April 24, 2007

Fascist America, in 10 easy steps - "From Hitler to Pinochet and beyond, history shows there are certain steps that any would-be dictator must take to destroy constitutional freedoms. And, argues Naomi Wolf, George Bush and his administration seem to be taking them all. ... That blueprint has been used again and again in more and less bloody, more and less terrifying ways. But it is always effective. It is very difficult and arduous to create and sustain a democracy - but history shows that closing one down is much simpler. You simply have to be willing to take the 10 steps. As difficult as this is to contemplate, it is clear, if you are willing to look, that each of these 10 steps has already been initiated today in the United States by the Bush administration." -- Here's a nice, sobering way to begin the day.

Nothing In This World Is What You Are Being Told - What's a Commoner to Do? - "I asked him, he being a retired CIA agent whose path and mine crossed briefly in this life, "If you can't tell me what you did, can you at least tell me what you learned?" His reply woke me up to what I already knew and suspect most humans know in their hearts who live on this planet, but don't want to know. He said, "Oh yes, I can surely tell you what I learned...Nothing in this world is as you are being told."" -- Let's keep the sobering ideas going.

The War Goes Ever On - "Is the Iraq war to become a permanent feature?
The war persists despite the opposition of a majority of Americans and Iraqis. The war persists despite warnings from U.S. generals that the stress is breaking the U.S. Army. The war persists despite its enormous costs in red ink and dependence on foreign loans. The war persists despite its total failure. The war persists despite the known fact that it was based on Bush administration lies and deception."

Nationality dictates media coverage - "A newly-landed extraterrestrial being familiar with the English language might be forgiven for believing that some people's lives are worth more than others purely dependent on an accident of birth or acquired nationality. He, she or it might also wonder why the word "terrorist" is attached to some killers but not to others." -- My thoughts exactly.

Freedom to Discuss Virginia Tech? - "Emmanuel College last week urged all professors to talk to students about the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech. One adjunct who did so for about 10 minutes — but not in the way Emmanuel envisioned — was promptly fired and barred from the campus." -- A paranoid move by the university. I would also say a dangerous move for higher education.

Culture of Fear: Poetry Professor Becomes Terror Suspect - "Because of my recycling, the bomb squad came, then the state police. Because of my recycling, buildings were evacuated, classes were canceled, the campus was closed. No. Not because of my recycling. Because of my dark body. No. Not even that. Because of his fear. Because of the way he saw me. Because of the culture of fear, mistrust, hatred and suspicion that is carefully cultivated in the media, by the government, by people who claim to want to keep us "safe.""

Gay marriage evil, abortion terrorism: Vatican - "The Vatican's second-highest ranking doctrinal official on Monday forcefully branded homosexual marriage an evil and denounced abortion and euthanasia as forms of "terrorism with a human face."" -- I'm glad I'm not Catholic.

Russell Simmons Says 3 Epithets Should Be Banned - "Expressing concern about the "growing public outrage" over the use of such words in rap lyrics, Simmons said the words "bitch," "ho" and "nigger" should be considered "extreme curse words."" -- Another issue being used to stoke paranoia.

LSD as Therapy? Write about It, Get Barred from US - "Andrew Feldmar, a well-known Vancouver psychotherapist, rolled up to the Blaine border crossing last summer as he had hundreds of times in his career. At 66, his gray hair, neat beard, and rimless glasses give him the look of a seasoned intellectual. He handed his passport to the U.S. border guard and relaxed, thinking he would soon be with an old friend in Seattle. The border guard turned to his computer and googled "Andrew Feldmar." The psychotherapist's world was about to turn upside down." -- More fucking paranoia. What's with this shit today?

The Secrets of the Christian Right's Recruiting Tactics - "A look at the cult-like recruiting tactics of the Christian right, including the manipulative and highly successful practice of "love bombing.""

Dissatisfaction, yearning make churchgoers switch - "Most of the switchers who changed their house of worship without making a residential move (58%) say their old church failed to engage their faith, or put their talents to work, or it seemed hypocritical or judgmental. But 42% of the people say they switched because another church offered more appealing doctrines and preaching or the preacher and church members' faith seemed more "authentic.""

Charlie Rose To Host First Live Online Presidential Debates - "Yahoo along with the Huffington Post and Slate will host two presidential debates during the 2008 campaign. Hosted by Charlie Rose, these interactive debates will be available on the three websites and allow voters an opportunity to ask questions, as well as evaluate the candidates for their performances."

Billions? What billions? Pentagon can't explain - "As the debate in Congress over supplemental funding for the war in Iraq heats up, the Department of Defense still cannot adequately account for billions of dollars, according to the Government Accountability Office."

If You're a Truther, Go and See Shooter - "Shooter, starring Mark Wahlberg, is the latest in a burgeoning trend of recent movies that carry a strong anti-government sentiment - the film is both political commentary and a damning expose of how the state stages black-ops in order to achieve political agendas."

Existing Home Sales Plunge in March - "Sales of existing homes plunged in March by the largest amount in nearly two decades, reflecting bad weather and increasing problems in the subprime mortgage market, a real estate trade group reported Tuesday."

FCC Seeks To Rein In Violent TV Shows - "Agency Will Recommend Law to Regulate Broadcast And Basic Cable Content."

Consume Like There’s No Tomorrow - "Adding the key word “alone” in the first paragraph of its release indicated that the Sierra Club wanted to be sure that politicians and corporate donors understood that it has no intention of criticizing the large quantity of unnecessary junk created by corporate America."

Baby boy born, then abandoned as mother walks away - "San Francisco police arrested a woman after she gave birth to a baby boy on a street corner Sunday night and then walked away, abandoning the baby."




Quote of the Day
"Well, I'm pissed off!"
~ Eric Cartman, South Park