Friday, September 30, 2005

Excusese, excuses

I know I should post - it's been since Wednesday. But, I have great excuses. First of all, I've been off reading other people's blogs. Why post when someone else is making my point?

My second excuse - I've been busy. Kids, etc, and now I have about 6 hostas on my front porch that I need to plant. I don't even know where to put them, but they are loverly. I also got a hydrangea. Oh, I'm so excited.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Fashion news

Fox news reports :

Vivienne Westwood has launched a line of T-shirts to take a stand against proposed anti-terror legislation.

"I am not a terrorist. Please don't arrest me," says one T-shirt, which Westwood designed to raise funds for Liberty, one of Britain's largest civil rights organizations.


Of course, if you want to take a stand with one of her shirts, I hope you're loaded. They cost $88.

NOOOOOOOO!

Jeff is on hiatus. This cannot be tolerated.

Drat, just yesterday I was working up a big "blog crush" post dedicated to his Shape of Days.

Commies on Parade

Photographic proof that my description of last weekend's marchers as "communists" was not merely name calling :

Zombietime

I especially like the picture of the guy wearing a shirt featuring Marx, Lenin, and Mao.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Useful Idiots on Katrina

Harry Belefonte and Danny Glover speak out :

When the hurricane struck the Gulf and the floodwaters rose and tore through New Orleans, plunging its remaining population into a carnival of misery, it did not turn the region into a Third World country - as it has been disparagingly implied in the media - it revealed one. It revealed the disaster within the disaster: grueling poverty rose to the surface like a bruise to our skin.

But the storm not only revealed the poverty of those most vulnerable, those left behind. It revealed the poverty of skewed priorities that put the shoulder of technology to the wheel of death rather than life, creating killing machines that are now called "smart" and surveillance systems that, in the words of the great Guyanese poet Martin Carter, "are watching you sleep and aiming at your dreams."


Oh yes. Living in a ghetto in the US is SO LIKE living in a third world country. It's just like living in Zimbabwe, where you have to steal across the boarder into Botswana to make some money to feed your family back home. And, it's JUST like living in the Sudan, where if you are first not killed by Islamic militants, you can exist by whoring yourself out to French UN workers for food (or be forcibly raped.) Yes. It's exactly the same.

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Cindy gets spanked on Kos

Now that they are chastising her EVEN on Kos (in the comments), can we officially move Cindy to the moonbat category w/o further debate?

From commenter "hibsnet" in reply to Cindy's whine (it was just a little wind and a little rain, sayeth Cindy) that the media was covering Rita instead of her anti-war fest:

Well Joan Baez sang for you today, and you got your smiling-happy picture taken with Jesse Jackson today, and your story is still front page on CNN.com today. So it was a very good day. Yes it was a beautiful day for Cindy wasn't it?

Except for a little wind and a little rain earlier.


Perhaps Cindy doesn't care about the wind and rain because it didn't hit the poor and black (or radical). But, on a more positive note, I wonder if this is the sound of sanity creeping into the liberal party? We can sure hope so. I mean, it's fun and all to watch, but I'd prefer a more rational democrat base.

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Friday, September 23, 2005

That's it

I've done enough for today. I'm going running.

Teenage Parenthood?

Ack! Moment over here explaining why teenage motherhood for black young women might be a rational choice. It seems they have confused the "results" of teenage parenthood, with it's causes.

Just a question

Who names their kid Shepherd?

ANSWER

For those who bristle at my calling those participating in this weekend's protest "Moonbats", I offer this:

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition organized the first national demonstration against war and racism following September 11 on September 29, 2001, which brought 25,000 people into the streets of Washington DC and 15,000 in San Francisco.
The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition gained prominence because the Coalition from its earliest days after September 11, 2001 provided a principled and activist orientation to organize political resistance through mass action, and created a forum for people of conscience to speak out when so many others were silent. Many of the national organizations that constitute the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition Steering Committee were those groups in the anti-globalization movement who - after September 11 and in the most difficult circumstances when people in the Untied States were subject to a carefully orchestrated round the clock campaign to create a war fever - initiated a strategy and mass mobilizations to counter the Bush Administration’s endless war drive, its so called war on "terrorism."
The Coalition has since then worked to build an anti-racist, peace and social justice movement. The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, thus, had initiated the mass anti-war movement in the United States. A central characteristic of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition’s organizing strategy has been to work in partnership with the Arab American and Muslim community and other sectors in U.S. society who have been traditionally ignored. This has helped to create a truly multi-national anti-war movement.


So, in the days after 9/11 - the FIRST thing on these people's mind is to protest "war and racism" and to form an organization. And, the key word up there -anti-Globalization- is moonbat code-speak for "anti-American." ANSWER is one of the major supporters of these weekend's activities. For a nice look at ANSWER in action, Bill at INDC has done in-depth research.

Now, granted, I am sure there will be bereaved parents marching - those not worthy of the moonbat designation. There will be those who just want peace. But, they will be marching next to Socialists, Communists, anti-Semites, and some of the most un-American Americans we've got.

Oops

So predictable that they would first blame Israel:

 A pickup truck carrying masked militants and two homemade rockets blew up at a Hamas rally Friday, killing at least 10 Palestinians and wounding 85, hospital doctors said.

Hamas blamed Israel, but the Israeli military denied involvement and the Palestinian Interior Ministry said the blast was set off by the mishandling of explosives.


Witnesses say the truck carried homemade weapons. Loverly.

Expecting a Post today?

Well, perhaps I can obliged. A picture of a cat or something. I'm gonna try to muster up some outrage regarding the weekend's anti-war march. It's not that I'm not irritated, it just - I don't know what else there is left to say. Moonbats on parade.

I will quote Christopher Hitchens from last week's debate with certified looney George Galloway :

: If you examine the record of the so-called the anti-war movement in this country and imagine what would have happened had its counsel been listened to over the last 15 and more years, you would have a world in which the following would be the case...

Saddam Hussein would be the owner and occupier of Kuwait, he would have succeeded in the annexation, not merely the invasion, but the abolition of an Arab and Muslim state that was a member of the Arab League and of the United Nations. And with these resources as we now know because he lost that war, he was attempting to equip himself with the most terrifying arsenal that it was possible for him to lay his hands on. That's one consequence of anti-war politics, that's what would have happened.

In the meanwhile, Slobodan Milosevic would have made Bosnia part of a greater Serbia, and Kosovo would have been ethnically cleansed and also annexed. The Taliban would be still in power in Afghanistan if the anti-war movement had been listened to, and al-Qaeda would still be their guests. And Saddam Hussein, with his crime family, would still be privately holding ownership over a terrorized people in a state that's been most aptly described as a concentration camp above ground and a mass grave underneath it.


To often (even this morning, on the radio) I hear anti-War protesters advocating peaceful methods of conflict resolution. Ever try that with a murderer? Or a rapist? Or a thief? How does that usually work out?

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Speaking of ...

Speaking of falling approval numbers, take a gander at these.

911 Calls

Those calls for help as Katrina hit the shore are very sad to listen to. But, there was no one there to help, because there was a MANDATORY evacuation. See, that means, you are supposed to leave. If the shit hits the fan, there won't be anyone there to help you. This includes (amazingly enough) the Federal Government. EVEN IF THE LEVEE BREAKS A HOURS LATER, because - you see- people are still evacuated and won't be there to help you.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Shameful!

It is just shameful what happened in New Orleans, and how George Bush did nothing to stop the misery. He should have acted as Bill Clinton did in 1995, when only 1000 people died in a heat wave.

If an elected politician or the media want to play a blame game then all natural disasters that resulted in hundreds or thousands of preventable deaths should be treated equally. If Hillary Clinton wants to shout from the rooftops and make demands for a "Katrina Commission" she should also demand a "Heat Wave Commission."
A disproportionate number of black people died in the heat wave of 1995. Yet, no one ever said, "Bill Clinton doesn't care about black people."


You must read the whole thing. And, then come back and tell me that the media isn't biased.

Tagged

5 songs I know all the words to

Jeremy, Pearl Jam
Black, Pearl Jam
American Idiot, Greenday (JOKING)
This Night has opened my eyes, The Smiths
Pale Shelter, Tears for Fears


5 Snacks

Pretzels w/ hummous
Grapefruit
handful of cereal
slice of summer sausage
home made cookie

5 things I'd do with a $100 million

Move
Pay off debt
Donate a bunch
Save
Dream


5 Places I'd run away to

UP of Michigan
Any Mountainous region (in North America)
Banff (always wanted to go there)



5 things I'd never wear

Che Geuvara shirt
hemp clothing
Patchouli
anything Orange
A fedora



5 favorite tv shows

Battlestar Gallatica
House
24
(sorry, only 3)

5 greatest joys

beautiful weather
immediate family (including my dog)
A good run
My garden/ gardening in general
getting everything done in time (which rarely happens)


5 favorite toys

My iMac
My iPod
My camera
My pop-up campter
My new printer - I'm such a geek- but it really helps with our home schooling.

Now... who should I tag?? Oh, heck, if you have time, tag yourself. I don't want to bug ya if you're too busy.

Monday, September 19, 2005

Saint Cindy

Huffpo

One thing that truly troubled me about my visit to Louisiana was the level of the military presence there. I imagined before that if the military had to be used in a CONUS (Continental US) operations that they would be there to help the citizens: Clothe them, feed them, shelter them, and protect them. But what I saw was a city that is occupied. I saw soldiers walking around in patrols of 7 with their weapons slung on their backs. I wanted to ask one of them what it would take for one of them to shoot me. Sand bags were removed from private property to make machine gun nests.


Humn ... I imagine all it would take would be for her to tell them her name. But, remember, she LOVES the troops. She "supports" the troops. Funny how quickly she can turn on a dime. Someone from moonbat central - remind Saint Cindy that the current talking points are "love the solider/hate the commander-in-chief."

I would fisk more, but really - Cindy is just silly. She plays the class envy instrument like a fiddle; Bush only cares about the top 2%, only the poor know what hard work is, bla bla bla. Later, she even says: " If George Bush truly listened to God and read the words of the Christ, Iraq and the devastation in New Orleans would have never happened." So - New Orleans was hit by a storm sent by God because Bush didn't listen to God? Oye.

I'm ALIVE

My service as been turned off SINCE FRIDAY MORNING. Pay the bill a tad late, and apparently they still turn it off. EVEN IF WHEN THEY TURN IT OFF, THEY'VE ALREADY POSTED YOUR PAYMENT DAYS PREVIOUSLY. I called on friday, and got the run-around from a horrible customer service person. Today, I called, and they turned it on in about two minutes. She had no idea why is was still off.

Nice, huh?

Friday, September 16, 2005

What next?

You know, when Clinton was president, we didn't have bubonic plauge loose in New Jersey.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Case study by File It Under

Honestly, the only type of blog links I haven't done are the "Carnival style." Mostly because I'm just too lazy.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Attention Kayne West/ Updated

West accused Bush (and - by extension -white America in general) of helping the poor and black "as slow as possible." Matter of fact, according to West, Bush doesn't care about black people. Funny, then, along comes this story;


— Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a congressman used National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal belongings — even while New Orleans residents were trying to get rescued from rooftops, ABC News has learned.


Said congressman is both a Democrat and a black man. So, while people were waiting to be rescued from rooftops, this black Democrat, used the military to drive him to his home, and wait on his porch for about an hour, while he retrieved things from his home. When did this happen? On September 2. The same day as West's famous comments.

Update: Blanco said what?

H/t: Scott who doesn't do politics on his blog.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Key to a good relationship

Scott shares with me some information he came across regarding the key to a good relationship: Pretending to give a shit.


"If I didn't sit there in total silence, staring off into the distance but occasionally grunting out an 'Oh yeah?' or a "No kidding,' Jena would probably start to think we have a communication problem," said Woodman. "Sure, I could just walk out of the room when she starts barking out her meaningless ramblings, but that would be equivalent to just coming right out and saying that she's boring me."


Ah - love.

Thanks for the advice Scott. Can I use it while my hubby talks to me about football?

I thought I was a Republican

But, according to this survey I certainly don't qualify as an "anti-Huffpo" blogger, and by extension - a conservative.

Particularly interesting was this:

Fred Phelps says "New Orleans, symbol of America, seen for what it is: a putrid, toxic, stinking cesspool of fag fecal matter."
-is this an example of what Bush calls "Compassionate Conservatism?"
-Do you think Phelps's desire to demonize gays exposed his own delusional fantasies?
-Do you think Phelps's pants were on when he wrote that fantasy?


Funny, because Phelps is a DEMOCRATE.

More:

-do you understand the motivations and feelings of working people?
-because you own a maid?
-do you like to put outfits on your maid?
-and take pictures?


I understand the motivations, because I am one of the "working people" asshole. And, while I don't "own" a maid, my husband has indicated he wouldn't mind me dressing up as one, AND taking pictures. Does that count?

Do you have a trust fund, a yellow magnet on your car, and a golfing buddy who knows somebody who knows somebody whose cousin is in the National Guard?
Do you celebrate "political incorrectness" above all?
And you're pushing 40?



No, no, and no. Really I lose points on this one, since my hubby was in national guard until he retired after 22 years. And, his brother is in the National Guard in Iraq right now.

I have to say that my answer to just about every one of the survey questions was "no." Man, I hope this doesn't mean I have to become a liberal. I think I'd rather gouge my eyes out.

File this under "YGTBFKM"*

Blair's advisors are proposing the elimination of "Holocaust Remembrance Day" because, get this, Muslims are offended by it.

The draft proposals - which provoked a backlash from British Jewish leaders - want to replace Holocaust Memorial Day with a Genocide Day that would include recognition of Muslim deaths in the West Bank and Gaza, Chechnya and Bosnia, the Times said.

A Home Office spokesman said it would consider the proposals but said it regarded the Holocaust as a "defining tragedy in European history," according to the report.

"The very name Holocaust Memorial Day sounds too exclusive to many young Muslims," a member of one of the committees was quoted as saying. "It sends out the wrong signals: that the lives of one people are to be remembered more than others. It's a grievance that extremists are able to exploit."


You know, the West Bank, Gaza, Chechnya, and Bosnisa should feel free to hold as many "remembrance" days they want. They can have them IN the West Bank, Gaza, Chechnya, and Bosnia. The fact that much of the middle east was cheering on Hitler (and to this day, have kept Mein Kampff on the bestseller list), suggests something else is at work here. When I think of "extremists" - those holding a Holocaust memorial service aren't the first ones who come to mind. WWII, and the Holocaust have become a defining moment to the Western Society- and wrapping it up into some "Everybody Hurts" fest is just stupid.

h/t:ace

*You got to be f'ing kidding me

Monday, September 12, 2005

Ut oh!

They're on to us over at Daily Kos:

I am happy to hear that there are only 200 people dead in NO, but this doesn't sound right. If the people didn't leave and didn't get evacuated then what happened to them?? I hope there are no evil doings going on.


This is NOT a drill, I repeat, this is NOT A DRILL. Operation cover-up is now in full effect. Please keep close to your fax machines to await further instructions from Karl Rove.

Friday, September 09, 2005

GEORGE BUSH EATS BROWN BABIES

This just in: George Bush eats brown babies. The report, at this point, is unconfirmed .

Related

Bryon York's piece in NRO on yesterday's Moveon.org rally in Washington DC, describes an interchange between a Moveoner and a Bush supporter.

Just then, a man walked up to Taylor and said, "If George Bush ate a baby, would you defend him?"

"That's absurd," Taylor answered.

"Well, that's kind of where you're at right now," the man said.

"So you're saying George Bush eats babies?" Taylor responded. "That's absurd. And it's exemplary of the mindset of the MoveOn crowd. These guys are so far out from reality, it's pathetic."

With that, Taylor began an impassioned, impromptu speech. "Now, please try to figure out what's going on in this country," he said, his voice booming. "There has been an enormous outpouring of goodwill from people on both sides of the political spectrum. You know, when those soldiers and national guardsmen go into the homes of the victims, they don't ask, are you Republican, are you Democrat. They ask, do you need help? What can we do to help you? I wish that this crowd out here would have the same attitude, because all you're doing is trying to tear the country apart for political purposes."


A-freakin-men.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Wanna be a HUFFPO blogger?

Greg Gutfeld has a nice little survey to see if you have "what it takes" to fit in. A little sample:

Do you believe people are too afraid to discuss the "taboo" of race?
Yet you can discuss it for hours, insert it into any topic, from natural disasters to footwear?
Do you feel compelled to let blacks know immediately where you stand on the topic of race?
Do you feel compelled to tell blacks how much you admire Spike Jonze?
Do you realize the next day that you meant Spike Lee?

Is there anything racist about the fact that Oprah Winfrey talks black to black people, and then talks differently to white people?
-And what's up with Steadman, anyway?
-He's really taking care of himself!


Breaking news

The Left has lost it's mind.

This just in

Attention race baiters, and the "Blame Bush" crowd this just in.

H/t - shamelessly stolen from Protein Wisdom.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Anne Rice

"To my country I want to say this: During this crisis you failed us. You looked down on us; you dismissed our victims; you dismissed us. You want our Jazz Fest, you want our Mardi Gras, you want our cooking and our music. Then when you saw us in real trouble, when you saw a tiny minority preying on the weak among us, you called us "Sin City," and turned your backs.”


Someone needs to STFU.

Charitable giving efforts

National Guard assistance

Fema

Fema's medical assistance

I could sit here all day searching and listing the aid that is being made available. Anne Rice just slapped all those people in the face.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

It's the thought that counts

So, thanks for the thought. Oh wait, the thought ain't so great either. I've got my eye on Canada too.

Mandatory reading

Bill Whittle's essay Tribes. It's hard to pick what to excerpt, but here is a bit- comparing the reaction to crises of NO to that of NYC:

[I]n Louisiana last week the governor cried and the mayor blamed everyone but himself, and half the country bought every single stinking Pink lie about global warming and missing National Guard units and blamed the sheepdogs while the wolves raped and pillaged and looted everything in sight.

Hundreds of New York firemen and policemen never came home, never came home, but New Orleans Police Chief P. Edwin Compass III said, of his men, “If I put you out on the street and made you get into gun battles all day with no place to urinate and no place to defecate, I don’t think you’d be too happy either… Our vehicles can’t get any gas. The water in the street is contaminated. My officers are walking around in wet shoes.”

Well, Chief, I’m sorry your men’s feet are wet, but getting their feet wet is part of their fucking job. New York’s Finest aren’t complaining about wet feet or places to pee because they died doing their jobs. They were sheepdogs.


Get a cup of coffee, and read the whole thing. Who do you want to be? A sheep or a sheepdog (among the wolves?)

For the factually challeneged

Here is a good timeline.

H/t: Jeff who has written some excellent pieces over the weekend on Katrina.

And not one mention of color

This is unbelievable. No wonder there were not enough cops in NO to keep "control."

Monday, September 05, 2005

And he's a WINNER


DSC00440
Originally uploaded by Carinroz.
Of course, he won. But to rub it in a bit- I offer the photographic proof. He's creaming that chick, and she's got two people helping her. He is, of course, looking at me as I ran alongside, cheering him on.

Race Day!!!


DSC00436
Originally uploaded by Carinroz.
Here you see Ethan ready to go, but we couldn't find his helmut. He was a bit upset about the pink one. Oh well, a true champion cannot be held back.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

stopped up

I am so irritated by "events" that I can hardly blog. Kate at Small Dead Animals expresses so much of what is pissing me off. As does Jeff. There is insanity out there.

I want to ask, though - if Bush (and by extention - Republicans) hate black people (and thus haven't tried to "save" them) - why is it that Texas is offering so much help? One of the reddest "Red States?" Don't make this "about race", or it's gonna be about race.

And sorry, but the cold hard facts are that many of those who were trapped in NO, without food or water, did absolutely NOTHING to aid in their own survival. They were WARNED to leave (their own Mayor left!) And, I've heard the tales of many in the city who did prepare - who had food and water, and merely waited for rescue. Uncomfortable, but relatively save (unless, of course, you count the roaming gang of thugs who threaten to rape the women, and steal the food.)

Despite being very "Red" (which must mean I hate brown babies) - I will do what I can to help. I've given money, and I will continue to give money. I'm trying to get my husband to talk his company into doing some sort of collection of material goods that can be sent South. If refugees make it this far north, I will do what I can to help them. I am sympathetic not because of their color, but because they are HUMANS. Period. Now, I wish people would just STFU about this being a racial issue.

Friday, September 02, 2005

From above

Good imaging of New Orleans from above here. I think I know where the French Quarter is - and I was looking for the Cafe du Monde - they are all dry, I believe??

H/t: the corner.

AMERICAblog: Because a great nation deserves the truth

Per the train of thought at Aravosis's AMERICAblog, shame on EVERY ONE OF YOU going away this weekend! How dare you when people in Louisiana are dying on the street.

More at Protein Wisdom

Thursday, September 01, 2005

In her own words II

"If Zarqawi and bin Laden gain control of Iraq, they would create a new training ground for future terrorist attacks," Bush said. "They'd seize oil fields to fund their ambitions. They could recruit more terrorists by claiming a historic victory over the United States and our coalition."(George Bush, August 30, 2005 in San Diego.)

So it is official, Casey had his blood shed in Iraq for OIL. He died so we could pay over 3.00/gallon for gas. Like I suspected all along, my dear, sweet son: almost 1900 others; and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis died so the oil fields wouldn't "fall into the hands of terrorists" and so George and his immoral band of greedy robber barons could become wealthier. Like I have said all along: how can these people sleep at night and how can they choke down their food knowing it is purchased off of the flesh and blood of others? We have found our "Noble Cause." And it is OIL. This man and his handlers need to be stopped.


I thought we went to Iraq for cheap oil? Regardless, is she really so emotionally distraught that she doesn't understand Bush's statement? Or is she being willfully disingenuous? Perhaps it was the sun. If she can't understand the danger of terrorists controlling oil wells, then the conversation is just over. But, really, I'm curious. Is her misunderstanding of Bush's statement intentional, or is she just ... challenged by it?

I'm not the only one

I'm not the only one REALLY REALLY irritated by Randi Rhodes. Take a listen to her comments:

"This President is never gonna do the right thing. I think somewhere deep down inside him he takes a lot of joy about losing people, if he thinks they vote Democrat or if he thinks they're poor, or if he thinks they're in a blue state, whatever his reasons are not to rescue those people who are (planning?) for their safety."


This is par for the course for Randi. I did a test last night - I switched between Randi Rhodes and Sean Hannity (they are on simultaneously here in Detroit.) Randi devoted her whole show (or as much as I could stomach) to blaming Bush for the tragedy. Sean Hannity focused on the tragedy and what could be done. One show focused on partisan blame, and the other on the depth of the crises and what we should and must do (give till it hurts, basically.) A similar experiment this morning yielded similar results; Bill Bennett discussed the humanistic aspect, while the "progressive talk" (the new code for Democrats) station discussed how to "stick it" to the profiteering oil companies.

I don't care

I don't care what gas costs today. I have a home, I'm dry, and looters aren't destroying what's left. Just FTR- the Hurricane wasn't Bush's fault. Exon and Cheney did NOT orchestrate this whole thing for profit. People WERE warned to leave. New Orleans is BELOW sea level, so a precarious existence as it is.

Now, I'm gonna be busy all day, so go read something positive and come back and tell me about it.