I am temporarily shutting down this operation. I have only a dial-up connection and this blog is taking hours to put up, 3/4's of which is just trying to get my feeds to download and waiting for pages to upload. I am sorry. If I get DSL and if it alleviates this problem, I will be back, so to the 3 readers or so that I have regularly, I am sorry. If things don't improve, well it's been fun and I've enjoyed writing it, it's just I spend most of my time sitting and looking at this antiquated screen instead of writing. May the Democrats win!

Loyalty Oaths? How UnCalifornian of you

Today's News

The Way I View It
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They said nothing was likely to change in Cuba as Fidel stepped down in favor of his brother Raul. But, apparently something has changed. Cuba has signed on to two human rights treaties issued from the UN back in 1966. The Cuban foreign minister, Felipe Perez Roque claimed that no pressure was placed on the country to do so, and it was the sole decision of a sovereign state. The Cuban state also agrees to periodic scrutiny of whether it is in compliance with UN accords. Cuba had recently been removed from a special watch list. We hope this means that more changes will be forthcoming.
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We seem to be about diplomacy this day as Condi Rice is in Beijing and Secretary of Defense, Gates is in India. Word is that mostly they are trying to make each country feel that it is the favored. China seems to be responding to the call, while India remains skeptical, believing that Washington's only true interest is in India being a bulwark against China. Both are hoped to be effective counterweights to Russia. For more, read M.K. Bhadrakumar's detailed post.
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In all probability, most people think that stories like this one are a waste of time and money. They could not be more wrong. That said, scientists have learned that bats have the ability to hover much like some insects. Using its thumbs and fingers embedded in its wings, they are able to alter the curve of the wing and gain lift, allowing them to stay in place or move in slow motion. Such studies prove that we have a great deal yet to learn about wing design in our own flying machines. See? I told you it was important.
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While disputed elections don't usually lead to violence in the US, such is not the case elsewhere. In Kenya, nearly 1,500 people died when rival groups disputed who won. But after heated negotiations over several weeks, an agreement has been reached. Brokered by Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, Mwai Kibaki will be president, and Raila Odinga will be Prime Minister. Much of course remains to be done, but all applaud this as a first step in reconciliation. Parliament will meet on March 6 to begin reviewing the accord. We wish them the best of luck!
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If you know me at all, you know I am thoroughly disgusted with American "regulatory agencies." I know they don't regulate a thing, are nothing but training grounds for high paying industry jobs, and certainly don't have my interests at heart at all. At a 5-hour FCC hearing at Harvard set to discuss the idea of "net neutrality," Comcast filled the room with ringers paid by them to take up the seating. This follows a pattern in Washington where people routinely stand in line for others, at Congressional hearings. It is believed Comcast wanted a favorable "audience." Why I cannot fathom, the agencies give them whatever they want anyway.
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Some days it's quite apparent I live in two different universes. Apparently, I've slipped into the "other" one again. Seems that California State University, bastion of "higher?" education, has taken to firing a teacher for altering her "loyalty oath" just a tad. Marianne Kearney-Brown added "nonviolently" and changed swear to "affirmed" to the "Oath of Allegiance," required of new employees. Ms. Kearney-Brown is a Quaker you see. She has made this alternation on several such documents in other school districts without comment, but not this time. She was fired. Apparently such "oaths" are required of all state employees and elected officials. Seems rather stupid to me. I'm not liking oaths at any college or university period.
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You know that cute little green guy that sells insurance right? I mean, with the accent (never can tell if that is Aussie or British). Anyhoo, his feet are now as important as his cute little voice. Yep, his feet are sticky, and we like sticky things. (Actually my husband has a well, Monkish aversion to all things sticky, but he's another case.) Actually the little gecko has a very interesting "toe structure." (news to me for sure). This is the sticky your dreams are made of, it leaves no residue, is self-cleaning (the toes I mean), and doesn't degrade. It's all in the tiny hairs on its toes you see. Nanotubes, concocted in some mad scientist's lab actually mimic these hairy toes it seems. Read more to see just the oodles of possible applications.
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And just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, her comes another story that will keep your toes on shore. Touted as the T-Rex of the seas, this bone crushing animal with teeth the size of cucumbers is definitely one you would not want to meet. Called a pliosaur, it was the size of a bus and lived 150 million years ago, in what is present day Norway. The fishy was as long as 50 feet, which seems pretty long to me. Enough for me, I'm staying where it's dry.
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I have stated that I think Barack Obama will emerge as the candidate of the Democratic Party. I wish, and deep down still hold a flicker of hope that Hillary will stage some miraculous come back, but I am not foolish enough to listen to my own desires. Dan Schnur in an OP Ed at the NYTimes, suggests that perhaps we should not jump quite so fast. No fan of the Clintons, he claims he has learned not to count them out too soon no matter how clear cut it may seem. He actually thinks she would be the formidable opponent. In a nutshell, this Republican is rooting for Obama and fearing Clinton. Interesting analysis.
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I'm glad to see that McCain is not getting away with accepting the endorsement of John Hagee, all round hate monger and bigot. The Catholic League has denounced McCain for his acceptance of the sleazy blessing offered by the dude who wants to support Israel in order to speed up Armageddon. I'm just thrilled, given the way Obama was treated over Farrakhan's endorsement. (By the way, I think denounce is stronger than reject) Hagee has that heartwarming tendency to call Catholics "whores and anti-Christs, and cultists", none of which please members of the oldest formal institution in the world. If McCain wants the Catholic vote, and surely he does, he better backtrack fast, but then he will lose the nutcase vote, and that my friends seems to be growing daily, so who knows what he will do.
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David Greenburg gives a fine analysis of Jacob Heilbrunn's book, "They knew they were right: the rise of the Neocons." The term neo-con is bandied around pretty carelessly by most people, including myself. Actually it has a pretty precise meaning. It actually arose in the 1960-70's and was composed of liberals who were disenchanted with the "Great Society" and the isolationist position of Democrats after Vietnam. It has, to be sure, gone through many a twist and turn since then. Greenburg is skeptical that this book is too close in time to reflect an accurate historical view of the movement, but that by no means makes the book insignificant. Read the review at The American Prospect.
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I've been giggling about McCain's financial issues involving the FEC. I've so far seen him argue that it he isn't bound by his contract to limit himself to taxpayer funding because his people say he isn't. Not a good argument in my opinion. George Will thinks the NYTimes story about the lobbyist only deflected attention off this story, and to Mac's benefit. It just looks like McCain is, well, just being like the typical candidate, flipping and flopping as the winds and political expediency move him. And some still insist he will be a formidable candidate? I keep trying to figure that out.
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Below the Fold

History

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Leap Year is upon us this year. Of course we all know it occurs every 4 years and is meant to keep the calendar months in line with the actual seasons, but I wonder if you know why February was the chosen month for this interloper. Intercalation is the word used for insertions of extra days in a calendar. Using this method to reconcile the solar calendar with the lunar calendar, the extra day was placed in February, simply because that was the end of the calendar year in ancient Rome. March 1 was essentially New Year's then.

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This Day in History

• 46 BCE ~ The first leap year, instituted by Julius Caesar
• 1796 ~ The Jay Treaty went into effect
• 1908 ~ Dutch scientists produce solid helium
• 1940 ~ Hattie McDaniel is the first black woman to receive an Oscar
• 1960 ~ First Playboy Club opens in Chicago
• 1968 ~ Kerner Commission Report released on racism in America
• 1968 ~ The first pulsar was located by astronomers `

Born this Day

• 1736 ~ Anna Lee, founder of the Shakers
• 1904 ~ Jimmy Dorsey, orchestra leader

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Quote of the Day

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Learning to dislike children at an early age saves a lot of expense and aggravation later in life." ~~Robert Byrne

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Word of the Day

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impromptu \im-PROMP-too\ adjective

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1 : made, done, or formed on or as if on the spur of the moment : improvised 2 : composed or uttered without previous preparation : extemporaneous

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When we dropped by unexpectedly, Aunt Dinah threw together an impromptu dinner from the odds and ends in her refrigerator

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If you think that "impromptu" looks like a relative of "prompt," you're right; both are ultimately derived from the Latin "promere," meaning "to bring forth, take out." "Impromptu" was borrowed from French, where it meant "extemporaneously," but French speakers picked it up from the Latin phrase "in promptu," a "promere" descendant meaning "in readiness" or "at hand." There is also another, much rarer descendant of "promere" in English — the noun "promptuary," meaning "a book of ready reference."

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Joke of the Day

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"Ralph Nader announced he's running for president again. Immediately after the announcement, the guy sitting next to Nader on the park bench told him to shut up." --Conan O'Brien

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"Ralph Nader announced he is running for president again. His announcement has filled millions of people with excitement and hope. And these people are called Republicans." --Craig Ferguson

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"Ralph Nader, doesn't he look like the cranky guy at a hearing on the new traffic light? He looks like the guy who can't find his table after he goes to the salad bar." --David Letterman

Husseined is like swiftboating

Today's News


The Way I View It
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You might wonder now and again, where all the money that we pour into Iraq actually goes. Apparently hundreds of millions go to the three ethnic groups in Iraq for "security." The problem is, it is very much used by them to eliminate other ethnic peoples within their "border." So we have effectively armed the three camps and hope and pray they don't turn the guns on each other in a concerted way instead of the piecemeal way we have decided to accept as "normal." There are somewhere in the vicinity of 600,000 fighters, armed by us, but their loyalty is to themselves and no other. Some say its a matter of when not if, it explodes into an outright conflagration.
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Some are claiming that there is a real war against science pursued by the Bushites, always a bastion of common sense. We are familiar of course with their censoring of official documents, removing the stuff that hurts business so routinely that there are lists of cases now. The Union of Concerned Scientists have compiled a list of all these nefarious interferences with truth. Here is some of what they found in a study of this Administration's efforts to make science speak as it wishes. People who don't hold the government line are simply fired. They falsify government studies to reflect the outcome they prefer. Refusal to examine current scientific literature on the issue. Read Annalee Newitz from Alternet.
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Some are suggesting that the McCain flap up over the "introduction" was a deliberate and that that is the plan of attack for this fall. Others will do the dirty work, McCain will plead "I had no idea," the media will say, Mac is too nice a guy to be behind it. Pretty neat huh? This link takes you to the story issued by TPM.
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We mentioned recently that the Russians were intent on supporting Serbia, perhaps in large part because they needed a conduit for their natural gas exports and had concluded an agreement for a pipeline with that country. It seems the US may have had similar motives for supporting Kosovo. It turns out that Kosovo is home to a major US military base, Camp Bondsteel. And it seems America has interest in a pipeline of their own. Read Pepe Escobar's fine post and learn all the sordid details.
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I keep hearing this funny talk about how McCain is gonna win this race if he can keep the topic on Iraq. I cannot fathom why his handlers and other GOP pundits believe this. The awful facts are well, just that, awful. How are they gonna respond to the following numbers and argue that they are to be trusted to lead this country? Nobel prize-winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz claims that total costs, once estimated by the Bush people at 2 millions of dollars is now in excess of 3 TRILLION dollars and climbing. Further, if all costs are taken into account, many of which are not immediate but long term like health care for injured soldiers, the number climbs to 5-7 trillion. Go on Mac, make your argument. This should be good. __________________
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Oh yippee, McCain got another important endorsement. John Hagee has weighed in favor of the Straight? Talker. Oh that's one good one for sure. Hagee, you remember heads a friendly group dedicated to backing Israel. Not because they like Israel, they are Jewish after all, but because according to their poorly conceived theology, Israel must be in place for Armageddon to take place, and that must occur before Jesus returns to set all aright in the world. Asked if he agreed with Hagee's theology, Old Mac seemed confused, decided he wasn't up to that question, and said simply that he was happy for the support. Is that like Louis Farrakhan support? While I agree that one cannot control who offers support, one is free to reject it. Glenn Greenwald took up the same dichotomy today. Read his analysis at the Salon. Why was Barack beaten over the head and McCain given a pass?
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Iowa is but another state to join in the discussion of whether to reject federal "abstinence only" funding for sex education in public schools. Sixteen states have already rejected the funding. A medically, scientifically mandated sex education standards bill has already been passed and it is said to conflict with certain requirements of the federal program, which many states find restrictive and unrelated to sound medical/scientific criteria. Essential Estrogen has the story.
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Mad Kane doesn't post nearly often enough for my taste, but when she does, it's likely to be worth reading. More important, she's damned funny. Read her take on Ralph's decision to muck up the election once again.
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As you might have guessed, I'm a big huge fan of Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert. We never fail to watch them both each night and are mighty unhappy when the two have the temerity to go on "vacation." It turns out that those who appear on the Cobert Report get a significant "bump" in contributions, so says political scientist James H. Fowler from UofC, San Diego. And it's nothing to sneeze at either. It's to the tune of a 44% increase. I guess that would make it worthwhile, no? No numbers on Republicans.
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Hah! I may be getting old, but that doesn't mean I can't think anymore. So say a research group from Vermont about the habits of old men and old women. Seems we are no so set in our ways as has been reported. We make up, per the last election, about 1/4 of the total electorate and guess what? Forty-two percent of all voters say they would not like to vote for a person 72 years of age or older. Bad news for McCain. Interestingly, only 5% said they would not vote for a black, while 11% said no to women.
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Ya know, I rant a good deal about this present government and its avoidance of anything legal in favor of doing it the old fashioned way, illegally and with arrogance. But I cannot help but say, "whhaaaat" at this one. We are used to reading that North Korea, China, and other repressive regimes are wont to prevent their populations from enjoying access to the internet and all the horrible thngs they will find there. But I really didn't expect my own government was doing the same thing. Turns out the US Air Force openly controls access to certain sites, banning most "blogs" it seems. All blogspot blogs are cut out, as well as others not "approved." I mean can you believe this?
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Wasn't it only a few weeks ago that Washington was touting the Iraqi goverment's move for elections in the provinces? Seems all that is on hold as the bill has been sent back to the parliament. This even after Darth Vadar called the hold-out personally. Guess the heavy breathing over the phone isn't quite as imposing as real life. Yes, this surge is working alright folks, any minute now, any minute. Power sharing is NOT where it's at in Iraq these days.
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Seems our friends in Russia are also susceptible to cults. This one is another of those apocalyptic wonders, predicting the end of the world. This one claims that the time is May of this year, and they intend to stay holed up in their cave until then, threatening to commit suicide if anybody tries to remove them. Turns out they may not make it to May. They are being subjected to fumes of ammonia gases caused by their own excrement. Yep, you heard me. Cult leader, Pyotr Kuznetsov, is currently being treated at a psychiatric hospital for paranoid schizophrenia. The group is also threatened by other diseases because of the location of ground water near burial grounds for dead animals. Flooding is also feared come spring. Russia is one strange place I tell ya. It is said there are somewhere between 500-700 such sects in the country, with memberships in the area of 600,000-800,000 people. Apparently, Russia is not a happy place either.
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The could be some interesting ramifications to this one. Seems Old Mac gave an interview with Beliefnet some time last year, and pretty much stated that he believed the nation was set up as a "Christian" one. Now that was bound to lead to trouble. The Anti-Defamation League jumped in, and Old Mac restated and added to his statement. It's another of those difficult areas that McCain has, he's simply said things on both sides of the aisle as it were.
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Remember how our dear prez has staunchly defended his "immunity" for telecoms as the "right thing" to do? Remember? Well you don't think they did that expecting nothing in return did ya? No I don't mean the usual cooperation with spying, no the GOP is more crass than that. Cold hard cash speaks to them in a way they can understand. The showers must be running hard and fast every night in Washington. The need to wash off all that muck must be compelling.
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They keep saying it's working, we keep saying it's not. I wonder how they will spin this one? The International Crisis Group says the only reason things have calmed down in Iraq has nothing to do with our troops. It has everything to do with Muqtada al-Sadr and his cease fire. Read Lionel Beehner's report at the Huffington Post.
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Hit the Wonkette, and get their take on McCain's handling of the "Hussein" issue. They think Karl Rove's take on the matter particularly funny. What do you think? It's worth it if you need a laugh today, and what day don't you?

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Below the Fold

History


We note that in the early life of our little democracy, many of the big players went on to hold the highest office in the land. How easy is it to pass on the presidency to one's chosen desire? Not very it seems. American President's Blog has a very nice post worth your time.
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A truly wonderful resource has come to my attention. Called ConSource, a free, fully-indexed online library of Constitutional sources. You can also enjoy a recording of a "teaching" event by David McCullough, author of a book on Washington, preserved for your pleasure. This is simply a great little site to have at your disposal. Hope you enjoy it.
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Events that happened on this date:

• 1066 ~ Westminster Abby opens


• 1692 ~ Salem witch hunts begin


• 1784 ~ The Methodist Church was established by John Wesley


• 1827 ~ First charter for a commercial railroad, the B&O


• 1849 ~ The first arrivals from the east arrived to search for gold aboard the California


• 1854 ~ Republican Party formed


• 1940 ~ Richard Wright's "Native Son" published


• 1948 ~ The last British troops left India


• 1953 ~ Watson and Crick discovered the double helix form of DNA


• 1954 ~ US performs nuclear test at Bikini Island


• 1983 ~ The final episode of M*A*S*H* aired


• 1993 ~ Four FBI agents were killed at the Branch Dividian Compound

Born on this Day:

• 1901 ~ Linus Pauling, chemist'


• 1906 ~ Bugsy Siegel, gangster


• 1928 ~ Smokey the Bear


• 1940 ~ Mario Andretti, racecar driver


• 1942 ~ Brian Jones, Rolling Stones guitarist

Deaths this Day:

• 1916 ~ Henry James, author


• 1953 ~ Jim Thorpe, athlete


• 1979 ~ Mr. Ed the talking horse

Quote of the Day

"Whatever you may be sure of, be sure of this, that you are dreadfully like other people." ~~ James Russell Lowell

Word of the Day

Bonapartism \BOH-nuh-par-tiz-um\ noun

a policy supporting dictatorial rule usually by a military leader who has ostensibly received a popular mandate

Public fears that the new president would shift to Bonapartism were fueled by his early attempts to undermine the parliament.

Napoleon I (Napoleon Bonaparte) came to power in France by military coup in 1799 and ruled as emperor from 1804 until he was forced from power in 1815. The year 1815 was clearly a bad one for Bonaparte: he was defeated at Waterloo by the Duke of Wellington and sent into exile. Coincidentally, 1815 was also the year that marked the debut in English of “Bonapartism,” the word derived from his name. "Waterloo," a term for a decisive defeat such as the one Napoleon suffered, had come into general English use by 1816.

Joke of the Day

A man walked into the produce section of his local supermarket and asked to buy "half" a head of lettuce. The boy working in that department told him that they only sold whole heads of lettuce.
The man was insistent that the boy ask his manager about the matter. Walking into the back room, the boy said to his manager, "Some asshole wants to buy a half a head of lettuce."
As he finished his sentence, he turned to find the man standing right behind him, so he added, "and this gentleman kindly offered to buy the other half."
The manager approved the deal and the man went on his way. Later the manager found the boy and said "I was impressed with the way you got yourself out of that situation earlier. We like people who think on their feet here. Where are you from, son?"
"Queensland, sir," the boy replied.
"Well, why did you leave Queensland," the manager asked.
The boy said, "Sir, there's nothing but whores and rugby league players up there.""Really!" said the manager. "My wife is from Queensland!"
The boy replied, "No s&*t??? Who did she play for?

No, he really didn't Say THAT! Did he?

Today's News

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The Way I View It
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The reprint of a cartoon in Denmark continues to spark protests in the Muslim world. Latest to take up the condemnation, Sudan has barred all Danes from ever setting foot in Sudan again. All Danish produce has been boycotted as well. It is estimated that at least 10,000 marched in Khartoum. Denmark allegedly reprinted the cartoon in solidarity with the author and in support of freedom of speech. To represent Muhammad in any fashion is considered idolatrous.
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If there is anyone out there who thinks that well, McCain ain't so bad, think again. It can be easy to come to that conclusion given the rabble that opposes him so vociferously. With enemies the like of Rush and Ann, John might look okay. It is very likely McCain is opposed to the use of contraceptives. That makes him even farther right than dear George, the boy idiot. So far he has danced around this issue, but has said that he supports Dr. Colburn's approach, and that approach dear readers is this: The Colburn he refers to is the Republican Senator from Oklahoma. He tried to get condoms labeled as not protective of STD's, even though available data did not support such a conclusion. Read the full article at Alternet.
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In addition, Mac's love affair with the very very very out there right seems to have ended already. While they were quick to scream foul at the NYTimes piece about sex and the straight talker, they reverted to their usual petulance when dear Mac took to upbraiding a lead-in speaker who spoke less than kindly toward Barack Obama. Mac apologized and the roar could soon be heard from all things Fox, and on down the slippery putrid right slope. Too too funny, gosh I hope this goes on all year.
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Well in an interesting turn of a metaphor, America's gigantic mortgage crisis, is seen as "tying Americans to the land" much as Russian serfs or American slaves of the pre-Civil War era. It now seems that more than 9 million Americans now owe more on their homes than the homes are worth. Mocking away, writer Julian Delasantellis remarks how the banking elite continue to enjoy the good life while the property owner is subjected to "specialized professional parasites" otherwise known as real estate lawyers. It's an interesting take of events from the East.
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Visit the Bleeding Heartland Blog to get the lowdown as to what important stuff is going on in your state in their weekly 50 state blog network post. Speaking of states issues, Iowa learned its lesson in a court ruling from the 8th Circuit, supporting a lower court finding that Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship Ministry was guilty of a violation of church and state separation by using taxpayer money to fund the operation. The Ministry will continue without the taxpayer's footing the bill. Other states are put on notice. This suit was considered a no brainer and much dough could have been saved if everyone had simple accepted the obvious truth.
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Those of us in the tummy of America know this already. Perhaps you have missed it. You won't be missing it for long. Wheat prices are up significantly, well downright magnificently if you are a grower. The reason? Well, because corn is being grown at much higher levels than ever before because of ethanol production which uses the corn. So, less acreage for wheat, thus, increased prices. This means to you? Higher costs for bread and all other baked items using wheat such as pasta. Would love to see a cost analysis of whether this adds or subtracts the environmental impact overall.
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Remember all those lost e-mails? Remember about the hoopla about Republicans doing party business on company time? The RNC of course said it was working to retrieve them, and guess what? It now says, "it has no intention of restoring them." Are we surprised? No, obviously they found plenty of naughty stuff and decided to just stonewall it.
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I have been arguing for a month now at least that any Democrat will beat any Republican for the top spot this year. It simply doesn't matter who, and that means its silly to keep posting these polls showing that Obama does better than Clinton against McCain. It simply does not matter. In a very unimportant but hugely important special election in NY, a democrat won. No biggie you say. Very biggie it turns out. No Democrat has won that state congressional seat in well nigh, well since 1880. There are nearly 79,000 registered Republicans in the district, and only 47,000 Democrats, with 35,000 being independents. So much for Republican chances this year. They have no chances, they blew their chance. Long live Karl the dynasty killer.
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You know I just want to sit at the Master's feet and listen to his words of wisdom, but George really is stepping outside his comfort zone in trying to explain why Republicans cannot induce any rational black person to join their cause. The best he can come up with, is that they shouldn't vote for a party that takes them for granted. You better do better than that Dubya. His best advise is to campaign with "heart" and to show African Americans why Republicanism can work for you! Oh please.
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Okay, a little humor is in order. Lord knows we need it every day to wade through this sludge. Garrison Keillor is one of those folks who always satisfies, and today he tells us we can choose, between, "Papa or the Wiz Kid Brother." He's always a fine read.
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I have to hand it to Michelle Malkin. Such an ability to trivialize an issue and do so while using the grief of a family to make your point. Malkin is one of those "no abortion, never, ever, ever" folks. That is fine of course, but of course she doesn't just stop with her own opinion. She has to vilify the other side. We are told feminists hush up women who regret their abortions. Who doesn't regret an abortion by the way? It's a most regrettable event period. And she has to use a British family and their natural grief over the death of a daughter who committed suicide after aborting by choice. Does this happen? Of course it does. Is it sad beyond belief? Of course it is. Does it mean that the health profession is some vast ogre for having "tricked" some young girl into doing what she would not other wise do? Of course not. But Malkin would have you think so. Damn the facts as they say, full emotions ahead.
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Because people who don't believe that evolution is a fact, drive me nearly insane, and because I am endlessly fascinated with science anyway, I thought you might enjoy this rather good article written in lay person's terms, about how mutations occur in DNA and what that means evolutionarily speaking. Olivia Judson writing on the "Wild Side" for the NYTimes, enlightens us.
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The Washington Post section "On Faith" is just chock full of interesting looking posts about the latest Pew polling and how fluid American affiliation with "church" is today. I've picked Susan Brooks Thistlethwait's post as both a good representative and a good exposition of the results. Backtrack on the URL to the onfaith/ and you can peruse all the posts made on the subject, but first read hers, a first rate job.
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I knew you would want to know this. It seems Russian soldiers are trying something innovative and new. Buffet dining has arrived, and well, at least the journalists are excited enough to tell us all about it. Be the first at the watercooler with this story. It's way better than the one about the python who ate the family dog. I am beginning to think that Russian journalists have a bit of an iproblem with priority of issues.
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I've been questioning, what I consider, our overactive support for Israel for a long time, though I've not been especially vocal about it. It has of course cost us dearly from an Arab point of view. There are those who suggest that we need to open up this dialogue, especially when rank and file Israeli's seem more open to talks with Hamas than anyone in this country. Glenn Greenwald's excellent post is one I would call "must read" not to overtire the phrase.
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We always remind you once a week that it's time for your Susan Posner fix and her series "Fundamentalist" over at American Prospect. Take your medicine, it's good for you and necessary to your ongoing national health. As always, an excellent read.
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"Huckabee sends McCain a Debate Invitation." Earth to Mike, Earth to Mike. Elvis has left the building.
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I think I saw the dark side of the moon. I was not impressed. I don't know what I expected, but it was definitely not what I got which was more of the same, giant potholes. Oh I know that those whose profession it is get all giddy, but sincerely show me something here. Seriously, with the US claiming it will return to the moon by 2019, technology is on the fast track now to ready some equipment that can be placed on the far side. Such equipment, radio antennae and such, would avoid the atmospheric disturbances that the earth creates, and allow much better viewing, if radio signals are "viewing."
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I tend to agree, things I don't understand are probably stupid. So says The Onion. See I keep finding amusements for you as you face the ugly truths of life. I can tell you that my husband is fully in support of this idea, mostly he thinks thinking about anything being "beyond time" is stupid. I know it's true cuz astrophysicists tell me it is, and I know they wouldn't lie. See if you agree with Stephen Bowman.
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I always like to tout a homegrown blog, and the Iowa Independent deserves a tip of the hat today. Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist, Gary Trudeau, gave a nice interview while in town to Tom Lindsey. Enjoy his take on war and the Bush administration.
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Wonder Boy is off opening his mouth again in public, much to the delight of normal functioning adults. Seemingly oblivious to his party's growing lack of relevance in the world, Georgie boy spoke to Republican governors at a gala event. He actually had the appropriate male anatomy to state the following:

"And so when I say I'm confident, I am so because I understand the mentality of the American people."

Now if Puddin' head thinks he understands the American people, I'm been living in Latvia low these many years. Which begs the additional question, can he chew gum while he says this stuff? It is unclear how even Republicans can keep from laughing in his clueless face.

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Below the Fold

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History

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The volcano Thera erupted nearly 3500 years ago. Reputed to have been bigger than Krakatoa, it is theorized that it may have been the start of the Biblical exodus and caused the disappearance of Atlantis, famed lost city. Read more about it at Livescience.com

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If you like war history, a nice article by Jon Latimer about the War of 1812 is offered for your enjoyment and education.

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Important events of this day:

• 1594 ~ Henri IV crowned King of France
• 1801 ~ DC was placed under congressional jurisdiction
• 1844 ~ Dominican Republic achieves independence.
• 1922 ~ The 19th Amendment (women's right to vote) was upheld in SCOTUS
• 1951 ~ 22nd Amendment to US Const. radified. (two term limits)
• 1973 ~ Members of the American Indian Movement occupy Wounded Knee
• 1991 ~ Kuwait liberated
• 1998 ~ Heirs to the British throne ceased favoring males first. [infoplease.com, NYTimes, scopesys.com]

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You might have assumed that Rosa Parks was the most noted of black women who didn't care for her accomodation on transportation facilities. But another woman stood up long before her, or sat as the case may be. Meet Ida B. Wells-Barnett, crusader and all around smart, saavy, opinionated, tough cookie. She sued the Chesapeake and Ohio in the 1880's and won, though it was later overturned. Find out all about it from Scandalous Women.

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Who was born today:

• 1622 ~ Rembrandt, Dutch painter
• 1807 ~ Henry Wordsworth Longfellow, poet
• 1886 ~ Hugo Black, SC justice
• 1902 ~ John Steinbeck, author
• 1932 ~ Elizabeth Taylor, actor
• 1934 ~ Ralph Nader, consumer advocate
• 1980 ~ Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Hillary and Billd today:

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Who died today:

• 1936 ~ Ivan P. Pavlov, Russian physiologist
• 1958 ~ Harry Cohn, CEO Columbia pictures
• 1992 ~ S I Hayakawa, Senator R-CA
• 1993 ~ Lillian Gish, actor
• 2003 ~ Frederick Rogers, "Mr. Rogers"

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Quote of the Day

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"A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices." ~~ William James
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Word of the Day

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divest \dye-VEST\ verb
1 *a : to deprive or dispossess especially of property, authority, or title b : to undress or strip especially of clothing, ornament, or equipment c : rid, free 2 : to take away from a person

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When tests revealed that the athlete had been taking steroids, Olympic officials divested him of his medal.

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"Divest" is one of many English words that come from the Latin verb "vestire" ("to clothe") and ultimately from the noun "vestis" ("clothing, garment"). Others include "vest," "vestment," "invest," and "travesty." "Divest" and its older form "devest" can mean "to unclothe" or "to remove the clothing of,” but the word had broader applications even when it was first being used in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the opening scene of Shakespeare's King Lear, Lear uses the term to mean "rid oneself of" or "put aside": "Tell me, my daughters \ (Since now we will divest us both of rule, \ Interest of territory, cares of state), \ Which of you shall we say doth love us most?" In addition to clothing, one can be divested of power, authority, possessions, or burdens. [Merriam-Webster]

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Joke of the Day

A PRAYER FOR THE STRESSED
Grant me the serenity to accept the things, I cannot change
The courage to change the things I cannot accept.
And the wisdom to hide the bodies of those people I had to kill today that pissed me off.
And also, help me to be careful of the toes I step on today as... they may be connected to the ass that I may have to kiss tomorrow.
Help me, to always give 100% at work...12% on Monday, 23% on Tuesday, 10% on Wednesday, 20% on Thursday and 5% on Friday.
And help me to remember that, when I am having a really bad day and it seems that people are trying to piss me off.
That it takes 42 muscles to frown, and only 1 to extend my middle finger and say bite me.

And you think We have problems with Marriage?

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Today's News

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The Way I View It
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I suspect there is little substance to this but here goes. Mitt is perhaps reconsidering his withdrawal? His son suggests Mitt only "suspended" his campaign and did not dismantle it. This in the wake of all that nasty stuff about McCain and his oh too close ties to lobbyists. We doubt anything will come of this, but its worth the gossip, no?
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Al Jazeera reports today that Brazil has taken serious steps to curb illegal logging in that country. Brazilian forces face angry groups of people who are employed in the industry as the country attempts to slow the deforestation that worries environmentalists. The illegal logging is a billion dollar a year industry and obviously is of serious concern to the government. Yet many of the towns rely almost exclusively on the trade for employment and sustenance.
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It has seemed unfair to go on attacking Huckabee, since he has the proverbial snowball's chance in hell of winning the nomination, but he seems unable to comprehend that fact. It becomes increasingly puzzling why the man stays in, albeit he leaves the campaign trail often now to go to a paid gig. I found the teaser feed too funny to ignore on this one, so whipped over to Alternet to read the full post. If you don't believe me, well here it is, and now go over and read the rest. It is worthwhile.

The GOP is down to a man who believes humans and dinosaurs walked the earth together and another who can refute that since he was there. Huckabee explains away his Sisyphean perseverance by saying he doesn't believe in numbers, he believes in miracles. The hell does that mean? He's waiting for God to smite John McCain dead? Don't laugh. It could be working. I got to tell you, I'm worried about the good Senator from Arizona. He don't look so good.

Unintended consequences? surely. Foreseeable? probably. So why do we find ourselves in this nasty place? Iran seems the clear winner in the Iraq war so far, and well, they've had help from the US, not in just the obvious way either. Read Robert Dreyfuss's story.
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Violence is up in the northwest section of Pakistan. The Swat Valley has seen more than its share. It is believed that Taliban forces are gearing up for an assault on Kabul, securing supply lines in anticipation. NATO forces are not unaware of the plans, but because of the unstable situation politically in Pakistan, efforts to upset the plans is increasingly difficult. Read Syed Saleem Shahzad's report.
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Turning to science, we invite you to take a look at the "Encyclopedia of Life" (EOL). This is an open to all database, promoted as the "ultimate fieldguide." to the biodiversity of this planet. What a boon for kids and students of all ages. Don't miss this. It's simply too wonderful!
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We here in the West don't quite know what has happened to Russia. Once a new and exciting budding democracy, it seems to have turned back to its authoritarian ways. You would expect that the younger members of that society might be pretty mad, having tasted the upside of democratic ways, but such may not be the actual case. Read this fine piece about the youth of Moscow and how they support and reflect the ideals of their leader Mr. Putin. In fact polls suggest the 92% of Russia's youth support Putin who is unabashedly drawing Russia further from the Democratic model.
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My first response to those who claim that the "surge" is working is to ask, well when will we start drawing down our troops then? Ummm, the answer seems to be, "when pigs fly" or something like that. But they said it would lead to that, and well, now they don't. It's what we have come to expect from the nefarious noodles in the Bushie Admin. And Johnny Mac says he's got to sell the surge to win? I don't think so dude. Come on, you didn't seriously think they meant it in the first place did ya?
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To all those who use immigration as a method for expressing the racism they undoubtedly harbor, this can't come as good news. It turns out that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than the average US born citizen. At least in the great state of California, and they should know I would think.
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It certainly can't come as good news to learn that modern anti-depressants such as Prozac apparently don't even work. Those who suffer from depression must be well, depressed. And that's saying a lot since I find the current anti-depressant TV ads quite unhelpful. Depressed people are told they make the people around them miserable and even their pets unhappy. Now that is depressing! Kevin Drum has the story.
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Over at Pundit Mom we are invited to explore the idea that perhaps we aren't so ready to elect either a black or a woman to the top job. A realistic look at the actual terrain and a good argument that it's time to stop denying the issue, and start talking about it. ________________
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Well we have another of those strange stories we love so much. The pure insanity of some events in the world only serve to prove the sanity of the rest, so to speak. This one caught our eye. Two monkeys were married in a ceremony attended by "thousands." It seems that Jhumuri and Manu tied the knot with priest in tow. Where they will reside is anybody's guess. It is odd, locals admitted, to marry two animals. Most mixed marriages are between people and animals. Where in the world? Follow the link!
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Sadly No! is an interesting blog. It seems they delight in the National Review in pretty much the same way I do. Drop by and read his short-takes of the hilarity always a brewing at our favorite lavender rag. It's too funny folks. The ultra-right is imploding before our very eyes.
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A nice interview with author Amy Sullivan and her book "The Party Faithful: How and Why the Democrat's are Closing the God Gap," can be found at the Salon. She claims what we have been saying for a bit now, that there are evangelicals out there who are not crazy and are Democrats. She also claims that John Kerry wrote this group off and it was a mistake. Obviously, we should not make this same mistake again. It is incumbent upon Democrats to do their homework, and find out who and what this group of liberal evangelicals is all about. They are votes we waste at our peril.
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Yes we are certainly speculating, but it's so fun to do, and on the off chance you turn out right, you have big bragging rights. So let's look at the potential VP field and see what falls out. This of course is a bit difficult, given that we don't have our candidate yet. Choose one, and go from there, after all it is only idle daydreaming right? The American Prospect has some interesting arguments and some interesting picks.
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Oh Democrats are for sure happy about this development. Don't you just love it when someone indicted chooses to stay on the job? Republican Rick Renzi says he intends to do just that. In the face of a 35-count indictment, the Arizonian intends to fight on. Thanks! Join the likes of Larry Craig and make it even easier!
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Below the Fold

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History

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Remember when we had courageous leaders in this country? American Revolution reminds us that Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) to make a point. That fine organization had refused operatic star, Marian Anderson the right to sing at Constitution Hall because she was of "color." First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned. Boy could we use some of that now!

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On this day:

• 1815 ~ Bonaparte escaped from exile on Elba
• 1901 ~ Leaders of the Boxer uprising in China were beheaded
• 1919 ~ Grand Canyon National Park was established
• 1935 ~ Radar was first demonstrated
• 1993 ~ The WTC bomb went off in NYC [infoplease.com]

On this day, more or less:

• 50 C.E. ~ Emperor Claudius formally adopted Nero as heir apparent
• 138 C.E. ~ Emperor Hadrian adopted the future Emperor Antonius Pius [rogueclassicism]

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Pearl Cornioley died February 23. She was a wartime hero in her native France where she is revered for her work against the Nazi's during WWII. She had escaped to London, but did not find her war work there sufficient and demanded and was given training and then was parachuted back into France. She worked as a courier but also fell into control of a large resistance operation. At one point there was a million franc bounty on her head. Read more at Women of History.

Born on this day:

• 1852 ~ John Harvey Kellogg, the developer of dry cereal.
• 1802 ~ Author Victor Hugo
• 1846 ~ Wm. F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill)
• 1932 ~ Country singer, Johnny Cash [NYTimes]

Died on this day:

• 1859 ~ Ferdinand Schubert, composer
• 1870 ~ Wyatt Outlaw, civil rights worker, lynched N. Car.
• 1959 ~ Lou Costello, comedian [scopesys.com]

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Quote of the Day

"There is a tragic flaw in our precious Constitution, and I don't know what can be done to fix it. This is it: only nut cases want to be president." ~~ Kurt Vonnegut

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Word of the Day

benefic (buh-NEFF-ik) adjective ~~ of, having, or exerting a favorable influence

Simon believes that his meditation practice is a benefic force in his life, helping him to focus and to feel less stressed.

"Benefic" comes from Latin "beneficus,” which in turn comes from “bene” (“well”) and “facere” (“to do”). The word was originally used by astrologers to refer to celestial bodies believed to have a favorable influence, and it's still used in astrological contexts. "Benefic," "beneficent," and "beneficial" are all synonyms, but there are shades of difference. "Beneficial" usually applies to things that promote well-being (as in "beneficial treatment"), or that provide some benefit or advantage (as in "beneficial classes"). "Beneficent" means doing or effecting good (as in "a beneficent climate"), but in particular refers to the performance of acts of kindness or charity (as in "a beneficent organization")."Benefic," the rarest of the three, tends to be a bit high-flown, and it's mostly used to describe a favorable power or force. [Merriam-Webster]

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Joke of the Day

"President Bush is back from Africa. You know, he was hoping to go on a safari, but he never got the chance. See, I don't think President Bush really understands Africa. Like he said the reason why they go on a safari was, he always wanted to see a unicorn." --Jay Leno

"But I know what you're thinking, a Republican politician ... with a woman?" --Bill Maher

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Keeping My Head Down

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Today's News

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The Way I View It

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Report after report suggests that things are beginning to fall apart in Afghanistan. Well, beginning is probably not correct, they have been deteriorating steadily and slowly since the moment George decided to listen to the nut cases he only listened to, and went off to play in Iraq instead. Heady with the "fun" of war, George had no idea his nut cases didn't have a clue as to what they were doing. And while he got mired in the muck of Iraq, well, Afghanistan festered like a wound that did not receive proper care. The costs, financially have been staggering, almost beyond belief. We, as individual citizens have yet to feel that cost in monetary terms that is. Read this assessment at Alternet.

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Given that most people who care, have pretty much made up their minds that Obama is likely to be the candidate, more attention is now being given to learn who this man is who has so captured the spirit of the American psyche. His background is exotic, compared to most of our own, and so its a journey into a very different landscape for many. Asia Times suggests that when you want to understand the formation of the character of a man, look to the women in his life. (I wonder if that changes to men in the case of women candidates?) It declares, he bears the imprint of "an impassioned mother and a brilliant wife." A fascinating interpretation.

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Those who are not blinded by their own desire to believe otherwise, know that most Muslims are good and decent people and that Islam is a religion no better or worse than any other. At a meeting of nearly 6,000 Muslim scholars, leading theologians decried the use of terrorism, and insisted that it was not a correct interpretation of Islam and its teachings.

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Finally, something has moved China off dead center in its silence over Darfur. Spurred by the bad press its been getting over the pull out of people like Steven Spielberg from the Beijing Olympics, China has finally stopped its tacit acceptance of the Sudanese conflict. While the Spielberg flap certainly is not the only motivational force at work here, it undoubtedly played a part. It has been the contention of the Chinese that they have been working behind the scenes for some time in an effort to induce the Sudanese Government to take firmer action to stop the bloodshed. We can but hope that something finally changes in this region where so much suffering has occurred.

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It of course is a national crime. The way that some corporations are allowed to be so destructive in so many ways, and get off without so much as a wagging finger in their direction. Well, maybe they get the wagging finger, but unfortunately its positioned incorrectly, not up their collective rears as it should be. Exxon is a prime example of corporate greed with little or no concern for humans or animals or the environment at large. Read about how they continue to avoid ANY responsibility for what they have done, while continuing to rack up unbelievable profits.

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Speaking of doomsday predictions, Norway is the place to be. A vault big enough to hold 4.5 million batches of seeds has been constructed, bored into sandstone and limestone. It will take generations to fill, but scientists hope that it will provide the seedbed for replenishing the world's flora should a major catastrophe occur. Areas that are under severe distress are the targets of the early collections. The location was picked because it was deemed the most secure area, free from most natural disasters and reinforced to withstand nuclear attack.

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Far be it from me to raise a pundit to the status of importance, and I'm seriously not doing that here. I just love (secret sin) to finally get back at people who have annoyed the dickins out of me for way too long. I cannot wait until after this election to sit and watch Fox News sputter and fume and predict the certain demise of all that America holds dear under the tutelage of a Democrat. Thus, I could not resist the ardent and luxurious swipes that Daily Kos went to the trouble to assemble for us about that bastion of dweebdom and incoherent thought, Bill Kristol. Oh enjoy the slap down! I cannot wait until his "column" becomes available on the internet. What fun!

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One can only wonder what is going on. Does the cat have Justice Clarence Thomas's tongue? There is of course, no explanation, and one can but speculate. What is your guess? And who figured this out?

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The FISA issue is of course still with us, amid the usual threats noted in previous posts. The Dispassionate Liberal has a fine overview of the entire mess, with plenty of commentary. This is just the sort of issue that drives the neo-cons mad with well mad cow or something. They froth and foam and sputter and gulp, and turn red and throb with righteous anger. Of course, nothing much they say is true. That the Democrats are making them utterly over the top crazy is too too evident. Enjoy the fun and learn the facts.

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If you spent any time around the strange world that has become Evangelical Catholicism, you would undoubtedly know there is controversy about Catholic candidates and where they stand on life issues. Similarly, there are those, ( a very small group) who feel that the electorate cannot vote for any candidate who is not "right with the Church" and remain "right with the Church." Such a view is both simplistic and wrong. What is correct is that Catholic voters are called upon to view all issues through the same lens of right or wrong, giving no single issue "deal-breaker" status. Of course the real story here is not what is reported in the National Review, but to the linked story in the Washington Post. Read both if you truly want to see what's going on in Catholic circles.

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So very many of us are mad as hell about Bush and his practice of using "signing statements" to avoid, change, ignore, or completely obliterate the clear meaning of legislation which he signs. Although we are told such practices are not unknown historically, we are under no illusion that this president has turned it into something completely new. While all candidates decry the way in which Bush has used the signing statement, you might be a bit surprised what they actually do say, and who is firmly of the opinion that they are simply wrong. You be the judge.

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We told you yesterday not to miss the 60 Minutes report on the Carl Rove drive to stop Governor Siegelman from running and presumably winning in Alabama. Can you believe this:

Turns out that those who were watching the broadcast on Channel 19 WHNT, serving northern Alabama and southern Tennessee, didn't see it after all. Turns out that segment, AND THAT SEGMENT ONLY, was mysteriously blacked out! They claimed technical difficulties. CBS said no way. You guessed it, the owners of the station are major Republican contributors. What a bunch of hooey. Somebody needs to investigate this really fast and do what is appropriate about licensing? I hope there is a serious uproar. Thanks to Politics Plus for keeping us advised.

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Now, we don't want to speculate, we don't do that here (hehe, okay, we do), but could it possibly be that Russians non-recognition of Kosovo has something to do with the fact that it has designs on Serbia as a conduit for its natural gas pipeline? The two countries just signed an agreement, making that very thing possible.

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The sad fate of many evangelical, born agains of the ultra-conservative persuasion, is that when they finally wake up, if they do, the tend to become atheists. This is because they find the truth so foreign to the nonsense they've been fed, they do the proverbial and "throw the baby out with the bathwater." In a refreshing turn of events, journalist John Marks, did just that but was and still is able to see value in faith. His has a new book, entitled, "Reasons to Believe." Read an interview with him, by Louis Bayard.

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Another important book to hit the stores is about the failures in our intelligence agencies. The reason is the usual one, too much partisan political, ideological input and not enough reliance on objective reality. This is an insider book, written by someone who went in as a true believer and well, came out a bit different. Glenn Greenwald, who must never sleep, gives a nice review of the book, "Still Broken: A Recruit's Inside Account of Intelligence Failures from Baghdad to the Pentagon," by A.J. Rossmiller.

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Oh posts like this one just make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Let the games begin, as a new ad is about to hit the airways, one the Mac will not take kindly to. He's asked blatantly obvious questions about Iraq. The man who said, that we could stay in Iraq a 100 years without anyone complaining as long as deaths were kept at a minimum, can't be happy to hear VoterVets.org questions like: what does this endless war mean for my kids? for our economy? health care? border security? Oh this election cycle is going to be just more fun than most anything I can think of!

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I confess I'm not up on the Campaign financing issue but Democrats are certainly ready to enter the fray, and want a swift investigation of McCain and his new found claims that he is not bound by his contract with the CEF. It's an unprecedented situation I am told. Clearly the "straight talker" doesn't want to talk much about this little problem, and his controllers already seem prepared to ignore their commitment.

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This comes from the Wonkette, so you are warned. Seems the Repubs need new "words" to identify Dems these days. You know it's not smart to be called a racist, so how to be one without seeming one, well it can be a pickle. The RNC holds top secret focus groups and polling to figure out how to call names without seeming to call names. I don't know why they bother, they are getting zip of those votes anyhow.

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Below the Fold

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History (because it really matters)

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You may be addicted to your Heinz Ketchup, but I bet you never wondered when "branding" became popular. Most thought it was after the Industrial Revolution, but new archaeological evidence suggests its been around a whole lot longer. Labels on ancient jars were not merely identifiers such as coffee, tea, sugar, but in fact were brand names. Evidence has been found as far back as ancient Iraq and Egypt. Read more.

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• 1570 ~ Elizabeth 1 was excommunicated by Pope Pius V
• 1836 ~ Samual Colt patented the first revolving barrel multishot firearm.
• 1870 ~ Hiram Revels became the first black US Senator, taking the term of J. Davis.
• 1901 ~ J.P. Morgan formed US Steel, the first billion-dollar corp. in the world.
• 1948 ~ Communists took control of Czechoslovakia.
• 1983 ~ Tennessee Williams died. [infoplease.com]

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Born on this date:

• 1841 ~ Pierre Auguste Renoir ~ Impressionist painter and sculptor
• 1873 ~ Enrico Caruso ~ operatic tenor
• 1888 ~ John Foster Dulles ~ US Secty of State, 1953-59
• 1901 ~ Herbert Zeppo Marx ~ comedian/actor
• 1943 ~ George Harrison ~ rocker and member of the Beatles

Died on this date:

• 1713 ~ Frederik 1 King of Prussia, age 55
• 1975 ~ Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam, age 77 [scopesys.com]

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Quote of the Day

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people." W.C. Fields

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Word of the Day

logy (LOH-ghee) adjective ~ marked by sluggishness and loss of vitality: groggy

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I was feeling logy after eating such a big meal, so I decided to take a brief nap.

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Based on surface resemblance, you might guess that “logy” (also sometimes spelled “loggy”) is related to “groggy,” but that’s not the case. “Groggy” ultimately comes from “Old Grog,” the nickname of an English admiral who was notorious for his cloak made of a fabric called grogram — and for adding water to his crew’s rum. The sailors called the rum mixture “grog” after the admiral. Because of the effect of grog, “groggy” came to mean “weak and unsteady on the feet or in action.” No one is really sure about the origin of “logy,” but experts speculate that it comes from the Dutch word “log,” meaning “heavy.” Its first recorded use in English, from an 1847 London newspaper, refers to a “loggy stroke” in rowing.

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Joke of the Day

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"You have to admit, this is a huge election. An historic election. So much excitement. For the first time in so many years we don't have an incumbent president or an incumbent vice-president. The field is wide open. Have you all had a chance to examine all the candidates, study their positions and pick the Democrat you'll vote for?" [Jon Stewart, Academy Awards, 2008]

Hiccupping Through the World

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Today's News

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How I View It

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Shia pilgrims on the way to Karbala were killed in a suicide attack today. At least 40 were killed and 60 wounded. The attack occurred in Iskandariya, about 50 miles from Baghdad. This is the second attack on religious pilgrims walking to Karbala as part of a religious event celebrating the end of a period of mourning marking the death of Prophet Mohammad's grandson. It is believed that deaths are down so far from previous years.

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Of course, many of us expected that the bottom line in Iraq was always about oil, and secondarily about military bases. Such appears to be the case, at least as to the military bases, and Bush and Maliki continue their work to solidify a continuing military presence in Iraq by American forces. Here the Congress seems to be exerting some power in an effort to block this development. The Congress has already spoken in an earlier defense bill, but as he is wont to do, Bush simply stated in his now infamous "signing" statement, that he would disregard the will of the Congress and proceed as he wished. Oddly Secty of Defense Gates now says there is no such determination, yet the Administration still claims there is no change in policy. Read about it at Alternet.

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More bad news on global warming. Scientists who are examining ice at the western part of Antarctica, say that glaciers covering an area the size of Texas are racing toward the ocean. Moving at speeds of 3.5 kilometers per year, "it's putting a lot of ice into the ocean," they claim. Scientists there are running tests trying to determine past movements in order to better understand what is going on now. Initial recordings had the glaciers moving at about 1% per year, that is now up to 7%. You might want to drop by Bob Cesca's blog to see what some others have to say about global warming. "Crock of shit", seems to be the operative phrase.

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As predicted, the alleged sexual peccadilloes of Mr. McCain, pale in comparison to the charges of playing too much house with lobbyists. Caught dead in a lie, McCain's folks begin to backpeddle, doing a lot of "oops" rhetoric. We forgot, we disremembered, misremembered, etc., etc. Still his people spin it as no big deal. Read the Cogitamus for further details.

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Troubles seem to be brewing in Nevada. Their primary is over, but when delegates met to actually vote, things began to go awry. Delegates are not bound to the actual vote, and as you can expect some no longer want to vote for the candidate who actually won. The caucus has been suspended at this moment, and we don't know what to expect next. This may have implications of how Michigan and Florida should be treated with their messy primary problems. Should Nevada get a do-over?

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Oh my gosh, they lied again? Oh come on, they lie all the time. It's part of their mantra. Was it only yesterday that Bushites were claiming that precious intel was being lost because of the intransigence of Democrats who refused to cave in on George's and his trained dog McConnell's petulant demands regarding wiretapping and amnesty for the telecoms? Today they say, well, no, actually not. No intelligence was lost. (Oh that intelligence was lost a long time ago -- the Administration's I mean.) I'm not sure which metaphor works best: dog and pony show, or keystone kops. You pick.

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After listening to Joe Biden this morning on George Stephanopolis, I'm confused again. He seems to suggest that Musharref should resign gracefully. This did not seem to be the American policy as I was hearing it from the Administration and from Musharref himself. Democracy has spoken, and we don't quite like the result so what, should we ignore it? (There is reason for this kind of thinking. Palestinians might ask the same thing. They voted, fairly it seems, and we definitely don't like who they selected.) Fareed Zakaria lays out the whole mess in a excellent post today, "This is Pakistan's War."

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I can only look in wonder at Maureen Dowd. I mean, as Jon Stewart is want to say, "Whaaaaaat?" In a turnabout, Ms. Dowd now says that Hillary Clinton is losing because she is not feminine enough. Barack, she claims has begun to capture that elusive woman's vote precisely because he is not a mean man, but a tender, turn the other cheek kind. And Hillary, well she spent so much time trying to prove she could run with the boys, that well, she's harsh and too much like the Bush people. Oh, enough, you get the picture. It's the usual damned if you do, damned if you don't. And somewhere in all that, Maureen manages to end by claiming she can't manage "family finances." Another yuck story.

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You knew it was coming, but you hoped it would somehow not. You refused to even think about it, remembering what happened before. You logically thought, he wouldn't do that again, screw up the entire world to pursue what now looks like petty personal glorifying? Well, wrong you are, he's doing it again. In case you didn't hear, Ralph Nader is running for president once again. Sigh. While I tend to want to agree with Marty Kaplan on Ralph, I am constrained to conclude, that Allison Kilkenny has the better analysis here.

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John McCain is no friend to the environment either, lest you were unsure. The League of Conservative Voters gave him a big fat 0 out of 100. On 15 critical issues, he voted on exactly none of them, and apparently on occasion, his vote would have been decisive. Well, did you really need another reason not to vote for the Mav?

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We are invited to take a look at 60 Minutes tonight and the investigation into Karl Rove's pursuit of Gov. Don Siegelman of Alabama. Of course, Karl chose to use a questionable means to take down the Governor, namely the Justice Department. This promises to be a real big story folks. Get in on the ground floor. One cannot but help be astounded at the unbelievable abuse of power these folks are prone to. They have infiltrated everywhere in pursuit of power. Don't miss it.

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I am one Catholic who is aware of a very strange group within my faith tradition. It is called Evangelical Catholicism and they make nice these days with the extreme reactionary evangelical Christians on all the life issues: abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research. This is due in some part to once liberal/progressive Lutheran, and now reactionary, rightwing Catholic priest, Richard J. Neuhaus. Of course this is an alliance of convenience, each would likely ban the other if either gained complete political power. Get in on a continuing series, "From Neuhaus to Our House."

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I wouldn't have mentioned this, but every day, the Indian Express has a new story about another tiger being killed as they watch numbers dwindle literally week to week. This death is reportedly from a poaching attempt, others have been from natural causes. It remains a sad thing to read, as we realize the days of these magnificent creatures living independently is closing down.
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I don't know what the point of hiccups is. But at last, I have an answer to the burning question of how I as human, developed the ability to suffer from them from time to time. No doubt, this has also kept you up on a night or two. So in order to give you a chance at a good night's sleep, read on, and learn the strange truth. It sounds pretty fishy to me, what do you think?
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Below the Fold

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Word of the Day

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raddled (RAD-uld) adjective. ~~

1 : being in a state of confusion : lacking composure

*2 : broken-down, worn

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We were met at the door by a raddled old man who turned out to be the actor's father, and who in his day had also been an estimable presence on the London stage.

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How "raddled" came to mean "old and worn" isn't known for sure, but etymologists have some theories. One possibility is an association with raddle, a red coloring matter that was used to mark animals. From this, "raddled" came to mean "heavily made up with rouge" — a condition that sometimes causes the makeup wearer to appear older and more haggard instead of more attractive. “Raddled” predates the similar-sounding adjective “rattled,” which means “confused or upset” and comes from the verb “rattle.” “Raddled” first appeared in print in 1694, and “rattled” didn’t appear until the early 1900s.

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Joke of the Day

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An office manager hires a new secretary. Her first day she's called into the office to take some dictation. While she's taking dictation, she notices the guy's fly is open. Not wanting to embarass her boss she says nothing until she's leaving.
At the door, she turns and says "By the way sir, your barracks door is open." He looks at her funny but she's already walked out.
A while later he happens to glance down and notice his fly is open. He decides to have a little fun with her on her first day so he calls her back into the office.
"By the way Ms. Jones, when you saw my barracks door open, did you also happen to see a soldier standing at attention?"
She replied "Why no sir! But I did see a disabled vet sitting on two old duffle bags!