OK, Watching the memorial day event with the President is making me sick! Listening to General Peter Pace, and Donald Rumsfeld heap praise on Bush on this day is like thanking the man who is responsible for thousands of deaths. Bush is anathema to what good leadership is. He is the antithesis to responsible stewardship of our military. He speaks of how America goes to war reluctantly even in the face of his own lies and deception that brought us to war in Iraq. To those that have lost their lives, I thank you. To George Bush, fuck you!

I found another cool band. They are called WolfMother... yea I know sounds totaly hair band. But wait till you hear them. I have a link to their video for Woman here. They sound like the big sound trios of yesterday. Check out the video, I hope you like them. They will be opening for Pearl Jam in Europe. You can also listen to some other their music here.

The job of the United States Attorney General is to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the President of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments. However. It seems the Bush administration seems to use the position more as Mob Enforcer/ Attorney. Alberto Gonzales is simply a tool that rubber stamps and finds justification for everything and anything the Bush administration want to do. While these activities are bad, Gonzales has also it seems aided and abetted in what may be criminal activity on the part of the Whitehouse. When Whitehouse emails were requested for review by the special prosecutor investigating the Plame incident, Attorney General Gonzales waited 24 hours to take action, giving the Whitehouse time to lose requested emails. This AG is more concerned with going after reporters who reveal Bush misdoings, than he does going after people in the Whitehouse and Congress that committed the crimes being reported. He acts more like Bush's enforcer than a protector of the American people. So is Alberto Gonzales really just a short Paulie Walnuts?

It astounds me that so many of my left leaning friends online are so inclined to give people free access across our borders. How they would grant citizenship to someone just because they were sneaky enough to get here. That they make a whole host of excuses why we should just look the other way. Well, aside from the facts they drive down wages for low skilled Americans, get free medical care on the backs of all ready stretched hospital budgets, and demand citizenship ahead of those that have spent years going through the legal process, there is the question of crime. Not such a big deal perhaps for someone living in say Minnesota or Pennsylvania, but for those of us in southern states it is a big deal. According to the LA Times:

• 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
• 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.
• Nearly 25% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.

But numbers such as these are hard to come by. You see in many places jailing and deporting people based on immigration status is against the rules. We can't even keep records of the status of those arrested. Well anyhow, before you go pulling your hair out because you just want to to give these "undocumented immigrants" a big hug, I want you to read this piece by Heather Mac Donald.

Spoilers in Comments

In a largely symbolic move the US Senate voted for an amendment making the English the “common and unifying language. Senator Harry Reid said "This amendment is racist. I think it's directed basically to people who speak Spanish,". Here are the facts. Mexico has an official language, only 8% of nations do not have an official language, and 31 nations have English as their official language. Being able to legislate and govern using one language is hugely beneficial. If you agree with the pandering, disingenuous view of Senator Reid, then go to US English inc, and educate yourself.

Recent research indicates that certain monkeys may be using rudimentary sentences to communicate with each other. This ability was previously only attributed to humans. Aside from the usual sounds that communicate simple ideas such as danger, the Putty Nose Monkey assembles simple sounds to create syntax.

Dr. Kate Arnold added: “The implications are that primates, at least, may be able to ignore the usual relationship between an individual call and any meaning that it might convey under certain circumstances.”
Dr Zuberbühler said: “To our knowledge, this is the first good evidence of a syntax-like natural communication system in a non-human species.”

These new finding speak volumes to the shared abilities of most primates and of the evolutionary possess. An article in todays Nature, describes the actually split between man and Chimpanzee came much later than originally thought, and how the genetics testing confirms cross breeding between the two emerging species for some time. This validates of my strong urges to fling poo. In other related news. The human genome sequencing project has been fully completed.

The winner of this contest will receive absolutely nothing but the admiration of a few weird people.

I took this pic today. I couldnt resist capturing this ladybug as she explored my Sunflower. I used a digital Nikon camera in macro mode.

The NSA, with increased budget and gravitas in the scheme of national security has developed the NetSuit, a nanotech suit that uses hologram technology to actually transport surveillance technicians into the internet. While inside, these brave NSA operatives are able to eavesdrop on Al qaeda communications, and American porn surfing activities. Mr. Rove asked if he could borrow the suit for a short time. He wants to see if Jeff Gannon is cheating on him.

Nice camel toe Carl

Spoilers in comments.

Karl Rove has been indicted on charges of perjury, and lying to investigators. Friday Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald spent much of the day at the offices of Rove's attorney. All I can say is, "NICE JOB FITZ!".
Read all the gory details here thanks to Jason Leopold and Truthout.

Dear B. Shilliday,

Thank you for contacting the Verizon eCenter, where we value you as a Verizon Encore customer. My name is Jana, and I will be handling your request today.

This message is in response to your email dated May 11, 2006 regarding your objection to Verizon providing information to our government about your account.

We appreciate that the USA Today article and other reports about the possibility that the NSA is able to analyze local call data records is causing concern. Please be assured that Verizon places the highest value on protecting the privacy of our customers.

Anything to do with the NSA is of course highly classified, so we can not comment on whether or not the news article causing concern is even accurate. But we can say that, to the extent that we cooperate with government authorities, we are confident that we are complying with all applicable statutes. We appreciate the continuing opportunity to provide you with service.

Thank you for using Verizon. We appreciate your business.

Sincerely,
Jana
Verizon eCenter

I'll take Bird Flu anyday over the disease that has cropped up in Texas. It's called Morgellons Disease, and it is nasty. As Debororah knapp of KENS 5 Eyewitness News Reports:

"These people will have like beads of sweat but it's black, black and tarry," said Ginger Savely, a nurse practioner in Austin who treats a majority of these patients. Patients get lesions that never heal. "Sometimes little black specks that come out of the lesions and sometimes little fibers," said Stephanie Bailey, Morgellons patient. Patients say that's the worst symptom — strange fibers that pop out of your skin in different colors. "He'd have attacks and fibers would come out of his hands and fingers, white, black and sometimes red. Very, very painful," "It looked like a piece of spaghetti was sticking out about a quarter to an eighth of an inch long and it was sticking out of his chest," Lisa Wilson said. "I tried to pull it as hard as I could out and I could not pull it out." Stephanie Bailey developed the lesions four-and-a-half years ago. "The lesions come up, and then these fuzzy things like spores come out," she said. She also has the crawling sensation.

Over 100 cases are documented in the US most in Texas California and Florida. However all 50 states have victims. The image right is a flouresent picture of a fiber mass extracted from a boys lip.

This guy is great. He does sidewalk art with chalk. fabulous stuff! Check out his whole gallery. I'm not sure what his name is, so his credit will have to be anonimous. The pics are posted at Tagworld, kind of like Myspace but whith more options for musicians and artists. I have a site there as well where I post my art, and the occasional rant.

Like Napoleon Dynamite my favorite animal was a Liger, a breeding of a Tiger and a Lion. But I have now changed my mind. My new favorite animal is now a cross between a Polar bear and a Grizzly bear. I shall call it a Pizzly. Please read about this amazing find here.

What if, in national elections, every vote counted? What if the person who got the most votes won the election? Right now in many states there is a movement for the National Popular Vote ( NPV) Some states have already passed supportive legislation. The electoral college is perhaps past due to be scrapped. It was conceived to give the first thirteen states parity when it came to electing the President of the fledgling country. But here we stand with 50 states and a population of nearly 300 million and a President has been elected with the fewest actual votes. (with a little help from a sympathetic Supreme Court) The New York Times says of the NPV, “"innovative new proposal ... Legislatures across the country should get behind it" . Tom Campbell A California Republican candidate said “The ingenious approach... for the first time, a solution that is achievable. It does not rely on unrealistic assumptions. It can be implemented, if the very people who are relatively disenfranchised in our country will only be awakened to how to do it.” . This approach I believe would empower third parties to stand a better chance of holding offices. Party national conventions will be changed radically. No more silly ass delegates parading around in goofy hats and sporting clever Band Aids. Candidates will actually have to address people. So what do you think? Is it time for change?
Read More Here.

My Dad is a retired senior citizen who was led kicking and screaming to the intenet. Now that he's there, he sends out scores of emails everyday with jokes and funny pictures he's found. Some are worthy of posting. :)

Didn't Benjamin Franklin say something to the effect that "Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy."

The report card is in, and the United States is now near the bottom in another category... Newborn deaths. Say yes to the goodness that is private medicine, capitalism and the American way. The study directly links the health of women and prenatal care to the percentage of babies that die in the first three months of life. Many die in the first 24 hours. So what is up with us? Why are babies dieing in the wealthiest country in the world? The answer is greed. Loathsome, malevolent, evil greed. You see it's about caring for women as much as caring for babies. More specifically than this is the care of poor women. With poverty growing in this country at alarming rates women without access to prenatal care and education are falling through the cracks They end up in emergency rooms for deliveries, after having a pregnancy that may have included poor nutrition, substance abuse, health problems and other deficits that women with health insurance have addressed during or before the pregnancy. The women in nearly every other Western or industrial nation have health care provided by their government. Governments that don't put corporate profits before people. Japan for instance has one of the lowest rates of infant mortality, they give prenatal care to all mothers to be. Where is the religious right on this issue? Where are these hypocrites after the children are born. This nation has become an embarrassment on so many levels. But to fail so dismally when it comes to caring for our mothers and children... it's utterly shameful.

So, once again my Republican US Congressman Mike Bilirakis has replied to one of my many letters to him. This one was about the topic of Net Neutrality, a topic his committee has jurisdiction over. If your unfamiliar with net Neutrality it has to do with letting large companies run their portions of the Internet pretty much as they wish. Think of it like this: What if Ford Motor Company bought a large highway near you. Then they posted the speed limit at 55 miles per hour.... unless you we're driving a Ford, then you could go 75 miles an hour. Crazy huh? So what we get is that web sites that pay the most get the fastest bandwidth, websites with small budgets, say.. your local library.. would load at a snails pace. The companies that run the hubs and backbones will write their own rules, and the consumer will be hurt. In his reply to me, Congressman Bilirakis said,” Today, there is consensus that the current statutory framework is not effective in the current market environment, but there is not consensus on how to modify it.” What bullshit! Who has consensus? The telcos like AT&T? ComCast? Who is paying this guy to say this crap? If we do this, the Internet may become as stagnate and generic as every mall in America.. The same stores in every one. The rent for the little guys will be to high. This is important stuff folks. I suggest you let your thoughts be know to the people who make the laws.

Spoilers in Comments.

Once upon a time American armed forces protected us. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, we were able to retaliate with force. When Adolf Hitler conquered Europe and threatened to bring his Fascist state to the whole world, we sent our troops to fight him. Many heroes were forged in World War 2 , and many died for a truly noble cause. Are these soldiers to be remembered for what they did, or because they simply served at the bequest of the Commander and Chief? Were the parents of the dead comforted by the fact they died fighting a noble cause? I think they were. I think that they sacrificed their lives for something more important than themselves. A cause that was evident, just and truly in defense of this country. They knew what they were fighting for right from the start.

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers have a new double album, and I have to say these guys are as good as ever. I know, I've seen them a few times, the first being at the Nectarine ballroom in Ann Arrbor in the 80's with about 300 people. I just caught them on Saterday Night Live, doing a song called Dani California... man, when they do the refrain I got a jam chill. know what I mean? Check out the vid now.

See the Dani California video here.

In an effort to further screw up the education system in Florida, legislators are pushing for a bill that will require High School student to declare a major, much like college students do. They cite the need for student to more seriously consider their future as one of the main reasons for the move. How many kids will pick majors that require college educations they can't afford? Studies indicate that a four year college is becoming the training ground for children of the well off. Will the state make college cheaper to accommodate these mandated dreams? I'm sure some high school kids know what they want to do, but as most adults realize, it is rarely what we end up doing. Especially in these days of job outsourcing, corporate downsizing, and an ever changing job environment. How about if we just concentrate on making kids proficient in reading, math, science, and life skills. Skills like balancing a check book, and understanding the principles of compound interest and minimum payments. Colleges are complaining that they are getting students that don't understand fundamental mathematic and scientific principles. To give give them incoming freshmen that have a career goal yet no better education than they had is ridiculous.

Republicans in Congress are trying to formulate a bill that will create an Inspector General to oversee federal courts in the US. Just what we need, further breakdown in the separation of our three branches of government. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg thinks it's a really scary idea. Maybe we should just dissolve the Congress and the court system and allow Bush to appoint an all new court. He could then just write his own constitution, finance his own wars, and determine what is legal and illegal. Read more here.

Teddy Gambordella can get his college paid for.... if he becomes a Republican as his Dad insists. So instead of converting and becoming a spineless, pandering, greedy, corporate money infused Bush cultist, young Teddy has started a website to solicit donations for his cause. Please, if you can spare a few bucks, help this kid keep his soul intact, and remain a Democrat. Teddy, keep the love for your Dad, through prayer and counseling he may yet be saved. See Teddy's page here.

Yea! We will blow up satellites with lasers! How cool! It's about time the Bushies spent some money on a project that really stirred the imagination. Read the story here.

I was just over at Born at the Crest of Empire, and saw Mike posted on something I hadn't been aware of. Today is the third anniversary of the day when a man who deserted his guard unit during Vietnam, stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier and declared “mission accomplished” to all the world. What a proud and historic moment that was. Only a little over 100 Americans had died, Chilabi was still our “go to” guy, and we still though Iraqi oil would pay for it all. What a bunch of idiots we were/are.

What? Unless we're a Native American, we're all Immigrants. To walk out of your job or school to protest just hurts your employer, your town, your country. It pisses off people who might have supported this cause, but now are put out because of these action. What are these people protesting? Are they all on the same page? Most want all illegals to be given American citizenship. Ahead of legal applicants. Taking jobs from low skilled Americans, many of them recent legal immigrants themselves. It's strange to me to see so many liberals support the corporate wishes to have low paid workers to exploit. Not only support it, but call people who oppose amnesty racists. Yes, I have been called a racist because I support legal immigration, higher wages, and the English language. People have emotionally argued with me saying that their family is a family of immigrants, and we should support the rights of those here illegally. What? That doesn't make sense to me. All our families are comprised of immigrants. So why should these be treated any differently? Oh, because if you don't, you hate Mexicans, or Latins in general. What a misinformed charge. Listen, I think we need many more immigrants than we are currently accepting for the green card program. The program needs to be expanded. The departments that oversee immigration needs to be expanded and fully funded. Legal immigration is good. Some of you that support amnesty of illegals live in areas that aren't impacted by illegal immigration. You don't see stories on the news everyday of crimes committed by members of MS13. (the Latin gang) You don't see the stories of people being in accidents involving unlicensed and uninsured illegal immigrants. Some people say that these low skilled workers pay for themselves. I think that's incorrect. I think that a low wage job does not benefit society in comparison to the amount of resources society spends on them. Things like free health care, schools, roads, and having all government documents printed in languages other than English all cost more money than these folk are contributing. In legal immigration we accept people who's skills are needed by the country. By not controlling our borders or employers we open up more problem situations than we solve. I'm for people, people here legally first and foremost.