Here in the United States it is Memorial Day. It is always celebrated on the last Monday of May and unless you work in a retail business, or the restaurant industry you more than likely get the day off. In theory we're honoring those who have died in all the wars the nation has fought. Many of us will do this by going to baseball games, or the beach while untold thousands will fire up outdoor grills, drink beer and woof down enough smoked meat to feed the entire population of Somalia for ten years.
That's not to say every American will ignore the significance of the day. Little American flags are by now fluttering in the breeze at grave sites all across the land. Speeches will be made by politicians and stories will be written by journalists about the high price of freedom and those brave souls who fought to protect it.
There are a lot of them. According to Wikipedia 1,321,612 Americans have died in combat throughout our history. If you throw in the number of wounded and those who died because of things like disease, or accidents the figure jumps to 2,717,991. In addition the site says 38,159 are listed as missing. Those living in the south will consider the numbers short, because it doesn't include confederate casualties in the Civil War. Most people tend to think it would raise the total by about 300,000, but no one is completely sure because the confederate states weren't very good at keeping those sort of records.
Wikipedia's casualty list encompasses 87 different wars, or conflicts fought by the armed forces of the United States over a 239 year span. Of course many people, among them Mexicans and Native Americans, can and do argue a sizable chunk of the combat had nothing to do with "freedom," or at least their freedom.
Of the 87 wars, one was a blatant and cold blooded land grab from Mexico. Another 21 were fought against Native American tribes, who, as we all know, were here first and doing perfectly fine without a country called the United States. Those campaigns began with the Northwest Indian War fought from 1785 to 1796--we got Ohio out of the deal--to the Sugar Point War fought against a band of Chippeweas in 1898. In between the government felt it necessary to fight those pesky Seminoles on three separate occasions alone. There were also wars against the Lakotas, Yakimas, Cayuse, Nez Perce, Utes, Arapahos, Cheyennes, and--oh hell--just about every tribe.
Over seas, between 1918 and 1920, we fought on two separate fronts in Russia, trying to influence the outcome of the Bolshevik Revolution. Prior to that we declared war on Spain in order to free the Cubans and as a side benefit the Filipinos. Then we had to turn around and fight the Filipinos because they were of the opinion we hadn't actually freed them at all. We occupied Haiti for a while in order to "protect American business interests." We did the same thing to Nicaragua three different times.
None of this is to question the courage, or sacrifice of individual members of the American armed forces. However, it is worth remembering on this day a lot of soldiers, sailors, and marines paid the ultimate price for something far less glorious than our right to down a brewsky and eat a brat in any manner we see fit. Not to mention there are a hell of a lot of people both here and abroad who don't equate the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force with the word freedom.
Hey, it may not be the most patriotic thing to say, but it is the truth.
sic vita est
5-26-14
Monday, May 26, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Isla Vista Updated: The American Way and the Price of Freedom
Today all the sordid and terrible details are pouring out of southern California.
Thanks to newly released information, we now know, Elliot Rodger had been off his rocker for years. In fact, according to his 106,000 word "manifesto" he bought his first firearm in December of 2012 and a second in the spring of 2013. He initially planned a deadly attack for November of last year, but, in moment of doubt, put it off until Friday.
According to his bloated screed, titled "My Twisted World" his rage against women had been mounting since the moment he reached puberty. He lusted for many, particularly blondes, but found them utterly unapproachable. He railed at them and the guys they dated. He retreated into the world of online gaming and spent hours dwelling in a realm of fantasy and stylized violence. His favorite was World of Warcraft.
NBC reports his family wanted him to be more independent so he moved to Santa Barbara at age 19. According to an attorney representing them, Elliot had been treated by numerous medical doctors and psychiatrists.
In July of last year he got into a fight because, as he walked around the streets of Isla Vista, he began pointing his forefinger at couples, pretending to shoot them. The police investigated after he ended up in a hospital ER. As always, he tried to portray himself as the victim, but they determined he was at fault. They didn't pursue the issue though and no charges were filed. On April 30th of this year Rodger's parents asked police to check on him because of the nature of the videos he was posting on Youtube. According to Santa Barbara Sheriff, Bill Brown, deputies found him, "polite, shy, and having a difficult social life," but they decided there was nothing to worry about.
In Elliot Rodger's own words, "If they had searched my room that would have ended everything. For a few horrible seconds I thought it was over."
Yesterday Brown told the media, "It is very apparent, the severe extent of how disturbed Mr. Rodger was."
The Sheriff's Department now says they found three hand guns and 400 rounds of ammunition in the car with him. Various media outlets are reporting, Rodger died of, "an apparent self inflicted gun shot."
The authorities found his first three victims, all male, who have yet to be identified, at his residence. They had been stabbed to death.
He drove over to the Alpha Phi sorority house, which he bragged he'd staked out on numerous occasions, and pounded on the front door. In a stroke of good fortune no one would open it for him. Frustrated, he turned and saw three women walking down the street. He shot and killed, Katherine Cooper and Veronika Weiss and wounded the third. Then he climbed into his BMW and began his deadly tour through town.
As he passed by a deli, Rodger opened fire on a crowd of people milling around outside on the sidewalk. Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez was killed. By the time the lunacy was over, 13 more people were injured--eight by gun fire, four others were hurt when he rammed them with his vehicle. It is unknown at this time how the 13th person was injured.
Last night UC-Santa Barbara students and others held a candle light vigil. According to the organizers, "This is a time to reflect on, honor, and celebrate the lives of those we lost."
Yes, we Americans are well versed in conducting these sort of ceremonies. That's because crazed people with guns are everywhere in this country and this type of demented barbarity happens all the time here. However, the gruesome truth is, while we are pros at mourning, we steadfastly refuse to do any thing about the guns.
Let's face it, Elliot Rodger had been utterly bats for half his life. For years he had been descending into a darkness which no one on the bright side of the moon can fathom. He knew it, his parents knew it, his doctors should have known it, and the cops would have realized it if they'd just opened his fucking bedroom door. Yet, despite all the mounting evidence, he was still able to load up with three semi automatic hand guns and 40 ten round clips of ammunition just as easily as he could have bought an Icee at a local 7-11 store.
Bill Brown wasn't the only person addressing the media yesterday. Christopher Michaels-Martinez's father, Richard Martinez also spoke to them. He told the press and the rest of us, this: "The talk about gun rights. What about Chris' right to live? When will enough people say, stop this madness. We don't have to live like this. Too many people have died." He then collapsed to his knees in tears.
Indeed. Too many people have died.
The real tragedy is many more are bound to. You see, there are powerful forces who will cruelly argue, Elliot Rodger's right to own a gun trumps, Chris Michaels-Martinez's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
They will then call their grotesque politics, The American Way and themselves, patriots.
As for the innocent dead? Well, they are the price we pay for our freedom. Their deaths, while sad, fall into the category of acceptable casualties.
Will someone please tell me how we dare call ourselves civilized?
5-25-14
Thanks to newly released information, we now know, Elliot Rodger had been off his rocker for years. In fact, according to his 106,000 word "manifesto" he bought his first firearm in December of 2012 and a second in the spring of 2013. He initially planned a deadly attack for November of last year, but, in moment of doubt, put it off until Friday.
According to his bloated screed, titled "My Twisted World" his rage against women had been mounting since the moment he reached puberty. He lusted for many, particularly blondes, but found them utterly unapproachable. He railed at them and the guys they dated. He retreated into the world of online gaming and spent hours dwelling in a realm of fantasy and stylized violence. His favorite was World of Warcraft.
NBC reports his family wanted him to be more independent so he moved to Santa Barbara at age 19. According to an attorney representing them, Elliot had been treated by numerous medical doctors and psychiatrists.
In July of last year he got into a fight because, as he walked around the streets of Isla Vista, he began pointing his forefinger at couples, pretending to shoot them. The police investigated after he ended up in a hospital ER. As always, he tried to portray himself as the victim, but they determined he was at fault. They didn't pursue the issue though and no charges were filed. On April 30th of this year Rodger's parents asked police to check on him because of the nature of the videos he was posting on Youtube. According to Santa Barbara Sheriff, Bill Brown, deputies found him, "polite, shy, and having a difficult social life," but they decided there was nothing to worry about.
In Elliot Rodger's own words, "If they had searched my room that would have ended everything. For a few horrible seconds I thought it was over."
Yesterday Brown told the media, "It is very apparent, the severe extent of how disturbed Mr. Rodger was."
The Sheriff's Department now says they found three hand guns and 400 rounds of ammunition in the car with him. Various media outlets are reporting, Rodger died of, "an apparent self inflicted gun shot."
The authorities found his first three victims, all male, who have yet to be identified, at his residence. They had been stabbed to death.
He drove over to the Alpha Phi sorority house, which he bragged he'd staked out on numerous occasions, and pounded on the front door. In a stroke of good fortune no one would open it for him. Frustrated, he turned and saw three women walking down the street. He shot and killed, Katherine Cooper and Veronika Weiss and wounded the third. Then he climbed into his BMW and began his deadly tour through town.
As he passed by a deli, Rodger opened fire on a crowd of people milling around outside on the sidewalk. Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez was killed. By the time the lunacy was over, 13 more people were injured--eight by gun fire, four others were hurt when he rammed them with his vehicle. It is unknown at this time how the 13th person was injured.
Last night UC-Santa Barbara students and others held a candle light vigil. According to the organizers, "This is a time to reflect on, honor, and celebrate the lives of those we lost."
Yes, we Americans are well versed in conducting these sort of ceremonies. That's because crazed people with guns are everywhere in this country and this type of demented barbarity happens all the time here. However, the gruesome truth is, while we are pros at mourning, we steadfastly refuse to do any thing about the guns.
Let's face it, Elliot Rodger had been utterly bats for half his life. For years he had been descending into a darkness which no one on the bright side of the moon can fathom. He knew it, his parents knew it, his doctors should have known it, and the cops would have realized it if they'd just opened his fucking bedroom door. Yet, despite all the mounting evidence, he was still able to load up with three semi automatic hand guns and 40 ten round clips of ammunition just as easily as he could have bought an Icee at a local 7-11 store.
Bill Brown wasn't the only person addressing the media yesterday. Christopher Michaels-Martinez's father, Richard Martinez also spoke to them. He told the press and the rest of us, this: "The talk about gun rights. What about Chris' right to live? When will enough people say, stop this madness. We don't have to live like this. Too many people have died." He then collapsed to his knees in tears.
Indeed. Too many people have died.
The real tragedy is many more are bound to. You see, there are powerful forces who will cruelly argue, Elliot Rodger's right to own a gun trumps, Chris Michaels-Martinez's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
They will then call their grotesque politics, The American Way and themselves, patriots.
As for the innocent dead? Well, they are the price we pay for our freedom. Their deaths, while sad, fall into the category of acceptable casualties.
Will someone please tell me how we dare call ourselves civilized?
5-25-14
Saturday, May 24, 2014
There is Something Wrong With Us
We're mutants. There is something wrong with us, something very very wrong with us.
Bill Murray, as private John Winger in the movie, "Stripes."
Indeed.
Everyone knew it would happen again, it was just a matter of time.
The Los Angeles NBC affiliate says the first 911 call was received at 9:27pm last night. It was a report of shots being fired near the University of California, Santa Barbara campus. At 9:30pm, 911 dispatchers began receiving multiple calls of a man driving a black BMW who was shooting randomly at people as he cruised the streets of a tiny community named Isla Vista. At 9:33 sheriff's deputies engaged the man in a gun fight as he sped away from them. At 9:34 Another deputy exchanged gunfire with him. At 9:37 the BMW crashed into a parked car and deputies found the driver dead from a head wound. In the 10, or so minutes he was running amok, six people were shot to death and seven more injured. If you count the shooter, the body count rises to seven.
Reports are the police found a semi automatic hand gun in the vehicle. It remains unclear at this time if the suspect was killed during the gunfight, or he blew his own brains out when the authorities began closing in on him.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office has, so far, refused to identify the suspect, but various media sources say his name was, Elliot Rodger. An attorney for Peter Rodger, the assistant director of the movie, "Hunger Games" has issued a statement saying his client's son is dead and the family believes he was the shooter.
An updated report claims the family alerted the police several weeks ago after seeing Youtube videos of their son talking about suicide and murder. According to the attorney, police interviewed Elliot and found nothing suspicious. The lawyer, Alan Shifman, described him as, "perfectly polite, kind, and wonderfully human."
Yes, aren't they all.
A spokesman for the Sheriff's Office said his department was, "analyzing both written and video evidence which suggests this atrocity was a pre meditated act of mass murder." He also called the shooting, "the act of a madman."
According to NBC, Elliot Rodger took the time Thursday to post nine videos on Youtube. The LA NBC station says almost all of them were laced with anger toward women. The one I watched was still available for viewing about two hours ago. It will be the most dreadful six minutes and fifty-five seconds of your day, if you choose to watch it.
The video is shot from the dashboard of a black vehicle. Rodger is sitting behind the steering wheel with the sun in his face. He has sleepy eyes and speaks in a monotone. His language and demeanor is such you can make an argument he is reading from a script. He talks about being a virgin and how lonely he is. More than once he claims he has no idea why girls ignore him, because he is a perfect gentleman, unlike the louts they so disgustingly prefer. He giggles a bit melodramatically a few times while he promises retribution for the terrible slights to his manhood. He also brags he will enter a sorority house, kill all the women in it, then he'll take to the streets killing each and every person he sees. He uses video gamer terms like, "mountains of skulls" and "rivers of blood."
Yes, it appears we've manufactured one more loon who has been pushed around the bend by delusions of grandeur and persecution. And then, just like, Adam Lanza, James Holmes and countless others--after he came to a boil--someone, somewhere, either gave, or sold this whacked out goof a gun. It was one so efficient at least one witness said he believed there must have been at least two weapons because the bullets were flying so fast for so long.
No country in the world has more privately owned firearms than we do in America. So on this Saturday afternoon one can reasonably ask, exactly what has the second amendment to the constitution of the United States done for the population lately?
Well, last night, in Isla Vista, CA, it got us, Elliot, fucking Rodger who murdered six innocent people.
Right. Will someone please explain to me again how we're free?
5-24-14
Bill Murray, as private John Winger in the movie, "Stripes."
Indeed.
Everyone knew it would happen again, it was just a matter of time.
The Los Angeles NBC affiliate says the first 911 call was received at 9:27pm last night. It was a report of shots being fired near the University of California, Santa Barbara campus. At 9:30pm, 911 dispatchers began receiving multiple calls of a man driving a black BMW who was shooting randomly at people as he cruised the streets of a tiny community named Isla Vista. At 9:33 sheriff's deputies engaged the man in a gun fight as he sped away from them. At 9:34 Another deputy exchanged gunfire with him. At 9:37 the BMW crashed into a parked car and deputies found the driver dead from a head wound. In the 10, or so minutes he was running amok, six people were shot to death and seven more injured. If you count the shooter, the body count rises to seven.
Reports are the police found a semi automatic hand gun in the vehicle. It remains unclear at this time if the suspect was killed during the gunfight, or he blew his own brains out when the authorities began closing in on him.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office has, so far, refused to identify the suspect, but various media sources say his name was, Elliot Rodger. An attorney for Peter Rodger, the assistant director of the movie, "Hunger Games" has issued a statement saying his client's son is dead and the family believes he was the shooter.
An updated report claims the family alerted the police several weeks ago after seeing Youtube videos of their son talking about suicide and murder. According to the attorney, police interviewed Elliot and found nothing suspicious. The lawyer, Alan Shifman, described him as, "perfectly polite, kind, and wonderfully human."
Yes, aren't they all.
A spokesman for the Sheriff's Office said his department was, "analyzing both written and video evidence which suggests this atrocity was a pre meditated act of mass murder." He also called the shooting, "the act of a madman."
According to NBC, Elliot Rodger took the time Thursday to post nine videos on Youtube. The LA NBC station says almost all of them were laced with anger toward women. The one I watched was still available for viewing about two hours ago. It will be the most dreadful six minutes and fifty-five seconds of your day, if you choose to watch it.
The video is shot from the dashboard of a black vehicle. Rodger is sitting behind the steering wheel with the sun in his face. He has sleepy eyes and speaks in a monotone. His language and demeanor is such you can make an argument he is reading from a script. He talks about being a virgin and how lonely he is. More than once he claims he has no idea why girls ignore him, because he is a perfect gentleman, unlike the louts they so disgustingly prefer. He giggles a bit melodramatically a few times while he promises retribution for the terrible slights to his manhood. He also brags he will enter a sorority house, kill all the women in it, then he'll take to the streets killing each and every person he sees. He uses video gamer terms like, "mountains of skulls" and "rivers of blood."
Yes, it appears we've manufactured one more loon who has been pushed around the bend by delusions of grandeur and persecution. And then, just like, Adam Lanza, James Holmes and countless others--after he came to a boil--someone, somewhere, either gave, or sold this whacked out goof a gun. It was one so efficient at least one witness said he believed there must have been at least two weapons because the bullets were flying so fast for so long.
No country in the world has more privately owned firearms than we do in America. So on this Saturday afternoon one can reasonably ask, exactly what has the second amendment to the constitution of the United States done for the population lately?
Well, last night, in Isla Vista, CA, it got us, Elliot, fucking Rodger who murdered six innocent people.
Right. Will someone please explain to me again how we're free?
5-24-14
Friday, May 23, 2014
Another Week Down the Drain: Acting Happy in Iran, The Undiplomatic Prince, The Twelfth Coup, Phil Robertson Redux, and Don Gives up the Ghost
It was a busy week for a lot of people who are in the business of being outraged, or in charge, not to mention those who can best be described as, the usual suspects.
First, a video was posted on the internet showing six young people reacting to Pharrell Williams' song, "Happy." They pretty much did what any kid would do in a similar situation. They danced, posed, and laughed while wearing funky clothes and hair dos. Unfortunately they forgot where they were living. That would be Iran, which, as we all know, has a decidedly deficient sense of humor when it comes to young people dressed funky and being happy.
All six were arrested and their mugs were shown on TV to make damn sure everyone else there knows, "decadent western culture" is unacceptable to the protectors of the faith. At last report all six were out of jail, but the guy behind the camera was still in the slammer. The kids, not being crazy, or dumb, claimed they'd been told the video shoot was an audition for a movie and it would never be put on line. Well, you have to say something don't you--especially when you find yourself in a windowless room surrounded by members of the morality police who are looking to put their truncheons to use.
Today, the AP is reporting Iranian authorities have banned the social media Instagram because of, "privacy issues." Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube had all been previously outlawed because they're considered part of a, "cultural invasion." The AP also reports Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenie, both have Instagram accounts. In addition the Iranian Foreign Minister has a spot on Twitter. Obviously these distinguished gentlemen are above the temptations of western decadence, while the hoi polloi can't be trusted to be so utterly immune.
Roughly 54% of the Iranian population is under the age of 30 and various sources say many of them routinely ignore the prohibitions and access social sites through various means. Hey, telling a young person not to go somewhere doesn't do anything, but make the destination that much more attractive Just ask scads of children who lived in repressive fundamentalist Christian families in the United States.
Meanwhile the Russians were aghast at Britain's Prince Charles' recent comments. His Highness was visiting Canada this week. He had what he thought was a private conversation with a 70 something woman whose family fled Poland to get away from the Nazis. During the chat Charles compared Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine and Crimea to those of Hitler on the eve of the second world war.
The woman blabbed and the press ran with it. Various Russian officials called the comparison, low and disgusting--outrageous--and, my personal favorite, unworthy of a future British monarch. People in the U.K. opposed to the monarchy immediately jumped on board. A few went so far as to say, Charles should abdicate.
Well, lets see. Russia annexed Crimea because Putin said ethnic Russians there were being increasingly marginalized and persecuted by an illegitimate Ukrainian government. In addition he insisted most of the population of Crimea was ethnic Russian so they should be able to determine which country they wanted to belong to. Then, he sent in the troops.
In September of 1938, Herr Hitler made a speech about ethnic Germans living in an area of Czechoslovakia known as the Sudetenland. During the speech he called Czechoslovakia a "fraudulent state," and claimed the Germans living there didn't want to be a part of the country. In addition he accused the Czech government of planning some sort of slow motion genocide against the German population and that he, as the head of the German state, supported ethnic German, "self determination" in Sudetenland.
Shortly thereafter, in collusion with the French and British, who were desperate to avoid another war with Germany, Adolf annexed the territory and, you guessed it, sent in the troops.
Oops.
While what the Prince of Wales said might not be considered extraordinarily diplomatic it certainly seems like, ol' Chuck did have a valid point.
In Thailand there was a military coup--the 12th since 1932. The head of the army told the nation it had to be done to restore order in the country. Indeed, if you fuckers can't get along on your own then big brother will make you. After all, what else is an army to do other than make everyone behave?
The Duck Dynasty guy, Phil Robertson rose to the pulpit to say homosexuality, among other things, was a sin. It isn't the first time, but honestly, who gives a rat's ass what the old rube has to say? Let's face it, if you're worried about Phil Robertson's views on social issues, you really need to get a life.
Finally, FOX Sports is reporting Don Sterling is giving up the ghost and wants his wife Shelly to negotiate the sale of his NBA franchise, the Los Angeles Clippers. This. despite a letter sent last week to the league by his lawyer, saying he wouldn't pay the fine imposed on him and would sue if the the NBA attempted to sell the Clips without his permission.
It remains unclear if Shelly Sterling, who, unlike her estranged husband, hasn't been accused of saying anything grotesquely racist, will agree to give up her share of the team without a fight. Unfortunately for her, the NBA constitution, signed by the majority owner of the club, who would be dear old, Don, says when this sort of drastic measure is called for, minority owners, no matter how innocent, must relquish their shares too .
And there we have it. Another week down the drain.
As the cartoon character, Zippy the Pinhead used to say, "Are we having fun yet?"
5-23-14
First, a video was posted on the internet showing six young people reacting to Pharrell Williams' song, "Happy." They pretty much did what any kid would do in a similar situation. They danced, posed, and laughed while wearing funky clothes and hair dos. Unfortunately they forgot where they were living. That would be Iran, which, as we all know, has a decidedly deficient sense of humor when it comes to young people dressed funky and being happy.
All six were arrested and their mugs were shown on TV to make damn sure everyone else there knows, "decadent western culture" is unacceptable to the protectors of the faith. At last report all six were out of jail, but the guy behind the camera was still in the slammer. The kids, not being crazy, or dumb, claimed they'd been told the video shoot was an audition for a movie and it would never be put on line. Well, you have to say something don't you--especially when you find yourself in a windowless room surrounded by members of the morality police who are looking to put their truncheons to use.
Today, the AP is reporting Iranian authorities have banned the social media Instagram because of, "privacy issues." Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube had all been previously outlawed because they're considered part of a, "cultural invasion." The AP also reports Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenie, both have Instagram accounts. In addition the Iranian Foreign Minister has a spot on Twitter. Obviously these distinguished gentlemen are above the temptations of western decadence, while the hoi polloi can't be trusted to be so utterly immune.
Roughly 54% of the Iranian population is under the age of 30 and various sources say many of them routinely ignore the prohibitions and access social sites through various means. Hey, telling a young person not to go somewhere doesn't do anything, but make the destination that much more attractive Just ask scads of children who lived in repressive fundamentalist Christian families in the United States.
Meanwhile the Russians were aghast at Britain's Prince Charles' recent comments. His Highness was visiting Canada this week. He had what he thought was a private conversation with a 70 something woman whose family fled Poland to get away from the Nazis. During the chat Charles compared Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine and Crimea to those of Hitler on the eve of the second world war.
The woman blabbed and the press ran with it. Various Russian officials called the comparison, low and disgusting--outrageous--and, my personal favorite, unworthy of a future British monarch. People in the U.K. opposed to the monarchy immediately jumped on board. A few went so far as to say, Charles should abdicate.
Well, lets see. Russia annexed Crimea because Putin said ethnic Russians there were being increasingly marginalized and persecuted by an illegitimate Ukrainian government. In addition he insisted most of the population of Crimea was ethnic Russian so they should be able to determine which country they wanted to belong to. Then, he sent in the troops.
In September of 1938, Herr Hitler made a speech about ethnic Germans living in an area of Czechoslovakia known as the Sudetenland. During the speech he called Czechoslovakia a "fraudulent state," and claimed the Germans living there didn't want to be a part of the country. In addition he accused the Czech government of planning some sort of slow motion genocide against the German population and that he, as the head of the German state, supported ethnic German, "self determination" in Sudetenland.
Shortly thereafter, in collusion with the French and British, who were desperate to avoid another war with Germany, Adolf annexed the territory and, you guessed it, sent in the troops.
Oops.
While what the Prince of Wales said might not be considered extraordinarily diplomatic it certainly seems like, ol' Chuck did have a valid point.
In Thailand there was a military coup--the 12th since 1932. The head of the army told the nation it had to be done to restore order in the country. Indeed, if you fuckers can't get along on your own then big brother will make you. After all, what else is an army to do other than make everyone behave?
The Duck Dynasty guy, Phil Robertson rose to the pulpit to say homosexuality, among other things, was a sin. It isn't the first time, but honestly, who gives a rat's ass what the old rube has to say? Let's face it, if you're worried about Phil Robertson's views on social issues, you really need to get a life.
Finally, FOX Sports is reporting Don Sterling is giving up the ghost and wants his wife Shelly to negotiate the sale of his NBA franchise, the Los Angeles Clippers. This. despite a letter sent last week to the league by his lawyer, saying he wouldn't pay the fine imposed on him and would sue if the the NBA attempted to sell the Clips without his permission.
It remains unclear if Shelly Sterling, who, unlike her estranged husband, hasn't been accused of saying anything grotesquely racist, will agree to give up her share of the team without a fight. Unfortunately for her, the NBA constitution, signed by the majority owner of the club, who would be dear old, Don, says when this sort of drastic measure is called for, minority owners, no matter how innocent, must relquish their shares too .
And there we have it. Another week down the drain.
As the cartoon character, Zippy the Pinhead used to say, "Are we having fun yet?"
5-23-14
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Ted Cruz Takes a Hit as the GOP Wises Up
It was a terrible pack of blood thirsty werewolves, screeching lunatics, and crazed religious zealots, the likes of which are usually associated with outfits like Boko Haram.
The GOP senate primary in Georgia alone contained three tea party hacks currently sitting in the U.S. House of Representatives. Our old pal Paul Broun was in the race. He is the distinguished statesman who claimed Barack Obama wanted to establish a civilian national service corps for the sole purpose of creating a Marxist dictatorship. In addition he once addressed a southern baptist church, telling them embryology, evolution, and the big bang theory were all lies, "straight from the pit of hell." He also threw in his conviction the world was created in six days, "as we know them." He won re-election two years ago, but his views inspired over 5,000 voters in his district to cast write in ballots for Charles Darwin.
Along with him was Congressman, Phil Gingrey who, a couple of years ago, said Todd Aiken was, "partly right." That was after, Aiken, a republican candidate for the senate in Missouri, told an interviewer women don't become pregnant after being raped because their bodies have, "a way of shutting that down."
Last night both men became abject losers thanks to the republican voters of Georgia. David Perdue came in first, although he couldn't avoid a runoff. Perdue is a former CEO of Dollar General Stores and has never held a political office. His campaign web site brags that during his tenure at the retail chain, he personally created, "thousands of quality jobs." It is unclear if the rank and file employees of a business which is essentially a chain of mini Wal-Marts would agree, but the issue is neither here, nor there at the moment.
Perdue's opponent in the runoff will be Congressman, Jack Kingston. His main claim to fame is his desire to force children from low income families, who participate in the federal school lunch program, to sweep the cafeteria floors where they eat. According to him, such an arrangement would teach the little loafers, "a work ethic and that there is no such thing as a free lunch."
Meanwhile in Oregon, Monica Wehby won the republican nod for the senate. Her closest competitor was state representative, Jason Conger. Wehby got herself on the tea party hit list because of her stated opinion that abortion is, "a personal decision between a woman and her family." She is a pediatric neurosurgeon by trade and, like, Perdue a new comer to politics.
In Kentucky Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell kicked Matt Bevin's ass. Bevin ran as a "true conservative." That would be in opposition to McConnell's alleged, yet, unfathomable, sub rosa political love affair with Barack H. Obama..
So, are we seeing a pattern here? Perhaps. Last month in Texas a tea party hot dog was beaten like a gong by incumbent Senator John Cornyn. There was also a right fringe set back in North Carolina.
Yes, Ted Cruz and outfits like Club for Growth might feel the sand shifting beneath their feet at this point. Cruz didn't publicly support any of these vicious rubes, but notably he refused to endorse either McConnell or Cornyn before the votes were counted. One could almost see the wheels turning in his head.
McConnell and Cornyn don't get it. I'm the new face and soul of the republican party. If those two old farts are out of the way I'll be King of the Senate and on my way to the convention.
Ah, but even the best laid plans sometimes go awry.
So all this is great for democrats, right? Actually no, it is just the opposite. Now, Michelle Nunn, the Georgia democratic senate candidate, is going to have to run against someone with a functioning brain. Hey, if you were her wouldn't you prefer an opponent who is such a repulsive clown that 5,000 of his constituents voted for a dead guy rather than him? And let's face it, Claire McCaskill might not be in the senate today if Missouri republicans had picked someone other than a degenerate misogynist to run against her.
Apparently it has dawned on more than a few republican voters that if they want to win state wide general elections and the big white house on Pennsylvania Ave. they are going to have to walk away from the lunatic edge of their party.
Does it mean we're rid of Cruz? No, but his influence among senate republicans is in the midst of taking a major league hit and some of those good ol' boys he has ignored and dissed might want a little payback. Indeed, enjoy your new appointment, Senator--that one on the Senate Select Sub Committee on the Cultural Influences of Ancient Astronauts. Unfortunately, the down side of all this means it just became tougher for democrats to hold onto the senate.
Stay tuned. This fall will be a close thing for everyone involved. All the evidence indicates the GOP has wised up.
5-21-14
The GOP senate primary in Georgia alone contained three tea party hacks currently sitting in the U.S. House of Representatives. Our old pal Paul Broun was in the race. He is the distinguished statesman who claimed Barack Obama wanted to establish a civilian national service corps for the sole purpose of creating a Marxist dictatorship. In addition he once addressed a southern baptist church, telling them embryology, evolution, and the big bang theory were all lies, "straight from the pit of hell." He also threw in his conviction the world was created in six days, "as we know them." He won re-election two years ago, but his views inspired over 5,000 voters in his district to cast write in ballots for Charles Darwin.
Along with him was Congressman, Phil Gingrey who, a couple of years ago, said Todd Aiken was, "partly right." That was after, Aiken, a republican candidate for the senate in Missouri, told an interviewer women don't become pregnant after being raped because their bodies have, "a way of shutting that down."
Last night both men became abject losers thanks to the republican voters of Georgia. David Perdue came in first, although he couldn't avoid a runoff. Perdue is a former CEO of Dollar General Stores and has never held a political office. His campaign web site brags that during his tenure at the retail chain, he personally created, "thousands of quality jobs." It is unclear if the rank and file employees of a business which is essentially a chain of mini Wal-Marts would agree, but the issue is neither here, nor there at the moment.
Perdue's opponent in the runoff will be Congressman, Jack Kingston. His main claim to fame is his desire to force children from low income families, who participate in the federal school lunch program, to sweep the cafeteria floors where they eat. According to him, such an arrangement would teach the little loafers, "a work ethic and that there is no such thing as a free lunch."
Meanwhile in Oregon, Monica Wehby won the republican nod for the senate. Her closest competitor was state representative, Jason Conger. Wehby got herself on the tea party hit list because of her stated opinion that abortion is, "a personal decision between a woman and her family." She is a pediatric neurosurgeon by trade and, like, Perdue a new comer to politics.
In Kentucky Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell kicked Matt Bevin's ass. Bevin ran as a "true conservative." That would be in opposition to McConnell's alleged, yet, unfathomable, sub rosa political love affair with Barack H. Obama..
So, are we seeing a pattern here? Perhaps. Last month in Texas a tea party hot dog was beaten like a gong by incumbent Senator John Cornyn. There was also a right fringe set back in North Carolina.
Yes, Ted Cruz and outfits like Club for Growth might feel the sand shifting beneath their feet at this point. Cruz didn't publicly support any of these vicious rubes, but notably he refused to endorse either McConnell or Cornyn before the votes were counted. One could almost see the wheels turning in his head.
McConnell and Cornyn don't get it. I'm the new face and soul of the republican party. If those two old farts are out of the way I'll be King of the Senate and on my way to the convention.
Ah, but even the best laid plans sometimes go awry.
So all this is great for democrats, right? Actually no, it is just the opposite. Now, Michelle Nunn, the Georgia democratic senate candidate, is going to have to run against someone with a functioning brain. Hey, if you were her wouldn't you prefer an opponent who is such a repulsive clown that 5,000 of his constituents voted for a dead guy rather than him? And let's face it, Claire McCaskill might not be in the senate today if Missouri republicans had picked someone other than a degenerate misogynist to run against her.
Apparently it has dawned on more than a few republican voters that if they want to win state wide general elections and the big white house on Pennsylvania Ave. they are going to have to walk away from the lunatic edge of their party.
Does it mean we're rid of Cruz? No, but his influence among senate republicans is in the midst of taking a major league hit and some of those good ol' boys he has ignored and dissed might want a little payback. Indeed, enjoy your new appointment, Senator--that one on the Senate Select Sub Committee on the Cultural Influences of Ancient Astronauts. Unfortunately, the down side of all this means it just became tougher for democrats to hold onto the senate.
Stay tuned. This fall will be a close thing for everyone involved. All the evidence indicates the GOP has wised up.
5-21-14
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Viva "Moms Demand Action" and Viva Chipotle Mexican Grill
Here is to a bunch called, "Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America." Over the weekend they asked the Chipotle Mexican Grill chain to forbid firearms in their restaurants.
They didn't get an outright ban, however the Denver based corporation did issue a statement today which will touch a nerve. The company officially requested that all the Rambo wannabes out there leave their guns either at home, or in their cars before coming in for some frijoles.
According to Forbes the "Moms Demand Action" group was founded shortly after the Newtown, CT mass shooting. It is now being financed, at least in part, by Michael Bloomberg's $50 million investment in public safety which is meant to fight the NRA and their equally demented kin.
The Moms decided enough was enough this weekend because a rootin' tootin' gang calling itself, "Texas Open Carry," showed up at a Dallas area Chipotle's. They were armed to the teeth with semi automatic assault style weapons--which as we all know make those burritos just that much tastier.
The corporate statement, in part, read, "The display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating, or uncomfortable for many of our customers."
Oh, you think?
Yes, there is nothing quite so relaxing as taking the kiddies into a place for tacos, then after the order arrives watching the entire business fill up with an unknown bunch of camo outfitted yahoos who have weapons which would make Boko, fucking, Haram envious.
A spokesperson for "Texas Open Carry" claimed his people weren't demonstrating, or otherwise attempting to make a point. He said they simply showed up for a meal after a group, "event." You bet, this grotesque display of machismo was just a merry mix up.
A "Moms Demand Action" spokesperson called Chipotle's statement "bold" and compared it to the open letter written by Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks coffee shops. In it Schultz wrote, "Pro gun activists have used our stores as a political stage for media events.....To be clear: we do not want these events in our stores." He went on to "respectively ask," NRA types not come onto any Starbucks' property while they're carrying a firearm, either concealed, or otherwise. In other words, if you're strapped, go to a Dunkin' Donuts.
Starbucks took their position in September of last year after some hot shot gun lovers wanted to conduct a well armed righ wing political coffee klatch at a store in the aforementioned Newtown, CT. You know--the place where 20 babies and 6 educators were murdered by Adam Lanza a mere 10 months before their scheduled get together.
It is unclear at this time if the group involved paid members of the Westboro Baptist Church a consulting fee for their brilliant and sensitive idea, but it certainly sounds like it came straight out of Fred Phelps' vile playbook. To his credit, Howard Schultz ordered the store to close temporarily rather than permit it.
The reason Mr. Schultz and ultimately Chipotle's "respectively asked" these goofs to leave the hardware at home, rather than banning all guns outright, is no doubt, inspired by the legal departments of both companies. To paraphrase a bit, Schultz said he's, "not comfortable" asking an employee to kick a bunch of gun totin' loons out of a store. Well, who can blame him? You can just imagine the law suits flying his way when a minimum wage barista gets riddled with bullets by some outraged Ted Nugent posse after he, or she orders them off the premises.
Don't think it wouldn't happen either. People who feel compelled to bring a Bushmaster .223 into a restaurant are the very definition of nuts.
You don't win many when you're up against the gun lobby and as we've found, in this country anyway, you'll never win big.
So, in the end, you take the small victories and run with them.
Today, at last, we got one of those.
Viva "Moms Demand Action" and Viva Chipotle's
5-20-14
They didn't get an outright ban, however the Denver based corporation did issue a statement today which will touch a nerve. The company officially requested that all the Rambo wannabes out there leave their guns either at home, or in their cars before coming in for some frijoles.
According to Forbes the "Moms Demand Action" group was founded shortly after the Newtown, CT mass shooting. It is now being financed, at least in part, by Michael Bloomberg's $50 million investment in public safety which is meant to fight the NRA and their equally demented kin.
The Moms decided enough was enough this weekend because a rootin' tootin' gang calling itself, "Texas Open Carry," showed up at a Dallas area Chipotle's. They were armed to the teeth with semi automatic assault style weapons--which as we all know make those burritos just that much tastier.
The corporate statement, in part, read, "The display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating, or uncomfortable for many of our customers."
Oh, you think?
Yes, there is nothing quite so relaxing as taking the kiddies into a place for tacos, then after the order arrives watching the entire business fill up with an unknown bunch of camo outfitted yahoos who have weapons which would make Boko, fucking, Haram envious.
A spokesperson for "Texas Open Carry" claimed his people weren't demonstrating, or otherwise attempting to make a point. He said they simply showed up for a meal after a group, "event." You bet, this grotesque display of machismo was just a merry mix up.
A "Moms Demand Action" spokesperson called Chipotle's statement "bold" and compared it to the open letter written by Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks coffee shops. In it Schultz wrote, "Pro gun activists have used our stores as a political stage for media events.....To be clear: we do not want these events in our stores." He went on to "respectively ask," NRA types not come onto any Starbucks' property while they're carrying a firearm, either concealed, or otherwise. In other words, if you're strapped, go to a Dunkin' Donuts.
Starbucks took their position in September of last year after some hot shot gun lovers wanted to conduct a well armed righ wing political coffee klatch at a store in the aforementioned Newtown, CT. You know--the place where 20 babies and 6 educators were murdered by Adam Lanza a mere 10 months before their scheduled get together.
It is unclear at this time if the group involved paid members of the Westboro Baptist Church a consulting fee for their brilliant and sensitive idea, but it certainly sounds like it came straight out of Fred Phelps' vile playbook. To his credit, Howard Schultz ordered the store to close temporarily rather than permit it.
The reason Mr. Schultz and ultimately Chipotle's "respectively asked" these goofs to leave the hardware at home, rather than banning all guns outright, is no doubt, inspired by the legal departments of both companies. To paraphrase a bit, Schultz said he's, "not comfortable" asking an employee to kick a bunch of gun totin' loons out of a store. Well, who can blame him? You can just imagine the law suits flying his way when a minimum wage barista gets riddled with bullets by some outraged Ted Nugent posse after he, or she orders them off the premises.
Don't think it wouldn't happen either. People who feel compelled to bring a Bushmaster .223 into a restaurant are the very definition of nuts.
You don't win many when you're up against the gun lobby and as we've found, in this country anyway, you'll never win big.
So, in the end, you take the small victories and run with them.
Today, at last, we got one of those.
Viva "Moms Demand Action" and Viva Chipotle's
5-20-14
Friday, May 16, 2014
Racists Come Swarming Out of the Dark Recesses
They're swarming out of the dark recesses now. They were tucked away for the longest time and we only caught brief shadowy glimpses of them. Despite hints to the otherwise some naive souls went so far as to claim they'd gone extinct, but now we know. The ugly fuckers are everywhere.
The hard truth is this president hasn't accomplished a lot in six plus years. Oh sure, there is the Affordable Care Act and a gutsy call when it came to nailing bin Laden, but for the most part he has been stymied at every turn. Some of it is his fault while much of it has been because of a virulent opposition the likes of which hasn't been seen since the Andrew Johnson administration in the late 1860's. However, thanks to Barack Hussein Obama's tenure in the White House there is no longer a shred of doubt the cancer of racism is alive and thriving in the United States of America.
The latest evidence of it started a little while ago with Cliven Bundy. He is the Nevada rancher who became a cause celebre when he and his pals faced off against Bureau of Land Management personnel. People like Sean Hannity flocked to his side, portraying him as some sort of every man hero fighting the big bad federal government. He was called a patriot by Nevada Senator, Dean Heller and was being cheered on by presidential hopeful, Rand Paul.
Then, in a moment of perfect clarity, he told the New York Times what he knew about, "the negro." It was a screed so demented and foul, Hannity, Heller, and Paul couldn't dig holes deep enough to escape the fall out. Even worse than his original comments about African Americans not knowing how to pick cotton any more and being better off as slaves, was Bundy's astonishment that people were actually pissed off at him because of what he believed.
Then came Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise. None of us should have been surprised. The guy has been in and out of courts for close to a decade because he's been practicing systematic housing discrimination not seen since the early 1960's. But, when everyone actually heard him on the tape telling his girl friend/companion he didn't want her to be seen with black men and he didn't want black people in attendance at Clipper games, it was a stunning and gut wrenching revelation.
He went on CNN to apologize and in an astonishing, surreal, performance ol' Don managed to sound, at best, completely unhinged. The head coach of the Clippers, Doc Rivers put it best when he said, "It didn't sound much like of an apology to me."
Now CNN is reporting Sterling's lawyer has sent the NBA Commissioner a letter which in part says, "We reject your demand for payment." That would be in reference to the $2.5 million fine which was levied against him. In addition Sterling is threatening to sue the NBA if it enforces the life time ban on him and sells the club without his permission. In short, Donald Sterling doesn't think he has done anything wrong.
Today, MSN is reporting a citizen of Wolfboro, NH wrote a note to the town manager accusing one of the three city police commissioners of calling President Obama the "N" word. 82 year old Robert Copeland went right up front with that accusation. He sent an email to the other two commissioners and copied the woman who had complained. It said, "I believe I did use the "N" word in reference to the current occupant of the White House. For this I do not apologize--he meets and exceeds my criteria for such." He didn't mention what his "criteria" was, although one can hazard a guess.
At a town meeting the other night more than a few people called for Copeland's resignation. One of his defenders claimed, "All the man did was express his displeasure with the man who is in office."
Right.
There you have it. Racism is nothing, but freedom of expression. If you don't want to rent to people of a different color, if you don't want them at your basketball games, that is your business and not anyone else's. You can call someone whatever grotesque name you want and there will be absolutely no consequences.
The next logical step in this horrific bullshit will be some vile ferret like Bob Copeland putting up a sign in his restaurant window which says, "White People Only." You can almost hear the excuse now, "Hey, segregation is just an outward manifestation of my opinion. There shouldn't be a law against it."
Ladies and gentlemen, this society is one sick puppy. Don't let anyone tell you differently.
If there are any questions I'll be in the bar.
5-16-14
The hard truth is this president hasn't accomplished a lot in six plus years. Oh sure, there is the Affordable Care Act and a gutsy call when it came to nailing bin Laden, but for the most part he has been stymied at every turn. Some of it is his fault while much of it has been because of a virulent opposition the likes of which hasn't been seen since the Andrew Johnson administration in the late 1860's. However, thanks to Barack Hussein Obama's tenure in the White House there is no longer a shred of doubt the cancer of racism is alive and thriving in the United States of America.
The latest evidence of it started a little while ago with Cliven Bundy. He is the Nevada rancher who became a cause celebre when he and his pals faced off against Bureau of Land Management personnel. People like Sean Hannity flocked to his side, portraying him as some sort of every man hero fighting the big bad federal government. He was called a patriot by Nevada Senator, Dean Heller and was being cheered on by presidential hopeful, Rand Paul.
Then, in a moment of perfect clarity, he told the New York Times what he knew about, "the negro." It was a screed so demented and foul, Hannity, Heller, and Paul couldn't dig holes deep enough to escape the fall out. Even worse than his original comments about African Americans not knowing how to pick cotton any more and being better off as slaves, was Bundy's astonishment that people were actually pissed off at him because of what he believed.
Then came Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise. None of us should have been surprised. The guy has been in and out of courts for close to a decade because he's been practicing systematic housing discrimination not seen since the early 1960's. But, when everyone actually heard him on the tape telling his girl friend/companion he didn't want her to be seen with black men and he didn't want black people in attendance at Clipper games, it was a stunning and gut wrenching revelation.
He went on CNN to apologize and in an astonishing, surreal, performance ol' Don managed to sound, at best, completely unhinged. The head coach of the Clippers, Doc Rivers put it best when he said, "It didn't sound much like of an apology to me."
Now CNN is reporting Sterling's lawyer has sent the NBA Commissioner a letter which in part says, "We reject your demand for payment." That would be in reference to the $2.5 million fine which was levied against him. In addition Sterling is threatening to sue the NBA if it enforces the life time ban on him and sells the club without his permission. In short, Donald Sterling doesn't think he has done anything wrong.
Today, MSN is reporting a citizen of Wolfboro, NH wrote a note to the town manager accusing one of the three city police commissioners of calling President Obama the "N" word. 82 year old Robert Copeland went right up front with that accusation. He sent an email to the other two commissioners and copied the woman who had complained. It said, "I believe I did use the "N" word in reference to the current occupant of the White House. For this I do not apologize--he meets and exceeds my criteria for such." He didn't mention what his "criteria" was, although one can hazard a guess.
At a town meeting the other night more than a few people called for Copeland's resignation. One of his defenders claimed, "All the man did was express his displeasure with the man who is in office."
Right.
There you have it. Racism is nothing, but freedom of expression. If you don't want to rent to people of a different color, if you don't want them at your basketball games, that is your business and not anyone else's. You can call someone whatever grotesque name you want and there will be absolutely no consequences.
The next logical step in this horrific bullshit will be some vile ferret like Bob Copeland putting up a sign in his restaurant window which says, "White People Only." You can almost hear the excuse now, "Hey, segregation is just an outward manifestation of my opinion. There shouldn't be a law against it."
Ladies and gentlemen, this society is one sick puppy. Don't let anyone tell you differently.
If there are any questions I'll be in the bar.
5-16-14
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