reality gap

Poll finds reality gap among Bush supporters

A large majority of President Bush's supporters continue to believe that Iraq either had weapons of mass destruction (47 percent) or a major program to develop them (25 percent), contrary to official findings, a survey taken this month found.

And three out of four Bush backers believe Saddam Hussein provided substantial support to al-Qaeda or was involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, while 56 percent said the Sept. 11 Commission found such ties.

In reality, the commission found "no collaborative relationship" between Iraq and al-Qaeda.

The survey by the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes, released Thursday, shows that the supporters of Bush and Sen. John Kerry have stark differences and see "separate realities" about Iraq and other foreign policy issues.

The Bush supporters world view is right out of George Orwell's 1984:

A Party member is expected to have no private emotions and no respites from enthusiasm. He is supposed to live in a continuous frenzy of hatred of foreign enemies and internal traitors, triumph over victories, and self-abasement before the power and wisdom of the Party. The discontents produced by his bare, unsatisfying life are deliberately turned outwards and dissipated by such devices as the Two Minutes Hate, and the speculations which might possibly induce a sceptical or rebellious attitude are killed in advance by his early acquired inner discipline. The first and simplest stage in the discipline, which can be taught even to young children, is called, in Newspeak, crimestop. Crimestop means the faculty of stopping short, as though by instinct, at the threshold of any dangerous thought. It includes the power of not grasping analogies, of failing to perceive logical errors, of misunderstanding the simplest arguments if they are inimical to Ingsoc, and of being bored or repelled by any train of thought which is capable of leading in a heretical direction. Crimestop, in short, means protective stupidity.

Thanks to Femme Fatal, a proud member of the Reality Based Community for the Orwell quote.

Gotham Girl to make stage debut

Margaret Thrasher, a member of Gotham Girls Roller Derby ready to make her Off-Broadway stage debut.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone & Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; John G. Schultz, Executive Director) will re-team with NEIL LaBUTE for the world premiere of his latest work, FAT PIG starring in alphabetical order: ASHLIE ATKINSON (Theresa on F/X’s “Rescue Me”); ANDREW McCARTHY (Broadway: Side Man; feature films: Less Than Zero; Pretty in Pink; St. Elmo’s Fire); JEREMY PIVEN (Ari Jacobs on HBO’s “Entourage”) and KERI RUSSELL (Golden Globe winner for WB’s “Felicity”). Jo Bonney (Living Out; Fifth of July) directs.

Performances of FAT PIG begin off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on Tuesday, November 23. Opening night is Wednesday, December 15 (7pm curtain).

Ashlie Atkinson appears in a recurring role as Theresa, the sexy, outspoken lady-love of rookie firefighter Mike Siletti on FX's Rescue Me - the critically-acclaimed new drama series about NYC firefighters, starring Denis Leary. Ashlie trained at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre (NY), Hendrix College (Arkansas) and Barnard (NY). Other TV: “Law & Order.” Film: Another Gay Movie (shooting 2005). Radio: Host, Rush Hour Radio for LICK 101.1 FM (Arkansas). Regional Theater: All The King’s Men; ATrainMusical (TheATrainPlays); Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll and Arkansas Shakespeare Festival. Member: Gotham Girls Roller Derby aka "Margaret Thrasher." Fat Pig is her Off-Broadway stage debut.

Fear and Loathing, Campaign 2004

Presidential politics is a vicious business, even for rich white men, and anybody who gets into it should be prepared to grapple with the meanest of the mean. The White House has never been seized by timid warriors. There are no rules, and the roadside is littered with wreckage. That is why they call it the passing lane. Just ask any candidate who ever ran against George Bush -- Al Gore, Ann Richards, John McCain -- all of them ambushed and vanquished by lies and dirty tricks. And all of them still whining about it.

[snip]

I look at elections with the cool and dispassionate gaze of a professional gambler, especially when I'm betting real money on the outcome. Contrary to most conventional wisdom, I see Kerry with five points as a recommended risk. Kerry will win this election, if it happens, by a bigger margin than Bush finally gouged out of Florida in 2000. That was about forty-six percent, plus five points for owning the U.S. Supreme Court -- which seemed to equal fifty-one percent. Nobody really believed that, but George W. Bush moved into the White House anyway.

It was the most brutal seizure of power since Hitler burned the German Reichstag in 1933 and declared himself the new Boss of Germany. Karl Rove is no stranger to Nazi strategy, if only because it worked, for a while, and it was sure as hell fun for Hitler. But not for long. He ran out of oil, the whole world hated him, and he liked to gobble pure crystal biphetamine and stay awake for eight or nine days in a row with his maps & his bombers & his dope-addled general staff.

They all loved the whiff. It is the perfect drug for War -- as long as you are winning -- and Hitler thought he was King of the Hill forever. He had created a new master race, and every one of them worshipped him. The new Hitler youth loved to march and sing songs in unison and dance naked at night for the generals. They were fanatics.

That was sixty-six years ago, far back in ancient history, and things are not much different today. We still love War.

George Bush certainly does. In four short years he has turned our country from a prosperous nation at peace into a desperately indebted nation at war. But so what? He is the President of the United States, and you're not. Love it or leave it.

Dr. Hunter S. Thompson in Rolling Stone.

100 Facts and 1 Opinion

The Non-Arguable Case Against the Bush Administration. Read it in The Nation.

Inherently Feminist

#420 Sedonya Face 

The Texas Rollergirls in this mornings Daily Texan. Not for the faint of heart

So who makes a good rollergirl? According to Derringer, most have strong personalities, intelligence, athleticism and a bit of a tomboy attitude.

But others may see qualities that are a bit more unsavory. Whiskey recently received her first hate mail from a Round Rock woman, and was not sure how to respond to it.

"She said how it was an embarrassment to women," Whiskey says. "The woman asked, 'Why do you have to wear such sexy outfits? Why can't you be a little bit more subtle? Why do you have to be sacrilegious? Don't you think you could increase the size of your audience if you weren't so controversial and so trashy?'"

But not one to be fazed, Whiskey just shrugged.

"I think people said that to Madonna 20 years ago, too."

Whiskey's Madonna comparison might have some truth to it. Like the music culture icon infamous for doing and saying exactly what she wanted, the league espouses a feminism which modern women can relate to, says Whiskey.

Hissy Fit agrees that rollergirls are inherently feminist, and says that being a rollergirl is form of empowerment. "We are physically strong," she says. "We get each other's back."

The few men who are involved in the rollergirls are the league's supporting cast, says Hissy Fit. The men provide advice on strategy and serve as great beer-drinking buddies. In short, Hissy Fit says, "They are our cheerleaders."

Upcoming Roller Derby Bouts

Saturday, October 23rd
Arizona Roller Derby holds a Halloween Mateinee. It's the Bad News Beaters vs. the Bruisers at the Castle Sports Club in Phoenix. Music by the Earps & Rapid Fire. Doors at 4pm.

Sunday, October 24th
The Texas Rollergirls hold their Championship Bout. The Hustlers take on the undefeated Honkytonk Heartbreakers in the championship game. The Hotrod Honeys take on the Hell Marys (Hell Yeah!) for not last place. Music by the Spits and White Ghost Shivers. Doors at 6:30pm.

The Lonestar Rollergirls break in their new Thunderdome with last years Calvello Cup Champion Rhinestone Cowgirls take on the undefeated Holy Rollers. Music by Pretty, Pretty and Rockland Eagles. Doors at 6pm.

Saturday, November 6th
This is the first of (hopefully many to come) interstate rollergirl bouts. It's the AZRD vs. Texas Rollergirls at Surfside Skateland in Tempe. Featuring Electric Shock & ADHC (from CA). Doors at 7pm.

Sunday, November 7th
The Texas Rollergirls take on the Tucson Roller Derby Saddletramps at Bladeworld. Music by The Knockout Pills. 3pm.

The Mad Rollin' Dolls will skate their first exhibition bout at Fast Forward Skate Rink in Madison, WI. The Quad Squad and the High Rollers face off. 7pm.

Friday, November 12th
The Gotham Girls Roller Derby will hold their first bout ever.

The Los Angeles T-Birds take on the Landsharks at the Glendale Arena, Glendale, Arizona. 7pm.

Saurday, November 13th
The LA Stars skate off againts the Outlaws in the Ralphie Vallederas Memorial Game in LA. City of Industry Equestrian Center.

Sunday, November 14th
The banked track Lonestar Rollergirls end the their season with the Cavello Cup Championship Bout. Thunderdome. 7pm.

Sunday, November 21, 2004
Traveling teams from Tucson Roller Derby and Arizona Roller Derby will head to Texas to face off against the Texas Rollergirls. Playland Skate Center. Doors at 6:300pm.

friday elfgirl blogging

three weeks... 

Bug Man... You Just Got Served!

Newsday has this AP story.

WASHINGTON -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has been subpoenaed to testify in a Texas civil lawsuit about his role in using government resources to track down Democratic legislators who fled the state during last year's bitter redistricting dispute.

The subpoena was delivered Wednesday to the Texas Republican's attorneys in Houston after a failed attempt to serve him personally, said Lon Burnam, the Democratic state lawmaker from Fort Worth who filed the lawsuit.

The subpoena calls for DeLay to give a deposition Monday.

Derby Dolls looking for new training facility

The L.A. Derby Dolls have been training at a wonderful roof-top locale in downtown Los Angeles. But... as winter is approaching, we are in dire need of a new indoor home. Please help us find a new training facility before our lease runs out! Any leads on possible locations are GREATLY appreciated.

Check out the L.A. Derby Dolls on ESPN's new show, "I'd Do Anything." Three very brave girls dared to get on the track with us to try and win prizes. Did they succeed? Tune in on Tuesday, November 16th only on ESPN. Check your local listings.

The L.A. Derby Dolls are also featured in a music video for the band, "The Datsuns". The band played in the infield while we skated around them, causing great havoc and injury. Watch the entire Datsuns video here (click on "Girls Best Friend").

support your local rollergirl

some upcoming rollergirl events*

Saturday, October 23rd
Visit the Renegade Rollergirls at 101.5 The Zone's Yeti Fest featuring Jimmy Eat World, The Killers & more... Tempe Beach Park. 4 PM.

Come meet the ladies of Kansas City Roller Warriors at the Rocktoberfest Extravaganza and Barn Dance. Davey's Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main street, Kansas City, MO. 6:30pm.


Sunday, October 24th
Both Austin leagues are participating in the AIDS Walk Austin. Support the Texas Rollergirls and the Lonestar Rollergirls in raising some funds.AIDS Services of Austin shares proceeds from AIDS Walk Austin with agencies that provide vital support services to those living in Central Texas with HIV/AIDS. Begins at the Capitol, 11th & Congress. 2 PM.


Thursday, October 28th
Meet Chicago's newest roller derby at the Derby Doll Debut! Liars Club, 1655 W. Fullerton Ave. 8PM.

The Rat City Rollergirls & Tablet Magazine Present: A Freakshow & Talent Showcase! Comet Tavern, 922 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122. 7:30PM.

*rollergirl bouts not included

Jenna and NotJenna invite you to

Spring Break Fallujah 2005!

Help Carve Bush Out of the White House

How do you combine 1) Halloween, 2) supporting Kerry and 3) the fact that Bush is the most frightening president we've ever witnessed?

Carve an anti-Bush jerk-o'-lantern!

We've made it easy. Just buy a pumpkin, cut out our simple stencil and create your own jack-o'-lantern for regime change.

Or you can slap a "Bush" label under any evil-looking pumpkin, making even the scariest pumpkins scarier.

Whatever design you use, carve your pumpkins now. Don't wait until Halloween to get 'em on your porch or in your window. We've got an election to win and jerk-o'-lanterns are one more way to raise the visibility of our grassroots movement for Kerry.

via Lisa Rebel and Sherry at Punk Rock Voter.

Presidential Candidates Respond to Questions on Housing, Homelessness:

While the issues of housing and homelessness failed to surface in any of the presidential debates, the Bush-Cheney 04 and Kerry-Edwards 04 Campaigns recently submitted written answers to a series of questions posed by the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF). The questions probed the candidates' positions on:

* the availability of affordable housing;
* strategies to address homelessness;
* proposed changes to Section 8 and other federal housing programs;
* housing-based strategies to address other domestic needs (education, health, etc.);
* housing and community development as part of a broader revitalization plan;
* production of affordable housing as part of an economic stimulus package;
* Federal minimum wage policy; and
* eliminating housing discrimination and other civil rights violations.

The complete questionnaire including the full responses by each of the Bush-Cheney 04 and Kerry-Edwards 04 Campaigns is available online here.

Shorter Kerry - Edwards: National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), increasing the amount of affordable housing including adequately funding Section 8 vouchers.

Shorter Bush - Cheney: Opportunity Zones, tax credits.

football news

Spvgg 07 Ludwigsburg - SSV Ulm 1846 1:4 (0:1)

Deutlicher Erfolg für den SSV Ulm 1846: bei der Spvgg 07 Ludwigsburg gewinnen die UImer mit 1:4 (0:2) und rücken dadurch wieder auf den 2. Tabellenplatz (22 Punkte, 24:15 Tore) vor. In der 26. Minute brachte Alper Bagceci den SSV 46 mit 0:1 in Führung, nach der Pause erhöhten zweimal Christian Sameisla (49. und 75. Minute) und einmal Markus Pleuler auf 0:4, ehe Torsten Smolcic in der 88. Minute auf 1:4 verkürzte. Am nächsten Freitag (19.00 Uhr, Donaustadion) haben die Ulmer den Heidenheimer SB zu Gast.

The Ulmers really sucked this past weekend losing 1 - 4 against a Ludwigsburg team that picked up its first win of the season. Week 12 will see the Ulmers (6-4-1) take on Heidenheimer SB (5-3-3).
**********

Inter Milan has donated €5,000 (£3,475), an ambulance and the captain's No 4 black and blue team shirt to one of the last strongholds of the ragtag Zapatista army in a gesture of solidarity for the indigenous people of Chiapas in southern Mexico.

free falling...

Atrios is right. This Sinclair Broadcast Group message board is a joy to read.

rollergirl recruiting

Don't forget the Minnesota RollerGirls recuiting party this Tuesday, October 19th. 7pm - 10pm at Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge, 2519 Marshall St. NE, Minneapolis, MN.

Yes, I am pushing hard for the Minnesota RollerGirls to succeed. I've got to protect my investment don't cha know.

Voting Problems? In Florida??

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - With memories of 2000 and the state's bitter fight over ballots still fresh, Floridians began casting votes Monday and within an hour problems cropped up.

In Palm Beach County, the center of the madness during the recount four years ago, a Democratic state legislator said she wasn't given a complete absentee ballot when she asked to opt for paper instead of the electronic touch-screen machines. Several voting sites in Broward County had problems with laptops connected to elections headquarters. And a brief computer system crash in Orange County paralyzing voting in Orlando and its immediate suburbs.

State Rep. Shelley Vana said the paper absentee ballot she was given at a Palm Beach County site was missing one of its two pages, including the proposed amendments to the state constitution. She said election workers were indifferent when she pointed out the oversight.

"There was absolutely no concern on the part of the folks at the Supervisor of Elections Office that this page was missing. This is not a good start. If there are incomplete ballots out there, I can't imagine I would be the only one getting it," she said.

County elections supervisor Theresa LePore did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Take a trip

down memory lane with Scott Shults' Roller Derby memorabilia collection at Illinois Roller Derby.