, and all without interference from the executive or judicial branches. Again, IF Congress Critters would only DO SOMETHING instead of shuffle papers and beg and plead with the spoiled brat to cooperate with their investigations...! Damned fools!
Posted by: NonnyO at August 20, 2007 02:51 PM
Sorry,
Inherent Contempt charges need to be issued and the Sergeant-at-Arms can be called to jail those miscreants until they find their voices, and all without interference from the executive or judicial branches. Again, IF Congress Critters would only DO SOMETHING instead of shuffle papers and beg and plead with the spoiled brat to cooperate with their investigations...! Damned fools!
Posted by: NonnyO at August 20, 2007 02:51 PM
Sad but true, I had hoped for more from the Dems, but then they did not fight in 2004, so I don't know why, what is happening surprises me
Posted by: sparrow at August 20, 2007 01:20 PM
Yes I guess if I had given her the shirt off my back I would have been there in my bra on the subway that was stuck on the track because the other one got derailed!
Posted by: Not My President at August 20, 2007 03:37 PM
Well aren't you supportive!
I am following a conspiracy theory story which centers around the Noble Resolve military exercises, taking place in Portland starting today and operated out of Virginia.
I do not put conspiracies on the internet as they are "what if" stories and people can follow them on their own. I just know that there are plenty of people in this part of the country who are not comfortable with these exercises and claim that in the past they have been the prelude to tragic events. The fear is that they will somehow "go live" rather than remain virtual exercises, especially since they are shrouded in secrecy.
First of all, there is the context, which is not conspiracy, it is real. There is the build up around Iran and the fact that the Russians and the Chinese are not comfortable with what our military is doing and are starting to act more provocative. At the same time, Congress and the courts have allowed expansion of Executive powers through National Security Presidential Directive, Military Commissions Act and warrantless spying, not to mention failure to impeach and hints about a draft.
It is a coincidence that I learned about these exercises and peoples' skeptical reaction at the same time I was thinking alot about real security.
Sad but true, I had hoped for more from the Dems, but then they did not fight in 2004, so I don't know why, what is happening surprises me
Posted by: rossiann at August 20, 2007 03:22 PM
They haven't fought since the Reagan years.
The Democrats have been infiltrated by the Republican Party operatives for a long time.
NAFTA summit opens in Canada amid protests:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6955148.stm
"Darn, She only sent me the pics of them, could have sent the real things for my birthday."
HAHAHA!! I can mail you myself instead?
Hey, can you do me a favor and post those pics somewhere? I want to show them off and my copies were on the other comp.
My email is now telling me I can no longer open the template to check mail... I think it may be a java file messing me up still.
My man FINALLY came home, so if I can keep him awake I am going to see if he will finally hunt down this stupid error and kill it.
BTW, I am bar-b-queing, so if yall are hungry, come on down!
Posted by: Christy at August 20, 2007 05:12 PM
Count me in - thanks!
Posted by: Christy at August 20, 2007 05:12 PM
Be there or be square, right?
I'm on my waaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!
mnp...thanks for keeping up on the conspiracy theory. Let us know what you discover.
Bar-be-que chicken, dark and white meat. Smoked sausage and flame broiled hamburgers for the kids.
Corn on the cob, green beans, shells and cheese, and buttermilk bisquits.
Strawberry shortcake for dessert.
And if he makes it home tommorrow night, it will be steak kabobs and bar-be-que brisket with baked potatos.
Maybe some cornbread too.
If not the kids have to settle for a lousy pizza.
I just baked a fresh salmon. I'll bring it along.
Ally
In Washington state, we have voted for a Democrat president for five consecutive terms, which is 20 years. We went down during a Reagan landslide but have worked hard to move up again and consolidate our lead.
Posted by: Christy at August 20, 2007 06:13 PM
Christy,
You eat better than I do!!!
I think I'll go live there with you. Expect me to pound on your door right around 3am.
Ally
Demonstrators at NAFTA in Canada are supposed to get into cages and pens, as they were supposed to do at the DNC convention. I took a photo at that time because someone had put up a sign that said "Freedom Pen." Since the WTO was in Seattle, there have been "No protest zones" and then "Free speech areas," which is an Orwellian contradiction in terms. Dissent has been stifled. In the UK, terror law now covers climate change protesters. The ACLU has learned that groups are watched here that have nothing to do with terrorism. Antiwar organizers were fined in DC for the protest coming up 9/15. It's a big crackdown, not "of the people."
I think it's a mistake to blanketly blame the Democrats. It's a whole lot bigger than that. Realistically, Hillary Clinton faced off John McCain at the VFW. That's a different ballgame than say at YearlyKos or in front of a group of Union members. The Democrats need to continue to take control, and they are better than the Republicans. Those who say they are all the same are wrong. That is not to say that they will move much to the left. We will be lucky if we get center instead of right.
I was idealistic when I was younger. Now I'm disillusioned and pragmatic, believing we are forced to move in small incremental steps. A revolution would be put down forcefully, and people would probably not do it even if they were hungry. It will be interesting to see how people will react now that there is a credit crunch and loans are being called in or adjustable rates are ballooning.
I do not have very high hopes - it's going to be excruciatingly slow and it's scary. Yesterday the consensus at Hempfest (which attracted 250,000) was for Gore or Ron Paul. People were environmentalists or libertarians, and somewhat single issue but they did make the point that current drug law makes profits for prisons and affiliated industries. I heard some good speeches yesterday.
I am finding it hard to psych myself up and work for a primary candidate this time out. They all have their pros and cons. I have liked things about some of those not in the top tier but media seems to have already annointed the chosen few in both parties. I will, however, vote Democrat as usual, even if the person is quite a bit to the right of me. I don't have a choice. The one exception would be if Lieberman ran for something.
I always found Bill Clinton to be too moderate but actually lived infinitely better when he was in office, financially and psychologically. In Chicago, some people had buttons against Bush/Clinton dynasties and I see their point. On the other hand, what will be will be. Either we are going to get something new or we are going to end up with something we had that is not as bad as what we have now. Either way it will be an uphill battle.
I repeat I am bored by the trashing of Dems. I'm not happy with some things they've done either and don't understand it but need to contact them or something, not just complain about it relentlessly.
Bring the salmon and Sparrow, too.
Just don't pound too loud. Police live next door.
Just read about the debates - I think it will come down to whether more people want electability, freshness, experience - pros and cons. I saw all of them speak and that's still what I see.
If one was electable, one was fresh and one was experienced but not one was all three - I wouldn't be able to make a choice on the basis of logic & I'm not ready to make one based on intuition.
Christy
You can't have loud music then, if the police live next door?
Would it help to feed them? ;)
Just don't pound too loud. Police live next door.
Posted by: Christy at August 20, 2007 06:54 PM
Thanks for the warning, Christy. I don't expect the rural Louisiana police to be my friends, so I'll keep low.
Posted by: Not My President at August 20, 2007 06:49 PM
As always, I love the points you are making.
I share the disillusionment that you have. I came to America with high hopes, but I now feel that I'll be lucky to survive bare-bones, and am furious that my kind have been the real problem-makers (and my enemies) in our society.
But that's why I will fight harder. I've seen it "back home" and will NOT tolerate my fellow "countrymen" bringing the fascism to America, where I thought I was free.
NMP, to add -
I feel that my real enemies are not necessarily Republicans or Democrats, but those who are out there to destroy the American Dream, for honest-to-goodness Americans and immigrants alike.
This includes the W junta and Ronald Reagan, not because they're Republicans, but because they declared war on freedom.
This includes their special-interest immigrant groups, not because they support W, but because they support the dismantling of American democratic institutions.
I think I need to make this clear - to myself, to you, and to all.
I'm also of the "you broke it, you bought it" mentality.
If the Korean immigrants will destroy American democracy and freedoms, it's up to me, who know these bastards the best, to fix it.
Me too, it is hard to believe in or get excited about any of them. None of them are quite on message.
Actually, I can play loud music as long as we are not on the north side of my property. We are usually quite voring neighbors though, quiet, bed at ten, not a lot of traffic.
Feeding the cop, really isn't viable. See, his daddy also lives next to me, and... how shall I put this... Ok hes a freak who likes to watch me over the fence and his wife (cops step mom) apparently knows and has threatened to leave.
Rumor is me waving on my way past them makes me a total slut. So I hear.
Cops wife/girlfriend/whatever... also seems to have a problem with me, and one day she may just work up the nerve to come on over and spell it out for me.
Until then though, they can all stay on that side of the fence, the swimming pool will not be relocated, and they can find something to eat on their own. I'm sure.
I know... drama, drama, but other than catching the elder gaping from time to time I completely ignore them.
When I lived in the ghettos, I knew every neighbor, they all knew my kids by name. Our kids lived in each others houses and we all spoke to each other like grown folks.
Now I am surrounded by all white people again and I forgot how damn hostile I seem to make them.
Ally, they are not my friends either. But if they come onto my property for me or my friends, they better have a warrant, and it best show probable cause.
Never trusted them, never will.
My sister is also a cop, but she is cool. Very kind person. But even she knows if she comes to my house in uniform she must ask permission to enter, unless she has a warrant.
You are welcome any time you want to come down. Any of you are. Don't let it bother you.
I learned a trick a long time ago, when I first came to the south, I had to when I was put into an all black school. I was the only white female in the school.
If you pretend you are not afraid...The fear goes away. The pretend becomes real.
When I think of how to deal with/live with these problems here, I think of that school hallway.
I have never been beaten so badly in my life. But to this day, I do not feel like I lost anything.
Except fear.
Direct quote from the just published REAGAN DIARIES.
The entry is dated May 17, 1986.
'A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the political one who lives in Florida. The one who hangs around here all the time looking shiftless. This so-called kid is already almost 40 and has never had a real job. Maybe I'll call Kinsley over at The New Republic and see if they'll hire him as a contributing editor or something. That looks like easy work.'
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6580
Very strange fight brewing there.
"For a variety of reasons I try to stay out of the debates over blogs as such, what they're good or bad at and the rest. But this morning I was alerted to an opinion column in the Los Angeles Times by Michael Skube, a journalism professor at Elon University. The sum of the piece is that the blogosphere is as rife with disputation as it is thin on information, or more specifically, reporting, writing that demands "time, thorough fact-checking and verification and, most of all, perseverance."
Now, fair enough. There's certainly no end of blog pontificating fueled by puffed-up self-assertion rather than facts. But Skube's piece reads with a vagueness that suggests he has less than a passing familiarity with the topic at issue. And I will confess to you that what really caught my attention was that in a column bewailing how blogs don't do any real reporting one of the four bloggers he mentioned was me.
Now, whether we do any quality reporting at TPM is a matter of opinion. And everyone is entitled to theirs. So against my better judgment, I sent Skube an email telling him that I found it hard to believe he was very familiar with TPM if he was including us as examples in a column about the dearth of original reporting in the blogosphere.
Now, I get criticized plenty. And that's fair since I do plenty of criticizing. And I wouldn't raise any of this here if it weren't for what came up in Skube's response.
Not long after I wrote I got a reply: "I didn't put your name into the piece and haven't spent any time on your site. So to that extent I'm happy to give you benefit of the doubt ..."
This seemed more than a little odd since, as I said, he certainly does use me as an example -- along with Sullivan, Matt Yglesias and Kos. So I followed up noting my surprise that he didn't seem to remember what he'd written in his own opinion column on the very day it appeared and that in any case it cut against his credibility somewhat that he wrote about sites he admits he'd never read.
To which I got this response: "I said I did not refer to you in the original. Your name was inserted late by an editor who perhaps thought I needed to cite more examples ... "
And this is from someone who teaches journalism?
Perhaps I'm naive. But it surprises me a great deal that a professor of journalism freely admits that he allows to appear under his own name claims about a publication he concedes he's never read.
Actually, if you look at what he says, it seems Skube's editor at the Times oped page didn't think he had enough specific examples in his article decrying our culture of free-wheeling assertion bereft of factual backing. Or perhaps any examples. So the editor came up with a few blogs to mention and Skube signed off. And Skube was happy to sign off on the addition even though he didn't know anything about them.
I grant you that the blogosphere needs better bloggers. But, as usual, the need for better critics seems even more acute.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/024644.php
Of course, I thought you and Christy both meant Macho instead of Mucha. (Another thing I probably shouldn't admit to.)
And then I thought Mucha meant "a lot" or "much"... (Ok! I keep mentioning the very things I probably shouldn't admit to...)
Posted by: sparrow at August 20, 2007 11:54 AM
hahaha - sparrow, until you asked the questions and got the answers, I thought I was either ignorant, translating incorrectly or that it was an *American* thing that I couldn't understand.
I thought when nmp said,
Love Mucha
That she meant she loves everyone very much!
So thanks sparrow for clearing that up for me.
Posted by: woz at August 20, 2007 09:03 PM
hahaha--Woz--that's exactly what I thought too. (I mean that she loves everyone very much.) But since I'm American, I knew it couldn't be just an "American" thing.
Sorry that you and Rossi and chinatool come on as soon as I head to bed (or work).
Yes sparrow, the halls of the dcp echo a little in your wee hours and our decent hours.
Perhaps there's a full moon Christy. Here's another story that brings tears to the eyes. Yeowch
Dwarf's penis gets stuck to vacuum cleaner
August 21, 2007 - 6:45AM
A dwarf performer at the Edinburgh fringe festival had to be rushed to hospital after his penis got stuck to a vacuum cleaner during an act that went horribly awry.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/21/1187462218754.html
At last, some common sense prevails over the hysteria and fear mongering hype of government.
Haneef wins visa appeal
Christine Kellett
August 21, 2007 - 12:21PM
Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef has won the right to return to Australia after a Federal Court judge today ruled Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews had been wrong to boot him out of the country.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/haneef-wins-visa-appeal/2007/08/21/1187462228620.html
I thought when nmp said,
Love Mucha
That she meant she loves everyone very much!
So thanks sparrow for clearing that up for me.
Posted by: woz at August 20, 2007 09:03 PM
It was meant as a double entendre. ;)
Ally
I hear you. You came to this country and are skeptical about experiencing the American dream. I just asked my son if he has hope and he said he expects endless cycles of ups and downs. He also feels that he will probably never own a home. He has not had a vacation in the whole time since high school and he was class of 1999. He has worked every weekend. Finally he may get his passport renewed and go to Thailand with Henry from Portland at the end of January. No matter how bad things get, I am so fortunate that he didn't have to go to the middle east to fight. I feel sorry for those who did but I do not believe that anyone can explain the "Noble Cause" they are supposed to be fighting for.
I just went to the gym and was listening to alot of middle eastern music at http://www.kexp.org Wo Pop with Darek Mazzone (he lives here but is from Vienna originally). The rhythmic structure is something like gypsy music, it's dance music and they sing in quarter tones. I like it alot. I think sometimes that one thing we need to do is live as we should be living. I saw alot of Ghandi quotes yesterday and photographed some of them. Marley too. It was good for me.
Christy
I was just thinking on the way home how much I want to go back to Louisiana. I've been there twice. I have good memories but now a horror memory when I remember that the convention center I was in was the same one where trapped people experienced such indescribable misery. I don't think the world has been the same since.
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(hat tip to Astrobuff)
NMP,
It's good that your son and Henry will get to hang out together in Thailand, if things turn out that way.
I do hope that they will make the trip.
As for me, home ownership would've been within reach, if I were talking about pre-2000 prices with my income and credit today. But with current prices, forget it. Right now, I'm lucky to be able to even rent - I'll be in the market for an apartment in a few months.
One thing I've learned, though, in terms of money, is that a luxury car is NOT a prerequisite to happiness, despite all the Lexuses and BMWs my neighbors drive. I looked at some new cars as of late, and am figuring that a "lowly" VW (like your Beetle) or Honda, assuming properly equipped, will do as well as a BMW, for less. Too bad, I had to fork over $33K to the BMW fascists before I learned this!
I want to know how to donate for families in Jamaica, Mexico and Belize affected by the hurricane Dean. We took our son to Caye Caulker when he was about 9 and we snorkeled. He played baseball with kids using sticks and tennis balls. We rode in a motorboat to Belize City, bussed across via Belmopan and the Belize Zoo to Guatemala. Caye Ambergris and Caye Caulker have evacuated completely and Belize City has emptied out its hospitals and taken high risk patients inland. Having been there, we can envision this happening by small plane, bus, motorboat. Almost nobody has cars. I know there are many tragedies but this we can visualize. I have a photo album chock full of images from this beautiful land of turquoise water, tortoieses and dolphins, Mayan ruins and Garifuna people and Mestizos.
There have only been three level 5 hurricanes hitting this area since they were recorded. When we were on Caye Caulker (we stayed in a hut with a thatch roof), the island had already been chopped in two by a hurricane. Alot of the people had houses up on stilts but they can't withstand a Level 5 hurricane.
NMP,
Try Brother's Brother Foundation - they don't have the info on the hurricane yet (as it hasn't struck Mexico and Belize yet), but I'm sure they will soon.
Former DCP member tutterfly recommended this charity to me, when I was looking to donate to tsunami victims of 2004, and couldn't trust the American Red Cross. Like tutterfly, these folks are in Pittsburgh.
http://www.brothersbrother.org/
All the memories are coming back. It was 1993. We forgot to confirm our reservation from Houston to Belize and begged our way onto the plane anyway. We sat in first class on broken seats and our son got to ride up with the pilot and co-pilot who didn't speak English. We were served prawns, the PA was playing "I'm Any Woman" by Chaka Khan and our flight attendant looked exactly like Frida Kahla. It was Taca Airlines, from El Salvador.
When we got to the airport, there was a storm and we had to land in Belize City rather than Caye Ambergris. We were headed to Caye Caulker, which didn't have an airstrip at the time. Belize City was very dangerous, full of crackheads and very poor. A fireman getting off duty at the airport took us to a hostel (we had no reservations). We couldn't sleep all night because of the pimps and hos below but we had a huge guy guarding the door.
We went to Caye Caulker by motorboat, with dancehall reggae blaring all the way, wind in our face. We had to duck to go under the main bridge. Caye Caulker has a tiny little cemetery. You would never believe it unless I scanned the photos. Everything is hand lettered, including at the graveyard, bathrooms, jail and zoo further inland. There were times when all the electricity went off on the island and everything was pitch black. It was no Cancun, which was why we went there.
After we bussed across Belize to Guatemala and spent a few days, which could be a book in itself (killer bees, staying with Garifunas, ghostly ruins) we ended up back in Belize City before we flew out. This time we spent the night at a place that cost $6/night and it was even more primitive than the first place. We put dressers against the door and we really did feel pretty safe because there was some fierce animal with claws and big teeth chained right outside the door!
I just had to revisit it tonight. Thanks & if anyone hears what happens and how to donate, would love to do it. Also would like to donate school supplies to children in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. We saw those kids gather in front of the Mayor's office to ask for banos for their school. I was reading their signs and I thought, "Doesn't bano mean bathroom?" The Mayor never did come out and talk to them. I saw little kids whose mothers added extra fabric at the end of the legs of their pants to make them longer so they could continue to wear them.
Then there is Thailand. Travel is supposed to be an escape but the way we do it (close to the ground), it is always an education in humility as the Ugly American. Even in Europe you can't go far without seeing poor little gypsy kids who are trained to steal or kids of African refugees or illegal immigrants who are just desperately poor. Their only future seems to be to sell fake Prada purses.
& then in this damn place someone send me an article about how Bush is vetoing the Children's Health Bill. He says it was intended only for the poorest kids and doesn't want others added. There goes my job, but there goes quality of future life for alot of small human beings.
Which brings us to Iraq and Afghanistan, where up to a million children died of starvation under sanctions before we even started the killing in Iraq and where famine was taking place the couple of years before we started the killing in Afghanistan.
If there is a hell, alot of children are already living in it, like the old Pat Benatar song.
Ally
Thanks! I am suddenly thinking of Thailand, where some people crippled their children so they could make more as beggars & where young girls and also boys were taken to the city and resorts to prostitute themselves by 12 years of age or so. It was sickening to see the night market at Patpong in Bangkok and the
beach resort at Pattaya where the men were from Germany, America and Australia - huge men with little tiny preteens as dates, both male and female, and drunk as skunks. There were so many Germans there was even a Weiner Schnitzel stand!
& Burma - lepers and I saw the most shocking thing of all, which was a child of no more than three years of age, carrying a baby that couldn't have been more than a week old - no mother in sight - and begging. Simultaneously the most exotic and most frightening place I have ever been. I wasn't even supposed to be there. Henry's cousin bribed them and also so his niece could be brought into the country without her parents. For all they knew, she could be another young prostitute. "Money can take care of anything here," he said.
Doesn't that remind you of where we live?! Our big Banana Republic?
If there is a hell, alot of children are already living in it, like the old Pat Benatar song.
Posted by: nmp at August 21, 2007 12:41 AM
And not just Iraqi and Afghani children. There are 10+ year olds being taught to use a gun and kill in some African countries. They are kept drugged which is probably a benefit - it's hard to say. There's a young boy travelling around the world telling of their plight.
He's 14 or 15 now and has had a lot of therapy. He is an intelligent young man who has carried out and witnessed indescribable horrors of beheadings and gang rapes and baby killings. He doesn't try to solicit sympathy, he is merely presenting facts as he knows them to be, in the hope that developed nations will help to stamp it out.
So, nmp - many children and the peaceful are truly in a dark place right now. I would rather we were trying to help them all than simply engaging in conflicts without sense or ends.
A dwarf performer at the Edinburgh fringe festival had to be rushed to hospital after his penis got stuck to a vacuum cleaner during an act that went horribly awry.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/21/1187462218754.html
Posted by: woz at August 20, 2007 10:46 PM
Ohhhhh Lordy Lordy Lordy what a day for Yeowch
I know rossiann - I can't believe all this stuff happening at the same time.
Hey, can you do me a favor and post those pics somewhere? I want to show them off and my copies were on the other comp.
Posted by: Christy at August 20, 2007 05:10 PM
I have put Christys Muchas up in my personal site if anyone wants to have a look at them they are lovely.
http://rossiannsretreat.blogspot.com/
I know rossiann - I can't believe all this stuff happening at the same time.
Posted by: woz at August 21, 2007 03:17 AM
Unbelievable huh
I have put Christys Muchas up in my personal site if anyone wants to have a look at them they are lovely.
http://rossiannsretreat.blogspot.com/
Posted by: rossiann at August 21, 2007 03:35 AM
Thanks rossiann. They are gorgeous. I'd looked them up on the web and there are so many. Christy has made a really nice selection here.
Thanks rossiann. They are gorgeous. I'd looked them up on the web and there are so many. Christy has made a really nice selection here.
Posted by: woz at August 21, 2007 04:03 AM
Lucky girl, got them off her Mums wall.
pete barnecutt:
hey jus a quicky as im trying follow dean....caught a lil of this on telly last night looked very interesting...the bit i caught he was saying how the usa has invaded 50 countries in the last 60 yrs and 30 of them have been *democracies*
http://www.johnpilger.com/
Hurrican Dean
http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/hurricanetracker07/trackerindex.html?SITE=AP
Hey chrsity I watched Hurrican Dean touchdown with Pete, he says hello
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TROPICAL_WEATHER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-08-21-04-46-37
Cheney's Office Says It Has Wiretap Documents
and your not going to get them, the balls back in your court, so what you gonna do about it.
I wonder?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...
Judge: Bush Official Faces Contempt
GRANTS PASS, Ore. - A federal judge in Montana has ordered the Bush administration's top forestry official to explain why he should not be held in contempt of court for the U.S. Forest Service's failure to analyze the environmental impact of dropping fish-killing fire retardant on wildfires.
If found in contempt, Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, could go to jail until the Forest Service complies with the court order to do the environmental review.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-bush-official-contempt,1,5338836.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Pete is crazy. A lovely, lovely crazy.
I have never met someone who moves around the globe the way he does. No surprise he wound up in Deans path.
TY for posting those pics Rossi. I love looking at them in close up in pics, to get that view I would have to take them down from the wall.
Do you know how my mom aquired those lithos? It was really amazing.
She went to an estate sale, this old mans mother died at like close to 100, and he was selling off all her things.
There was a painting of a barn, an original oil, and he haggled with my mom on it, then she saw the lithographs and she asked about them.
He told her that those lithographs had been hanging in his moms livingroom for 60 years and he absolutely HATED THEM.
He made her a deal...If she bought the barn painting for $30, he would give her both lithographs for $15. Fifteen for both of them.
SOLD!
And ever since then, I have been visiting my moms house just to see her lithographs. After almost 10 years of my drooling over them, she finally gave them to me.
After almost 10 years of my drooling over them, she finally gave them to me.
Posted by: Christy at August 21, 2007 07:46 AM
Hmmm Christy. That's what we do. Mothers.
I swear Rossi has the most gorgeous personal blog ever.
What an amazing life.
Posted by: Christy at August 21, 2007 08:05 AM
I went and looked at the pictures Christy. Now I'll have to find it and go through. If that's ok, rossi
You and Rossi seem to have a lot in common to me Woz.
Other than being Aussie.
When I come lay up at her house one day, we are going to have to make a road trip to kidnap you and go joy riding.
And if we can find Pete, we are dragging him along too. Every car full of women should have a large English tree hugger driving.
I would drive, but somebody has to roll the blunts.
Sounds good to me, Christy. I'm hoping that I'll be in Rossi's home state at this time next year - to meet my little granddaughter who is almost 1.
What's a blunt, and can you roll one for me?
Hey batter, batter... swinnnngggg batter!
Monkey, for you I will roll TWO.
OK Monkey is also going. All we need now is a few more people and our own plane.
I can provide an excellent pilot, but I left my Cessna in my other pants.
... I left my Cessna in my other pants.
Posted by: Christy at August 21, 2007 08:43 AM
I thought you were just happy to see me.
Liftoff!
Who is not happy to see you Monkey?
If not they must be made of stone.
New thread is open!!
I can provide an excellent pilot, but I left my Cessna in my other pants.
Posted by: Christy at August 21, 2007 08:43 AM
Darn it all Cristy, Petes Grandfather is paying $250000 for Richard Branson island for a week, for the family to celebrate his 90th birthday, I asked him if I'm good he could include me in the family and make it 29, they are going where the hurrican hit down last night, so he was really watching what was going on there, Maybe if we are good girls he might provide the cessna.
I'll have to ask.
Sounds good to me, Christy. I'm hoping that I'll be in Rossi's home state at this time next year - to meet my little granddaughter who is almost 1.
Posted by: woz at August 21, 2007 08:37 AM
Sounds good make sure you keep in touch and we will get together. I will have another new Granddaughter just a little younger by that time.
Just heard there was no damage from Hurrican Dean where Pete and his family will be heading to, so he will be ecstatic. They are planning to go to Tulum the Mayan Ruins. I wish