To Willingly Burn an Organ in Your Body

Background:

Way back on May 24, 2007, Amanda Marcotte of Pandagon posted "The source of our collective delusions may be summed up in one sentence"

The “controversy” over the FDA approving the pill Lybrel, which is just a non-stop birth control pill that stops your period, speaks volumes about Americans’ general back-assedness. Women in other countries have been using pills to stop the inconvenience of having periods for something like decades now, but Americans, we have to freak the fuck out over this. A nation of techno-lovers can turn into a nation of Luddites at the very hint of women benefitting from technology in any way. At Feministing, Ann found that ABC News is already running with the “bitches are out of control” angle. This is the titular sentence that diagnoses our collective insanity: . . .

She included this clip from "Your World with Neil Cavuto"


Here is my first response to the clip:

WARNING – DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH

Hey Unruh STFU!

I’m 44, past my “baby making” prime. . . my period has been a problem for 11 years and I am actually enslaved by it.

No lie.

My period is so heavy that I run through a Super Plus Tampax tampon in a 1/2 hour .. and I do this for 3 f-ing days straight. And have done this for 11 years.

I have been to doctors and specialists and they won’t give me a hysterectomy because it’s a “healthy” organ. My own reason is that I feel orgasms in my entire uterus, not just the cervix, so I kind of don’t want to become the “female eunuch.”

I have been hospitalized for hydration issues and anemia issues because of my period. I cannot hold a full time job at this point in my life because I would spend all of my vacation time, all of my sick time and then some on the f-ing toilet.

I may not be able to handle this pill because I couldn’t handle the progesterone I was given to help shut down my period, but leave me with a uterus. But I’d at least like to be given the opportunity to try this drug.

So take your blonde from the bottle empty head (that I am ashamed to know that you and I hail from the same ethnic location) and stop interrupting when Mary Ellis (? correction needed) is telling THE TRUTH.

I LIVE WITH THIS! IT EFFECTS EVERY FUCKING THING I DO and DON’T GET TO DO!
(like going out for a picnic with my family, etc.)

STFU!!!!!

P.S. until you propose to pharmacologically castrate 13 year old boys so they can’t run a run and screw everything that moves - don’t you dare make girls bare the sole responsibility for hormones you misogynistic twits!

The next day, on the 25th, I added this:

I deleted a bunch of stuff from my post about my period that I now think I should have left in. Because it not only effects me it effects those who live with me.

Like my husband who shares the bed I sleep in - one that looks like someone was murdered in it. After this last menses I had to wash our sheets three times before I got any headway on the stains.

He also deals with “3 night a week pogo” as I am up and down throughout the night trying (in vain) to stay ahead of things. I get no sleep which makes me real pleasant to deal with. (think PMS on roids)

Everyone in this house get’s to deal with the mine field of chux placed anywhere and every where I sit during my period so “I” don’t ruin the furniture (that one is really good for the ego).

They get to deal with an out of commission bathroom while I clean it up because while I just averaged filling a super plus tampon every half an hour truth is that is the best case senario. Generally I have an accident which lets me know it’s time. I must then clean the bathroom floor, the toilet (seat and outer bowl and pesdestal) and the shower after each use.

I generally run through my entire waredrobe of stay at home clothes in one day. Sometimes, before I have a chance of getting clean clothes I have to resort to a set of non stay at home, generally stain free bit of clothing. Those then become a new set of stay at home clothes.

Wearing black in the summer time is oh so pleasant.

On the up side, and Ms. Unruh should be very pleased that the lack of finding a way to meadically reduce my flow, sans surgery, has convinced all four of my children that it is due to the somewhat larger than normal family we have. I don’t believe any of them, if they decide to have children will have more than 2.

My rant produced some good results Wayward suggested this:

Clytemnestra - I believe there is a new procedure where the doctor cauterizes the uterine lining. No periods (or extremely light periods) and no hysterectomy.

You may want to talk to your gyno about that.

After hearing this I resolved to find a new gyno along with a new primary care doctor. My gyno had retired years ago and my primary doctor was retiring at the end of May 2007. I decided, however, to wait a few months until after my sons' summer vacation.

In October I began the rounds of doctors and tests. And again my pap smear came back normal. I also had a biopsy done and that came back normal. Ultrasound came back normal, yada, yada, yada. I laughed when I was told this, as it was the same thing we had/have always heard.

My new gyno also began to go through my options for treatment. She talked briefly about birth control to stop my periods including Lybrel. Huh, wow, using birth control to stop a problem that doesn't, according to Leslee Unruh and her ilk, even exist.

My new gyno, this time a woman, I don't know why I went with a man the last time, and I discussed more options when she came to ablation. I jump on this immediately. We discussed this some what. They use an ablation therapy called Novasure. We talked about the possibility that since I have had a tubal ligation sometimes that area is burned more and becomes a source of chronic pain.

Okay.

We also talked about the possibility of loss of sensitivity, which is small. But ablation can make it harder to detect cervical cancer.

So I made an appointment for another round of testing. This one is a more in depth ultra sound where they fill the uterus with fluid looking for fibroids. After that I will have another meeting with my doctor to decide if this is something I really want to do.

I have begun reading the pamphlet given me:

Stop living with heavy bleeding.
A heavy period isn't normal.
More than 7 million women in the United States suffer with a very heavy menstrual period each month. This can have a major impact on their lives. Consequences of a very heavy period can include severe pain, fatigue, embarrassment, and iron-deficiency anemia. A heavy period may be caused by such conditions as fibroids, polyps, and hormonal changes. . .

(snip)

About Heavy Periods
Do you suffer from heavy bleeding?
Does your menstrual cycle seem abnormally long or heavy? Are you afraid of leaking through a pad or tampon? Have you been diagnosed with anemia from blood loss? If so, you may have menorrhagia (pronounced: men-o-rahj-ah).

Menorrhagia is defined as unusually heavy or long-lasting menstrual periods. It occurs in 1 out of every 5 women.

1 in 5????? If this is so prevalent why didn't anyone publicly call out Leslee Unruh on her absurd statement? How many woman are too embarrassed and never brining it up to their doctor? It took me years before I even told my doctor, thinking it was the price of having 6 pregnancies.

I can't hold a job because of my periods. What do women do who have a job but have no health insurance? Wear diapers during their menstruation cycle? I know that every time we had to change insurance companies I would get nervous what we would get denied due to a preexisting condition. Thankful that at least we live in Massachusetts so I would always have insurance some how.

So now while I read everything it is hitting me, I will be "burning" an organ. All the good and bad implications clear. Tto help myself, to get my life back, I may have to "harm" myself.

from Novasure

and "thank you" wayward!

Sherri Shepard, really ignorant or playing a part?

I had been struggling for a title for this post. First because I can't believe anyone so ignorant could be on television. Second because I can't believe Whoopi doesn't walk over and pop her little head off, she's not using it anyway. Third because where ever this dim wattage went to school needs to be closed. Fourth, I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE IS SO DOG DAMN IGNORANT OF EVEN THEIR OWN FAITH!

If she's playing a part. . . Sherri, please, please, stop!

First we had Sherri Shepherd tell us that she doesn't know if the world is round or not. (I aint even going say anything about the evolution talk)
(BTW nice try to change the subject with what is really a non sequitur (go look it up in the library, Sherri)

Now the woman reports that there was nothing before Jesus. What? (I'm having a Scobby Doo moment)


Sherri go open your Bible to Luke and re-read the Christmas story. (Tis the season afterall)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7 KJV

Okay you know that guy, Caesar Augustus, he was a Roman and he pre-dated Christians because Jesus hadn't even been born yet.

Now I know this may shock you but there is a book of the Bible that pre-dated the story of Jesus, it's called, the OLD Testament. Go read it sometime. It talks about Moses, who was the adopted son of a Pharaoh (that's the King in Egypt) - he was raised in a home that didn't believe in the God you believe in, they believed in many Gods. And when he heard the word of the God of the Hebrews (thems the people you know of as Jews - which PREDATED Jesus) he librated his people, the Hebrews, from his adopted family.

Oh if you look in your Bible, the first Chapter in Matthew there's all them names that you've probably ignored:

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Matthew 1:1-16 KJV

.Thems all Jews/Hebrews, a faith and people that PRE-DATE Jesus Christ.

Really you can't be that f-ing stupid. Especially when you frame so much on your faith and the Bible. I haven't even gone into ancient history which includes the Greeks, the Sumerians, the Harappans, the Aryans, etc. etc.

Maybe, before you embarrass yourself again, you or The View should register you in a university or community college Ancient History course (among others I'd suggest). Either that or follow Mark Twains advice:

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

Do something great this holiday season, become an organ donor

I have been an organ donor since I was 18. At that time designating yourself an organ donor on your driver's license was only a few years old. I believed it in strongly then and I still do. It is even in my living will.

Now, some 27 years later, it is a friend of mine who has liver disease and needs a liver transplant. He is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. We don't always agree on everything he's far more to the right that I am politically, but we can have civil, respectful conversations and even listen to each others points of view.

There are no insults thrown, and no talking down to each other, it's political civil discourse, that would be nice to see. BTW he called Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity etc. "flame throwers" and he doesn’t like them. He also calls Michael Moore one too. Well, no one is perfect ;-)

I never got to hear him play in his band, But here he is at the Little Bear (a renowned Colorado night spot) in 1987. He's the one in the stripes.

Here is one of his visits to the hospital. He told me that he created the video the day after he got out of the hospital



He also has a compelling story about his friend Ardis, who had end stage liver disease. He took care of her and she passed away before he was diagnosed with the same illness. He may not last 5 years.

If you aren't an organ donor already, do something great this holiday season and become one!

For more information:
http://www.organdon or.gov/
http://www.unos. org/
http://www.organdon or.org/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organ-donation/FL00077

Does your faith approve?
http://www.transplantforlife.org/miracles/religion.html

Here is his blog Billy Bob's Wildride (Billy Bob is his liver, his is Bob)

Should we hold a candlelight vigil for the children of Texas? And for the children in the entire US.

AUSTIN (AP) — The state's director of science curriculum said she resigned this month under pressure from officials who felt she gave the appearance of criticizing the instruction of intelligent design.
The Texas Education Agency put Chris Comer on 30 days paid administrative leave in late October, resulting in what she described as a forced resignation.

The move came shortly after Comer forwarded an e-mail announcing a presentation being given by the author of Inside Creationism's Trojan Horse. In the book, author Barbara Forrest says creationist politics are behind the movement to get intelligent design theory taught in public schools. Comer sent the e-mail to several individuals and a few online communities.

Comer, who held her position for nine years, said she believes evolution politics were behind her ousting.

"None of the other reasons they gave are, in and of themselves, firing offenses," she said.

TEA officials declined to comment Wednesday on the personnel matter, but they explained their recommendation to fire Comer in documents obtained by the Austin American-Statesman through the Texas Public Information Act.

"Ms. Comer's e-mail implies endorsement of the speaker and implies that TEA endorses the speaker's position on a subject on which the agency must remain neutral," the officials said.

Next year, the State Board of Education begins a review of the state science curriculum, which will set standards for classroom instruction and textbook selection.

read more

Let's forget for the moment that the state (not religous) education agency (Texas Education Agency) just said that it must remain neutral on an issue that is not science but being interjected into the sciece curriculum.

Let's also forget for a moment that is has already been ruled by a court in PA that ID is creationism, and religion, and by putting it into a public school science classroom there is a violation of the establishment clause.

Let's also ignore that for those who want to teach creationism to their children can do it in a homeschool setting, a religious day school setting, a relgious after school program, in church on Sunday morning and in their homes 24/7.

Putting it in a public school setting where there are children who are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddist, Pagan, Atheist, etc. violates their parental rights (something right wing Christian's like to argue for, a lot). In teaching a religous concept as science, which is not, concepts that may conflict with the parents relgious choice and desire for their children, we in effect create a state sanctioned religion. This is why only science should be taught in a public or public charter school science classroom.

We can also ignore the fact that by teaching creationsim as science the state of Texas is doing a huge disservice to it's children who will not do well outside the state in their adult life but also in attracting actual science teachers to the state.

Maybe we should organize a candlelight vigil for the plight of the children in Texas.

But wait, maybe we should organize a candlelight vigil for the plight of Americas children, because this is why you should care:

Texas is one of the largest, if not the largest, purchaser of textbooks. Because of this; what they demand be included in textbooks often finds it's way into textbooks for other states, and the standard issue textbook. It's cheaper and less work for an editor and publisher not to change too much.

With Comer's force resignation it seems clear that Texas is moving to calling into question evolution and including creationsim in the science classroom. What will that do to America's textbooks?

The war on science continues. You need to take a stand.

Read more:
National Center for Science Education
A DEFEAT FOR "INTELLIGENT DESIGN"
Judgement Day, Intelligent Design on Trail - - - Watch the program

It's offical; Dominionists for Huckabee

Not that this is a surprise, he is one himself.

Mike Huckabee, the Republican presidential candidate and former Southern Baptist minister, is getting help from Tim LaHaye, the Christian conservative organizer and co-author of the apocalyptic “Left Behind” novels.

“America and our Judeo-Christian heritage are under attack by a force that is more destructive than any America has faced” since Hitler, Dr. LaHaye and his wife, Beverly, wrote in letters sent to lists of conservative Christians in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. “Defeating the radical jihadists will require renewed resolve and spiritual rearmament by the evangelical pastors in America.”[..]
C&L

He said this a week or two ago (crusade picture photoshop mine):

Since he bascially, and stupidly, arrogantly, recklessly (and I could add many more disparaging adverbs) declared our "war on terrorism" to be a crusade I went all the way in the photoshopping because you know this is the way Mikey sees it.

I don't support the way we've dealt with terrorism, vis a vis "our ever expanding war" that took our eye off Afghanistan. We are making the world, especially the middle east a fully chaotic and disabled quagmire.

People don't like chaos, they, especially families, like stability, timeliness and no surprise futures. That's why a great deal of energy and time is spent in these areas maintaining the status quo, even in families. We threatened more destabilization through war and they will naturally flock to those who promise to uphold stability and their family and very conservative values, Al-Qeada, et. al. Which means we are xreatring and will continue to create more terrorist and be Bin Laden's largest recruitment tool.

It's human nature, we do it here. We see the world become more chaotic, less predictable, less secure and church attendance, especially conservative church attendance climbs. We flock to leaders who spout tough messures, "law and order," and cowboy diplomacy.

If being a Dominionist isn't enough for you to disqualify Mike Huckbee as president, maybe he reckless nature should be.

Quote on photoshop graphic: C&L

See also:

Dominionism: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

Five Things Mike Huckabee Doesn't Want You to Know About Him

Dr. Bruce Prescott (Mainstream Baptist) - or as I like to say "voice from the inside" - A Reconstructionist Takeover Video, All "Recontructionist" Posts (including those on Huckabee)

Religious Tolerance; Dominionism

Theocracy Watch - Dominionism and Dominion Theology

DailyKos - Dominionist, Dominionism

From me: Representative Republic or Dominion, My Dream, My Nightmare

Wikipeadia - Christian Right, Dominionism, Mike Huckabee

1 million cases of chlamydia were reported in the United States last year

ATLANTA - More than 1 million cases of chlamydia were reported in the
United States last year — the most ever reported for a sexually transmitted
disease, federal health officials said Tuesday.

"A new U.S. record,"
said Dr. John M. Douglas Jr. of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More bad news: Gonorrhea rates are jumping again after hitting a record
low, and an increasing number of cases are caused by a "superbug" version
resistant to common antibiotics, federal officials said Tuesday.

Syphilis is rising, too. The rate of congenital syphilis — which can
deform or kill babies — rose for the first time in 15 years - By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

Yah think maybe it's time to end the "Abstinence Only Education" farce and the war on science and health and actually teach people about safe sex and condoms?

Clytemnestra's Variety Show

I really miss the variety shows of yore. They were not only a chance to see quality entertainment, but they exposed us to the talents of our neighbors and the world. No competitions, no call in votes, these shows sent out scouts to find the talent to be on the show. Sometimes they missed, but in general there was always something you could enjoy. And with all the "processed" entertainment we have today, there was a good natured spontaneity, devoid of plots, deviousness and triangulation, that you can't find today.

Variety shows stretched beyond ideologies, feelings of war, social problems and for a moment, just for a moment, it would provide commonality, peace and good will. With all the hardness, contention, bitter discord between red and blue state America, maybe we should bring back the entertainment form.

If I could host a variety show, it would be all live. We'd bring the talent to Boston (or wherever), in front of live audience

But since I can't here is my first "variety show" using YouTube with living talent and talent that has passed away.

What do we loose when we remove the tops of mountains for the coal underneath?

Is this a price we are willing to pay. Or are you happy about the decision that has been made for you?

On this Blog Action Day I am reposting a blog entry I made on September, 15, 2007.

I had orginally heard about this on Bill Moyers Journal; Mountian Top Mining Update the other day. It is an eye opening report and I encourage you to click the link above and watch.

As proposed new rules may allow coal companies to expand mountain top removal mining, BILL MOYERS JOURNAL reports on local evangelical Christians who are turning to their faith to help save the earth.

I was curious and went to Google Maps to see of you can see some of the scars from mountain top removal from the satellitete photos. You can.

The 5 part documentary, "Toxic West Virignia," from VBS is a must see:










Parts 1 thru 3 can also be viewed on YouTube
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
3 more videos on this topic can be found at VBS.TV:
a) Cookie Mountain
b) Marky Bias
c) Erik Reece
See also Christians for the Mountains and order their DVD; Mountain Mourning

Congratulations Mr. Gore! The right, in full bash mode, shows how scared of you they are.

And rightly so. I'm not going to post links to the right wing sites, you can google them. There are giddy that the Nobel prize is yet another "consolation prize" for never getting to be president. They are shameless.

This 2006 speech just gives me chills.
(the applause may cause some audio problems)




It makes me hope he runs.

Hands OFF! Only Republicans can make money in Iran!

I'm in a fugue state of mind

I'm sorry that my directions calling for salad dressing caused you to use the one with arsenic

Now we really know who "wears the pants"

Mattel Apologizes to China for Toy Recalls

All Things Considered, September 21, 2007 · Toy company Mattel apologizes to China, taking full responsibility for recent toy recalls. The U.S.-based company said its own design flaws were primarily at fault. The recalls cast aspersions on Chinese-made products. NPR

What f-ed up times we live in!

Tonight may husband and I were at my high school son's "back to school night." While we were sitting in his biology class (along with other parents) listening to the teacher as she explained what they would cover during the year she took a big gulp and said "I believe in evolution and I will be teaching evolution!"

She visibly relaxed when every parent said "Good!" and let her know that we have her back.

But what f-ed up times do we live in where this has to not only be an issue, but that a science teacher has to summon the courage to tell the parents of her students that she will be teaching SCIENCE!

and this is in Massachusetts no less

Black Adder, Rove, Bush and Cheney

Listen to the election commentary, and the responses. :-)

France is now saying to prepare for war with Iran

French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner says the world should prepare for war over Iran's nuclear programme.

"We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war," Mr Kouchner said in an interview on French TV and radio. . .
. . . He said France wanted the European Union to prepare sanctions against Iran.

"We have decided that while negotiations are continuing to prepare eventual sanctions outside the ambit of UN sanctions. Our good friends, the Germans, suggested that," he said.

Until now the Security Council of the United Nations has imposed economic sanctions on Iran, but did not allow for military action.

The United States has not ruled out a military attack against Iran to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

BBC

Bush was beating the drum last week. France (France?) is beating the drum this week. And all of us who have been seeing this coming for 2-3 years now are, with Bush's stupidity om Ira1q, Washington's moves emboldening Iran and making it a power broker in the region, are very frightened that we were right all along.

Despite what you hear, Iraqis want a timetable for our withdrawl

Let's see, there are 275 in the Iraqi parliament. Before al-Sadr's group left al-Maliki's UIA (United Iraqi Alliance) with just 85 seats, down from the 140 it once had and giving it a very thin majority.

The al- Sadr camp already had yanked its six ministers from the Cabinet in April over al- Maliki's failure to endorse a fixed timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. On Saturday, Sadrists trumpeted their resistance to the Americans in justifying the departure from a coalition that had guaranteed Shiite political dominance for nearly three years.

In leaving, they sought to present themselves as Iraq's true patriots -- unlike their fellow Shiite politicians, who remained America's ally.

"The main problem in Iraq now is the occupation, and the solution is to have a timetable for the withdrawal of occupiers, and anyone who agrees with us on this demand will find our hearts opened to him," lawmaker Nasar Rubaie said.

The ruling alliance had been engineered in late 2004 by senior clerics with the goal of securing Shiites' right to power. Until now, Shiite leaders managed to keep unity among the community's fractious political parties, but that had changed Saturday night.

"The UIA has started breaking down. They were the biggest bloc at the parliament, but not anymore," said Salim Abdullah, the spokesman for the largest Sunni political bloc, which withdrew from al- Maliki's Cabinet in August. "Maybe the government will be changed within four months."

So basically to support and protect the embattled al-Maliki government we need to present them wit ha time table for withdrawl of our troops.

For their part, people around al- Maliki were relieved. "To be frank, for a long time the Sadrists were outside of the UIA. Their decisions were always not in line with the UIA," Askari said. "Some UIA members are happy. This makes things clear."

Al- Maliki's camp also was confident that the Kurds would not abandon the ruling alliance. Askari said the Kurds see their interest in sticking with the Shiite bloc, rather than switching to a side that might not back their claims to an autonomous region in the north.

Kurdish parliament member Mahmoud Othman confirmed that the Kurds had no interest in ditching the UIA and al- Maliki, although their relationship had been rocky previously. "There is no better alternative than Maliki," he said. "There is no change."

You know, instead of playing these games for a country that was artifically created by the British, and getting our soldiers killed we sould partition the country and then stand with the Kurds so the Turks, who will have their backs up anyway, won't attack the Kurds.

Iraq is a country that was cobbled together by the British, It does not hold the same feeling of national unity as say Kuwait, Iran, the UAE, Jordan, etc. It's time to realized that because of it's artifical creation, it may NEVER. And we could get our people out much sooner and work for stablisation better if we partitioned it and withdrew.

Sore L.A. Times

"Go For Broke," George Bush's policies are killing Americans in West Virginia

I heard about this on Bill Moyers Journal; Mountian Top Mining Update the other day. It is an eye opening report and I encourage you to click the link above and watch.

As proposed new rules may allow coal companies to expand mountain top removal mining, BILL MOYERS JOURNAL reports on local evangelical Christians who are turning to their faith to help save the earth.

I was curious and went to Google Maps to see of you can see some of the scars from mountain top removal from the satellitete photos. You can.

The 5 part documentary, "Toxic West Virignia," from VBS is a must see:










Parts 1 thru 3 can also be viewed on YouTube
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
3 more videos on this topic can be found at VBS.TV:
a) Cookie Mountain
b) Marky Bias
c) Erik Reece
See also Christians for the Mountains and order their DVD; Mountain Mourning

9-11, 9-11, scare, scare ,scare, fear, fear, fear

Happy Birthday sis! One good thing happened today, you were born!

I really can't add anything that hasn't been said on Dailykos here and here, Americablog, Pandagon, etc.

Ryan Adams music video "New York, New York", shot September 7, 2001 (embedding has been disabled for this video)

Lest I forget . . .

" . . .life in music is a life beautifully spent. . ." - thoughts on Pavarotti

“I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent and this is what I have
devoted my life to”.
Luciano Pavarotti

“Feeling joy doing what you love in the midst of a mortal struggle… It makes me tearfully smile”. Luciano Pavarotti.

Well, everyone who ever heard Luciano Pavarotti and loved his voice have been writing their memories. I'm among them. Saddened by yesterday morning's news it wasn't until I got to Crooks and Liars posting of "Nessun Dorma" that my sadness turn to tears.

I contributed my first memory of seeing Pavarotti both on Crooks and Liars and on Yahoo! Answers. It was on The Tonight Show (with Johnny Carson) Friday, September 14, 1979.

If my memory is correct he came with Richard Thomas (John Boy Walton) .

Richard was a scheduled guest on the Tonight Show that night, but he really wanted to introduce this man, this voice, to the American public. This was so unplanned that I don't think Johnny was even aware of what was going to happen.

Moments after Richard was introduced he introduced Pavarotti, the curtain opened and he [Pavarotti] was standing by a piano. Then he sang, and I became a fan.

This is how I remember. I may be wrong, but I hope not.

Maybe Richard Thomas, or anyone else who saw the show that night can confirm this memory.

Anyway, on Crooks and Liars (as well as other places) others shared their memories:

Timelag said:

This is the man who got me listening to opera, along with many others. As I got more into it, I just assumed I would graduate to other singers and find that he was too “pop” or something. But it never happened, he remained, and remains, my favorite by a long stretch.

RichardinSF said:

It wasn’t until Pavarotti came along that I could understand how people can be brought to tears by opera.

William reported

This news saddened me greatly. I was fortunate enough to have been in the orchestra accompanying Pavarotti during his 2000 tour. At the rehearsal he was happy, funny and more than willing to stand for a photo with me. I feel so privileged to say I performed with him. This icon of a man was just a warm, friendly regular guy… but a man who sang like a god. His performances and humanitarian work exemplify the best of the human spirit.

beckyboo shared:

When our second daughter was a toddler, barely able to speak, she would get a foot stool out and stand in front of the TV. She’d stand on top of it and say, in her toddler voice…” Thes ees Jow–nee Caar sone…and tonigh we have wif us Lutzee-awno Pottee-rrrrottee singy Nesssssi Door No. ” Now she listens to Sublime and Slipknot,(but also B.B. King and Clarence Carter), but she will still get a big smile and say, under her breath, “Lutzee-awno Potte-rrrrottee.” and then hang around and listen.

More shared their memories and thoughts in C&Ls Late Night Music Club with Luciano Pavarotti

99 had an amusing story:

Back when I lived in “civilization”, I had a nextdoor neighbor who would play heavy metal so loudly 24/7 that it shook my house. Finally, I threw my windows open, with my speakers aimed at his house, and turned Luciano loose on him… all the way up to eleven. His house went silent.

Yellowbird actually got to enjoy the company of Pavarotti upclose and personal:

I was one of the lucky people on the planet that actually got to meet him and spend a little time in his company.
It was at an afternoon gathering at a private home in Beverly Hills, California where a group of talented musicians from the local area gathered for a little friendly chamber music. The food on the table and the wine was PAR EXCELLENCE!!!

Luciano did not entertain that afternoon, but rather sat in the audience alongside me and my friends in a group that totaled about 50 people counting the musicians. I believe the lovely woman he was with later became his wife. My sincerest condolence to her for her loss should she read this.

Luciano showed me how to wrap a piece of Brie cheese within a date to cover the sharp taste and after a couple of chews, wash it down with wine. It was delicious and so was his company. He was real. He was warm. He was friendly and big as a mountain. I honestly could feel the power coming from this man. I never forgot that afternoon and I have always cherished Luciano. He was a gift from heaven, whether you believe in the place or not. He was gregarious and generous; a man’s man to the end. There wasn’t a woman who could come near him that wouldn’t take a second, third, fourth, (and more) look. He had that personal magnetism, that charisma that Bill Clinton has. I have seen him in person too. I know.

What can I say about his voice. It sends chills down my spine like few artists can. Not once in a while; but ALWAYS. His sound is so familiar I can pick it out any time any where. Whenever I have heard him sing; I stop whatever I am doing and take in the music. I can’t do anything but stop and listen. I can’t read, write, drive; I can’t do ANYTHING until he stops. It is that stunning to me. I am in love with his voice; his art. He was a master. And that is no exaggeration.

I love him and will miss him always. This piece of music shows the playful, non stuffy aspect of his nature. Luciano was brilliant. He will stand in the annals of human history forever… a great artist… a great man.

Thanks for letting me share. I am very sad at his loss and have been crying since I heard last night. Maybe if I can talk about it I will call in Malloy and share my story.

And Strawberry shared this most powerful memory:

When my first son was born, he was colicky. And I don’t mean, oh the poor thing, he’s just colicky. I mean, oh my God, why does he sound like someone put him in a blender, colicky. I even had a pediatrician specializing in colic, turn to me after observing him for a few minutes and ask “Is he always like this?” Yes, he was always like that. When he wasn’t attached to my boob, he would screech until he collapsed from exhaustion. And one morning about 1AM we were driving him around the neighborhood, trying to get him to sleep, when Pavarotti came on the radio…silence, blissful silence. I love Pavarotti, he saved my young son’s life.

So why am I posting the comments on C&L? Because I want to preserve them and I am not sure how long C&L now holds onto the comment portions. It used to be only a week or two, but then again, that's when they used Haloscan. But it is also as a segway to something I learned today that adds another line or two in the music chapter of my life.

Yesterday I wondered what my life would have been like if I had pursued opera/vocal music. My first vocal teacher, Robert (Bob) Bartalot, wanted me to very much, and was probably more than a little miffed when I left it all together. (Though he hid it well). When, as a teen, I had reached a vocal level beyond what he could teach me, he encouraged me to contact “THE” vocal teacher in Denver at that time, Winne Mague* (or Magoo, I don’t remember) . I know I started on that path, but am not sure what happened then, because I didn’t study with her. I never met with her, it may have been a scheduling thing or a teen thing, I just don’t remember.

When I left Denver to attend college outside the state I made vocal music my minor. But there was a criticism I didn’t expect, I could never “warm” my voice. The clear, bell tone with little or controlled vibrato, a great ear, and almost perfect phonetics of languages I didn’t understand with near ease, things that I was complimented on in Denver, didn’t get me as far here. The “warmth” that I could never bring, along with a mystery decline in my health, was a hard blow and I returned to Denver.

I continued on with a vocal music minor when attending Denver University. When I got totally stumped in music history/theory I called my old vocal teacher, Bob. He spent long nights on the phone helping me out. He more than once, comforted my confusion and feelings of inadequacy by saying that it’s a short coming of vocal music education that we don’t get the same grounding in theory early on that those in instrumental music do.

Anyway, I survived the class with a "C", even though that morning, hours before my finals my (now ex) husband beat me. I was so upset I couldn’t even sing for my vocal final. Consequently, I never “finished” that class. With one, then two children, a failing marriage and incredible stress, I left music.

It wasn’t until into my 30’s, and a little more “life” had happened, that I found the “warmth” to my voice. I heard it! I knew when it arrived! My 2nd (and current husband) heard it too. He very much wanted to go back into vocal music, but he had to settle for hearing me do warm ups and sing arias or pieces of arias.

My father, a church soloist, and frequent karaoke singer, loves to hear my voice, even now, through all these years of non use and little practice. He and my mother (also part of the choir and choral groups) encourage me every chance they get. And since my 45th birthday (September 1) and Luciano Pavarotti’s death, I’ve begun to wonder, “What if I had taken that path?”

Then this morning I read something that sort of gave me pause.

From 5th grade to 8th grade I not only sang but also played the cornet. For lack of a better explanation it’s a trumpet’s younger sibling. I know the exact day I would not continue with the cornet. It was the day my band teacher would not play a line of music for me so I could hear it, but wanted me to do it cold. What neither he or anyone else knew is that although I could read music, I had been doing it since 2nd grade accordion classes (DON'T go there), then on to taking piano starting in 3rd grade, but the musical notes all appeared as a jumble to me.

It only dawned on me later in life that this was due to my dyslexia. I had developed coping mechanisms on my own to become a voracious reader (using my index finger to keep my place, using a straight edge to help me keep my place when reading something that was right and left justified, etc.). What hadn’t followed through in my conscience thought was that I also had done this in music. I used listening to a line, staff, what have you of music as the mechanism by which I sorted out the notes. For example if I’m seeing an “E” coming after a “D,” but the music I’ve heard has the “E” before the “D,” I relied on what I was hearing to straighten out what I was seeing.

This, like the other coping mechanisms I created for myself was not part of my conscious thought. It was something I just did, something taught myself to do to get along in the world, I wasn’t aware that I was doing it.

Ashamed that the conclusion for my need to hear the series of notes might be construed as that I was playing everything by ear and that I really couldn’t read music. I knew I could read music, I just didn’t know how to explain why I needed him to play it first. But that was the day I knew I wouldn’t continue with the cornet.

Vocal music was easier in this regard. I never met a teacher who refused to play the notes first when asked. But this fear may have been the reason I didn’t meet with Winnie, it was hard enough when Bob would say "look at the notes, you can tell from note to note if you are going up or down." How do you say "no I can't" why you really can't explain why?

For the past few hours I have been reading a lot about a man whose voice I loved. On Wikipedia I came across this passage;

“Pavarotti rejected the allegation that he could not read music, although acknowledging he sometimes had difficulty following orchestral parts.”

Since early this morning I have read several versions of the same story of Pavarotti singing Zucchero ‘s, "Miserere." The basic story is:

. . . in attempt to persuade Luciano Pavarotti to record the song [Miserere]. Zucchero recalled: "Andrea was just unbelievable! He had something not one of the other tenors possessed. He had soul." When Pavarotti received the demo, he was extremely impressed with Andrea's voice, "Zucchero!, Who is this guy?" Pavarotti demanded. "Thank You for writing such a wonderful song. Yet you do not need me to sing it - Let Andrea sing Miserere with you, for there is no one finer."

One version I read said that Luciano wanted to hear the song first. That combined with the rumor that he could not read music and my own experience has lead me to wonder whether Luciano Pavarotti had dyslexia. Because it certainly seems like he was using, whether conscious or not, the same coping mechanisms I used.

It would be amazing to think that this was true, and it may be able to prove it at least by 90% using anecdotal evidence. We did this bit of detective work to determine whether my paternal grandfather had dyslexia. We believe he did, which has helped in many ways, none less that to establish how strong it is in our genetic line, my grandfather, my father, me, and two of my sons. My cousin believes that this knowledge would have been useful to her older brother during his lifetime. Now it allows her to put together pieces of why he did what he did and always had troubles in certain areas. She understands him better.

But wow. just wow. It blows my mind to think that he and I may have been doing the same thing in coping with something that in years past got one labeled as "stupid." Years before I was even here he walked away from music, but came back and left us with such beauty. I walked away, never came back to music and am hoping I can leave the world with a quarter as much as he left.

I guess all of us have questions about what would have happened if we had taken another path. I think I’ll start practicing again, if for nothing else than to add some more beauty to my little corner of the world.


see also:
Nessun Dorma, Paris 1998
Pavarotti, "Caruso"
Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti Medley
David Zucchero & Luciano Pavarotti - Miserere
+++ Andrea Bocelli & David Zucchero - Miserere
Darren Hayes & Luciano Pavarotti - O Sole Mio
Darren Hayes & Luciano Pavarotti - Se bastasse una ["If a song would suffice"]
Torino 2006 (what would be his last performance)
Luciano Pavarotti's Offical website

The Met is running a tribute broadcast “L’Elsir d’Amore" on WNET
this Sunday at noon, hopefully PBS stations across the country will pick it up.

And on Sirius radio at 9pm
The Met



Thanks to CappuccettoRosso for the quotes.

*= Winnie married a long time family friend of my parents.

Getting "The Gay" (according to right wing nuts)

( click on image to read)

Fund US Infrastructure Not the Iraq War

Isn't it interesting that the same amount of money we are spending on Bush's misadventure in Iraq could be spent here in America to fix our highways, electrical system, water/steam/sewer pipes, and bridges.

When are the American people going to to say that our tax money should be spent here and not in a mis managed war we were lied into, that the president never wanted to win in the first place?

How many more dead on our own soil are we going to suffer? The republican's blew a budget surplus, sunk into trillions of dollars in debt (all held by China) and made us into a debtor nation. Which would you rather have your tax money go for?

Finished Harry Potter! ** No spoilers here**

The book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was delivered to me at about 3pm EDT yesterday. I finshed it at 1pm EDT today. . . . I have never read a 750+ page book so fast in my life!

I lived it, and I now just wanting for the discussions to start.

And oh, by the way Keith (Olbermann) - who is a HP fan - I'm waiting for your show on Monday! (It's kind of fun knowing the world over people were not only reading the same book, but that those people were not only nameless faceless but the famous as well)

Gone Reading

I have been pretty good so far avoiding spoilers! But to keep it that way I am not going on line from now until I finish Deathly Hollows (which includes not reading my email) and only watching "KNOWN" safe tv shows tonight like, "Dr. Who." (I loved how they refered to HP and book 7 last week).

Anyway... see you when I'm done. I'll also be positng comments on the Pandagon HP, book 7, book club discussion.

See you when I'm done!

Listen to those who've served, for a change!

Democrats.org has a post called "Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Urges President Bush and Senate Republicans to Change Mission in Iraq".

The audio stream of the address and the text can be found at the link above. The address (Democratic Response) was given by Brandon Friedman, a former infantry officer in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was the Democratic radio address this week, and is a must read or must listen to .

You can also listen to the response here:


What is so sad is that it he and other veterans, who oppose this war, will be dismissed or told that they hate America. Just as these veterans at VoteVets.org have and the veterans at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Any vet who opposes this war, whether they be WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War I. or our current two wars hears this A charge made by persons who have never served no less.

This exchange between Cindy Sheehan, Chris Vucovich and Vietnam Veterans is very painful to watch. Mr. Vucovich, a man who has never seen the horrors of war with his own eyes, smelled it, or cleaned the remnants of his buddies off of him, launches and lashes out at those who have.



More:
Confrontation in Alabama with a 'True Chickenhawk' - DailyKOS and
here.
Y'all is Yella - OYE
Now It's President Bush's Turn: Urge Chris Vucovich to Be A Man! Enlist! - OYE
Cost of Iraq Occupation: $442B and counting; Cost of Shaming Clueless Chickenhawk: Priceless - C&L
Don’t Count Your Chickenhawks Before They Hatch" - Scrutiny Holligans
Updated 'Confrontation w/Chickhawk' - Never in Our Names

Feel Good Inc, CEO: ? (either Dick, Karl or George)

Just Reading Makes You Better Prepared

The White House meme this week has been that they are more prepared for an attack this summer (2007) from Al-Qeada than we were the summer of 2001.

Since they (the president and his administration/staff) did not read the report/intelligence given to them in the months before September 11, 2001, just reading an intelligence report about Al-Qeada would make them better prepared this summer than they were that summer 6 years ago.

It's Been a "Billy Joel Week"

It's Friday and I've needed three Billy Joel songs to get me through this week. Enjoy

It's Time for Guerilla Media

In a time when 40% of the population still believes that Iraq and Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9-11 and Valerie Plame was not covert, and the MSM will not disabuse our citizenry of that falsehood, it's time for the type of alternative media practiced in the 1960 and 1970s.

We tend to rely on the web, talk radio, mainstream newspapers and tv. Bust we forget that there are more ways to get the news across.

In many states advertisers stick flyers under windshield wipers of cars where their owners are inside a mall. Why not use that to inform people about the truth? Take a flyer to Kinkos, Office Max, Staples, etc. and $20.00, run however many that will buy and then go to a parking lot and paper the cars, or while people are at work stick a flyer at their front door (do not put it in mailboxes, that's a crime).

Those who know will understand what and why about the flyer. Those who don't, may actually learn something. And those who don't know who might get violent when presented with the truth, well you won't be around.

Always put on your flyer a place on the web can look up the truth. Make sure that at least one of your citations is from a place that even a hard core rightie can't dismiss, like say, from the White House, itself. Make sure that citation is the first one.

Here's an example:
Iraq and Saddam Hussein had NOTHING to do with 9-11

Q Mr. President, Dr. Rice and Secretary Rumsfeld both said yesterday that they have seen no evidence that Iraq had anything to do with September 11th. Yet, on Meet the Press, Sunday, the Vice President said Iraq was a geographic base for the terrorists and he also said, I don't know, or we don't know, when asked if there was any involvement. Your critics say that this is some effort -- deliberate effort to blur the line and confuse people. How would you answer that?

THE PRESIDENT: We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the September 11th. What the Vice President said was, is that he has been involved with al Qaeda. And al Zarqawi, al Qaeda operative, was in Baghdad. He's the guy that ordered the killing of a U.S. diplomat. He's a man who is still running loose, involved with the poisons network, involved with Ansar al-Islam. There's no question that Saddam Hussein had al Qaeda ties.

White House Archives
Setember 2003
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/09/20030917-7.html

Then include (you might want to put a box around each one).

BUSH: The terrorists attacked us and killed 3,000 of our citizens before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East.

QUESTION: What did Iraq have to do with it?

BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?

QUESTION: The attack on the World Trade Center.

BUSH: Nothing. Except it’s part of — and nobody has suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack. Iraq was a — Iraq — the lesson of September 11th is take threats before they fully materialize, Ken. Nobody’s ever suggested that the attacks of September the 11th were ordered by Iraq.

August 2006
Think Progress
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/08/21/bush-on-911/

This many be all you want to cover in this flyer. It maybe enough to cause some righties to start thinking. And it may cause some heads may explode.

But if the fourth estate refuses to tell the truth. Then we have to.

(In all cases check what's legal in your state, city/town.)

ENOUGH!

I've been listening to Cenk Uygur on The Young Turks this morning, all morning including the "after show" show. I rarely do that, I normally switch to Stephanie Miller at 9am ET. But today, and due to the fact that Stephanie Miller and the mooks are on vacation and I needed someone to voice my anger and frustration.

I like Elaine Bossler, but Cenk was/is my voice today.

I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's sentence was commuted to no jail time yesterday. We know that in the last few days of his presidency, Bush will pardon him. The robber barons, and their privileged aristocracy rules. The two tiered justice system, laid open for Paris Hilton, is now not only open but laid bare.

During this morning while listening I have perused DailyKOS, Crooks and Liars, Americablog and Pandagon. And I have been writing letters, lots of letters, in frustration and anger.

The Republicans may dance over this but they only expose how hypocritical they are.

During the Clinton impeachment they trumpeted how the rule of law was important. They said, along with their mouthpieces, Rush Limbaugh, et al. that Clinton lied under oath and that that in itself is important. They poo-ed poo-ed and brought in lawyers to rebut Democratic operatives who said that it was no big thing.

So now that it’s a Republican in trouble, who lied under oath, they have switch to “it’s no big deal.”

At the very least even with all that is going on, stop being hypocritical over this ONE thing.

HE LIED UNDER OATH. He should bare the consequences of that. And don’t whine about the sentence being excessive, it’s was within the sentencing guidelines. Guidelines Republicans used to trumpet as being the equalizer between rich and poor, powerful and downtrodden. Guidelines meant that all would be sentenced equally and removed discretion from judges. And on appeal Republican judges up held Libby's sentence.

Ordinary Americans, Republicans and Democrats, who lie under oath are sentenced under the same guidelines.

Don’t point to me that Clinton did pardon and commuted sentences. I didn’t support Clinton during that time. It's not an equal anology or comparision because people had already served time before the pardon, including Susan McDougal.

Those who make that argument are making a child’s argument and showing intellectual dishonesty and contempt for the American public.

It’s time to impeach. If Pelosi doesn’t see that then she needs to be removed. Beyond making flowery speeches telling the public how much this displeases the members of the House and the Senate, we need to implore them to do something tangible and meaningful. It doesn’t matter if Democrats think they can or can’t get it through, the fact of the matter is that they did something, and they tried.

On Sunday at 12 noon PDT Cenk is going to the Federal Building in L.A. and hold up a sign saying “ENOUGH!” He suggested we all do it, around the country at the city halls or federal buildings where we live. So on Sunday I will make an effort to get to the Federal Building in Boston with my sign “ENOUGH!” – and if I can’t get there, maybe the city hall here will be sufficient.

Update 2:05pm:
White House: Bush won't rule out pardoning Libby entirely
Libby Pardon Possible?

Bringing Back the "Momma Chair"

Twenty plus years ago I worked at the library (Penrose) on the University of Denver campus. Now Penrose is not a particularly beautiful building, there are many modern structures that are prettier. In fact Penrose is downright ugly, especially when you look at all the older and new buildings around it.

It was built in the 70's and unless the interior has been redone, it really shows (ed) it. The main floor was done in bright orange, from orange carpet, to orange wall paper to orange furniture. The second floor was done in yellow and the basement was done in red. And yes, there was "egg" furniture.

There was/is even a sculpture in front that no one knows what it is. We called it "the Paperclip."

I like to be "wowed!" and enchanted by libraries. I love to be inspired by the outside as well as the inside main floor of a library. the utilitarian feel of many public libraries in Denver during the 1960s - 1980's really turned me off. Except I have a growing fondness for the airy, 1950's brutalism of the "old" main library (1955-1995).

Massachusetts, by contrast, seems to understand the emotional connection to the building called the "library." Even when a community needs to expand it's library or make it wheelchair accessible, the imperative seems to be to save the original structure in all it’s beauty.

But I digress, back to Penrose.

In the employee lounge there were these huge black foam chairs. They were probably once all over the library, but in the 1980s they resided just in the employee lounge. They weren’t pretty, but these chairs were some of the most comfortable around, and if you weren’t careful you could overstay your lunch hour and fall deeply asleep.

One of my co-workers came up with a reason these chairs were so comfortable is that they were based on a mother’s lap, with the mother sitting cross legged. The breast forms at the top where one could rest their head, literally in the cleavage. The “mother’s” thighs made up the arms of the chair, and a little tummy pounch, which just happened to support your back.

Once we all looked at the chair as a whole, we knew he was right.

If they bring back these chairs, buy one. If you ever have a chance to sit in one, take it!


see also:
Modern Machanix
1970: Foam Furniture Rises Like Bread

RIP Hank Medress

'Lion Sleeps Tonight' singer dead

The shame of our unneccesaary illegal war. You need to know why.

No matter if you beleive, believed, or never believed in the Iraq War, this is a movie EVERY American needs to see. You can be damn sure the rest of the world will.

If any American ever asks why teh middle east is the way it is and why do *they* hate us (why does the world hate us), point them to this movie.

BillO and delusions of grandeur.

Yesterday Bill O'Reilly used the royal "we" when interviewing Medea Benjamin and Robin Swanson about Hillary Clinton

Here's BillOs quote:

"We expect Hillary to get the nomination".

This reveling in many ways. Now it's will be no surprise that he is probably an active part of the network of neo-cons trying to make sure Hillary is the Democratic nominee (they will probably encourage cross over voting considering their lack luster choices thus far -- and helping to ensure who their sorry candidate will face) because they feel that Hillary is so polarizing she'll be easy to beat.

It also illustrates just how inflated his own ego (we already knew that), but how far in delusion he his falling.

Oyay, Oyay, Oyay, all bow to King Bil_____

Thanks Seamus!

Of Pigs, Condoms and O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly (or as I've seen him referred to on some blogs, "Bildo") is upset over a condom ad featuring pigs.

Oh the irony

Click here to watch

See also:
Once more with feeling
and
On pigs, basketball, frames, and music

Get out the drapes John, there are nude people available for FREE viewing!

During the past two weeks my family has celebrated two graduations. My oldest son graduated from high school and my youngest son graduated from 4th grade. We used to called graduation from one school to another "continuation," i.e. elementary school to junior high or as it's known now, middle school.

My parents and my sister flew out from Colorado for my eldest son's graduation and we did some "touristy" things. My parents have traveled through Europe and parts of the old Soviet Union extensively (before and after the fall of the Soviet Union). They cried over the destruction of the beautiful city of Sarajevo and have not been back since reconstruction. So it was hard for me to understand the desire and request to visit the mansions of Newport, RI. But we went and were able to only visit "The Breakers," due to our dawdling and drives through this beautiful and luch green area. (the scale of which is not seen in Denver and most of Colorado).

My mother is retired, and was once director of a public library. Among all the places we visited as when I was a child and their trips outside the country one of the places on the itinerary has always been libraries. But some how though in the decade plus that my family (husband and kids) has lived here we always missed taking my Mom to the first public library in the U.S. The library is in Franklin, MA, so this time we visited.

Franklin, MA was named after Benjamin Franklin, March 2, 1778. The library building itself was built in 1904, but the collection and it's establishment as a free public lending institution began in 1790.

As we were heading up the steps to visit this very beautiful library I overheard my father say, with great distain, that Republicans would like to privatize public libraries and charge for the "privilege" of accessing knowledge. Once we entered the library and walked into the reading gallery we gazed at the walls that were covered with murals with women, mostly only clothed from the waste down. And I couldn't help myself but to remark that this would shock Senator James Inhofe. He was a constant punch line throughout their visit, especially when we discussed energy, global warming and the want of a wind farm off of Nantucket.

From the pamphlet from the Franklin Library Preservation Committee:

The pamphlet also states:

According to local folklore, flowing robes were added by Juglaris to some of the subjects on the murals. The nudity offended some of Franklin's residents.

I don't believe I saw any completely nude paintings. I wonder if there were any before, but there are plenty of nudes from the waist up. I guess we will never see John Ashcroft in this library, even to visit the first public lending library in the U.S.A.

Oh, I forgot, it's free, operated by the government (albeit it local, but taxes still go toward it) and for the public good, so you wouldn't see any republikkkans there anyway.

Paris Hilton Fallout = Boycott

There is an active movement spurred by Paris Hilton being released from jail after 3 days of her 44, I mean, 23 day sentence, to boycott all Hilton Hotels and all Hilton holdings.

The Hilton Hotels are:
Doubletree
Homewood Suites
Conrad Hotels
Embassy Suites
Hilton Garden Inn
Hampton Inn
Hitlon Hotels

Remember when Bush addressed the top 5% as his constituents. Well, these are them. Maybe, just maybe, Paris Hilton and her early release for imminent mental breakdown (and how many middle class and lower class people got "house arrest" for it (she can't go out for parties, but they can come to her, and her bed will still be made and room will still be picked up by her made. etc. real tough sentence, huh!) Maybe. just maybe this will finally spur the American majority to action in calling for and forcing fairness, and an end to policies/tax breaks etc. that benefit the upper 1-5%.

These policies that force the window wider and wider between rich and poor. Policies that are making more and more Americans poor. These polices of the Bush administration and the 6 years of total Republican rule have moved us back into the Robber Barron economies and social structure of yester year. And isn't it interesting of a party that "triumphs" small business are more than happy to destroy small businesses with big box stores, multinationals, big businesses.

I'm not a fan of Bill Clinton, but at least we had more people entering the upper class and more people leaving the lower class under his watch than we have had with Bushco.

So, if Paris' troubles and basically a release from her already light sentence help spur a sort of "proletariat" revolt from the Robber Barron Republicans, Administration and Party to a fair and just system ...

. . . Then I say "YES! Boycott!"

For more information read the comments on ANY TMZ.com posting about Miss Hilton's release.

Bush wants war with EVERYONE

Afghanistan (justified, but we are failing at due to Bush’s Iraq quagmire), Iraq (illegal and unjustified), Iran, North Korea, Russia, etc. etc. etc. etc. Along with our loss of respect and standing in the world, earns Bush the title of “God of War.”

This is NOT a compliment. This is NOT a game.

Santa Barbara Iraq War Memorial

Since we are not allowed to see flag drapped caskets, have overt memorials or even honor those who asnwered thier country's call to serve. This is sobering, and very moving.

From the Stephanie Miller Show

I coulda had a V-8, except now it's an FDA regulated drug.

"At the end and beginning of a war, that we have to watch out for ourselves. In between, it's like a country club. But you got to know how to keep your balance. Keep the balance and make the right friends because this war is defiantly winding down."
- John Malkovich, Empire of the Sun

Does it seem to you that the Bush administration, and corporate America are ramping up their attack on middle and poor America? It's been bad but now it seems that they are trying to inflict as much damage as they can in the 1 1/2 years left of this administration.

It's so bad that this administration with it's corporate friendly policies, and acting as their personal police force, is trying to reclassify vitamins, herbs, supplements, vegetable juices, even massage oils and rocks.

This move will be a end the 1994 DSHEA law that made supplements legal and OTC. Have you noticed that you now find things like vitamin E, St. John's Wort, even Cranberry capsules, on the super market shelf. This will end and it will be a big victory for Big Pharma.

It is true that the bill does not directly state that it intends to regulate or restrict access to dietary supplements. However, language within the section establishing the Regan-Udall Foundation grants the FDA new regulatory power to brand food ingredients (and thus dietary supplements) as unsafe utilizing the Critical Path Initiative drug-related risk assessment technology.
- Byron Richards

And we all know the devil is in the details.

What will be affected by this act:

• All vitamins, nutritional supplements and functional foods will be stripped of their structure & function claims, reducing them to empty labels where virtually nothing at all is allowed to be stated.
  
• Vegetable juice will be regulated as a drug. Raw juice retreats will be raided or shut down.
  
• Growing and selling common garden herbs will get you arrested as a drug dealer.
  
• Massage oils and handheld massagers will be regulated as "medical devices."
  
• Yoga props, pilates machines and weight machines will be regulated as "medical devices" and require FDA approval before being sold or used.
  
• Raw sprouts and other anti-cancer foods will be regulated as drugs.
  
• Bottled water that "treats" dehydration will be regulated as a drug.
  
• Massage therapists who use hot rocks as part of their therapy will have the ROCKS regulated as medical devices! (It's true. The FDA will actually look at a pile of rocks and declare, "Those are medical devices!")
  
• Functional foods, supplements, vitamins and homeopathic remedies will disappear from store shelves, pending FDA "review." (The only things remaining will be processed junk foods and pharmaceuticals, which is exactly what Big Business wants.)
  
• Therapeutic tea products, such as green tea, will be outlawed and confiscated.
  
• Vitamin store owners will be arrested and prosecuted for "practicing medicine without a license."
  
• Citizens owning personal inventories of "unapproved drugs" (vitamins and herbs) may have their homes raided at gunpoint and their inventories confiscated by armed law enforcement agents.
  
• The importation of herbs and functional foods from all countries may be banned.

While drug safety is important, and the governement needs to protect the citizenry from the harmful effects of pharmaceutical companies out of control; herbs, vitamins, vegetable juice, etc. should be left alone. These are time honored remedies and a personal health choice. I mean if you are going to really regulate something, shouldn't you do more to make cigarettes a behind the pharmacy counter, controlled substance?

People like Leslee Unruh can scream all they wants about "Big Pharma," but she and all her Republican friends who support this administration and who have voted to keep them in office and every Republican senator and congressman in Washington are their enablers.

The board of directors is composed of the Commissioner of the FDA, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 4 representatives from Big Pharma and Big Biotech, 3 representatives from academia (which is funded by Big Pharma), 2 more from the FDA and NIH, 2 from consumers groups, and 1 from health care providers. This means that the FDA/Big Pharma/Big Biotech voting block always has 13 votes -- to at the most 3. Who are you kidding? This front group foundation is run by the FDA in combination with the industry it is supposed to be regulating. This makes the FDA part of the drug business as a drug company
- Byron Richards

As this corporate/big business friendly, average American hostile, administration winds down expect more and more of this. Keep watch or the social and economic buggering we've been getting from this administration will only get worse.

Send a letter to your senator and congressperson (scroll down to "Health Freedom is on the Line").

More Information:
Understanding the Threat to Dietary Supplements
FDA acquiring new powers to suppress alternative health
U.S. Senate attempts damage control as House braces for onslaught
More Byron Richard's articles