Beheading Plot Foiled?
posted by oscar wilde @ 9:05 PM Permalink
Unconfirmed reports suggest the move to arrest nine men in Birmingham today were triggered by an "imminent threat to life."Members of the West Midlands anti-terrorist squad working with other branches of national intelligence units (MI5) would neither confirm or deny the threat.
It was suggested that the plot was to kidnap a returning Muslim member of the British armed forces, behead him and post the video on the Internet.
There are at present some sixteen hundred anti-terrorist personnel working on counter terrorist measures out side of London alone.
Counter terrorist forces are said to have been working on this case for the past six months, showing particular interest in an Islamic book shop in the area.
In February 1984, less than a mile from the area where the arrests were made, the then Indian deputy high commissioner
Ravindra Mhatre was kidnapped by the radical Kurdish group JKLFJammu Kashmir liberation front.He was held captive at an isolated farmhouse for two days, where after being tortured his body was discovered.
Developing.
Blogabaloo
posted by The Vidiot @ 2:47 PM Permalink
There's been some blogabaloo (don't you just hate the derivative blog words?) over a
possible "cure" for cancer that will never be explored because the drug is unpatentable and therefore nonprofitable.
Excerpt: It sounds almost too good to be true: a cheap and simple drug that kills almost all cancers by switching off their “immortality”. The drug, dichloroacetate (DCA), has already been used for years to treat rare metabolic disorders and so is known to be relatively safe. It also has no patent, meaning it could be manufactured for a fraction of the cost of newly developed drugs.
I was unwilling to post about it. During one of my incarnations in this lifetime, I did cancer research at NYU. And I can tell you, it's one helluva complicated thang. And while I'd like to believe that something as simple as DCA could be the silver bullet, I know better. I also know that it's been about 20 years since I even thought about biochemistry and anything I said would be more or less talking out of my rear. But, unlike me, this guy has a clue or two.
Excerpt: Yes, it's very easy and satisfying to take this promising preliminary study and build from it a conspiracy theory of evil big pharma "keeping cures from the people." It's just not very accurate and it adds too much heat and noise to the debate over the real shortcomings in our system of developing new drugs that make drug companies reluctant to pursue research on drugs that show promise but little profit potential. There are real, systemic problems with the financing of drug development and how drugs are marketed, but hyperbole and conspiracy theories don't address these problems; they obscure them.
Read the whole entry. It's a very good explanation of why hopes shouldn't be raised just yet. But frankly, this whole thing is faintly reminiscent of the Hydrazine Sulfate cancer "cure" of the 1990s.
Here's a question.
posted by The Vidiot @ 3:35 PM Permalink
When did "
populism" become a bad thing? And why do they feel the need to modify it with the word "radical"?
Excerpt: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez exports a form of "radical populism" throughout Latin America that poses a threat to democracy, the top US intelligence official said Tuesday. John Negroponte, during hearings on his nomination to become deputy secretary of state, warned that frustration in Latin America about the lack of prosperity under democratic governments could further fuel the populism advocated by Chavez.
"Radical populism."
I don't know about you, but it really doesn't make me quake in my boots like some other words do. Like, for instance, "neoliberalism" or "neoconservatism"or even "Bush administration".
Wow.
posted by The Vidiot @ 8:21 AM Permalink
The hubris is
astounding.
Excerpt: In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.
So basically, he puts a crony in there to make sure that whatever Bush et al wants, Bush et al gets.
Micheal Rivero says it's a lot like the "
zampolit" in the USSR.
posted by oscar wilde @ 7:44 PM Permalink
Remind you of anyone?
And they both share the same
profession only in a different guise.
Well, no matter what you think of Chavez
posted by The Vidiot @ 12:41 PM Permalink
He is occasionally
right on target.
Excerpt: "Nobody should allow themselves to be imbued with fear. If anybody should be scared, we should be scared of capitalism, which destroys society, people and the planet," Chavez said during his weekly television and radio program "Hello President."
Nightmares
posted by The Vidiot @ 11:55 AM Permalink
Watched the old movie "
The Day After" yesterday on the SciFi channel. I remember when I first saw that movie. It was with a bunch of us in the dorm, I was a sophomore in college. We sat there in silence for the whole thing and afterwards, I had nightmares for weeks. I was trying to explain to Mr. Vidiot what it was like to be a teenager at the height of the Cold War and just how frightening it was. Now, I'm starting to feel some of that old fear again. Then, we had a foreign policy based on
M.A.D., and it sort of worked. Now, it's all just insane. There's no more M.A.D. Anyone can drop one on anyone else and not worry about repercussions. Hell, the Bush administration's defense policy talks about "limited" or "tactical" nukes. (It's called a
Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations.)
There's nothing "limited" or "tactical" about any of it.
Futhermore....
posted by The Vidiot @ 11:48 AM Permalink
When I said in my previous post that the government may not only allow the protests, but may also organize them so that they cannot be accused of squelching democracy and free speech, look at
this for confirmation.
Excerpt: Anti-war protesters were allowed to spray paint on part of the west front steps of the United States Capitol building after police were ordered to break their security line by their leadership, two sources told The Hill.
Basically, it's "Awww. Look at the crazy little spray painters. See how ok we are with it? We even let anarchists spray paint the capitol building!"
So keep that in mind as a
THIRD carrier battle group heads towards the west from San Diego. It's so obvious that the protests are for the public, not for those in power.
posted by oscar wilde @ 10:48 AM Permalink
A truly remarkable experience awaits those of you that are strangers to
"Virtual Earth"Find your location, or any for that matter, play about with all the options, both 2d and 3d.
Hibrid maps in 2d is a good place to start, then switch to birds eye view and view your location from all points of the compass.
Have fun, but it's a big program.
Food for thought, it was my previous post that spurred me to this one, but if this is the resolution that is available to Joe Public, then just how good is the militaries?
A weekend in DC
posted by The Vidiot @ 10:28 AM Permalink
Went to DC this weekend. Took one of those crazy
Chinatown busses. $35 round trip NYC to DC. Not too shabby, huh? Anyway, DC is kind of cool. Georgetown sucks BIG time. Anyone who hangs out there is a loser. The bars there are horrible. Adams Morgan though is kind of cool. A little "Bourbon Street"-ish except without the drinking in the streets. The protest was disappointing though.
First, there weren't as many people there as there had been in the pre-Iraq protests. (Though, I find it funny that back then, we were struggling with the media to report on them AND report the numbers accurately. Back then, easily, a million would attend and the media would report "10s of thousands." Now, I'd be hard-pressed to say 100,000 in attendance and the reports are of that and more. Odd.) Second, protesting is supposed to challenge the system and/or break the reality. But the protests as they are now do neither of those things. They are extremely organized and ridiculously subdued. They completely adhere to the rules. Everyone behaves like everyone else and they all think they're speaking to power. It's practically
mainstream. Mr. Vidiot and I suspect the whole thing might be organized and arranged by the government. Think about it. What better way to give the illusion of democracy and free speech? Make sure there are orderly demonstrations and that way, nobody can accuse you of squelching dissent.
The protestors' hearts are in the right place and I respect them all for trying. It's just that I believe that protests, as they're done today, accomplish nothing. The war with Iraq happend. And the war with Iran is, I'm sure,
right on schedule. Bush will do whatever he and his administration wants and the protests will have
no effect on him. The most that one can hope for is that when history looks back on this time, there will be a sidebar that says "not everyone supported the wars."
What's the solution, if not protests? I don't know. I'm not a genious. I just know that the protests don't work and that the protests don't really address what the real problem is: the unfairness of our economic system that causes the wars to begin with.
Yes, I know, I'm a broken record these days, blah blah blah.
posted by oscar wilde @ 9:50 AM Permalink
A Story With Borders, for now?
Things are starting to get more than a little scary, we here in England are the most spyed upon nation on earth, but this takes the biscuit.
.
X-ray cameras that would "undress" passers-by in a bid to thwart terrorists concealing weapons, could be coming to a street near you, according to reports. Aside from the obvious privacy issues, would such a plan work?
Leaked documents said to have been drawn up by the Home Office and seen by the Sun newspaper say cameras which can see through clothes could be built into lamp posts to "trap terror suspects". Full story .
It is undisputed that if a person lives in London they will be caught on CCTV some three hundred times a day, and probably not a lot less in all the major cities.
.
As trends go, we here in Britain are usually a year or two behind the US, but when it comes to "Big Brother" we are streets ahead. Aren't we the lucky ones?
.
The last true freedom is now gone from me, my sailing days are over, to come out of the harbour and say, "Do I go left, or do I go right" and never once did I file a route plan with the coastgaurd, it's an alien thing to do as a single hander.
Grissom, Chaffee & White
posted by The Vidiot @ 3:32 PM Permalink
40 years ago today, Lt. Colonel Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom, Lt. Colonel Edward Higgins White and Lt. Commander Roger Bruce Chaffee
perished in fire that consumed their Apollo 1 spacecraft. When we look at the Moon and marvel that men have walked there we should keep in mind that the
One Giant Leap for Mankind began with a charred first step of human sacrifice.
May God grant you blue skies aloft,
With winds of calm by land,
As you play on the outskirts of heaven,
On the fragile wings of man.
To All That Fly - John D. Duvall
Saturday Sailboat Blogging
posted by The Vidiot @ 12:52 PM Permalink
More memories from last summer.
Happy Blogiversary to Us!
posted by The Vidiot @ 2:31 PM Permalink
It's been a year since VidiotSpeak was conceived in blogtopia (
y,wksctp!*). And
they said we would never last!
If you're in the mood for a 'how we met' story it's pretty good; She was in a black leather motorcycle jacket and I was a rock & roll outlaw hiding in academia ... umm, actually, we've never met. The Vidiot previously had an excellent online column about current events that occasionally went down because it was so popular. I offered some reserve bandwidth to make sure I could get my daily fix of snark and outrage that quieted the voices in my head while expressing the voices in my heart.
But I digress, without further urdu, here are our self-chosen highlights and excerpts for our one year blogiversary (
y,wktjmotlctp!**):
JanuaryThe Vidiot:
At the beginning of last year, I wrote this: Constructing Our Reality ... I could’ve written it today. NOTHING has changed.
The Sailor:
Cognitive Dissonance ...
... Is the sound of one hand clapping, inside your head, in space, where no one can hear you scream.
"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
- G.W. Bush, 9/13/2001
[...]
FebruaryThe Vidiot:
In february, I liked these two little ditties: Corporate Control
I saw this headline and nearly did a spit take:
Exxon: America will always rely on foreign oil
and
I'm so koany
If a real estate bubble bursts and the media doesn't mention it, did it really burst?
The Sailor:
Since we're talking about our favorites, I kinda liked this one: Cartoon uproar felt throughout Bay Area
and here's a blast from the past we should keep in mind during The New Way Forward:
Lies Big Brother Told Me
March and
AprilAnd who can forget The Vidiot's Brain Salad Surgery Saga?
The Vidiot:
Brain Damage...
I feel terrible not posting very much. But I have a very good reason.
So, funny thing, I've been feeling like crap lately and I went to the doctor, and guess what? I have a brain malformation. Well, OK, anyone who knows me might've suspected that right off the bat. But, it gets better.
It's official
Just got back from seeing the neurosurgeon and he said "Yup. You need surgery."
So, I've provided pictures to explain what's going to happen.
The day before tomorrow....
Tomorrow is the big day. (Update: Surgery is scheduled for 8:30 am) Today is the last day I'll not have a scar on the back of my head for the rest of my time here on Earth.
The Sailor:
So here's the deal ...
I'm sure the millions, well thousands, OK, hundreds ... would you believe 3 ... people who read vidiotspeak know Sara Bellum (AKA The Vidiot), is going in for a bit of 'nip and tuck.' Hopefully this time she'll get a brain surgeon and not a rocket scientist to do the ... uhmm ... honors.
[ED: BTW, thanks very much to skippy, Jeralyn, Myra, therealmrsjamesrubin, Rose and the various anonymouses who sent their good wishes. It meant a lot then and it means a lot now.]
Mr. Vidiot:
Update on The Vidiot:
The vidiot is out of her six hour surgery as of Thursday afternoon and doing well. The surgery was a success as everything went exactly as planned.
The Vidiot:
Well THAT sucked.
That sucked more than the 2000, 2002, 2004 elections COMBINED, multiplied by a bazillian. I'd rather have 8 more years for Bush/Cheney than go through THAT again.
[ED: If you ever want to see true love in action, read the whole post!]
The Sailor:
Well, that was a downer ... OK, a lot of downers, intubation and an IV drip. But there were a couple of light spots:
The Acme of Corruption ... or ... Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?
and
It's Easter Sunday, the time of year we genuflect to eggs that were dyed for us ...
MayMay saw Mr. Vidiot stand up, step up and sound off!
Mr. Vidiot:
"Blame the Victim"
Articles about the Katrina effect are ridiculous.
Capitalism.....
This article gets somethings right and some things wrong:
The Sailor:
So how bad do the neocons want a war with Iran?
JuneI swear, looking back over our posts for this retrospective, some could have been written today.
The Sailor:
So how's that whole War On Terror thing going?
Who's That Tap, Tap, Tapping on My Phone*
General Confusion and the Secretary of Defensiveness
U.S. commander predicts new reductions in troop levels in Iraq this year, but no firm timetable
Ohh, and there was a minor personal event for
Mr. and The Vidiot:
Light Blogging by the Vidiot
And I apologize. After brain surgery, I realized I needed a vacation. So, I'm off to Spain in a few days. Well, it's actually, a honeymoon
JulyThe Vidiot:
The other day, I went OFF. I mean really, went OFF.
Spain
The Sailor:
Res ipsa loquitor
Is US Winning? Army Chief Is at a Loss
AugustMr. Vidiot:
Viva Cuba Libre
What they really mean
The Sailor:
He's out of touch, they're out of time
The Vidiot:
Katrina
Last year at this time, I was watching Mr. Vidiot frantically dialing his friends and family in NOLA, making sure everyone was OK.
SeptemberIn September we got some things right and some things wrong.
The wrong:
The Vidiot:
Wait for it, wait for it....
And the Right:
The Vidiot:
That's it then
The Sailor:
Bushco, making government smaller ... by poisoning us
OctoberThe Vidiot:
What the hell!
Is this a tactical nuke going off in Iraq during the ammunitions fire? Watch the video. At about 3:56, there's a HUUUUuuuge explosion. Looks like a nuke with a glowing mushroom thingy to me.
Let's reflect for a moment
on the fact that this war and Iraq, a byproduct of the neocon plan to militarily dominate the planet and its resources, has caused the death of well over a half million Iraqi lives.
The Sailor:
Sunday Sermon on Wednesday
I don't understand the 'debate' on torture. I don't understand why there is a debate. I just can't see it. It's wrong, it's immoral and it doesn't work. You can make anyone say anything you want if you torture them long enough.
And we can't leave out the Guest Post by Edger:
What can we do about Islamic Terrorism?
NovemberNovember brought some good news:
The Vidiot:
Well, It's official.
The dems now control both houses of Congress.
The Sailor:
The Election is Making a Difference Already
Democrats Purge Climate-Change Skeptics
And some bad news:
The Vidiot:
The coffin doesn't need anymore nails.
Every other day, I read about some legislative assault on the constitution. Here's another one.
The Sailor:
Lied to death
Army Recruiters Accused of Misleading Students to Get Them to Enlist
DecemberAnd what year would be complete without the blessings that the season holds for all of us? Well, maybe not all of us.
The Sailor:
2006 by the Numbers ... or ... 3 freaking THOUSAND!?
The Vidiot:
Funny, isn't it.
They have $3 billion a week for the Iraq war, yet NO $$ to treat the 9/11 workers.
So, there it is. Just a small part of what inspired vidiotspeak to speak out in the darkness. That and
we're pissed off and our friends are sick of listening to us.Special thanks:
The Sailor:I'd like to thank the academy, my agent and all the little peo ... oops, sorry, wrong speech.
Special thanks go to our good friends
skippy and
SteveAudio, for believing in us and linking to us first.
AMERICAblog for linking to our posts and helping us in our research. But most of all I want to thank my
partner in crime, without whom none of this would have been necessary!
* Yes, we know skippy coined that phrase! [back]
** Yes, we know Jeralyn Merrit of TalkLeft coined that phrase! [back]
What?
posted by The Vidiot @ 3:02 PM Permalink
Are these people like
10-years old or something?
Excerpt: A Florida Republican, who is the ranking minority member of the Transportation Committee in the House of Representatives, stormed out of a meeting last week, leading other Republican members with him. An article today in Roll Call reports that he was angry because he was not seated properly during an orientation session.
It's like they're a bunch of Cartmans: "Screw you guys. I'm going home."
It's no wonder nothing is ever accomplished.
I dunno
posted by The Vidiot @ 2:58 PM Permalink
When I first heard about the microwave the sponge thing a few years ago, I of course assumed you had to
wet the sponge. I mean, microwaves excite WATER molecules. Durr. No water molecules and you've got yourself a fire or something melty/stinky.
Excerpt: Reports about a study that found microwave ovens can be used to sterilize kitchen sponges sent people hurrying to test the idea this week -- with sometimes disastrous results.
Tom Cruise = Christ of Scientology
posted by The Vidiot @ 4:41 PM Permalink
Made me laugh. Especially this one particular line:
Excerpt: And leader David Miscavige believes that in future, Cruise, 44, will be worshipped like Jesus for his work to raise awareness of the religion.
hahahhhhhahhahahhhahhhhahhhahhahah
Worshipped?
Hahhahhhahha... hahhhhah....hahahhhahahaahahahaha
{whew}
I really needed that. Especially since the Saints lost to the icky Bears.
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 12:50 PM Permalink
Democracy! I'll Take Anarchy Any DayGeorgia House bans genital piercings for women.
The Associated Press - ATLANTA "Genital piercings for women were banned by the Georgia House Wednesday as lawmakers considered a bill outlining punishments for female genital mutilation.
The bill would make such mutilation punishable by two to 20 years in prison. It makes no exception for people who give consent to have the procedure performed on their daughters out of religious or cultural custom.
An amendment adopted without objection added, "piercing" to the list of things that may not be done to female genitals. Even adult women would not be allowed to get the procedure. The bill eventually passed 160-0, with no debate.
Amendment sponsor Rep. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, was slack-jawed when told after the vote that some adults seek the piercings.
"What? I've never seen such a thing," Heath said. "I, uh, I wouldn't approve of anyone doing it. I don't think that's an appropriate thing to be doing."
The ban applies only to women, not men. The bill has already been approved by the Senate but now must return to that chamber because of the piercing amendment. Both chambers of the Legislature must agree on a single version of a bill before it can go to the governor for final approval."
I can only assume, for the report is woefully ambiguous, that the proposed bill was intended to address the custom of female circumcision.
Two to twenty years; I wouldn't have a problem with the full twenty being handed down to any parent who subjected a daughter to such a selfish act of barbarism, in fact if religion were cited as the reason for carrying out this heinous act, I would give them forty years.
And my reasons would not be, as you might have so easily gathered, that I am anti religion, for this practice is nothing whatsoever to do with religion, it is but for the purposes of subjugating women and robbing them of their sexuality and as such, make them less likely to "stray."
And in doing so, bolster against the overriding insecurity of the misogynist males that abound in the countries where this practice still takes place.
Having said all this, I cannot get my head round that the reasons for this legalisation are enlightenment and altruism, not in, of all places, Georgia.
No, I fancy it more for the "icky" factor, ickyness being related to the goings on that occur in the region between the navel and the knee.
One only has to read the article to have my views endorsed.
"The bill eventually passed 160-0 With no debate."
Bill Heath, Repub. (how could he be other than) was slack-jawed when told after the vote that some adults seek the piercings.
"What? I've never seen such a thing," Heath said. "I, uh, I wouldn't approve of anyone doing it. I don't think that's an appropriate thing to be doing."
I, UH, I WOULDN'T APPROVE OF ANYONE DOING IT.
If that sentence alone doesn't have you screaming then nothing will.
The ban applies only to women, not men.
"Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other. (Qur'an 4:34)
Oscar Wilde 17 Jan 07
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 12:27 PM Permalink
Let Me Introduce YouA fellow countryman, and judging from his accent not too far away from
myself.
Listen/watch as he quietly discusses his "Mormanisation."
Part One.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03vz54rGB8E&mode=related&search=
Part Two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdLDdd5-sFU&mode=related&search=
I have seen not but a few minutes of "Jesus Camp" something I must
rectify.
And as he gives his opinion in these two clips, we speak as one.
Part One.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnW_zT01yys
Part Two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOEYU7x3ZVM
Oscar Wilde
19 Jan 07
Fool me once,....
posted by The Vidiot @ 8:34 AM Permalink
Gee, sounds like a
strategy out of the ole' Iraq playbook.
Excerpt: A Reuters report earlier today -- followed up by a report from AP -- sent shockwaves through the international community by airing allegations that Iran had kicked out inspectors from the U.N. atomic watchdog organization. Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki posited that Iran had barred 38 inspectors with the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
This, however, does not align with comments from the IAEA itself. Shockingly, no comment from the agency appeared in either Reuters or AP's article.
Shockingly indeed.
Stu's Corner
posted by The Vidiot @ 12:41 AM Permalink
I haven't done one of these for a while. Stu is my dad and he died because of cigarettes.
Anyway,
this story about how the increase in nicotine was deliberate caught my eye.
Excerpt: Data supplied by tobacco companies strongly suggest that in recent years manufacturers deliberately boosted nicotine levels in cigarettes to more effectively hook smokers, Harvard researchers conclude in a study being released today.
I often wondered why Phillip Morris would promote anti-smoking programs, besides the fact it was just good P.R. I guess they knew they were making it harder to quit so, basically, it's "no big whoop."
Evil, much?
Saturday Sailboat Blogging
posted by The Vidiot @ 2:27 PM Permalink
Yet another reminder of sailing last summer
Another night out
posted by The Vidiot @ 10:56 AM Permalink
and now, I'm even more perplexed.
I know, I know. If I go on like this, I risk soundling like a bitter old woman. But go on, I must.
Last night's foray took us to a 'meet market' in Park Slope. It wasn't a meet market in the way meet markets used to be. Basically, it was just a bunch of same-sex groups out to be seen and maybe even hook-up, but more to just have fun. Now, unlike the last place we went to last week, the techno club, where everyone was a little grungy looking and it was very dark and the music was horrid, this place was decently lit, had tolerable music and the girls looked like girls. But what I noticed was that the guys were, well, like girls. When they chatted with the girls, they talked about whatever the girls wanted to talk about. Now, I know, some of them were being polite so they could 'score' or whatever they call it these days, but I don't remember guys being able to even talk like that with girls. The guys I knew would scoff, roll their eyes and go off somewhere with friends and make rude and annoying comments.
I guess I'm just sort of perplexed by the whole blurring of distinctions between men and women thing. Why do that? What's the point? To be non-threatening? Mr. Vidiot says that the lack of distinction points to the power of hegemony because the impetus for agency is threatened. [Well, of course he would put it that way.] I personally just think that for there to be distinctions, there has to be depth of thought, and I just don't see any depth in these people.
Then again, I'm probably just an old woman who is performing her role as "when I was a younger, men and women were different and we LIKED it that way."
But honestly, thinking back to when I was in my 20s (and yes, I remember it well), I don't recall too many guys who were straight, but sort of feminine. There were a few, but there weren't many. Most of them were just guys. Big, dumb guys.
And we LIKED it that way.
The only thing that's different
posted by The Vidiot @ 10:37 AM Permalink
this time around is the administration
isn't even bothering to fabricate intelligence showing how 'dangerous' Iran is. They're relying entirely on rhetoric and
chutzpah. But we all know a war with Iran is
inevitable.
Excerpt: "I've seen some of the planning ... You're not talking about a surgical strike," said Wayne White, who was a top Middle East analyst for the State Department's bureau of intelligence and research until March 2005.
"You're talking about a war against Iran" that likely would destabilize the Middle East for years, White told the Middle East Policy Council, a Washington think tank.
And Iran is
preparing.
Excerpt: An Iraqi Kurdish source said Friday that Iran is massing troops along its borders with north Iraq.
Honestly, if I were in Iran's shoes, I'd be doing the same thing.
It's going to get a lot uglier before it gets better. Is there any way we can stop these people?
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 5:38 PM Permalink
Pain of Afghan suicide women http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6196716.stm Afghanistan
Deputy minister of women's affairs Maliha Sahak says that 197 incidents of self-immolation have been recorded since March 2006, 35 of them in Kandahar province alone. A total of 69 women lost their lives.
Britain.
Honour Killings in the UK
In the UK, murders have sometimes taken place after a family has reacted violently to their son or daughter taking on the trappings of western culture. Killings are often disguised as suicide, fire or an accident.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/honourcrimes/ crimesofhonor_2.shtmlOverview
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/honourcrimes/
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 5:30 PM Permalink
Farsi Anybody?Everybody must have had at least one in their lives, cringe moments that is. You're sat in a train/plane/waiting room and the only thing to read is a copy of one of the trashiest of tabloids that ever slithered out of the gutter, you know the one I am talking about, every town on earth boasts one, the one that is specifically aimed at brain dead white trash. Reluctantly, for want of anything better you pick it up, no sooner than you have stuck your nose in it, in she walks, the girl of you're dreams.
The heart skips a beat, the pulse quickens, the blood rises, and you're instantly in love and lust. You smile, she returns it, you're imagination has run riot in milliseconds, she glances down and sees what you're reading, and it all comes crashing down, it's blown, you haven't a hope, it wouldn't make any difference if you were a filum star (Irish) with you're hair hung in diamonds, she has you marked, forget it.
Forget it; if only you could, as you shrink into your chair and pray to a god you don't believe in that he open the earth and have it swallow you, anything, anything at all, just let me be gone from this moment and this place.
It's not as bad as that, The Truth Seeker, that is, in fact It does host articles by both Robert Fisk and John Pilger, so that is reason enough to go there.
http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/Heaven forbid, it's not as though I go to read the gossip from; The voice in the Whitehouse.
http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=5852And in fact they do publish interesting stuff quite often, stuff, what a handy word, stuff that's quite different, oft times fresh news from a fresh perspective, not as incestuous as some of the news items that do the rounds on the blogs.
http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=5866President George W. Bush said the comments represented a "specific threat" to destroy Israel. In a March 2006 speech in Cleveland, Bush vowed he would resort to war to protect Israel from Iran, because,
~ ~ ~ So what did Ahmadinejad actually say? To quote his exact words in farsi:
"Imam ghoft een rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods bayad az safheh-ye ruzgar mahv shavad."
Oscar Wilde 19 Jan 07
"Here, for your amusement, is an exact copy of an in-house memo sent to me, and others of my opinions, by one of Bush's senior, and soon-to-be employed elsewhere, advisors:
'I pity the poor deluded Christians of America who think the Monkey Palace is a staunch bastion of morality and Christian Family Values. The only family values this White House knows are those of the Village People: "We are Family, all my Sisters and me...." There was much twittering and swishing of tutus around the coffee stations this last Friday, as White House aides,
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 5:27 PM Permalink
Calling All Heads Calling All HeadsFunny Funny Funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc
Bloggers under attack... again.
posted by The Vidiot @ 2:34 PM Permalink
Oh, they're just SOOOooo
threatened, aren't they?
Excerpt: "Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill currently before the Senate, would require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate to 500 or more members of the public on policy matters, to register and report quarterly to Congress the same as the big K Street lobbyists. Section 220 would amend existing lobbying reporting law by creating the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever. For the first time in history, critics of Congress will need to register and report with Congress itself."
But hold on. It's not panic time yet. There seems to be
a catch:
Excerpt: Much of the bill's wording is obtuse. But one section says that certain political bloggers who make or spend $25,000 per quarter and who encourage readers to contact their elected representatives would be forced to register as lobbyists--or face up to 10 years in prison.
Obviously, this bill is meant to curb the activity of those astro turf groups. You know, the ones funded by oil companies that are called "Citizens for truth about global warming." And you may also think that since they've put that dollar limit in there, then that wouldn't effect little ole moi.
As I understand it, the only way, as it's written now, that this law impacts Vidiotspeak is if this blog starts to take off and the hits start to generate ad income of $100,000 a year OR the hits add up to 500 or more people (which we're pretty close to sometimes, BTW) Then, basically by telling you to call your Senator to make sure a certain bill doesn't make it to the floor, I'd be considered a lobbyist. Then, I'd have to apply for a license of some sort and then report quarterly my activities and if I didn't, I could go to jail.
BUT, what if they measure it by hits more than money? What then?
THEN, I'd have to start to use a code.
So, let's write it in stone now.
When I type UKW2D, that'll be vidiotspeak for "you know what to do" and THAT means call your congresscritter.
OK?
Ok.
Update: Huh, did not see
that coming. Bill passed WITHOUT the offensive portion.
We can learn something from Cheney.
posted by The Vidiot @ 11:55 AM Permalink
Cheney has
complete disdain for DC and it's politics and believes it is full of "suffering fools."
Excerpt: The Post's David Ignatius ponders how Vice President Dick Cheney manages to retain so much power in the White House in spite of the ruinous political consequences that his policy has had for the Bush presidency. One insight Ignatius offers is that Cheney is driven by a belief that politics in the nation's capital is "all BS" that he believes should be ignored.
While this comes as no surprise to anyone who's been paying attention, it does explain how he can, in HIS good conscious, go about his business. He basically does not recognize the checks and balances and rules and laws as being legitimate. So, what can we learn from him?
Well, we have been shown, and very clearly I might add, how to operate when we don't recognize a social system, like government, as legitimate. And on top of that, if Cheney doesn't think it's legitimate, why should we? And furthermore, who really thinks that Cheney is legitimate? (See
Bush v. Gore)
So, thank you Mr. Cheney for making things so very crystal clear for us: the whole government is completely illegitimate.
Now we know.
There's already been plenty of commentary
posted by The Vidiot @ 10:46 AM Permalink
regarding the
Gonzales statement regarding Habeas Corpus and his belief that the constitution doesn't guarantee it for all citizens. Now, he may be
technically correct that
habeas corpus may be suspended for citizens involved in rebellion or invasion (and I'm not willing to actually think he's even technically correct but it could be argued by some boob somewhere), but with the behavior of this administration and their complete disregard for the rule of law, well, it's a very dangerous statement to make.
We are all rebels now.
Here's
Robert Parry's take on it.
Excerpt: Gonzales continued, “The Constitution doesn’t say every individual in the United States or citizen is hereby granted or assured the right of habeas corpus. It doesn’t say that. It simply says the right shall not be suspended” except in cases of rebellion or invasion.
“You may be treading on your interdiction of violating common sense,” Specter said.
Evil
posted by The Vidiot @ 10:40 AM Permalink
Honestly,
suing homeless people for millions is just plain mean.
Excerpt: A high-end antique dealer on the Upper East Side is suing four unnamed homeless people for $1 million on the grounds that they've driven away customers by loitering on the sidewalk in "old, warn, and unsanitary clothing and cardboard boxes and old blankets which they convert into sleeping accommodations."
There has to be a special room in hell for these people. Though, they will be joined by the people who are evicting a
94 year old man from an apartment he's lived in for decades because they want to raise the rent.
Excerpt:Diomede is being kicked out of the 84 Warren St. building by the grandchildren of the long-gone best friend who let him move in 20 years ago. Diomede and that childhood pal never signed a formal lease, and now the man’s grandchildren want to evict Diomede and raise the rent, he said.
Greedy evil bastards.
A shot across the bow?
posted by The Vidiot @ 10:38 AM Permalink
I wish I knew what
this was all about.
Excerpt: Britain has joined the US, Japan and Australia's condemnation of China after the communist country destroyed a satellite in space using a ballistic missile.
I feel like they're sending US a message.
Update: Apparently, my instincts are
good.
Excerpt: The Chinese test “could be a shot across the bow,” said Theresa Hitchens, director of the Center for Defense Information, a private group in Washington that tracks military programs. “For several years, the Russians and Chinese have been trying to push a treaty to ban space weapons. The concept of exhibiting a hard-power capability to bring somebody to the negotiating table is a classic cold war technique.”
While this is a vindicating read on some level
posted by The Vidiot @ 4:02 PM Permalink
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about
remote psychological diagnosis. That being said, a lot of it sure makes sense.
Excerpt: Psychologically, President Bush has received support for so long because many have thought of him as "one of us." Most of us feel inadequate in some way, and watching him we can feel his inadequacies and sense his uncertainties, so we admire him for "pulling it off." His model tells us, "If you act like you're confident and competent, then you are." We are the culture that values the power of positive thinking and seeks assertiveness training. We believe that the right attitude can sometimes be more important than brains or hard work. He's bullied us, too. We don't dare to really confront the scale of his incompetent behavior, because then we would have to face what it means to have such an incompetent and psychologically disabled decision-maker as our president. It raises everyone's uncertainty. And that is, in fact, happening now.
Blogtopiate
posted by The Vidiot @ 3:18 PM Permalink
Because YOU KNOW I'm addicted to
this stuff.
Excerpt: Former aviation pilot John Lear returned for a discussion about photographic evidence for cities and mining operations on the moon (view material he provided). He said that mining operations for such substances as helium-3 have been going on for years, and that antigravity ships, secretly launched from Antarctica, arrive at the moon in only one hour's time. He cited a poster known as "sleeper" (blog) at the abovetopsecret.com forum as one of the sources for his information.
Mmmmmmmm, tasty.
Hmmmm.
posted by The Vidiot @ 8:24 AM Permalink
I thought
this was already the case.
Excerpt: The Onion, the Gen-X satiric newspaper, is coming to Washington and will partner with The Washington Post, which will print the paper and sell local ads.
So, which one is going to play the role of satire?
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 9:10 PM Permalink
We Learn From History That We Learn Nothing From HistoryBUSH:
Let's let the historians work it out. But there's not enough
troops on the ground right now to provide security for Iraq, and
that's why I made the decision I made.
Tom Paxton 1965
Lyndon Johnson told the nation,
"Have no fear of escalation.
I am trying everyone to please.
Though it isn't really war,
We're sending fifty thousand more,
To help save Viet nam from Viet Namese."
Lyrics and tuneOscar Wilde
16 Jan 07
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 9:07 PM Permalink
The Time Has Come"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—
And cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings."
It isn't too hard to differentiate between these two pieces of fantasy, After all, one author is clearly quite
insane,, and the other; well he does have a certain eloquence about him. One of them had a penchant for
photographing little girls;; the other for being
photographed.
"I think the Iraqi people owe the American people a huge debt of gratitude, and I believe most Iraqis express that. I mean, the people understand that we've endured great sacrifice to help them. That's the problem here in America. They wonder whether or not there is a gratitude level that's significant enough in Iraq."
Bush interview 60 Minutes 1/14/07
The man is insane; he needs to be removed from office.
16 Jan 07 Oscar Wilde
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 9:02 PM Permalink
Tawdry Tears and TombstonesTawdry. Taw-dry adjective
1. showy but without real value.
2. of finery: gaudy; showy and cheap.
3. low or mean; base: tawdry motives.
4. noun. Cheap, gaudy apparel.
The first description I feel best befits this
image of Bush as he sheds a tear, or do I do the man a disservice and the tear is genuine? If it is, I can but think it is not for the marine who was being honoured, but for George W Bush.
And is that marine buried at Arlington Mister Bush? You are hardly likely to know are you, not for you the funerals of those that you sent so eagerly to their needless deaths, no Mister Bush, for those who's lives you ended so prematurely, just a cold patch of earth and a tombstone. Tombstones Mister Bush, those tombstones that caused me to write these comments some time ago in a forum other than where I write this.
Shame and decency are not to be found. Yet they offer the parents of the dead a free headstone if it bears the inscription "Operation Iraqi Freedom" Shameless, and overflowing with abject hypocrisy. Bush knows all too well why the troops died, I hope the spirit of the countless thousands, the spirit of every dead man woman or child haunts the son of a bitch to the grave and beyond. But he cannot see the irony of this "magnanimous" gesture, forever and a day will that inscription, "Operation Iraqi Freedom" etched in stone, mock the man and his presidency for what they truly are. But the bitterest of ironies is lost on this fool, because forever and a day those words will be synonymous with: "They died for nothing."
How different then can two epitaphs read but achieve the same purpose?
Those that fought in this travesty, I can but call it such, for to call it a war lies uneasy with me, those that took up arms and fought and now lay in the cold earth do mock.
But there is another, probably unknown to many readers here, or if known, soon forgot.
He was a strange little man, little in stature that is. Far from being handsome, far from being movie star, but a star he was a man of great integrity, his name was
Robin CookWhat follows are two five minute clips of Cook's resignation speech as Home Secretary, given in the House of Commons. I cannot urge you strongly enough to view them. Cook was under no illusions about the situation in Iraq and that Britain was getting dragged, with indecent haste by the United States, into a war we did not want and for which there was no justification. As I re-watch his performance I cannot help but wonder how we did in fact end up being party to this mess.
Rhetorical I admit, my last sentence that is, for it is known to all. I shall write on Blair's culpability in these war crimes, but another day.
Cook's address to the Commons, a snippet:
"That explains why any evidence that inspections may be showing progress, is greeted in Washington, not with satisfaction but with consternation because it reduces the case for war. What has come to trouble me is the suspicion that if the ??? in Florida had gone the other way and Al Gore had been elected we would not now be about to commit British troops…"
Part one. Part twoI think then that you might care to agree that Cook was a honourable man and continued to sit on the back benches until his untimely death in August, Two Thousand and Five.
But Cook, even in death had not finished with Blair. The commendable steps taken by his widow and two sons, steps which I am sure would have met with Cook's full approval, resulted in…I will let the
print article take it from here.
"In life Robin Cook was the most outspoken Parliamentary critic of Tony Blair's decision to go to war in Iraq. In death he will remain the scourge of the Prime Minister forever.
The headstone on Mr Cook's grave carries the legend:
"I may not have succeeded in halting the war, but I did secure the right of Parliament to decide on war."
Oscar Wilde. 15/01/07
Happy Blogiversary to Us!
posted by The Vidiot @ 7:29 PM Permalink
It's been a year since VidiotSpeak was conceived in blogtopia (
y,wksctp!*). And
they said we would never last!
If you're in the mood for a 'how we met' story it's pretty good; She was in a black leather motorcycle jacket and I was a rock & roll outlaw hiding in academia ... umm, actually, we've never met. The Vidiot previously had an excellent online column about current events that occasionally went down because it was so popular. I offered some reserve bandwidth to make sure I could get my daily fix of snark and outrage that quieted the voices in my head while expressing the voices in my heart.
But I digress, without further urdu, here are our self-chosen highlights and excerpts for our one year blogiversary (
y,wktjmotlctp!**):
JanuaryThe Vidiot:
At the beginning of last year, I wrote this: Constructing Our Reality ... I could’ve written it today. NOTHING has changed.
The Sailor:
Cognitive Dissonance ...
... Is the sound of one hand clapping, inside your head, in space, where no one can hear you scream.
"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
- G.W. Bush, 9/13/2001
[...]
FebruaryThe Vidiot:
In february, I liked these two little ditties: Corporate Control
I saw this headline and nearly did a spit take:
Exxon: America will always rely on foreign oil
and
I'm so koany
If a real estate bubble bursts and the media doesn't mention it, did it really burst?
The Sailor:
Since we're talking about our favorites, I kinda liked this one: Cartoon uproar felt throughout Bay Area
and here's a blast from the past we should keep in mind during The New Way Forward:
Lies Big Brother Told Me
March and
AprilAnd who can forget The Vidiot's Brain Salad Surgery Saga?
The Vidiot:
Brain Damage...
I feel terrible not posting very much. But I have a very good reason.
So, funny thing, I've been feeling like crap lately and I went to the doctor, and guess what? I have a brain malformation. Well, OK, anyone who knows me might've suspected that right off the bat. But, it gets better.
It's official
Just got back from seeing the neurosurgeon and he said "Yup. You need surgery."
So, I've provided pictures to explain what's going to happen.
The day before tomorrow....
Tomorrow is the big day. (Update: Surgery is scheduled for 8:30 am) Today is the last day I'll not have a scar on the back of my head for the rest of my time here on Earth.
The Sailor:
So here's the deal ...
I'm sure the millions, well thousands, OK, hundreds ... would you believe 3 ... people who read vidiotspeak know Sara Bellum (AKA The Vidiot), is going in for a bit of 'nip and tuck.' Hopefully this time she'll get a brain surgeon and not a rocket scientist to do the ... uhmm ... honors.
[ED: BTW, thanks very much to skippy, Jeralyn, Myra, therealmrsjamesrubin, Rose and the various anonymouses who sent their good wishes. It meant a lot then and it means a lot now.]
Mr. Vidiot:
Update on The Vidiot:
The vidiot is out of her six hour surgery as of Thursday afternoon and doing well. The surgery was a success as everything went exactly as planned.
The Vidiot:
Well THAT sucked.
That sucked more than the 2000, 2002, 2004 elections COMBINED, multiplied by a bazillian. I'd rather have 8 more years for Bush/Cheney than go through THAT again.
[ED: If you ever want to see true love in action, read the whole post!]
The Sailor:
Well, that was a downer ... OK, a lot of downers, intubation and an IV drip. But there were a couple of light spots:
The Acme of Corruption ... or ... Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?
and
It's Easter Sunday, the time of year we genuflect to eggs that were dyed for us ...
MayMay saw Mr. Vidiot stand up, step up and sound off!
Mr. Vidiot:
"Blame the Victim"
Articles about the Katrina effect are ridiculous.
Capitalism.....
This article gets somethings right and some things wrong:
The Sailor:
So how bad do the neocons want a war with Iran?
JuneI swear, looking back over our posts for this retrospective, some could have been written today.
The Sailor:
So how's that whole War On Terror thing going?
Who's That Tap, Tap, Tapping on My Phone*
General Confusion and the Secretary of Defensiveness
U.S. commander predicts new reductions in troop levels in Iraq this year, but no firm timetable
Ohh, and there was a minor personal event for
Mr. and The Vidiot:
Light Blogging by the Vidiot
And I apologize. After brain surgery, I realized I needed a vacation. So, I'm off to Spain in a few days. Well, it's actually, a honeymoon
JulyThe Vidiot:
The other day, I went OFF. I mean really, went OFF.
Spain
The Sailor:
Res ipsa loquitor
Is US Winning? Army Chief Is at a Loss
AugustMr. Vidiot:
Viva Cuba Libre
What they really mean
The Sailor:
He's out of touch, they're out of time
The Vidiot:
Katrina
Last year at this time, I was watching Mr. Vidiot frantically dialing his friends and family in NOLA, making sure everyone was OK.
SeptemberIn September we got some things right and some things wrong.
The wrong:
The Vidiot:
Wait for it, wait for it....
And the Right:
The Vidiot:
That's it then
The Sailor:
Bushco, making government smaller ... by poisoning us
OctoberThe Vidiot:
What the hell!
Is this a tactical nuke going off in Iraq during the ammunitions fire? Watch the video. At about 3:56, there's a HUUUUuuuge explosion. Looks like a nuke with a glowing mushroom thingy to me.
Let's reflect for a moment
on the fact that this war and Iraq, a byproduct of the neocon plan to militarily dominate the planet and its resources, has caused the death of well over a half million Iraqi lives.
The Sailor:
Sunday Sermon on Wednesday
I don't understand the 'debate' on torture. I don't understand why there is a debate. I just can't see it. It's wrong, it's immoral and it doesn't work. You can make anyone say anything you want if you torture them long enough.
And we can't leave out the Guest Post by Edger:
What can we do about Islamic Terrorism?
NovemberNovember brought some good news:
The Vidiot:
Well, It's official.
The dems now control both houses of Congress.
The Sailor:
The Election is Making a Difference Already
Democrats Purge Climate-Change Skeptics
And some bad news:
The Vidiot:
The coffin doesn't need anymore nails.
Every other day, I read about some legislative assault on the constitution. Here's another one.
The Sailor:
Lied to death
Army Recruiters Accused of Misleading Students to Get Them to Enlist
DecemberAnd what year would be complete without the blessings that the season holds for all of us? Well, maybe not all of us.
The Sailor:
2006 by the Numbers ... or ... 3 freaking THOUSAND!?
The Vidiot:
Funny, isn't it.
They have $3 billion a week for the Iraq war, yet NO $$ to treat the 9/11 workers.
So, there it is. Just a small part of what inspired vidiotspeak to speak out in the darkness. That and
we're pissed off and our friends are sick of listening to us.Special thanks:
The Sailor:I'd like to thank the academy, my agent and all the little peo ... oops, sorry, wrong speech.
Special thanks go to our good friends
skippy and
SteveAudio, for believing in us and linking to us first.
AMERICAblog for linking to our posts and helping us in our research. But most of all I want to thank my
partner in crime, without whom none of this would have been necessary!
* Yes, we know skippy coined that phrase! [back]
** Yes, we know Jeralyn Merrit of TalkLeft coined that phrase! [back]
Mega Blogtopiate
posted by The Vidiot @ 9:49 AM Permalink
20 animated short films. Deeelightful.
Typical Dinner Conversation
posted by The Vidiot @ 7:52 AM Permalink
The headline from
this RawStory: Is '24's Jack Bauer a FOX 'right-wing propagandist?'
The answer would be, obviously, Is the pope catholic? But that's not point.
The FOX show '24' is in-your-face, down-and-dirty propaganda. No doubt about it. They're constantly shoving 'evil Muslims' and the loss of civil liberties down the viewers' throat. To the point when even the most 'softened up' viewer, the viewer who never notices propaganda, is like "whoa."
Jack tortures, his conscience gets the better of him, he stops, the other guy tortures even more and gets good information. A woman is fighting against the government to protect her employees personal files and then she has to concede that some of the snooping might be necessary. The arguments presented are dichotomous: Torture or not torture, civil liberties or security.
But over dinner last night, Mr. Vidiot and I discussed the fallacy of dichotomous logic and hegemonic discourse. (Yes, that is really what we talk about over dinner. With 'Seinfeld' on in the background of course, but nonetheless.) I never really thought about it much. I knew that discussions about things like "civil liberties vs. security" were pointless, but I never was really able to put my finger on why. But now I can. (He should really be posting this, but he doesn't have the time today. I hope I get this right.)
For instance, in order to argue something like "civil liberties vs. security", you have to accept a few tenets; things like the State is legitimate, the State provides security against terrorism, you know, stuff like that. The concepts that '24' presents, as well as those awful talking head programs, are simple dichotomous black vs. white, issue one vs. issue 2 types of things. First off, by reducing the discussion to just two seemingly opposing viewpoints, the discourse is restricted and all other aspects of the problem don't get properly discussed. But most importantly, the tenets are automatically assumed to be true.
But they're not, are they.
The State is NOT legitimate. How can a State be legitimate if it lies to its citizens, forces its hegemony onto the world against the world's wishes, and exploits the natural resources for its own profit, just to name a few things. And in fact, the State does NOT protect against terrorism. The State
fosters terrorism by its very actions.
By not recognizing the legitimacy of the State, you must reject the hegemonic discourse. There is no other way to deal with it. If the State is illegitimate (which it is) then the discourse it fosters must also be illegitimate.
'Natch.
So the next time you're on a peace march and carrying a sign, don't carry one that says "no blood for oil" because that's part of the hegemonic discourse. That's dichotomous thought. No. You should carry a sign that says "I no longer recognize the State as legitimate." Now THAT'S a statement, but it will probably get you arrested.
Blogtopiates
posted by The Vidiot @ 6:31 PM Permalink
skippy's remarks about severe(d) justice.
SteveAudio engages the horror (witz) of war.
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 5:49 PM Permalink
Miracles In Missouri
A story with borders.No more queues at the airport, no more long flights, and no more mingling with those left wing pacifist pinko French.
If you had planned to visit Lourdes that is. No more changing dollars for those queer looking Euros, given the confidence in Dubya's Dollars, just as well.
No, stop at home, because if you're looking for miracles they be right here on your doorstep; its all happening in Missouri.
It's all happening if we are to believe this latest example of brain washing and child abuse.
Perhaps you may wish to view this
little clip, hosted by the bastion of reason and light, this fine upstanding example of the Christian right, going about his daily business of conning dollars from little old ladies and other misguided souls, the very same fellow that not only talks to God, but actually has a two way conversation.
"The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that."Yes it is he, Pastor Pat Robertson, who might I add seems to have a selective memory of the scriptures, never more so than when recalling, eyes of needles, camels, rich men and the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 19:24) But I digress, for this article is not about Robertson, no indeed, it is about brainwashing masquerading as miracles.
Let us examine a few things from the transcript.
Pastor Carol Koch's church kids played a prominent role in the documentary, and she points out they weren't worshipping Bush, but praying for him, as they would for any American president. "It's all about honoring (sic) that Scripture that tells them to pray for those who are in authority," said Pastor Koch, who believes we should be equipping this generation to pray.
Not even a hint of subtlety in that one pastor; "pray for those in authority"
Pray for those in authority indeed, never question "Authority." Never question that "Authority" might come in a guise of a President that boasts an IQ of a lentil, just do as he wishes. Just pick up your musket, go over the top without question and come home in a flag draped box.
Oh and whilst you're at it, don't question what's written in this book, after all there is no greater authority than the Big Fellow.
And the founder of Jesus Camp, Becky Fischer, says she was teaching the kids to do spiritual warfare against Satan and his demons, not against flesh and blood enemies.
Ah yes, the bogey man again.
But what both women think believers will see through the cloud of controversy is that God wants to, and is, moving in a radical new way among children -- that He's expecting churches to stop treating kids like second- class Christians -- that they can hear from God and do great deeds for Him just like older believers.
Sorry Pat, it seems you don't have the monopoly on a direct line.
Lenny said, "We now have children who are being moved by God in such a way in healing the sick, and hearing His voice and praying for their nations and praying for their cities."
Yes of course, miracles in Missouri.
By now, the children have seen enough answered prayers, miracles, and healings to already have a steady faith that God is listening to them and working through them.
Now we are getting into really dangerous territory.
"I've seen people who've been scrunched over and then they've been prayed for, and they just stand up and they're like, 'Hey, I can stand straight!'" said Trevor Burge. "They had a tumor.(sic) We prayed for them. They went home and went to the doctor, and the tumor was totally gone," said Samuel Jackson Hood. Donna Edwards is the choir teacher of the IHOP kids, but post-polio syndrome forced her to walk on crutches for several years until the kids prayed over her for 45 minutes one night. Edwards said, "I was able to totally lay down my crutches." "Thirty kids were marching around her, praying," Caleb Thill said. "We didn't want Donna to suffer," added Jerrod Demers.
Was that before she fell over? sorry wrong show, that was Benny Hinn I think.
Dalton Burge of Christ Triumphant Church went up to pray for two visitors suffering with abscessed teeth, who thought it was kind of cute, but "then they started feeling their mouths, and both of them had gotten healed," Koch said. CBN News visited families involved in an extremely active children's program at New Life Centre just outside St. Louis, and they've seen wonders, too. A few weeks ago, a kitchen accident seriously burned Shelley Hunt's finger and caused painful blistering. Her kids prayed for her. "Instantly, the redness went away, the pain went away, and it was just like the skin had never, ever been burned - in front of my kids' eyes," she said. Eric Hunt said, "I grew up in a Pentecostal home and always knew that God was real and that God did great things, but now I'm seeing them in my own family." Fischer says children are yearning for this kind of active relationship with the Lord. She said, "They're looking for extreme encounters with God." Koch believes if just 10 churches in every state activate programs like these that get children so close to the Lord; it'll set off a major renewal across the land. "In 10 years or less, we will have a generation of children which will be the key that's going to change our nation," Koch said.
The last time I heard an agenda like that it involved blue-eyed blond haired kids.
But Fischer warns without this turn to a radical walk with Jesus, the future could well be lost.
Of course, the thousand year Reich.
"Seventy percent of the kids who are raised in Christian churches vacate the church when they become teenagers and young adults, and they never set foot in church again." Fischer explained.
Why am I not surprised?
I don't think there is need for me to comment further, perhaps other than to echo Keith Olberman. Good night and good luck.
Oscar Wilde 14 January 07
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 5:34 PM Permalink
Inside Iran
A one-stop shop from the BBCA host of information conveniently assembled on one page.
There is a thirty-minute
audio clip ,among others, from John Simpson, an old hand on world affairs. He describes accompanying that old charmer the Ayatollah Khomeini from his exile in Paris to giving his take on present day Iran.
Missed opportunitiesAnd just a few weeks after Iran and the US had worked so closely over Afghanistan, Iran was described by President George W Bush as part of an "axis of evil" in his 2002 State of the Union address.
"We were all shocked by the fact that the US had such a short memory and was so ungrateful about what had happened just a month ago," he said. (Javad Zarif, now Iran's ambassador to the United Nations,)
In the same article, US foreign policy Dubya style.
"We don't speak to evil".
My own non-political views on the Iranians, "The cruellest race of people on the face of the earth." So said a strong intelligent woman I am acquainted with, she once being married to an Iranian and had lived in Tehran for many years. Given all I have read and researched I have no problem with her statement.
Oscar Wilde. 14 January 07
Guest Post by Oscar Wilde
posted by The Vidiot @ 5:28 PM Permalink
Driving Lessons, Child Abuse, And A Nation Obsessed.
A story without borders. (In part)
Analogies, I have no great love of them, but for want of something better I fear I must employ one. For those of us that no longer enjoy that sublime feeling of youth, a feeling I suspect more given to our children than the majority that read this forum, it is then I address you as a mature readership if not as parents.
And as such, being parents that is, has it not befallen us on occasion the pleasure of teaching our kids to drive? I say pleasure for that it what it is, or should be for those among us that without delusion know themselves to qualified and adept safe drivers. Not only a pleasure but parental duty to pass on to our offspring the benefits of the years of our safe driving experience. We embrace this charge of tutorage for it is our lot as parents. And for those among us that recognise our shortcomings as drivers we take the obvious course of action and employ a professional instructor.
What then would we think of the parent or parents of a child who from an early teach their children in a manner that we would consider foolish but totally irresponsible if not downright dangerous.
We wouldn't for instance consider it wise or good parenting if said parents made a habit of running red lights with their children in the car. It is not uncommon for drivers in Arab countries to adopt such practises, Putting their faith in Allah that he will see them safely through the intersection irrespective of the colour of the traffic signal. No we would not consider it good parenting to teach one's children that faith would ensure a safe passage through the junction. In fact as rational thinkers we would say "Sooner or later they, the children, will be involved in an accident and if they are not killed outright they will at least be badly hurt and no doubt require medical attention, oft times lifesaving medical attention." For has not experience taught us that the roads constitute a very dangerous environment as does life itself. So much so that it is the more fortunate and the minority among us that travel life's path and never have to seek medical aid of such a nature. If you will keep this in mind I shall move on.
At this point a question arises, might I ask you to ask of yourself, "Do I believe in Limbo? The same Limbo that should a child die unbaptised it shall be doomed to spend eternity doing whatever one is supposed to do in Limbo. I would like to think the answer is no, for even the Catholic Church is about to consign
Limbo to it's rightful place, the theological trashcan.
"In 1984, when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and the head of the Vatican's doctrinal department, he called limbo "a theological hypothesis". "It is linked to the cause of original sin.
Now I know Catholics barely qualify as Christians in some circles, but it is well to remember that were it not for my BFF Henry V111 wanting a divorce, Catholicism would still be the "One true faith." It would be rather nice at this juncture if they were to send the "Other Place" to same said trashcan. Can we, as rational thinkers in the twenty first century really believe that this place called Hell exists. And before we move on can we consign two other items to our theoretical trashcan? or failing consignment let us redefine them.
"Sin" and "Evil" are not stand alone entities that should be assigned their own tangible slot in the scheme of things, both are titles we, or more accurately our ancestors, misguidedly gave, to what are only concepts.
There is no such thing as Sin; sin is a concept of morality dreamt up by Bronze Age people as they scribbled away in their respective caves as they looked for new ways to cower and intimidate the lower orders.
And just as there is no sin as a separate entity, the exact same must apply to Evil. Evil isn't going to creep into your bedroom and give you a "Gotcha" as you hide your head under the covers. Hopefully it will be your partner playing silly buggers, or worst case scenarios, a real bad dude that we misguidedly call evil, or worst still the cops bursting in with a
"No Knock Warrant"So let us return to hell, or more precisely the subject of hell. There are those among us that, without hell, existing as a separate entity, would be for want of a more descriptive term, "In Shtuck" for what then would this abuser, for he is but that, employ to frighten the living daylights out of these kids? Perhaps he would do that which Adolf Hitler had no need as I paraphrase, "Had the Jew not existed, I would have had to invent him."
The shorter being; Jew, hell or some other bogeyman is required to frighten whichever chosen group the abuser uses to further his own religious/political agenda. It is a road I shall not go down in this post, but we have the perfect contemporary example of the use of the "Bogeyman" albeit under another name.
But some few seconds into this clip we have a perfect example an abuser going about his agenda.
"We want to leave an indelible impression that hell is a place where they absolutely don't want to go."
How any parent could subject their children to this is totally beyond my comprehension. I leave you to draw your own conclusions.
The virus of faith. Dawkins. Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol5OWI7ZJZAI ask you then to watch this second clip as the good professor Dawkins shares his views with us on children and child abuse, this from the five to seven minute marker followed by an interesting conversation with Jill Mitten.
"A child is genetically pre programmed to accumulate knowledge from figures of authority. A child brain, for very good Darwinian reasons has to be set up in such a way that it believes what it is told, for there just isn't time for the child to experiment with warnings like "Don't go too near the cliff's edge, or don't swim in the river there are crocodiles." Any child who applied a scientific sceptical questioning attitude to that would be dead."
No matter what you may think of Dawkins, I think his logic is unarguable. He then goes on:
"No wonder the Jesuit said, "Give me the child for the first seven years and I will give you the man." "The child brain will automatically believe what it is told even if what it is told is nonsense, and when the child grows up it will tend to pass on that same nonsense to it's children, so religion goes from generation to generation. For many people part of growing up is killing off the virus of faith with a good strong dose of rational thinking, but if an individual doesn't succeed in shaking it off, his mind is stuck in a permanent state of infancy, and there is real danger he will infect the next generation.
The virus of faith. Part 2Hopefully by now my direction is becoming apparent even if I have taken a circuitous route, and for those among you unfamiliar with
Richard Dawkins I at least hope he has given food for thought.
This article started with an analogy of motorcars so befittingly we shall bring it to its conclusion in the same manner.
Our irresponsible parents are but a mile from home, and isn't always the case, so close and yet so far, the cop in his cruiser in full "music and lights mode" has pulled the parents over and is castigating them for being totally irresponsible for driving around with their child in the front seat sans seat belt.
But when the cop gets a result on the check he has just run on the couple he finds that this is not an isolated incident but one of many, a pattern of incidents in fact.
Now the cop, having scraped numerous bodies up off the highway, justifiably is a tad upset and thinks these parents have no right to bring their kid up in this way, sooner or later the kid will end up dead. And as it happened the kid did end up dead, not by the parent's automobile, but by something equally as deadly, the parent's
"Faith.""Out of all of the sects in the world, we notice an uncanny coincidence: the overwhelming majority just happen to choose the one that their parents belong to. Not the sect that has the best evidence in its favour, the best miracles, the best moral code, the best cathedral, the best stained glass, the best music: when it comes to choosing from the smorgasbord of available religions, their potential virtues seem to count for nothing, compared to the matter of heredity. This is an unmistakable fact; nobody could seriously deny it. Yet people with full knowledge of the arbitrary nature of this heredity, somehow manage to go on believing in their religion, often with such fanaticism that they are prepared to murder people who follow a different one." Richard Dawkins.
Update on
"No knock search."
Wow.
posted by The Vidiot @ 2:22 PM Permalink
So, if you're this administration, what do you do if you’re being investigated, (which is obviously something you don’t want)? Well, fire the judge and replace him with someone who either won’t investigate or will investigate, but with a lot of whitewash.
Natch.
Excerpt: Okay, so we already know that the White House has now taken the unprecedented step of firing at least four and likely seven US Attorneys in the middle of their terms of office -- at least some of whom are in the midst of corruption investigations of Bush administration officials and key Republican lawmakers. We also know that they're taking advantage of a handy provision of the USA Patriot Act that allows the White House to replace these fired USAs with appointees who don't need to be approved by the senate.
Update: Well,
there goes that judge that was investigating Duke Cunningham. I have a question for those Senators, those alleged public servants. Did any of you people even read
this thing?
Blogtopiate
posted by The Vidiot @ 10:53 AM Permalink
I have no idea what all
this stuff in a cell is, but it's beautiful.
Brooklyn Blogging
posted by The Vidiot @ 9:53 AM Permalink
The picture above is the corner of Court and Atlantic in Brooklyn. What do you notice? Well, you might notice that the light pole is smack dab in the middle of the crosswalk. You literally have to walk around it to keep walking down the street. So, you might think "OK, the lamp post was first, then the cutaway and crosswalk came later." But you'd be wrong. On the left side, you can see that the lamp post was moved, over and over again. Somebody did that on purpose.
Jeesh.
No. He didn't just say that.
posted by The Vidiot @ 7:58 AM Permalink
He couldn't have possibly, actually, really, honestly
said that.
Excerpt: US President George W Bush said Iraqi people should be grateful to the US for the 2003 invasion and the removal of Saddam Hussein.
I can hear the Iraqi's now.
"Thanks for the depleted uranium."
"Thanks for dropping all those bombs."
"Thanks for killing my friends and family."
"Thanks for destroying our infrastructure."
"Thanks for arranging for your friends to steal our oil."
and so on, and so on...
I hate Starbucks
posted by The Vidiot @ 7:57 AM Permalink
They're like a cancer.
Excerpt: Starbucks is to open new coffee shops in London at the rate of one a fortnight for the next decade.
Honestly
posted by The Vidiot @ 7:49 AM Permalink
This beer is unnecessary. They say that the beer makes women's breasts larger. But everyone knows that if a man drinks enough beer, all women become more attractive and their physical attributes are {ahem} enhanced.
Which reminds me of a joke:
A wife tells her husband that in order to save money, he has to cut down on on his beer consumption. Later that same day, he noticed that his wife had spent $65 on makeup. When he asked her what all the makeup was for, she said it was to make her look pretty. And he said "well, ok. But that's what the beer was for."
The divorce will be final in a few weeks.
Badumpbum.
