Thursday, September 29, 2005
East Coast vs. West Coast
A new sign in Brooklyn says "Oy Vey." On the West Coast we have "immigrant crossing" signs everywhere. What a strange country.
Wildfires close to my house
Not really "close," but Orange County isn't too far away from the fires. I hope Bush uses extremely bad judgment by handing me a blank check like he's doing for Katrina victims.
If I get displaced, I'm going to blame all the black people working in the federal government of trying to commit racial genocide.
I may have an opportunity for some looting, too. I'll pass over canned goods and bottled water in favor of plasma TVs, shoes, and sports jerseys, of course, but with Celine Dijon crying in support of me, I can't lose! I just need a chance to touch those things once!
If I get interviewed on "the TV" I'll do my best impression of inbred, illiterate Katrina victims from Nawlins. I'm already practicing: "It don't make me no nevermind. We be fuhgotten by da gubment."
If I get displaced, I'm going to blame all the black people working in the federal government of trying to commit racial genocide.
I may have an opportunity for some looting, too. I'll pass over canned goods and bottled water in favor of plasma TVs, shoes, and sports jerseys, of course, but with Celine Dijon crying in support of me, I can't lose! I just need a chance to touch those things once!
If I get interviewed on "the TV" I'll do my best impression of inbred, illiterate Katrina victims from Nawlins. I'm already practicing: "It don't make me no nevermind. We be fuhgotten by da gubment."
Roberts becomes Chief Justice
Today John Roberts became the 17th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The confirmation is one more reason to believe Bush is the most powerful U.S. president in a long, long time.
The vote finished at 78 yea and 22 nay. [ Complete results here. ] Of the 44 democrats in the Senate, 22 voted for, and 22 against. Those who went against a nominee considered both moderate and qualified by nearly everyone in the nation, included the usual gang of preachy, luney-left magpies: Kennedy, Pelosi, Biden, Schumer, Feinstein, Durbin, Boxer, The Cuntess Hillary Clintoon, etc.
The ones voting “No!” are the same who choose to view Iraq as another Vietnam, when they could just as well consider it another Germany or Japan. How we handle Iraq is, after all, completely our choice. These are also the folks who believe Guantanamo Bay is akin to Soviet Gulags –work camps where Stalin dumped in excess of 30 million people to perish. Were the Gulags air conditioned, and were the religious views of inmates respected? Never mind. You either understand the importance of detaining inhuman fucktwats or you don't. Old Don Long ain't gonna change your mind.
And then there’s Mark “Nay” Dayton of Minnesota. This is the uber-wealthy heir to the Target/Dayton’s throne. This is the very same nut who purchased his Minn. Senate seat (after declining public funds for his campaign, he spent $20 million of his own money). He went on to become an incoherent, stuttering fuck (it reminds me of old Arafat). If you’ve any doubts whatsoever, tune in to C-Span to watch this insane, raving lunatic babble as if stoned like a monkey.
The vote finished at 78 yea and 22 nay. [ Complete results here. ] Of the 44 democrats in the Senate, 22 voted for, and 22 against. Those who went against a nominee considered both moderate and qualified by nearly everyone in the nation, included the usual gang of preachy, luney-left magpies: Kennedy, Pelosi, Biden, Schumer, Feinstein, Durbin, Boxer, The Cuntess Hillary Clintoon, etc.
The ones voting “No!” are the same who choose to view Iraq as another Vietnam, when they could just as well consider it another Germany or Japan. How we handle Iraq is, after all, completely our choice. These are also the folks who believe Guantanamo Bay is akin to Soviet Gulags –work camps where Stalin dumped in excess of 30 million people to perish. Were the Gulags air conditioned, and were the religious views of inmates respected? Never mind. You either understand the importance of detaining inhuman fucktwats or you don't. Old Don Long ain't gonna change your mind.
And then there’s Mark “Nay” Dayton of Minnesota. This is the uber-wealthy heir to the Target/Dayton’s throne. This is the very same nut who purchased his Minn. Senate seat (after declining public funds for his campaign, he spent $20 million of his own money). He went on to become an incoherent, stuttering fuck (it reminds me of old Arafat). If you’ve any doubts whatsoever, tune in to C-Span to watch this insane, raving lunatic babble as if stoned like a monkey.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Miramar Air Show snaps
The Miramar Air Show is coming to Southern California Oct. 14-16. These photos were taken at the last two Miramar shows using a cheap camera with a 3x optical zoom. This year, if I don’t get squashed by a bus between now and then, I’ll bring a 12x zoom.
The C130 below is “Fat Albert,” the Blue Angels’ support plane. Note the rocket-assisted takeoff. I enjoy this guy almost as much as the Angels.
Below is a multi-directional rocket launcher mounted atop a Humvee. The remote control for the launcher is in the photo at the bottom. It was just like a video game – laptop, control stick, etc. When the stick moves, the launcher on the Humvee moves. Good luck to our enemies. The “new classic” cliché applies: Only the liberal media can stop the U.S. military.
The C130 below is “Fat Albert,” the Blue Angels’ support plane. Note the rocket-assisted takeoff. I enjoy this guy almost as much as the Angels.
Below is a multi-directional rocket launcher mounted atop a Humvee. The remote control for the launcher is in the photo at the bottom. It was just like a video game – laptop, control stick, etc. When the stick moves, the launcher on the Humvee moves. Good luck to our enemies. The “new classic” cliché applies: Only the liberal media can stop the U.S. military.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Rita forces New Orleans refugees further inland
It has to be unnerving for New Orleans refugees who fled their homes for the Superdome, then fled for the Houston Astrodome. Now hurricane Rita is forcing them to flee again.
At some point we should declare the first 200 miles of the Gulf Coast, along with the South East, off limits to humans. These “named” storms crush the area many times each year, unlike the one-off events of earthquakes and wildfires in California.
Fox News has the story of Houston's exodus.
At some point we should declare the first 200 miles of the Gulf Coast, along with the South East, off limits to humans. These “named” storms crush the area many times each year, unlike the one-off events of earthquakes and wildfires in California.
Fox News has the story of Houston's exodus.
Quote of the week: George Perkovich
"U.S. policy has been to try to scare the rest of the world about Iran, and what we've missed is that the rest of the world is more scared of us. We've got to get them to be less afraid of us," said George Perkovich of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
I lifted the quote from a story in the Los Angeles Times.
I agree that our policy has been to scare the rest of the world about Iran, but I don't think we "missed" the fact that people are scared of us. Part of the reason 9/11 happened was our pre-Bush policy of no response or a miniscule response to terrorist attacks against Americans. Whether it was the first WTC bombing, the African embassy bombings, the USS Cole, or the others, our response was to do nothing or only send a few cruise missiles from a safe distance. This sent a message that we don't take terrorism seriously, or lack the will to stand up for ourselves.
Afghanistan and Iraq made the right sorts of countries fear us, and that's terrific. Had the Taleban feared us a bit more, they may not have harbored an arch criminal like Osama bin Laden. In retrospect, would the Taleban have harbored Bin Laden if they knew it would cost them their power, money, country, and lives?
I lifted the quote from a story in the Los Angeles Times.
I agree that our policy has been to scare the rest of the world about Iran, but I don't think we "missed" the fact that people are scared of us. Part of the reason 9/11 happened was our pre-Bush policy of no response or a miniscule response to terrorist attacks against Americans. Whether it was the first WTC bombing, the African embassy bombings, the USS Cole, or the others, our response was to do nothing or only send a few cruise missiles from a safe distance. This sent a message that we don't take terrorism seriously, or lack the will to stand up for ourselves.
Afghanistan and Iraq made the right sorts of countries fear us, and that's terrific. Had the Taleban feared us a bit more, they may not have harbored an arch criminal like Osama bin Laden. In retrospect, would the Taleban have harbored Bin Laden if they knew it would cost them their power, money, country, and lives?
JetBlue impressive x2
I was riveted to the tellie last night as a JetBlue passenger liner landed at LAX with its nose gear twisted 90 degrees. It was high drama. The pilot did a fantastic job holding the nose high until the plane was going as slow as possible, then letting it settle.
The pilot wasn't the only good decision maker at JetBlue yesterday. The cable news channels that play on the back of each seat on the stricken airliner continued to show live coverage of the event, until the last four or five minutes. It had to be somewhat traumatic to be sitting in the plane and watching those video feeds, but not knowing the scope of the problem would have been much worse.
This news story says that other JetBlue planes in the air carried the coverage of the ailing jet, too.
It's a bold decision to leave the news feeds turned on, and a good one.
The pilot wasn't the only good decision maker at JetBlue yesterday. The cable news channels that play on the back of each seat on the stricken airliner continued to show live coverage of the event, until the last four or five minutes. It had to be somewhat traumatic to be sitting in the plane and watching those video feeds, but not knowing the scope of the problem would have been much worse.
This news story says that other JetBlue planes in the air carried the coverage of the ailing jet, too.
It's a bold decision to leave the news feeds turned on, and a good one.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Cindy Sheehan 'shoved around'
This is good news. NYC police broke up a Sheehan speaking engagement because she didn't have a permit. It's about time somebody steps up to the mic, so to speak, and tells this bitch she represents only a fringe element of whacko hippies, and that she should shut her fucking mouth.
Removing Saddam Hussein from power was a gift to the planet. Losing 1900 soldiers in a war is a wildly successful military engagement compared to all others in history. Check it out if you don't believe me.
Perhaps upon joining the military, our soldiers should get their mothers' signature as a pledge to keep their pie holes zipped in the event he gets killed doing the job he volunteered for.
Story via Drudge.
Removing Saddam Hussein from power was a gift to the planet. Losing 1900 soldiers in a war is a wildly successful military engagement compared to all others in history. Check it out if you don't believe me.
Perhaps upon joining the military, our soldiers should get their mothers' signature as a pledge to keep their pie holes zipped in the event he gets killed doing the job he volunteered for.
Story via Drudge.
CAIR's Photoshop excursion
This is fairly outrageous. Women appearing in a photograph at CAIR's (Council on American Islamic Relations) website were not submissive enough to satisfy CAIR. The women had fake headscarfs painted on after the fact. Jihad Watch has the photos and analysis.
I'd bet dollars to donuts that CAIR retouched the photo in response to angry Muslim men expressing their anger at seeing a woman who wasn't properly oppressed.
Every time I see a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf or hiding fearfully in the full-length beekeeper outfit, I want to shout at them: You're in America now! You're free! Take it off and live like a free woman. You're not chattel any longer. Your owner-husband can't stop you now. It's even legal for you to shoot and kill your husband if he lays a hand on you.
Why does Islam, or various Muslim cultures around the world, want to stifle women with these clothes? Fear is the only reason that comes to mind. They're afraid of the women.
I'd bet dollars to donuts that CAIR retouched the photo in response to angry Muslim men expressing their anger at seeing a woman who wasn't properly oppressed.
Every time I see a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf or hiding fearfully in the full-length beekeeper outfit, I want to shout at them: You're in America now! You're free! Take it off and live like a free woman. You're not chattel any longer. Your owner-husband can't stop you now. It's even legal for you to shoot and kill your husband if he lays a hand on you.
Why does Islam, or various Muslim cultures around the world, want to stifle women with these clothes? Fear is the only reason that comes to mind. They're afraid of the women.
'The Passion of the Penguins'
Some Christians consider the new French penguin film to be a model for human monogamy. Idiots. People enjoy screwing more than monogamy. All the surveys I've seen in the last 20 years are identical: 75% of men cheat on their wives, and 50% of women cheat on their husbands.
Dark age superstitions have little effect on our basic animal instincts. We are Shaved Apes.
AFP story about the penguin film is here.
Dark age superstitions have little effect on our basic animal instincts. We are Shaved Apes.
AFP story about the penguin film is here.
Chinese condoms: Clinton and Lewinsky
A Chinese condom company has registered trademarks under the names Clinton and Lewinsky.
From AFP:
From AFP:
The Guangzhou Haojian Bio-science Co is selling its wares under the Chinese spelling of the names that read "Kelintun" and "Laiwensiji," the New Express reported.
The names in China are easily recognizable as former US president Bill Clinton and his one time lover, Monica Lewinsky.
The Clinton brand is set to be the company's top product selling for some 30 yuan (3.7 dollars) for a pack of 12, while the Lewinsky brand was expected to fetch 18 yuan.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Miramar Air Show October 2005
For the third year in a row I plan to attend the Miramar Air Show. It’s held at the MCAS Miramar in San Diego – the base featured in the Tom Cruise film, Top Gun. This year the show will be held Oct. 14-16.
Miramar is for military aircraft what Oshkosh is for experimental, private, and commercial craft.
At my first appearance I attempted to pay at the gate. A Marine looked at my open wallet and said, “You already paid with your tax dollars. There’s no admission. Go on in and enjoy your aircraft.”
In the past it has been billed as the world’s largest military air show. In the last two years I’ve seen some of the best planes perform some great aerobatic feats: The Blue Angels, F15s, F16s, and F14s, an F117 stealth fighter fly-by, A-10 Warthogs, Harriers, plus oodles of choppers and support craft. The Blue Angels support craft, Fat Albert, is a C130 painted blue to match the Angels, and it has rocket-assisted take-off. Spectacular.
This year I expect to see all of the above, plus the F22 Raptor, a B2 bomber, and more fantastic equipment. I’m especially looking forward to my first sighting of the F22. A recent History Channel show claims the F15 is (was) the world’s best fighter – with a 100% kill ratio in combat. Each time an F22 goes up against an F15 (or in multiples, such as three F22s against five or eight F15s), the F15s are destroyed, never even becoming aware of the F22s' presence. I’m glad these birds are on our side.
Soon I’ll post pictures from the last two years.
UPDATE 9-20-05: No pictures coming. They all suck.
Miramar is for military aircraft what Oshkosh is for experimental, private, and commercial craft.
At my first appearance I attempted to pay at the gate. A Marine looked at my open wallet and said, “You already paid with your tax dollars. There’s no admission. Go on in and enjoy your aircraft.”
In the past it has been billed as the world’s largest military air show. In the last two years I’ve seen some of the best planes perform some great aerobatic feats: The Blue Angels, F15s, F16s, and F14s, an F117 stealth fighter fly-by, A-10 Warthogs, Harriers, plus oodles of choppers and support craft. The Blue Angels support craft, Fat Albert, is a C130 painted blue to match the Angels, and it has rocket-assisted take-off. Spectacular.
This year I expect to see all of the above, plus the F22 Raptor, a B2 bomber, and more fantastic equipment. I’m especially looking forward to my first sighting of the F22. A recent History Channel show claims the F15 is (was) the world’s best fighter – with a 100% kill ratio in combat. Each time an F22 goes up against an F15 (or in multiples, such as three F22s against five or eight F15s), the F15s are destroyed, never even becoming aware of the F22s' presence. I’m glad these birds are on our side.
Soon I’ll post pictures from the last two years.
UPDATE 9-20-05: No pictures coming. They all suck.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
A rare good decision from Canada
Ontario has rejected Sharia law for Muslims.
After the Shaw of Iran was deposed, one of the first things the Supreme Idiot did was drop the marrying age of girls from 18 to 9. That's N-I-N-E years of age. Nine.
(Premier Dalton McGuinty) told the Canadian Press news agency: "There will be no Sharia law in Ontario. There will be no religious arbitration in Ontario. There will be one law for all Ontarians."
After the Shaw of Iran was deposed, one of the first things the Supreme Idiot did was drop the marrying age of girls from 18 to 9. That's N-I-N-E years of age. Nine.
Monday, September 12, 2005
FEMA chief quits
Will the Reverand Jesse Jackson try to have Michael Brown brought up on charges of slavery? It was the philandering Jackson, after all, who said the Katrina devastation looked like the hull of a slave ship.
From AP:
From AP:
"I'm turning in my resignation today," Brown said. "I think it's in the best interest of the agency and the best interest of the president to do that and get the media focused on the good things that are going on, instead of me."
Objects d'art: 300SL "gullwing"
I found these sweethearts at a small car show in Southern California. They're Mercedes Benz 300SLs, from 1957 to 1959.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Let's blame whitey, No. 3
I watched, dumbfounded, as the nomenclature of Katrina victims evolved in the media from 'those affected,' to 'evacuees,' to 'refugees.' I felt the evolution was warranted. Not so the black community. As always, they believe everyone is out to get them. This time, using the word "refugee" is racist against blacks. This is no longer tiring. It's just nutty.
From AP:
From AP:
"It is racist to call American citizens refugees," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said, visiting the Houston Astrodome on Monday. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have expressed similar sentiments.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Quote of the week: Victor Davis Hanson
"For all its pyrotechnics, the call for a glorious return to the Dark Ages has found no broad constituency."
This isn't a quote, rather the writing of Victor Davis Hanson, a military historian and former college professor. He refers to one of the primary goals of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist thugs -- a return to the "caliphate", an 8th century cesspool of barbarism.
You can read the complete story, "Why we must stay in Iraq," at VDH's website.
This isn't a quote, rather the writing of Victor Davis Hanson, a military historian and former college professor. He refers to one of the primary goals of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist thugs -- a return to the "caliphate", an 8th century cesspool of barbarism.
You can read the complete story, "Why we must stay in Iraq," at VDH's website.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
New Orleans bar: 'We never close'
Apparently Johnny White's, a bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans, has been open 24/7 for 17 years -- and didn't miss a beat because of Katrina.
From the BBC:
From the BBC:
Run by alcoholics for alcoholics was how it was described to me, and that is not far off the mark.
"What is the toilet etiquette?" I asked the barmaid, wondering if I should just go out into the street.
"Here is the restroom key," she said, handing me a torch, "and watch the body on the stairs."
Everyone has been told to leave, the city will never be normal again. But for now in this small corner of New Orleans where there is cold beer there is hope.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Katrina aftermath: the solution
The RCRC
“RCRC” stands for Regional Crisis Response Center. The U.S. needs several within its borders, and the world needs an international version. Seeing U.S. carriers rushing towards Indonesia was heartwarming, but the response would have been more effective had the carrier group been part of a pre-planned, coordinated effort. We would have had fewer deaths along the Gulf Coast during and after Karina if there was an RCRC ready for action.
The continental United States has three disaster zones:
1. Southeast -- hurricanes and other rainy storms
2. West / Southwest -- wildfires and earthquakes
3. Northeast / North Central -- snow, ice, and sub-zero temps
Each zone should have an RCRC (not in the most dangerous part; the West / Southwest RCRC should not be in San Francisco, and the Southeast RCRC should not be in Florida).
The RCRCs should be filled with weatherproof crates ready for air-dropping and transport by ship, rail, and truck. These crates should contain MREs, condoms (just kidding), bottled water, water purification tablets, rope, clothing and blankets appropriate to the disaster, first aid materials, crank-operated radios, and plastic information cards. The cards should list generic emergency information:
+ A warning against drinking unpurified water
+ The basics of how to survive
+ A reminder that looting will get you 15-25 years in prison
+ In bold: “The federal, state and local government is aware of your situation and is on the way. Do not panic or lose hope."
+ Techniques to increase the chances of being spotted by a rescue helicopter
Because there is no way to completely equip and man these centers, there should be a system similar to a volunteer fire department. For example, if a Cat 5 hurricane strikes the Southeast, pre-determined helicopters and personnel from the surrounding area should go straight to the RCRC or directly to the affected area. A certain percentage of equipment and personnel should be ready to act at a moment's notice: assets from state and federal military bases, local fire departments and law enforcement, and volunteers among the general public. Specific units of people and specific pieces of equipment should be tagged.
The Southeast RCRC should be in Northern Alabama, the Northeast / North Central RCRC should be in Wisconsin, and the West / Southwest RCRC should be in Las Vegas. These locations offer relatively quick and easy access to the entire zone, yet are in areas not likely to be hit with a major natural disaster.
International
There should also be international RCRCs. One should be located somewhere near Japan, which offers easy access to typhoon and earthquake problems in Japan, the Koreas, China, and the surrounding areas, including Hawaii and Alaska.
Another should be in the Indian Ocean, which offers easy access to India, Indonesia, Australia, and surrounding areas.
Others should be in the Caribbean Sea, Brazil, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and perhaps a few other places. Politics should not determine who can join an RCRC. For instance, Cuba would be welcomed in the Caribbean RCRC; Iran the Middle East RCRC.
Amazing things happened following Katrina and the Asian tsunami, but had we been better prepared and coordinated, more lives would have been saved.
The UN should not be involved with RCRCs. The organization sat idly by -- or actively ran away -- in the face of tragedies in Rwanda, Guatemala, Cambodia, and many other places. No UN involvement generally means the outcome will be better.
“RCRC” stands for Regional Crisis Response Center. The U.S. needs several within its borders, and the world needs an international version. Seeing U.S. carriers rushing towards Indonesia was heartwarming, but the response would have been more effective had the carrier group been part of a pre-planned, coordinated effort. We would have had fewer deaths along the Gulf Coast during and after Karina if there was an RCRC ready for action.
The continental United States has three disaster zones:
1. Southeast -- hurricanes and other rainy storms
2. West / Southwest -- wildfires and earthquakes
3. Northeast / North Central -- snow, ice, and sub-zero temps
Each zone should have an RCRC (not in the most dangerous part; the West / Southwest RCRC should not be in San Francisco, and the Southeast RCRC should not be in Florida).
The RCRCs should be filled with weatherproof crates ready for air-dropping and transport by ship, rail, and truck. These crates should contain MREs, condoms (just kidding), bottled water, water purification tablets, rope, clothing and blankets appropriate to the disaster, first aid materials, crank-operated radios, and plastic information cards. The cards should list generic emergency information:
+ A warning against drinking unpurified water
+ The basics of how to survive
+ A reminder that looting will get you 15-25 years in prison
+ In bold: “The federal, state and local government is aware of your situation and is on the way. Do not panic or lose hope."
+ Techniques to increase the chances of being spotted by a rescue helicopter
Because there is no way to completely equip and man these centers, there should be a system similar to a volunteer fire department. For example, if a Cat 5 hurricane strikes the Southeast, pre-determined helicopters and personnel from the surrounding area should go straight to the RCRC or directly to the affected area. A certain percentage of equipment and personnel should be ready to act at a moment's notice: assets from state and federal military bases, local fire departments and law enforcement, and volunteers among the general public. Specific units of people and specific pieces of equipment should be tagged.
The Southeast RCRC should be in Northern Alabama, the Northeast / North Central RCRC should be in Wisconsin, and the West / Southwest RCRC should be in Las Vegas. These locations offer relatively quick and easy access to the entire zone, yet are in areas not likely to be hit with a major natural disaster.
International
There should also be international RCRCs. One should be located somewhere near Japan, which offers easy access to typhoon and earthquake problems in Japan, the Koreas, China, and the surrounding areas, including Hawaii and Alaska.
Another should be in the Indian Ocean, which offers easy access to India, Indonesia, Australia, and surrounding areas.
Others should be in the Caribbean Sea, Brazil, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and perhaps a few other places. Politics should not determine who can join an RCRC. For instance, Cuba would be welcomed in the Caribbean RCRC; Iran the Middle East RCRC.
Amazing things happened following Katrina and the Asian tsunami, but had we been better prepared and coordinated, more lives would have been saved.
The UN should not be involved with RCRCs. The organization sat idly by -- or actively ran away -- in the face of tragedies in Rwanda, Guatemala, Cambodia, and many other places. No UN involvement generally means the outcome will be better.
Let's blame whitey, No. 2
Black leaders claim whites allowed blacks to die needlessly in the Katrina disaster.
From The New York Times:
From The New York Times:
"This looks like the hull of a slave ship," Mr. Jackson said as he reviewed the packed sidewalk where families had gathered, their belongings in torn trash bags.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
New Orleans: message in bottle is found
From AFP:
Curt Belton, a Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent in charge of boats touring the city, told Tuesday of a message found in a wine bottle drifting in floodwaters along Canal Street in the entertainment district.
"To whom it may concern: Please send with immediately, (one) ice cold chest of Coors Light. I'm out at this time. Down to wine. Some shrimp and oysters would also be appreciated. Thank you," said the note, which was signed and gave an address.
Let's blame whitey, No. 1
Alan Dershowitz huffs and puffs about Rehnquist at The Huffington Post:
Rehnquist’s memo, entitled “A Random Thought on the Segregation Cases,” defended the separate-but-equal doctrine embodied in the 1896 Supreme Court case of Plessy v. Ferguson. Rehnquist concluded the Plessy “was right and should be reaffirmed.” When questioned about the memos by the Senate Judiciary Committee in both 1971 and 1986, Rehnquist blamed his defense of segregation on the dead Justice, stating – under oath – that his memo was meant to reflect the views of Justice Jackson. But Justice Jackson voted in Brown, along with a unanimous Court, to strike down school segregation.
He generally opposed the rights of gays, women, blacks, aliens, and religious minorities. He was a friend of corporations, polluters, right wing Republicans, religious fundamentalists, homophobes, and other bigots.
Bob Denver, Gilligan to a generation, dies
The little buddy now relaxes in the great hammock in the sky.
I feel mortal as TV icons from my youth pass away. Born in '69, my early childhood memories consist of a mix of adult and kid things. Adults around me would complain about Vietnam, Richard Nixon and then Jimmy Carter. And the price of gas! Like father like son, I guess. I listened to my mom's collection of Beatles records over and over again. I know all the words to Helter Skelter (or used to).
Playing Pong and watching Gilligan's Island offered an escape in the days before VCRs, cable TV, and the web.
So long, Little Buddy. It'll be my turn soon enough.
I feel mortal as TV icons from my youth pass away. Born in '69, my early childhood memories consist of a mix of adult and kid things. Adults around me would complain about Vietnam, Richard Nixon and then Jimmy Carter. And the price of gas! Like father like son, I guess. I listened to my mom's collection of Beatles records over and over again. I know all the words to Helter Skelter (or used to).
Playing Pong and watching Gilligan's Island offered an escape in the days before VCRs, cable TV, and the web.
So long, Little Buddy. It'll be my turn soon enough.
Katrina: lessons learned, confirmed
A “gansta rap” subculture that glorifies killing police officers, beating women, and doing time in prison will kill, rape and steal in the absence of the rule of law.
A Category 4 hurricane will destroy levees designed to withstand Category 3 hurricanes.
When a mayor orders a city-wide evacuation, he’s not kidding.
Cities bordering the ocean and with sizable rivers running through them should be built above the water level or should not built at all.
People will forget why the United States of America is called “United States”, and choose to believe the federal government can rush federal assets into a state without being invited by the state.
Poor people are animals.
It’s not possible to airlift, feed, clothe, and provide medical care to more than 200,000 people overnight in a ruined, flooded region.
Some will blame politicians for causing natural disasters.
Anyone who takes the top job at FEMA and DHS is a fool: if nothing bad happens, they won’t get the credit; if something bad happens, they’ll be blamed.
The American taxpayer will always be expected to bail out those who choose to live in dangerous places.
Blacks will always blame whitey for their troubles.
A major catastrophe compels some to say, “It’s the hand of God,” and others, “There is no god.”
Geraldo Rivera will lose his objectivity in the thick of things.
A Category 4 hurricane will destroy levees designed to withstand Category 3 hurricanes.
When a mayor orders a city-wide evacuation, he’s not kidding.
Cities bordering the ocean and with sizable rivers running through them should be built above the water level or should not built at all.
People will forget why the United States of America is called “United States”, and choose to believe the federal government can rush federal assets into a state without being invited by the state.
Poor people are animals.
It’s not possible to airlift, feed, clothe, and provide medical care to more than 200,000 people overnight in a ruined, flooded region.
Some will blame politicians for causing natural disasters.
Anyone who takes the top job at FEMA and DHS is a fool: if nothing bad happens, they won’t get the credit; if something bad happens, they’ll be blamed.
The American taxpayer will always be expected to bail out those who choose to live in dangerous places.
Blacks will always blame whitey for their troubles.
A major catastrophe compels some to say, “It’s the hand of God,” and others, “There is no god.”
Geraldo Rivera will lose his objectivity in the thick of things.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Pleasure boats and spanking paddles (and oil)
The gas station by my house (Orange County) is dry. In 20 years of driving I've never encountered a station without gas. The one down the road is up from $2.72 to $3.10 in two days. The illegal alien manning the till doesn't expect any shortages. He said, "I don't know, amigo," when I asked him if the prices would keep shooting through the roof.
I may become a philistine (single issue voter) in the next couple of presidential elections, especially since most issues don't concern me:
+I don't care if the very last spotted owl is brought down from its eyrie and hung on a tiny gallows
+I don't care if the last clan of pocket gophers in West Central Oregon gets run over by a logging truck
+I don't care if the 10 Commandments -- or the doctrines of the Church of Satan -- are placed in public buildings
+Abortion doesn't bother me much
+I don't care if the last old growth forest gets turned into pleasure boats and spanking paddles
+I can live without public school accountability, and with hand gun registration
But I drive for a living, and I don't wish to change. Give me cheap gasoline or give me an alternative. I'm tired of being enslaved to oil. It is the Achilles heel of America.
I may become a philistine (single issue voter) in the next couple of presidential elections, especially since most issues don't concern me:
+I don't care if the very last spotted owl is brought down from its eyrie and hung on a tiny gallows
+I don't care if the last clan of pocket gophers in West Central Oregon gets run over by a logging truck
+I don't care if the 10 Commandments -- or the doctrines of the Church of Satan -- are placed in public buildings
+Abortion doesn't bother me much
+I don't care if the last old growth forest gets turned into pleasure boats and spanking paddles
+I can live without public school accountability, and with hand gun registration
But I drive for a living, and I don't wish to change. Give me cheap gasoline or give me an alternative. I'm tired of being enslaved to oil. It is the Achilles heel of America.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
The Guardian: true to form
One can always look to The Guardian for anti-American rhetoric. As an atheist libertarian, I find myself slipping one step closer to Pat Buchanan, of all people. Isolationism may not be such a bad thing.
The Guardian:
The Guardian:
And, just when the victims most need the support of the federal government, they find themselves dependent on one that is least inclined to accept its responsibilities.
German minister blames hurricane on U.S. policy
Fuck you, Germany. I've heard enough garbage like this. I expect fetid rubbish like this from Aljazeera, but not from a country we saved. Bush will take his lumps for a slow disaster response, and he'll take them from Americans like me, not cowardly dumbasses who think they've an idea of how the world should be run just 60 years after they almost destroyed it.
From Der Spiegel:
Germany and much of world is advocating that the U.S. leave Iraq. Well, perhaps we should have left Germany immediately after we crushed Hitler. Or perhaps we should have done to Germany what Germany advocated we do in Iraq -- simply keep the dictator hemmed in within his own borders via no-fly zones, forever allowed to wreak havoc and bloodshed on the entire population while earning a tidy sum in illegal trading.
The .5% of me that still has a positive attitude toward the world wants to believe that Trittin and the German media don't reflect the views of the German populace at large -- that Katrina is Bush's fault and the fault of U.S. policies. Yet, I now have a very dim view of Germans. Fortunately, my fellow Americans feel the same way.
From Der Spiegel:
Apparently the Americans had it coming: "The American president has closed his eyes to the economic and human damage that natural catastrophes such as Katrina -- in other words, disasters caused by a lack of climate protection measures -- can visit on his country." Who wrote this? None other than Jürgen Trittin, Germany's minister of the environment.
At a moment when the dead on the Gulf Coast are still being counted, the German minister of the environment could think of nothing better to do than -- in an essay published Tuesday in the center-left daily Frankfurter Rundschau -- to blame the US itself for the catastrophe. The piece is 493 words long, and not a single one of them is wasted to express any sort of sympathy for the victims of the storm. The worst of it is that Trittin isn't alone with his cold, malicious tenor. The coverage from much of the German media tends in the same direction: If Bush had only listened to Uncle Trittin and signed the Kyoto Protocol, then this never would have happened.
Germany and much of world is advocating that the U.S. leave Iraq. Well, perhaps we should have left Germany immediately after we crushed Hitler. Or perhaps we should have done to Germany what Germany advocated we do in Iraq -- simply keep the dictator hemmed in within his own borders via no-fly zones, forever allowed to wreak havoc and bloodshed on the entire population while earning a tidy sum in illegal trading.
The .5% of me that still has a positive attitude toward the world wants to believe that Trittin and the German media don't reflect the views of the German populace at large -- that Katrina is Bush's fault and the fault of U.S. policies. Yet, I now have a very dim view of Germans. Fortunately, my fellow Americans feel the same way.
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