Fox Host to Be Named White House Spokesman
Anyone who claims that there is a liberal media bias is either stupid or a blatant liar. When a conservative pundit working for a large television network is hired by the most right-wing administration of the past 100 years, there is certainly no liberal bias. Of course, Fox has never hidden its conservative bias, but even CNN and MSNBC are now showing their conservative bent by hiring NeoCon commentators and refusing to fully cover stories that are damaging to the G.W. Bush Whitehouse. Just watch the Sunday news commentaries, and you will quickly learn which direction the major networks lean politically.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
AboveTheInfluencecom
AboveTheInfluence.com Thinks It Is Above The Truth
I just visited a site that on first glance looks like it is designed to help young people become self-assured individuals who are not affected by the social pressures to have sex, smoke, drink, abuse prescription drugs, or use marijuana. In fact, the site is primarily an anti-marijuana site. It has a section called “Mythbusters” that contains some questionable material of its own. For example, there are the following “myths”:
“Pot is harmless.”
“Marijuana cures cancer.”
“Everyone’s smoking pot.”
Ok, let’s address each of these.
I just visited a site that on first glance looks like it is designed to help young people become self-assured individuals who are not affected by the social pressures to have sex, smoke, drink, abuse prescription drugs, or use marijuana. In fact, the site is primarily an anti-marijuana site. It has a section called “Mythbusters” that contains some questionable material of its own. For example, there are the following “myths”:
“Pot is harmless.”
“Marijuana cures cancer.”
“Everyone’s smoking pot.”
Ok, let’s address each of these.
- “Pot is harmless.” Is there anyone who actually believes this? I don’t believe that this is a valid “myth.” I think just about everyone knows that if you inhale unfiltered plant smoke, there are going to be health risks. However, despite the site’s lies, there ARE benefits to smoking marijuana that very well might outweigh those risks.
- “Marijuana cures cancer.” What?? Again, I do not believe this is a valid “myth.” I have never heard any person or organization make this claim. In fact, the groups who are fighting to have marijuana legalized for terminally ill patients do not make this claim. The claim is, and I have witnessed the proof, that marijuana helps greatly reduce the negative effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. The benefits include the reduction of nausea and increase of appetite in these patients. There are also benefits for patients with chronic illnesses like MS, Crohn’s, epilepsy, spinal cord injury and migraine headaches by reducing muscle spasms, seizures and pain. Reduction of pressure within the eyes of glaucoma patients is another reported benefit. For more on the science behind medical marijuana use, please visit MedmjScience.org.
- “Everyone’s smoking pot.” This one is just ridiculous. Everyone knows that a minority of people are smoking pot. This just gives groups like the Office of National Drug Control Policy (the agency responsible for the “abovetheinfluence” site) a reason to spout statistics.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Cindy Sheehan: A Markerless Grave in Vacaville
Cindy Sheehan: A Markerless Grave in Vacaville
I strongly urge you to read this article by Ms. Sheehan. It is important if you have a cynical view of her campaign to end the war in Iraq. She continues to follow her heart dispite the voracious, interminable attacks by the warmongers of the current administration and the rest of the military/industrial complex. Here is a short excerpt from her article.
"I will tell the world why Casey has no marker yet. In the first place, does anyone who is attacking me know how Casey was brought home from Iraq? We picked him up in the United loading dock in a cardboard box and he was off-loaded into a hearse without one honor guard. We had to wait for about a half hour on a curb near the United freight area for his one escort, who rode from Dover Air Force Base in a seat, while Casey was treated as an over-sized piece of luggage. Has anybody held her other sobbing children who are sitting on a curb in San Francisco, waiting for the remains of their big brother to be carried over to the dock by a forklift?
Our so-called, illegitimate president has never attended a funeral, nor can families see the pictures of their loved ones as they are hauled like freight with flags on them from an immoral war zone. WE don't see them because Mama Bush doesn't want to 'bother her pretty mind' with the images. America doesn't want to be bothered, either. We had a Casualty Officer who abandoned us when our mortuary refused to pay the cemetery and told us that the 'government sent the money to the mortuary, so now it is your problem. You may have to sue the mortuary.' Our government discards and dishonors its own."
Does that make you proud to be an American? Knowing what little regard this administration has for the men and women dying to protect and increase their profits? Not me. I am disgusted with the outrageous actions of Bush and his gang.
I strongly urge you to read this article by Ms. Sheehan. It is important if you have a cynical view of her campaign to end the war in Iraq. She continues to follow her heart dispite the voracious, interminable attacks by the warmongers of the current administration and the rest of the military/industrial complex. Here is a short excerpt from her article.
"I will tell the world why Casey has no marker yet. In the first place, does anyone who is attacking me know how Casey was brought home from Iraq? We picked him up in the United loading dock in a cardboard box and he was off-loaded into a hearse without one honor guard. We had to wait for about a half hour on a curb near the United freight area for his one escort, who rode from Dover Air Force Base in a seat, while Casey was treated as an over-sized piece of luggage. Has anybody held her other sobbing children who are sitting on a curb in San Francisco, waiting for the remains of their big brother to be carried over to the dock by a forklift?
Our so-called, illegitimate president has never attended a funeral, nor can families see the pictures of their loved ones as they are hauled like freight with flags on them from an immoral war zone. WE don't see them because Mama Bush doesn't want to 'bother her pretty mind' with the images. America doesn't want to be bothered, either. We had a Casualty Officer who abandoned us when our mortuary refused to pay the cemetery and told us that the 'government sent the money to the mortuary, so now it is your problem. You may have to sue the mortuary.' Our government discards and dishonors its own."
Does that make you proud to be an American? Knowing what little regard this administration has for the men and women dying to protect and increase their profits? Not me. I am disgusted with the outrageous actions of Bush and his gang.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Feingold's Popularity Surges on Censure Stand
Feingold's Popularity Surges on Censure Stand
The RNC says in a recent ad, "Call Russ Feingold and ask him why he's more interested in censuring the president than protecting our freedom." The question should be, "Why is the president more interested in fighting a war that has nothing to do with terrorism than he is with protecting our freedoms?" Once again, the Rethugs are proving that they are more interested in controlling us than in obtaining the truth or protecting our liberties.
The RNC says in a recent ad, "Call Russ Feingold and ask him why he's more interested in censuring the president than protecting our freedom." The question should be, "Why is the president more interested in fighting a war that has nothing to do with terrorism than he is with protecting our freedoms?" Once again, the Rethugs are proving that they are more interested in controlling us than in obtaining the truth or protecting our liberties.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
The Actions of This Administration Could Bite Us All Very Hard
The Boomerang
A well thought and written piece by William Rivers Pitt of TruthOut.org, "The Boomerang" takes a profound and poignant look at why the UAE ports deal has become the focal point of Democrats and Republicans alike. I urge you to follow the link and read the article. Let me know if you can find any "holes" in the reasoning of the author. I found none.
A well thought and written piece by William Rivers Pitt of TruthOut.org, "The Boomerang" takes a profound and poignant look at why the UAE ports deal has become the focal point of Democrats and Republicans alike. I urge you to follow the link and read the article. Let me know if you can find any "holes" in the reasoning of the author. I found none.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Court Allows Government Fishing Expedition
Justice Department Rejects Google's Privacy Issues
We can all rest happily now that the Justice Department has decided that the government can request as much information from a company that it wishes, so far as the information is not personally identifying. Does the government need a search warrant? No. Does the government need to pay the company for the hours manpower it will take in compiling the information? No. Does the government need to explain in depth why they want or need the information? No. So, if you own a company, be prepared. You could be next on the government's fishing expedition list.
I believe that Google tried to defend this case from the wrong direction. Instead of "protecting customers' privacy" they should have taken the position the government was making an unlawful search and seizure. The request from government for information on a week's worth of searches without suspicion of any person or company being involved in unlawful activity certainly does not fall under the "reasonable doubt" area of searches and seizures. I equate this request by the government to a request for information on all the activity of families from a certain neighborhood for the period of one week. This would include any phone calls made and received, any mail sent and received, usage of the Internet, all movement into and out of the house, usage of vehicles, pictures taken, converstaions within the neighborhood, etc. Suspicion of crime committed? None. Persons suspected of criminal activity? None. This is just a random sweep to see if the government can find evidence that might imply illegal activity and therefore prove that there is a need for further searches - with or without a warrant. "1984" was a not fiction - it was a prediction. It is coming true.
We can all rest happily now that the Justice Department has decided that the government can request as much information from a company that it wishes, so far as the information is not personally identifying. Does the government need a search warrant? No. Does the government need to pay the company for the hours manpower it will take in compiling the information? No. Does the government need to explain in depth why they want or need the information? No. So, if you own a company, be prepared. You could be next on the government's fishing expedition list.
I believe that Google tried to defend this case from the wrong direction. Instead of "protecting customers' privacy" they should have taken the position the government was making an unlawful search and seizure. The request from government for information on a week's worth of searches without suspicion of any person or company being involved in unlawful activity certainly does not fall under the "reasonable doubt" area of searches and seizures. I equate this request by the government to a request for information on all the activity of families from a certain neighborhood for the period of one week. This would include any phone calls made and received, any mail sent and received, usage of the Internet, all movement into and out of the house, usage of vehicles, pictures taken, converstaions within the neighborhood, etc. Suspicion of crime committed? None. Persons suspected of criminal activity? None. This is just a random sweep to see if the government can find evidence that might imply illegal activity and therefore prove that there is a need for further searches - with or without a warrant. "1984" was a not fiction - it was a prediction. It is coming true.
Bush is a Thief - Not President
Florida Votes Time-Date-Stamped Two Weeks before Election
Voting machines are proving - just as many warned - that Bush stole the elections. He did not win them. How many citizens, reporters, Representatives, Senators, and law enforcement personnel will continue to sit on their hands dispite the appearance of this new evidence? If you care anything about our country and the freedoms we are afforded under the Constitution, please do not let this news pass quietly.
Voting machines are proving - just as many warned - that Bush stole the elections. He did not win them. How many citizens, reporters, Representatives, Senators, and law enforcement personnel will continue to sit on their hands dispite the appearance of this new evidence? If you care anything about our country and the freedoms we are afforded under the Constitution, please do not let this news pass quietly.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Is Kinkos/Fedex Plug-in Spyware?
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I just recently uninstalled what I thought would be a very useful plug-in for my Windows Office Suite (on Windows XP Pro - SP2). It is the Kinkos/Fedex Printer driver. However, after installing it, I had nothing but problems with the software, and so I called Fedex for help with it. The representative was very courteous and instructed me to uninstall the old version (1.0) and install the new version (2.0). I figured they had worked out some bugs, so I obliged. No go... after ridding the machine of the first version and installing the second, I had more problems. In fact, the the installer would not even finish the process. I called Fedex once more for help and was eventually told that I would have to manually remove the software by getting rid of the program files (very easy) and the registry entries (not so easy). I was told to do a search in the registry under the "local machine" entries for anything with "kinkos" in it. I found the entries and deleted them - over 30 of them. My question is this, why does a small plug-in program with one system dll file need over 30 registry entries? I have much larger, more complex programs on my computer that have only a few registry entries. My hope is that a "super geek" will investigate this and report on the purpose for all those entries. My advice on the plug-in? Skip it. Go to http://docstore.kinkos.com and save yourself the headache.
I just recently uninstalled what I thought would be a very useful plug-in for my Windows Office Suite (on Windows XP Pro - SP2). It is the Kinkos/Fedex Printer driver. However, after installing it, I had nothing but problems with the software, and so I called Fedex for help with it. The representative was very courteous and instructed me to uninstall the old version (1.0) and install the new version (2.0). I figured they had worked out some bugs, so I obliged. No go... after ridding the machine of the first version and installing the second, I had more problems. In fact, the the installer would not even finish the process. I called Fedex once more for help and was eventually told that I would have to manually remove the software by getting rid of the program files (very easy) and the registry entries (not so easy). I was told to do a search in the registry under the "local machine" entries for anything with "kinkos" in it. I found the entries and deleted them - over 30 of them. My question is this, why does a small plug-in program with one system dll file need over 30 registry entries? I have much larger, more complex programs on my computer that have only a few registry entries. My hope is that a "super geek" will investigate this and report on the purpose for all those entries. My advice on the plug-in? Skip it. Go to http://docstore.kinkos.com and save yourself the headache.
Monday, January 09, 2006
US Troops Seize Award-winning Iraqi Journalist
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What is Bush hiding now? Ordering troops to storm the home of an award-winning journalist to seize tapes that could be damaging to his administration hits a new height in the abuse of power by this president. Bush has committed more impeachable offenses than were even implied against Clinton, yet the U.S. Congress does NOTHING. Instead, our elected representatives disgrace us with their acceptance of bribes for votes. Say goodbye to self-governance and welcome the New World Order. This is the beginning of the end.
What is Bush hiding now? Ordering troops to storm the home of an award-winning journalist to seize tapes that could be damaging to his administration hits a new height in the abuse of power by this president. Bush has committed more impeachable offenses than were even implied against Clinton, yet the U.S. Congress does NOTHING. Instead, our elected representatives disgrace us with their acceptance of bribes for votes. Say goodbye to self-governance and welcome the New World Order. This is the beginning of the end.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
DianaKrall.com - The Official web site of Diana Krall
Although I am a musician and a lover of any music performed well, I have not (up to this point) done music critiques. I am not certain why I have decided to begin doing them now. Whatever the reason, I hope that others find my critiques helpful.
Where to begin... with my latest purchase, I think. Diana Krall - Christmas Songs. There have been many rave reviews of this album. Unfortunately, mine will not be another one. Being a fan of Ms. Krall, I truly wish I could write glowingly about the entire album, but there are only a couple of songs that shine in this collection. "Jingle Bells" is one of them. Ms. Krall seems to have a lot of fun with this song and the band certainly does make it swing right down to the guy shaking the bells. Her "scat" near the end of the song is very cool as the band seems to be in conversation with her. So, what is missing from most of the other songs? In "I'll Be Home For Christmas," Ms. Krall's smokey voice and gift for seducing every consonant come through. However, it feels like most notes are being cut short, almost as if the singer is out of breath. At some brief moments, her voice takes on a quality of someone who has sung too much heavy metal or yelled at a college basketball game the night before the recording, as it scratches near her "break." This shortness of breath and scratchiness of voice are apparent in most of the other tunes as well, so I will not belabor the point by going through the entire album song by song. I hope that Ms. Krall has not developed nodules on her vocal cords as happened with other singers, Billy Joel, Elton John, and Julie Andrews, and that we will continue to hear great things from her in the future. As for the band, it is fantastic and certainly compliments Ms. Krall making the album worth the price on its own. But sadly, I do not find this to be Ms. Krall's best work.
Where to begin... with my latest purchase, I think. Diana Krall - Christmas Songs. There have been many rave reviews of this album. Unfortunately, mine will not be another one. Being a fan of Ms. Krall, I truly wish I could write glowingly about the entire album, but there are only a couple of songs that shine in this collection. "Jingle Bells" is one of them. Ms. Krall seems to have a lot of fun with this song and the band certainly does make it swing right down to the guy shaking the bells. Her "scat" near the end of the song is very cool as the band seems to be in conversation with her. So, what is missing from most of the other songs? In "I'll Be Home For Christmas," Ms. Krall's smokey voice and gift for seducing every consonant come through. However, it feels like most notes are being cut short, almost as if the singer is out of breath. At some brief moments, her voice takes on a quality of someone who has sung too much heavy metal or yelled at a college basketball game the night before the recording, as it scratches near her "break." This shortness of breath and scratchiness of voice are apparent in most of the other tunes as well, so I will not belabor the point by going through the entire album song by song. I hope that Ms. Krall has not developed nodules on her vocal cords as happened with other singers, Billy Joel, Elton John, and Julie Andrews, and that we will continue to hear great things from her in the future. As for the band, it is fantastic and certainly compliments Ms. Krall making the album worth the price on its own. But sadly, I do not find this to be Ms. Krall's best work.
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