Well, less than a week till Opening Day. Here's a great blog for the Nation.
I don't know about any of you, but I really don't give a shit about how this season goes. They won the damn series...THEY won the damn series....they WON the damn series....they won THE damn series....they won the DAMN series...they won the damn SERIES....THEY WON THE DAMN SERIES. Still hard to believe.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Visualize a Pyramid...
This is probably one of the simplest explanations of where the Democrats are...from former Senator Bill Bradley, probably one of the crankiest looking people on the face of the earth.
"Before deciding what Democrats should do now, it's important to see what Republicans have done right over many years. When the Goldwater Republicans lost in 1964, they didn't try to become Democrats. They tried to figure out how to make their own ideas more appealing to the voters. As part of this effort, they turned to Lewis Powell, then a corporate lawyer and soon to become a member of the United States Supreme Court. In 1971 he wrote a landmark memo for the United States Chamber of Commerce in which he advocated a sweeping, coordinated and long-term effort to spread conservative ideas on college campuses, in academic journals and in the news media.
To further the party's ideological and political goals, Republicans in the 1970's and 1980's built a comprehensive structure based on Powell's blueprint. Visualize that structure as a pyramid..."
It gets better from here...read on.
"Before deciding what Democrats should do now, it's important to see what Republicans have done right over many years. When the Goldwater Republicans lost in 1964, they didn't try to become Democrats. They tried to figure out how to make their own ideas more appealing to the voters. As part of this effort, they turned to Lewis Powell, then a corporate lawyer and soon to become a member of the United States Supreme Court. In 1971 he wrote a landmark memo for the United States Chamber of Commerce in which he advocated a sweeping, coordinated and long-term effort to spread conservative ideas on college campuses, in academic journals and in the news media.
To further the party's ideological and political goals, Republicans in the 1970's and 1980's built a comprehensive structure based on Powell's blueprint. Visualize that structure as a pyramid..."
It gets better from here...read on.
The So-called 'Culture of Life'
Yesterday's Progress Report:
"Contrary to the impression given by Washington conservatives and mainstream media cognoscenti, the Terri Schiavo case is not the only "culture of life" issue of concern to Americans. At least two other horrible tragedies took place last week – the second-deadliest school shooting in American history, and the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in nearly a year. Both deserved serious discussion, but barely managed to cut through wall-to-wall Schiavo coverage. And while pundits were busy repeating their broken-record commentary on "culture of life" politics, reality showed otherwise." More here.
"Contrary to the impression given by Washington conservatives and mainstream media cognoscenti, the Terri Schiavo case is not the only "culture of life" issue of concern to Americans. At least two other horrible tragedies took place last week – the second-deadliest school shooting in American history, and the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in nearly a year. Both deserved serious discussion, but barely managed to cut through wall-to-wall Schiavo coverage. And while pundits were busy repeating their broken-record commentary on "culture of life" politics, reality showed otherwise." More here.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Terri Schiavo's Blog
Be sure to check out the words of wisdom from America's sweetheart. (Careful if you open this link at work...that Terri has a pottymouth!)
This is truly sick, but hysterical.
This is truly sick, but hysterical.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Michael Moore Was Right
Not that we doubted it, but the Saudis did have help from the FBI in leaving the US after 9/11. More here.
Need a Quick Diagnosis? No Need to Visit the Doctor
Call Senator Frist! He has the ability to diagnose anything by just looking at a video. Use this form to send him any medical problem you'd like him to review. I'm sure he'll give you a quick response...just like he did for Terri Schiavo.
When Supersized Just Ain't Big Enough
Burger King has introduced a new breakfast choice called the Enormous Omelette Sandwich. Here's the breakdown: one sausage patty, two eggs, two American cheese slices and three strips of bacon. All told, the grand total is 730 calories and 47 grams of fat.
I've become a recent convert to actually reading labels of the food I buy and it truly is amazing what we put into our bodies...I guess Burger King hasn't gotten into the more healthful food craze, eh?
UPDATE: Just heard on ABC News that it takes 10 hours to digest the "Enormous Omelette" and you could eat 15 pieces of fried chicken and ingest the same amount of calories. Wanna know something worse? A Starbucks Frappacino has even more than all those items, with 830 total calories. Omigod!
I've become a recent convert to actually reading labels of the food I buy and it truly is amazing what we put into our bodies...I guess Burger King hasn't gotten into the more healthful food craze, eh?
UPDATE: Just heard on ABC News that it takes 10 hours to digest the "Enormous Omelette" and you could eat 15 pieces of fried chicken and ingest the same amount of calories. Wanna know something worse? A Starbucks Frappacino has even more than all those items, with 830 total calories. Omigod!
Sunday, March 27, 2005
The Principles Project
Today I read about a group called "The Princples Project," which recently completed an online convention designed to define and promote what Democrates believe. According to today's Globe, six weeks of email debate and balloting ended earlier this month with a "Declaration of Progressive Principles." This is a statement of core beliefs designed to unite people among the diverse factions of the Democratic Party.
Like the secular humanism philosophy below, this statemen kind of goes without saying, I suppose. But worthwhile to pass along nevertheless.
Like the secular humanism philosophy below, this statemen kind of goes without saying, I suppose. But worthwhile to pass along nevertheless.
My Easter Blessing
In honor of the Christian celebration of Easter today, I am passing along a philosophy of secular humanism that says everything that needs to be said about spirtuality today.
Happy Spring everyone.
Happy Spring everyone.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Too Damned Funny
I only know SOME of these names, but this concept is funny as hell to a heretic like me.
More Important? bin Laden or Schiavo?
Today I read one of the most amazing things about George W. Bush on "Surviving Grady," a Red Sox fan blog...and I sure wish I'd put 2+2 together this way:
"On August 6, 2001, while on vacation in Texas, George W. Bush read a memo entitled "Bin Laden Determined To Strike In US."
What did he do? Did he cut his vacation short and immediately hop a plane back to DC to deal with the crisis (as he did this week)?
No. He quit work early that day and spent the afternoon fishing. And he stayed on vacation in Texas for three more weeks."
That says it all...
"On August 6, 2001, while on vacation in Texas, George W. Bush read a memo entitled "Bin Laden Determined To Strike In US."
What did he do? Did he cut his vacation short and immediately hop a plane back to DC to deal with the crisis (as he did this week)?
No. He quit work early that day and spent the afternoon fishing. And he stayed on vacation in Texas for three more weeks."
That says it all...
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
And Now For Something Completely Different
Can you imagine having the audacity to talk about poverty at a time like this? When there's half-dead women hanging onto life by a thread with a husband out to starve her? When a wacky nut-job of a former pop superstar on trial for child molestation? When there is a potential for a winter story (yes, again) in New England?
John Edwards sent an email today (and even though I know this topic is actually important, why does it seem sort of strangely beside the point at the same time?):
"...Here's what we know: 36 million Americans live in poverty today, which is 13 million more than 30 years ago. About one in four working families is earning so little they struggle to make ends meet. And nearly 30 percent of families have less than $10,000 in assets - which means that the value of their savings, their home, and their car altogether is less than $10,000.
What we can do as a country is help families build a foundation and a safety net so that if they have a medical emergency, lose a job, or go through a traumatic event like a divorce it doesn't push them off the cliff and into bankruptcy."
If you're interested in supporting the cause, go here.
John Edwards sent an email today (and even though I know this topic is actually important, why does it seem sort of strangely beside the point at the same time?):
"...Here's what we know: 36 million Americans live in poverty today, which is 13 million more than 30 years ago. About one in four working families is earning so little they struggle to make ends meet. And nearly 30 percent of families have less than $10,000 in assets - which means that the value of their savings, their home, and their car altogether is less than $10,000.
What we can do as a country is help families build a foundation and a safety net so that if they have a medical emergency, lose a job, or go through a traumatic event like a divorce it doesn't push them off the cliff and into bankruptcy."
If you're interested in supporting the cause, go here.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Oh..the Hypocrisy...
Much as we'd all like to avoid it, it's impossible to get by any news outlet today without a mention of poor Terri Schiavo.
The hypocrisy just goes on and on...the "culture of life", right-wing wacko wing has cowtowed everyone into keeping this poor woman alive, probably against her own wishes. Can you imagine if the woman was gay? They'd all be running away so fast it would curl your hair. Can you imagine if she was a healthy, but imprisoned, woman...say, like Carla Faye Tucker? (You'll recall then-Gov. Bush would not stay her execution.) Can you imagine if she was even black...or indigent?
The only people on the "right to life" side who actually are not hypocrites are the Catholic Church. Over the weekend, there was a report that they would be working against capital punishment...in their view, a life is a life -- no matter who it is. I have to at least give them that.
From yesterday's Boston Globe:
"The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States plan tomorrow to launch what they are calling a major campaign to end the use of the death penalty.
The bishops, according to an aide, have been emboldened by two recent Supreme Court decisions limiting executions, and by polling that they say shows a dramatic increase in opposition to capital punishment among Catholic Americans.
Their campaign, which is to be announced by Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick at a news conference in Washington, is to include legislative action, legal advocacy, educational work, and a new website to be named www.ccedp.org, for the Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty."
Oh, and by the way, if I'm ever in a persistent, vegetative state...would someone please pull the plug? I would hate to be pasted all over the national media or to have those right-wing nutjobs harass my family.
The hypocrisy just goes on and on...the "culture of life", right-wing wacko wing has cowtowed everyone into keeping this poor woman alive, probably against her own wishes. Can you imagine if the woman was gay? They'd all be running away so fast it would curl your hair. Can you imagine if she was a healthy, but imprisoned, woman...say, like Carla Faye Tucker? (You'll recall then-Gov. Bush would not stay her execution.) Can you imagine if she was even black...or indigent?
The only people on the "right to life" side who actually are not hypocrites are the Catholic Church. Over the weekend, there was a report that they would be working against capital punishment...in their view, a life is a life -- no matter who it is. I have to at least give them that.
From yesterday's Boston Globe:
"The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States plan tomorrow to launch what they are calling a major campaign to end the use of the death penalty.
The bishops, according to an aide, have been emboldened by two recent Supreme Court decisions limiting executions, and by polling that they say shows a dramatic increase in opposition to capital punishment among Catholic Americans.
Their campaign, which is to be announced by Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick at a news conference in Washington, is to include legislative action, legal advocacy, educational work, and a new website to be named www.ccedp.org, for the Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty."
Oh, and by the way, if I'm ever in a persistent, vegetative state...would someone please pull the plug? I would hate to be pasted all over the national media or to have those right-wing nutjobs harass my family.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Who Cares?
Robert Blake was acquitted of murder today. *Yawn* Does anybody give a rat's ass?
On the other hand, Scott Peterson was given the death penalty. Obviously not enough of a celebrity.
And then there's Michael Jackson, who's too much of a celebrity and his case get ickier by the minute.
On the other hand, Scott Peterson was given the death penalty. Obviously not enough of a celebrity.
And then there's Michael Jackson, who's too much of a celebrity and his case get ickier by the minute.
It Runs in the Family?
Tomorrow is the eighth anniversary of my Dad's death.
This fine human being taught me everything I ever needed to learn about Bush-bashing. For example, during the latter years of his life, Dad lived in Florida when the brothers Bush were governing both Texas and Florida. He was convinced that there was some conspiracy going on between them to control the Gulf of Mexico for the oil interests. Hmmm..a vast right wing conspiracy? When did he and Hilary figure that out?
Besides, Dad never trusted the elder Bush either, and was fond of saying in the late 80's: "How can we trust a president who used to be head of the CIA?" :-) My pop was no deep thinker, but he had an instinct for recognizing b.s. when he saw it. I only hope I inherited half his common sense.
We miss ya, Dad.
This fine human being taught me everything I ever needed to learn about Bush-bashing. For example, during the latter years of his life, Dad lived in Florida when the brothers Bush were governing both Texas and Florida. He was convinced that there was some conspiracy going on between them to control the Gulf of Mexico for the oil interests. Hmmm..a vast right wing conspiracy? When did he and Hilary figure that out?
Besides, Dad never trusted the elder Bush either, and was fond of saying in the late 80's: "How can we trust a president who used to be head of the CIA?" :-) My pop was no deep thinker, but he had an instinct for recognizing b.s. when he saw it. I only hope I inherited half his common sense.
We miss ya, Dad.
Priorities, priorities, priorities....
Headline from "The Daily Show" (thanks, Rita):
"Enron, Halliburton, Abu Ghraib...and instead there's a full-scale investigation into baseball."
"Enron, Halliburton, Abu Ghraib...and instead there's a full-scale investigation into baseball."
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