Eerie Kurosawa movie clip.

posted by The Vidiot @ 12:12 PM Permalink

He knew.

Labels: japan earthquake, nuclear power

2 comments

I've been meaning to post something for a while

posted by The Vidiot @ 8:28 PM Permalink

But I can't seem to decide what to be pissed at. There's just too much. I can't narrow my focus. The nuclear meltdown in Japan is just freaking me out. I mean, you know, I know, we ALL know that if plutonium gets into the upper atmosphere, chances are the powers that be won't say word one to us. They'll just let us drop like flies and say "Ooops. Must be a plague or something."

Also, on the environmental front, just because they're not reporting on the BP spill doesn't mean it still isn't FUBAR.

Then there's the new war front in Libya, thanks to our warmonger-in-chief. Who's next on the hit list? Syria?

And don't even get me started on the economy.

And I'm just scratching the surface.

{sigh}

I think I'll just sit here and obsess about how many times I've twisted my ankles on the literally millions of spiky sweetgum tree fruit nuts that are littering the streets around here.

Labels: environment, japan earthquake, libya, nuclear power

1 comments

I am well aware that the medications I take can give me a skewed perception…

posted by Bill Arnett @ 3:44 PM Permalink

…sometimes of what's happening and the interpretation of world and national events, but I truly believe that anyone aware of the teabagger-gop-ers policies, statements, and the actions of legislatures under their control really cannot help but recognize that these evil people not only want to reinstitute slavery in America, they want complete control over women and their bodies - after they have taken away a woman's right to vote and return the status of persons of color to being worth three-fifths of a white man.

They are growing ever more desperate as they, too, realize that the Latino and Black populations are rapidly surpassing the whites, meaning that America will have very different voting block majorities within the next fifteen to twenty years which just scares the bejeezus out of them.

Watch as their desperation grows. It would be comical were it not for the fact that so many millions of people will be made to suffer from their despicable plans and goals.

The rest of the world seems to innately grasp this as they sucker America into one misadventure after another and in accord with the statements of bin Laden that he will bankrupt the West ("I can send a single man to the mountaintop to wave the flag of Al-Qaede and the West will spend billions and billions of dollars lashing out at a non-existant threat." Osama bin Laden)

Precisely why the Muslims will ultimately wipe out America: They are smarter than our leaders, and I mean our leaders from the very top to the very bottom.

This grows ever more plain to me.

Labels: al-Qaeda, christian hypocrisy, rant, slavery

0 comments

From the "Are you F-cking Kidding Me?!" Department

posted by The Vidiot @ 3:05 PM Permalink

I mean, this is really nuts.

Minnesota Republicans are pushing legislation that would make it a crime for people on public assistance to have more $20 in cash in their pockets any given month. This represents a change from their initial proposal, which banned them from having any money at all.

[Insert primal scream here.]

Labels: corporate greed, worthless republicans

1 comments

You know your economic system sucks

posted by The Vidiot @ 10:59 AM Permalink

When things like this are said and nobody bats and eye:

Billionaire investor Warren Buffet said Monday that Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, while tragic, do not change the country’s economic outlook. Indeed, he called the chaos and destruction a “buying opportunity” for those who realize the potential behind catastrophe.

Labels: corporate greed, japan earthquake, vultures

0 comments

Maddow explains nuclear power

posted by The Vidiot @ 12:53 PM Permalink

Really, really clear.

Labels: japan earthquake, nuclear power

0 comments

The ten most miserable states of America…

posted by Bill Arnett @ 2:24 PM Permalink

…and the political party that runs them.

1. West Virginia - Earl Ray Tomblin (D)
2. Kentucky - Steven L. Beshear (D)
3. Mississippi - Haley Reeves Barbour (R)
4. Arkansas - Michael Dale Beebe (D)
5. Alabama - Bob Riley (R)
6. Ohio - John Richard Kasich (R)
7. Delaware - Jack A. Markell (D)
8. Nevada - Brian Edward Sandoval (R)
9. Louisiana - Bobbie Jindahl (R)
10. Michigan - Richard D. "Rick" Snyder (R)

I compiled this list from two sources: one I no longer seem to be able to locate regarding the ten most hurtin' states in America and here, a list of state governors.

So six of the ten most miserable states are under Republican governors. HEY! That gives them a majority in misery.

Way to go teabagging-gop-ers.

Labels: class warfare, corruption, criminal justice system, crooked republican party, Governors/, rant

0 comments

Speaking of overreaching governors…

posted by Bill Arnett @ 2:05 PM Permalink

…it should be perfectly clear that the teabagger-gop-ers have declared war against their constituents, the U.S. Constitution, and that they are seeking dictatorial powers that have never existed in America but that, if they are not slapped down (or into irons), they will so radicalize their base that we will soon have open warfare right here on the streets of this once proud land.

The actions of Michigan and Wisconsin, through their elected officials, are so clearly, blatantly, and patently extra-constitutional that if they are not dealt with harshly and those governors removed from office their cancer will spread from statehouse-to-statehouse until America is torn apart by assholes like these.

They don't want to maintain the status quo, they want slaves, people paid so poorly any semblance of a middle class will disappear, the rich will continue to reap vast fortunes off the backs of the poor, and governors will become the modern day potentates overseeing the continuing transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich.

Anyone that doesn't see this raw power grab for what it is as dumb as a rock. Maybe dumber.

Maybe every union member and everyone working under contract to Michigan and Wisconsin should come down with a dose of "blue flu" for which their doctors can recommend a week of bed rest and absolutely no stressful work during that period. This has worked wonders for police unions, why not there?

Labels: Michigan, union busting, unions, wisconsin

0 comments

Just how long will it take the asinine governors of Wisconsin and Michigan to get one of their children to read to them…

posted by Bill Arnett @ 1:14 PM Permalink

…just this one teeny-tiny section of the Constitution that says:

Article 1

Section. 10.

Clause 1: No State shall…pass any… Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts…"

So much for trying to go all Rambo with unions and any other groups of persons the Great Pissant Governors wish to cancel contracts with willy-nilly and silly Chicken Little, "The sky is falling!" method of government.

In regards to being able to appoint anyone the governor pleases to void contracts, and force cities and municipalities into bankruptcy, perhaps they could again beseech their children to read this small explanation from Wikipedia:

United States Bankruptcy Courts are legislative courts which were created under Article I of the Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. Because the federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising under the bankruptcy code, (see 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a)), bankruptcy cases cannot be filed in state court. Each of the 94 federal judicial districts handles bankruptcy matters. The current system of bankruptcy courts was created by United States Congress in 1979.

The bankruptcy judges in each judicial district in regular active service constitute a "unit" of the applicable United States district court (see 28 U.S.C. § 151). The bankruptcy judge is appointed for a term of 14 years by the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which the applicable district is located (see 28 U.S.C. § 152).

Technically, the United States district courts have subject matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy matters (see 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a)). However, each such district court may, by order, "refer" bankruptcy matters to the bankruptcy court (see 28 U.S.C. § 157(a)). As a practical matter, most district courts have a standing "reference" order to that effect, so that all bankruptcy cases in that district are handled, at least initially, by the bankruptcy court. In unusual circumstances, a district court may in a particular case “withdraw the reference” (i.e., take the case or a particular proceeding within the case away from the bankruptcy court and decide the matter itself) under 28 U.S.C. § 157(d).

The overwhelming majority of all proceedings in bankruptcy are held before a United States bankruptcy judge, whose decision in all matters is final, subject to appeals to the district court. In some judicial circuits, appeals may be taken to a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel ("BAP").

The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (FRBP) govern procedure in the U.S. bankruptcy courts.

Decisions of the Bankruptcy Courts are not collected and published in an official reporter produced by the government. Instead, the de facto official source for opinions of the Bankruptcy Courts is West's Bankruptcy Reporter, published privately by Thomson West.

In other words, bankruptcies are heard within the exclusive purview of federal and not state courts.

Golly gee Aunt Whiz, I spent a backbreaking ten minutes to completely blow apart the titular fiefdoms Governor Jerk of Wisconsin and Governor Off of Michigan wish to establish.

Does anyone reading these words TRULY believe that the Federal Courts are going to give up a single iota of their authority based upon the clearly unconstitutional and cartoonish order of overreaching governors?

I think not.

Labels: politics is awesomely funny, teabagger-gop-er, US Constitution, utter contempt

0 comments

Jimmy Kimmel on his 'harrowing' tsunami experience

posted by The Vidiot @ 11:30 AM Permalink

Well, 'harrowing' is too strong a word. How about 'non-existent'. But at least it's funny. He was in Bora Bora when the earthquake hit so he had to deal with a tsunami warning, which apparantly, tsunamis are part of a recurring dream he has.

I knew we'd be fine because I operate under the (logical) presumption that tsunamis never strike while one is talking about them or even soon after. So, to keep us safe, from the moment we touched down in Tahiti, I talked about tsunamis non-stop. At least 25 times over five days (ask Molly, she counted).

Much needed comic relief in all of this.

Labels: japan earthquake

0 comments

Unbelievable... or rather, TOO believable.

posted by The Vidiot @ 10:22 AM Permalink

Jim Cramer, who has a show on CNBC, which is owned by GE, which is the company that designed the nuke plant that is discombobulating as I type said:

Japan's nuclear plants have fail-safe that make a Chernobyl-like explosion unlikely, Cramer explained. There are multiple safeguards that would prevent an event of that magnitude, he added.

OH, well, that settles it then. I trust him. Why would he lie?

Labels: corporate owned media, geeks, general electric, japan earthquake

0 comments

I was thinking...

posted by The Vidiot @ 10:16 AM Permalink

Shouldn't the folks in California be concerned about their own earthquake happening in the coming year? If you just look at where the big ones have been -- Chile, New Zealand, and Japan -- traveling around that pacific rim in a clockwise direction, the next logical earthquake should be on the eastern edge of that plate which is all along the Pacific coast.

Of course, if that edge of the plate rocks and rolls, no telling what would happened to the New Madrid. Something like that could wake up a sleeping giant.

Labels: japan earthquake

0 comments

Good animation of the Japan earthquakes

posted by The Vidiot @ 10:11 AM Permalink

The big one happens at around 1:17.



Pretty scary. In retrospect, there was warning, but not that much.

To donate to the folks in Japan go here.

Labels: japan earthquake

0 comments

Corporations can do what they want around here

posted by The Vidiot @ 10:09 AM Permalink

Now, lobbyists in Iowa have managed to get a bill to the Iowa House that will, if passed,

...prohibits individuals or groups from “interfering with an animal facility or crop operation.” Such interference, as defined in the bill, would include audio and visual recordings and their distribution. Those found guilty of interference would be prosecuted for an aggravated misdemeanor crime on a first offense and of a class D felony on any subsequent offenses.

In addition, the bill makes it a crime (fraud) for an individual to gain access to an animal facility or crop operation under false pretenses. First offenders would face an aggravated misdemeanor charge and subsequent offenses would garner felony prosecution.

This means that they can do whatever they want to the animals with no fear of reprisals.

Corporations have no morality, hence they should not be treated as persons under the law.

Labels: corporate greed

0 comments

FInally someone exlains the mess in Japan

posted by The Vidiot @ 11:36 AM Permalink

And of course, it's from AlJazeera.

Labels: japan earthquake, meltdown, nuclear power

0 comments

Finally, someone in the news says what they mean

posted by The Vidiot @ 2:02 PM Permalink

At 37 seconds in, Kudlow reveals the true nature of our economic system:



With regards to Japan's earthquake and the stock market:

"The human toll is greater than the economic toll, and we can all be grateful for that."

As one forum participant said: "The reptilian elite have no compassion for their human cattle."

Labels: capitalism, japan earthquake

0 comments

Not to detract from the severity of the disaster in Japan

posted by The Vidiot @ 8:39 PM Permalink

But am I the only one to notice that when they talk about the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and they talk about the reactors, they're referred to as FUK-1 and FUK-2, etc.?

So, apparently, WE'RE FUKKED.

I dunno, has to be a message in there for us somewhere.

Shouldn't we, as a species, be reevaluating our dependence on a technology that can kill vast swathes of people and land in a microsecond if things go terribly wrong? The Germans have started to question it. Shouldn't we?

TENS of thousands of activists have protested against Germany's plans to prolong its dependency on nuclear power, as an explosion at a quake-hit plant in Japan fuelled fears of a meltdown.

Labels: japan earthquake, nuclear power

0 comments

This animation put the Japan earthquake into perspective

posted by The Vidiot @ 3:30 PM Permalink

Scary, huh? Here's the link to the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research.

A friend of my mother's was in Tokyo at the time:

Wanted to let you all know I'm fine. I was seeing BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ...and at the beginning of BE OUR GUEST the theatre started rocking. At first I thought it was ...the audience rocking along to the tune...nope, it really started to shake....and shake....and shake!! 8.9...wow!

Everyone was evacuated...we waited a bit, went back in....a strong aftershock, we were evacuated again. Show canceled! We were given a paper with a number to call to reschedule...wonder if we'll get refunds?? LOL!

The subways stopped running. So, we were getting food and the presenter just happened to spot us and drove us back to the theater. Traffic was horrific, it took 90 minutes. Our show was canceled tonight and both shows tomorrow (Saturday). He then drove us back to the hotel, traffic still bad...just got up to the room now.

For such a huge event it's amazing how ordered and matter-of-fact the Japanese are. While there was some major devastation, it's surprising that there weren't more catastrophes and buildings damaged.

Now, all I can think about is that I'm now living on top of one of the largest fault lines in this hemisphere.

Yikes.

OK, it's time to come home now!

Labels: japan earthquake

0 comments

Random quotations from despicable people…

posted by Bill Arnett @ 10:22 AM Permalink

…“Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it's important.” Eugene McCarthy (Sounds kinda like Herr Field Marshall General Peter King after smoking paraquat-laden weed, man. That shit will fuck up your head, man, and just looking at him proves it. When ya get a head as misshapen as King's there just ain't no room for brains.

“The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is its inefficiency.” Eugene McCarthy. This is the true face of a political party run amok. In the Fifties it was a democratic Senator, but now the entire mantra has shifted to the teabagger-gop-er party.

“It is dangerous for a national candidate to say things that people might remember.” Eugene McCarthy
My, my that boy sure did a lot of talking.

“Dollars and guns are no substitutes for brains and will power”. Dwight Eisenhower, the last great republican politician. I'd bet he's spinning like a top in his grave over the heartbreaking shenanigans of todays politicians.

“You don't lead by hitting people over the head-that's assault, not leadership.” Eisenhower again. Too bad the republican party abandoned all pretense at civility and instead devolved into the teabagger-gop-ers.

“To err is human, to blame it on the other party is politics”. Unknown. Strange how the more different we seem, the more we are all the same.

NOTE: Dads get to brag about their sons, so I unblushingly report that my son received a letter and Certificate placing him on the Dean's List at SFSU. I don't think it means he can take charge of California immediately - I think there's something in the fine print requiring him to give our current governor thirty days notice first. And, by the way, he's not cruising along on a light schedule, he's carrying a full boat + extra courses. I think it would be nearly impossible for me to feel anymore proud than I feel right now

Labels: a father's bragging, quotations, republican hypocrisy, republican lies

0 comments

A different time, far from here, a fading memory…

posted by Bill Arnett @ 2:44 PM Permalink

… of a million people or more at Edwards AFB, California, the Air Force Flight Test Center, a carnival atmosphere filled with every type of media -radio, press, TV- and all the "biggie" newscasting stars of the day.

Virtually endless people and vehicles parked in the desert on the other side of the highway running parallel to the main dry lake bed. Circus time: brightly colored umbrellas, beach chairs, barbecue grills, a tangible hum of humanity all waiting for a single event.

A couple of weeks before the Air Force and the Palmdale crew making the space shuttle had blocked all the highway between Edwards and, with the space shuttle secured safely atop its 747, had rolled it to Edwards foot by foot without incident.

This day was quite special. The 747 had already taken its test flights with the shuttle atop, special covers installed over the engines, all had gone well and they were ready to take the shuttle to altitude, blow the bolts holding it to 747, and see what happened. (There were many betting pools as to what would happen, the most popular that it had the glide path of a crowbar and would crash accordingly.)

In this highly-charged, absolutely electric atmosphere, waiting patiently was me - I had the honor of being the chase vehicle to keep everyone else but the Fire Detail the hell away from the shuttle.

They took off, I waited.

As soon as I was advised by radio that the shuttle was headed down I grabbed my binoculars, followed it down visually, chose the spot from which I would be able to afford greatest security, and watched in total jaw-dropping awe when the shuttle came to rest less that 200 feet away, for all the world looking like some kind of souped-up hotrod. Sitting there it still looked looked like it was doing 300 miles-per-hour.

I have been blessed to have lived in interesting times.

Labels: memories

1 comments

I get so mad

posted by The Vidiot @ 12:33 PM Permalink

When I think about all the money wasted on wars and greed. Where's the world promised us by "Star Trek"?

Labels: space shuttle

1 comments

Is it just me or does America appear to be…

posted by Bill Arnett @ 2:17 PM Permalink

…ass deep in every revolution taking place around the world? The Middle East, Northern Africa, Southern Africa, South America (Our cocaine suppliers), Afghanistan (Our heroin dealers), South Korea, India, Pakistan, China, Russia (nuclear suppliers and the latest source of angst for the fear-mongers) and pretty much anywhere else the shit is flying you will find American troops, knowing it is bullshit, holding their noses and following the vile and repugnant orders issued by the vile and repugnant leaders they must serve.

Somewhere over the last sixty years the asses running our government have failed to lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way and let someone competent take their place.

They (teabagger-gop-ers) speak of the need for a highly educated work force - which they will have to import from China, India, and other countries that REALLY educate their citizens.

They claim to have better health care options - as former Rep. Grayson properly identified it: the republican health plan, first, you get sick, then you die.

They don't even bother to speak of peace. No, they will bankrupt the country for defense spending first.

Now Arizona wants to split into a separate state. I say no, make them their own country subject to visa requirements, trade agreements, ambassadors, and make them deal with the USA strictly as a foreign country and not with the benefit of being the "51st" state as they desire.

They want to break away from the union, LET 'EM, and don't allow them to reenter our union for any reason whatever. Let 'em become a Mexican State, the closest foreign border (I am not being flippant here).

That's just my opinion.

Ciao, bella ámi.

Labels: America, anarchy, corptocracy, disinformation, dissent, distractions, gutless cowards, mickey rourke, Oaths, rant

0 comments

If I were a 20-year old artist

posted by The Vidiot @ 2:09 PM Permalink

I'd move to Detroit.

Detroit Lives
Once the fourth-largest metropolis in America—some have called it the Death of the American Dream. Today, the young people of the Motor City are making it their own DIY paradise where rules are second to passion and creativity. They are creating the new Detroit on their own terms, against real adversity. We put our boots on and went exploring.

Labels: detroit, urban rivitalization

0 comments