Stay classy Walmart.
December 2008 Archives
It is so wrong but makes me laugh every damn time.
While we're on the subject, some liquor-related history.
A little tale of global libations to celebrate the coming of the new year.
With a slideshow
Some funny and not-so-funny-when-you-think-about-it moments from politics this year. Enjoy.
Read this. Herbert is right, we should be running Bush out of town on a rail.
Oh what the hell, every dog has his day and Chavez is actually right on this one.
"The message of Christ, who said the Kingdom of Heaven is that of the poor, has been very often manipulated. In this way they have for centuries manipulated the poor of the world, to make them quietly accept exploitation."
A top 25 list for Dick Cheney so that he can really, really know why he is so universally loathed.
Don't go away mad bitch, just go away.
Some food for thought on how much of a dill hole this moron is.
I, for one, will be so very happy to see him go away.
Big surprise. In the Age of Bush, political appointees hampered, undercut, and basically killed OSHA's powers to keep our nation's workers safe.
Why does this not surprise me?
Abstinence only my ass. Kids will do what kids will do unless you actually educate them on what real choices they have, and what the actual consequences of those choices are.
Education: the enemy of the fanatic but the savior of society. Remember that the next time some Talibangelical tries to sell you on "intelligent design", abstinence only education, or public funding of some Protestant madrassa through vouchers.
From HuffPo, a list of popular YouTube vids from 2008.
And so we begin with a sampling of top 10 lists.
I'll probably pick and choose a few as days go by.
Wal-Mart won't hire a pharmacist who will sell you birth control, but the supposedly moral values company has no problem selling you a vibrator. Why? Get this: because Wal-Mart "has a diverse mix of shoppers who visit our stores each day, and we are committed to providing customers with the selection of products they expect to find in our stores."
I call bullshit.
Turns out the GOP actually DID steal at least seven million votes but McCain lost anyway.
Can we PLEASE declare the GOP un-democratic and throw some of them in a hole like Gitmo so they get a taste of their own medicine?
Also, Rove's pet election tech Nazi, Michael Conner, died recently in a plane wreck and some are saying it might not be an accident. Turns out he might have been close to having to answer some questions under oath.
With the Age of Bush ending, don't be surprised to see more neo-con "accidents" in the near future.
Give this a listen. Dr. Robert Fielden makes a weekly commentary on the local NPR station here in Vegas.
I thought this was very timely and important to consider this time of year. Thanks Doc.
How to save at least one American auto giant. Ford's got some cash. Looks like Chrysler is ass out.
The Rethugs might be happy with our increasingly Third World nation, but we deserve better. Tom Friedman weighs in.
Bob Herbert rightfully calls out the GOP for blaming workers for our economic woes.
Last thing I remember, teachers didn't underfund schools and the UAW didn't design and force the production of the Hummer.
Meanwhile, the GOP is too busy trying to kill the union movement than to save the economy. Whoever said these idiots knew what they were talking about fiscally or socially? Hell, what ARE they right on?
KBR, a division of Halliburton, has done all matter of shady shit to our troops, at multiples of the cost it would take if the Army did these things themselves. They have not only done the jobs poorly, they have actively ignored safety issues and, in this case, poisoned our soldiers so that they are dying of lung cancer.
This reminded me of something I read earlier this month, that KBR also gave our soldiers filthy water, including using mortuary trucks to transport ice, that "still had traces of body fluids and putrefied remains" when they delivered ice to our soldiers.
THESE are the ilk that run with Cheney and company, the assholes that Bush makes us pay a premium for instead of getting the army to do the job themselves. We're paying WAY too much to Bush donors for work that is killing American soldiers.
GOP, still proud of yourselves? Hell, you probably don't even care.
I am so frigging tired of hearing about how the police love to kill people's dogs.
Seriously, stop it.
I heard this story while bringing Gabriel home from his four month shots today.
Poor little guy is resting with Mom today (hopefully).
While back at work, I checked out the article referred to in the interview.
Perhaps we can put a list on Wall Street of those who help others in these dark days. And perhaps another list of the asshats who steal company funds, steal government bailout funds for their bonuses, and generally steal, lie, cheat, and commit crimes against shareholders, employees, and America.
At the least I'd like to know whose car I could egg if I felt the need.
More loathsome "compassionate conservatism" from the Family Values crowd.
When they find these rabid curs, they should put them down immediately. You know, for the greater good.
Great, Bush inadvertently did something to help the economy.
Too bad it isn't our economy.
That said, this is a nice addendum to a ridiculous incident.
This is totally cute and probably completely confusing to a kid learning their ABCs.
That said, I am probably geeky enough to teach my kid the Aurebesh alphabet. And probably how to speak Mando'a too.
Seriously, be concerned for my youngling. He *does* have me for a father.
Another reason to make your own eggnog.
I have to believe that there are still some Republicans who are willing to work for a better America, who can admit they aren't always in the right.
There is a need for a skeptical party of actual fiscal conservatives who fear the outside world.
Here are some pointers on how to help your party find it's way again.
Good luck.
From Crooks and Liars, a look into an upcoming story of how white militias hunted and murdered black people in the days after Hurricane Katrina.
Another story from there on Nazi infiltration of our military.
Racists murdering blacks and Arabs for sport around the globe and here at home. AKA the GOP base.
And how about how we treat our troops in this country? Here is one soldier in Michigan fighting to keep his car after it got repossessed by Bank of America while he was in Iraq. Yeah, the same Bank of America that took government money and has, to date, screwed over Republic Window in Illinois and SGT Rupprecht and is STILL not lending any money.
And then, of course, the United States once again stands alone and has refused to sign a declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality. That's right, we reserve the right to imprison and take the rights away from people based on their sexual persuasion. So much for freedom and justice for ALL. We join other enlightened entities like Russia, China, all Muslim nations, the Vatican, and anyone else with a 10th century mindset in our backwardness. Congrats bigots, you continue to hold the keys to the city.
More on Moron Rick Warren, from John Hodgman.
We're in for a long ride folks.
A HUGE Whiskey Tango Foxtrot to Barack Obama today.
As detailed in this article, Mother Jones says it better than I can:
Rick Warren is the pastor of the California-based megachurch known as Saddleback and the author of super-bestseller The Purpose Driven Life. He wins plaudits from mainstream media types and Very Serious People because he is trying to expand the evangelical community's priorities beyond the standard social issues. He wants to see more attention paid to poverty, climate change, AIDS, and human rights. That's all well and good, but Warren still has many views that match the hardline right. He strongly supported Proposition 8. He considers stem cells "non-negotiable." He compares abortion to the Holocaust. He has admitted the difference between between him and James Dobson is primarily "a matter of tone." In a move that would make George Orwell proud, he just gave George W. Bush an "International Medal of P.E.A.C.E."
Let's get this straight: why the FUCK would someone pick a Talibangelical bigoted asshole at a moment when you are trying to bring the country together?
More background on the guy who advocates assassination, hates women, as well as compares being pro-choice akin to being a Holocaust denier, hates gays and is basically a scumbag.
The asshole in his own words:
Thankfully, I'm not the only one who thinks that coddling the more extreme bigots of our time is a way to unify the nation. Face it, there WILL be racists who won't give up, there WILL be hardcore Republicans loading guns looking to kill Obama, and there WILL be Talibangelical flat earth asshats just waiting to teach our kids creationism, take away their choices, turn the girls back into property, make the boys march off to eternal war, remove logic, reason, and education because knowledge only distracts from having a narrow, angry view of the world.
Kowtowing to hate is not a winning plan and it really, really sickens me that the guy I've put time, effort, and money into electing does not see it that way.
I feel dirty.
Letterman points out a few moments to be both savored, relished, and embarrassed about the Bush years.
The Talibangelicals are stooping to lying and bribery to get Bibles into the hands of children.
You know, because there apparently aren't enough churches around.
What blows here is that these supposedly moral public servants and bending existing law to the point of breaking to spread their own doctrine in public schools.
We've invaded Afghanistan for stuff like this.
We're supposedly liberating Iraq to stop the Iranians from doing the same thing there.
We don't support the Hamas-led Gaza government because we don't want religion interfering with government.
Egypt gets billions upon billions of dollars to stop religious extremists from doing the same thing there.
But it's okay here for some dumb-assed reason.
Why?
If you feel the need to forward an email, refer to this:
Once again, I am supposed to be okay with physicians and pharmacists not treating their patients because of religious zealotry, and now I'm supposed to be fine with racists who want swastikas on a birthday cake? This isn't intolerance, it is standing up for what's right.
Of course, even though one store had the balls to call a wrong wrong, frigging Wal-Mart had no problem making the hate speech cake for Lil' Hilter.
One of the better recaps of yesterday.
It snowed at least a few inches around town today, pretty heavily for a bit this afternoon. Most folks I drove with did a good job of slowing it down and keeping distance. You know, except for that a-hole in the pickup who almost rear ended me and the Mercedes who thought he owned the road and almost clipped five cars.
We lost power sporadically around town, including the famous Vegas sign. The airport slowed to a crawl, and the main roads got shut down. But other than losing some cable channels for awhile, it was just a good night to grab a bag o' cheeseburgers and hunker down to watch Step-Brothers.
Which was funny. And now I'm off to sleep for as long as Gabriel will let me.
Leslie has pics. We'll try to post them soon.
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and put them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and shoots you.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
PURE ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you.
LIBERTARIAN/ANARCHO-CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
AMERICAN CAPITALISM: You have two cows. Then the government takes your cows and gives them to giant corporations that fucked up and let their cows die.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
Read this. So now I'm supposed to feel sorry for the bigots who supported Prop 8? Screw them.
I don't know why we're bailing out failed companies and paying bank officer's annual bonuses for driving their companies into the ground, and I don't know why hatred is something we're supposed to endorse cheerfully as "free speech".
Honestly, the Age of Bush can't end fast enough.
In New Jersey, your money is no good.
Religion may lead to more criminal behavior. Just saying.
Meet the folks who designed the "O" logo for Obama's campaign.
Also in Obama news, highlights from his and Michelle's interview on 60 Minutes a few weeks ago, plus video:
A mosaic of headlines from his win:
A behind the scenes look at the Obamas, as well as a Flickr photostream.
Also, a pre-election interview he did with Rolling Stone.
I've been meaning to get to all these, but time has been tight lately with tending to baby Gabriel. Enjoy,.
Old news, but no less despicable.
Bush leaves two children behind. Malia and Sasha Obama are told they can't move to DC so they can start school with the rest of their new classmates.
Stay classy Republicans.
Check it out. Bush says the Bible is probably not true. Yeah, what a slap in the face to his Talibangelical fans.
Next thing you know, he'll be drinking again. Oops. Too late.
Then there's the "Bush Legacy Project", a ham-fisted ploy to cover up or sweep under the rug eight years of anti-American mistakes.
Administration officials were recently given a "wish list" of talking points. Tellingly, they were leaked to the press.
So much for that "Bush Loyalty" we've heard so much of.
Read this. Feel more informed and reassured that knowledge will eventually defeat dogma in this country.
Alright, so it isn't that severe, nor nearly as funny as seeing hatemongers like Focus on the Family having to cut jobs.
That said, I was somewhat sadistically heartened to hear that NPR is running into some financial trouble. Yes, I listen to it in the car pretty much every day, but like I've said earlier, their pro-Clinton, then pro-McCain/anti-Obama slant this year immediately got me to stop contributing as a member.
Steve Inskeep on Morning Edition started off my ire by speaking with the divisive neo-cons that have helped make this nation an utter ruin earlier this year in his so-call Conversations with Conservatives. Instead of talking to Republicans who might wish to better America, he spoke with some of the most disgusting agents of division. It did not promote the cause of unity in a year where the guy who won the presidency is working hard at doing just that.
Also ugly to listen to - and glad to hear her show, Day to Day, is getting the axe - is Madeleine Brand, anti-unionist and Rethuglican-in-training. Listening to her slant the news is like listening to Limbaugh-lite and I'll be so glad to never hear her voice again, though I'm sure they'll find a home for her somewhere. Unfortunately.
I do, however, hope they find a home for The Unger Report. This week's was quite good.
Want to know why I laugh at the concept that the police are on our side? THIS is why.
You really can't make this stuff up on your own. Leave it to the right wing loons to do it for you.
Now if only they'd spent this much imagination on fixing the problems that plague this nation.
Oh wait, they pretty much CREATED those problems. Nevermind.
Check it out. Jobs you could have had instead of the one you're at now.
Hopefully, this is the end of the whore doll craze. The maker of Bratz, those disgusting toys that teach our nation's little girls that it is okay to paint on makeup, look like a slut and be anorexic-thin, have been ordered to stop production.
Granted, the ruling allows Mattel to go ahead and make a similar toy, but I really hope they won't.
For as damaging as teaching boys to mindlessly shoot everything as a solution to every problem is a bad thing, so is teaching young girls that emulating street hookers is a "good" thing.
Thankfully, I don't have a baby girl, but I definitely feel for those parents who won't have to worry about having to explain why they aren't buying this crap once the holiday season ends.
We are chock-full of secessionist nutjobs in this country. And not all of them run for Vice President, you betcha!
Some food for thought. Since hopefully Obama will spend some time de-Talibanizing our political culture, perhaps we should reach back to the 1950s and dial back the rhetoric some more.
Check out this series on immigration. Nice to know SOMEONE still considers this an issue that needs to be addressed as adults.
Okay, here's my thing. When even a Rothschild can identify what's wrong with our economic system and the Henry Paulson's of the world are still re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, that's when you know you're screwed.
Well said words in that article. Hopefully someone in charge is reading it.
Some helpful lessons in life from Barack from Men's Health magazine.
Bush wants to let Talibangelical doctors and pharmacists pick and choose what procedures they'll do based on whatever narrow-minded religious belief they adhere to.
Look, you're a doctor. You heal people. First, do no harm to the patient. Got it? You want to worry about their immortal soul? Become a clergyman. You want to worry about YOUR mortal soul. Get a soul first because if he already had one you'd know better than to mix your bigoted religion and the real important job of being a healer.
Frankly, I'd like to see any asshole who WILL NOT do their job fired, then sued, then beaten soundly by their community.
I mean, what's next? Evangelical firemen who won't put out fires at bars, synagogues, and homes of atheists? Police who won't intervene when a Goth kid is getting beat up by the football team because they *might* not be Christian?
Gimme a break. When you CHOOSE to serve the community, you have to serve the whole fucking community. End of story. No embellishment, no sidenotes, no flexible options. Do it, or get the hell out of the business so someone who WILL do it CAN.
One of our habits has been to watch the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC when coming home from work.
I mean, *I* am a news junkie, but Leslie isn't, and with the election coming we started watching more news this summer just to keep up to date on stuff. CNN started feeling more and more like FAUXNews Lite (seriously, how many conservatives does it take before you feel dirty watching a news program?) so we went over to MSNBC. For the record, Gloria Borger needs to get over herself, and Amy Holmes needs to realize that her friends, and probably her own mother, talk shit behind her back over how much of a smug twit she is. It was nice to have seen her grilled relentlessly on Maher a couple times.
That said, as much as I love Olbermann's overly dramatic smarminess, sometimes it IS a bit much. So, we both dig Rachel Maddow. She's snarky and sarcastic, but probably not much more than you or me. It has been fun to watch her develop her show around her personality and apparently others have noticed. Plus, for as much as I hound FAUXNews idjuts for tuning into their propaganda machine, it IS nice to have a newcaster actually agree with you once in awhile. Not to the exclusion of other voices, just to have a friendly face deliver the bad news in an agreeable way.
Then again, "friendly" and "agreeable" don't even come close to describing O'Reilly or Hannity. So maybe I don't have any common cause with those Rethugs after all.
The New York Times did a personal interest piece on her awhile back that was, well, interesting. This tied in well with an article on how she's changing evening cable news.
The American Prospect also did a good write-up on her back in September.
Newsweek did a pretty good writeup recently as well. Seems like folks are clued in to what quality programming is coming out of the idiot box every so often.
Even the Wall Street Journal jumps on the bandwagon.
So, hey, check it out if you haven't already.
The many pitfalls left by George Bush, this one with outsourcing our government to the highest bidder. Who then overcharges us.
Heard this on the radio this morning and it just sickens me. Part of NPR's Memo to the President series.
Matt Taibbi on the thanks we owe Bush, McCain, and even Palin for screwing up enough for us to get a President Obama.
For what it's worth: thanks you assholes. Now go away.
First the pay phones got thin on the ground, now mailboxes are disappearing.
I feel old.
For World AIDS Day yesterday, a reporter followed the long journey anti-retroviral drugs make to get to remote parts of Africa. A sobering tale of how much work we need to do.
Peter Sagal's take on our changing consumer culture.
Wisdom from Ill Doctrine:
You know, if this kind of thing happened more often, I wouldn't be so down on the concept of corporations.
That said, I'm sure most mom-and-pop family companies would do something similar for *their* folks. It is when the employees are cogs that the insidious BS kicks in.
Still a very touching story though.
Good news for those with peanut allergies.
Science at work folks. Get rid of the Talibangelicals and you'll get more helpful science.
Just thought you'd like to know.
This is how you fight back against religious extremists. Refuse to give them a religious burial.
Personally, I vote for cremation. The Hindus are good with it and you can dump the ashes down the commode or mix it with asphalt so you can drive over the bastards all day, every day.
Can we try this here with abortion clinic bombers and their supporters?
