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In Case You're Looking for a Reason to Vote This Year

Here are several hundred.
And bring a friend. In case you think one vote doesn't matter, think about Florida, 2000.

While you're at it, think about this:

Woo-Hoo! Bert's back!!

 
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced today that the national terror threat alert level had been lowered from "high" to "elevated."

For you visual types, that would be from "Orange" to "Yellow"
For us Muppets types, that would be from "Ernie" to "Bert"

That was then, this is now, Part Deaux

THEN
"I want to bring to your attention today [to] the potentially much more sinister nexus between Iraq and the al-Qaida terrorist network...al-Qaida affiliates based in Baghdad now coordinate the movement of people, money and supplies into and throughout Iraq for Saddam's network, and they have now been operating freely in [Baghdad]."
- Secretary of State Colin Powell, 2/5/03

NOW
"I have not seen smoking-gun, concrete evidence about the connection" between Iraq and al Qaida.
- Secretary of State Colin Powell, 1/9/04

What's next? Will Powell announce that he's a born-again Deanie?

Terror Alert Level: Unmitigated Hysteria

Flight Simulator enquiry raises terror alert
By Andrew Orlowski

A mother's enquiry about buying Microsoft Flight Simulator for her ten-year-old son prompted a night-time visit to her home from a state trooper.

Julie Olearcek, a USAF Reserve pilot made the enquiry at a Staples store in Salem, Massachusetts

So alarmed was the Staples clerk at the prospect of the ten year old learning to fly, that he informed the police, the Greenfield Recorder reports. The authorities moved into action, leaving nothing to chance. A few days later, Olearcek was alarmed to discover a state trooper using a flashlight to help look into to her home (through a sliding glass door) at 8:30 pm on a rainy night.

Olearcek is a regular Staples customer and schools her son at home. The Staples manager simply explained that staff were obeying advice. Shortly before Christmas, the FBI issued a terror alert to beware of drivers with maps, or reference books.

Maybe I shouldn't buy that almanac this year....

Headline: "Island Man Investigated for Possible Terrorist Links"
Sub-head: "Suspect Carries Maps in Truck, Reads Almanac at Home"
"Golden Retriever just an attempt to look innocuous," says neighbor. "But he was such a quiet guy. Always kept to himself. "
"Police find several computers and computer-related books in home. 'There are so many half-built computers and parts scattered around, he must be planning a bomb', trooper reveals."
"....And so close to a Navy Base. I'm glad they caught him in time."

How many US Troops have been killed and injured in the Iraq War?I'm betting that you're wrong. Way, way wrong.

The Figures Don't Lie, But Liars Figure.

NPR's Daniel Zwerdling reports on the number of wounded in Iraq. It's a number that is much higher than many think and also extremely difficult to come by. And of the close to 9,000 "wounded", few details are available concerning their injuries. Download a low-fi mp3 (5.2MB) or listen to the NPR archive (1GB+)

Is this just a commie-pinko-fag-junkie-left-wing-liberal-Ted Kennedy-kissing conspiracy to try to discredit our honest, hard-working, patriotic government? Maybe. But Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) found out that getting a real answer is hard to do. After weeks of research, Zwerdling and Hagel uncovered what is basically a wide-spread stonewalling effort.

Note: I first heard about this a few months ago, but no one seemed to be willing or able to put together the pieces of the puzzle. News cameras are never allowed to film or photograph the incoming caskets (OK, "transfer cases") at Dover AFB. Reporters and patients are carefully selected at Andrews AFB and at Walter Reed and other military hospitals. As a result, we get a very sanitized version of the dark side of the war news. Hmmmmm. Sound familiar? Ask any high school student who studied world literature or contemporary English literature.

Definition [for purposes of this discussion] - wounded (adj):
Injured or ill enough to require evacuation from Iraq.
If the soldier's wounds did not require evacuation from the country, then the soldier's injuries are not counted here. If a soldier's cough or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder did not require evacuation from the country, then the soldier's illness is not counted here. In other words, we're trying to count only the most serious casualties.

As of the date the report was filed (1st week of January 2004), the number of wounded was "over 8800". Add in the acknowledged combat deaths, and you're closing in on 10,000. Add in serious injuries that did not require evacuation... well, you get the idea.

Ask most people and you'll get a number far, far lower. That's not surprising. Consider this:

"There have been 589 confirmed coalition deaths, 497 Americans, 56 Britons, five Bulgarian, one Dane, 17 Italians, two Poles, eight Spaniards, two Thai and one Ukrainian, in the war as of January 8, 2004. The casualty list below reflects the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors whose families have been notified of their deaths. There also have been 2,815 Americans wounded in the war, according to the Pentagon. This list is updated regularly." -- CNN, 1/8/2004

Why is there such a discrepancy between the "official" numbers and the real numbers? If the Bush administration won't come clean, why won't the press dig harder?

I have a theory:
"A frog stuck in a well cannot know the ocean."
-- Japanese Proverb
"Some frogs are just more comfortable in the well; others want to be on the beach."
-- Damphyno©®


"What we're talking about is trust."
-- GW Bush, October 29, 2003

Sometimes when the room is still

Truth, with all its far out schemes, lets time decide what it should mean;
It's not the time but just the dreams that die.
And sometimes when the room is still, time with so much truth to kill,
Leaves you by the window sill so tied
Without a wing, to take you high, without a clue to tell you why.
-- Eric Anderson

Old? Need Help Paying for Rx Drugs? Too Bad, Geezers

BUSH ACTS TO REWARD COMPANIES WHO CUT OFF SENIORS' DRUG COVERAGE

Late last year, President Bush promised retirees that "if there's a Medicare reform bill signed by me, corporations have no intention to dump retirees [from their existing drug coverage]...What we're talking about is trust." The White House and its congressional allies backed up Bush's assertion by claiming the bill included a special tax subsidy to "encourage employers' to retain prescription-drug coverage" for their retirees' and not to cut them off.

But just three months after Bush's pledge, the Wall Street Journal now reports that the White House quietly added "a little-noticed provision" to the bill that allows companies to severely reduce - or almost completely terminate - their retirees' drug coverage "without losing out on the new subsidy." In other words,
1. the president did not just break his promise to sign a bill that prevents seniors from losing their existing drug coverage
2. he actually acted to reward companies who cut off their retirees with a lavish new tax break.

The provision was no mere oversight by the president. The major backers of the provision were Lucent Technologies, General Motors, Dow Chemical and SBC Communications - all major campaign contributors to the president. According to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, executives from those companies have donated almost $140,000 in hard money and $2.5 million in soft money to Bush and his party since 2000.

Lucent hard money contributions to Bush since 2000: $14,415 Lucent soft money contributions to RNC since 2000: $27,000

Dow hard money contributions to Bush since 2000: $23,200
Dow soft money contributions to RNC since 2000: $631,354

GM hard money contributions to Bush since 2000: $92,050
GM soft money contributions to RNC since 2000: $95,260

SBC hard money contributions to Bush since 2000: $9,450
SBC soft money contributions to RNC since 2000: $1,762,206

Like the man said, "What we're talking about is trust."

Sources:
1. "U.S. Drug Subsidy Benefits Employers", Wall Street Journal, 01/08/2004
2. President Calls on Congress to Complete Work on Medicare Bill
3. OpenSecrets.org Website (Your guide to the money in US Elections)

Article gleefully ripped off from The Daily MISLEAD

Know The Score

Health Tip

I Am Haunted by Waters

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters."
-- Norman MacLean, A River Runs Through It

John Galt rolls over in his grave

On July 16, 2002 Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan testified before the Senate Banking Committee. In his testimony he revealed that he has done a 180* reversal on basic economic philosophy.

Since the late 50s (or earlier) Greenspan has been a vocal advocate of laissez faire capitalism. His policies have always attempted to steer to US economy toward less regulation of business.

The shot heard 'round the world:
"My original view was that taking accounting standards and moving them out of the private sector was really utterly unnecessary, because my view was always that accountants basically knew or had to know that the market value of their companies rested on the integrity of their operations."

"Their self-interest is so strongly directed at making certain that their reputation was unimpeachable that regulation by government was utterly unnecessary and, indeed, most inappropriate."

"I was wrong."

To sum it up: Greenspan (finally) figured out that the tenets of unregulated capitalism are both wrong and destructive. Like Communism, it's a nice theory, but it relies on false assumptions about human behavior. And as all Communists eventually do he turned his back on something which is near and dear - but which is doomed to failure. Unlike too many people who have a gut-wrenching epiphany, Greenspan was public and contrite in his statement. Rock on, Alan!

Over the decades Greenspan was part of Ayn Rand's inner circle of would-be movers and shakers - a group determined to undermine the government oversight of business. Their success was remarkable in that The Randists have been a significant factor in the deregulation trends of the past two decades.

Now that their most influential advocate has seen the folly of unimpeded business avarice, which laissez faire icons will be the next to fall?

Who is John Galt? Note: including this link does not imply endorsement of the activities or philosophy of the referenced web site and its publishers and/or readers. Nor does it imply endorsement of the use of trademarks and copyrights owned by the Ayn Rand estate. I doubt that these folks have the permission to use said restricted items.

You Really Got Me (OK, you got HIM)

Kinks' Ray Davies shot while thwarting robbery attempt

Jan. 5, 2004 | NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Singer-songwriter Ray Davies of the Kinks was shot in the leg while chasing thieves who snatched a purse from a woman he was with, police said Monday. He was not seriously injured.

Police said Davies, 59, and the woman were walking along the Quarter's Burgundy Street around 8:30 p.m. Sunday when the theft and shooting happened.

Davies was treated and released at a hospital, Capt. Marlon Defillo, a police spokesman, said. One suspect was captured within hours of the shooting and another was being sought.

The Kinks, part of the 1960s British invasion, had a string of hits including "You Really Got Me," "Sunny Afternoon," "All Day and All of the Night" and "Lola." Davies founded the band, known for its hard-edged, guitar-driven sound and witty lyrics, with his brother Dave.

Wisdom

A frog stuck in a well cannot know the ocean.
- Japanese Proverb

The three most common elements in the universe are
hydrogen, stupidity, and short hoses. Please stand closer.
- me

Deja moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
- anon

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
- anon

Mark your calendars

Jan. 4: National Joygerm Day, celebrating people who are "delighted, ignited and excited"
Jan. 12: National Clean-Off-Your-Desk Day, to make room for a new year's paperwork
Jan. 18-24: Hunt for Happiness Week (www.sohp.com)
Feb. 12: Darwin Day (www.darwinday.org)
Feb. 23: Curling is Cool Day (www.wellcat.com)
March 8: Uppity Women Day (www.uppitywomenrule.com)
March 18: Awkward Moments Day (www.theshowworks.com)
March 20: National Quilting Day (www.NQAQuilts.org)
April 1-30: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (www.tulipfestival.org)
April 2: Reconciliation Day (thanks to Ann Landers)
April 5: National Workplace Napping Day (www.napping.com)
April 12-18: Egg Salad Week (www.aeb.org)
May 16-22: National Dog Bite Prevention Week
May 23: World Turtle Day (www.tortoise.com)
June 4: Hug Your Cat Day (www.apricat.com)
June 19: World Juggling Day (www.juggle.org/wjd)
July 1: I Forgot Day, time to make up for all the events forgotten in the first half of the year
July 13: Embrace Your Geekness Day (www.wellcat.com)
July 25: National Parents' Day, proclaimed by federal law (www.parentsday.com)
Aug. 1: Sisters' Day (sistersday@aol.com)
Aug. 7: National Mustard Day (www.mustardmuseum.com)
Aug. 12: Vinyl Record Day (www.VinylRecordDay.com)
Sept. 5: Be Late For Something Day (www.geocities.com/procrastinators_club_of_america)
Sept. 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day (www.talklikeapirate.com)
Sept. 19-25: Balance Awareness Week. (www.vestibular.org)
Oct. 2: World Farm Animals Day (www.wfad.org)
Oct. 11: National Kick-Butt Day (www.springboardtraining.com)
Oct. 17-23: National School Bus Safety Week (www.napt.org)
Nov. 4: National Men Make Dinner Day (www.menmakedinnerday.com)
Nov. 6: International End Gossip Day (www.EndGossip.com)
Nov. 21: World Hello Day (www.worldhelloday.org)
Dec. 10: Human Rights Day (by U.N. and presidential proclamation)
Dec. 17: Underdog Day, to salute underdogs and unsung heroes

Source: "Chase's Calendar of Events 2004"