Musings of a Non Conformist

Indifference

2009-01-29T17:43:00.000-08:00

Why is it
that we accept
the banality of evil
and indifference
we move on
uncaring
even as a homeless vet
lies on the street
why should we care
abandoned by society
they will die
a dignified individual
sans recognition
in multiple ways
we fail to respect him
another tortured hobo
an inconvenience
who at times
begs for change
on 5'th avenue
as shoppers walk by
the "stench" in the air
is due to you and me l
ladies and gentlemen
there is no greater stink
than indifference

For all those who politicize 9/ll

2009-01-29T17:38:00.001-08:00

For all that was lost
and all there is to be found
whence did we lose the last shreds
of human dignity?

New Orleans- A Short Poem

2009-01-29T17:29:00.001-08:00

Swept away,
In a river of sorrow and uncertainty
poverty raises its ugly head
to be drowned by corruption
and New Orleans loses it soul
cuz gumbo will never taste the same again.

Someone else's war

2009-01-29T17:27:00.000-08:00

This is a story
of a son's life
seen through the eyes of a father
as he contemplates the final loss

Memories awash
the toddler taking the first step
the infant speaking his first word
the child's first day at school

the teenager learning how to drive
the young man deciding to serve his country
the soldier saluting the old man
and the corpse that returns in a coffin

what does one say to a grieving father
whose reality has been altered
what becomes of the grandchild
that will never be born

yet, I hear that the warmongers sleep well at night

The show must go on

2009-01-29T17:12:00.000-08:00

Away slips the night
under the soft light
of the moon
at the darkest hour
comes a sliver of light
gently on the Hudson
the wind blows
carrying a protesting gull
making indignant sounds
walk by the water
the tide lapping gently
at the rocky shore
across the river
the sparkling lights fade
and the majestic new york skyline
reprises
like a phoenix
majestic as ever
a lone ferry advances
towards the pier
quiet sounds of the morning
a lone jogger
an elderly couple
these are mere observations
the heart can soar
or despair
happiness could come
or one might be
in the doldrums
somethings never change
life moves on
uncaring
not unkind
as they say
the show
must go on!!

Regarding Torture, Death Penalty and War

2009-01-29T16:45:00.001-08:00

Institutionalized murder
is what is preached
and we argue semantics
about the humaneness of the act

was he in pain
did we torture
or did he die
painlessly

we ignore the absurdity
of murdering one of our own
is it just retribution
or revenge

A debate that is ignored
who has the right to decide
who lives, who dies
murderers make that choice

So what separates us from them
we can argue semantics
and talk about humane practices
as we put another to death

yet somehow as a society
we fail to see the contradiction ...

-----------------------------

at the alter of their ego
a child died
his 40 pound charred body lies on the street
and they used a missile to kill him
and the bible thumpers screamed- more
and the koran thumpers screamed- jihad
and the gita thumpers screams - use a sword
yet they all they wanted was blood
blood of men
blood of women
blood of children
such was the blood lust
and they prayed
they fasted
they knelt
for their god

who has died in shame

Moments

2009-01-29T16:44:00.001-08:00

It takes but a moment
To divide
But eternity
To unite

Is it in the basic nature
Of consciousness
To be divisive
As opposed to being connected

Fear galvanizes divisions
Hope leads to unity
So why is it
That we play to our baser emotions

Is survival still a question
That our species struggles with
Is the loss of our own life
The driving factor

If so
Why?
Because death is inevitable
But the projection of an unforeseeable ending is not

And that’s how they play us
Closure
Or lack of it becomes an issue
Fear

Hope on the other hand
Would unite us
To a level of universal consciousness
One begins to realize that there is something greater than the self

Immortality
Unwanted
That exists
In the form of an idea

That idea
Is that of freedom
From the known
The unknown

And from the prejudice of the self

History

2009-01-29T16:37:00.001-08:00

History is written
with the blood of those who lost
and the sweat of those who won
under the direction of those who never fought

and so the story goes
extolling deeds of men
as told by themselves
painted as liberators

written history is fluid
it's distorted and obscure
for it often veils
the foundation stone of reality

Boots

2009-01-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

Boots splattered
with mud specks of brown
on the black leather
half laced
lying in the sand
splattered with blood
attached to the foot
of a man
not yet 20 l
aying still
his eyes half open
face frozen
in an eternal grimace
hand clutching the wound
lifeless eyes
stare at the blinding sun
the stench of death
begins to emanate
the vultures circle slowly
beginning the spiral
they shall feast tonight
use him as a shield
praise him
his body off limits
his death hidden
who was it
who gave them the keys
to this bloody kingdom
unchecked
boots
he put them on in the morning
shiny and laced up
unaware
he was marching to his death
for a lie
another man
laces up his ferragamo's
in a bid to to send a poorer man
to his death
boots, sir
not unlike the ones you laced
30 years ago
another man shall walk in your shoes
at the alter of your ego
he shall die
a mother will weep
a father shall cry
a wife will never see her husband
for the true soldier
does not trade those
dirty stinky boots for ferragamo's

Rain

2009-01-29T16:26:00.001-08:00

The rain
she comes down slow
pitter patters
on my shoulder

I walk on the shore
vision obscured
blinded my pain
yet content with the view

a kaleidoscope
reality shimmers
hazy lights
the sound of the rain hitting the river

a world in harmony
can only exist
when we see the beauty of the raindrop
that falls silently from the skies

and dissolves into the fabric of time
the infinity of the rivers
that flow to the sea
meander

the path is never fixed
assumptions never hold
the stars shift
the only thing that never changes

is the flow of time
the rain comes down
softly now
smile

quietly
i give in
yet i cant
not my
lying eyes

death that night
had one headlight
and life is a breath
akin to sunrise

9/11 Tribute

2009-01-29T16:23:00.000-08:00

Death
is an equalizer
those who died in the 9/11 attacks
bleed like you and me

traumatic images
of a tragedy
scars us all
unequivocally

yet it has been politicized
repeatedly
i shall not dwell on that
though images flash

to those who have lost
we share the gaping hole
in our hearts
embodied with your pain

we cannot console you
and we cannot help
forgive us
for our experiences limit us

encapsulated
within the bubble
of our ideologies
all that can be said

it does not matter
republicans
democrats
independents

unite
it's not blue America
or red America
it's the United States of America

Flame

2009-01-29T16:22:00.000-08:00

If life was a candle
and the intensity with which you live
is a flame
would you reduce it for longevity

do you have the courage
to burn bright
amongst the innocuous lives
that most live

or would you rather fade
like a dying star
quietly
not accepting yet helpless

our birth is not a choice
death rarely is
it is this life
this life only

where one can
soar like an eagle
or live in shell
like a snail

choose well
for in your dying gasp
you will answer
not to your maker

but to thy self

Diameter

2009-01-29T16:20:00.000-08:00

There is method in madness
for even chaos requires frames
frames need logic
and nothing exists in vacuum

logic can be illogical
perception requires intuition
which stems from experience
of reality and the unreal

the unreal is a vision
of an unhealthy mind
while viewing the real world
requires a sound mind

madness exists in the mind
insanity is incomplete
without some kernel of sanity
viewed as concentric circles

so the question is
for you my friend
which has the larger diameter
the sane or the insane

Obscure

2009-01-29T16:18:00.000-08:00

Life exists
beyond black and white
it exists in shades of grey
yet at times we're fatalistic

how
one might ask
yes and no
perhaps

banish that thought
no man is an island
unto himself
so they say

it is possible
to build walls
none can penetrate
unless you open the gate

yet there is
a distinct choice
to soar like an eagle
beyond the walls

this prison of choice
which encloses thyself
do you have the key
or is it lost in the past

do you stroll
the sandy beach
and watch time
slip between your toes

or do you have the courage
to open the gates
tear down the wall
be mesmerized

by the beauty
that exists
beyond your shores
or will the waves

of reality
hammer your walls
will you regard them as tides
or will you

dive into
the ocean of existence
are you
willing to risk

a peaceful
oblivious existence
for death
beneath the tides

that last gasp
eternity
exists in the moment
the question is

will you blink
or will you accept
reality
the final frontier

darkness
light
the horizon
or a starry night

and be at peace..

The Bundle of Joy

2009-01-29T16:16:00.001-08:00

there were bars
on the window
the child's innocent eyes
reflected the moon

mirrored
it exploded with lights
his grip tightened
bloody fingers

a single tear
dripped from his eye
a sniffle
salty it hit the bare ground

the child shivered
it was a cold night
he lay down
tormented by the memory

of the day
the one meal
the dark, damp wearhouse
nimble bleeding fingers

wrapping the paper
around gunpowder
inserting the fuse
and putting the firecracker

in a box
out beyond his windows
they celebrate
the festival of lights

even as he lays
in the dark
unable to afford
the bundle of joy

that was his creation

Background: Child Laborers are used to manufacture firecrackers during Diwali (Hindu version of Christmas). This poem is about them

Fluid

2009-01-29T16:10:00.000-08:00

The fluidity of time is a marvel
It can trickle thru fingers like sand
Drown out thoughts like an avalanche
Sweep one away in a moment
Can be as surprising as a flash flood
Yet as tranquil as a swollen river

Time and thought are both interwoven
An intricate dance occurs between the two
the self being the dancer
but the true dancer is one

who appreciates the beauty of the absence of motion

An illusion of safety

2009-01-29T16:09:00.000-08:00

Hark
in the distance
I hear bells toll
another has died
I make my way to the square
sanity left behind
in Pandora's box
the key hidden

they announced his name
he was a brother of mine
this is no stranger
on whose command did he die

I rush back home
and search for the key
it was sold eons ago
I traded it for

an illusion of safety
to my brother's master

Pundits

2009-01-29T16:08:00.001-08:00

Pundits
of church
and politics
are vile
they pretend
to be
on an elevated plain
talking down
to the masses
making assumptions
being dramatic
hidden agenda's
veiled interests
and paid
the stench
of dishonesty
is rank
yet for some reason
they are hired
on our screens
and life
we are bombarded
with propaganda
so where
does the blame lay
is it the viewer
uninformed
uninterested
watching merely
for entertainment
the paid hypocrites
spewing lies
with amnesty
or those
who hire them
is it
the stupidity
of our culture
where we make claims
of individuality
yet we march
to drums
in unison
programmed
and fearful
to break free

Unholy Priests

2009-01-29T16:07:00.001-08:00

fragmented faith prevails

as men of cloth clutch their holy books

with fires and passion born of fever unexplained

chanting verses, raising voices

they speak of vengeance

and the fires of hell

they speak of colors of life

some so bright, blinding the congregation

in this spite does every man leave

the seeds of hatred sowed

in this spite does he pick the sword

to chop another head

spilling blood, seeking vengeance

and his son watches on

and cradles the very sword

to grow up like his father

another son watches,

his fathers body desecrated

tears in eyes,

unable to comprehend the violence

he picks up the sword

to kill the man who killed his creator

and so the story goes....

in the church/mosque/temple

holy men pray for the souls of the dead

delivering safely into gods hand

where would these vulture be

had it not been for you and me?

The Key

2009-01-29T16:06:00.001-08:00

It is
with great care
that we construct
our own reality
emphasizing
mischaracterizing
ignoring
repainting
every moment
delicately
we construct
our own cage
those bars
thru which
we observe the world
like a lone child
sans innocence
looking out
the moon
reflected
in his eyes
wishing
he could
chase the horizon
some
have forgotten the dream
and they threw away
the key
for others
it lays in the corner
time sprinkles dust
i hold mine
in my hand
it's fate
undecided

Mumbai and the Media

2009-01-29T16:05:00.001-08:00

The city of dreams
she bleeds tonight
attacked
by ideological idiots
who believe
in an imaginary man
in the sky
who rewards them
for hatred
the blood spilled
is of men
and women
of all color
the common demarcation
is innocence
the battle wages on
and the pundits dissect this
much to the affront
of those who know
an attempt
to create
a narrative
commercializing death
inducing fear
sensationalizing this incident
sans context
you sir
hold a microphone
and telecast yourself
as the world watches
incoherent
and your masters cheer
increased profits
payed by blood
of your own countrymen
never before
have I seen
the craven ambition
of some so young
so cynical
to betray
the city of dreams
for after this day
it is the city of nightmares
allow me to say
it was not
just the terrorists
who are responsible
for the dark streets
it is you
as well
for you refused
to bandage the wound
and chose to
perpetuate unfounded fears
and half truths
repetitions
that minute
comment
can change frames
a country
which may face division
preying on a nations emotion
they say history
repeats itself
it just did
perhaps
but the media
never learns from it

The Waltz

2009-01-29T16:04:00.001-08:00

The dew settles
on your shoulders
and the sun
kisses your brow
gently you move
brown leaves crunching
under your feet
music playing
in your head
the rhythm takes over
eyes closed
soft breath
the beauty
of the forest
a smile
sway
the intimacy
her lips
the touch
of her cheek
against yours
hands intertwined
the music
reaches a crescendo
and then
the ensuing silence
fled
who did you dance with
love
death
both
or was it all
a dream

Lessons from illusion

2009-01-29T16:03:00.001-08:00

It is weird
to float
in a vacuum
uncaring
as time ticks by
watch the minute hand
move inexorably
towards a final conclusion
the sky remains grey
as you lay
on the couch
staring at the window
unable to summon
the strength
to move
and winter comes
a feeling of cold
wraps around you
and penetrates the soul
till the heart
seemingly skips a beat
jolted
you awake in a sweat
suspended
not sure whether that was a dream
or is now a hallucination
breath shallow
parched mouth
look out of the window
the world is the same
our existence and reality
is a bubble
in which we reside alone
for when the night comes
surrounded as you may be
by strangers and friends
when your eyes close
and death sucks
the wind out of your lungs
reality ceases
and the bubble bursts
it is for you alone
and that is the lesson
one can learn from nightmares

Barriers

2009-01-29T16:02:00.001-08:00

The ability
of the mind
to absorb
all that is around
is limited
not by
it's capacity
rather
it is imposed
as we choose
events
unfold constantly
hardly register
yet the buzz
of an insect
can irritate
the beauty
of a woman
can arouse
the scent
of a rose
can thrill
the profoundness
of words
can move a people
to rise
so one may wonder
how these barriers
are set up
where the death
of children
out of sight
ow within
becomes a statistic
where people
are measured
not in human terms
but numbers
for the walls
and all that lies withing
the ability to absorb
and appreciate
represents
a snapshot in time
the sane portion
of an insane mind

Thyself

2009-01-29T16:00:00.001-08:00

Life
the unexpected
not unlike
an unexpected raindrop
on a cold day
trickling down your face
as time becomes real
for a few moments
for is it not in moments
we live
fleeting glimpses
inwards
questions cease
contemplation ends
here
now
and then
we awake
to a ticking clock
counting moments
to whatever future
that awaits us
dreams, existence, fears
hopes, desires, prejudice
all collide
eyes cloud
unfocused
a contrast
to what was a moment ago
clarity fades
quiet smile
a silent recognition
you're not an observer
nor yourself
just a distant stranger
who pretends
to be
thyself!!

Barack Obama's History-Making Presidential Campaign in Stunning Full-Color Photographs

2008-11-19T10:32:00.000-08:00

View here

Stupid is as stupid does

2008-10-20T08:36:00.001-07:00

Check out this gem from the most trusted name in news:

" How can people who don't pay taxes get tax refunds while those that do, get tax increases?

Is an Obama presidency a giant step towards liberal socialism and military weakness?

In this time of severe crisis do we want experience or inexperience?"

You can read it in entirety here

Allow me to address each one of these concerns rather briefly.

Regarding taxes, I have (and my thinking may be flawed) always considered taxes as a payment for a service that the government does for setting up a system in which I prosper. I do not think it is necessary for people who have no income to pay taxes, and assuming his claim is true, I would regard any refunds to them as a gratuity. Perhaps I am being elitist, but I would rather my money go towards helping the less fortunate than bombing inoccent civilians.

Regarding socialism, I thought we nationalized the banks. Apparently the author has not heard about the $850 billion bailout either.

Thereafter, this unmitigated idiot (ad hominem is not the best way to lay out an argument but ENOUGH. They are and should be labeled as idiots, morons, partisan hacks, war mongers, power hungry selfish assholes, ass kissers etc)has the gall to talk about experience and judgment? All of us here witnessed Obama's calm vs McCain erratic response to the financial crisis. For fuck's sake, McCain does not know the difference between tactic and strategy.

Palin. Really? That's sound judgment? I know of at least one person from my family who has worked with the UN who is APPALLED at McCain's choice.
Stupid is as stupid does, Mr Rollins. At least Forest was honest enough to admit he wasnt the smartest guy in the room. You on the other hand are a disingenuous fuck who knows fully well the implications of your opinion piece and yet you bow down to your corporate masters, country be damned. You're bringing up Joe, the discredited non plumber? Symbolism? Fuck reality?

"Well, when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And it has fallen here, it has fallen! Makers of men, creators of leaders, be careful what kind of leaders you're producing here. I don't know if Charlie's silence here today is right or wrong; I'm no judge or jury. But I can tell you this; he won't sell anybody out to buy his future! And that, my friends, is called integrity. That's called courage. Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of."

Read quotes from "Scent of a woman" here

Forgive me for the above and allow me to quote that. Obama, in my mind represents Charlie. He was and is being attacked. He has barely responded to McCain's negative ads. He could have gone viral on McCain, but he did not even if it mean the loss of his bid to be POTUS. I sincerely hope the American people share Lt.Col. Slade's outrage.

Dweebs for the job of POTUS

2008-04-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

Are not our armed forces considered to be elite? Ditto for members of the same, do we not refer to them as the best and the bravest of our citizenry? So wtf is wrong in being elite? Do we really want another dweeb as our president? Or do we want someone that represents the best amongst us...someone elite? I rest my case.

No soup for lincoln

2007-12-13T15:07:00.001-08:00

Is there true religious freedom if a U.S. president has to choose a religion?

"A recent Gallup poll reveals that Americans are much more likely to elect a black man or a woman president than a Mormon or an old man. More interestingly, they'd rather be governed by a homosexual than an atheist."

Black President More Likely than Mormon or Atheist

Given the rhetoric on television and seeing how homosexuality and gay marriage are used as wedge issues, I was a little surprised by this result. Since all presidents in my recent memory have been Christian (do correct me if I am wrong), I thought I would share a quote:

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma." -- Abraham Lincoln

Yeah, he's unqualified for sure ... or something.

Huckabee Needs Our Help And Support!!

2007-12-04T12:50:00.001-08:00

Mike Huckabee Says God is Pushing His Poll Numbers Up

If you're talking to God, it's called prayer. If God talks back, it's called schizophrenia. This man needs to see a doctor. I assume he is very busy, and I am more than happy to provide him the URL of the Mental Health Services Locater.

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/default.asp

I wish him a long protracted safe recovery (post Nov 2008) and assure him of my help and support.

Seinfeld vs MAS*H

2007-11-29T11:59:00.000-08:00

This is a letter I wrote to Buzzflash:

I belong to the Seinfeld generation, and frankly I am a huge fan of the show. I've watched just about every single episode several times over.

Recently, I started watching M*A*S*H. If I am not mistaken, a fair number of your readers are familiar with that show, and it may apply to those who control the content of this site.

What a contrast between your generation and mine. On one side we have the inherent decency of Hawkeye, as opposed to the selfishness of Seinfeld's character. Then there is Winchester, the pompous surgeon who despite his misgivings does care, unlike George who is neurotic. BJ, a.k.a Kramer, the kindly gentleman, eclectic, yet profound, serves as a
moral compass. Major Houlihan, the Eileen of the show, driven by her career, but her yardstick was the lives she helped save. As for Col. Potter, that would be Seinfeld's dad, only he was never obsessed with the "tip calculator."

I wonder what was lost in communication between a generation that was willing to sacrifice and my I-pod generation. Speaking for myself, I'd rather be in that mess tent than at the coffee shop!!

Streets of war

2007-11-25T02:47:00.000-08:00

Death is always distant
till you walk in the streets of war
lonely, yet alert
sniffing the blood on the sidewalk

no one wants to be a number
yet history reduces you to be one
how many pints of blood did you lose
before you closed your eyes

you will be missed dear soldier
you were a decent man
I shook your hand once
Wish I could do it again

42. The meaning of life

2007-11-19T16:11:00.001-08:00

I watched Ken Burns' excellent documentary regarding WW2. It prompted me to write the following regarding what is goin on in Iraq:

He was but a pawn
on a chess board
while the emperor was sitting miles away
leaning back on a cushion

sipping sherbet
detached
it was but an intellectual exercise
while his brothers bled

His majesty had a vision of what could be
not realizing what it was
he sacrifices those pawns
without a moment's thought

they are the backbone
of his presidency
but he gives a naught
tax cuts for the rich

and death for the poor

P.S: 42 is a reference to "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy."

United States Of Stoopid

2007-11-19T16:05:00.000-08:00

Georgia Governor Prays for Rain (AP/AOL)

What's your take on Gov. Perdue leading a prayer outside the state Capitol? Thumbs up 81% Thumbs down 19% Total Votes: 67,320

Do you think prayers can help ease the drought? Yes 75% No 25% Total Votes: 72,905

These poll results really surprised me. 81% of the folks who voted said thumbs up, and 75% actually think that praying will help!!

All right, as far as the 81% of the people are concerned, I suggest they pick up the Constitution and read up on a little thing called "separation of state and church." Chances are that these folks watch Fox, so some reading may actually revive some dying brain cells.

Coming to the 75% who believe that praying will help, the next time they fall sick, I expect them to pray instead of going to a doctor. Let them call their priest, assemble in a church or the safety of their home, let the neighbors know, even call the governor and then wait for a "miracle" to happen as they get cured.

I believe that there exists a second nation within the geographical boundaries of the US, and I hereby label it as the United States of Stoopid

The Lunatic Is In The Hall

2007-09-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

The lunatic is in the hall
the lunatics are in the hall
the paper holds their folded faces to the floor
and every day the paper boy brings more

-- Brain Damage, Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon

When is America going to wake up? Are we that dumb? Are we that ignorant? How long are we going to watch our freedoms bleed away? When are we going to realize that "the lunatics" is in the WH.

I'm too young to have experienced 'Nam, but even I can see the parallel. I happen to be in India, and in my conversations with Indians they make it clear that they think Iraq is a mess, and also the prospect of bombing Iran would, to say the least, be irresponsible. I'm talking about normal folks here.

China is a factor as well. Throw in the whole oil and gas situation, we're lookin at ... excuse my language, a clusterf**k. The lunatic is in the WH. Can we stop him

2007-08-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

Purposeless existence
Will we ever have the courage to face that?
Or will we for ever make up reasons
For propagating our lives

A circular concept at best
We persist to survive
For no reason
For that is an animal existence

We believe we are greater than other primates
Without reason
What other species has endangered themselves as we have now
War, religion, global warming to name a few

We are a disease that needs to be cured
A strange one though
We have the anecdote
But in our blind ignorance

we refuse to recognize that we need it.....

2007-08-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt
that you are spiralling into the future
So fast that the strands to the past are breaking
And bleeding in this moment

Have you ever wanted to scream
but are afraid that the words that come out
will offend people you love
and so you pretend not to care

Have you ever wanted to be angry
But could not
So you pretended to be placid
while you were not

And what did you achieve
A standing amongst your peers
Yet you look to the distant horizon
But were you ever there

Maybe you felt the need
To bridge the gap between
Who you are
And who you want to be

But were to afraid to try..

A plea for Darfur

2007-08-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

A plea for Darfur, a Green Day video

How many times are we going to let this kind of crap happen.....have we learned nothing....over and over again....are we really that blind...

Harmony

2007-08-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

As the man stands outside
Wathing the rain come down on a dark night
Listening to the slightly discordant sound
Not caused by the imperfection of nature's rythem
But by the imperfection of mans creations

One has to wonder
If the only time that man and existence are one
Is during the infant's first laugh
and in the instance of his last breath
There are no answers
Only questions

Perhaps we can confront them some day...

2007-07-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

Published on Buzzflash

Follow the link

Goodbye...

2007-07-07T04:26:00.000-07:00

1.

As I sit here in the darkness
I wonder whence mans travesty will ever end
Death, murder, suicide, hunger, depravity, poverty
All ignored as we make this journey thru life

Fixated on a friend that does not exist
We think he sits there on his heavenly throne
Sexist as man is, assumes a male creator
While it is a woman who gives birth

We chant his name
And feel he has bestowed us the power to judge
While we would fail miserably in the entity’s eyes
Forgetting that the real entity is our fellow human

We run amok thru life
Unaware, numb, not even recognizing ourselves
For the monsters that we are
Warmongers, greedy, selfish

We’ve forgotten that the monster we are so scared of
Is us.

2.

Lost
Forgotten
He ploughs on alone
The lonely traveler, in search of something greater than himself

Not a believer
But he likes to observe
Distant
But there is some degree of passion

He cares
But cant explain
Why he cares about his fellow man
Who is an animal

Is it instinct
Is it hope
Is it love
Or a belief that man is more than the manifestation of a physical form

Is it death
And the fact that what happens cannot be explained
An innate fear that runs thru humans
Or is it that man is more than man

Man is a seed
An idea
That’s greater than himself
And that he will forever strive to achieve immortality

3

I would like to walk along the shores of life
Watching the quiet sunset that represents the end
Enjoying the beauty of the process
When the time comes

But can man achieve that
Can we distance ourselves from us
From the ego
From the self

I wonder
And I hope that I can master myself
To the point when the last ragged breath comes
I laugh inwardly

At the absurdity of existence…

4.

Fields of gold
That was his backyard
Where a child ran
Without a care

Now he is gone
Dreams shattered
Of meeting him again
The golfer that he was
He died on the course
Pursuing his passion
While his wife was unaware that he died
For hours

Dear uncle of mine
You died in a distant land
A land I wish I knew better
In a city they say dreams come true

I will forever cherish the first time you showed me how to putt
Because you did more than that
You showed me that life is not about being on the green
It’s about giving a damn about your fellow man

Soldier that you were sir
You live on in the hearts of your sons and family
Forever a part of us
Because you will always be a part of every breath we take…..

5

I remember the last time we met
And you put your arm around my shoulder
You offered me a drink
I declined

Promised you that I’d come visit you
I did not
Because I took for granted that I’d meet you the next time far far away
Busy as I was, with my career

Vacationing soon, a break after so many years
I had promised myself that I’d make it a point to visit you
But sir, you live half a world away
And I am headed there now,

In a month
And as I sit here
I wonder if my career is worth
Not being there for someone’s funeral who I care about so deeply

I apologize sir,
Though I realize that it is insufficient,
I just thought you would always be there
And I was wrong

6.

Why does a soldier’s death hurt so much
Is it because he is inherently noble
Or is it because he represents us at our best
A dream we strive to achieve

In the hope and belief that we have courage
To lay our lives down for an idea
What drives you soldier
And how are we to be as stoic as you

You never spoke about war
You laughed
But there was a tinge of sadness
In your eyes

I saw your hands shake
I saw your eyes blink
And I wondered what had changed
Did you know it was coming

I remember the pat on the cheek
A proud grin
Insolence
A wishful look

Because there was something that you did not believe in…

Why legislate common courtesy?

2007-07-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

Regarding:

On July 1, England joined the rest of the United Kingdom in making enclosed public areas smoke-free.

As a smoker, I'm not exactly for this. How about a partial ban on SUVs where the prospective buyer demonstrates actual need of a vehicle in that class? How about better emission and gas millage standards?

All or any of that would safeguard the health of the public better. And I never smoke around someone who has ever indicated discomfort. One does not need to legislate common courtesy.

Also want to mention that it's illegal to smoke in a closed private commercial establishment in Phoenix. Shouldn't the owners of bars and diners get to decide whether they want to allow smoking or not? It's starting to piss me off to have to stand in 100 degrees plus weather at night to smoke while sipping on a beer. Please don't say I am choosing to smoke in that heat. A lot of people enjoy a smoke with a drink. If people have decided to go out to an establishment, and smoking is permitted there, then they should not crib. There were plenty of non smoking bars where they can go.

P.S For those who think I am contradicting myself about not smoking around those who object, there is a difference between public and private places. And I am yet to meet a bar dweller who has objected to me smoking around them. If I do meet such a creature, I'll still probably walk a few feet in a different direction with my beer. I repeat, one does not have to legislate that.

Genocide

2007-06-21T00:25:00.001-07:00

In all that we ever held sacred, whence did we loose the last shreds of human dignity?

BS

2007-06-16T16:56:00.000-07:00

This is a small excerpt from an article posted on the commondreams website:

"secular humanist God-haters ..." This is by some dude named Mike Evans. Ok.

sec·u·lar 1. of or pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal: secular interests.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/secular

hu·man·ist 1. a person having a strong interest in or concern for human welfare, values, and dignity.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/humanist

God haters. LOL. How can you hate something you don't believe in?

Typical BS.

The Surge

2007-06-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

This song just popped up on my Ipod and it just about sums up the surge for me.

The atrocities of war never change. It's a song by Pink Floyd. It's called "When the Tigers broke Free."

When the tigers broke free

Gore for President

2007-06-11T16:50:00.000-07:00

The following was posted on C&L:

New York Times: Democrats Lag On Global Warming

Now there has been a lot of talk that India and China need to be brought on board despite the fact that they are nowhere near America when it comes to polluting the planet. Well, here is some good news:

Indians more worried about global warming: Survey (samachar.com)

Now some might wonder how or if that would translate into any action. Well, part of my extended family lives in India, and I am told that individual cities are coming up with solutions to cut carbon emissions. New Delhi (the capital of India with approx 16 million) passed a law a few years back which called for ALL public transportation (buses, public cabs, rickshaws, private taxis) vehicles to use CNG. There were strikes, the entire city was literally shut down, but it worked. And Delhi has much cleaner air now. Even I noticed the change when I was there visiting a few years back.

And if I recall correctly, India and China signed the Kyoto Protocol. The only 2 industrialized nations not to sign it were the U.S and Australia.

Additionally, one of my cousins mentioned that the mechanics of global warming are taught as facts in high school. And somehow this was still up for debate until folks watched Al Gore's movie.

I really hope that Al Gore runs for president. We have never needed him more than we need him today, because I think he is the only qualified candidate who can take on this issue and make an impact.

Oh, and FYI: The president of India is a rocket scientist, and the prime minister is consider to be one of the world's top economists. How come we get stuck with dumbass in the office?

P.S.: I also believe with Al Gore as president, we would be taken a lot more seriously.

Wired Differently

2007-06-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

Guns in Bars! Dumbass Texas 6/4

Wow. Now that's a great idea. Don't operate heavy machinery (an example would be your car), but a gun -- sure. I mean it's not like it can maim or kill anybody. It's not like one gets an exaggerated feeling of the self when drunk, who's ever heard of that?

What is it with the Right and their crazy love for guns? Are they trying to imitate reel life heroes? I thought they hated Hollywood. No wait, isn't that Freddy guy running? And they had Reagan, too. But I suppose that's par course for them.

They hate gays, but then so many of them turn out to be homosexuals. They claim to be strong on national security, when in fact their myopic policies are getting American troops in Iraq. They are more concerned about image than substance.

Hmmmmm. Maybe it's the way their brains are wired. Maybe if you believe in an alternate reality like every word in the Bible being literal, when you derive your life's lessons not from your own life but from a text written 2000 years ago, then you end up the way you are. Fucked up in the head!! I'll leave you with a quote:

To treat your facts with imagination is one thing, but to imagine your facts is another. ~ John Burroughs

Compelling argument to stay a Democrat

2007-06-01T20:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Winston, the Supreme Court could suck even worse edition, and more -- from the author of the Last Chance Democracy Café

Not one of mine but do follow the link. A compelling argument to remain a democrat despite- well- everything.

Why do we like being slaves

2007-06-01T20:47:00.000-07:00

Regarding:

Capitulating to the Party of Surrender: The Dems Help Bush Pull Domestic Political Victory From the Jaws of Defeat -- A BuzzFlash Editorial

"The politician has the political power; the priest has the religious power. The politician protects the priest, the priest blesses the politician -- and the masses are exploited, their blood is sucked by both.

Religions have made man's mind retarded by creating beliefs out of fictions. And politicians have destroyed man by creating as undignified a life as possible -- because their power depends on your slavery. These barriers should be removed."- Rajneesh

Keep shopping America. Because when we stop going to the mall, the terrorists have won. And the 50%+ of us (or whatever the exact percentage is) still waiting on rapture, y'all go ahead and mourn the death of Falwell. God will take care of this country - I mean this is God's chosen country or something like that. Watch CNN, listen to the punditry that speaks words of wisdom in the "Situation Room." Don't bother thinking for yourself, that's too much hard work.

Let your mind be enslaved, and if you do like to think dwell on the semantics of whether there is a civil war going on in Iraq or not. Then pat yourself on the back for being an intellectual and watching "the most trusted name in news" instead of Fox. And don't forget about the Memorial Day weekend sale at your neighborhood mall.

Good job fellas- just keep doing what you are doing and choose slavery over freedom. Bet it helps you sleep better at night.

Al Gore on the Daily Show

2007-05-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

Al Gore on TDS

Run Al run. This country has never needed you more.

Fuck you too!!

2007-05-18T16:10:00.000-07:00

Neocons have been making a big deal about Falwell's death and what Hitchens had to say about him. Give the family some grieving time they say, show some decency they say, you are being mean they say.

This from the crowd who support the chimp who does not even care to estimate how many Iraqis have died as a result of the invasion. The same crowd had no problems in manipulating Tillman's death for political reasons and not allowing his family to get closure.

Yo, neocons -- Fuck you. Fuck you for the harm you have done to this country. Fuck you for the torture, wiretaps, the tax cuts, for letting New Orleans drown, for your photo-ops, for the poverty in this country, for the illegal invasion of Iraq, for the deaths of our soldiers, for corruption in politics, the abject greed of your leaders, for your homophobia, for your racism. F*** you for your stupid scared mind that is not open to change, that wants to "stay the course" and let our troops die for a lie.

And fuck you for not respecting the constitution of the United States -- and it's not called the Bible ...I'll leave it at that for now.And my apologies to any reader that may have been offended by my use of profane language, but I do believe sometimes it can be aptly used to characterize one's feelings.

Bill Moyers Talks With Jon Stewart

2007-05-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

One of the best interviews that I have ever seen. The best fake news reporter (who has more integrity than real news reporters) interviewed by the best real journalist there is in America. This is a rare and provocative look at Jon. A must watch!!

Bill Moyers Talks With Jon Stewart

Impeach Cheney

2007-05-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

Impeach Cheney

NOW!!

Crazy Talk

2007-05-02T16:06:00.001-07:00

Illegal aliens are in control of the media, and working in tandem with Democrats, are trying to “destroy Christian America” and replace it with “a godless new world order -- and that is not extremism, that is fact,” Larsen said.

Immigration is all Satan’s fault

Which is why these illegal aliens work for less than minimum wage and do jobs that most Americans would not do? Or something like that?

What has this nation come to?

2007-05-02T15:59:00.000-07:00

I read the following:

This dramatic ritual is intended to show that "you dedicate your church, family, and nation to God!" in commemoration of "April 29, 1607, [when] a young Anglican chaplain, Robert Hunt, planted a cross on what is now known as Cape Henry, dedicating the new land for the purposes of God."

Pat Robertson's Christian Nationalist Extravaganza

Really? So it took some fella to plant a cross on this land to dedicate it to God despite the fact that as far as the "believers" are concerned, this land was God's creation!! So if that cross had not ben planted, this land would have languished, or maybe Satan could have come along and taken over? Wait, isn't that what happened anyway? Katrina happened because America has no morals, and most Americans are sinners?

And yet the Assembly blurs that history: "We acknowledge that the Bible is itself the government of the People, by the People, and for the People" the organizers proclaim in their official document American Covenant.

Sounds an awful lot like the Taliban in Afghanistan. This would have been hilarious if it were not so tragic.

I read the article about Obama's conversion and the words he used to launch his campaign. I also watched him declare that all options are on the table when it comes to Iran. Sir, that is disappointing, not that you would care about my views. I fall into a demographic that no one running for president cares about. (I am an atheist.) I am not sure whether you were pandering to a certain base, or you really believe what you said. Either way, sir, you do not have my honest vote anymore.

On Being Worm Dirt

2007-04-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

The following was posted on C&L:

Mary Tillman …

In an interview with ESPN.com, Kauzlarich said: "When you die, I mean, there is supposedly a better life, right? Well, if you are an atheist and you don't believe in anything, if you die, what is there to go to? Nothing. You are worm dirt. So for their son to die for nothing, and now he is no more — that is pretty hard to get your head around that. So I don't know how an atheist thinks. I can only imagine that that would be pretty tough."

I have a little something to say about this. Excuse my bluntness.

"When you die, I mean, there is supposedly a better life, right?"

I am not going to comment on the concept of "afterlife," but I will comment on life, and the kind of mind that makes this sort of statement. A mind that is scared, that is afraid to both live and die. A mind that thinks that there is a better life after death has not lived a fulfilled life, and is postponing what causes it misery till death, believing that after death everything will be hunky-dory while being scared to confront its source of discontent in this life. It is scared of the unknown and does not have the balls to confront that fear. It is the kind of mind that will make the body run through a dark alley even if the alley was empty and there was no real physical danger.

"Well, if you are an atheist and you don't believe in anything, if you die, what is there to go to?"

Wrong. I am an atheist, and I believe in myself. I am ultimately responsible to myself and understand my actions have consequences. I try not to judge other people, but sometimes I do, which is why I have a certain kind of persona. Actions have outcomes. As far as going somewhere, where do you want to go? I have arrived. We have arrived. We are in this moment, and the moment is now. Who you are in this moment defines who you will be in the next moment, so on and so forth. Stop waiting for death, or to be transported to a better place when you are about to die.

"You are worm dirt."

I agree. Thank you for the complement. I am a part of this universe. Dirt is just stuff, and I am simply a manifestation of stuff. A worm is a different kind of manifestation but it's still only stuff. And you, sir, if I may say, are a waste of stuff. Well, not really. I suppose I am grateful to you at some level for eliciting this response to your words.

"So for their son to die for nothing, and now he is no more -- that is pretty hard to get your head around that."

Not really. He died for a lie. He died so that W could strut around pretending to be a president. He died so that people like you could feed your ego. He died so corporations could make money. He died and you used him as a product. He was never a human being for you. He was a thing to you. To you he was a condom you put on before you mind-f***ed millions of Americans. To millions of us, he was a person. We would have just liked to shake his hand, and nod. Look at him square in the eye, and in that moment convey how grateful we are for his service, his sacrifice, and how sorry we are that we could not save his life, and for how he was used after he died. Words are inadequate, but sometimes that one nod of the head can be enough.

"So I don't know how an atheist thinks. I can only imagine that that would be pretty tough."

Now, sir, you know what this one atheist thinks. There are days when I wake up in the morning, I stare at a mirror and I blink. And there are days I don't. That's life. But at least I had the courage to look. (I am honestly not trying to feed my ego here.) You, sir- DON'T.

P.S. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

Kurt Vonnegut Dead

2007-04-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Kurt Vonnegut Dead

So it goes.

Some selected quotes:

All this happened, more or less. The war parts, anyway, are pretty much true.

I really wonder what gives us the right to wreck this poor planet of ours.

I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.

People don't come to church for preachments, of course, but to daydream about God.

This is a tale of a meeting of two lonesome, skinny, fairly old white men on a planet which was dying fast.

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say?

R.I.P

Imus suspended for 2 weeks

2007-04-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

CBS Radio and MSNBC both said they were suspending Imus’ morning talk show for two weeks following his reference last week to members of the Rutgers women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hos.”

Imus suspended for 2 weeks

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
-- The Friends of Voltaire, 1906,
Beatrice Hall

As an advocate for free speech, this is disappointing. Who decides what is offensive, and what is appropriate? In my view, a society is only as free as the discourse it allows. While what Imus said may have been appropriate, the demands to pull him of the air are not justified. Bill O'Riley and his likes have said far more inappropriate stuff, but where is the real outrage over that? As consumers, we can petition, boycott, but to demand that a voice be silenced is probably not the correct approach. Frankly, I would not want Bill O'Riley of the air- but as a consumer I do not watch his show except when clips are posted on C&L Outrage can be both imagined and real. To police speech based on the outcry of any single group is setting a dangerous precedent.

The surreal life

2007-03-30T11:49:00.001-07:00

Before Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise, museum visitors are told, all of the dinosaurs were peaceable plant-eaters. The evidence is found in Genesis 1:30, where God gives "green herb" to every creature to eat. There were no predators. T-Rex had such big teeth, the museum explains, so it could open coconuts. Only after Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out of paradise did the dinosaurs start to eat flesh. And Adam's sin is a key component of the belief system, for in the eyes of many creationists, in order for Jesus' death to be meaningful it had to atone for Adam's first sin.

Creation "Science" Is the Christian Right's Trojan Horse Against Reason (Alternet)

The first part of the paragraph is just plain funny. I kept trying to conjure up the image of one of the deadliest predators to ever roam the planet using its teeth to open coconuts!! Maybe some folks were using the "green herb" when they formulated this theory.

The latter part of the paragraph, on the other hand is disturbing. It indicates a mindset of the religious right to dodge accountability for any wrongs committed. (I'd rather not use the word sin here because different religions have different sins, which may have been due to the unique cultural umbrellas under which they thrived). Logically speaking, if a person believes that Jesus has died for mankind's sins (imagined or real), then a believer is safe in the knowledge that his sins have already been atoned for. It would be hard to conceive of such a person who would actually be accountable for his life.

W serves as a prime example. The "decider" can do no wrong, he can commit no crime, and when he does, he is safe in the "knowledge" that he is one of the "chosen" ones and he is only responsible to the creator whose son has already died on the cross to pay for his sins.

Moreover, these people live in an imaginary world, one created by them, and they expect everyone else to inhabit it, too. Safe in their manufactured reality, cocooned by religion, they cast moral judgments on everyone else. Yet they have never paused to examine their own behavior, the immorality of their actions, the killings perpetrated in their name.

I believe there is a certain demographic that is actually watching the havoc in the ME with glee as it confirms to something that the Bible said. To allow such people to take control of what is arguably the most powerful country in the world is not only a recipe for disaster, it is a poor reflection on moderates and liberals

The short proof of evolution

2007-03-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Inhofe - the hoe!!

2007-03-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

Regarding:

Sen. Inhofe Trying to Freeze Out Al Gore's "Live Earth" Concert -- A BuzzFlash News

It's all about money," he told Fox News. "I mean, what would happen to the Weather Channel's ratings if all the sudden people weren't scared anymore?"

Now isn't that ironic- Inhofe telling the Faux noise machine that the Weather Channel is trying to scare people into believing that Global Warming is real. Perhaps he forgot that manipulating people's behaviors by scaring the crap out of them is Faux news forte!! Here are a couple of examples:

Fox's "Business" Anchors Try to Scare Their Audience: The Alberto Gonzales "Witch Hunt" Could Cause a Stock Market "Sell Off"

Cavuto turned to Buttner, Fox's "senior business correspondent," who elaborated:

Yeah, I think this could be a big problem. Look first there's the drama of Gonzales stays, or he goes. Whatever happens Bush will be painted as either weak or as intransigent. Next we have these hearings that could go on forever and just drag out everything. Bottom line, the Dems are not, are just not satisfied with the legislative body. They want to erode the presidential powers and I think that's a real danger and that's what Wall Street is focused on.

http://www.newshounds.us/2007/03/20/foxs_business_anchors_try_to_scare_their_audience_the_alberto_gonzales_witch_hunt_could_cause_a_stock_market_sell_off.php

and

FOX News rearranging weekend line-up to air terror film, scare jaded voters to polls

FOX News Channel has announced that it will air "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West,"

"(a) frightening new documentary by filmmaker Wayne Kopping ....

What he found, is something FOX News believes every American should know."

The film, which is actually a year old, will be shown four (4) times this weekend to help Republicans scare their base to the polls. Along with plenty of footage accusing Democrats of not getting it (an O'Reilly favorite) and Dick Morris' sickening new anti-Democrat smear commercial, FOX is pulling out all the stops to support their party.

http://www.newshounds.us/2006/11/02/fox_news_rearranging_weekend_lineup_to_air_terror_film_scare_jaded_voters_to_polls.php

Or how about this:

FOX News Scare: Terrorists Driving School Buses

Fox News continues their "scare Ameri... Fox News continues their "scare America" campaign with "news" of terrorists who drive school buses. (more) (less) ...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Pr6r-m0WQ - 91k

The list is endless. And did someone mention money? Hmmm.

The BBC reported that Fox News saw its profits double during the Iraq conflict. By some reports, at the height of the conflict they enjoyed as much as a 300% increase in viewership, averaging 3.3 million viewers daily.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News

So it is about the moolah for Fox News. Interesting enough:

In August 2006 figures were released showing that in the period August 2005 - August 2006, Fox news lost 28% of its prime-time viewers and 7% of its total day viewers. This loss in viewers occurred during a time where rival networks CNN and MSNBC gained 35% and 26% respectively in their total day viewers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News

I guess there is only so much crap that people are willing to take. Now coming to Sen.Inhofe voting record:

Vote 42: H R 2: This bill would increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour over two years.- Did not vote

Vote 118: H R 4297: Extended the Bush tax cuts.- Yes

Vote 363: On the Motion: Cut nearly $40 billion from the federal budget by imposing substantial changes on welfare, child support and student lending programs.- Yes

Vote 213: H R 6: Offered tax breaks and incentives in what supporters said was an effort to spur oil and gas companies to provide innovative wasy to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, conserve resources and reduce pollution.- Yes

Vote 44: S 256: Made it harder for people to erase debt by declaring bankruptcy.- Yes

Vote 9: S 5: Sought to curtail the ability of plaintiffs to file class-action lawsuits against corporations by making cases that were filed in multiple states the responsibility of federal courts.

Ok, he is obviously pro big business, but he doesn't seem to like the little guy. And he believes that despite record profits oil companies deserve tax breaks to reduce pollution, never mind the fact that the same companies fund scientists/ quacks who say global warming does not exist, and that humans have no hand in the climate change.

Vote 249: H R 2863: Supported a ban on cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees held by U.S. forces and to requires the military to follow the Army field manual for interrogations.- No.

Vote 163: On the Cloture Motion: A Senate cloture vote on the gay marriage amendment failed, effectively killing the amendment.- Yes

I guess the Senator also believes in torture, and does not like gay people. Thats about par the course for most Republican senators.

Sen. Inhofe Trying to Freeze Out Al Gore's "Live Earth" Concert

2007-03-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

"Then again, maybe Inhofe is right that global warming is all a vast conspiracy orchestrated by... the Weather Channel. "It's all about money," he told Fox News. "I mean, what would happen to the Weather Channel's ratings if all the sudden people weren't scared anymore?"

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/214

Isnt that ironic? I believe his last comment is applicable to the Faux noise channel. Faux has used fear to generate ratings and keep viewers in a zombie like fearful state. Here are a few examples:

FOX News Channel has announced that it will air "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West,"

"(a) frightening new documentary by filmmaker Wayne Kopping ....

What he found, is something FOX News believes every American should know."

The film, which is actually a year old, will be shown four (4) times this weekend to help Republicans scare their base to the polls. Along with plenty of footage accusing Democrats of not getting it (an O'Reilly favorite) and Dick Morris' sickening new anti-Democrat smear commercial, FOX is pulling out all the stops to support their party.

http://www.newshounds.us/2006/11/02/fox_news_rearranging_weekend_lineup_to_air_terror_film_scare_jaded_voters_to_polls.php

Cavuto turned to Buttner, Fox's "senior business correspondent," who elaborated:

Yeah, I think this could be a big problem. Look first there's the drama of Gonzales stays, or he goes. Whatever happens Bush will be painted as either weak or as intransigent. Next we have these hearings that could go on forever and just drag out everything. Bottom line, the Dems are not, are just not satisfied with the legislative body. They want to erode the presidential powers and I think that's a real danger and that's what Wall Street is focused on.

http://www.newshounds.us/2007/03/20/foxs_business_anchors_try_to_scare_their_audience_the_alberto_gonzales_witch_hunt_could_cause_a_stock_market_sell_off.php

I could go on, but there really is no point. Keep the voters scared, make sure they tune in to fox all the time, crank it up around the election cycle, support the republicans, spread lies and propaganda, parade closet conservatives as liberals to try and project an image of being balanced to the gullible. Sorry Fox, but I do believe your viewership is down and people are not buying the vitriol anymore!!

The case for teaching the Bible- and effectively dumbing down public schools

2007-03-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

After reading "The case for teaching the Bible" in the Time Magazine, I was reminded of the following quote:

"It is no measure of good health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -- Jiddu Krishnamurti

The author of the article says that the Bible is the most influential book ever written. I think it can be safely said that a couple of billion Muslims would reject that statement. He also mentions that it is not possible to be educated and have not read the Bible. That's easily refuted - I have a Masters degree, and I have never read the Bible. One could go on about the article, but I am short on time, so let's leave it at this.

1984, Hillary Clinton

2007-03-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. . . . Power is not a means; it is an end . . . not power over things, but over men. . . . In our world there will be no emotions except fear, rage, triumph, and self-abasement. . . . There will be no loyalty, except loyalty toward the Party. There will be no love, except the love of Big Brother. . . . Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever.
George Orwell (1903 - 1950)
Source: 1984, 1948

The Real March Madness

2007-03-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

The following quote was attributed to Sen. Kay Bailey on C&L:

"We are fighting for the freedom of our children more than any war we have ever been in."

Really? Assuming that the above is true, at what cost to the Iraqis?

"The number of deaths in Iraq since the start of the conflict could be as high as one million, according to new figures released on the war's fourth anniversary."

Iraq war dead 'could be as high as one million' (24dash.com)
and ...

Zina Abdulhameed Rajab, a Shiite doctor, is so alarmed by the children she has treated who were injured on their way to school that she is keeping her 2- and 4-year-old sons at home. Her mother has moved in to help babysit.

"Whenever I watch my kids laughing or playing, I can't be so happy from inside my heart because I don't know what the next day will bring," she said. "I really regret the birth of my kids here."

and ...

Even some of those whose sect suffered under Saddam recall that time fondly. "I miss those good old days," said Jasim Mahmood Rajab, 60, a Shiite businessman. "I had my work and my social life, and now -- nothing. I'm ready to pay everything I have to sit at Abo Nowas Street and eat fish at night."

Iraqis see hope drain away (USA Today)

So now Iraqis are not human? I suppose in her little world, they're just expendable roaches or something. Remember how they found roaches at Walter Reed? And how they keep saying that we are fighting them over there so that we don't have to fight them over here? Maybe those Iraqis morphed into roaches and are already here. F**king ridiculous!!

Oh, and don't forget that so far this invasion has cost us $409,691,941,404, and 3,216 soldiers, and more in tangible measures. W has made such a mess of there that people actually remember Saddam fondly. Now that's one hell of a feat to accomplish.

----------------------

I think it is fitting I come back to add this given her recent statement regarding staying in the race:

To invoke death
when someone's life
is about to blossom
reveals much

it goes beyond cynicism
a misunderstood reference
tiredness
or any other excuse

it is said in eastern mythology
that enlightenment
requires spiritual death
and rebirth

but that is not
what this woman had in mind
physical death
is an entirely different matter

is it not possible
that this person
is hanging on to a corpse
which may be referred to as status quo

and the price
to continue these games
would require the death
of an individual

who if successful
could lead to the spiritual rebirth
of politics
as we know it

but this rebirth
would cause the political death
of a woman
who places her ambition over all

this tangled web
staggers the mind
to her supporters
i ask

what is the endgame
when will the goal posts stop shifting
what outcome would you like
do you see not the rovian playbook

what blinds you
the hope for power
from one who is known not to share
and cries crocodile tears

what ideal are you fighting for
more death in the middle east
people of power staying entrenched
in their current position

do you not see
a lack of principle
do you not observe
depravity akin to a vulture's

or have you decided to be blind
the same way
those who support the incumbent are
sans logic, empathy, ethics and compassion

you're willing for the country to pay a price
any price
to ensure that you could look back
and say i told you so

to a nation
torn apart and ruined
by a third term
of a president

you claim to hate

Liberal Intolerance - An Oxymoron- There They Go Again!! Reframing the Debate

2007-03-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

I came across the following when I was reading an article on Romney, his faith, and Fox News posted at Media Matters.

"But going back to the Mormon question," Barnes said, "his [Romney's] problem is liberal intolerance which has a great deal in this country. It's not bigotry on the part of conservatives."

Liberal Intolerance...hmmm.

Also mentioned in the same article is Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network test for a cult:

"One test of a cult is that it often does not strictly teach that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who Himself is God manifested in the flesh."

Now who is intolerant? Liberals? As for the conjugation of the word liberal with intolerance seems to be an oxymoron. The word liberal by its very definition means open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc. Unfortunately, the same word has almost become synonomus with flaky, pseudo, shallow, wimpy, unpatriotic etc., and that is due to the fact that liberals have allowed conservatives to literally hijack the meaning of the word itself. Instead of meaning something positive, cons use it to ridicule people who identify themselves to be the same. S**t, if it were up them, we would still be in the dark ages. Those morons would probably mandate going to church, or do something equally or even more insipid. And yet, for most part, they get away with it because we let them. Let's not forget that we communicate using words, and when a word has been hijacked, demonized to such an extent that it is used in the exact opposite context of its meaning, then we have a problem. A serious problem.

I think it's time that we start reframing the manner in which we address issues. Take slogans like "cut and run", "stay the course", "stay and pay" (good job there Dems, you may just have won the stupidity contest, which is not a small feat, considering that the "leader" of the other group is W - a man whose IQ is probably lower than the boiling point of water in degrees centigrade) - they are nothing but an empty concatenation of words, but have a certain picture, an image associated with them. Now just because W is a retard, and unable to speak coherent English, does not mean that we have to dumb down our discussions to ensure that he and his band of merry men grasp what we are talking about. I mean if English is really to be made the national language of the United States, how about learning it first!

By reframing I mean the first thing that Democrats need to do is the next time some pundit utters something like "we are fighting them there so we don't have to fight them here", call it like it is - stupid, retarded. It may not be the nicest thing to do, and maybe it trivializes the next person, but I think that's far better than letting our soldiers getting blown up in Iraq. Next, speak the truth about the war. Every aspect of this illegal, immoral occupation is so devastating that there is no need to spin any part of it. Finally, play the blame game, because it is not a game - it's called accountability. Assign blame exactly where it lies - at the doorstep of every individual who was for this war. I understand that there are millions of people who have reversed themselves on this, and now are against the war, but they are not our elected representatives, and ultimately are only responsible to themselves. Everyone who was a part of the propaganda machine responsible for this war needs to have their feet held to the fire. Expect and offer solutions. Viable ones. Let's talk timetables - they do not embolden the enemy. As long as American soldiers are in Iraq, they will be targets. If the discourse of this country can be changed, if the debate can be framed the way it should be, we would have taken the first step in bringing our troops back home.

I'll leave you with something I came across on the net. Readers should keep in mind that the following is not directed at them, and if I may suggest, direct it towards those who still support George:

"I cannot believe how incredibly stupid you are. I mean rock-hard stupid. Dehydrated-rock-hard stupid. Stupid so stupid that it goes way beyond the stupid we know into a whole different dimension of stupid. You are trans-stupid stupid. Meta-stupid. Stupid collapsed on itself so far that even the neutrons have collapsed. Stupid gotten so dense that no intellect can escape. Singularity stupid. Blazing hot mid-day sun on Mercury stupid. You emit more stupid in one second than our entire galaxy emits in a year. Quasar stupid. Your writing has to be a troll. Nothing in our universe can really be this stupid. Perhaps this is some primordial fragment from the original big bang of stupid. Some pure essence of a stupid so uncontaminated by anything else as to be beyond the laws of physics that we know. I'm sorry. I can't go on. This is an epiphany of stupid for me. After this, you may not hear from me again for a while. I don't have enough strength left to deride your ignorant questions and half baked comments about unimportant trivia, or any of the rest of this drivel. Duh."

http://www.richardlowe.com/ultimateflame/

Merry Christmas and a gift from the Christian right!!

2006-12-30T00:21:00.000-08:00

This may be one of the more bizarre stories we've seen (h/t Daily Kos) recently, which is saying a lot. Your federal government is apparently unwilling to investigate whether or not the Grand Canyon was created by the Biblical flood of Noah just 6,000 years ago.

http://www.attytood.com/2006/12/weird_science.html

Pink Floyd: On the Turning Away

2006-12-15T15:57:00.000-08:00

It seems to be that people have become so used to or/and deadened to human suffering, that it dies not matter any more. The phrase "banality of evil" comes to mind. 200,000 dead in Darfur, upto 650,000 Iraq's may be dead as a result of the American invasion, tens of thousands of troops injured, another 3,000 dead, millions dead in Africa due to starvation, AIDS etc, and yet it does not even seem to register. The UN says that for less than what the countries globally spend on defense, every child in this world can be clothed, fed, given shelter, educated etc- and yet we mindlessly keep manufacturing WMD's and more ways to kill ourselves. All of this scarcely even seems to register with the average Joe, who's probably too busy shopping or gorging himself silly. Now no one expects anyone to kill themselves over the general suffering of mankind, but are we so blinded with our own selves and needs that we cant even pick one cause and try and make a difference?

"No more turning away
From the weak and the weary
No more turning away
From the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
Its not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that therell be
No more turning away?"

Hope for Darfur

2006-12-15T09:09:00.000-08:00

Human Rights First has been calling for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to appoint a Special Envoy for Darfur. Secretary-General Annan's term ends on December 31. We have only 16 days left. Click here to urge Secretary Annan to appoint an envoy for Darfur right now.

McCain Hate Blogs

2006-12-14T17:20:00.000-08:00

McCain Hates Blogs

John McCain has launched an assault against the independent blogosphere by introducing legislation that would, among other things, make bloggers responsible for comments and copyrighted material posted on their sites, with fines of up to $300,000.

This legislation would have a huge impact on the bloggers in the US. Not being a net guru, I dont think I have much to say about this other than the fact that I view this with some trepidation. McCain has proven that he is no longer a maverick, and seems to have sold his soul for a shot at the presidency in 2008. He has been pandering to the extreme right wing base with not only his choice of words but also venues. The senator pretended to stand steadfast against the president when it came to the torture bill (and who had more credibility than him in the matter), but he finally buckled. Also, his stance on Iraq is the opposite of what over 70% of Americans desire (ok, thats no sin)- he wants to send more troops into a country that has descended into a full blown civil war and claimed almost 3000 American lives. What he thinks he can accomplish by doing that, well, thats another thing. For those who are wondering why this move seems to be politically motivated, keep in mind that the blogosphere is generally "ruled" by the liberals, just as the conservatives "rule" the airwaves. The 2006 election also clearly proved exactly how powerful it is, with MSM following the lead of the same. The "macaca" story was not picked up the MSM until it was virtually impossible to ignore the buzz on the internet- and that one seat cost the Republicans the Senate. And thats just one example. Now imagine the power of this medium if net savy democrats used the same (and in some cases the effort seems to have started) to organize, campaign, get donations etc!! Now that would stick a craw in some Republican eyes. What better way to shut this down by legislating boundaries limiting what net users can do with their own sites. Some might argue that there are issues of copyright infringement, and I am no lawyer- but I do think that as long as the individual is not profiting monetarily by posting content that is already freely available on the net, it should not be a big issue. Moreover, since the legislation includes user comments, this would require bloggers to constantly police their own pages, something which I think most of us do not have time to do. Just think how easy it would be for a troll to shut down a blog- all he would have to do was post some copyrighted material in the user comments section. Well, that last part is speculation, so I am not sure if it is entirely accurate, but I do think this effort of the politicians to police the blogosphere is absolutely unnecessary, would set a dangerous precedent if this piece of legislation is passed, and should be opposed!!

India Says Its Carbon Emissions Not Harming World

2006-12-14T12:05:00.000-08:00

A tannery emits smoke in Kolkata in this August 23, 2002 file photo. India, considered to be one of the world's top polluters, said on Thursday that it was not doing any harm to the world's atmosphere despite increasing emissions of greenhouse gases. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw
India Says Its Carbon Emissions Not Harming World

Atleast India did sign the Kyoto Protocol. (The US and Australia are the only 2 developed nations that did not) Having said that, given the fact that the number of vehicles on the road has risen exponentially in India, and that it is a developing country with growing energy needs, it's probably a good idea to invest in non carbon based sources of energy. I dont think Al Gore's "offset" idea would work in India- well, maybe not now, but perhaps sometime in the future. The basic concept of the above idea is self explanatory- individuals "offset" their annual carbon emissions by planting trees, using appliances that have the Energy Star label certifying that they are energy efficient (and consequently more expensive), investing in non carbon based and/or renewable sources of energy etc. Gore himself says that he is carbon "neutral", and I'm inclined to believe him. Generally speaking, I think Global Warming is something that seems to be widely accepted in India ( I am talking about a general scientific consensus as well as a recognition of the fact by most educated people. However, neither a general trend of rising gas prices nor worries about global warming seems to have made a dent of SUV sales in India. Interestingly enough, India is gradually becoming a new destination for those companies who want to sell their gas guzzling polluting vehicles. This is probably due to the fact that as since it has a growing and relatively healthy economy, there are plenty of buyers of such vehicles and I am guessing the emission standards in India are probably more relaxed than they are in the west) as opposed to the US where there are plenty of pseudo scientists funded by Shell etc who claim the phenomenon does not exist. For those who haven't had the opportunity to see it yet, I strongly recommend Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth". The trailer can be viewed at: http://www.climatecrisis.net/

Then again, there is that old Pink Floyd song that sums it up quite eloquently (Take it Back, Division Bell):


"Her love rains down on me easy as the breeze
I listen to the breathing it sounds like the waves on the sea
I was thinking all about her, burning with rage and desire
We were spinning into darkness; & the earth was on fire

She could take it back, she might take it back some day

So I spy on her, I lie to her, I make promises I cannot keep
Then I hear her laughter rising, rising from the deep
And I make her prove her love for me, I take all that I can take
And I push her to the limit to see if she will break

She might take it back, she could take it back some day

Now I had seen the warnings, screaming from all sides
It's easy to ignore them God knows I've tried
All of this temptation, you know it turned my faith to lies
Until I couldn't see the danger or hear the rising tide

She Could take it back, she will take it back some day
She Could take it back, she will take it back some day
She will take it back, She will take it back some day"

Army, Marine Corps to Ask for More Troops

2006-12-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

December 13, 2006 | Arlington West, on Santa Monica Beach, December 3. Each Sunday since February 2004, the temporary memorial honoring those killed in Iraq is erected in the sand by the local chapter of Veterans for Peace (VFP) and other volunteers. With almost 3,000 US troops killed in Iraq, the Army and Marine Corps are planning to ask incoming defense secretary Robert M. Gates and Congress to approve permanent increases in personnel, as senior officials in both services assert that the nation's military strategy has outstripped its resources.

W's still trying to formulate the optimal strategy for Iraq. He's "meeting" with folks on the ground this week to listen to their opinions, and get their input. Never mind the ISG that has basically summed up this war as dismal failure, that Al Gore and Jimmy Carter have called it a huge strategic mistake. Hundreds of billions of dollars later is America safer? Tens of thousands of wounded soldiers later is the U.S winning its war on terror. Hundreds of thousands of civilians deaths later, has it won the "hearts and minds" of the people in Iraq? The American people passed their verdict in the mid-term elections- enough- it's time to get out of Iraq. It's time to redeploy and bring the troops home. Murtha has beens saying that for almost a year now, but the WH has decided that its going to reflect on the 79 recommendations of the ISG, chew on the inputs it is getting and come up with a "new way forward" (a slogan borrowed from the ISG report. It was also used by Ford's CEO before he cut thousands of jobs). As Kerry once famously asked after he returned from Vietnam : "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Given the fact that the war on Iraq was based on half truths, speculation, faulty intelligence, that it had no ties with Al Qaeda, had nothing to do with the attacks of 9/11, how many soldiers must die on the alter of this administration's ego?

The Government's Assault on Press Freedom

2006-12-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

The Government's Assault on Press Freedom

Reporters Without Borders has released their annual worldwide press freedom index. While developing nations like Haiti and Mauritania continue to gain ground developed nations like France, Japan, and the US continue their downward spiral. From the article: "The United States (53rd) has fallen nine places since last year, after being in 17th position in the first year of the Index, in 2002. Relations between the media and the Bush administration sharply deteriorated after the president used the pretext of 'national security' to regard as suspicious any journalist who questioned his 'war on terrorism.' The zeal of federal courts which, unlike those in 33 US states, refuse to recognise the media's right not to reveal its sources, even threatens journalists whose investigations have no connection at all with terrorism."

It was sometime back, but I remember reading something to the effect of an autopsy of a democracy revealing that the cause of death was the absence of a free press. Considering how rapidly the freedom of Americans have been eroding under the current administration, can the US be truly called a free country and a democracy? Some of policies that this administration has seem negate the concept. As a democracy, does America stand for:

Torture?

Illegal wire tapping of its citizens? (NSA monitoring domestic calls, ignoring the FISA courts etc)

The ability of its government to imprison non citizens including legal residents indefinitely?

The Patriot Act and some of the powers of search and seizure granted under the same?

Increased blurring of the line between state and church?

Preemptive war based on half truths and speculation at best, outright lies at worst?

Conviction based on thought crime? (Use that brain- this is a very high profile case, and the conviction took place within the past 12 months)

Most Importantly: The President generally ignoring the constitution of the US.

P.S: I know the lead in article is a little old, but freedom of the press and free speech are my pet peeves, so I tend to sound of about them more often!!

Obama? Osama? Whats in a name?

2006-12-13T21:24:00.000-08:00

Playing the Obama name game with some fashion tips

By: John Amato @ 2:45 PM - PST

CNN is the latest to jump on Obama's name. As Eric says: "It makes you wonder if the ad man for GOP Senator Saxby Chambliss — who unseated Max Cleland with ads linking him to the two — is working for CNN now."

Video-WMP Video-QT

Ok. Thats another clip courtesy C&L. (For those you not aware of who Senator Barack Obama is visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama). It seems the smear campaign has already begun. I recently watched an interview of Tom Delay, and he was asked about what he thought of Obama and his possible presidential bid . Tom's response was a smug smile and a comment about how the American public was about to find out exactly who Obama was. There was another senator recently who referred to Obama with his full name which happens to be Barack Hussein Obama. Now while there is nothing wrong in referring to someone with their full name, it nonetheless seems to be a little strange. Would that have happened if his full name was Barack Bush Obama? I think not, but then all of this is in the realm of speculation. However, once the above clip is viewed, it puts things in a little perspective. Apparently there are folks who cant differentiate between the names Osama and Obama, and think that Senator Obama is a threat- mind you, it wasnt just Obama, the term Senator was used. Interestingly enough, a political commentator recently (Jeff Greenfield made the quantum leap on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. It's their fashion aesthetic:) compared Obama's dressing sense to that of Iran's presidents. Now the above incidents may not seem to be worth commenting on, but after watching the right wingers smear Kerry in the previous election, one cannot help but wonder if this is the beginning? Given the voter demographics that such campaigns typically seem to be target, its a distinct possibility. Its disappointing to see the manner in which this was treated at CNN, but thats what happens when a network forgets that it was about journalism, not entertainment.

Olbermann’s Special Comment on Gingrich: “We fight for liberty by having more liberty and not less”

2006-12-13T20:59:00.000-08:00

Olbermann’s Special Comment on Gingrich: “We fight for liberty by having more liberty and not less”

By: SilentPatriot @ 7:25 PM - PST

Tonight, Keith took on Newt Gingrich's controversial remarks from earlier this week where he suggested we re-think free speech as we know it in order to effectively combat the threat of terrorism. Needless to say, Keith — like any true American — took offense to this and didn't hold back.

Video WMP | Video MOV (still uploading the video)

Olbermann: "What a dark place your world must be, Mr Gingrich. Where the way to save America is to destroy America. I will awaken every day of my life thankful I am not with you in that dark place. And I will awaken every day of my life thankful that you are entitled to tell me about it. And that you are entitled to show me what an evil idea lurks there and what a cynical mind. And that you entitled to do all that thanks to the very freedoms you seek to suffocate."

(The above content was posted at C&L a few nights back. Over the past year Keith has proven to be the only voice of reason in the MSM, and in my opinion his news show is the only one worth watching. I've read some articles in which the authors have equated him to Edward Murrow, and while Keith can be scintillating and brilliant, I dont think he can be put in the same category as Murrow. I'll leave you with one of his most famous quotes:

"No one familiar with the history of his country, can deny that congressional committees are useful. It is necessary to investigate before legislating. But the line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one, and the Junior Senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly. His primary achievement has been confusing the public mind as between the internal and the external threats of communism. We must not confuse dissent from disloyalty. We must remember always, that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another, we will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason. If we dig deep into our history and our doctrine, we will remember we are not descended from fearful men. Not from men who dared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Sen. McCarthy's methods to keep silent or for those who approve. We can deny our heritage and our history but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. There is no way for a citizen of the republic to abdicate his responsibilities. As a nation we have come into our full inheritance at a tender age. We proclaim ourselves as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom where ever it still exists in the world. But we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. The actions of the Junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And who's fault is that? Not really his, he didn't create this situation of fear he merely exploited it, and rather successfully. Cassius was right, the fault dear Brutus is not in our stars, but in ourselves. Good night, and good luck. ")

Hope for Darfur

2006-12-13T19:57:00.000-08:00

Human Rights First wants 200,000 names on their petition that asks for the appointment of a high-level U.N. envoy to oversee a peace process in Darfur, where 200,000 have died already according to the New York Times.

See the movie here, and don't forget to add your name to the petition here.

What if...

2006-12-13T19:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.epica-awards.org/assets/epica/2004/winners/film/flv/11071.htm

I dont intend to do this too often, well, to be honest I should refrain from saying that because every once in a while one comes across clips that are really worth watching and posting. This is a short award winning commercial featuring Mahatma Gandhi, in my view its quite brilliant!!

On War

2006-12-13T19:34:00.000-08:00

In the beginning,

there was nothing

just a strange peace

a strange stillness

borne from the absence of life

and in the end,

there will be nothing

just a strange silence

borne from the presence of death

the rivers will turn red

and the seas will swell

the vultures dead

from the holocaust

of what was born in hatred

and yet we kill and maim

this is not intelligent life

there is no compassion

there is no love

in the strangers eyes

whose body lies next to mine.

Soldiers

2006-12-13T18:51:00.000-08:00

He lay there

bleeding on the battle field

amok with rivers of blood

that flowed from the wound of his brothers

he lay there dying

blinded by the sun

thirsty, his cracked lips bled

his dry throat screamed silently for the elixir of life

he died on that battle field

with the picture of his child and beloved

embedded timelessly with the shrapnel in his heart

his eyes open, yet unseeing

he had lived as a man of honesty

unable to comprehend the monstrosity of an invasion

based on lies and propaganda

a cog in the wheel of life and death

Musings of a Non Conformist

Indifference

For all those who politicize 9/ll

New Orleans- A Short Poem

Someone else's war

The show must go on

Regarding Torture, Death Penalty and War

Moments

History

Boots

Rain

9/11 Tribute

Flame

Diameter

Obscure

The Bundle of Joy

Fluid

An illusion of safety

Pundits

Unholy Priests

The Key

Mumbai and the Media

The Waltz

Lessons from illusion

Barriers

Thyself

Barack Obama's History-Making Presidential Campaign in Stunning Full-Color Photographs

Stupid is as stupid does

Dweebs for the job of POTUS

No soup for lincoln

Huckabee Needs Our Help And Support!!

Seinfeld vs M*A*S*H

Streets of war

42. The meaning of life

United States Of Stoopid

The Lunatic Is In The Hall

A plea for Darfur

Harmony

Goodbye...

Why legislate common courtesy?

Genocide

BS

The Surge

Gore for President

Wired Differently

Compelling argument to stay a Democrat

Why do we like being slaves

Al Gore on the Daily Show

Fuck you too!!

Bill Moyers Talks With Jon Stewart

Impeach Cheney

Crazy Talk

What has this nation come to?

On Being Worm Dirt

Kurt Vonnegut Dead

Imus suspended for 2 weeks

The surreal life

The short proof of evolution

Inhofe - the hoe!!

Sen. Inhofe Trying to Freeze Out Al Gore's "Live Earth" Concert

The case for teaching the Bible- and effectively dumbing down public schools

1984, Hillary Clinton

The Real March Madness

Liberal Intolerance - An Oxymoron- There They Go Again!! Reframing the Debate

Merry Christmas and a gift from the Christian right!!

Pink Floyd: On the Turning Away

Hope for Darfur

McCain Hate Blogs

India Says Its Carbon Emissions Not Harming World

Army, Marine Corps to Ask for More Troops

The Government's Assault on Press Freedom

Obama? Osama? Whats in a name?

Olbermann’s Special Comment on Gingrich: “We fight for liberty by having more liberty and not less”

Hope for Darfur

What if...

On War

Soldiers

Seinfeld vs MAS*H