Dec 2, 2011
Dec 1, 2011
Somethin's Up
I'm not a big fan of either Dennis Kucinich or Ron Paul, but when they're both singin' the same tune on a particular issue, I start to get the feeling I should pay a little more attention to what they're trying to say - at least on that one thing.
Nov 30, 2011
Cuz God Made It So
I repeat - I'm a capitalist because God's a capitalist.
But we have to do it better; we have to get back to an understanding that the system has to serve the people, not the other way around; and we have to adjust the model so it's comprised of interlocking closed loops, rather than a series of disconnected linear dead ends. Unfortunately, we've been suckered (again) into believing that the only way to make it work is to continue removing the controls. Well, guess what you get when the free market system is completely unfettered - you get exactly what Americans had to fight a revolutionary war to throw off in the 18th century. Aristocracy and entitlement, despotism and cronyism, inequality and slavery - any crappy thing you care to name that one human can do to another human.
Lastly, we have to remember that capitalism is a lousy substitute for democracy.
But we have to do it better; we have to get back to an understanding that the system has to serve the people, not the other way around; and we have to adjust the model so it's comprised of interlocking closed loops, rather than a series of disconnected linear dead ends. Unfortunately, we've been suckered (again) into believing that the only way to make it work is to continue removing the controls. Well, guess what you get when the free market system is completely unfettered - you get exactly what Americans had to fight a revolutionary war to throw off in the 18th century. Aristocracy and entitlement, despotism and cronyism, inequality and slavery - any crappy thing you care to name that one human can do to another human.
Lastly, we have to remember that capitalism is a lousy substitute for democracy.
Nov 29, 2011
When Newt Was Bullish On The Individual Mandate
Where did this Gingrich go? Well, he had to hide because the rubes who're running the GOP now drank the KoolAid that he insisted they drink on a constant basis thru the 90's. And he knows he doesn't stand a chance if he doesn't completely abandon even the appearance of the kind of rationality he used to talk about. He doesn't even try to sound reasonable any more - the rubes won't let him. (hat tip - Little Green Footballs)
Nov 28, 2011
Keeping Score
Anybody with a living, functioning brain knows DumFux News is a sham. When was the last time they won any of the several awards for any kind of journalism?
From Loose Live Stock in 2007: (*)
Fun Fact #2: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is on Comedy Central for 30 minutes a night, 4 nights a week, about 40 weeks a year - Jon Stewart has won the Peabody more often than DumFux News.
Fun Fact #3: The only "awards" DumFux News has managed to win are the ones that have been made up by either former News Corp execs, or by the heavy hitters behind phony organizations like AEI and AFP.
(*) A quick turn thru Wiki and the awards sites indicates that the only thing that's changed is that everybody's won a couple of more times - except for Dumont and DumFux News.
From Loose Live Stock in 2007: (*)
CBS News: 154Fun Fact #1: Dumont only survived for about 12 years, and has been off the air for 55 years - and they still have more awards than DumFux News.
ABC News: 122
NBC News: 114
PBS: 42
CNN: 33
BBC News: 15
MSNBC: 3
CNBC: 3
Dumont: 1
Fox News Channel: 0
Fun Fact #2: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is on Comedy Central for 30 minutes a night, 4 nights a week, about 40 weeks a year - Jon Stewart has won the Peabody more often than DumFux News.
Fun Fact #3: The only "awards" DumFux News has managed to win are the ones that have been made up by either former News Corp execs, or by the heavy hitters behind phony organizations like AEI and AFP.
(*) A quick turn thru Wiki and the awards sites indicates that the only thing that's changed is that everybody's won a couple of more times - except for Dumont and DumFux News.
Nov 25, 2011
Stay On Message
When Newt Gingrich imparts his wit and wisdom to us regarding OWS, and Rush Limbaugh points to 'rape, and property damage' in Zuccotti Park, remember one thing: it's not about any of that, so there's no need to defend against any of that. That's a typical ploy of someone who's trying to argue from a weak position. They try to change the focus of the debate, and it works too damned often.
Ignore this bullshit - you can say straight out that it's not about any of that if you feel the need, but you must avoid helping them prop up their straw man. If you take that particular bait, you'll end up sounding like you're trying to justify or rationalize criminal activities on the part of OWS protesters.
So pick a few of the points that are most important to you - points you think OWS represents to you - and stick to your guns. BTW: these things don't have to have anything to do with any "Official OWS Statement". Whatever you'd be protesting if you were organizing the thing is what you get to argue. At it's heart, it's about free speech in a democracy, remember?
If you wanna try it, you can do a little sales-y thing called Isolating the Objection. To wit: "So except for some bad actors, you agree with what OWS stands for - good - let's talk about the decline in wages over the last 35 years...; the dramatic rise in childhood poverty last year...; the fact that 52% of all Americans can expect to spend at least one year below the poverty level..."
You can also try a variation on The Turnaround: "So we're agreed that illegal activity in any venue is immoral, and that it doesn't matter who the perpetrator is - so if it was a few very rich and powerful bankers committing crimes in Zuccotti Park, would you be arguing for or against holding them accountable?"
Ignore this bullshit - you can say straight out that it's not about any of that if you feel the need, but you must avoid helping them prop up their straw man. If you take that particular bait, you'll end up sounding like you're trying to justify or rationalize criminal activities on the part of OWS protesters.
So pick a few of the points that are most important to you - points you think OWS represents to you - and stick to your guns. BTW: these things don't have to have anything to do with any "Official OWS Statement". Whatever you'd be protesting if you were organizing the thing is what you get to argue. At it's heart, it's about free speech in a democracy, remember?
If you wanna try it, you can do a little sales-y thing called Isolating the Objection. To wit: "So except for some bad actors, you agree with what OWS stands for - good - let's talk about the decline in wages over the last 35 years...; the dramatic rise in childhood poverty last year...; the fact that 52% of all Americans can expect to spend at least one year below the poverty level..."
You can also try a variation on The Turnaround: "So we're agreed that illegal activity in any venue is immoral, and that it doesn't matter who the perpetrator is - so if it was a few very rich and powerful bankers committing crimes in Zuccotti Park, would you be arguing for or against holding them accountable?"
Nov 24, 2011
Tradition Addition Edition
My mother-in-law visits us every Thanksgiving for several days, and being full-blood Ukrainian (as is my lovely bride), she always helps us create some pysanky and we make a big (fully justified) fuss over the homemade perehe she brings us for dinner.
This year, a colleague who is married to a 1st generation Ukrainian beauty brought his family unit for a little visit, and introduced us to Medivka - a traditional concoction of vodka, spices and honey. All I can say is "mighty fine". And it's right next to spectacular when added to the morning coffee.
This year, a colleague who is married to a 1st generation Ukrainian beauty brought his family unit for a little visit, and introduced us to Medivka - a traditional concoction of vodka, spices and honey. All I can say is "mighty fine". And it's right next to spectacular when added to the morning coffee.
 |
| Pysanky |
 |
| Perehe (aka pirogi) |
Medivka:
1-1/4 cups water
Zest of 1 orange, tangerine and/or
lemon
3 whole cloves
1 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup buckwheat honey
2-1/2 to 3 cups vodka (or grain
alcohol)
Place the water, citrus zest, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg
in a small saucepan. Cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
Strain the water through a clean cotton cloth into another
pan and add the honey.
Bring to a low simmer, skimming the foam from the top.
Warm the vodka (or alcohol) in a bottle, in a water
bath.
Add the honey mixture to the warmed vodka (or alcohol),
shake well, cap, and let cool.
Nov 23, 2011
Best Guitar Player You Never Heard Of
Tommy Emmanuel - sorry about the sound quality; still looking for something better.
Nov 22, 2011
OWS Meme
Officer Pike has won himself a place in Mike's American Liberties Hall Of Shame.
(hat tips: Balloon Juice, facebook)
(hat tips: Balloon Juice, facebook)
This Is A Justice System?
Via Crooks and Liars, Matt Taibbi at Rolling Stone:
Apparently in this country you become ineligible to eat if you have a record of criminal drug offenses. States have the option of opting out of that federal ban, but Mississippi is not one of those states. Since McLemore had four drug convictions in her past, she was ineligible to receive food stamps, so she lied about her past in order to feed her two children.
The total "cost" of her fraud was $4,367. She has paid the money back. But paying the money back was not enough for federal Judge Henry Wingate.To hear some people tell it, you'd think OWS was nothing but spoiled kids gripin' about their allowance. Taibbi's story serves to point out a few things that really are just flat wrong with the way we've been doing things here in the USA for a good long time. And it isn't only about "the rich get richer and the poor get children". There are real problems with the basic structure of our system. So I don't know what all we need to do to fix it, but maybe we could start by addressing the concept of equal protection under the law.
Nov 21, 2011
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