AlterNet: Outsourcing Intelligence: How Bush Gets His National Intelligence from Private Companies: "Over the past six years, a quiet revolution has occurred in the intelligence community toward wide-scale outsourcing to corporations and away from the long-established practice of keeping operations in US government hands, with only select outsourcing of certain jobs to independently contracted experts. Key functions of intelligence agencies are now run by private corporations. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) revealed in May that 70 percent of the intelligence budget goes to contractors."
So, not only are private corporations fighting the war in Iraq and profiting from it, but the world intelligence they provide to the president may well have influenced our decision to go to war, and will surely influence our future war decisions. The article describes how easy it would be to direct government action against a country that is not playing nice with American corporations.
As many people already know, wars are no longer waged to protect our freedom. They are waged to pump up the profits of corporations. A citizen's vote no longer matters, the only votes that matter are those of the big brother corporations that run our world...
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
U.S. checking possibility of pumping oil from northern Iraq to Haifa, via Jordan - Haaretz - Israel News
U.S. checking possibility of pumping oil from northern Iraq to Haifa, via Jordan - Haaretz - Israel News: "National Infrastructure Minister Yosef Paritzky said yesterday that the port of Haifa is an attractive destination for Iraqi oil and that he plans to discuss this matter with the U.S. secretary of energy during his planned visit to Washington next month. Paritzky added that the plan depends on Jordan's consent and that Jordan would receive a transit fee for allowing the oil to piped through its territory. The minister noted, however, that 'due to pan-Arab concerns, it will be hard for the Jordanians to agree to the flow of Iraqi oil via Jordan and Israel.'
Sources in Jerusalem confirmed yesterday that the Americans are looking into the possibility of laying a new pipeline via Jordan and Israel. (There is also a pipeline running via Syria that has not been used in some three decades.)"
Yes, our current way of stealing Iraq's oil is simply not efficient enough. We must find a way to steal it easier and faster.
Sources in Jerusalem confirmed yesterday that the Americans are looking into the possibility of laying a new pipeline via Jordan and Israel. (There is also a pipeline running via Syria that has not been used in some three decades.)"
Yes, our current way of stealing Iraq's oil is simply not efficient enough. We must find a way to steal it easier and faster.
The Raw Story | White House responds to request for info on Gonzales testimony
The Raw Story | White House responds to request for info on Gonzales testimony: "CNN Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux said the administration's letter declared that NSA programs other than the wiretapping program acknowledged by Bush are classified and cannot be discussed.
'So what they’re saying is everything else is secret but what he was talking about specifically was the Terrorist Surveillance Program,' she said Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for Sen. Patrick Leahy, the committee chairman who also is expected to receive the administration's response, told RAW STORY early Tuesday afternoon that he had not seen the letter."
What other programs are they running behind our backs? I cannot even imagine with the technology that is available to the NSA. Spy satellites, house bugs, electronic records...
'So what they’re saying is everything else is secret but what he was talking about specifically was the Terrorist Surveillance Program,' she said Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for Sen. Patrick Leahy, the committee chairman who also is expected to receive the administration's response, told RAW STORY early Tuesday afternoon that he had not seen the letter."
What other programs are they running behind our backs? I cannot even imagine with the technology that is available to the NSA. Spy satellites, house bugs, electronic records...
War Room: Political News, Politics News - Salon
War Room: Political News, Politics News - Salon: "So what about impeaching George W. Bush? Pelosi said that any effort to do so would divide the country and that she isn't sure what the odds of success would be. But she said that if she weren't the speaker and weren't in Congress, she'd 'probably be advocating' Bush's impeachment herself."
WTF??? She is in the congress and can do something about it. If she were a citizen, she could do nothing about it. The fact is that she does not want to be held accountable to the public. She just wants to spin words so that it looks like she might be doing something good for the country. The Bush administration HAS committed serious crimes, and it is HER DUTY to support impeachment, just as it is HER DUTY to abide by the Constitution. By not supporting impeachment, she is, in fact supporting the Bush administration and all of it's illegal activities. By not impeaching, she is allowing Herr Bush to transform this country into his own little version of Nazi Germany. His most prized programs of torture, spying, and abuse of executive authority are duplicates of Herr Hitler's policies.
So stand up and Impeach Bush, Pelosi, or you will be held accountable for the new Fascist States of America...
WTF??? She is in the congress and can do something about it. If she were a citizen, she could do nothing about it. The fact is that she does not want to be held accountable to the public. She just wants to spin words so that it looks like she might be doing something good for the country. The Bush administration HAS committed serious crimes, and it is HER DUTY to support impeachment, just as it is HER DUTY to abide by the Constitution. By not supporting impeachment, she is, in fact supporting the Bush administration and all of it's illegal activities. By not impeaching, she is allowing Herr Bush to transform this country into his own little version of Nazi Germany. His most prized programs of torture, spying, and abuse of executive authority are duplicates of Herr Hitler's policies.
So stand up and Impeach Bush, Pelosi, or you will be held accountable for the new Fascist States of America...
Pentagon to implant microchips in soldiers' brains | Press Esc
Pentagon to implant microchips in soldiers' brains | Press Esc: "Soldiers fear that the biochip, about the size of a grain of rice, which measures and relays information on soldiers vital signs 24 hours a day, can be used to put them under surveillance even when they are off duty."
This means that we are one step closer to the chipping of the population, for our own safety of course. First it was Alzheimer's patients down in Florida, who cannot sufficiently agree to the implantation. Now are military boys, who cannot refuse an order, will be the next victims to receive this uniquely-identifiable, and easily tracked, implant. Any RFID reader within range will be able to track where they go, and the RFID readers, even for passive devices, are gaining range every day as the technology improves. Who will they chip next? The mentally ill? Prisoners? When will the marketing campaign begin to chip the rest of us.
The government also has a long history of using our soldiers to test new drugs and other items that have been far from proven safe and effective. In this war, soldiers were unknowingly forced to test an anthrax vaccine, and many had dire consequences from it. In fact, according to this article, three out of four soldiers reported an adverse reaction. This is only one example of our soldiers being used as guinea pigs, and here, there are some more examples.
It is bad enough that many of these guys are dying to protect our country, or oil as the case may be, but to be also forced to suffer, or even die, from a government experiment is simply an atrocity.
This means that we are one step closer to the chipping of the population, for our own safety of course. First it was Alzheimer's patients down in Florida, who cannot sufficiently agree to the implantation. Now are military boys, who cannot refuse an order, will be the next victims to receive this uniquely-identifiable, and easily tracked, implant. Any RFID reader within range will be able to track where they go, and the RFID readers, even for passive devices, are gaining range every day as the technology improves. Who will they chip next? The mentally ill? Prisoners? When will the marketing campaign begin to chip the rest of us.
The government also has a long history of using our soldiers to test new drugs and other items that have been far from proven safe and effective. In this war, soldiers were unknowingly forced to test an anthrax vaccine, and many had dire consequences from it. In fact, according to this article, three out of four soldiers reported an adverse reaction. This is only one example of our soldiers being used as guinea pigs, and here, there are some more examples.
It is bad enough that many of these guys are dying to protect our country, or oil as the case may be, but to be also forced to suffer, or even die, from a government experiment is simply an atrocity.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Saudis undermining efforts in Iraq: US envoy - Yahoo! News
Saudis undermining efforts in Iraq: US envoy - Yahoo! News: "The US ambassador to the United Nations accused Saudi Arabia and other US allies in the Middle East Sunday of undermining efforts to curb violence in Iraq."
I posted about this a few days ago, but completely forgot about the recent Executive order that Bush signed. If we are accusing Saudi Arabia and other allies of undermining our efforts in Iraq, does that mean that we can now seize their assets??? That would be hilarious.
I posted about this a few days ago, but completely forgot about the recent Executive order that Bush signed. If we are accusing Saudi Arabia and other allies of undermining our efforts in Iraq, does that mean that we can now seize their assets??? That would be hilarious.
Hillsborough: Freed man still in limbo
Hillsborough: Freed man still in limbo: "TAMPA - Mark O'Hara left jail without handcuffs Wednesday, two years after he went to prison and one week since an appeals court ordered him a new trial.
He was serving a 25-year sentence for having 58 Vicodin pills in his bread truck. Jurors weren't told that it is legal to possess the drug with a prescription, which he had.
The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office has not decided whether it will seek a retrial in the Dunedin man's drug trafficking case."
And you thought you were safe with your fate being decided by a group of your peers? Not if the government leaves out little details, like the fact that you had a prescription for the pills you possessed. The sentence is also a prime example of why the war on drugs is simply wrong. He received 25 years for prescription pills. I was recently on Vicodin for the cracked rib that the gestapo Schenectady police gave me. It is a mixture of Tylenol and a tiny bit of an opiate. It is not a very strong drug at all, just barely enough to dull the pain a bit. Honestly, it is not much better than the ibuprofen I am now taking. Is that sentence justifiable? What would have happened if I had been stopped by the cops while I was walking home from the drug store? Especially seeing as I have already accused them of abuse...
Also, why is the State attorney still undecided about a retrial? It is quite obvious that this man was railroaded to begin with...
"He sold two condos, his car and his bread business to pay for the appeal. But the state took the proceeds, according to family friend Eric Mastro, to pay toward the $500,000 fine that came with his conviction."
I think this is lovely too. The state tried to sabotage his appeal. Drop this war on drugs. It just fills the prison system with non-violent offenders, pushing out the violent ones. Drop the bogus war on terror while we are at it.
He was serving a 25-year sentence for having 58 Vicodin pills in his bread truck. Jurors weren't told that it is legal to possess the drug with a prescription, which he had.
The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office has not decided whether it will seek a retrial in the Dunedin man's drug trafficking case."
And you thought you were safe with your fate being decided by a group of your peers? Not if the government leaves out little details, like the fact that you had a prescription for the pills you possessed. The sentence is also a prime example of why the war on drugs is simply wrong. He received 25 years for prescription pills. I was recently on Vicodin for the cracked rib that the gestapo Schenectady police gave me. It is a mixture of Tylenol and a tiny bit of an opiate. It is not a very strong drug at all, just barely enough to dull the pain a bit. Honestly, it is not much better than the ibuprofen I am now taking. Is that sentence justifiable? What would have happened if I had been stopped by the cops while I was walking home from the drug store? Especially seeing as I have already accused them of abuse...
Also, why is the State attorney still undecided about a retrial? It is quite obvious that this man was railroaded to begin with...
"He sold two condos, his car and his bread business to pay for the appeal. But the state took the proceeds, according to family friend Eric Mastro, to pay toward the $500,000 fine that came with his conviction."
I think this is lovely too. The state tried to sabotage his appeal. Drop this war on drugs. It just fills the prison system with non-violent offenders, pushing out the violent ones. Drop the bogus war on terror while we are at it.
ABC News: POLL: Surveillance Cameras Win Broad Support
ABC News: POLL: Surveillance Cameras Win Broad Support: "Given the chief arguments, pro and con — a way to help solve crimes vs. too much of a government intrusion on privacy — it isn't close: 71 percent of Americans favor the increased use of surveillance cameras, while 25 percent oppose it.".
Somehow, this does not surprise me... I think it is always quite amazing how willing people are to invite supreme government control into their lives. In my city, the residents are pushing to have cameras installed throughout the streets. The fact is, however, that cameras do not necessarily reduce crime.
From this ABC news article, page 2:
"Effective at Documenting Crime, Less Effective at Reducing It
Somehow, this does not surprise me... I think it is always quite amazing how willing people are to invite supreme government control into their lives. In my city, the residents are pushing to have cameras installed throughout the streets. The fact is, however, that cameras do not necessarily reduce crime.
From this ABC news article, page 2:
"Effective at Documenting Crime, Less Effective at Reducing It
But have they been effective at cutting crime?
According to a British Home Office review of dozens of studies analyzing the cameras' value at reducing crime, half showed a negative or negligible effect and the other half showed a negligible decrease of 4 percent at most. Researchers found that crime in Glasgow, Scotland, actually increased by 9 percent after cameras were installed there."
Cameras are only the latest invitation of governmental control that the local citizens have asked for. In my neighborhood, they are trying to make the area a historical district. The fact is, that there are no architecturally significant buildings in the area. In fact, it was a cookie-cutter development when the houses were built. How do I know? Because my great-grandfather owned the land and started the development himself. By making it a historical district, the local code enforcement gestapo can then tell you what colors your house can be painted, can disallow you to use vinyl siding, and they can force you to revert back to the original blueprints and specifications anytime you renovate your house, among many, many other things. This drives up the cost of materials and labor, not to mention that you can no longer make your house your own.
Just a few weeks ago, driven by neighbor's complaints, the city council has disallowed paving of your yard. The people who complained stated that by replacing grass with concrete, it was hurting their "quality of life." What whine-asses. These were the kids in the back of the grade school classroom that were constantly saying "Tommy's touching me" and "Fred just picked his nose." Are they going to have patio bricks outlawed next? What happened to private property?
Anytime one of these kind of laws passes, we are giving up a bit of freedom, and these people seem to want it that way...
[Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that, from what I understand, if code enforcement comes to my door randomly and decides to inspect my home, I have to let them in. It does not matter if they even suspect I have been doing work. If they find anything wrong, I am subject to fines, and worse. What happened to due process and the protection from illegal searches?]The Raw Story | US/E.U. plan to database airline passengers' personal information raises deep privacy concerns
The Raw Story | US/E.U. plan to database airline passengers' personal information raises deep privacy concerns: "In addition to data such as name, address, flight itineraries, and credit card information, the United States will now database more intimate details about passengers as provided by airlines, such as race, political opinions, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation."
This is completely outrageous. According to the article, the information will be compiled on all inbound travelers, so I would suspect that if an American were to travel out of the country, the information would be compiled before reentry. All of the details are scary, but I think the most telling is the fact that they will be gathering political opinions.
This is completely outrageous. According to the article, the information will be compiled on all inbound travelers, so I would suspect that if an American were to travel out of the country, the information would be compiled before reentry. All of the details are scary, but I think the most telling is the fact that they will be gathering political opinions.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Think Progress » Conservatives Refuse To Appear On Fox News To Publicly Defend Gonzales
Think Progress » Conservatives Refuse To Appear On Fox News To Publicly Defend Gonzales: "'By the way, we invited White House officials and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to defend Attorney General Gonzales,' said Wallace. 'We had no takers.'"
For some odd reason, I was flipping through the channels and jsut happened to stop on Fox News for a while. I was laughing when I saw this...
They also had a Democratic member of congress on, did no catch who it was. The democrat was explaining how Bush's plan to revise the FISA system would give him more power to spy on U.S. citizens, which is exactly what it will do. Wallace, obviously just another puppet of the administration, kept saying that it would allow Bush to monitor calls from one foreign country to another. The democrat retorted by saying that if that was the fact, and that was all it did, that he would pass Bush's changes tomorrow. After arguing back and forth for a minute, the entire conversation essentially was repeated again. I guess that is quite typical of Fox, repeat the propaganda again and again...
For some odd reason, I was flipping through the channels and jsut happened to stop on Fox News for a while. I was laughing when I saw this...
They also had a Democratic member of congress on, did no catch who it was. The democrat was explaining how Bush's plan to revise the FISA system would give him more power to spy on U.S. citizens, which is exactly what it will do. Wallace, obviously just another puppet of the administration, kept saying that it would allow Bush to monitor calls from one foreign country to another. The democrat retorted by saying that if that was the fact, and that was all it did, that he would pass Bush's changes tomorrow. After arguing back and forth for a minute, the entire conversation essentially was repeated again. I guess that is quite typical of Fox, repeat the propaganda again and again...
Saturday, July 28, 2007
US accuses Saudis of telling lies about Iraq | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited
US accuses Saudis of telling lies about Iraq | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited: "In a graphic example of the tension, Zalmay Khalilzad, until recently the US ambassador to Baghdad, protested to the Saudis over fake documents distributed in Baghdad which claimed Mr Maliki was an Iranian agent and had tipped off the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, about a US crackdown on his Madhi army militia.
Mr Khalilzad, who is now US ambassador to the UN, wrote in the New York Times last week: 'Several of Iraq's neighbours - not only Syria and Iran but also some friends of the United States - are pursuing destabilising policies.'
The Bush administration is also expressing its unhappiness with the Saudis for failing to stem the flow of Saudi jihadists across its border to fight in Iraq, often as suicide bombers. The US estimates that about 40% of the 60 to 80 foreign fighters entering Iraq each month are from Saudi Arabia."
Yes, this comes out the same day that we are considering selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. WTF??? We are going to sell to a country we are accusing of trying to undermine the Iraq government? What the heck is wrong with the administration?
Mr Khalilzad, who is now US ambassador to the UN, wrote in the New York Times last week: 'Several of Iraq's neighbours - not only Syria and Iran but also some friends of the United States - are pursuing destabilising policies.'
The Bush administration is also expressing its unhappiness with the Saudis for failing to stem the flow of Saudi jihadists across its border to fight in Iraq, often as suicide bombers. The US estimates that about 40% of the 60 to 80 foreign fighters entering Iraq each month are from Saudi Arabia."
Yes, this comes out the same day that we are considering selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. WTF??? We are going to sell to a country we are accusing of trying to undermine the Iraq government? What the heck is wrong with the administration?
Courts struggle to get jurors to serve - U.S. Life - MSNBC.com
Courts struggle to get jurors to serve - U.S. Life - MSNBC.com: "Madeline Byrne was making a quick trip to the grocery store to buy some cheese when a sheriff approached her car in the parking lot and slipped something through her open window.
Byrne didn’t get the cheese, but she did get a jury summons.
The 64-year-old woman was ordered to report for jury duty a little more than an hour later at the Lee County courthouse in Sanford, N.C. When Byrne protested, the sheriff told her: 'Be there or you’ll be in contempt.'"
Wow, I would be a little angry if that was done to me. No respect for what was planned for the rest of the day... Normally I am a fan of jury service, mainly because it gives me a chance to use Jury Nullification to strike down a law that is unjust in my mind, such as ridiculous drug laws.
Byrne didn’t get the cheese, but she did get a jury summons.
The 64-year-old woman was ordered to report for jury duty a little more than an hour later at the Lee County courthouse in Sanford, N.C. When Byrne protested, the sheriff told her: 'Be there or you’ll be in contempt.'"
Wow, I would be a little angry if that was done to me. No respect for what was planned for the rest of the day... Normally I am a fan of jury service, mainly because it gives me a chance to use Jury Nullification to strike down a law that is unjust in my mind, such as ridiculous drug laws.
Rowe Arrested Despite Honorable Discharge Papers
Rowe Arrested Despite Honorable Discharge Papers: "Korey Rowe, the Afghanistan and Iraq combat veteran and producer of Loose Change, who was arrested on Monday under charges of desertion, presented his honorable discharge papers to the arresting officers and yet was grabbed after a sophisticated operation where police staked out his house from the woods and cut his phone lines."
The Gestapo must not like his film that is against the official story of 9/11. Amazing.
The Gestapo must not like his film that is against the official story of 9/11. Amazing.
BBC - Radio 4 Document - Greenham's Hidden Secret
BBC - Radio 4 Document - Greenham's Hidden Secret: "The coup was aimed at toppling President Franklin D Roosevelt with the help of half-a-million war veterans. The plotters, who were alleged to involve some of the most famous families in America, (owners of Heinz, Birds Eye, Goodtea, Maxwell Hse & George Bush’s Grandfather, Prescott) believed that their country should adopt the policies of Hitler and Mussolini to beat the great depression.
Mike Thomson investigates why so little is known about this biggest ever peacetime threat to American democracy."
Wow. Bush's grandfather was involved in a plan that would try to install fascism in the United States through a coup. Now Bush, the grandson, has manged to do just that. I had previously heard about Prescott's financial dealings with the Nazis, but not about his support for a takeover of the government.
Mike Thomson investigates why so little is known about this biggest ever peacetime threat to American democracy."
Wow. Bush's grandfather was involved in a plan that would try to install fascism in the United States through a coup. Now Bush, the grandson, has manged to do just that. I had previously heard about Prescott's financial dealings with the Nazis, but not about his support for a takeover of the government.
Scientists Hack Voting Machines to Prove Tech Weaknesses
Scientists Hack Voting Machines to Prove Tech Weaknesses: "Computer scientists from California universities have hacked into three electronic voting systems used in California and elsewhere in the nation and found several ways in which vote totals could potentially be altered, according to reports released yesterday by the state.
The reports, the latest to raise questions about electronic voting machines, came to light on a day when House leaders announced in Washington that they had reached an agreement on measures to revamp voting systems and increase their security.
The House bill would require every state to use paper records that would let voters verify that their ballots had been correctly cast and that would be available for recounts.
The House majority leader, Representative Steny H. Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland, and the original sponsor of the bill, Representative Rush D. Holt, Democrat of New Jersey, said it would require hundreds of counties with paperless machines to install backup paper trails by the presidential election next year while giving most states until 2012 to upgrade their machines further."
Yeah, we are screwed in the next election. Even with a paper trail, these machines are easy to hack.
The reports, the latest to raise questions about electronic voting machines, came to light on a day when House leaders announced in Washington that they had reached an agreement on measures to revamp voting systems and increase their security.
The House bill would require every state to use paper records that would let voters verify that their ballots had been correctly cast and that would be available for recounts.
The House majority leader, Representative Steny H. Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland, and the original sponsor of the bill, Representative Rush D. Holt, Democrat of New Jersey, said it would require hundreds of counties with paperless machines to install backup paper trails by the presidential election next year while giving most states until 2012 to upgrade their machines further."
Yeah, we are screwed in the next election. Even with a paper trail, these machines are easy to hack.
The Raw Story | White House runs conference call on executive privilege for right-wing bloggers
The Raw Story | White House runs conference call on executive privilege for right-wing bloggers: "'The White House hosted a blogger conference call to discuss the issues surrounding the Bush administration's use of executive privilege in the probe of the firings of eight federal prosecutors,' wrote Ed Morrissey, who produces the blog Captains Quarters. 'The White House arranged the call based on a recommendation by this blog, in order to familiarize the blogosphere with the legal and political arguments on which the administration will rely to prevail in the upcoming fight regarding the contempt citations Congress seems likely to approve.'"
They must tell the bloggers what to write about... The propaganda machine is growing daily.
They must tell the bloggers what to write about... The propaganda machine is growing daily.
The Raw Story | National Intelligence Estimate lacks supporting evidence, possibly politicized, intelligence officials say
The Raw Story | National Intelligence Estimate lacks supporting evidence, possibly politicized, intelligence officials say: "Current and former intelligence officials say the Bush Administration's National Intelligence Estimate regarding terrorist threats to the United States does not provide evidence to support its assertions and may have inflated the domestic threat posed by the Lebanese political and military group Hezbollah, perhaps because it receives financial support from Iran.
According to the report, Hezbollah – a Shi'a Muslim group with ties to Iran that has been labeled a terrorist organization by the United States – may target the US domestically if the US poses a serious threat to Iran. But sources say the allegations about Hezbollah were simply 'thrown in.'"
Hey look, the propaganda machine is busted again... That will not stop them from continuing the lies.
According to the report, Hezbollah – a Shi'a Muslim group with ties to Iran that has been labeled a terrorist organization by the United States – may target the US domestically if the US poses a serious threat to Iran. But sources say the allegations about Hezbollah were simply 'thrown in.'"
Hey look, the propaganda machine is busted again... That will not stop them from continuing the lies.
The Raw Story | CNN: TSA knew 'dry run' terror alerts were bogus
The Raw Story | CNN: TSA knew 'dry run' terror alerts were bogus: "The FBI maintained 'they were right' putting the bogus reports on the TSA bulletin, which is distributed to law enforcement agencies nationwide, Todd reported. Airport security officers must be trained in identifying suspicious packages, even when those packages turn out to be innocuous."
Oops, they were busted pushing propaganda again. Keep everyone scared, so that we do not question the loss of our civil liberties...
Oops, they were busted pushing propaganda again. Keep everyone scared, so that we do not question the loss of our civil liberties...
U.S. plans big arms sale to Saudi Arabia: report - Yahoo! News
U.S. plans big arms sale to Saudi Arabia: report - Yahoo! News: "The Bush administration is preparing to ask Congress to approve arms sales totaling $20 billions over the next decade for Saudi Arabia and its neighbors, The New York Times reported in Saturday editions.
Coming as some U.S. officials contend that the Saudi government is not helping the situation in Iraq, the proposal for advanced weapons for Saudi Arabia has stoked concern in Israel and among its U.S. backers, the Times said. The package of advanced weaponry includes advanced satellite-guided bombs, upgrades for its fighters and new naval vessels.
Senior officials, including State Department and Pentagon officials who outlined the deals' terms, told the Times they thought the Bush administration had resolved those concerns, partly by offering Israel more than $30 billion in military aid over the next 10 years, which would be a significant increase over recent levels."
Brilliant, just brilliant. Let's not forget that many of the hijackers on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia. In this article, the king of Saudi Arabia calls the Iraq occupation illegal, and we are going to arm these people further? Saudi Arabia also took issue with the United States not calling for a cease-fire in Israel's attack of Lebanon last year. Of course, U.S.-made weapons were used in that attack, as well. It just goes to show that we care more about the profits from the weapons we sell than the actual political stability of the world at large.
Coming as some U.S. officials contend that the Saudi government is not helping the situation in Iraq, the proposal for advanced weapons for Saudi Arabia has stoked concern in Israel and among its U.S. backers, the Times said. The package of advanced weaponry includes advanced satellite-guided bombs, upgrades for its fighters and new naval vessels.
Senior officials, including State Department and Pentagon officials who outlined the deals' terms, told the Times they thought the Bush administration had resolved those concerns, partly by offering Israel more than $30 billion in military aid over the next 10 years, which would be a significant increase over recent levels."
Brilliant, just brilliant. Let's not forget that many of the hijackers on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia. In this article, the king of Saudi Arabia calls the Iraq occupation illegal, and we are going to arm these people further? Saudi Arabia also took issue with the United States not calling for a cease-fire in Israel's attack of Lebanon last year. Of course, U.S.-made weapons were used in that attack, as well. It just goes to show that we care more about the profits from the weapons we sell than the actual political stability of the world at large.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Illegal Immigrants: Uncle Sam Wants You
Illegal Immigrants: Uncle Sam Wants You: "In 1996, Jesus Alberto Suarez del Solar was a 13-year-old boy, up from Tijuana on a family shopping trip, when he stopped at a Marine Corps recruiting table at an open-air mall in Chula Vista, Calif.
Jesus had been an easy mark for the recruiter-a boy who fantasized that by joining the powerful, heroic U.S. Marines, he could help his own country fight drug lords. He gave the recruiter his address and phone number in Mexico, and the recruiter called him twice a week for the next two years, until he had talked Jesus into convincing his parents to move to California. Fernando and Rose Suarez sold their home and their laundry business and immigrated with their children to Escondido, where Jesus enrolled at a high school known for academic achievement. But the recruiter wanted him to transfer to a school for problem teenagers, since its requirements for graduation were lower and Jesus would be able to finish sooner. He was 17 and a half when he graduated from that school, still too young to enlist on his own, so his father co-signed the enlistment form, as the military requires for underage recruits.
Three years later, at the age of 20, his body was torn apart in Iraq by an American-made fragmentation grenade during the first week of the invasion. In the Pentagon's official Iraq casualty database, his death is number 74"
Ok, now I know why Bush is pushing the immigration bill so whole-heartedly. He needs more martyrs. People to die for an illegal war. People who think they may get points on their citizenship application. People who were fooled by U.S. propaganda.
Jesus had been an easy mark for the recruiter-a boy who fantasized that by joining the powerful, heroic U.S. Marines, he could help his own country fight drug lords. He gave the recruiter his address and phone number in Mexico, and the recruiter called him twice a week for the next two years, until he had talked Jesus into convincing his parents to move to California. Fernando and Rose Suarez sold their home and their laundry business and immigrated with their children to Escondido, where Jesus enrolled at a high school known for academic achievement. But the recruiter wanted him to transfer to a school for problem teenagers, since its requirements for graduation were lower and Jesus would be able to finish sooner. He was 17 and a half when he graduated from that school, still too young to enlist on his own, so his father co-signed the enlistment form, as the military requires for underage recruits.
Three years later, at the age of 20, his body was torn apart in Iraq by an American-made fragmentation grenade during the first week of the invasion. In the Pentagon's official Iraq casualty database, his death is number 74"
Ok, now I know why Bush is pushing the immigration bill so whole-heartedly. He needs more martyrs. People to die for an illegal war. People who think they may get points on their citizenship application. People who were fooled by U.S. propaganda.
U.S. Outfitting B-2's with Monster Bunker Buster Bombs - Iran May Be Target
U.S. Outfitting B-2's with Monster Bunker Buster Bombs - Iran May Be Target: "The U.S. is retrofitting its B-2 Stealth bombers with massive bunker-buster bombs - a move that could be a prelude to an attack on Iran and its nuclear facilities.
Iran has refused to comply with international demands that it stop its nuclear weapons programs.
Experts have noted that a U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear program could be difficult due to the large number of installations - some of which are buried deep underground in hardened bunkers."
Let loose the dogs of war, as congress goes to recess....
Iran has refused to comply with international demands that it stop its nuclear weapons programs.
Experts have noted that a U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear program could be difficult due to the large number of installations - some of which are buried deep underground in hardened bunkers."
Let loose the dogs of war, as congress goes to recess....
G8 sells the world's poorest children to Big Pharma for profit | Press Esc
G8 sells the world's poorest children to Big Pharma for profit | Press Esc: "Only a quarter of the $1.5 billion donated by G8 leaders to eradicate disease among poorest children will be spent on the costs of vaccines, while the three-quarters will go to major pharmaceutical corporations as profits, a Comment published in this week’s edition of The Lancet concluded."
...Speaking of big Pharma. While they are using poor children as guinea pigs and disposals for bad vaccinations, they get to make a huge profit. How lovely...
...Speaking of big Pharma. While they are using poor children as guinea pigs and disposals for bad vaccinations, they get to make a huge profit. How lovely...
Think Progress » Baghdad Residents Receiving Just One Hour Of Electricity Per Day
Think Progress » Baghdad Residents Receiving Just One Hour Of Electricity Per Day: "Before the war, Baghdad residents received 16-24 average hours of electricity each day. But on July 19, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said that residents of Baghdad are now receiving just one or two hours of electricity each day — the lowest level of the war:"
Meanwhile, in the Green Zone, our people are watching movies in the theater, enjoying air-conditioning, surfing the web, and shopping to their hearts' content. They hate us for our freedom....
Meanwhile, in the Green Zone, our people are watching movies in the theater, enjoying air-conditioning, surfing the web, and shopping to their hearts' content. They hate us for our freedom....
The Raw Story | Michael Moore says he's been served with subpoena
The Raw Story | Michael Moore says he's been served with subpoena: "Filmmaker Michael Moore revealed on Thursday's 'The Tonight Show' with Jay Leno that the Bush Administration had served him with a subpoena regarding his recent trip to Cuba made as part of his new film, Sicko."
We must protect the rights of mega-corporate health care companies and big Pharma...
We must protect the rights of mega-corporate health care companies and big Pharma...
CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Flag-defiling charge ends in fight, arrests
CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Flag-defiling charge ends in fight, arrests: "State law prohibits anyone from knowingly mutilating, defiling, defacing or trampling the U.S. or North Carolina flags. Lt. Randy Sorrells of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said the Kuhns desecrated the flag by pinning signs to it, not by flying it upside down.
An upside-down flag typically is flown as a distress signal. The Kuhns said they flew it this way not out of disrespect but to symbolize the state of the country.
Deborah Kuhn said the signs pinned to the flag included an explanation on the meaning of an upside-down flag and asked to “help our country.” One of the signs was a photo of President Bush with “Out Now” written on it, they said."
Sure, this is not a political issue... Don't cops, and neighbors, have anything better to do with their time?
An upside-down flag typically is flown as a distress signal. The Kuhns said they flew it this way not out of disrespect but to symbolize the state of the country.
Deborah Kuhn said the signs pinned to the flag included an explanation on the meaning of an upside-down flag and asked to “help our country.” One of the signs was a photo of President Bush with “Out Now” written on it, they said."
Sure, this is not a political issue... Don't cops, and neighbors, have anything better to do with their time?
The Raw Story | Romney and Giuliani have yet to agree to YouTube debate
The Raw Story | Romney and Giuliani have yet to agree to YouTube debate: "Romney told a New Hampshire paper he's not a fan of the CNN/YouTube format.
'Referring to the video of a snowman asking the Democratic candidates about global warming, Romney quipped, 'I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman.''
Roughly 400 video questions have been upload to the popular video-sharing site."
I am not a fan of the debate format either. The idea is good up to the point that CNN cherry-picks the videos to be shown. I say they should be voted on by the YouTube users, and CNN should display them accordingly. But, anyway, it just goes to show that Giuliani and Romney are not open to answering questions from the public, only the canned questions that a traditional debate would bring to the table.
'Referring to the video of a snowman asking the Democratic candidates about global warming, Romney quipped, 'I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman.''
Roughly 400 video questions have been upload to the popular video-sharing site."
I am not a fan of the debate format either. The idea is good up to the point that CNN cherry-picks the videos to be shown. I say they should be voted on by the YouTube users, and CNN should display them accordingly. But, anyway, it just goes to show that Giuliani and Romney are not open to answering questions from the public, only the canned questions that a traditional debate would bring to the table.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
I go to court Friday morning...
I have to take time out of my day to go and fight the system. I will have to try hard to contain my anger over this incident, so that I do not end up with a contempt charge added on to my resisting arrest and violation of the noise ordinance charges. Unfortunately, I do not take well to my rights being violated and there is a good possibility something might slip out of my mouth.
WorldNetDaily: IRS loses challenge to prove tax liability
WorldNetDaily: IRS loses challenge to prove tax liability: "The jury in U.S. District Court in Louisiana voted 12-0 to find Cryer, of Shreveport, not guilty of failure to file income taxes for two years. He had been indicted in 2006 on charges of failing to pay $73,000 to the IRS in 2000 and 2001. The next step in his personal case will be up to the IRS and prosecutors, if they choose to continue the issue, he said."
This is a great win for all of us who believe the government has been fraudulently taxing us for years. Unfortunately, I bet the IRS will be appealing this decision.
This is a great win for all of us who believe the government has been fraudulently taxing us for years. Unfortunately, I bet the IRS will be appealing this decision.
Exclusive | Emails Detail RNC Voter Supression in 5 States
Exclusive | Emails Detail RNC Voter Supression in 5 States: "Furthermore, the emails show the Bush-Cheney campaign and RNC staffers compiled voter-challenge lists that targeted probable Democratic voters in at least five states: New Mexico, Ohio, Florida, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Voting rights lawyers have made allegations of so called 'vote caging,' against Republicans previously. These emails provide more evidence. One Republican operative involved in the planning wrote 'we can do this in NV, FL, PA and NM because we have a list to run against the Absentee Ballot requests, and should.'
Vote caging is an illegal tactic to suppress minorities from voting by having their names purged from voter rolls when they fail to respond to registered mail sent to their homes. The Republican National Committee signed a consent decree in 1986 stating they would not engage in the practice after they were caught suppressing votes in 1981 and 1986."
I do not doubt that the same tactics will be used to rig the 2008 elections, if they happen. I bet they will get away with this fraud, and the rigging of the next election, as well.
Vote caging is an illegal tactic to suppress minorities from voting by having their names purged from voter rolls when they fail to respond to registered mail sent to their homes. The Republican National Committee signed a consent decree in 1986 stating they would not engage in the practice after they were caught suppressing votes in 1981 and 1986."
I do not doubt that the same tactics will be used to rig the 2008 elections, if they happen. I bet they will get away with this fraud, and the rigging of the next election, as well.
Think Progress » ‘The most trusted name in news.’
Think Progress » ‘The most trusted name in news.’: "‘The most trusted name in news.’ Last night on the Letterman Show, host David Letterman noted CNN’s Jack Cafferty voicing his anger on-air recently for having to report on Lindsay Lohan."
Corporate media, what a joke. How many months will this new DUI case be in the news?
Corporate media, what a joke. How many months will this new DUI case be in the news?
US Senators call for universal Internet filtering | Press Esc
US Senators call for universal Internet filtering | Press Esc: "US senators today made a bipartisan call for the universal implementation of filtering and monitoring technologies on the Internet in order to protect children at the end of a Senate hearing for which civil liberties groups were not invited."
This is a very dangerous proposal. What happened to parenting skills? We should not have the government filter ANY internet content that it may deem objectionable. Once they step on that slippery slope, it will not be long before we resemble China.
This is a very dangerous proposal. What happened to parenting skills? We should not have the government filter ANY internet content that it may deem objectionable. Once they step on that slippery slope, it will not be long before we resemble China.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Think Progress » Gonzales Contradicts Prior Statements, Confirms Existence Of Other Spying Programs
Think Progress » Gonzales Contradicts Prior Statements, Confirms Existence Of Other Spying Programs: "Today, Gonzales said Comey was referring to “other intelligence activities,” appearing to confirm that the Bush administration is operating more than one warrantless domestic spying program."
The administration might be lying to us about the scope of its surveillance activities on U.S. citizens? That never happened before...
Oh, yeah, this was said while the secret, warrantless wiretap program was running:
"'Any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court order,' he [BUSH] said on April 20, 2004 in Buffalo, New York."
More secrets, more lies, and more lies to cover up those secrets and lies. This is what the United States' presidential office has fallen to...
The administration might be lying to us about the scope of its surveillance activities on U.S. citizens? That never happened before...
Oh, yeah, this was said while the secret, warrantless wiretap program was running:
"'Any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court order,' he [BUSH] said on April 20, 2004 in Buffalo, New York."
More secrets, more lies, and more lies to cover up those secrets and lies. This is what the United States' presidential office has fallen to...
Bush warns anew of terror threat - Yahoo! News
Bush warns anew of terror threat - Yahoo! News: "Citing security details he declassified for his speech, Bush described al-Qaida's burgeoning operation in Iraq as a direct threat to the United States. Bush accused critics in Congress of misleading the American public by suggesting otherwise."
His newly-declassified "intelligence," which claims al-Qaida in Iraq is related to those who are supposedly responisble for 9/11, is shaky at best, as is his own intelligence. Below are the details...
"_Al-Qaida in Iraq was founded not by an Iraqi but by Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who had deep relations with al-Qaida leaders. The president said Zarqawi, who was killed by U.S. forces last year, set up operations with terrorist associates in Iraq long before U.S.-led forces arrived, and that in the violence and instability following Saddam Hussein's fall, was able to expand the "size, scope and lethality" of his operation. Zarqawi formally joined al-Qaida in 2004 and pledged allegiance to bin Laden, he said.
His newly-declassified "intelligence," which claims al-Qaida in Iraq is related to those who are supposedly responisble for 9/11, is shaky at best, as is his own intelligence. Below are the details...
"_Al-Qaida in Iraq was founded not by an Iraqi but by Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who had deep relations with al-Qaida leaders. The president said Zarqawi, who was killed by U.S. forces last year, set up operations with terrorist associates in Iraq long before U.S.-led forces arrived, and that in the violence and instability following Saddam Hussein's fall, was able to expand the "size, scope and lethality" of his operation. Zarqawi formally joined al-Qaida in 2004 and pledged allegiance to bin Laden, he said.
_The merger gave al-Qaida senior leadership 'a foothold in Iraq to extend its geographic presence and to plot external operations and to tout the centrality of the jihad in Iraq to solicit direct monetary support elsewhere.'"
The fact is that Saddam did not allow al-Qaida to operate within his country. Are we just supposed to believe Bush's word, without evidence???
For that matter, there really is no concrete proof that al-Qaida, or more specifically, bin-Laden, was responsible for 9/11. There are plenty of stories out there that contradict the administration's position on 9/11, and not all of them are from "conspiracy nuts."
When will people wake up and stop believing the same old lies over and over again? Also, when will Bush admit that we were instrumental in creating al-Qaida in Iraq and that we inspire people to join its ranks, by bombing the country into submission and treating Iraqis like garbage? When will he admit that we were also instrumental in the original formation of al-Qaida, when the Russians were the enemy of the day and it was convenient for us?
RIAA-backed amendment to force campus network surveillance | Press Esc
RIAA-backed amendment to force campus network surveillance | Press Esc: "Civil liberties groups and student rights movements have heavily criticized the proposed amendment that would require colleges and universities marked by RIAA to plan for implementing a 'technical solution' to illegal file sharing that does not yet exist for many campus environments and divert funds away from education and toward policing corporate copyrighted content on their campus network."
If this passes, it will be another case of the government enforcing corporate interests.
If this passes, it will be another case of the government enforcing corporate interests.
BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | The Yes Men Excerpt | PBS
Well, this is supposed to be satire, but it does not sound so funny to me...
Monday, July 23, 2007
Buying cold meds? Meth cops may get e-mail - Addictions - MSNBC.com
Buying cold meds? Meth cops may get e-mail - Addictions - MSNBC.com: "Lewis did not find her that day, but the scenario illustrates the way law enforcement is increasingly relying on computerized tracking systems in their fight against meth, an illegal drug that is often brewed in makeshift labs and has become a particular scourge in Appalachia and the Midwest.
Tracking systems are gradually being installed in pharmacies nationwide in response to a federal law that, since March 2006, has regulated purchases of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the manufacture of meth. Pseudoephedrine is found in many over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, such as Sudafed."
Well, well, well. All you parents out there had better hope your child does not bring home a really bad cold. If you happen to need too much cold medicine to treat it, you may be accused of manufacturing drugs. Or at least get a good talking to when the federal computers flag your name. What happens if an entire family gets sick, and you actually need more than the "permitted" amount? Must you beg the government? [For the record, I think that stuff is poison anyway...]
Tracking systems are gradually being installed in pharmacies nationwide in response to a federal law that, since March 2006, has regulated purchases of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the manufacture of meth. Pseudoephedrine is found in many over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, such as Sudafed."
Well, well, well. All you parents out there had better hope your child does not bring home a really bad cold. If you happen to need too much cold medicine to treat it, you may be accused of manufacturing drugs. Or at least get a good talking to when the federal computers flag your name. What happens if an entire family gets sick, and you actually need more than the "permitted" amount? Must you beg the government? [For the record, I think that stuff is poison anyway...]
Grits for Breakfast: If you don't have probable cause just fabricate it, say drug enforcers and some TX prosecutors
Grits for Breakfast: If you don't have probable cause just fabricate it, say drug enforcers and some TX prosecutors: "Speaking of informants, on the Texas prosecutors' user forum a self-identified DEA agent named Bill sought to justify a traffic stop where drugs were found using probable cause agents had overtly fabricated. They didn't want to admit in court they were acting an a possibly unreliable informant, so took the liberty of manufacturing probable cause for a traffic stop by stealing the front license plate from the car the suspect was driving."
Sounds eerily like a case that happened near here, in Troy, NY. What will the police not do to ensure an arrest? I guess Schenectady is not the only city that has jack-booted thugs, wearing uniforms that give them authority to destroy civil liberties. But, then again, we all knew that already. I have no doubt that my "violation" of the noise ordinance was manufactured to cover the cop's asses who beat and arrested me for no reason whatsoever.
Sounds eerily like a case that happened near here, in Troy, NY. What will the police not do to ensure an arrest? I guess Schenectady is not the only city that has jack-booted thugs, wearing uniforms that give them authority to destroy civil liberties. But, then again, we all knew that already. I have no doubt that my "violation" of the noise ordinance was manufactured to cover the cop's asses who beat and arrested me for no reason whatsoever.
AlterNet: Wait, There Actually Is a Bridge in Brooklyn You Can Sell Me?
AlterNet: Wait, There Actually Is a Bridge in Brooklyn You Can Sell Me?: "The gullibility of anyone who thinks it's possible to buy the Brooklyn Bridge is an old punch line, but today the joke is on us. In these weird times of privatization fever, buying bridges is no longer considered preposterous, and old Will would be appalled by the crass morals of both the sellers and the buyers in these increasingly common transactions."
Yes, let's sell all of our infrastructure to corporations who are more concerned about profit than public safety. If anyone has seen Fight Club, specifically the part about automobile recalls, you can see that fact is evident. Sure, in the movie, it is very dramatized, but the fact is, that there are real calculations that determine the price of a recall versus the price of litigation over injuries and death. What kind of calculations will they come up with when the bridges start to plunge into the rivers? What is the "acceptable" loss of life?
Yes, let's sell all of our infrastructure to corporations who are more concerned about profit than public safety. If anyone has seen Fight Club, specifically the part about automobile recalls, you can see that fact is evident. Sure, in the movie, it is very dramatized, but the fact is, that there are real calculations that determine the price of a recall versus the price of litigation over injuries and death. What kind of calculations will they come up with when the bridges start to plunge into the rivers? What is the "acceptable" loss of life?
DeFazio asks, but he's denied access - OregonLive.com
DeFazio asks, but he's denied access - OregonLive.com: "This is the first time DeFazio has been denied access to documents. DeFazio has asked Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., to help him access the documents.
'Maybe the people who think there's a conspiracy out there are right,' DeFazio said."
Surprise, surprise, he was denied access to Bush's dictatorship plans. You can't have a secret plan if it is not secret.
'Maybe the people who think there's a conspiracy out there are right,' DeFazio said."
Surprise, surprise, he was denied access to Bush's dictatorship plans. You can't have a secret plan if it is not secret.
Destabilizing Iraq, Broadly Defined - washingtonpost.com
Destabilizing Iraq, Broadly Defined - washingtonpost.com: "However, the text of the order, if interpreted broadly, could cast a far bigger net to include not just those who commit violent acts or pose the risk of doing so in Iraq, but also third parties -- such as U.S. citizens in this country -- who knowingly or unknowingly aid or encourage such people.
Under the order, the Treasury secretary -- in consultation with the secretaries of defense and state -- creates the list of those whose assets are to be frozen. However, the targeting of not just those who support perpetrators of violence but also those who support individuals who 'pose a significant risk' of committing violence goes far beyond normal legal language related to intent and could be applied in a highly arbitrary manner, said Bruce Fein, a senior Justice Department official in the Reagan administration and a frequent Bush administration critic.
Fein also questioned the executive order's inclusion of third parties, such as U.S. citizens who assist, sponsor or make 'any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services' to assist people on the Treasury list. 'What about a lawyer hired to get someone off the list?' Fein asked."
This is truly a travesty. It interferes with both the 4th and 5th amendments, and gives the government the power to cripple political opponents. Welcome to the police state...
[I wonder when I will make it on the list]
Under the order, the Treasury secretary -- in consultation with the secretaries of defense and state -- creates the list of those whose assets are to be frozen. However, the targeting of not just those who support perpetrators of violence but also those who support individuals who 'pose a significant risk' of committing violence goes far beyond normal legal language related to intent and could be applied in a highly arbitrary manner, said Bruce Fein, a senior Justice Department official in the Reagan administration and a frequent Bush administration critic.
Fein also questioned the executive order's inclusion of third parties, such as U.S. citizens who assist, sponsor or make 'any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services' to assist people on the Treasury list. 'What about a lawyer hired to get someone off the list?' Fein asked."
This is truly a travesty. It interferes with both the 4th and 5th amendments, and gives the government the power to cripple political opponents. Welcome to the police state...
[I wonder when I will make it on the list]
The Raw Story | Intel director doesn't want US 'not torture' tactics used on Americans
The Raw Story | Intel director doesn't want US 'not torture' tactics used on Americans: "McConnell stated that whatever it is they do to the prisoners, it's not torture and even if they used it on US citizens, there would be no permanent damage. He would not go into what 'enhanced interrogation measures' were, but did say he would not 'want' a citizen to go through the process."
It is not torture, but it is too harsh to be used on US citizens. How is that for doublespeak? If it should not be used on Americans, I kind of doubt that it follows the Geneva convention...
It is not torture, but it is too harsh to be used on US citizens. How is that for doublespeak? If it should not be used on Americans, I kind of doubt that it follows the Geneva convention...
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Paul Craig Roberts: Impeach Now
Paul Craig Roberts: Impeach Now: "Unless Congress immediately impeaches Bush and Cheney, a year from now the US could be a dictatorial police state at war with Iran.
Bush has put in place all the necessary measures for dictatorship in the form of 'executive orders' that are triggered whenever Bush declares a national emergency. Recent statements by Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff, former Republican senator Rick Santorum and others suggest that Americans might expect a series of staged, or false flag, 'terrorist' events in the near future."
Bush has put in place all the necessary measures for dictatorship in the form of 'executive orders' that are triggered whenever Bush declares a national emergency. Recent statements by Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff, former Republican senator Rick Santorum and others suggest that Americans might expect a series of staged, or false flag, 'terrorist' events in the near future."
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tonkin Gulf II and the Guns of August?
Tonkin Gulf II and the Guns of August?: "Is the United States provoking war with Iran, to begin while the Congress is conveniently on its August recess?
One recalls that it was in August 1964, after the Republicans nominated Barry Goldwater, that the Tonkin Gulf incident occurred.
Twice it was said, on Aug. 2 and Aug. 4, North Vietnamese patrol boats had attacked the U.S. destroyers Maddox and Turner Joy in international waters. The U.S. Senate responded by voting 88 to 2 to authorize President Johnson to assist any Southeast Asian nation whose government was threatened by communist aggression."
All the signs are there...
One recalls that it was in August 1964, after the Republicans nominated Barry Goldwater, that the Tonkin Gulf incident occurred.
Twice it was said, on Aug. 2 and Aug. 4, North Vietnamese patrol boats had attacked the U.S. destroyers Maddox and Turner Joy in international waters. The U.S. Senate responded by voting 88 to 2 to authorize President Johnson to assist any Southeast Asian nation whose government was threatened by communist aggression."
All the signs are there...
FOXNews.com - Bush Surprises Senate Aides With Unexpected Interruption of White House Meeting - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Polit
FOXNews.com - Bush Surprises Senate Aides With Unexpected Interruption of White House Meeting - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum: "Bush was described as folksy, adamant and mildly profane as he interrupted the meeting between senior White House communications staffers Tony Snow and Ed Gillespie and GOP leaders. His message: the policy on Iraq isn't changing. He is not backing down and no one on Capitol Hill should be confused into thinking he is letting up."
"I am King George, the decider, and you all shall bow to my will." His stance on Iraq reminds me of an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In this episode, an experiment carried out by Wesley Crusher goes awry, trapping his mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher, in a warp field bubble, essentially a mini-universe, that is constantly contracting. As this bubble draws in, Dr. Crusher finds less and less people at her side. Eventually, she is all alone in her own little universe. This is Bush. His bubble is collapsing, but he still feels, in his own little universe, that Iraq is going well. At the last moment, Dr. Crusher was saved, before the bubble fully collapsed and she was collapsed into nothingness. I say let Bush's bubble keep collapsing.
"I am King George, the decider, and you all shall bow to my will." His stance on Iraq reminds me of an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In this episode, an experiment carried out by Wesley Crusher goes awry, trapping his mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher, in a warp field bubble, essentially a mini-universe, that is constantly contracting. As this bubble draws in, Dr. Crusher finds less and less people at her side. Eventually, she is all alone in her own little universe. This is Bush. His bubble is collapsing, but he still feels, in his own little universe, that Iraq is going well. At the last moment, Dr. Crusher was saved, before the bubble fully collapsed and she was collapsed into nothingness. I say let Bush's bubble keep collapsing.
Dow Explores Record Territory - Forbes.com
Dow Explores Record Territory - Forbes.com: "The Dow Jones industrial average passed 14,000 for the first time in history on Tuesday. Fueling the gains were some of the usual drivers: takeovers, strong earnings and moderate inflation."
Oh, yes, we are all so happy. Unfortunately, this is a hugely inflated number that is completely artificial. When it crashes, it will crash hard....
Oh, yes, we are all so happy. Unfortunately, this is a hugely inflated number that is completely artificial. When it crashes, it will crash hard....
The Raw Story | CNN's Baghdad reporter: Beware of 'smoke and mirrors from the administration'
The Raw Story | CNN's Baghdad reporter: Beware of 'smoke and mirrors from the administration': "Equally quick to insist that the NIE should not be taken too literally, Ware said, 'We must be aware of the spin, the smoke and mirrors from the administration, trying to reshape the message on Iraq being specifically about al Qaeda ... trying to evoke some Pavlovian response from the American public to fear them into again supporting the war. That doesn't quite hold water.'"
Yes, alQaeda, alQaeda, alQaeda. The more they repeat it, the more the public believes it. ("Repetition works David") Or should we call them al-CIAda?
Pavlov's experiment, from Wikipedia:
"The experimenters first performed a minor operation on a dog to relocate its salivary duct to the outside of its cheek, so that drops of saliva could be more easily measured. The dog, which was food deprived, was then harnessed in an apparatus (see diagram above) to keep it steady. Periodically, a tone was sounded, followed shortly thereafter by meat powder being placed in the hungry dog's mouth (each pairing of tone/meat powder is referred to as a trial). Meat powder causes a hungry dog to salivate, whereas tones have little effect. The dog's salivation to meat powder is an unconditional reflex--it is in-born, in that dogs do not have to learn to salivate when food is placed in their mouths. Initially, the dog shows little responsiveness to the tone. Over time, however, the dog comes to salivate at the sounding of the tone alone. When this occurs, Pavlovian conditioning has occurred, in that a new, or conditional, reflex has developed."
Or, see my earlier post, "Wanna go bomb?"
Yes, alQaeda, alQaeda, alQaeda. The more they repeat it, the more the public believes it. ("Repetition works David") Or should we call them al-CIAda?
Pavlov's experiment, from Wikipedia:
"The experimenters first performed a minor operation on a dog to relocate its salivary duct to the outside of its cheek, so that drops of saliva could be more easily measured. The dog, which was food deprived, was then harnessed in an apparatus (see diagram above) to keep it steady. Periodically, a tone was sounded, followed shortly thereafter by meat powder being placed in the hungry dog's mouth (each pairing of tone/meat powder is referred to as a trial). Meat powder causes a hungry dog to salivate, whereas tones have little effect. The dog's salivation to meat powder is an unconditional reflex--it is in-born, in that dogs do not have to learn to salivate when food is placed in their mouths. Initially, the dog shows little responsiveness to the tone. Over time, however, the dog comes to salivate at the sounding of the tone alone. When this occurs, Pavlovian conditioning has occurred, in that a new, or conditional, reflex has developed."
Or, see my earlier post, "Wanna go bomb?"
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
AlterNet: Bush Government to Poor Voters: We Don't Want You to Vote
AlterNet: Bush Government to Poor Voters: We Don't Want You to Vote: "State welfare offices across the country are not offering millions of low-income Americans the opportunity to register to vote when applying for public assistance despite a federal law requiring them to do so, according to an analysis of a recent federal voting registration report and experts who say the Department of Justice and states are to blame.
'It's huge. It's another area where the administration is failing us,' said Donna Brazile, chair of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute, speaking of the Department of Justice's oversight of the nation's voter registration laws. 'They are not pushing states to recognize their voter registration responsibilities.'
At the same time, the Justice Department's Voting Section, which enforces voting rights and supervises elections in some states, is pressuring 10 states to do more to purge voter rolls -- or remove ineligible voters -- before the 2008 presidential election, according to letters sent to state election officials this spring."
Yes, we are well on the way to fixing the next election, just in case the administration allows the election to proceed. "You sheep said you wanted no more neo-cons? That's not what our records say."
'It's huge. It's another area where the administration is failing us,' said Donna Brazile, chair of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute, speaking of the Department of Justice's oversight of the nation's voter registration laws. 'They are not pushing states to recognize their voter registration responsibilities.'
At the same time, the Justice Department's Voting Section, which enforces voting rights and supervises elections in some states, is pressuring 10 states to do more to purge voter rolls -- or remove ineligible voters -- before the 2008 presidential election, according to letters sent to state election officials this spring."
Yes, we are well on the way to fixing the next election, just in case the administration allows the election to proceed. "You sheep said you wanted no more neo-cons? That's not what our records say."
Think Progress » Sen. Reed: White House Blocking Petraeus From Pursuing ‘New Direction’ In Iraq
Think Progress » Sen. Reed: White House Blocking Petraeus From Pursuing ‘New Direction’ In Iraq: "...But yesterday on C-SPAN, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who recently returned from a trip to Iraq, suggested that those comments aren’t Petraeus’s real views. Rather, he is shilling for the administration. 'I got the impression from Gen. Petraeus that he wasn’t waiting' until September to reassess the Iraq policy. 'Now he might be overruled by people in the White House and, you know, wait until September. But he seemed very eager to come forward as quickly as possible with a new direction and policy.'"
You mean he is just a puppet of the administration? No way!!! It is a shame that these guys cannot stand their ground.
You mean he is just a puppet of the administration? No way!!! It is a shame that these guys cannot stand their ground.
The Raw Story | Pentagon starts spin unit to target talk radio, bloggers
The Raw Story | Pentagon starts spin unit to target talk radio, bloggers: "The new 'Communications Outreach' program is the latest effort to bypass the traditional media and work directly with talk radio and bloggers. The project was originally called 'Surrogates Operation' and is the brain child of former ABC executive and assistant secretary of defense for public affairs Dorrance Smith."
Perhaps they have realized that the bloggers are growing ever-more important, because they do not spit the same lies as the corporate media. Now, they must try and propagandize blogging... I wonder how many blogs will now trace back to government IPs?
Perhaps they have realized that the bloggers are growing ever-more important, because they do not spit the same lies as the corporate media. Now, they must try and propagandize blogging... I wonder how many blogs will now trace back to government IPs?
Monday, July 16, 2007
Cheney pushes Bush to act on Iran | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited
Cheney pushes Bush to act on Iran | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited: "The vice-president, Dick Cheney, has long favoured upping the threat of military action against Iran. He is being resisted by the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, and the defence secretary, Robert Gates.
Last year Mr Bush came down in favour of Ms Rice, who along with Britain, France and Germany has been putting a diplomatic squeeze on Iran. But at a meeting of the White House, Pentagon and state department last month, Mr Cheney expressed frustration at the lack of progress and Mr Bush sided with him. 'The balance has tilted. There is cause for concern,' the source said this week."
The dark lord used his power of the dark side to sway Bush. Or perhaps Cheney just gave bush an unlimited supply of crayons to color his signing statements with. Goodbye Iran...
Last year Mr Bush came down in favour of Ms Rice, who along with Britain, France and Germany has been putting a diplomatic squeeze on Iran. But at a meeting of the White House, Pentagon and state department last month, Mr Cheney expressed frustration at the lack of progress and Mr Bush sided with him. 'The balance has tilted. There is cause for concern,' the source said this week."
The dark lord used his power of the dark side to sway Bush. Or perhaps Cheney just gave bush an unlimited supply of crayons to color his signing statements with. Goodbye Iran...
My Way News - PM: Iraqis Can Keep Peace Without U.S.
My Way News - PM: Iraqis Can Keep Peace Without U.S.: "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday that the Iraqi army and police are capable of keeping security in the country when American troops leave 'any time they want,' though he acknowledged the forces need further weapons and training.
The embattled prime minister sought to show confidence at a time when pressure in the U.S. Congress is growing for a withdrawal and the Bush administration reported little progress had been made on the most vital of a series of political reforms it wants al-Maliki to carry out."
Yes, the Iraqi's want us out, but we will not leave until we have secured the oil for the big oil companies...
The embattled prime minister sought to show confidence at a time when pressure in the U.S. Congress is growing for a withdrawal and the Bush administration reported little progress had been made on the most vital of a series of political reforms it wants al-Maliki to carry out."
Yes, the Iraqi's want us out, but we will not leave until we have secured the oil for the big oil companies...
Sunday, July 15, 2007
The Gestappo Paid Me A Visit... Schenectady, NY
Thursday night, my friend and I were hanging out having a few beers. As the night progressed, we became a bit too loud with our music and goofing off, but the night was now winding down, because I had a trip to make in the morning. As I was drifting off to sleep, just after 1:30AM or so on Friday morning, my friend woke me up to tell me that the police were outside the house. Ok, no problem, I figured. They were probably going to give me a ticket for being too loud. They had never been called here for noise before.
So, half asleep and tipsy, I wandered down the stairs to accept my minor punishment. Unfortunately, I did not know what I was in for.
As soon as I opened the door, I was grabbed by the police and thrown on the floor of my porch. They then attempted to cuff me. I asked them what this was about, why I was being cuffed, and why I was being arrested. They gave me no answer, so, naturally I began to resist, asking why I was being arrested again. Before I knew it, one of the police was on me, punching the crap out of my ribs, over and over. My major focus was on that officer, but there were others joining in. When the attack began, I yelled for my friend. [While I was being attacked, a couple of officers were laughing at my "COME BACK WITH A WARRANT" door mat, like it was a joke...]
He came down the stairs just in time to witness the one cop repeatedly punching me. After a few more punches, the cop realized he was being watched, and ceased. I continued to resist, as my question had not been answered. They continued to attack me. My friend pleaded with the cops to stop, and then my friend pleaded with me to stop resisting, though the arrest was unlawful. At some point during the beating, they got the cuffs on me. Soon after that, I went limp, and continued to demand an explanation. At no point had I hit an officer, as their charges would show the next morning. I simply twisted and writhed to avoid being cuffed for no stated reason. After the cuffs were on, as their charges would also show, I used passive resistance.
After they dragged me off the porch, I asked again why I was being arrested, and they finally said that my music was too loud. I asked the officer where the decibel meter was, and got no response. Let's not forget, that a noise ordinance violation is just that: a violation. It is like getting a ticket for littering or not picking up a dog's feces. It is by no means a reason to cuff me.
Next they dragged me over to the back of the cruiser, and bounced my head off the trunk a few times, until my nose was bleeding and left a nice streak of blood on the vehicle. Soon, I was loaded into the transfer van and headed off to jail. I did not answer any questions during the booking process, including those of the social worker. I do not remember them asking anything about a phone call, though I could be wrong there, everything was so chaotic. (They claim I refused it. I did, however, ask for one many times later)
They placed me on suicide watch, because I refused to answer the social worker's questions, and I was left in the cell naked for a while. Finally, they left me with a cheap paper smock, that shredded when I tried to put it on. So I made do the best I could to cover myself and stay warm with the shreds of paper. I also let every person in the area know what was going on, by shouting over and over. At that point, that was all I could do.
In the morning they gave me my clothes back, and let me talk to a public defender. Apparently, because I own a house, I do not qualify for a public defender, though the defender gave me some good advice, anyway. [The only decent thing of the night] Then I went to my arraignment. (What happened to the right to counsel? I am just as poor as the people who were next to me but happened to rent.)
I have never been arrested before(I am 27), own a house, lived in Schenectady most of my life, and only was charged with a misdemeanor of resisting arrest and a violation of the noise ordinance, so the Judge saw fit to release me on my own recognizance.
My sister was in court to make sure they did not railroad me, so I went to her nearby house afterwards. From there I called my friend, to find out more about what happened. It turns out that they supposedly received a report of "shots fired" and "people fighting" at the house, which was later confirmed through some connections he has with law enforcement. They asked him if they could search the house, and since he has a family and did not want to end up in jail with me, he consented. It is too bad that it was an illegal search, because he does not live there. They found absolutely nothing in the house. Thank god my friend was there to secure my dogs, because the Schenectady police are known to shoot dogs on sight, even if they do not attack. Of course, they would not let my friend back into the house to let the dogs loose.
So my father, who lives with me, and downstairs neighbors did not wake up during our excessive noise, nor the arrest, though that took place outside, where it was not as easily heard.
Ok, so now the questions.
How can I be charged with resisting arrest when I should not have been arrested for the noise violation?
If there was, in fact, a report of shots fired, why did they not check to see if my downstairs neighbors were alright when they found no guns in my house?
Did they use force on the account of the fact that I know my rights? Perhaps they thought that I would be trouble with my WARRANT mat.
Did they fake the music citation because they realized they had screwed up?
If it was simply a noise complaint, why did the show up with 4 or 5 cruisers and six or seven officers?
I did not hit an officer, according to them, so why did they beat the crap out of me?
Why did they immediately take me down, without a single question?
I ended up with scrapes and bruises all over my body and, as confirmed at the hospital, a fractured rib. I have also been in intense pain since the incident, and the pain is only now starting to wane. I look forward to seeing the police report. I was drinking, but I am almost 100% sure that I am not forgetting anything that happened that night, and my friend was witness to the incident. Let me also be clear, that when they started violating my rights, I started acting like a real jerk, with a lot of foul language. I was mad, and I was getting beaten. I was not being nice at that point.
I am just now able to sit at the computer long enough to write this, now that the pain from my ribs has dulled enough that it can be taken care of with pain medication.
My sister's account of the entire situation is here, she is almost as pissed as I am.
So, half asleep and tipsy, I wandered down the stairs to accept my minor punishment. Unfortunately, I did not know what I was in for.
As soon as I opened the door, I was grabbed by the police and thrown on the floor of my porch. They then attempted to cuff me. I asked them what this was about, why I was being cuffed, and why I was being arrested. They gave me no answer, so, naturally I began to resist, asking why I was being arrested again. Before I knew it, one of the police was on me, punching the crap out of my ribs, over and over. My major focus was on that officer, but there were others joining in. When the attack began, I yelled for my friend. [While I was being attacked, a couple of officers were laughing at my "COME BACK WITH A WARRANT" door mat, like it was a joke...]
He came down the stairs just in time to witness the one cop repeatedly punching me. After a few more punches, the cop realized he was being watched, and ceased. I continued to resist, as my question had not been answered. They continued to attack me. My friend pleaded with the cops to stop, and then my friend pleaded with me to stop resisting, though the arrest was unlawful. At some point during the beating, they got the cuffs on me. Soon after that, I went limp, and continued to demand an explanation. At no point had I hit an officer, as their charges would show the next morning. I simply twisted and writhed to avoid being cuffed for no stated reason. After the cuffs were on, as their charges would also show, I used passive resistance.
After they dragged me off the porch, I asked again why I was being arrested, and they finally said that my music was too loud. I asked the officer where the decibel meter was, and got no response. Let's not forget, that a noise ordinance violation is just that: a violation. It is like getting a ticket for littering or not picking up a dog's feces. It is by no means a reason to cuff me.
Next they dragged me over to the back of the cruiser, and bounced my head off the trunk a few times, until my nose was bleeding and left a nice streak of blood on the vehicle. Soon, I was loaded into the transfer van and headed off to jail. I did not answer any questions during the booking process, including those of the social worker. I do not remember them asking anything about a phone call, though I could be wrong there, everything was so chaotic. (They claim I refused it. I did, however, ask for one many times later)
They placed me on suicide watch, because I refused to answer the social worker's questions, and I was left in the cell naked for a while. Finally, they left me with a cheap paper smock, that shredded when I tried to put it on. So I made do the best I could to cover myself and stay warm with the shreds of paper. I also let every person in the area know what was going on, by shouting over and over. At that point, that was all I could do.
In the morning they gave me my clothes back, and let me talk to a public defender. Apparently, because I own a house, I do not qualify for a public defender, though the defender gave me some good advice, anyway. [The only decent thing of the night] Then I went to my arraignment. (What happened to the right to counsel? I am just as poor as the people who were next to me but happened to rent.)
I have never been arrested before(I am 27), own a house, lived in Schenectady most of my life, and only was charged with a misdemeanor of resisting arrest and a violation of the noise ordinance, so the Judge saw fit to release me on my own recognizance.
My sister was in court to make sure they did not railroad me, so I went to her nearby house afterwards. From there I called my friend, to find out more about what happened. It turns out that they supposedly received a report of "shots fired" and "people fighting" at the house, which was later confirmed through some connections he has with law enforcement. They asked him if they could search the house, and since he has a family and did not want to end up in jail with me, he consented. It is too bad that it was an illegal search, because he does not live there. They found absolutely nothing in the house. Thank god my friend was there to secure my dogs, because the Schenectady police are known to shoot dogs on sight, even if they do not attack. Of course, they would not let my friend back into the house to let the dogs loose.
So my father, who lives with me, and downstairs neighbors did not wake up during our excessive noise, nor the arrest, though that took place outside, where it was not as easily heard.
Ok, so now the questions.
How can I be charged with resisting arrest when I should not have been arrested for the noise violation?
If there was, in fact, a report of shots fired, why did they not check to see if my downstairs neighbors were alright when they found no guns in my house?
Did they use force on the account of the fact that I know my rights? Perhaps they thought that I would be trouble with my WARRANT mat.
Did they fake the music citation because they realized they had screwed up?
If it was simply a noise complaint, why did the show up with 4 or 5 cruisers and six or seven officers?
I did not hit an officer, according to them, so why did they beat the crap out of me?
Why did they immediately take me down, without a single question?
I ended up with scrapes and bruises all over my body and, as confirmed at the hospital, a fractured rib. I have also been in intense pain since the incident, and the pain is only now starting to wane. I look forward to seeing the police report. I was drinking, but I am almost 100% sure that I am not forgetting anything that happened that night, and my friend was witness to the incident. Let me also be clear, that when they started violating my rights, I started acting like a real jerk, with a lot of foul language. I was mad, and I was getting beaten. I was not being nice at that point.
I am just now able to sit at the computer long enough to write this, now that the pain from my ribs has dulled enough that it can be taken care of with pain medication.
My sister's account of the entire situation is here, she is almost as pissed as I am.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The Raw Story | Edwards: Bush's Iraq/September 11 remarks 'border on the delusional'
The Raw Story | Edwards: Bush's Iraq/September 11 remarks 'border on the delusional': "Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards slammed President Bush for connecting insurgents in Iraq with the terrorists who attacked the US on Sept. 11, 2001. The former Democratic senator said that the president's remarks 'border on the delusional,' and accused him of ignoring his own key role in allowing al Qaeda to gain strength in Iraq."
HA, HA, HA
HA, HA, HA
The Raw Story | Bush acknowledges administration official leaked Plame's name
The Raw Story | Bush acknowledges administration official leaked Plame's name: "At a White House press conference Thursday, President Bush acknowledged that someone in his administration leaked the name of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame but avoided addressing the question of whether saw it as a moral issue or was at all disappointed in his senior advisers."
With the release of CIA documents, the FBI acknowledging the kind of information they are keeping on all of us, this admission, and other recent events, it is obvious that the administration no longer cares about the rule of law, and even flaunts the fact that it is breaking the law. They are simply prepping us for a trip to the "happy camps," for which Guantanamo Bay is the prototype.
With the release of CIA documents, the FBI acknowledging the kind of information they are keeping on all of us, this admission, and other recent events, it is obvious that the administration no longer cares about the rule of law, and even flaunts the fact that it is breaking the law. They are simply prepping us for a trip to the "happy camps," for which Guantanamo Bay is the prototype.
The Raw Story | Bush: Insurgents in Iraq same as 9/11 attackers
The Raw Story | Bush: Insurgents in Iraq same as 9/11 attackers: "President Bush, defending his troop surge in Iraq, insisted Thursday that the insurgents attacking US troops in Iraq 'are the same ones who attacked us on Sept. 11.'
Bush was speaking at a White House press conference on the same day an interim progress report on his troop surge in Iraq was released. Asked for proof of the connection between insurgents in Iraq and the 9/11 hijackers, Bush said both had pledged their allegiance to Osama bin Laden."
Same lie, over, and over, and over again...
From Natural Born Killers:
"Repetition works David. Repetition works David. Do you think any of those nit wits in Zombieland remember anything?"
[the nit wits are the TV audience]
Bush was speaking at a White House press conference on the same day an interim progress report on his troop surge in Iraq was released. Asked for proof of the connection between insurgents in Iraq and the 9/11 hijackers, Bush said both had pledged their allegiance to Osama bin Laden."
Same lie, over, and over, and over again...
From Natural Born Killers:
"Repetition works David. Repetition works David. Do you think any of those nit wits in Zombieland remember anything?"
[the nit wits are the TV audience]
'Fat tax' to save thousands of lives | Press Esc
'Fat tax' to save thousands of lives | Press Esc: "Governments could save thousands of lives by introducing a 'fat tax' on unhealthy foods, a group of Oxford University scientists reported in the journal Epidemiol Community Health, prompting a trades union to dismiss the idea as 'utter nonsense'.
Such a tax UK could prevent up to 3200 deaths from heart attacks and stroke every year in the UK alone, according to Oliver Mytton and his colleagues."
Here in New York the increased taxes on cigarettes more than doubled the price of cigarettes overnight. They said it was because of the health costs of treating smokers. Only obesity kills more people. I have always joked that there will soon tax the 1-dollar double cheeseburger at McDonald's, until it costs about 4 dollars. I guess it is coming...
I think the government just wants another way to turn a profit. With cigarettes, they now earn more than the manufacturer.
Such a tax UK could prevent up to 3200 deaths from heart attacks and stroke every year in the UK alone, according to Oliver Mytton and his colleagues."
Here in New York the increased taxes on cigarettes more than doubled the price of cigarettes overnight. They said it was because of the health costs of treating smokers. Only obesity kills more people. I have always joked that there will soon tax the 1-dollar double cheeseburger at McDonald's, until it costs about 4 dollars. I guess it is coming...
I think the government just wants another way to turn a profit. With cigarettes, they now earn more than the manufacturer.
Your Government: TSA Confiscates Water Bottle, Misses Bomb - Consumerist
Your Government: TSA Confiscates Water Bottle, Misses Bomb - Consumerist: "Federal inspectors were able to slip a bomb past the TSA 5 out of 7 times, according to the Albany Times-Union. Here's the best part: One fake bomb was placed in the same bag as a bottle of water. The TSA opened the bag, took the water, and let the bomb on the plane."
So much for enhanced security. A few months ago my nephew went to Alaska from this same airport, in order to help my Brother's pregnant wife out. His little sisters to the airport with him, so that they could say good-bye before he boarded the plane. Unfortunately, the person at the security checkpoint said that there was no way the kids could go into the secure area, let alone me, who just happened to be there in case my sister's temporary ID would not be enough to let her through security. This left the older of the two girls extremely heartbroken, and she immediately started crying. Thank goodness I was there to drive the other 2 kids home, otherwise, my nephew would be barred from flying. It is a rule that unattended minors must be supervised by an adult until the plane takes off. To top it off, the tickets were not refundable, so the money would have been lost.
What kind of threat is a little kid who is not even going on the plane? I think the truth is that they actually limit the number of people who come through so that they can reduce the number of people at the checkpoints, in order to save money. His flight ended up being postponed to the next day anyway.
Another neat little fact from the trip: the baggage inspectors stole my nephew's new hat and gloves that were purchased for Alaska. Fortunately, he had 2 sets.
So much for enhanced security. A few months ago my nephew went to Alaska from this same airport, in order to help my Brother's pregnant wife out. His little sisters to the airport with him, so that they could say good-bye before he boarded the plane. Unfortunately, the person at the security checkpoint said that there was no way the kids could go into the secure area, let alone me, who just happened to be there in case my sister's temporary ID would not be enough to let her through security. This left the older of the two girls extremely heartbroken, and she immediately started crying. Thank goodness I was there to drive the other 2 kids home, otherwise, my nephew would be barred from flying. It is a rule that unattended minors must be supervised by an adult until the plane takes off. To top it off, the tickets were not refundable, so the money would have been lost.
What kind of threat is a little kid who is not even going on the plane? I think the truth is that they actually limit the number of people who come through so that they can reduce the number of people at the checkpoints, in order to save money. His flight ended up being postponed to the next day anyway.
Another neat little fact from the trip: the baggage inspectors stole my nephew's new hat and gloves that were purchased for Alaska. Fortunately, he had 2 sets.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Raw Story | Bush's sarcastic response sends a girl into tears
The Raw Story | Bush's sarcastic response sends a girl into tears: "The Washington Times reports Jessica Hackerd was left in tears after Bush gave her a wry 'yeah, thanks' in response to her query, drawing laughter from the crowd of 400 in Brecksville, Ohio Tuesday. Bush immediately began to backpedal when he saw the reaction from Hackerd, who told the Times she was crying because she is very shy and was nervous questioning the president."
Wow, Bush can be a real jerk and an idiot sometimes.
Wow, Bush can be a real jerk and an idiot sometimes.
Another Coffee Cup Down
A few months ago, in my local grocery store, I found some nice, large ceramic coffee cups that quickly became my favorite vessels for my morning coffee. I like large cups, because I get my fix much quicker that way. Unfortunately, I found the one I was drinking from this morning had a tiny crack in it. This would not have been a huge deal if the cup was made in America. Years ago, the FDA set standards for lead in ceramics, in order to reduce lead poisoning.
The fact is, however, that I do not know where this cup is from. More than likely, though, it was made in China, and with the recent news about such imports, I decided the best thing to do is to throw the thing away immediately, sacrificing my first cup of coffee along with it. It is a shame that our economic system is set up to need China's inferior merchandise, because I say we would be better off without the dangerous goods.
The fact is, however, that I do not know where this cup is from. More than likely, though, it was made in China, and with the recent news about such imports, I decided the best thing to do is to throw the thing away immediately, sacrificing my first cup of coffee along with it. It is a shame that our economic system is set up to need China's inferior merchandise, because I say we would be better off without the dangerous goods.
Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised - New York Times
Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised - New York Times: "Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.
The administration, Dr. Carmona said, would not allow him to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. Top officials delayed for years and tried to “water down” a landmark report on secondhand smoke, he said. Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm."
Don't want to anger the administration's corporate buddies...
The administration, Dr. Carmona said, would not allow him to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. Top officials delayed for years and tried to “water down” a landmark report on secondhand smoke, he said. Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm."
Don't want to anger the administration's corporate buddies...
WorldNetDaily: Pope: So, you're not Catholic? Then you're not in true Church
WorldNetDaily: Pope: So, you're not Catholic? Then you're not in true Church: "Pope Benedict XVI has ignited controversy across the world by approving a document saying non-Catholic Christian communities are either defective or not true churches, and the Roman Catholic Church provides the only true path to salvation."
This guy just keeps getting in trouble. First he lied about the Latin-American natives welcoming Christianity, then he alienated members of the Jewish faith by supporting a Latin prayer that condemns them, and now he is condemning non-catholic Christians. Maybe he is setting up for a new set of crusades, or perhaps he is the anti-Christ.
This guy just keeps getting in trouble. First he lied about the Latin-American natives welcoming Christianity, then he alienated members of the Jewish faith by supporting a Latin prayer that condemns them, and now he is condemning non-catholic Christians. Maybe he is setting up for a new set of crusades, or perhaps he is the anti-Christ.
'Stealth advertising' infiltrating TV news | Press Esc
'Stealth advertising' infiltrating TV news | Press Esc: "Results indicated that newscasts by 90 per cent of the 294 network-affiliated stations studied contained at least 1 instance per newscast of stealth advertising."
Watered-down "news," celebrity gossip, and now, advertising!!! Do not trust the mass media. Support independent news.
Watered-down "news," celebrity gossip, and now, advertising!!! Do not trust the mass media. Support independent news.
Truthdig - Reports - Bush’s Pakistan Paradox
Truthdig - Reports - Bush’s Pakistan Paradox: "Two news stories this week underscore the extreme irrationality and utter moral depravity of the Bush administration in exploiting the 9/11 attack to justify the invasion of Iraq. They both concern Pakistan, the close ally of the Taliban government when Afghanistan hosted Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida terrorist network. And, as opposed to Iraq, Pakistan did have weapons of mass destruction and facilitated their proliferation to “rogue nations.” Both examples provide damning evidence that Bush cared not a whit about WMD or about preventing another 9/11-style attack, because the danger of both existed in Pakistan, which he befriended, rather than in Iraq, which he invaded."
Yesterday, Bush's speech made a long and winding transition from 9/11 into Iraq, trying, once again, to justify Iraq with the tragedy. He just tries to avoid making a direct connection now.
Yesterday, Bush's speech made a long and winding transition from 9/11 into Iraq, trying, once again, to justify Iraq with the tragedy. He just tries to avoid making a direct connection now.
Data on Americans mined for terror risk - Yahoo! News
Data on Americans mined for terror risk - Yahoo! News: "The FBI is gathering and sorting information about Americans to help search for potential terrorists, insurance cheats and crooked pharmacists, according to a government report obtained Tuesday.
Records about identity thefts, real estate transactions, motor vehicle accidents and complaints about Internet drug companies are being searched for common threads to aid law enforcement officials, the Justice Department said in a report to Congress on the agency's data-mining practices."
The database of information that the government keeps on each and every one of is growing by leaps and bounds. It really makes me want to live off the grid, but that is next to impossible today.
Records about identity thefts, real estate transactions, motor vehicle accidents and complaints about Internet drug companies are being searched for common threads to aid law enforcement officials, the Justice Department said in a report to Congress on the agency's data-mining practices."
The database of information that the government keeps on each and every one of is growing by leaps and bounds. It really makes me want to live off the grid, but that is next to impossible today.
The Blotter: Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel
The Blotter: Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel: "Senior U.S. intelligence officials tell ABC News new intelligence suggests a small al Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here.
The White House has convened an urgent multi-agency meeting for Thursday afternoon to deal with the new threat."
Be afraid, be very afraid... of the propaganda the government is willing to spew, that is. Must stay the course in Iraq, we must, we must... (picture George Bush jumping up and down, fists clenched, stomping, in full tantrum mode.)
The White House has convened an urgent multi-agency meeting for Thursday afternoon to deal with the new threat."
Be afraid, be very afraid... of the propaganda the government is willing to spew, that is. Must stay the course in Iraq, we must, we must... (picture George Bush jumping up and down, fists clenched, stomping, in full tantrum mode.)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The speech Bush made today
He made it a point to explain why federalized heath care is not the right thing to do(Sicko!), and how the Iraq war is protecting us against the terrorists, among other things. I found it quite interesting that during the speech, CNN kept cutting to another story. Apparently, an airport was being evacuated, because someone went through the security exit, instead of the entrance. They had no idea where this person went, despite the high security. Then, shortly after the speech, Times Square in NYC was being evacuated, because of a possible bomb. Has anyone else noticed, that whenever Bush talks about why we must fight terrorists and terrorist countries, in spite of controversy in the ranks, that there is some kind of domestic, terrorism-seeming event in close proximity?
In order to subjugate an entire people, you must convince them that they are under threat of constant harm from outside forces. Then they will gladly relinquish their civil liberties. It happened in Nazi Germany, and many, many times previously.
All hail King George!!!
In order to subjugate an entire people, you must convince them that they are under threat of constant harm from outside forces. Then they will gladly relinquish their civil liberties. It happened in Nazi Germany, and many, many times previously.
All hail King George!!!
U.S. Navy sends third carrier to 5th fleet region - Yahoo! News UK
U.S. Navy sends third carrier to 5th fleet region - Yahoo! News UK: "The U.S. navy has sent a third aircraft carrier to its Fifth Fleet area of operations, which includes Gulf waters close to Iran, the navy said on Tuesday.
'Enterprise (aircraft carrier) provides navy power to counter the assertive, disruptive and coercive behaviour of some countries, as well as support our soldiers and marines in Iraq and Afghanistan,' a U.S. Navy statement said."
I read about this along time ago, but they must be just arriving. I have also heard that a fourth carrier group is going, but the story seemed a bit sketchy. "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran"
'Enterprise (aircraft carrier) provides navy power to counter the assertive, disruptive and coercive behaviour of some countries, as well as support our soldiers and marines in Iraq and Afghanistan,' a U.S. Navy statement said."
I read about this along time ago, but they must be just arriving. I have also heard that a fourth carrier group is going, but the story seemed a bit sketchy. "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran"
The Raw Story | Gonzales lied to Congress about FBI abuses
The Raw Story | Gonzales lied to Congress about FBI abuses: "Today's Washington Post reports that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was given a report detailing FBI abuses of power six days before testifying to Congress where he sought to renew the Patriot Act. In front of the Senate Intelligence Committee he claimed he knew of no wrongdoing or abuse of power, and that the Patriot Act was free of problems, despite the reports of numerous violations of the law and FBI protocol."
The Bush administration really has a huge problem with the truth.
The Bush administration really has a huge problem with the truth.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Pope wants to deliver Jews 'from their darkness' | Press Esc
Pope wants to deliver Jews 'from their darkness' Press Esc: "Pope Benedict XVI courted fresh controversy today by formally sanctioning the celebration of a Latin prayer that calls for Jews to 'be delivered from their darkness' and calls for their conversion to Christianity."
BBC NEWS | Americas | Woman jailed for 'neglected' lawn
BBC NEWS Americas Woman jailed for 'neglected' lawn: "The officer had judged that Ms Perry's 'sadly neglected and dying landscape' breached an Orem city guideline and was attempting to issue a formal caution when the 70-year-old was injured.
She was treated in a local hospital for the cut to her nose and for other bruises before being taken to jail.
But she was let go when police realised there were 'other ways' of finding out her identity without taking her to jail, a police spokesman said."
To protect and serve... THE LAWN!!! (What do you want to bet they have a hefty water bill in that area?)
She was treated in a local hospital for the cut to her nose and for other bruises before being taken to jail.
But she was let go when police realised there were 'other ways' of finding out her identity without taking her to jail, a police spokesman said."
To protect and serve... THE LAWN!!! (What do you want to bet they have a hefty water bill in that area?)
Bush sharpens budget attack on Democrats - Yahoo! News
Bush sharpens budget attack on Democrats - Yahoo! News: "'They are working to bring back the failed tax-and-spend policies of the past,' he said in his weekly radio address. 'Democrats are failing in their responsibility to make tough decisions and spend the people's money wisely.'"
Oops, did he forget that he has already run the national debt up to over 8 trillion dollars himself? Did he forget the cost of the war in Iraq has cost this nation more than 400 billion? How is he spending our money wisely?
Oops, did he forget that he has already run the national debt up to over 8 trillion dollars himself? Did he forget the cost of the war in Iraq has cost this nation more than 400 billion? How is he spending our money wisely?
White House to Tell Miers to Ignore Senate Subpoena
White House to Tell Miers to Ignore Senate Subpoena: "The White House has decided to defy Congress's latest demand for information regarding the dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys, sources familiar with the decision said yesterday. Such an action would escalate the constitutional struggle and propel it closer to a court showdown.
Senate and House committees have directed President Bush to provide by tomorrow a detailed justification of his executive privilege claims and a full accounting of the documents he is withholding. But White House counsel Fred F. Fielding plans to tell lawmakers that he has already provided the legal basis for the claims and will not provide a log of the documents, the sources said."
There are no laws for this administration...
Senate and House committees have directed President Bush to provide by tomorrow a detailed justification of his executive privilege claims and a full accounting of the documents he is withholding. But White House counsel Fred F. Fielding plans to tell lawmakers that he has already provided the legal basis for the claims and will not provide a log of the documents, the sources said."
There are no laws for this administration...
Powell tried to talk Bush out of war - Times Online
Powell tried to talk Bush out of war - Times Online: "THE former American secretary of state Colin Powell has revealed that he spent 2½ hours vainly trying to persuade President George W Bush not to invade Iraq and believes today’s conflict cannot be resolved by US forces.
“I tried to avoid this war,” Powell said at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado. “I took him through the consequences of going into an Arab country and becoming the occupiers.”"
Nice to speak out now. What happened, did Cheney finally decide to Fedex his balls back to him?
“I tried to avoid this war,” Powell said at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado. “I took him through the consequences of going into an Arab country and becoming the occupiers.”"
Nice to speak out now. What happened, did Cheney finally decide to Fedex his balls back to him?
SAN FRANCISCO / Judges OK warrantless monitoring of Web use / Privacy rules don't apply to Internet messages, court says
SAN FRANCISCO / Judges OK warrantless monitoring of Web use / Privacy rules don't apply to Internet messages, court says: "Federal agents do not need a search warrant to monitor a suspect's computer use and determine the e-mail addresses and Web pages the suspect is contacting, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.
In a drug case from San Diego County, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco likened computer surveillance to the 'pen register' devices that officers use to pinpoint the phone numbers a suspect dials, without listening to the phone calls themselves."
Damn, here we go again.
In a drug case from San Diego County, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco likened computer surveillance to the 'pen register' devices that officers use to pinpoint the phone numbers a suspect dials, without listening to the phone calls themselves."
Damn, here we go again.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
"Wanna Go Bomb?"
(Note to FEDS, notice the quotes, I am not serious)
"Wanna go bomb?"
That is what I said to my dogs just a few minutes ago, and they reacted with utter excitement. That is because it is one word off from their favorite question:
"Wanna go out?"
Unfortunately, we, as Americans, have been slowly bred and groomed for about 100 years to act the same way as my dogs. The false flag operation of 9/11 was just what we needed to rise up once again as a "patriotic" people, in order to bomb and utterly destroy the countries of Afghanistan and Iraq.
This careful plan to turn us into dogs has been long in the making. First, there was the coalition of bankers that manged to write the federal reserve legislation, support a presidential candidate, get him elected, and get their law passed. This left our country in sheer slavery to the banking industry and big corporations. Then there are the wars and strife created by the banking industry for profit.
Our entry into World War 1 was the result of the sinking of the Lusitania. The thing is, the German embassy tried to warn Americans not to travel on the ship. (The ship was carrying ammunition when it sank.)
"A group of German-Americans, hoping to avoid controversy if the Lusitania were attacked by a U-boat, discussed their concerns with a representative of the German embassy. The embassy decided to warn passengers not to sail on the Lusitania before her next crossing. The Imperial German embassy placed this warning ad in 50 East Coast newspapers, including those in New York."
Our government only allowed the warning to be printed in one paper. Our entry into WWII happened in a similar manner, spurred on by Pearl Harbor. There is still a large amount of controversy out there, but more and more credible accounts are coming out that suggest Roosevelt wanted to enter the war, and may have purposely ignored intelligence warning of imminent attack.
We entered the Vietnam war because of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which was also a false flag situation. The "attacks" have been officially rejected as true accounts.
With the ideas put forth by the Project for a New American Century, such as the need for a new Pearl Harbor, it becomes quite obvious why many people do not believe the official 9/11 story. Who profited from all these wars? Big bankers and big corporations.
Now, we have to look at the nation's state-run educational system. It has been so severely dumbed-down that colleges have to teach basic reading skills to new students. We, as a society, are no longer encouraged to seek knowledge. Our media, which was once an accurate reporting of would events, has been transformed into an outlet for celebrity gossip.
Meanwhile, the elite continue to grab power and control. Then, when laws are passed that say the government can search our houses, listen to our phone calls, and read our emails, the very rare dissenter is simply told to lay down and shut up, just like the obedient dogs we are.
And, like my dogs, we obey.
"Wanna go bomb?"
That is what I said to my dogs just a few minutes ago, and they reacted with utter excitement. That is because it is one word off from their favorite question:
"Wanna go out?"
Unfortunately, we, as Americans, have been slowly bred and groomed for about 100 years to act the same way as my dogs. The false flag operation of 9/11 was just what we needed to rise up once again as a "patriotic" people, in order to bomb and utterly destroy the countries of Afghanistan and Iraq.
This careful plan to turn us into dogs has been long in the making. First, there was the coalition of bankers that manged to write the federal reserve legislation, support a presidential candidate, get him elected, and get their law passed. This left our country in sheer slavery to the banking industry and big corporations. Then there are the wars and strife created by the banking industry for profit.
Our entry into World War 1 was the result of the sinking of the Lusitania. The thing is, the German embassy tried to warn Americans not to travel on the ship. (The ship was carrying ammunition when it sank.)
"A group of German-Americans, hoping to avoid controversy if the Lusitania were attacked by a U-boat, discussed their concerns with a representative of the German embassy. The embassy decided to warn passengers not to sail on the Lusitania before her next crossing. The Imperial German embassy placed this warning ad in 50 East Coast newspapers, including those in New York."
Our government only allowed the warning to be printed in one paper. Our entry into WWII happened in a similar manner, spurred on by Pearl Harbor. There is still a large amount of controversy out there, but more and more credible accounts are coming out that suggest Roosevelt wanted to enter the war, and may have purposely ignored intelligence warning of imminent attack.
We entered the Vietnam war because of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which was also a false flag situation. The "attacks" have been officially rejected as true accounts.
With the ideas put forth by the Project for a New American Century, such as the need for a new Pearl Harbor, it becomes quite obvious why many people do not believe the official 9/11 story. Who profited from all these wars? Big bankers and big corporations.
Now, we have to look at the nation's state-run educational system. It has been so severely dumbed-down that colleges have to teach basic reading skills to new students. We, as a society, are no longer encouraged to seek knowledge. Our media, which was once an accurate reporting of would events, has been transformed into an outlet for celebrity gossip.
Meanwhile, the elite continue to grab power and control. Then, when laws are passed that say the government can search our houses, listen to our phone calls, and read our emails, the very rare dissenter is simply told to lay down and shut up, just like the obedient dogs we are.
And, like my dogs, we obey.
Friday, July 6, 2007
AlterNet: War on Iraq: Is the United States Killing 10,000 Iraqis Every Month? Or Is It More?
AlterNet: War on Iraq: Is the United States Killing 10,000 Iraqis Every Month? Or Is It More?: "The results are nevertheless staggering for those of us who read the American press: for the deaths that the victims families knew for sure who the perpetrator was, U.S. forces (or their 'Coalition of the Willing' allies) were responsible for 56%. That is, we can be very confident that the Coalition had killed at least 180,000 Iraqis by the middle of 2006. Moreover, we have every reason to believe that the U.S. is responsible for its pro rata share (or more) of the unattributed deaths. That means that the U.S. and its allies may well have killed upwards of 330,000 Iraqis by the middle of 2006."
Sorry Saddam, we beat your record...
Sorry Saddam, we beat your record...
FTC abandons net neutrality - vnunet.com
FTC abandons net neutrality - vnunet.com: "This means that the organisation will not stand in the way of companies using differential pricing to make sure that some websites can be viewed more quickly than others. The report also counsels against net neutrality legislation."
This is a loss for the consumer. Big corporations will have even more control over the flow of information.
This is a loss for the consumer. Big corporations will have even more control over the flow of information.
U.S. eager and it shows in Iraq - Examiner.com
U.S. eager and it shows in Iraq - Examiner.com: "The U.S. command in Baghdad this week ballyhooed the killing of a key al Qaeda leader but later admitted that the military had declared him dead a year ago.
A military spokesman acknowledged the mistake after it was called to his attention by The Examiner. He said public affairs officers will be more careful in announcing significant kills."
This is only one example of people we have claimed to kill more than once. "chemical Ali," for example, was reported dead many times...
A military spokesman acknowledged the mistake after it was called to his attention by The Examiner. He said public affairs officers will be more careful in announcing significant kills."
This is only one example of people we have claimed to kill more than once. "chemical Ali," for example, was reported dead many times...
Court nixes suit against spying program - Yahoo! News
Court nixes suit against spying program - Yahoo! News: "CINCINNATI - A federal appeals court on Friday ordered the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging President Bush's domestic spying program, saying the plaintiffs had no standing to sue.
The 2-1 ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel was not on the legality of the surveillance program. But it vacated an order by a lower court in Detroit last Augist that the post-911 warrantless surveillance aimed at uncovering terrorist activity was unconstitutional, violating rights to privacy and free speech and the separation of powers."
Typical.
The 2-1 ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel was not on the legality of the surveillance program. But it vacated an order by a lower court in Detroit last Augist that the post-911 warrantless surveillance aimed at uncovering terrorist activity was unconstitutional, violating rights to privacy and free speech and the separation of powers."
Typical.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Dept. Of Step Right Up: iPhone Lemmings Line Up For NSA Surveillance - Wonkette
Dept. Of Step Right Up: iPhone Lemmings Line Up For NSA Surveillance - Wonkette: "Have you heard about the iPhone? It’s a wonderful new invention that lets the NSA illegally record all your phone calls, copy all your contacts, keep records of all your Web and IM activity, watch you through the camera, listen in on your household through the mic, and probably put you in a terrorist no-fly database for listening to Cynthia McKinney singing that stupid Pink song."
Yes, the iPhone is on the AT&T network. AT&T was happy to help out our government when it came to destroying our civil liberties. Jobs says that AT&T allows the iPhone to work in 80% of the world, but based on my own experience in the states, Verizon is much more likely to give you a good connection than AT&T. It will work in 80% of the world, just don't get your hopes up about using it at home.
Yes, the iPhone is on the AT&T network. AT&T was happy to help out our government when it came to destroying our civil liberties. Jobs says that AT&T allows the iPhone to work in 80% of the world, but based on my own experience in the states, Verizon is much more likely to give you a good connection than AT&T. It will work in 80% of the world, just don't get your hopes up about using it at home.
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