My life: real and imagined

Love and Letters

2012-01-13T22:33:00.002-05:00

In a 1958 letter to his teenage son, John Steinbeck asplains about love.

And in 1861, a Union soldier writes his final love letter to his wife.

Those Sorry GOP Debates

2011-12-05T16:05:00.003-05:00

Remember that scene in Pee Wee's Big Adventure where he is rescuing the animals from the pet shop on fire? He keeps looking at all the snakes with dread, passing them by to rescue other pets. Eventually, all the other pets are out and he has to deal with the bunch of snakes. He grabs them up and runs screaming before passing out.

I bet that's how Republican voters feel about their pool of Presidential hopefuls.

They Shoot Heroes, Don't They?

2011-10-27T11:10:00.000-04:00

Musicians Occupy

2011-10-20T10:07:00.003-04:00

Henry Rollins on #OWS

Joseph Arthur poem for #OWS

Tom Morello performs at #OWS

Movie Rec: "Bug"

2011-10-14T20:45:00.004-04:00

Bug, starring Michael Shannon and Ashley Judd. Check it.

Peter Evans: [on why he hasn't been with a woman for a long time] I just decided it wasn't worth it anymore.
Agnes White: What wasn't?
Peter Evans: You have a center right? A place inside of you that's just you, that hasn't been spoiled... And I think it's really important to try and keep that space sacred. In some sense, on some level, but... sex or relationships cloud that space... or, they cloud me I guess, they make it difficult to be just me and not have to worry about... being somebody else. I sound like a big asshole, don't I.

Governments Checking the Couch Cushions

2011-10-10T10:39:00.002-04:00

I am a sunken vessel wonk so I was excited to read news today of the discovery of 20 tons of silver on a British ship sunk by a German torpedo in 1917 off the coast of Ireland.

But this is a new on on me:

In recent years, cash-strapped governments have started looking to lost cargoes as a way to raise money.

You know your government's bad off when they are scratching around the bottom of the ocean for spare change. And in this case, the recovering company gets 80% of the loot with the British government receiving only 20%. But it's 20% of $18 mil - so there's that.

Alex Ventoux's Journal

2011-09-28T14:57:00.006-04:00

"Luminary" - I only saw this episode once, at its original airing in 1998, while Millenium was still an active series. I drifted off at some point during the series and didn't see it through to the end but this one episode made an impression on me. It was apparently inspired by the true story of Christopher McCandless (Into the Wild) and features the journal writings, done in voiceover, of Alex Ventoux - a young man who has abandoned his possessions and headed into the Alaskan wilderness in a search for the truth of life. These are his journal entries, written for his parents and his brother Ian, from the show:

I never thought it would it would end like this. To tell the truth, I never thought it would end at all.

There are forces acting on us, with or without our consent, forces sure of themselves as gravity. I thought knowing myself with the same certainty would keep me safe. Surprise! As they say, "What a long strange trip this has been."

You want to know why it happened, and I can't say. But I do know when. It was that moment when I turned my back on everything - and felt peace.

***

Alaska.

I was never honest with you why I came back here – I could never quite explain. But I'll try now while I still can.

It happened on the cruise we took through Prince Edward Sound. I was looking at the water and the mountains, which were beautiful of course, but for a moment up on the deck of that ship I couldn't swear it wasn't just an incredibly realistic simulation. Not just the scenery – my whole life. Back home the feeling never left. All junior and senior year while I studied, ran track, filled out college applications, I returned here to find my life again. I had to. I don't quite understand what draws me on, but that's OK because God doesn't move us by telling us the facts, he moves us by pains and contradictions. He's given me a lack of understanding, not answers but questions – an invitation to marvel. And here, for the first time, I have.

I never thought it would end like this. I never thought it would end at all. But, like they say, what a long, strange trip this has been.

My leg is broken. I've lost a lot of blood. It's starting to rain and I know I'll never make it home. Some day some kid will tell Ian, "You're an idiot just like your brother who threw his life away, walked into the woods, and died". I'm asking you as a last favor to put a better spin on it for him.

You two, and Ian, you have always been real. Please know I love you, I'm thinking of you in the end and I'm looking at the stars.

***

We are meant to be here. We step from one piece of holy ground to the next under stars that ask, "Imagine, for one second, you could drop in on a past life. What would you like to find yourself doing there? What would charm you? Make you proud?"

Ask yourself that. And the question of what to do in this life becomes so simple it's terrifying. Just to do that thing that would charm you. It would make you say, "Yes, it's the real me". Do that, and you're alive.

The character has just one line of dialog in the episode, when he is found badly injured, by a rescuer:

"It's that I didn't want to die. I wanted to be alive."

Sweet Dreams

2011-09-25T10:36:00.002-04:00

The Saudi King is giving women the right to vote in 2015. Well fuck you very much Mr. King. May I be so bold as to offer an alternate proposal? How about this: You get in your bed every night and hug your George W. Bush pillow while wondering if this is going to be the night that a bunch of Saudi women break into your room and dismember you. These women will then put your benevolent body parts on display throughout your palace and invite all your friends over for a tour. At which time, several cans of Saudi King brand gasoline and a match will be judiciously employed. And then women will decide how they want to live their lives and when they choose to participate in a political process of their own design which is unlikely to include any Mr. Kings.

Protest Survival Skills

2011-09-24T18:31:00.004-04:00

Copied from Activism 101: Protest Survival Skills (which is now 404'd)

What we present here is a brief guide to surviving public order situations and slowing down or preventing the police from gaining the upper hand once a situation has occurred. Bear in mind that the police are much better equipped and trained for close combat than you or I. They will have been psyching themselves up for hours, have plenty of reserves standing by, and will feel confident with the law behind them, beating the police is about outwitting them, not necessarily hitting them over the head.

Don't be tempted to stand there and fight - get out to where you can cause some damage or disruption without the police around.

Keep moving around, as a group and individually, fill gaps, never stand still chaos puts the police off.

Police attempts to divide the crowd and the formation of police lines must be nipped in the bud.

DON'T BE INTIMIDATED.

Do everything in small teams, prepare in advance.

Think defensively, protect each other and escape routes.

Always face outwards, away from us and towards them.

Link arms as often as possible, form barriers, use your body.

Move quickly and calmly, never giving the police time to react.

Preparations

Staying out of jail and hospital need not be hard work. Most people caught up in riots manage it even a fairly high proportion of the really pissed-off ones. But with a bit of forethought you can turn surviving a public order situation into living a public order situation!

The Aims of the Protesters

No one really wins at the end of the day, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you are unhurt, still free and that some egg is still stuck to the face of your original target, after the police have come and gone.

With all that in mind, we suggest you stick to these 3 basic aims when you find yourself in a riot.

1 Getting you and your mates away safely, rather than fighting.

2 Finding a place to cause embarrassment and economic damage to your real target, rather than fighting.

3 Helping others in trouble by administering first aid and de-arresting, rather than fighting.

Sticking Together

Always try to form an affinity group before setting out and at the very least have a buddy system whereby everybody has one person to look out for them and to act with when a situation arises.

Affinity groups are just a handful of people who work together as a unit, as and when circumstances arise, they can meet beforehand to discuss issues and possible reactions, practice or role play scenarios, the more your group meets, the quicker the reaction times will get and your effectiveness will improve. Affinity groups can often act without the need for internal discussion, they naturally develop their own shorthand communications and can divide up skills and equipment amongst each other. Water, d-locks, paint, first-aid, food, banners and spare clothes is a lot for one person to carry, but divided up between 5 people its nothing.

Do pay attention to what you wear in advance. Although no one wants to go to a street party or demo dressed in full body armor, consider precautions that are discreet, adaptable, easy to apply and discard.

Thinking about these things in advance will help:

1 Surveillance Masking up makes it difficult to identify individuals in a crowd and if everyone masks up no one will stand out. The cut off sleeve of a long sleeved t-shirt makes a good mask. Wear it casually around your neck. If you wear glasses use a cut off section of a short stocking (hold-ups work best as they have thick elastic) instead of a t-shirt, this prevents glasses from steaming up. You can use it as a hair tie, if you're a hippy type, until you need it. A hooded top will cover most of your face and a baseball cap on its own provides good protection from most static cameras, which are usually mounted high up. Sunglasses give good protection against harmful rays including UV and CCTV.

2 Truncheon blows. A placard makes a good temporary shield and light strips of plastic under your clothing on the forearm could offer some protection. The best protective clothing however is a good pair of running shoes.

3 CS spray. The best authorities suggest a solution of campden tablets (used to clean home brewing equipment), some say use lots of water, but its effectiveness is unclear. WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T RUB IT IN or take a hot shower. If in doubt get clear and let the wind blow it away from your skin, this will take 20 minutes. It is highly recommended that you carry eyewash wipes that are provided in most first aid kits.

4 Someone needs to watch the police from a good vantage point, so that their next move can be preempted. On top of the sounds van is not a good place- -no one can hear you shout here come the dog handlers! fucking run! and any gestures you do will be interpreted as dancing

5 Sitting down is good for dissuading the police from charging, but you should only do it in large numbers and the crowd needs to feel confident. We advise you to sit down as soon as the shout goes up, hesitating is not good, you can assess the situation once you're down there. hopefully others will do the same. If it still looks viable 5 seconds later, link arms with your neighbors. There are times when sitting down is not really recommended horses are maybe too unpredictable but the authors have never seen horses charge into a seated crowd, the way they do into a standing crowd. Its a good way to avoid the crowd getting split up. Some particularly violent gangs of police just aren't worth it either. Only experience will teach you when to sit down.

6 Throwing stuff is a defensive tactic, it is not wise to throw stuff at the police at the best of times, it only winds them up so they hit you harder. We shouldn't stop having respect for life just because the police have. If you want to throw do it defensively, strategically, and en mass a constant hail of debris creates sterile areas into which the police don't want to go, thus keeping them at arms length.

REMEMBER: don't throw to attack or cause injury, only throw from the front, then disappear into the crowd, only wankers throw from the back.

7 Barricades can be more hassle than they are worth. A solid impassable barricade can reduce your own options when you need to run. Bear in mind that anything you build now you are likely to get dragged over later leave out the barbed wire. The best barricades are random matter strewn all over the place - horses cant easily charge over them, police find it hard to hold a line amongst them, but individuals can easily pick their way through. If you know police are advancing from only one direction and you have clear escape routes behind, barricading can be sensible. The tactics cops developed during the 1980s riots was to drive vans into crowds with TSG in the back, jump out and arrest everyone they caught. Barricades are an effective way of preventing this.

8 The best form of defense is CHAOS! A complicated hierarchy needs orders to act on and those orders come from individuals making informed decisions. If the situation changes constantly they simply cannot keep up. Keep moving all the time, weave in and out of the crowd. Change your appearance. Open up new directions and possibilities, be unpredictable. If you find yourself standing still and passive for more than a minute then you've stopped acting defensively.

Basic Police Choreography

With any crowd the police will be looking to break it up as soon as possible. Crowd dispersal is achieved with baton charges, horse charges, and sometimes CS gas and vehicles. Some particularly nasty or out of control units may pile straight into the crowd, but there is usually a gap between the time they arrive and the start of dispersal. This stalling time is often just dithering by the commanding officer, or psyching/tooling up time for the troops (the latter is easy to spot). this aside, there are only 3 more reasons why they aren't wading straight in, see if you can spot them next time they're waiting for kick off.

They first divide the crowd up into actors and viewers, small groups of officers will move into the crowd and start politely encouraging the timid ones onto the pavement. Once the crowd starts moving the way they want, those little groups of cops will get bigger and start joining up. Before you know it, there's two crowds on two pavements with two lines of cops penning them in. let the head cracking commence, or

Don't stand and watch them

Don't look like you'll let them anywhere near you

Spot gaps in the crowd and fill them in

Work out which space they want to take and get there with your mates first

Get long tarp banners to the front to stop them advancing and filming

Protect your escape routes by standing in them

Get those who have turned into spectators off the pavements, back in the crowd and moving around

Of course, now having resisted being split up and penned in, they may just let fly with the baton charge. Fair enough, but you're in a stronger position to deal with it and escape. Whatever happens next, don't just stand there waiting for it. If you've managed to get their line drawn far away, you've bought valuable time and space so use it! Even if their line is right up against you, they still haven't broken down your numbers.

However, its only a matter of time before the police try and get closer/break you up again use the time to get out of there slowly and in one block. (This is the last thing they want a large mob moving around freely.) Whatever you do, don't stand there waiting for them to try again, you are now in control to go and do whatever you want, so do it.

If they have blocked your only exit, try
Counter Advancing

This involves moving your lines forward into theirs, thus gaining more space and opening up more exits. Use the front line as a solid wall, linking arms and moving slowly forward. Use the long banner like a snowplow. (This stops them from grabbing you or breaking the line, but they can still hit you with truncheons.)

Snow Plows

A line of crowd control barriers can also be carried by the front line like a snowplow to break into the police ranks. The point of the plow can then be opened once their line is breached and the barriers pushed to the side to contain the cops. This all needs a lot of coordination and balls. The advantage gained will not last long, so push all your ranks through the gap right away.

Using Your Body

Your body is your best and most adaptable tool. It is best used in concert with others. for instance it could take a long time for twenty to scale a wall, but stand two people against the wall, bowed together with their arms locked with two more crouched at their feet and you've got a set of human steps! (Those waiting to climb can link arms around the steps to protect them.) Always look for ways to use your body to escape.

Reformation

Keep looking for ways of increasing your numbers, by joining up with other groups and absorbing stragglers, everyone has to get out and you'll stand a better chance of getting out unharmed, with all your belongings and equipment if you leave together at the same time.

Snatch Squads

When the police want to isolate and arrest an individual in a crowd they will usually employ a snatch squad.

Watch for groups of 10 or so fully dressed up cops, rallying behind the police lines, they will be instructed by evidence gatherers and a superior (you can often spot them pointing out the person to be snatched), the lines will open temporarily to let the snatch squad through. Half the officers will perform the snatch, the other half will surround them with batons, hitting anyone who gets in the way. Once they have their target he/she is bundled away behind police lines.

Try and beat the snatch squad by:

1 Keeping the crowd moving around.

2 Spot the squad preparing.

3 If possible warn the target to get the hell out of the area.

4 Linking arms in an impenetrable wall in the squads path.

5 Surround the squad once they are in the crowd and intimidate them so much that they panic and give up.

6 If you are being grabbed or pressure pointed, keep your head and arms moving.

De-Arresting

The best time to do this is as soon as the snatch has happened, you need a group who know how to break grips and some people to act as blockers, once you've got your person back, all link arms and move off into the crowd, the police may try and snatch back or arrest one of the de-arresters.

Mental Health Break: Edward Gorey

2011-09-21T11:00:00.001-04:00

I have often wished my name was Kate.

Take Action to Save Troy Davis

2011-09-21T09:24:00.004-04:00

via Amnesty International:

Fax or call the Parole Board and ask them to reconsider their decision and grant Troy clemency. Fax: 404-651-8502 and 404-651-6670 (try both as they will be busy), Phone: 404-656-0693 and 404-656-5651
Fax or call the Savannah District Attorney, Larry Chisolm, and ask him to urge the local judge to vacate the execution warrant. Fax: 912-652-7328, Phone: 912-652-7308.

Call the local judge, Penny Haas Freesman, and ask her to vacate the warrant. Phone: (912) 652-7252

Call the Governor, Nathan Deal, and ask him to use his influence to encourage the board to grant clemency. Phone: 404-656-1776.

In Georgia, stand with us, saying “NOT IN MY NAME!”
a) Capitol vigil – 6pm
b) Prison vigil – 5:30pm across the street from the prison at Towaliga County Line Baptist Church (153 Short Road, Jackson). Take I-75 to Exit 201 and head toward the Hess gas station (turn left (east) off the interstate if heading south on I-75) on Barnesville-Jackson Rd. (Ga 36) and turn right past the gas station.

This is a time to be heard, not a time to submit. And please remain respectful to those who answer the phones. There is no need to be rude or to yell – the strength of our message will come through the volume of calls we generate, not in the decibels of our individual voices.

Regards

2011-09-11T07:59:00.000-04:00

I'll Say Anything

2011-09-08T15:41:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I Doubt Your Commitment to Sparkle Motion

2011-08-29T22:08:00.001-04:00

From one of my favorite flicks, Donnie Darko:

Attention Advertisers and Marketers

2011-07-06T17:22:00.003-04:00

My pledge to honor the memory of Caylee Anthony:

I will watch no TV shows which interview Casey Anthony.
I will read no online or print articles which interview Casey Anthony.
I will buy no books nor watch any films from which Casey Anthony stands to profit.

The media has the right to do their jobs. I have the right to follow my conscience.

Happy Towel Day

2011-05-25T09:32:00.001-04:00

You hadn't exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them had you? I mean like actually telling anyone or anything.
But the plans were on display...
On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.
That's the display department.
With a torch.
Ah, well the lights had probably gone.
So had the stairs.
But look you found the notice didn't you?
Yes, said Arthur, yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of The Leopard".

-- Douglas Adams

Seven Seconds of Truth

2011-03-02T15:17:00.006-05:00

Does this look like a semi-feral dog whose chances at becoming an adoptable pet are so poor she should be killed?

Meet Jeri. Jeri was killed on February 28, 2011 by the Humane Society of Etowah Co in AL because they deemed her unadoptable. They said she was afraid of people and they had tried to work with her but she was unsalvageable. She was just a puppy and had been taken from the only home she'd known in December by the Humane Society of the United States. HSUS left her at the HS of Etowah Co to be disposed of as they saw fit.

I had requested donations be sent to this shelter on my YesBiscuit! blog after speaking with the director about Jeri and her brother Ben (whom they still have). One of my readers provided a consultation via phone at no charge to assist in socializing Jeri and Ben. When she contacted the shelter to follow-up and offer additional help, they didn't reply so she assumed everything must be going well. The shelter knew there were people who cared about Jeri and knew there were resources available to them. But they did not reach out to the rescue community before killing Jeri. I guess she just wasn't worth it. They killed her to make space for a dog they deemed "more adoptable".

Fuck this bullshit.

I realize this video is only 7 seconds long and it's impossible to know a dog's whole personality in a short video clip. But if you've ever loved a dog, I think you'll probably see what I see in this video - a happy, friendly dog who would have made someone a wonderful pet. It's only 7 seconds, but it's all that remains of Jeri's time in this life.

Jeri was betrayed by those who hide behind the name "Humane Society" when there is nothing humane about them at all.

I won't forget you Jeri. You were loved, even if you didn't quite know it at the end. And you will always be loved by those who care about shelter pets - that is, the real humane society. Small h, small s. We may not have $100 billion dollar bank accounts like some so-called humane societies but we have something far more valuable: compassion.

Be seeing you Punkin.

Civil Disobedience Links

2011-02-03T10:46:00.003-05:00

Speak-to-Tweet phone numbers:

+16504194196 or
+390662207294 or
+97316199855

Protest survival skills (original article removed but a copy exists here)

Tear gas and medical info for protesters

Wiki pepper spray/tear gas info

How to deal with tear gas

Another How to deal with tear gas

Wiki how to deal with riot control agents

On Strategic Nonviolent Conflict

Tea Party Vision of Government Too Large and Intrusive

2010-10-29T08:53:00.005-04:00

Are you wanting to vote for smaller government and fiscal conservatism this election? If so, you'll want to give the Tea Party and their candidates running on the Republican ticket a wide berth.

Tea Party candidates say they are for more personal freedom and small government which is less intrusive in our lives. They say they are for less government spending. But where they actually stand on issues necessitates larger, more intrusive government, less freedom and greatly increased government spending.

For example:

The Tea Party wants to make abortion illegal, even in the case of rape or incest. This would require the federal government to create a Pregnancy Monitoring Department. Agents from the Pregnancy Monitoring Department would have to keep tabs on every pregnancy in the country to make sure none were terminated. Rape victims, including girls who've been impregnated by their fathers, would have to report to their assigned Pregnancy Monitoring Department agent at regular intervals to prove they were still pregnant. If a woman or child miscarried her baby, she would presumably have to provide evidence that the miscarriage was not a result of any deliberate action on her part. This would obviously be a challenge in many cases. Women or female children unable to provide satisfactory evidence would perhaps have to appear before a judge in order to get a decision on the matter. The woman or female child might be forced to take the stand to detail the circumstances of her miscarriage. For the average woman, this would be harrowing. For a victim of rape or incest, this would perhaps be overwhelming.

The Tea Party says unmarried women who have sex are unfit to teach school. Same for members of the LGBT community. In order to ensure that the only teachers hired in our nation's school system are straight - and in the case of unmarried women, virgins - the government would need to create a sub-section of the Department of Education: The Teacher Orientation and Sexual Activity Verification Program. Teachers would have to submit to questioning and unmarried female teachers would presumably have to undergo pelvic exams performed by a stranger. The interviews may have to include the testimony of friends, co-workers and family members in order to verify orientation and sexual activity. To keep current, interviews and pelvic exams would need to be conducted annually. I can't imagine too many teachers being willing to submit to this kind of government intrusion. (As an aside, apparently it's A-OK for unmarried male teachers to have sex?)

A few additional examples of hypocrisy: Tea Party candidate Joe Miller says gay rights are a state issue while simultaneously stating he would vote for a Constitutional amendment denying the rights of gays to marry. Tea Party darling Jim DeMint had previously vowed he would "not take any PAC money and will fight for reforms that allow only individual contributions to campaigns." He now has his own PAC which has raked in more cash than any other PAC this election cycle. Outside a recent debate involving Tea Party candidate Rand Paul, a supporter wearing a Rand Paul sticker and a "Don't Tread on Me" button held down a woman with an opposing political view while a fellow Paul support literally tread on her head.

Who is going to pay for the federal Pregnancy Monitoring Department and the Teacher Orientation and Sexual Activity Verification Program - taxpayers? Can we afford to fund these types of large agencies and more importantly - is this who we are? Do we truly want to grow our government in this way, using these tactics, all based upon the hypocrisy of a small but vocal minority?

I'm voting for Democratic candidates on November 2 because I don't want to expand our federal government in these expensive and offensively intrusive ways. I support an individual's right to personal liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore, I stand opposed to the GOP and its Tea Party hypocrites.

No Islamic Community Center at Ground Zero?

2010-09-11T17:24:00.002-04:00

As this piece in the NYT points out, some of the estimated 60 Muslims who were killed on 9/11 were praying in the Muslim prayer room that existed on the 17th floor of the south tower:

Given the vitriolic opposition now to the proposal to build a Muslim community center two blocks from ground zero, one might say something else has been destroyed: the realization that Muslim people and the Muslim religion were part of the life of the World Trade Center.

Dalai Lama Statement on Cage Free Eggs

2010-09-03T16:22:00.003-04:00

(dated August 26, 2010) Click to embiggen.

Context

2010-07-21T09:53:00.004-04:00

Please read carefully:

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.
[...]
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. [...] Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

Inciting a race war?

Unedited excerpt from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech:

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

In Memoriam: Photos of My Grandmother

2010-07-01T14:21:00.001-04:00

My grandmother recently died and I wanted to share a few photos of her:

Grandma and kids, Easter Sunday 1957

My Aunt Chick, Grandma in a bikini (!), and my Dad

Grandma with my Dad

Grandma with Blitz

Alvin Greene: Man of Mystery, Man with 59% of the Vote

2010-06-09T08:40:00.004-04:00

OK Alvin Greene, you are SC's only hope to knock off Jim DeMint in November. Say something smart!

"I wasn’t surprised, but not really. I mean, just a little, but not much. I knew I was on top of my campaign, and just stayed on top of everything, I just—I wasn't surprised that much, just a little. I knew that I worked hard and did."

Right. What?

Greene frequently spoke in rapid-fire, fragmentary sentences, repeating certain phrases or interrupting himself multiple times during the same sentence while he searched for the right words. But he was emphatic about certain aspects of his candidacy, insisting that details about his campaign organization, for instance, weren't relevant. "I'm not concentrating on how I was elected—it's history. I’m the Democratic nominee—we need to get talking about America back to work, what's going on, in America."

Details about his campaign organization are not relevant. M'kaaaay. How about details of - oh let's say, anything? Where do you stand on reproductive rights for women or marriage equality or offshore drilling? And do you know what all of those things mean?

I'm sorry but there is something rotten in Denmark, the fish rots from the head down, insert your favorite rotting phrase here. This is beyond the standard McCain-has-a-sekrit-black-baby SC political fare. I hope SC's political journos and pajama bloggers have got their thinking caps on. Cause this ain't right.

Election Day in SC - Primary

2010-06-08T09:01:00.003-04:00

Basic election info for SC - Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

2010 Democratic candidates for SC (pdf)

Governor:

Jim Rex

State Education Superintendent
Supports reproductive rights for women
Opposes oil drilling off SC coast but supports drilling for natural gas
Twitter: @jimrex

Vincent Sheheen

State Senator
Does not commit to being for or against reproductive rights but says he wants to "reduce abortions" and is personally against
Opposes oil drilling off SC coast but supports drilling for natural gas
Twitter: @vincentsheheen

Robert Ford

State Senator
Supports reproductive rights for women
Supports offshore drilling for oil & gas in SC
Supports school vouchers
Wants to "save" SC with video poker

Senate:

Vic Rawl - The Best Senate Candidate You've Probably Never Heard Of

Supports reproductive rights for women
Supports repeal of DADT
Twitter: @Rawl4Senate

Alvin Greene - A Phantom Candidate?

GOP Unleashes the Hate on Rep. Spratt

2010-05-18T08:18:00.005-04:00

Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) recently announced he has early stage Parkinson's disease and will run for a 15th term. Yesterday the National Republican Congressional Committee released a hatriotic statement regarding the Representative:

The statement calls the 67-year-old House Budget Committee chairman “Amnesiac John Spratt” and contained six bold-lettered allegations that he's forgetting what's happening in Washington.

"After 28 years in Washington, John Spratt's memory is failing him,” it began. He “can't even recall what Obamacare does … Now — worst of all — it seems he's completely forgotten who he works for.”

Oh GOP, your Mom must be so proud.

Andy Sere, a spokesman for the Republican committee, said the statement was not a swipe at Spratt's health. Asked for a similar statement criticizing another Democrat, he couldn't cite another example so heavily focused on a congressman's memory.

As rationale for the criticism, Sere noted a recent comment from Spratt that it is sometimes difficult to remember which provisions were in the different versions of the massive health care bill.

"Sometimes difficult to remember" details of lengthy legislative proposals totally equals "amnesiac". And what's that you say, he has Parkinson's? We had no idea and of course this statement is not in any way related to that.

Contribute to Rep. Spratt's re-election campaign here.

It Was 20 Years Ago Today

2010-05-16T08:40:00.001-04:00

In loving memory of Jim Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990)

Walk, Don't Run When God Calls

2010-04-15T10:37:00.002-04:00

Father William Ventura, 31, has this advice for young men considering priesthood:

If you hear the Lord calling you to be a priest, don’t wait to respond!

Or maybe, think for like half a sec to see if you actually want to be a priest or if you just want to get hookers:

A Chelmsford priest was arrested in a prostitution sting at a New Hampshire hotel after police say he responded to an ad on Craigslist.
The Boston Archdiocese said Tuesday that William Ventura has voluntarily accepted a leave of absence and been barred from public ministry until the case is concluded through the court system.

Bristol Palin Advocating for Teen Abstinence

2010-04-08T11:30:00.001-04:00

courtesy of Bill Hicks:

I'd quit smoking if I didn't think I'd become one of them [obnoxious, self-righteous nonsmokers]. . . . I'm smoking and you come up coughing at me. Jesus! You go up to crippled people dancin', too, you fucks? "Well, hey, Mr. Wheelchair. What's you're problem? Come on, Ironside. Race ya!" You fucking sadist. I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die. Deal? Thank you, America.

The Late and Super Great Bill Hicks

2010-04-07T11:04:00.004-04:00

We are big Bill Hicks fans around here. Recently, Billy came across this writing and I wanted to post it here. It's one of those things that's kinda nice to read, anytime:

Despite his illness, Bill was at peace. He spent time with his parents, playing them the music he loved and showing them documentaries about his interests. He called friends to say goodbye and re-read J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Fellowship Of The Ring.

On February 7th, 1994, Bill wrote his last words to the world:

I was born William Melvin Hicks on December 16, 1961 in Valdosta, Georgia. Ugh. Melvin Hicks from Georgia. Yee Har! I already had gotten off to life on the wrong foot. I was always “awake,” I guess you’d say. Some part of me clamoring for new insights and new ways to make the world a better place.

All of this came out years down the line, in my multitude of creative interests that are the tools I now bring to the Party. Writing, acting, music, comedy. A deep love of literature and books. Thank God for all the artists who’ve helped me. I’d read these words and off I went – dreaming my own imaginative dreams. Exercising them at will, eventually to form bands, comedy, more bands, movies,anything creative. This is the coin of the realm I use in my words – Vision.

On June 16, 1993 I was diagnosed with having “liver cancer that had spread from the pancreas.” One of life’s weirdest and worst jokes imaginable. I’d been making such progress recently in my attitude, my career and realizing my dreams that it just stood me on my head for a while. “Why me!?” I would cry out, and “Why now!?”

Well, I know now there may never be any answers to those particular questions, but maybe in telling a little about myself, we can find some other answers to other questions. That might help our way down our own particular paths, towards realizing my dream of New Hope and New Happiness. Amen.

I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit.

On Saturday, February 26th, 1994, Bill died. He was 32.

Astroturf Asses

2010-03-17T16:57:00.001-04:00

Way to prey on women's fears of breast cancer and death, teabaggers.

I'm Pretty Sure This is Some Form of Russian Mind Control

2010-03-05T14:59:00.000-05:00

Deets.

Johnny Weir Skating to 'Poker Face'

2010-01-30T11:55:00.001-05:00

How Not to Help in Haiti

2010-01-18T18:25:00.001-05:00

Nobody wants your old shoes.

The Sad State of the Health Care Debate

2009-12-18T08:50:00.003-05:00

I am the uninsured. I have a job and pay taxes but my employer doesn't offer benefits. I have no access to health care except what I can afford to pay for out of pocket. And that ain't much.

When I can't get to sleep at night, I wonder if I have breast cancer or diabetes or some other treatable disease which could be detected if I could afford to get preventive medical care. But then I know too that even if something was detected, I could not afford to pay for treatment anyway. So I just lie in bed and hope for the best.

Meanwhile my Senator, Jim DeMint, participated in a "Prayercast" this week to ask Jesus to intervene and make sure I get no access to health care. Even if it's just a tiny shitty bit of health care reform, DeMint wants Jesus to stop me from getting it. Although I'm not a Christian, I do believe in many of the teachings attributed to Jesus and from what I understand, he was into helping the sick and the poor, not stomping them into the dirt. Maybe DeMint and friends are praying to some other Jesus - some guy whose fundamental message is "I've got mine, sucks being you", I don't know.

At any rate, the bottom line for me is this: The uninsured are dying every day due to lack of health care. We have no choice but to humbly accept any bone Congress tosses us because otherwise, you know - the death thing. So even though the Senate bill sounds pretty crummy and falls terribly short of expectations - yeah, I want that. Because it's something. And when you have nothing, something sounds pretty appealing. And I'm willing to work on future campaigns to try and elect people who pledge to improve health care for all Americans.

Don't get me wrong, I want the best we can possibly get right now. But whatever that turns out to be, I'm willing to take it because I have no other options. I know that if we don't get something now, it's going to be a long time before we have another chance. Too many of us will have needlessly died by then. We can't wait.

Word

2009-12-17T11:56:00.002-05:00

Yesterday afternoon we had C-SPAN on while the clerk was reading the 767 page Sanders Amendment. C-SPAN puts up bits of info on the screen to keep viewers abreast of what's going on. At the time Billy came in, the onscreen info was flipping between two messages:

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) requested the Sanders Amendment be read into the record.
and
Senator Coburn has left the building.

Billy, who doesn't normally get excited about political sausage making, saw that and exclaimed, "That man should be fired - immediately!".

War on Xmas List

2009-11-23T08:18:00.005-05:00

I thought it might be easier for everyone if I just post my Xmas list offa Craigslist. In no particular order:

You know I like torn butts and I can not lie
I don't usually send in for warranties anyway
Of course I want something involving the dogs
I'm not sure if this refers to Iraq or Afghanistan but I want
I def want to be buried in a zombie casket
This might be a metaphorical paintball gun, but I still want it
Us child prodigies gotsta stick together

Veterans Day

2009-11-11T10:45:00.003-05:00

Is this the best we can do for our vets?

6 preventable deaths a day among veterans due to lack of health insurance
Vets make up 1/3 of adult homeless male population
Sen. Coburn (R-OK) is preventing a bill designed to increase health services for vets from coming to the floor for a vote

Two Cents on Prejean's Sex Tape

2009-11-05T11:52:00.003-05:00

Here's the thing: If Carrie Prejean had been your average Jane, I would be defending her right to make a masturbation tape and shouting down anyone who tried to smear her for it. Live and let live, you know. But she changed the equation when she went all holier-than-thou on the LGBT community. She could tell others how to live because she had been taught Christian values from the Bible. She knew what was best for everybody else because she herself was a pillar of Jesusy virtue. So I say, suck it Prejean. Or maybe you already did. On video.

Review of MJ Movie "This Is It"

2009-10-29T11:03:00.000-04:00

Perhaps more aptly titled than I first thought, "This Is It" is probably not a release MJ would have approved had he lived but it is fascinating and enjoyable nonetheless. For a fan, it's a must see. I'm not sure viewers more casual in their MJ interest would appreciate it as much.

Let me start by saying what the movie is not - It's not a polished performance by any stretch. The songs are frequently stopped for revision and there are many times when he lays off the vocals to save his voice. Nor is it a "full dress rehearsal" as I'd read previously. No one is in stage costume and the only glimpse we get of MJ's stunning costume for "Billie Jean" is on the tailor's table. Still, even "street clothes" for MJ are slightly brilliant - it's not as if he's in sweatpants and t-shirt.

What the movie does offer is a chance to see MJ at work which is truly thrilling. He has an extremely detailed vision of precisely how the finished production will look and sound. Watching him work toward making this vision a reality is captivating. If you never appreciated the genius of MJ before, this movie makes it clear.

The main event of course is MJ's singing and dancing. Despite his extremely thin appearance, and contrary to rumors that he was a shell of his former self, his singing and dancing are total A-game. His voice sounds as good as ever and as I expected, he had reinvented himself in dance once again, with a style appropriate for a 50 year old man. There are fewer dramatic spins and throwing himself to his knees but more fancy footwork and he's absolutely no less amazing to watch than at any time past. There is no doubt, despite the jaw-dropping performances given by his dancers (who are half his age), MJ is the King.

In the end, seeing how vital and brilliant he was in the days leading up to his death, I couldn't help but feel an extra bit of sadness that he's gone. Had he appeared weak or half-hearted in any way, it might have made his death a bit easier to understand. But clearly, had he not surrounded himself with corrupt doctors and yes-men who ultimately yessed him to death, MJ would have been able to realize his vision, execute his scheduled performances and carry on with his family life for a good long time. But now, well - this is it.

Horror Film Classics: Sometimes They Call Back

2009-10-27T15:30:00.003-04:00

So my parents just did something they'd never done before in their lives - they called one of their Senators. Joe Lieberman to be exact. They each called and told his office they want him to support the President's health care reform bill with a strong Public Option. I got the phone number for them and I gave them a script of what to say (at their request, they were nervous). My Dad copied down the script and then they each called. They called me afterwards, so proud of themselves. Then a few minutes later, my Mom calls me again. She wanted to share that after we last hung up, their phone rang and my Dad asked my Mom in all sincerity, "God but you don't think that's Joe Lieberman, do you?!" My Mom and I just about fell out.

Stop the Honor Killings by US Insurers

2009-10-21T11:40:00.001-04:00

The health insurance companies have a stranglehold on the insured and women in particular have been garroted just for being female. (For women who are uninsured, fuggedaboutit.) Whether women are being told to get sterilized in order to obtain health insurance, or having their policies canceled after they get breast cancer, or denied insurance altogether due to a "pre-existing condition" of having been beaten by their husbands, it feels like insurance companies are misogynistic fat cats from Hell. Meanwhile our elected officials laugh at us while pocketing big bucks from the insurance industry and voting to maintain the status quo.

But enough about those of us lucky enough to still be alive despite what feels like a war on women by the insurance companies and their Congressional BFFs. Let's remember Crystal Lee Sutton who was forced to go without treatment for her brain cancer for months while she fought with her insurance company. She died in September 2009. 17 year old Nataline Sarkisyan's Mother fought with her insurance company over their denial of a recommended liver transplant which the insurer finally approved the day she died in 2007.

How are these different from so-called honor killings? A woman becomes a victim by virtue of her gender and "dishonors" the reputation (profit margin) of her family (insurance company). Therefore, she must die to restore honor (profit). This is tradition. This is the system men have designed for us and we must live by. Unless...

Take Action - Call your Representative and both your Senators and tell them you support President Obama's plan for health care reform. And get your sound minded husbands, partners and male friends to call too. We want an end to discriminatory practices against women by the insurance industry. Equal rights to health care for an equal chance to live!

Child Abuse?

2009-10-19T11:17:00.004-04:00

The lawyer for the Balloon Family says making the parents do the perp walk in front of the media would be akin to "child abuse". I'm not so sure. Maybe child abuse might be better defined as telling your kids to lie to police so your family could get a TV show and then dragging them on a vomit media tour to promote the hoax. Perhaps seeing the parents perp walked before cameras might be educational for the kids, teaching them the concept of consequences for actions and providing a dose of true reality TV.

I'm a Vegetarian

2009-10-15T14:26:00.001-04:00

but we are in a recession and $1.69 for 2 pounds is a really good price

Action Alert: SC Senators Vote Against Constitutional Rights of Rape Victims

2009-10-08T08:49:00.004-04:00

Both of South Carolina's Senators voted against the Franken amendment to allow rape victims to have their day in court, even if they work for a government contractor. It passed anyway.

Tell the Senators what you think of their votes:

Sen. Lindsey Graham on Twitter
Sen. Graham's contact info for snail mail, e-mail and phone
Sen. Graham will host a Town Hall Meeting on October 12 at 6:15 pm in Greenville, SC.

Sen. Jim DeMint on Twitter
Sen. Jim DeMint's contact info for snail mail and phone (online form for e-mail here)

It Does

2009-10-08T07:48:00.002-04:00

The National Association of Free Clinics is a non-profit group working to bring health care to Americans who need it. Donate like someone's life depends upon it. Because, you know...

Xmas List

2009-10-06T08:55:00.001-04:00

I love koi.

Smithereens

2009-10-02T08:44:00.002-04:00

Breast Health

2009-10-01T09:02:00.003-04:00

It's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month which means:

Women are reminded to perform monthly self-exams

If you have health insurance, your plan probably covers mammograms. Get one.

If you don't have insurance and can't afford to pay out of pocket for a mammogram, find a program that offers low or no cost screening in your state.

Honey and the Moon

2009-09-26T11:36:00.000-04:00

OK Maybe I'm Juvenile

2009-09-24T09:59:00.000-04:00

for enjoying this game but, there ya go.

Always Check

2009-09-20T18:41:00.000-04:00

...the inside of your toilet paper rolls before throwing away

MJ Movie Trailer

2009-09-15T09:12:00.000-04:00

Since I think I've posted it everywhere else on the web already...

Be Seeing You Jim Carroll

2009-09-14T08:59:00.000-04:00

I Want the Angel

By Jim Carroll and Brian Linsley

I want the angel
Whose dreams are fatal
They cause the snake's milk to run and curdle

I want the angel
Whose darkness doubles
It absorbs the brilliance of all my troubles

I want the angel
That will not shatter
Every time I whisper, Girl it does not matter

I want the angel
Who's got the proof
She signals her devotion from the rails on the roof

I want the angel
That comes to stay
She don't let lawyers and ambition lead her away

I want the angel
Whose eyes are raving
Who takes what I'm giving and not what I'm saving

I want the angel
Whose bones are so sharp
That they can break through their own excuses

Well, to be a blind man,
Hey, that would be a fine thing
Then I could dream at night of total strangers
And all the music would be so spaceless
And all the women would be so faceless,
They'd be so faceless they'd be like old film
Just like old film I never did process

I want the angel
That knows the sky
She got virtue, she got the parallel light in her eye

I want the angel
That's partly lame
She filters clarity from her desperate shame

I want the angel
That knows rejection
Who's like a whore in love with her own reflection

I want the angel
Whose touch don't miss
When the blood comes through the dropper like a thick red kiss

If I could break through I could be certain
But this obsession is like some fiery curtain
All the numbers reduced to zero
And those who died young, they are my heroes
They are my heroes, they took the walk
Where the heart made sense and the mind can't talk

I want the angel
Whose child don't weep
She's got dreams designed for eternal sleep

I want the angel
That will not change
Into a four-legged monster in love with the strange

I want the angel
That never chooses
And don't come running back every time she loses

But I want the angel that never loses

© Earl McGrath Music/Jim Carroll Music ASCAP (1980)

Lemons into Lemonade: Joe Wilson Edition

2009-09-10T09:20:00.005-04:00

Thumbs down:

What Rep. Joe Wilson (R- SC) did last night

Why he was factually wrong

His history of dumbass-edness

Thumbs up:

Contribute to Rob Miller, Joe Wilson's opponent in 2010 election.

Rob Miller on Twitter

Rob Miller's campaign site

Heh:

New message each time you load page

Tu mientes!

Let's Play Oddball

2009-09-07T14:45:00.002-04:00

You know that guy who died on a school bus in the AK wilderness? Well have I got a great idea!

Wal-Mart employees in China take shoplifting very seriously:

[...] a customer died at the hands of Wal-Mart employees who suspected her of stealing.

And that's just someone they suspected.

Jesus now on Mars. (I don't see it. I never do. That's why I'm going to Hell I guess.)

FL police inadvertently assist burglar with heavy lifting

Inventors: Keep focused on the important things

My "Bigger than Watergate" Expose on Socialist Indoctrinators

2009-09-04T08:42:00.003-04:00

While the Cons get their panties in a bunch over Obama's upcoming speech to ~~indoctrinate America's youth into Socialism~~ encourage kids to stay in school, I thought it might be a good time to expose some other evildoers:

1. AK Governor Sean Parnell - you know the guy that Sarah Palin left in charge of Alaska? Socialist.

2. Penguins - they look so charming in their tuxedo feathers but you know what? Socialists.

3. Mr. T - I pity the fool that don't know this guy's a Socialist.

4. Canadian Government - I guess no one is surprised by these Socialists.

Woe Be Gone

2009-09-02T15:12:00.001-04:00

Where all the women are strong, the men are good looking and pets have a public option.

Religion Explained

2009-08-31T10:47:00.000-04:00

I think this is an explanation everyone can agree upon.

Movie Recs

2009-08-29T14:04:00.004-04:00

I watch a fair amount of movies and unfortunately forget them very quickly. Here are a few I watched this week that haven't yet exited the grey mass:

"Let the Right One in" - non-traditional treatment of a vampire's quest to live in modern society, two thumbs up

"Party Monster" - based on true story of drug addicts known as Club Kids in late 80s/early 90s NYC, one thumb up because the movie seemed to assume you knew the details of the case (or at least read the Wiki entry), which I didn't. There is an impossibly annoying website as well.

"Night at the Museum" - this was pretty much what I thought it would be. Ben Stiller is a continuous cycle of hits and misses for me but the hits (scene with monkey slapping face) are worth it, one and a half thumbs up

MJ Sighting

2009-08-27T07:20:00.000-04:00

The first of what I presume will be many:

Is There Any Such Thing as a "Fact" Anymore?

2009-08-24T10:17:00.001-04:00

This has been bothering me for awhile.

Maybe it's just me getting older but it seems like things - at least some things - used to be a little better defined and the cause of less dispute. We used to call those things "facts". I'm not sure if they exist anymore.

Food industry activists argue that "sustainable farming" is a matter of opinion - what one person calls "sustainable" may not qualify as such to another person. This falls under the "puppy mill" category - that is, no real definition of the term and therefore a target for argument from all sides.

What about subjects that are written out, at length, for all to read such as the various health care reform bills? There should be some "facts" there and yet, we seem to hear differing interpretations. Even when those interpretations have been soundly and widely debunked (e.g. the "death panel" claim), they live on as "facts" to many who oppose health care reform.

As someone who enjoys following court cases, I used to think something like DNA evidence was generally accepted as "fact". Now though, it seems like all one side has to do to refute DNA evidence is get an expert to testify using terms such as "junk science". I actually saw an attorney argue recently that because the lab worker who conducted the DNA testing in the case made a typo in her report, she could have made other errors - implying that perhaps the DNA test results were incorrect. While I might dismiss this argument out of hand, I can easily picture a juror mulling the words "reasonable doubt" over in his head.

As I said, maybe I'm just getting nostalgic for the non-existent good ol' days but there is something very appealing to at least half my brain about the phrase "Just the facts, ma'am".

Let's Play Oddball

2009-08-23T14:29:00.000-04:00

If you're gonna be a fake nurse, you might as well strive to be the best

I'm sure this man is fun to live with

Sears Rep's explanation on this is pretty good akshully

That chick had a major hard-on for that soccer ball

NM man charged after hooking up with his car while 2 kiddies watched

Nuh-uh Dick Armey!

2009-08-18T09:20:00.003-04:00

If this week's Meet the Press wasn't enough of a Dick Armey smackdown for you, The Raw Story keeps bringing those good vibrations:

In his opening remarks, Armey claimed that Democratic activist group MoveOn.org had "ran those ads" comparing President George W. Bush to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
[...]
At no point did MoveOn promote, "run" or even publicly condone the video which Armey's group now circulates. The clip Armey attributes to MoveOn was apparently submitted as part of a contest to help determine how the group should advertise against the Bush administration in the run-up to the 2004 election.

MJ News Tidbits

2009-08-12T09:25:00.000-04:00

The LAPD and DEA continue their raids with glacial swiftness. Anyone who knows he's guilty would have had time to shred docs, compost the remains, fertilize a vegetable garden with the compost, and enjoy a crisp Summer salad with the produce while waiting for authorities to show up.

Interesting Egyptian bust comparison to MJ

Crikey - people are strange

Schmaternity

2009-08-10T11:48:00.009-04:00

I'm going to try and keep track of these over time but alas, the task may prove too difficult.

Peeps who've tossed their hat in the ring for MJ's kids so far (I'm only including those who piped up and/or have taken legal action after MJ's death):

Claire Elisabeth Fields Cruise - claims to be bio Mom of all 3 kids, married to MJ and engaged to Prince's bio Dad. Also says MJ is not the bio Dad of any of the 3 kids but the two of them did have a kid together - Connor Cruise - which MJ gave to Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman because he didn't like the color of the baby's skin.

Mark Lester - played in Oliver as a kid, claims to be godfather of all 3 kids and bio Dad to Paris (via sperm donation)

Dr. Arnold Klein - MJ's dermatologist, says "to the best of my knowledge, I'm not the father" of Prince & Paris but did donate to a sperm bank once. Klein sent an attorney to kids' custody hearing but judge said he had no standing. (I'm hearing "I'll be bach" in my head.)

Nona Paris Lola Ankhesenamun Jackson - London Satanist, claims to be married to MJ and bio Mom of all 3 kids. She's been suing MJ for years over this but did continue her legal battle after his death so you gotta give her teh crazy props.

Billie Jean Jackson: another one who's been in it for the long haul, she's filed legal papers now claiming to be Blanket's mother. If memory serves, I'm pretty sure she's been claiming to be married to MJ for years and complaining to the courts that she gets arrested every time she goes to her "husband's" house.

Fundraiser for Kid with Painful Skin Disease

2009-08-09T19:17:00.003-04:00

Payton Thornton has a disease called EB which may ultimately kill him in his teens. His family wants to get him a stem cell transplant treatment (from a baby they are expecting in January) which would require extensive aftercare at significant expense. $100 raffle tickets are being sold for a Jonesboro, GA lake house to try and raise money for the family. You can also follow the raffle on Twitter.

3 Things that Made Me Laugh This Morning

2009-08-08T09:45:00.002-04:00

or at least chortle:

Wedding Cakewreck - don't worry, you CAN click on the photo for a larger version

Oh my, Alfafa has really hit the skids

Deep Thoughts with Meghan McCain

MJ News Tidbits

2009-08-06T08:34:00.002-04:00

MJ tribute shows canceled, dancers et al told they were retroactively "volunteering"

The Daily Beast looks at Propofol addiction

Various songs on YouTube claiming to be "new" - can't say if they are or aren't but here's one I heard today:

Taste Test

2009-08-06T08:19:00.000-04:00

My Birthday is Coming Up

2009-08-05T14:54:00.000-04:00

Just sayin'.

Let's Play Oddball

2009-08-04T09:03:00.002-04:00

Totally unforeseeable freak accident

Of course when a loved one dies, you'd have to have this

In an economic crunch, we all have to reuse resources as much as possible

This lady's husband cheated on her so obviously she had to do something

I just love this story:

A man armed with handgun walks into a jewelry store and demands baubles.
What do you do?
"The employees told the male to leave and he left without obtaining anything," said London police Const. Amy Phillipo.
[...]
Police released a video surveillance image of the suspect, described as a white man, in his late 30s or early 40s, about 5-foot-9, with short hair, yellow or orange sunglasses, red shirt and a dishevelled appearance.

...hands jammed in pockets, head down and a rather dejected look on his face

TNTC

2009-08-03T08:24:00.004-04:00

TNTC=Too Numerous To Count. It's a term I learned doing veterinary lab work years ago. And it describes the levels of wrongness in this article:

Ryan O'Neal wishes he'd never had children and is so estranged from his own kids that he didn't recognize his actress-daughter Tatum -- and shamelessly flirted with her -- at Farrah Fawcett's funeral, the actor admits in an explosive new interview.

"I had just put the casket in the hearse and was watching it drive away," O'Neal, 68, said, "when a beautiful blond woman comes up and embraces me. I said to her, 'You have a drink on you? You have a car?' She said, 'Daddy, it's me -- Tatum!'

MJ News Tidbits

2009-08-02T09:56:00.003-04:00

I troll the MJ "news" updates so you don't have to. How Public Service-y of me. Although I admit, I skip over 99% of what I read because it seems off-the-chain-speculative and/or irrelevant. Now for the "good" stuff:

A "gifted spiritual traveler" hooked up with MJ in the aether 2 days after his death for an interview. Luckily, that conversation is available for dl as a FREE e-book! (If anyone actually reads this, please do give me a summary.)

The LA Times has an interesting story naming names of Drs. associated with the death investigation. Among them, an ear, nose and throat specialist from NYC, David Slavit:

Slavit was chosen by an insurance company this spring to give Jackson a physical so promoter AEG Live could get coverage for the singer's comeback concerts.

Seems a bit of an odd choice for an insurance company looking to guarantee the overall health and fitness of a performer in L.A. At any rate the article indicates investigators are looking for any possible connections among MJ's many Drs.

Shop 'til You Drop!

2009-08-01T15:29:00.002-04:00

The story is - well, not good:

Parent Of The Year Arrested After Dragging Kid Through Verizon Store On a Leash

But the comments are real knee slappers. Read 'em! (My personal fav is by Elvisisdead although truly they are all swell.)

Thin Blue Lie

2009-07-31T14:07:00.003-04:00

Shocking shockaroo:

Alexandra Torrensvilas was the target of cops who pinned a DUI on her for an accident they caused. Now she has been cleared of charges after the Broward State Attorney's Office officially dropped the four DUI citations on Wednesday.

But the saga is far from over as now prosecutors turn their attention to the four Hollywood police officers who made up an intricate story to cover for a February traffic accident involving a cop car. The scheme was caught on one of the officers dashboard cameras.

The disturbing video shows Alexandra Torrensvilas, 23, handcuffed in the back of the squad car as the officers get their stories straight on what they are going to say happened.

Four coppers put their heads together and devised an extremely brilliant and clever and credible story about a cat jumping out a window and the officer believing the cat might be a human bean.

And they woulda gotten away with it too if it weren't for those meddling dashboard cams!

Dr. Conrad Murray: XXX Evil

2009-07-30T09:00:00.003-04:00

If<------That's IF - I'm just speculating here, as I am wont to do - If media reports to date are accurate, here's why I think Dr. Murray qualifies for the 'extra evil' award: MJ was dead, long dead, no hope for reviving him dead well before Dr. Murray called for Prince and security guards. (btw, why did the Dr. call for a 12 year old kid in this sitch? Shouldn't he have been dialing 911 or performing CPR or doing something useful?) And even though MJ was gone, Dr. Murray let the kids pray in the hallway for their Dad to be ok. Whatever else Dr. Murray may or may not be guilty of, that particular offense is so egregious to my mind, I am glad there's no chance I'll be called to any possible jury in the case.

Buggery

2009-07-29T15:23:00.004-04:00

Obligatory disclaimer: Most of us in SC are regular people. Really:

A man remains jailed after police say he was caught on video surveillance having sexual intercourse with a horse at a South Carolina stable for the second time in the past three years.
Rodell Vereen, 50, is charged with buggery and trespassing after a woman who owns Lazy B Stables on Coates Road in the Wampee section of Horry County told officers she caught the suspect having sex with a horse.

A family member said Wednesday that Vereen was diagnosed with a "mental disease'' more than 10 years ago.
"He's supposed to be on medication but I don't believe he's been taking it,'' said Beulah Vereen, also a neighbor.

Let this be a lesson to us all who have teh mental disease: Take your meds.

Schmealth Care Reform

2009-07-29T09:27:00.003-04:00

Blue Dogs on health care reform: What's the rush? We already have access to health care. The rest of y'all can just keep waiting while we dick around.

To paraphrase a line from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Blue Dog Dems will be first against the wall when the election comes.

Meanwhile, Ima start preparing my excuse speech to my Dr. for why I had to go another year without a mammogram. And I'll be taking names.

Mobile's Finest

2009-07-28T10:56:00.003-04:00

Alabama police, protecting local restrooms from the disabled:

Mobile police used pepper spray and a Taser on a deaf and mentally disabled man Friday after they were unable to get him to come out of a bathroom at a Dollar General store, authorities said.

After forcibly removing Antonio Love from the bathroom of the Azalea Road store, officers attempted to book the 37-year-old, on charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and failure to obey a police officer, but the magistrate on duty at the jail refused to accept any of those charges.
Love's family members said they had no idea where he was during the time that
police had him in custody. Brodrick Love said the officers dropped his brother
off in the parking lot of their apartment building without saying what happened or why his brother had been missing for six hours.

Love's family members have filed a formal complaint against the officers.

Somehow I don't guess Mr. Love's family will be getting an invite to the White House for a beerfest with Mobile police. Their story just doesn't have that kinda sexaay to it. Good luck with that complaint thingy though.

Let's Play Oddball

2009-07-27T08:52:00.002-04:00

Another good reason not to huff gasoline

See, that's what you get

Charlie Crist employs Brown Ink Defense

I didn't realize McDonald's food was that good

O man, I hate it when that happens

Wouldn't You Like to be a Perper Too?

2009-07-26T14:58:00.003-04:00

I love me some Dr. Perper. He is the doc who determined that Anna Nicole was killed by an overdose of prescription meds. He is telling E! News that he expects similar results in the MJ toxicology report which is supposed to be made public this week.

I Love Watching People Have Fun

2009-07-25T16:21:00.000-04:00

Where in the World is Dr. Conrad Murray?

2009-07-22T14:30:00.003-04:00

Apparently the Feds raided Dr. Murray's clinic in Houston. Seems to me they are about 27 days late. Methinks someone in the DEA's Department of Gluing Shredded Documents Back Together is going to be getting overtime this week.

Or maybe they got lucky and found complete records:

June 24, 2009:

Administered illegally obtained surgical anesthetic which I'm not qualified to give. Man, I do NOT know what I'm doing, ha ha.
High School Musical DVD marathon tonight!

June 25th, 2009:

Fell asleep watching High School Musical. Better check patient.
Patient deceased - d'oh! How do you administer CPR thing?
Note: Need to attend Red Cross refresher course

Really now, is that germane to the discussion?

2009-07-22T09:15:00.002-04:00

Oh ABC, you snarky little network:

Jermaine Jackson also tearfully scolded the media for the intense scrutiny his brother's death and custody battle have undergone.
"Leave him alone. Stop the crazy names that they call him," the Gloved One's brother said.

You Can Find Out EVERYTHING on Yahoo Answers!

2009-07-21T08:39:00.001-04:00

Which is so great:

Did the Illuminati frame Kobe Bryant? Like they murdered Michael Jackson?

Palin's Resignation Speech

2009-07-21T08:28:00.000-04:00

edited for truthiness

Trying to cop a moon rock. You holdin'?

2009-07-20T14:22:00.003-04:00

From BoingBoing:

US law forbids private citizens from possessing any of the 842 pounds of moon rocks collected by astronauts and brought back to Earth.
Nevertheless, the allure of moon rocks is strong enough to have created a black market where moon rock fragments and dust are sold for astronomical prices.

Well since they're all presumably props from a set on a secret military installation somewhere, I don't see why they should cost so much.

_________________

GoodQuickRead: My friend Heather waxes and wanes on the moon landing.

Geraldo Rivera Interview w/MJ

2009-07-19T19:03:00.000-04:00

From February 2005

Transcript

Videos:

Part 1 of 5

Part 2 of 5

Part 3 of 5

Part 4 of 5

Part 5 of 5

Elk Herd Stalked by UFO

2009-07-19T13:29:00.004-04:00

I am a UFO buff and enjoy following reports of sightings. Disappointingly, most fall short of the plausibility mark. But I'm keeping my eyes peeled.

In Colorado, men saw a UFO which they say frightened some elk:

Both Mauro and Pscholka said the object flew toward a meadow filled with elk, scared the animals and then floated out of sight. The whole episode lasted between five and 10 minutes.

I am intrigued by the observation of the scared elk. They don't say the elk stampeded away from the scene or began spinning in circles, fainting or yelling their snouts off - so how do they know they were scared exactly? Was it sort of a look?

LAPD Foiled Again

2009-07-18T09:55:00.002-04:00

From TMZ:

We're told the LAPD planned a third interview with Dr. Murray earlier in the week -- the doctor was interviewed the day Jackson died and again two days later.

Reps from the L.A. County Coroner's office planned to attend the third interview, but we're told Dr. Murray's lawyer called and said the doctor would not be speaking to the cops at this time.

And here's the best part. Our sources say the cops called the lawyer back and they were referred to the lawyer's lawyer who said Dr. Murray's lawyer would not be speaking to them!

Oh Snap!

Well played lawyer and lawyer's lawyer. You've won this round but the LAPD always gets their man. Actually - is there any way to bring in Scotland Yard?

Let's Play Oddball

2009-07-17T12:09:00.000-04:00

Heil Hibiscus! Garden gnome just following borders

I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often

I have trouble seeing images of the Virgin Mary on grilled cheese sandwiches, and I'm not sure I see this image of Michael Jackson either

From one of my fave blogs, check out the "nauseous basketball"

From the Website for Everything files: I love pizza, but possibly a teeny bit less now

I believe.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

2009-07-17T10:09:00.000-04:00

Propofol Abuse

2009-07-17T08:28:00.002-04:00

Interesting article from January 2009:

“Propofol is a drug that in a sense doesn’t get you high,” said Omar S. Manejwala, MD, associate medical director at the William J. Farley Center at Williamsburg Place, an addiction treatment clinic in Virginia that, like Talbott, also focuses on physicians. “It blocks out the world,”

In his experience, Dr. Manejwala said, nearly every propofol addict started injecting to overcome persistent insomnia. That aspect of the medication fits neatly with the link both Drs. Manejwala and Earley have observed between propofol abuse and a history of trauma. “One of the hallmark symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] is hyperarousal. Folks with PTSD want to block that out,” Dr. Manejwala said.

What’s puzzling, experts said, is the strength of the connection. “I don’t know of any other drug where the perceived incidence of trauma, particularly of sexual trauma [in abusers], is so high,” Dr. Manejwala said. “It’s really quite remarkable.”

The article also takes about mortality rates among abusers. Another bit I found interesting, in light of all the talk about "functioning addicts":

Unlike abusers of alcohol or most other substances, propofol addicts are unable to function on the job, said Paul Earley, MD, medical director of the Talbott Recovery Campus, an addiction rehabilitation facility in Atlanta that specializes in treating doctors and other healthcare providers.

MJ News Tidbits

2009-07-16T14:18:00.003-04:00

24 seconds of an unreleased MJ song (bring on the years of "Milk and Honey" *ding*)

Read what Paul McCartney says says says about how his friendship with MJ ended

The Daily Beast has Rx dirt on Dr. Klein<-----shocking

Miko Brando, who told Larry King that MJ's drug use consisted of taking an occasional aspirin for a headache, was on GMA to further ~~deny, deny, deny~~ "speculate". Speaking of speculation, Billy thinks that Miko is Blanket's father. I hafta admit, I do see a resemblance.

My Anti-Christmas List of MJ Memorabilia

2009-07-16T11:35:00.000-04:00

Things not to get me for Christmas. Or ever:

Baseball cards

Any of this "art"

Bullet proof vest

Anything Uri Geller is selling

And, not at any price:

The Beginning of the End?

2009-07-15T14:14:00.000-04:00

Et tu Tito?

2009-07-15T10:56:00.002-04:00

Brother Tito is talking to the Brit tabloids too:

Tito Jackson told yesterday how he and his brothers and sisters launched a military-style raid on Neverland to confront Michael over his addiction to painkillers.

Seems like the family was all deny, deny, deny when MJ was alive. Now they're selling their stories of conducting military-style raids to help MJ get off drugs. [Please provide photo of Jackson family in SWAT garb.]

Smells Like Reasonable Doubt

2009-07-14T15:41:00.002-04:00

Potential defense strategy falls into the lap of Dr. Murray's attorney, courtesy of the FDA:

Now, some lots of propofol are being recalled for contamination.
Last night, the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration advised clinicians immediately to stop using propofol from two lots found to be tainted with elevated levels of endotoxin, a powerful toxin made by bacteria.

What a ~~coinkydink~~ gift from god.

Unmasked

2009-07-14T14:05:00.003-04:00

Remember around Christmas when Ian Halperin was doing teasers for his upcoming book, claiming MJ needed a lung transplant and suffered from several other life threatening medical disorders too? Well now his book is ready (after some furious last minute rewrites post June 25th) and it reportedly contains some whoppers:

Michael Jackson was into men, not boys - and masqueraded as a woman with his lovers, a new book claims.

If what Halperin says is true:

So what.
Being teh gay is not a crime, neither is crossdressing.
What business is it of Halperin's outing someone who didn't want to be outed before the guy is even put into the ground?

If what Halperin says is false:

Scumbag.
Way to make a buck.
Your Mother must be so proud.