A Blog devoted to progressive politics, environmental issues, LGBT issues, social justice, workers' rights, womens' rights, and, most importantly, Cats.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year!
To all our friends, and readers both regular and irregular, a very Happy New Year. May it turn out to be the best year of all our lives.
Just knowing that we will have a new President, one elected by most of America and eagerly and joyously greeted by most of the world, gives us something to which we can look forward in the best of spirits.
Another HUGE plus will be the knowledge that the hideous visages of Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Rice, Gonzales, and their troop of sycophants and psychopaths will no longer be assaulting our eyeballs on a daily basis. Thus, the foul imprecations and vile verbiage that accompany our daily Diet of Worms, I mean, the news, will be that much sweeter with no one to hate along with our morning cup of whatever.
To my dear fellow bloggers, Milagrito y Sirenita Lake, FoTPC, and Ms. Manitoba, thank you for keeping me alive this past year through these bitter and painful times.
And to all, a good night (and an even better morning!).
Not a single major media outlet in the U.S. reported on this enchanting display of respect and affection for our Esteemed ChevronTanker-in-Chief, Condoleeza Rice. Even as our Saudi Arabian Overlords were showering Bootsie Ferragamo with expensive jewels — $316,000 worth of them, which our bootlickers in the professional media are describing as "Foreigners take(ing) a shine to" Rice — not a single one of them bothered to report that students in NZ had put a price on Rice's head.
Auckland University Students Association had to withdraw the bounty it placed on the head of Condoleezza Rice two days earlier, under threat of legal action. However, the students association at Victoria University in Wellington doubled the price, offering $10,000 for a successful citizen's arrest. Although several people turned up to the demo with handcuffs, the chance to nab Rice didn't present itself. Police refused to cooperate in the arrest of this war criminal, giving the irrelevant excuse that she is a visiting dignitary.
Much more newsworthy in my opinion. The degree to which our media shapes the information we receive is not lost upon the hoi polloi, you media jackals. There's a reason your circulation is dropping faster than Bush's approval rates (or lack thereof).
A third of a million dollars worth of jewelry gifted to the Secretary of State. Doesn't that look — and smell — bad? As one more famous than our humble self would say, "It stinks in my nostrils." Didn't anyone tell you, Condi, that Caesar's wife must be above suspicion?
Fortunately, our laws say that Condi can't keep the glitter for herself. It's all been turned over to the GSA, along with the mere $100,000 or so of gifts these same people gave to Boosh. It does make you wonder why these wealthy monarchs would give such expensive gifts to the Shoe Queen, though, doesn't it?
Thanks, New Zealanders, for showing us what we should have been doing from the first moment this warmongering lunatic began spouting her bullshit about war and torture and Terra. Thanks for standing up for human rights and human(e) conscience.
Photographs of this fine event are available at this link.
OK, I know I'm not gonna win friends and influence people with this one. At least not anyone who lives with snorers. But I'm dedicating this to the two wonderful people in my life who snore like they were cutting a goddamn forest down. You know who you are. Consider getting me sound-killing ear protection for Xmas. Or, whatthehell, maybe not. I'll still love y'all anyway.
The extra calories consumed are the same as a vigorous 30-minute workout in the gym.
Well, isn't that special, y'all.
There is a downside, however. Heavy snoring is usually associated with sleep apnea:
Sleep apnoea, in which the airways are partially or completely obstructed during sleep, stops the person getting a good night's rest, making them very sleepy during the day.
It has also been linked to a greater risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems.
Well, that's not good.
A new year is almost upon us, toots. What are y'all doing to ensure you get over this sleep apnea business? For one thing we could all stand to lose a little of the old avoirdupois, yes? This means you'll have to make up for that 30-minute gym workout you've been getting in your sleep with a real honest-to-doodah 30-minute gym workout while you're awake.
Also, teh diet. I'm getting my MRI sometime this week, hopefully, which means we can meet with the ME and the surgeon in a week at most, and schedule the surgery, probably for March. After that, we can all limp to the gym together (well, gimme a little time to get the staples out of the old gam and be pronounced fit for human company). Is it a deal? Am I hearing agreement heah?
Looking forward to regular weekend hikes again by damn!
By now, the entire civilized (and possibly even some of the less-civilized) world has heard about Muntadar al-Zaidi, the plucky Iraqi journalist who dared to tell Bush exactly what many Iraqis thought of his "War on Terra" in Iraq.
In case anyone out there has a very very short attention span, Muntadar al-Zaidi is the guy who yelled "This is from the widows and orphans of Iraq, you dog," or something very like it, at Georgie while flinging both of his shoes at the Fratboy in Chief.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've heard people say repeatedly that the man should have been more ... restrained? (If he wasn't before, he sure as fuck is now, lemme tellya. As in, imprisoned with his hands and feet tied up either before, during, or after the hella beating he took for, um, voting with his feet. Or his footgear, at least.) al-Zaidi's current status is unknown. An Iraqi judge has vowed to conduct an inquiry into the assault on Mr. al-Zaidi. Code Pink has sponsored a petition to support the gentleman, if you care to sign up.
On the lighter side, some kind soul has set up a Web site to thank Mr. al-Zaidi for his fateful shoe-throw.
Unfortunately, the idiots who arrested al-Zaidi destroyed his shoes in the "search" for explosives they conducted upon said footwear. They could have been between $100,000 and $10,000,000 richer today if they'd squirreled one or both away. Muntadar's brother, Dargham al-Zaidi, states that his brother bought Iraqi-made shoes for the purpose. However, a Turkish company, one Baydan Ayakkabicilik San. & Tic. (or Baydan Shoes, in English) claims that they are the designer and maker of the shoe in question and are happy to announce that their sales have shot up so much, they're looking into TV advertising in the coming year. To which, Americans mired in financial distress at the holiday season, must shrug and retort, "Well, at least he's helping someone's economy.
Never let it be said, however, that anyone has passed up an opportunity to make money off this supposed insult to Teh Leader of Teh Free (??) World. The entrepreneurial spirit thrives in the bosom of one Kenney Jacob, who has posted here for your further enjoyment the "Throw Shoe at Bush" game, one that we all here at La Casa de Los Gatos highly recommend, irritating music and all.
If you want to yell at the Haramzada in Arabic at the same time, try this site. Wired has a nice piece (complete with flash games) on the plethora of other Concerned Citizens and Furrners who felt called upon to memorialize the Idiot'nThief's, um, booting. And DuckDuckBush lets you throw lots of other fun stuff at Der Dumbkopf, but not, alas, scheiss. However, they do let you suggest other things to throw, so if anyone sees fit to head over there with suggestions, hey.
To all of those who are planning to get your knickers in knots about the disrespect this post and all those linked hereto are showing to the President of the U.S.A., I'd like to point out that the somewhere between four and five thousand of your fellow citizens who are dead and the estimated 100,000 maimed and injured are probably wishing they'd been able to hurl something more painful. Four million Iraqis are refugees inside and outside their own country, and I'll bet they'd like to be in on the throwing. Add the more than one million Iraqi, Afghani, and Pakistani dead and the countless numbers of maimed and injured. Don't forget the one in seven who can't buy sufficient food for themselves and their families, the children who are literally dying of malnutrition, and the uncounted number who are being attacked on the basis of gender, sexual preference, or other failure to conform to the hardline Islamist nutcases we have put in power.
If they could do anything they wanted to the man they consider responsible for the death, disability, disappearance, and torture of their loved ones, I don't think they'll be reaching for a mere shoe.
Note: Although many translate haramzada as "bastard," that translation is incorrect. Haram is an Arabic word meaning "unclean." Think treyf. Treyf is a Hebrew word that is applied to things that are forbidden under the Mosaic laws. Haram is the Arabic equivalent. Thus, dogs are haram (though not windhounds, search me); pigs or anything made of them is haram; bottom-dwelling seafood is haram. Zada is a Farsi word meaning "son of." (The female equivalent would be zadi.)
Joota is a Hindi word meaning shoe, or shoes. Although some of you may remember having heard the old filmi song, Mera joota hai Japani, we would like to take this opportunity to point out to you that an updated version is being created for the InterTubes, titled Mera joota hai Iraqi.
For those who wonder about the significance of throwing a shoe or two at Gee Dumbya, kindly consult Salman Rushdie's brilliant novel, Shame, in which he recounts the creation of a garland of shoes as suitable wear for the shameless females Munni, Chunni, and Bunny, who chose to become pregnant without the benefit of that holy matrimony which our straight brothers and sisters so strenuously deny to their gay and lesbian siblings.
Finally, some wise soul has recommended that those who agree with Mr. al-Zaidi instantly mail an old shoe or two to Preznitwit Booooosh, at the white house. DO IT NOW so them shoes don't end up on President Obama's lawn. You might want to put a note on the package like "If unable to deliver before 01/15/2009, please return to" and put the nearest Goodwill store's address on it. Or something.
Thanks to FOTPC and Ms. Manitoba for holding down the fort while I fought with lawyers, doctors, insurance company scumbags, and pain medication. That new knee is looking more likely in the coming year!
Ding dong the witch is dead, the wicked witch, the witch is dead
I hate to be one who celebrates the death of another human being, whether by natural causes or otherwise, but this is one person who caused so much grief to so many people with his idiotic and evil views that, well, I'm sorry, but I won't miss him. Good ridance. OK enough said. I should rise above being petty. I'm sure there were many people out there who loved him and I'm sorry for their grief. Now if you will excuse me, I've got some dancing in the streets to go do.
Bush Ducks Shoes: You've been messin' where you shouldn't have been a messin' ...
These Boots Were Made For Walking
You keep saying you've got something for me. something you call love, but confess. You've been messin' where you shouldn't have been a messin' and now someone else is gettin' all your best.
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.
You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin' and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet. You keep samin' when you oughta be changin'. Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.
You keep playin' where you shouldn't be playin and you keep thinkin' that you´ll never get burnt. Ha! I just found me a brand new box of matches yeah and what he know you ain't HAD time to learn.
Are you ready boots? Start walkin'!
Ms. Manitoba: It's hard work being a war criminal.
After the anti-science Bush administration, this is like going to a Mensa meeting after eight years of being trapped in the Flat Earth Society.
-- Daniel J. Weiss, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a liberal Washington think tank, on the appointment of Nobel-laureate physicist Steven Chu as the nation's energy secretary.
It's not just Democrats that must grow spines ... there are quite a few Republicans who need to also. Looks like Colin Powell is on his way. The Huffington Post has an item about what Powell talks about with Fareed Zakharia:
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell took aim at Sarah Palin and the Republican party's emphasis on small-town values during an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakharia that will air this Sunday.
Powell also says that we should rethink its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in the military.
He also challenges other Republicans about listening to Rush Limbaugh. To read the whole thing, go here.
[Hello, everyone. Ms. Manitoba is back! My knee is doing very nicely too. For those of you who inquired, thanks for your concern and good wishes.]
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Did you see this article on cnn.com about the perpetuators and foot soldiers of genocide? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I think back to Nazi Germany and wonder how Hitler could convince the people of a country so previously full of culture and scientific advancement to commit such unspeakably evil acts of murder. This article lays it out pretty simply. It's easy really.
Divide people into groups, us and them. Dehumanize the other group. They, the other group, are evil, an infection that will kill us unless we take action now. Then with the groupiness, a little mob psychology, presto chango, the ordinary person can become a killer.
How do you guard against that when the perfect storm of conditions can make it so easy? I don't know except to recognize it in all its forms and fight it.
I wonder how different really is genocide at its psychological core than what the Klan has done to black people. My own mother, raised in Alabama, used to walk to school in the morning and see black people hanging from trees who had been lynched and hanged the previous night by righteous upstanding white people, the pillars of the community.
And I am forever seeing people terrified of Muslims and warning that all Muslims are out to kill us.
And how about illegal immigrants? Aren't they all bad and evil and out to get our jobs or leech off our system? They couldn't possibly be looking for a better life and to contribute to society, could they?
Or have you ever heard the Reaganeers speak well of unions? Aren't unions the cause of all our problems? How many people in this country believe that? Unfortunately I hear it all the time.
I think we'd be wise to keep this report in mind whenever we hear such talk. Nip evil in the bud before it happens so we don't have to have regrets later. Thanks for reading.
Obamanomics vs. Reaganonics: Let's rumble! - new article by Paul B. Ferrell
Just a short post here to alert readers to a new article by Paul B. Farrell on MarketWatch. Paul Ferrel takes Steve Forbes and all the Reaganeers to task for their claptrap and predicts a historic transition in our economy under Obama. To which I say, hear hear! Oh, and doesn't the Reaganeers remind you of something, like maybe out of a Stephen King nightmare like The Langoliers? I think they both had about the same affect on things.
We know nearly 200 people died and an additional 300 or more suffered injuries. You can't say, in the face of so much human suffering, God, I hope none of my friends caught it in the neck, or Please God keep my friends safe. Because what kind of a god would it be that responded to your requests, but not those of some other friend of some random victim of this violence?
In the event, here is further proof of nonexistence of any kind of divine being. To kill randomly and deliberately people who have done you no harm simply because they're unfortunate enough to be in the same place at the same time as yourself, well ... Jon Stewart and John Oliver say it best:
As for the absolute motherfuckers and giant assholes behind this, may every one of them develop scrotal rot that causes their fun bits to fall right off never to be repairable or renewable. Also their progeny, if any, unto the nth generation. Offspring of venereally diseased camels that they are. May their wives have more hair than a wool rug and may their sons and daughters repudiate them with beatings. Be sharam haramzadas.
Ms. Manitoba just called to say her surgery went fine, and although she won't be blogging for a while (just like Milagrito's spokesfeline Sirenita Lake), she'll be back as soon as she's able.
So that's the second blogger from this fine establishment who's been under the knife. (Sirenita Lake had a hip replaced about a month and a half ago.) Ms. Manitoba now has a new knee.
Next under the knife is Yours Truly, who will also have a new knee to boast of. Meanwhile, we take our disgusting medications and loll about in a state of witlessness. At least there's no pain. Court hearing in a couple of weeks (fighting with the insurance provider) and possibly surgery in January.
FoTPC, that leaves you and me to hold the fort till then, kid. Although Milagrito will probably be back soon.
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