Saturday, August 11, 2007

saturday reads


(via AMERICAblog)

The man who is widely known as the "war czar" also says that from a military standpoint, a return to a draft should be part of the discussion.


What will bu$h -- or Hillary -- do with the Iraqi quislings?


A megachurch canceled a memorial service for a Navy veteran 24 hours before it was to start because the deceased was gay.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Let Sibel Edmonds Speak

Let Sibel Edmonds Speak

PPUS

The Pirate Party of the United States announces it is now accepting statements of support in the State of Utah. These statements are the first step in the registration of the Pirate Party as a political body in the State of Utah.

This registration is part of the continuing growth experienced by Pirate Parties all over the world.

“We feel that Utah is an ideal state to begin registration of the Pirate Party as a political body,” says Andrew Norton, spokesperson for the Pirate Party of the US. “Utah has a strong history of political diversity, and technological progress.”

unicorns are real




The Unicorn Museum presents a walk through history. Designed by a noted fantasy author, this state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot museum brings the fantastical and highly implausible to life.

A fully engaging, sensory experience for intellectually undiscerning guests. Murals and realistic scenery, computer-generated visual effects, over fifty exotic animal-like replicas, life-sized giant and hill troll animatronics, and a special-effects theater complete with elven air conditioning and dwarven hand-crafted drink holders. These are just some of the impressive exhibits that everyone in your family will enjoy.

(via Pharyngula)

I Was Born (A Unicorn)

thursday reads

Roadside bomb attacks on American troops in Iraq reached an all-time high last month, accounting for more than one third of all combat deaths.


Peznit bu$h said yesterday that he is considering a fresh plan to cut tax rates for U.S. corporations to make them more competitive around the world, an initiative that could further inflame a battle with the Democratic Congress over spending and taxes and help define the remainder of his tenure.


The internet isn't as dangerous as people think, and teachers should let students use social networks at school.


Too pissed to drive?

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

wednesday reads

Attorney Thomas P. Sullivan writes about his experiences representing prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.


China's rapid industrialization has likely made extinct a species of fresh water dolphin that had been on Earth for over 20 million years, Chinese and British biologists said Wednesday


With the endorsement of the Defense Department, OSU is mailing "Freedom Packages" to soldiers serving in Iraq. These are not your grandfather's care packages, however. Besides pairs of white socks and boxes of baby wipes (included at the apparent suggestion of Iran-Contra felon Oliver North, according to OSU) OSU's care packages contain the controversial Left Behind: Eternal Forces video game.


A Houston Assistant Police Chief claims that trading oral sex in exchange for avoiding arrest for traffic warrants was a mutual agreement involving "consent" by the motorist.


Four gigantic galaxies have been seen crashing into one another in one of the biggest cosmic collisions ever seen.

democracy vs. despotism

Shared respect, shared power, economic balance and enlightenment. These two short films from Encyclopedia Britannica are dedicated to the Kool Kidz.


Democracy (1945)
Presents nature of meaning of democracy; develops keen appreciation for meaning of democracy by analyzing 4 major concepts on which exists substantial body of general agreement. Points out that true democracy is characterized by at least 2 signs. (From A/V Geeks)











Despotism (1946)
Measures how a society ranks on a spectrum stretching from democracy to despotism. Explains how societies and nations can be measured by the degree that power is concentrated and respect for the individual is restricted. Where does your community, state and nation stand on these scales? (From the Prelinger Archives)










Where indeed does our nation stand on these scales?

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

your ideal candidate

Pick Your Candidate: If you agree with a candidate, he gets point(s). If you disagree, take point(s) away. Unknown/other results in no points. The number of points given or taken depends on the weight you set. "Meh" is worth 1 point, "important" 2, and "key" is worth 5. The items you disagree about will be listed directly underneath each candidate (if they score greater than zero).

My results:

Kucinich 52
(you have no disagreements with this candidate)

Gravel 44
(you have no disagreements with this candidate)

Obama 30
Patriot Act, Border Fence, Same-Sex Marriage

Edwards 24
Death Penalty, Patriot Act, Iran - Military Action, Same-Sex Marriage

Clinton 24
Death Penalty, Patriot Act, Border Fence, Iran - Military Action, Same-Sex Marriage

Biden 19
Death Penalty, Patriot Act, Border Fence, Same-Sex Marriage

Dodd 19
Death Penalty, Patriot Act, Border Fence, Iran - Military Action

Richardson 18
Death Penalty, Assault Weapons Ban, Patriot Act, Iran - Military Action, Same-Sex Marriage

Paul 15
Abortion Rights, Embryonic Stem Cells, ANWR Drilling, Kyoto, Assault Weapons Ban, Guns - Background Checks, Citizenship Path for Illegals, Border Fence, Net Neutrality, Minimum Wage Increase, Same-Sex Marriage, Universal Healthcare

McCain -15
Cox -15
Thompson -23
Brownback -25
Giuliani -32
Huckabee -34
Tancredo -43
Romney -46
Hunter -48

Monday, August 06, 2007

monday reads

Jane Mayer - The Black Sites: A rare look inside the C.I.A.'s secret interrogation program


Balkinization has many links to posts that help clarify and analyze the new FISA bill.


Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has signed into law an act enabling state security agents to monitor phone lines, mail and the Internet, a government notice published on Friday said.


The Pentagon has lost track of about 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, according to a new government report, raising fears that some of those weapons have fallen into the hands of insurgents fighting U.S. forces in Iraq.


IRS employees ignored security rules and turned over sensitive computer information to a caller posing as a technical support person, according to a government study.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

dirty fucking

Cowards

The Democratic-controlled House last night approved and sent to President Bush for his signature legislation written by his intelligence advisers to enhance their ability to intercept the electronic communications of foreigners without a court order.

The 227 to 183 House vote capped a high-pressure campaign by the White House to change the nation's wiretap law, in which the administration capitalized on Democrats' fears of being branded weak on terrorism and on a general congressional desire to act on the measure before an August recess.

The Senate had passed the legislation Friday night after House Democrats failed to win enough votes to pass a narrower revision of a statute known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The original statute was enacted after the revelation of CIA abuses in the 1970s, and it required judicial oversight for most federal wiretapping conducted in the United States




Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) - American Civil Liberties Destroyed