20081231
Goodbye 2008!
I have great hopes in 2009 and in the years to come, because of Obama. He's not a messiah, but he is a smart, wise, and thoughtful man who will bring sanity back to our world, and truly begin the 21st Century.
20081230
'Bout Time!
I've come to accept this, and I'm OK with it.
However, in lieu of this flying car, AND my serene acceptance of lack of said flying car, I would like a rocket pack, similar to but not necessarily the same as, this one.
Thanks in advance!
Redshirt
20081218
We're all Shoe Throwers now
Mr. Malaki: Release that Shoe Thrower!
Inclusion
Here's hoping Obama remembers all FSM's children at his Inauguration; FSM knows Rick Warren cannot cover them all.
And FSM wishes you all Happy Meaningless Days!
20081210
Blagoblogate!
And so we've begun the "Wingnuts chase Obama" game. I predicted Rezko, which is not done yet, but it was BLAGO! who came through.
20081112
It's a Tarp!
Or, how Fat Cats Help Fat Cats.
But what about the Mon Calamari? Where's their cut?
20081110
TGIF = TBIM
Thesis:
The amount of excitement you engage in under the heading "Thank God It's Friday" will be inversely proportional to the amount of misery you suffer under the heading "Too Bad It's Monday".
It's a Trap, you see....
20081107
It's Friday (Hang in there Kitten!)
So, I'm gonna try and go cold turkey this weekend. No Kos, No 538, No TPM, hell, no Sullivan; nope, instead, I think I'll rediscover the joys of.... outside???
Maybe not.
A New Hope
Savor it, because in short order the lustre will fade, the extraordinary turned every day....
Now I know how Wedge Antilles felt on the 3rd moon of Endor, post Death Star destruction. AMIRIGHT?!
20081105
20081103
Illinois NAZI's for Obama
White people are faced with either a negro or a total nutter who happens to have a pale face. Personally I’d prefer the negro. National Socialists are not mindless haters. Here, I see a white man, who is almost dead, who declares he wants to fight endless wars around the globe to make the world safe for Judeo-capitalist exploitation, who supports the invasion of America by illegals–basically a continuation of the last eight years of Emperor Bush. Then, we have a black man, who loves his own kind, belongs to a Black-Nationalist religion, is married to a black women–when usually negroes who have ‘made it’ immediately land a white spouse as a kind of prize–that’s the kind of negro that I can respect. Any time that a prominent person embraces their racial heritage in a positive manner, it’s good for all racially minded folks. Besides, America cares nothing for the interests of the white American worker, while having a love affair with just about every non-white on planet Earth. It’d be poetic justice to have a non-white as titular chief over this decaying modern Sodom and Gomorrah.
20081031
Predictions
-- Fox news will morph into a righteous critic of the government, intent on exposing "corruption" and "abuses of power".
-- The rest of the MSM will have far more interest in covering these very same stories.
-- REZKO will become unto WHITEWATER - a running "scandal (really, tell me: What was Whitewater about)" that Repugs demand be investigated by a Special Prosecutor; why? For Justice? Hell no! They will do everything and anything they can to obstruct Obama
-- Remember the phrase "Jack Booted Thugs"? Haven't heard that since about 1/1/01, I reckon. Expect to hear it again.
More as the Muse strikes....
Ground Game
If you haven't already found THE new site of 2008, go here and read the full, wonderful story.
To wit: The Bush campaign of 2004 defined GOTV efforts in recent American elections -- it's fair to say the Bush GOTV efforts won him the 2004 election.
This year, however, it's a completely different story. Not only has McCain never had a good ground game, even though he had several more months to set one up, but in these final days of the contest, he's shifting funds from GOTV efforts towards more commercials (no doubt dirty, hypocritical, and slanderous). This is a fundamental sign that things are not well in McCainland.
On the flip side, Obama's ground game makes Bush's 2004 efforts look like semi-pro wrestling; captilizing on the long primary, Obama supporters are everywhere, legion, all highly motivated to win this for not only Barack, but the America we all love (and not the America we've been turned into).
If you can do anything in these last few days to help out, it's easy to start. Go to barackobama.com and find the state your interested in. There will be lots of groups and efforts to choose from.
I'll be driving folks to the polls. If one person votes for Obama who would not have otherwise, it will all be worth it.
As Kos has been saying: "Leave it all on the road". Truly, now is the moment to crush the Neocons and end their influence in our country.
From the "Onion Predicts the Future" File
20081023
New Game
Witness! The dreaded "Lawn Jockey" besides the "Letter Carriers for Obama" sign.
That sums up nicely the change to come...
20081016
ALL UR BASE ARE BELONG TO US
On the one hand, I'm skeptical this will generate many votes in relation to the dollars spent;
On the other, every vote matters, and this ad campaign (which is underway with several on-line video games) shows in a visceral way the breadth and depth of the Obama campaign, and the dollars they have at their disposal.
Make no mistake: The Obama campaign is the best run campaign of my lifetime, and probably yours as well. While they've made a couple of mistakes I could identify (the Obama Seal), these are minor compared to the breathtaking competence and... shall I say, gameplay, of Team Obama. They beat the Clinton machine in large part because they understood the game better (primaries, caucusus, momentum, etc). The same is happening in the General.
Obama will be President. And he will have a legion of gamers ready to do battle in cyberspace.
Still Nervous?
20080926
More from Admiral Ackbar
I know you all must be disappointed with my recent stretch of absences -- sorry. Family matters have taken over my life, and until they are resolved, I won't have much time for this site of Laments.
But, I know you all come here for all news involving Admiral Ackbar and his various dispensations of wisdom. So, here you are.
20080917
Just Say No
There are no doubt millions of Americans and even other people (possibly in France) that are secretly harboring drug addiction stemming only from prescribed or OTC medication -- no "street" drugs necessary.
Easy enough trap to fall in, it seems, since it appears that's where our medical system has taken people: All your problems can be solved by this pill. or this pill. and this pill. And here's some more pills.
Pills. Everywhere. Answers, nowhere.
God speed.
20080902
Welcome to the Palindrome
Also, even though he was going to lose anyways, here is where McCain - and the media - realize, the gig's up.
Watch for more desperation!
20080826
Puma
It is a large cat native to N. and S. America
It can go by other names depending on the region, such as Mountain Lion.
Like all big cats, their numbers are not good, but the outlook is moderately more positive than it used to be.
This is also a Puma, though of a different kind.
Note! None of these Puma's are crazy ladies who have joined some dead-end cult of personality. Also note! There are only 12 of these people in existence, and all 12 will be multiplied by appearing on every single news outlet for the rest of the week.
20080825
Sign o' the Times
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (lead sponsor)
2008: 59% Dems, 41% Reps
2006: 48% Dems, 48% Reps
2004: 39% Dems, 61% Reps
2002: 32% Dems, 68% Reps
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
2008: 66% Dems, 34% Reps
2006: 24% Dems, 75% Reps
2004: 22% Dems, 78% Reps
2002: 40% Dems, 60% Reps
ClearChannel
2008: 54% Dems, 46% Reps
2006: 40% Dems, 60% Reps
2004: 38% Dems, 62% Reps
2002: 38% Dems, 62% Reps
Federation of American Hospitals
2008: 54% Dems, 46% Reps
2006: 35% Dems, 64% Reps
2004: 40% Dems, 60% Reps
2002: 31% Dems, 69% Reps
Duke Energy
2008: 39% Dems, 61% Reps
2006: 26% Dems, 74% Reps
2004: 24% Dems, 76% Reps
2002: 30% Dems, 70% Reps
National Association of Home Builders
2008: 45% Dems, 55% Reps
2006: 45% Dems, 55% Reps
2004: 33% Dems, 67% Reps
2002: 38% Dems, 62% Reps
US Chamber of Commerce
2008: 39% Dems, 61% Reps
2006: 18% Dems, 82% Reps
2004: 24% Dems, 76% Reps
2002: 10% Dems, 90% Reps
American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (Coal industry front group)
Lockheed Martin
2008: 57% Dems, 43% Reps
2006: 42% Dems, 58% Reps
2004: 41% Dems, 59% Reps
2002: 39% Dems, 61% Reps
Daimler
2008: 48% Dems, 52% Reps
2006: 35% Dems, 65% Reps
2004: 32% Dems, 68% Reps
2002: 41% Dems, 59% Reps
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
2008: 45% Dems, 55% Reps
2006: 28% Dems, 72% Reps
2004: 30% Dems, 70% Reps
2002: 30% Dems, 70% Reps
Amgen
2008: 45% Dems, 55% Reps
2006: 34% Dems, 65% Reps
2004: 27% Dems, 73% Reps
2002: 25% Dems, 74% Reps
Verisign
2008: 47% Dems, 53% Reps
2006: 21% Dems, 79% Reps
2004: 37% Dems, 63% Reps
2002: 55% Dems, 45% Reps
Kos seems to think this indicates a bad thing. I think it indicates the true trend of this election, where people speak with money, and money seldom lies. As with our good friend T.Boone, here's another macro level trend that speaks much more informatively than the daily tracking polls.
20080822
My New Bestest Most Favoritest Photo EVAH!
Passing Go
Or, is this the turning point? Where the false Maverick persona washes away to reveal a singularly ambitious rich man who's out to help his rich friends?
Stay tuned!
20080821
Safe as Seven Houses
But, as an interesting test of our "Liberal Media", let us see how this story goes -- the story of a rich man from a rich family who dumped a faithful wife for an even richer (and much younger) woman. Let us note how often the hypocrisy of this man calling Barack Obama an "elitist" is pointed out.
Odds are, despite the Democrats attempts to push this issue, it will quickly fade away, abetted by the MSM.
Note! Not that there's anything wrong with owning 4, or 7, or 11 houses. By all means, go for it! But please, don't then call the guy raised by a single white woman an "elitist".
Alas, facts are optional in our new Conservative forged world...
20080819
Meesa Back!
Hmmm.
20080809
Fleeing to Canada
Not really.
But that's where I'll be on vacation for a week, faithful readers. With no Internet! Egads, I don't know if I will survive the vapors I'm surely to feel, but if I do, I'll report back in a week.
Till then: Obama 08!
20080808
Something to be proud of
Check out this topical number, sure to get any kid a one way ticket to candy Heaven!
Looney Land
We don't debate reality, the facts, or the truth; we debate versions of these things, slanted towards the Republican's viewpoint.
This leads to ever greater heights of absurdity, and with our boy Bush generally trashing everything they've worked so hard to build over the past 30 years, the absurdity becomes more apparent.
For example, this cartoon, which aptly sums up the reality of the past 30 years, and puts that reality into the context of today:
That the Republicans bank -- literally, a foundation - on the mantra of attacking their Democratic opponents as "Tax and Spend" liberals. Forget the truth, reality, facts, all of that: They'll say this whether it's true or not, and they will repeat it ad inifinitum.
The truth is of course the Repugs are Spend and Spend politicians, and no average American household could operate this way.
So, the question is: Why does this falsehood continue to live? Why does it still have currency.
Search your feelings, and you will find the answer.
You stay classy, RNC
Oh, isn't this special? Straight from the RNC website (no link, would not want to send anyone there). They're making fun of Obama's vacation!
Classy, huh? A campaign run on mockery and lies.
That's your modern Republican party, people!
Proud to be an American
Free from what, exactly? Unreasonable searches and seizures? Warrantless invasions of your privacy? Torture? Forged documents? Lies leading to wars? Government run as a private profit center? What exactly makes you proud of anything these two guys and the various cronies they've enriched have done?
I will say this: Destruction is necessary for Creation. And the past 8 years might -- in the long run - be worth if it brings about Obama and the changing of the World - for the better.
20080807
Chaos
In the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight -- which I HIGHLY recommend - The Joker played by Heath Ledger is Chaotic Evil like I've never seen on the screen before. Pure chaos towards an evil end.
But chaos need not be evil, though I suspect much of what we think of conventionally as "evil", is actually instead, Chaos - Shit Happens, in other words. And because we seem to inherently view the world as personified with human emotions, we tend to see chaos in nature as bad, or "evil".
The questions I have about Chaos tend towards the objective (i.e. scientific), and not the specifics of human values. People like order, and dislike chaos; but does nature have a preference?
Is our reality "ordered" or "chaotic"?
My answer is: All is order; the appearance of chaos simply means you cannot perceive the order within.
Your answer may vary.
20080806
Redshirt Soliloquy #3
In an ongoing series of posts highlighting all of the various joys and, yes, agonies of being a Redshirt, I give you the concept "Expendable".
Make no mistake, we're all expendable. In fact, we are expendable by design, as the genes which use us as gettin' around machines move on to another machine once our gears get gummed up. In more overt car terms, we're all Chrysler K Cars, and the only true, objective measure of whether we did our job or not is the answer to the question: Did you deliver the package?
The package is your genes. You are the courier. Once you deliver your package, you are henceforth, expendable. If you never deliver your package, you are always expendable.
Cheery, eh? So go in good spirits into the black void, come what may, because once you accept the idea that you're truly expendable, you are liberated. Free to go on any Away Mission, secure in the knowledge that you are doomed. It's just a matter of when.
Wax is for Anthrax
Check out the excellent Glenn Greenwald at Salon for the latest details on this case. Basically, the Feds are desperately looking for a patsy, and they think they've got their guy -- will it hold up?
And if he is a patsy, who is the Government protecting? Hmmmm.
Couple this will Ron Suskind's new book which claims the famous "Atta in Prague" story was a complete fabrication of the Bush Admin and a damning, criminal, impeachable act if true.
But even if it's true, what's gonna happen? There's only 6 months left for these criminals -- better to just get over this nightmare, or should we as a country hound these bastards into jail?
Pragmatically, I fall on the "do nothing for now" side of the argument, since I worry -- maybe rightly, maybe paranoically -- that Bush et al are not going to give up power. That a pack of scoundrels this criminal are capable of anything -- fake terrorist attack before the election, for instance. Nothing is beyond them. So, as I see it now, let's not back them into a corner. Let them see an escape route, and take it. Get them out of power, get Obama in power, let him start cleaning the stables, and THEN proceed to prosecute the crimes of this Administration.
Bring tha Noise!
20080805
AntiChristastic!
Mockery
Take this charming image, an actual fundraising image from McSame's website. They - the entire Repug operation - are mocking Obama for suggesting that everyone ensure their tires are properly inflated and their cars properly tuned in order to save gasoline.
Ha! Can you believe it! Simple steps that anyone could -- and should - do to save themselves money, and save our nation money? What a riot! What a joke! Of course, the Repugs are lying about Obama's position, suggesting that this is the only idea he's offered. But what are lies to Repuglicans? Just tools of the trade.
But gosh! Look at this:
The Bush administration estimates that expanded offshore drilling could increase oil production by 200,000 barrels per day by 2030. We use about 20 million barrels per day, so that would meet about 1% of our demand two decades from now. Meanwhile, efficiency experts say that keeping tires inflated can improve gas mileage by 3%, and regular maintenance can add another 4%. Many drivers already follow their advice, but if everyone else did, we could reduce demand several percentage points immediately. In other words: Obama is right.In other words, if we all followed Obama's advice to check our tires and engine operation, we could reduce our use of oil as a nation by 7%, immediately. This would have an immediate effect on the cost of gas as well.
But of course, that's ludicrous. Let's start drilling instead.
20080804
"Respectful" campaign
Right.
McCain stated he wanted a "respectful", civil campaign. Yet all I've seen coming from his side is disrespect, and outright contempt.
Find out for yourself! Note how often he says hes "disappointed" in Obama, or disturbed. He offers to go to Iraq with him to "educate" him. His ads are obviously disrespectful. I suspect the truth is McCain does not personally think Obama should be running for President.
Hence, he's "presumptuous" , but let's cut to the chase and call him "uppity".
It's Rove 101, of course, but it's particularly galling this time.
20080801
My Own Private Gondolin
But I suspected it! And in my woodsy redoubt I will gather strength in preparation for this day, waiting for the fires to simmer before coming down the mountain, bearing HOPE....
Yeah. Gotta stop reading Tolkien.
Also, due to lack of funds, my future Gondolin will look nothing like the building in this picture (The Keck Observatory in Hawai'i). But boy wouldn't it be sweet?!
20080731
Water!
I try to follow this subject closely, and even I'm confused. I cannot tell if this is big news or not - based on the NASA web page, apparently not. But I think it would be, since hitherto all we have is evidence of water -- good evidence, sure, but only circumstantial --- whereas now, for the first time, we actually have the water, on another planet.
This to me is huge, since water will be the breadcrumbs we will follow across this solar system. Water on planets, on moons, on asteroids and comets, water is most likely everywhere, and we're going to need it.
With confirmed water, the only limits to our exploration of Mars is our will. If you check out the work of a Dr. Robert Zubrin on the Mars Direct plan, you'll see we could be on Mars and colonizing Mars today, if we wished it.
Well, I wish it! So someone get to work!
Evil
I think a lot about stupid stuff. Like, is the Dark Side stronger than the Light?
Are there such things as "sides"?
No.
However, for human convenience only, it's easier to talk about things like "evil" as if they were objective realities, true "things", rather than as subjective descriptors completely dependent on context.
So, for ease of discussion, assume Evil (capital E) is real, and thus so is Good (Capital G).
Evil has many advantages. For example, there's no shame in evil, nor are there any boundary lines. Evil does as evil wants. Good, on the other hand, by definition! Is denied a whole range of behaviors and modes of thought. Hard to describe someone as "Good", after all, when they murder remorselessly, right?
Put this into current American politics: If I was forced to assign a label, I would call the Republican Party "Evil", and the Democratic Party "Good" (I don't actually believe this -- well, yes, Republicans are evil, but so is, for the most part, the Democratic Party). For my fair Republican friends who might blanch at such labels, maybe this shorthand is useful.
Traditionally, selfishness is considered "Evil", and selflessness is considered "Good". Roughly, the (R) is dedicated to selfishness (lower taxes, lower regulations, better bombs) and the (D) is dedicated to selflessness (progressive taxation, welfare, social security, minimum wage, etc). I know, shorthand and not always accurate, but it will suffice.
This leaves you with the following: There is no slander, no attack, no lie beyond the Republican's reach. Their only calculation would be "does it help the candidate get elected, or get future candidates elected". Democrats, on the other hand, are constrained by morality within certain bounds. Thus, the lack of effective Democratic attack ads. The concept is almost inconceivable.
And where does this leave us? As Mike Barnicle told me last night on the Tee Vee: "Attack ads work". And this seems to be true, and thus we have a Republican domination of America, and thus the world, because people vote against their own interests, and for the interests of the American Plutocracy.
So John McCain is launching one after another after another, and the logical side of me says they are so absurd, so false, they cannot possibly work.
And then I remember we elected Bush in 2004. And then I worry....
OMG! Popular in Europe
I don't mean to alarm you, but this is a picture of our future President (Obama) with the current President of France. Yes, France. That country over... there. With Frenchpeople in it.
It appears, perhaps unfortunately, that Mr. Obama was quite a hit with Mr. Sarkozy, to the point that -- hold onto yourself now -- he even endorsed him.
Yes. The President of France.
To add to this baggage, it appears many other Europeans were enamored of Mr. Obama during his trip as well.
So we Americans are faced with a rather unpleasant reality -- do we dare elect a man who's impressed the entire world and promises to improve our country's relations with every single nation?
Or, do we stick with the script, and finish the job of pissing off everyone, and then going to war with everyone?
Gosh, America, what's it going to be?
20080730
Afternoons with Admiral Ackbar
But he's not all about mission plans and traps. Nope, as with the Ewoks, he knows how to work hard AND play hard.
So, for your future entertainment, and a tip o' the hat to the L.E.S.T.E.R, here's the link:
Admiral Ackbar Generator
Time and Tandy
Check out that price! And those specs! Ooo-la-la!
But seriously, and as a function of the previous post concerning our coming robot overlords, this is a great example of the transition period we are in, and have been in for some time. But we're nearing the end of it.
For example, look at the specs on this machine -- yes, seriously underpowered, but not really that different than something you could buy today. It's a 386 processor, whose family line is still kicking about. It uses all the same fundamentals as computers today, in fact, besides the undersized monitor, it doesn't even look that different than computers today.
And yet, look at the year of the ad: For 1989. Almost twenty years ago!
My point is, these emerging trends take much longer than people normally credit. The mobile phone concept was discussed in the 1920's, for example, and a basic technology developed at the time, but as we all know, the actual use of mobile phones did not start until the 1980's, and really only took off in the 2000's.
Computers are following the same path. But, as I said, we're close to the end of this process. It won't be long now for the mobile phone and computer to merge completely; following that logic, the DVR, game system, stereo, PC and TV will all be merged in the home soon enough, and then I suppose the next logical step is for implants. But that's for another post!
Enjoy these days, my Chicken Littles, for surely, the sky IS about to fall.
Media Bias?!
Which is an absolute joke, of course, but hey! It's all in good fun.
McSame has been drinking deep from the Rove cup of late, since the Rove partisans came on board at the end of June.
And with their arrival, come the negative ads, misleading and false, but! McSame doesn't have enough money. What to do, what to do...
From today's NY Times:
WASHINGTON — The number of times Senator John McCain’s new advertisement attacking Senator Barack Obama for canceling a visit with wounded troops in Germany last week has been shown fully or partly on local, national and cable newscasts: well into the hundreds.
The number of times that spot actually, truly ran as a paid commercial: roughly a dozen.
Funny stuff. On Morning Joe today, in the brief 15 minutes I watched, they played the latest RNC "Ad" three times -- all in the name of covering the news, of course.
Hilarious.
Make no mistake: There is a massive double standard here. Imagine if Obama mixed up Sunni and Shia, repeatedly, or referred to non-existing countries, or got critical geography wrong -- gosh, the media might question his foreign policy qualifications, dontchya think? But not McSame's -- cuz it's obvious he's got experience. He was a POW for crying out loud!
Not only the Media, but the entire apparatus of Government will be used against Obama in the upcoming election: Witness the Pentagon and State Department messing with Obama's overseas trip, and with the Pentagon supplying material directly for a McSame negative ad. Which is illegal, of course -- but what does the Law matter to the Republican Party? Nothing, is what. Party over country, country over the law.
Regardless, the media meme has been set: The Media is liberal, biased for Obama; thus, in order to preserve "objectivity" and "fairness", the media will scrutinize everything Obama does, and give McSame a pass on almost everything he does. And oh yeah -- run his TV commericals for him, for free.