To Ryan - it looks like you are finally getting your "big break" in Miami. I'll be looking for you on the commercial & on "South Beach".
It was great seeing you this weekend...I miss ya, but glad to see things are finally going your way. Don't be a stranger, darlin'!
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Fascism At Its "Best"
So during halftime at the Buccaneers game (which very nearly gave me heart failure...but that is another story for another day), there was a "swearing in" of around 100 new military recruits from the area. Needless to say, there was much cheering and clapping and various other "patriotic" showing of support for the young men and women down on the 50-yard line.
Perhaps I am being overly cynical, but I don't think halftime at a professional football game is really an approprate place or time to be sworn into military service. My only thoughts were of what a giant piece of propagandized b.s. the whole thing was. We never saw this type of thing at football games prior to the war in Iraq, or before this neo-fascist administration took over.
I couldn't bring myself to applaud this dog-and-pony show. Not that I have anything against these kids...I'm sure for most of them, this is the only way they can see themselves getting ahead in the world (joining the military to get out of poverty, etc.). I just can't support a blatant show of fascist propaganda such as this. It made me want to throw up, especially when I thought about the fact that some of those kids could very well not survive their military service...
Perhaps I am being overly cynical, but I don't think halftime at a professional football game is really an approprate place or time to be sworn into military service. My only thoughts were of what a giant piece of propagandized b.s. the whole thing was. We never saw this type of thing at football games prior to the war in Iraq, or before this neo-fascist administration took over.
I couldn't bring myself to applaud this dog-and-pony show. Not that I have anything against these kids...I'm sure for most of them, this is the only way they can see themselves getting ahead in the world (joining the military to get out of poverty, etc.). I just can't support a blatant show of fascist propaganda such as this. It made me want to throw up, especially when I thought about the fact that some of those kids could very well not survive their military service...
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Where was I...
when they passed out the drugs that half of the country must be on to think that the country is better off under Dumbass than it was when Clinton was in office?
Those must be some pretty powerful hallucinogens...
By my count, the following was true during Clinton's presidency:
1) The economy was booming
2) The stock market was at an all-time high
3) Gas prices were well under $1.00 a gallon
4) No terrorists were threatening us on a regular basis, here or abroad.
5) We were not losing thousands of soldiers to an unnecessary, unethical war.
6) Our freedoms were not being threatened by the Orwellian "Patriot Act".
So, what exactly is it about Clinton that was so horrible?
Oh yes...he got a blow job in the Oval Office by someone who was not his wife. Seems to me that has nothing at all to do with national affairs, nor was it really anyone else's business except Hillary's.
At least when he was making his error in judgement, it didn't cause thousands of deaths for Americans and Iraqi civilians.
Those must be some pretty powerful hallucinogens...
By my count, the following was true during Clinton's presidency:
1) The economy was booming
2) The stock market was at an all-time high
3) Gas prices were well under $1.00 a gallon
4) No terrorists were threatening us on a regular basis, here or abroad.
5) We were not losing thousands of soldiers to an unnecessary, unethical war.
6) Our freedoms were not being threatened by the Orwellian "Patriot Act".
So, what exactly is it about Clinton that was so horrible?
Oh yes...he got a blow job in the Oval Office by someone who was not his wife. Seems to me that has nothing at all to do with national affairs, nor was it really anyone else's business except Hillary's.
At least when he was making his error in judgement, it didn't cause thousands of deaths for Americans and Iraqi civilians.
God's Wrath?
OK...so all these preachers across the country (including, apparently, the one at my parents' church) are saying that Katrina is God's warning to the United States that He is unhappy with us "sinners". After all, isn't New Orleans known for being a decadent town, full of all kinds of craziness? Drinking and carousing, not to mention "naked breasteses" during Mardi Gras. I am not even going to go into Pat Robertson's idiotic statements about it being Ellen Degeneres' fault...you can find that info on the internet.
IMHO, if God is trying to tell us humans anything, it is that we are royally screwing up this planet. "Look here, you morons...I've given you this beautiful world. I've made it so everything is in perfect balance, and what have you done? Destroyed it bit by bit...now look what you've done! I can't help you with these nasty weather patterns if you insist on destroying the ozone layer, and if you would just leave the natural barriers on the coastlines alone, there would not be nearly the destruction from the storms that do occur. But nooooo...you just insist on building and building and destroying and killing everything I gave you. Oh well, then...you're on your own."
IMHO, if God is trying to tell us humans anything, it is that we are royally screwing up this planet. "Look here, you morons...I've given you this beautiful world. I've made it so everything is in perfect balance, and what have you done? Destroyed it bit by bit...now look what you've done! I can't help you with these nasty weather patterns if you insist on destroying the ozone layer, and if you would just leave the natural barriers on the coastlines alone, there would not be nearly the destruction from the storms that do occur. But nooooo...you just insist on building and building and destroying and killing everything I gave you. Oh well, then...you're on your own."
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Original Thoughts Will Be Back
As soon as I can get over this bronchitis, and the fact that I am entirely too pissed off at current events to write a coherent sentence that doesn't contain an obscenity every third word....
I am hoping it will be by next week.
I am hoping it will be by next week.
Remember what Jesus said
About "what you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me"?
Survivor rescued 16 days after the hurricane
By KEITH SHARON The Orange County Register September 14, 2005
NEW ORLEANS - . . . A human foot arching at an odd angle was visible through the front window of a locked and dark home.
The National Guard team of searchers was about to call in a "DB," or dead body . . . in the Broadmoor district when Lt. Frederick Fell decided to investigate.
In the past few days, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has ordered searchers not to break into homes. They are supposed to look in through a window and knock on the door. If no one cries out for help, they are supposed to move on. If they see a body, they are supposed to log the address and move on.
<>
Fell broke the rules and ordered his men to bash open the door, launching a series of events that would save a man's life and revitalize California Task Force 5 from Orange County.
<>
. . . 16 days after Hurricane Katrina smacked this aging community in the face, an unconscious and emaciated man identified as Edgar Hollingsworth, 74, was rescued. The man is expected to survive.
<>
Medics from California Task Force 5, which had been searching in the same neighborhood, were eventually able to get intravenous fluids through a vein under the man's clavicle in an intricate curbside medical procedure that may have saved the man's life.
The man had been lying on the couch in his locked and sweltering home.
<>
They pulled him out of the house and laid him on the sidewalk. He looked as if he weighed less than 80 pounds.
<>
"They were surprised at the hospital that anyone in his condition would still be alive," Czuleger said. "In 24 hours, he would have been dead.
"I think the young Army guy that found him saved his life."
<>
Hollingsworth had been lying naked on his blue-green couch. It was unclear if he had eaten or drunk anything for several days. He was not surrounded by food or water containers. His house was still in disarray from the storm. A chair had landed on top of the kitchen table.
<>
A pit-bull puppy was also pulled from the house. It appeared to be healthy and was transported to the hospital along with Edgar Hollingsworth.
Earlier, they had been frustrated when FEMA delayed their deployment for four days, housing them in the Hyatt Regency in Dallas.
They were frustrated further when they were given the FEMA order that they weren't allowed to force their way into houses to search them.
<>
Go to www.dailykos.com to see the photo of this poor man. It is an incredible photo....thanks to dailykos for the info.
Survivor rescued 16 days after the hurricane
By KEITH SHARON The Orange County Register September 14, 2005
NEW ORLEANS - . . . A human foot arching at an odd angle was visible through the front window of a locked and dark home.
The National Guard team of searchers was about to call in a "DB," or dead body . . . in the Broadmoor district when Lt. Frederick Fell decided to investigate.
In the past few days, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has ordered searchers not to break into homes. They are supposed to look in through a window and knock on the door. If no one cries out for help, they are supposed to move on. If they see a body, they are supposed to log the address and move on.
<>
Fell broke the rules and ordered his men to bash open the door, launching a series of events that would save a man's life and revitalize California Task Force 5 from Orange County.
<>
. . . 16 days after Hurricane Katrina smacked this aging community in the face, an unconscious and emaciated man identified as Edgar Hollingsworth, 74, was rescued. The man is expected to survive.
<>
Medics from California Task Force 5, which had been searching in the same neighborhood, were eventually able to get intravenous fluids through a vein under the man's clavicle in an intricate curbside medical procedure that may have saved the man's life.
The man had been lying on the couch in his locked and sweltering home.
<>
They pulled him out of the house and laid him on the sidewalk. He looked as if he weighed less than 80 pounds.
<>
"They were surprised at the hospital that anyone in his condition would still be alive," Czuleger said. "In 24 hours, he would have been dead.
"I think the young Army guy that found him saved his life."
<>
Hollingsworth had been lying naked on his blue-green couch. It was unclear if he had eaten or drunk anything for several days. He was not surrounded by food or water containers. His house was still in disarray from the storm. A chair had landed on top of the kitchen table.
<>
A pit-bull puppy was also pulled from the house. It appeared to be healthy and was transported to the hospital along with Edgar Hollingsworth.
Earlier, they had been frustrated when FEMA delayed their deployment for four days, housing them in the Hyatt Regency in Dallas.
They were frustrated further when they were given the FEMA order that they weren't allowed to force their way into houses to search them.
<>
Go to www.dailykos.com to see the photo of this poor man. It is an incredible photo....thanks to dailykos for the info.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Even more to make you ill....
As if what they are doing to people is not enough...
September 9, 2005, 12 p.m.: Officials Shooting Dogs in Louisiana—Feds Must Hear from You Today!
In the latest and most graphic display of our government's abandonment of animal-handling guidelines in disasters that were created with PETA's help years ago, some law enforcement agencies are now shooting dogs left stranded in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana.
Revolting video footage posted on the Web site of the Dallas Morning News shows officers shooting dogs. At least one of their victims survived the gunshots and was apparently left to die a slow, agonizing death amid debris from the storm.
Of course, shooting is not an approved, reasonable, or reliable method of animal control. In fact, The 2000 Report of the AVMA [American Veterinary Medical Association] Panel on Euthanasia—the veterinary medical authority on euthanasia—states, "[G]unshot should not be used for routine euthanasia of animals in animal control situations." This dangerous method often fails to achieve instantaneous unconsciousness; animals can be injured by initial gunshots and suffer tremendously before dying, as seems to be happening in St. Bernard Parish. Gunshot is also categorized as an inhumane method of killing in The Humane Society of the United States' "General Statement Regarding Euthanasia Methods for Dogs and Cats."
This horror for animals, which is but the latest of many to be seen in Katrina's wake, underscores the urgent need for you to call on those in charge, today, to end immediately their callous policies toward animals suffering and to make the plight of animals affected by these disasters a part of planned investigations and hearings.
Now I am even more pissed off! Animals can't bear arms and shoot back when necessary.
Go to HelpingAnimals.com to read more, and to read some really great "hero" stories about people saving animals. Thank god there are some good stories out there....here's one example:
Mississippi residents Carole, Patricia, and Lillian Montet would not leave their cat behind. "Leave McGinty?" Carole said. "This cat helped my mother get through her hip surgery; McGinty inspired my mother." "It was terrible," said Patricia. "Our animals are the only semblance of normalcy we have left." "She's family," Lillian said of McGinty.
September 9, 2005, 12 p.m.: Officials Shooting Dogs in Louisiana—Feds Must Hear from You Today!
In the latest and most graphic display of our government's abandonment of animal-handling guidelines in disasters that were created with PETA's help years ago, some law enforcement agencies are now shooting dogs left stranded in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana.
Revolting video footage posted on the Web site of the Dallas Morning News shows officers shooting dogs. At least one of their victims survived the gunshots and was apparently left to die a slow, agonizing death amid debris from the storm.
Of course, shooting is not an approved, reasonable, or reliable method of animal control. In fact, The 2000 Report of the AVMA [American Veterinary Medical Association] Panel on Euthanasia—the veterinary medical authority on euthanasia—states, "[G]unshot should not be used for routine euthanasia of animals in animal control situations." This dangerous method often fails to achieve instantaneous unconsciousness; animals can be injured by initial gunshots and suffer tremendously before dying, as seems to be happening in St. Bernard Parish. Gunshot is also categorized as an inhumane method of killing in The Humane Society of the United States' "General Statement Regarding Euthanasia Methods for Dogs and Cats."
This horror for animals, which is but the latest of many to be seen in Katrina's wake, underscores the urgent need for you to call on those in charge, today, to end immediately their callous policies toward animals suffering and to make the plight of animals affected by these disasters a part of planned investigations and hearings.
Now I am even more pissed off! Animals can't bear arms and shoot back when necessary.
Go to HelpingAnimals.com to read more, and to read some really great "hero" stories about people saving animals. Thank god there are some good stories out there....here's one example:
Mississippi residents Carole, Patricia, and Lillian Montet would not leave their cat behind. "Leave McGinty?" Carole said. "This cat helped my mother get through her hip surgery; McGinty inspired my mother." "It was terrible," said Patricia. "Our animals are the only semblance of normalcy we have left." "She's family," Lillian said of McGinty.
facism II: the police state
Coming soon to a town near you!!
Thanks to abovetopsecret.com for this:
I just got back from a FEMA Detainment Camp
I'm extremely depressed to report that things seem to only be getting sadder concerning the people so devastatingly affected by Katrina last week. Two car loads of us headed over to Falls Creek, a youth camp for Southern Baptist churches in Oklahoma that agreed to have its facilities used to house Louisiana refugees. I'm afraid the camp is not going to be used as the kind people of the churches who own the cabins believe it was going to be used. Jesse Jackson was right when he said "refugees" was not the appropriate word for the poor souls dislocated due to Katrina. But he was wrong about why it is not appropriate.
It's not appropriate because they are detainees, not refugees.
Falls Creek is like a small town that is closed down about 9 months out of the year. It is made up of cabins that range from small and humble to large and grandiose, according to how much money the church who owns the cabin has. Each cabin has full kitchen facilities, bathrooms and usually have two large bunkrooms - one for women and one for men. The occupancy of the cabins varies according to the church. This past week the Southern Baptist association of Oklahoma offered the facility as a place to house refugees from the Katrina disaster. Each church owning a cabin was then called to find out if they would make their cabin available. Churches across the state agreed.
I started my journey by loading six large trash bags full of clothes in the back of my beetle buggy. I then went to the local Dollar General and purchased various hygiene products, snacks and even a set of dominoes and a deck of cards. I had my daughter take her own shopping cart and go and select her own items that she wanted to take. I told her to imagine herself without anything in the world and then select what she would need to live every day. We then met up with my elderly parents who had gone to the Dollar Store themselves, and to the grocery store and had spent WAY too much of their limited social security on the venture. But that's okay. We ended up having to take both vehicles on the 150 mile round trip because they were both pretty full. My son showed up and wanted to go. He drove my parents while my daughter and I rode in my car. To say we all left with excitement would be appropriate. My 78 year old mother is a "fixer". She loves to help people and she absolutely needs some one to dote over. That she was about to be able to help some people who had lost all in their lives had her feeling physically healthier than I've seen her in days. I was glad to get the chance to actively do something other than donate what little I can to some faceless charity hoping it would get to the people who needed it. I felt glad I could do some small something that might cut through the helplessness I've felt over this situation. Both of my kids were eager to assist. The only odd thing that occurred prior to setting off happened while I was gassing up in our small town. My daughter was pumping the gas and a lady she knew pulled up to an adjacent pump. My daughter started telling her where we were going and that we were taking things to the refugees. The lady told my daughter that she had been told the Red Cross was not allowing any one to deliver supplies. When I returned to the car from paying for the gas my daughter informed of this. I told her that the Red Cross would not be preventing the members of our church from entering our own cabin, so it really didn't matter. It was at that point we decided to stop back by the house and get my daughter's camera so that she could take pictures if required.
From the moment I heard about Falls Creek being scheduled to receive refugees I had two thoughts run through my mind: 1. What a beautiful place to be able to stay while trying to get your life back in order. 2. What a terrible location to be when you're trying to get your life back in order. The first thought is because Falls Creek is nestled in the Arbuckle Mountains of south central Oklahoma. One of the more beautiful regions of the state. It would be a peaceful and beautiful place to try to start mending emotionally, and begin to figure what you're going to do next. The second thought comes because Falls Creek is very secluded and absolutely no where near a population center. The closest route from Falls Creek to a connecting road is three miles on a winding narrow road called "High Road" (It gets that name for two reasons - it's goes over the mountain instead of around it like "Low Road" does, and it's where the teenagers of the area go to party). The road has not a single home on it for over 3 miles. After battling that 3 miles over mountains, you'll find yourself about 5 miles from the nearest town, Davis, Oklahoma, population ca. 2000. This is no place to start a new life. A few pictures headed toward Falls Creek over High Road to give you a feel of the seclusion. All of sudden the landscape changed from picturesque mountainous rural America, to something foreign to me as we approached the rear gate of the camp.
Two Oklahoma State Patrol vehicles and four Oklahoma Troopers guarded the gate. We started through and they stopped us. "Can I help you, ma'am?" I informed him we're here to deliver supplies to *our church's name* cabin. He stood silent and stared at me. My daughter turned and snapped a picture of his vehicle - very conspicuously. I smiled at him and he asked, "Do you know where that cabin is located?" I informed him I did. He looked at me a bit longer and then said, "Ok" and stepped away from the car. They stopped my parents' vehicle as well, but I assume my son informed them he was with us. They let them pass. We made our way through the narrow streets toward our church's cabin. We noticed that the various church cabins had numbered placards on them that normally weren't there. We arrived at our cabin and started toting the clothes in. We finally found a group of men upstairs in the dorms trying to do something alien to them - make beds. They had almost completed the room of bunk beds and told us we could go over to the ladies' dorm room and start on it. We lugged our sacks of clothes back down the stairs. Then we got the first negative message. "You can't bring any clothes in. FEMA has stated they will accept no more clothes. They've had 30 people sorting clothes for days. They don't want anymore." My mind couldn't help but go back over the news articles that have accused FEMA of refusing water in to Jefferson Parrish, or turning fuel away. We lugged the bags of clothes back to the car. We then turned to bringing in our personal hygiene products. That's when we learned our cabin had been designated a "male only" cabin. Approximately 40 men, ranging from age 13 on up would be housed there. We started resacking the female products and sorted out everything that would be useful for men. We lugged the bags of female products back to the car. We asked if they knew of a cabin that had been designated for women. The "host" (the hosts are Oklahoma civilians who have been employeed??? by FEMA to reside at each cabin and have already gone through at least one "orientation" meeting conducted by FEMA at "BASE" which is some unknown but repetitively referred location within the camp) told us he believed McAlester cabin was dedicated to females. He then explained there were male, female and family cabins designated.
We then started lugging in our food products. The foods I had purchased were mainly snacks, but my mother - God bless her soul - had gone all out with fresh vegetables, fruits, canned goods, breakfast cereals, rice, and pancake fixings. That's when we got the next message: They will not be able to use the kitchen. Excuse me? I asked incredulously. FEMA will not allow any of the kitchen facilities in any of the cabins to be used by the occupants due to fire hazards. FEMA will deliver meals to the cabins. The refugees will be given two meals per day by FEMA. They will not be able to cook. In fact, the "host" goes on to explain, some churches had already enquired about whether they could come in on weekends and fix meals for the people staying in their cabin. FEMA won't allow it because there could be a situation where one cabin gets steaks and another gets hot dogs - and... it could cause a riot.
It gets worse. He then precedes to tell us that some churches had already enquired into whether they could send a van or bus on Sundays to pick up any occupants of their cabins who might be interested in attending church. FEMA will not allow this. The occupants of the camp cannot leave the camp for any reason. If they leave the camp they may never return. They will be issued FEMA identification cards and "a sum of money" and they will remain within the camp for the next 5 months. My son looks at me and mumbles "Welcome to Krakow." My mother then asked if the churches would be allowed to come to their cabin and conduct services if the occupants wanted to attend. The response was "No ma'am. You don't understand. Your church no longer owns this building. This building is now owned by FEMA and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. They have it for the next 5 months." This scares my mother who asks "Do you mean they have leased it?" The man replies, "Yes, ma'am...lock, stock and barrel. They have taken over everything that pertains to this facility for the next 5 months." We then lug all food products requiring cooking back to the car. We start unloading our snacks. Mom appeared to have cornered the market in five counties on pop-tarts and apparently that was an acceptable snack so the guy started shoving them under the counter. He said these would be good to tied people over in between their two meals a day. But he tells my mother she must take all the breakfast cereal back. My mother protests that cereal requires no cooking. "There will be no milk, ma'am." My mother points to the huge industrial double-wide refrigerator the church had just purchased in the past year. "Ma'am, you don't understand... It could cause a riot." He then points to the vegetables and fruit. "You'll have to take that back as well. It looks like you've got about 10 apples there. I'm about to bring in 40 men. What would we do then?" My mother, in her sweet, soft voice says, "Quarter them?" "No ma'am. FEMA said no... It could cause a riot. You don't understand the type of people that are about to come here...." I turn and walk out of the room...lugging all the healthy stuff back to the car.
My son later tells me the man went on to say "We've already been told of teenage girls delivering fetuses on buses." My son steps toward him and says "That's because they've almost been starved to death, haven't had a decent place to get a good night's sleep, and their bodies can't keep a baby alive. I'm not sure that's any evidence some one should be using to show these are 'bad people'."
We then went to the second dorm room and made up beds. When we got through and were headed outside the host says to me and my daughter, "How did you get in here?" I told him we came in through the back gate. He replies, "No, HOW did you get in here? No one who doesn't have credentials showing is supposed to be in here." (I had noticed all the "hosts" had two or three badges hanging around their necks.) I told him it might have had something to do with the fact my daughter was snapping pictures of the OHP presence at the gate. He then tells us, "Well, starting in the morning NO ONE comes in. So if you have further goods you want to donate you will have to take them to your local church. They will collect them until they have a full load and then bring them to the front gate." Me and my two kids then walked over the hill to the camp's amphitheater. First - just another OHP car... The amphitheater is full of clothes (but I'm not sure I'm seeing enough for 5000 people for 5 months). But there was more...an Oklahoma Department of Safety truck and a military vehicle... and a cell phone tower (which fretling didn't get a pic of...grrr). Falls Creek, because it sits in a "bowl" surrounded by mountains, is notorious for no cell phone coverage. There were buses coming in the front gate at about a rate of 1 every 2 or 3 minutes. We could hear them below us as we walked back up the hill. We could also see their white tops through the trees. We figured these were busloads of refugees arriving, but we never saw these buses in the camps, nor were any refugees visible at the camp while we were there. We then loaded back into our vehicles and headed toward the cabin we had been told was for women so that we could off-load our appropriate products. When we arrived there was no one in the cabin so we preceded to unload our vehicles and take the merchandise in to the cabin. A horde of "hosts" who had been hovering at a nearby cabin head toward us. "Can we help you?" I explained to them what we were doing. "Uhh... you can't just leave donated goods in the cabins. FEMA has stated they want all supplies to go to their central warehouse. They said they have had far too many supplies come in and they need to handle them. You can't leave ANY clothes." I just stared at them. One chubby-checker, after several moments of pregnant pause broken only by the sound of my 82 year old dad continuing to shuffle boxes out of the back of his car (GO DAD!), says "I'll call "BASE" and confirm what should happen here." I continue to stare. He pounds out the number on his cell phone and when some one picks up he chickens out and just asks "I need to verify that cabin 11 is a female only facility." When he hangs up he says that it is and I respond, "Well, good, we'll get on with this then." It's at that point my son pulls me aside and says, "Every damned one of them have the same phone. That's what the comm tower is for at the amphitheater. Now we know how FEMA runs through billions, they've given every one of these people a Cingular phone when walkie-talkies would have worked just fine." We off-load our goods into the McAlester cabin. Fretling takes pics of the buckets of toys that have been donated by citizens for the kiddos coming this way. And a dorm room: We then start out of the camp. I tell my daughter I want to go out the main gate this time.
Here is what we saw on the way out: Just another OHP car... This cabin was apparently commandeered by a group of people in navy blue jumpsuits with insignias all over them. You can see them in the left side of this pic. But they were standing all over the place on both sides of the narrow street. This is just one OHP car in a long line of them parked along the side of the street. Three firetrucks parked along the river. Talk about a surreal moment...troops (unknown if Regular or National Guard) have taken up residency in the Durant First Baptist Church cabin very near the main gate of the camp. Two things to point out in the pictures above...we passed a row of about 6 or 8 ambulances parked in the street just in front of the troop cabin, and the large tent on the top of the hill...we have no idea what that is for. Main gate completely blocked by OHP vehicles as we approach: More OHP vehicles parked at the rear gate as we pass by: Now I'm starting to understand why it doesn't matter that this location is not conducive to starting a new life. [edit on 9-6-2005 by Valhall]
Go to the site to see pictures...it will scare the crap out of you.
Back soon with yet another lesson on fascism, boys and girls.
Thanks to abovetopsecret.com for this:
I just got back from a FEMA Detainment Camp
I'm extremely depressed to report that things seem to only be getting sadder concerning the people so devastatingly affected by Katrina last week. Two car loads of us headed over to Falls Creek, a youth camp for Southern Baptist churches in Oklahoma that agreed to have its facilities used to house Louisiana refugees. I'm afraid the camp is not going to be used as the kind people of the churches who own the cabins believe it was going to be used. Jesse Jackson was right when he said "refugees" was not the appropriate word for the poor souls dislocated due to Katrina. But he was wrong about why it is not appropriate.
It's not appropriate because they are detainees, not refugees.
Falls Creek is like a small town that is closed down about 9 months out of the year. It is made up of cabins that range from small and humble to large and grandiose, according to how much money the church who owns the cabin has. Each cabin has full kitchen facilities, bathrooms and usually have two large bunkrooms - one for women and one for men. The occupancy of the cabins varies according to the church. This past week the Southern Baptist association of Oklahoma offered the facility as a place to house refugees from the Katrina disaster. Each church owning a cabin was then called to find out if they would make their cabin available. Churches across the state agreed.
I started my journey by loading six large trash bags full of clothes in the back of my beetle buggy. I then went to the local Dollar General and purchased various hygiene products, snacks and even a set of dominoes and a deck of cards. I had my daughter take her own shopping cart and go and select her own items that she wanted to take. I told her to imagine herself without anything in the world and then select what she would need to live every day. We then met up with my elderly parents who had gone to the Dollar Store themselves, and to the grocery store and had spent WAY too much of their limited social security on the venture. But that's okay. We ended up having to take both vehicles on the 150 mile round trip because they were both pretty full. My son showed up and wanted to go. He drove my parents while my daughter and I rode in my car. To say we all left with excitement would be appropriate. My 78 year old mother is a "fixer". She loves to help people and she absolutely needs some one to dote over. That she was about to be able to help some people who had lost all in their lives had her feeling physically healthier than I've seen her in days. I was glad to get the chance to actively do something other than donate what little I can to some faceless charity hoping it would get to the people who needed it. I felt glad I could do some small something that might cut through the helplessness I've felt over this situation. Both of my kids were eager to assist. The only odd thing that occurred prior to setting off happened while I was gassing up in our small town. My daughter was pumping the gas and a lady she knew pulled up to an adjacent pump. My daughter started telling her where we were going and that we were taking things to the refugees. The lady told my daughter that she had been told the Red Cross was not allowing any one to deliver supplies. When I returned to the car from paying for the gas my daughter informed of this. I told her that the Red Cross would not be preventing the members of our church from entering our own cabin, so it really didn't matter. It was at that point we decided to stop back by the house and get my daughter's camera so that she could take pictures if required.
From the moment I heard about Falls Creek being scheduled to receive refugees I had two thoughts run through my mind: 1. What a beautiful place to be able to stay while trying to get your life back in order. 2. What a terrible location to be when you're trying to get your life back in order. The first thought is because Falls Creek is nestled in the Arbuckle Mountains of south central Oklahoma. One of the more beautiful regions of the state. It would be a peaceful and beautiful place to try to start mending emotionally, and begin to figure what you're going to do next. The second thought comes because Falls Creek is very secluded and absolutely no where near a population center. The closest route from Falls Creek to a connecting road is three miles on a winding narrow road called "High Road" (It gets that name for two reasons - it's goes over the mountain instead of around it like "Low Road" does, and it's where the teenagers of the area go to party). The road has not a single home on it for over 3 miles. After battling that 3 miles over mountains, you'll find yourself about 5 miles from the nearest town, Davis, Oklahoma, population ca. 2000. This is no place to start a new life. A few pictures headed toward Falls Creek over High Road to give you a feel of the seclusion. All of sudden the landscape changed from picturesque mountainous rural America, to something foreign to me as we approached the rear gate of the camp.
Two Oklahoma State Patrol vehicles and four Oklahoma Troopers guarded the gate. We started through and they stopped us. "Can I help you, ma'am?" I informed him we're here to deliver supplies to *our church's name* cabin. He stood silent and stared at me. My daughter turned and snapped a picture of his vehicle - very conspicuously. I smiled at him and he asked, "Do you know where that cabin is located?" I informed him I did. He looked at me a bit longer and then said, "Ok" and stepped away from the car. They stopped my parents' vehicle as well, but I assume my son informed them he was with us. They let them pass. We made our way through the narrow streets toward our church's cabin. We noticed that the various church cabins had numbered placards on them that normally weren't there. We arrived at our cabin and started toting the clothes in. We finally found a group of men upstairs in the dorms trying to do something alien to them - make beds. They had almost completed the room of bunk beds and told us we could go over to the ladies' dorm room and start on it. We lugged our sacks of clothes back down the stairs. Then we got the first negative message. "You can't bring any clothes in. FEMA has stated they will accept no more clothes. They've had 30 people sorting clothes for days. They don't want anymore." My mind couldn't help but go back over the news articles that have accused FEMA of refusing water in to Jefferson Parrish, or turning fuel away. We lugged the bags of clothes back to the car. We then turned to bringing in our personal hygiene products. That's when we learned our cabin had been designated a "male only" cabin. Approximately 40 men, ranging from age 13 on up would be housed there. We started resacking the female products and sorted out everything that would be useful for men. We lugged the bags of female products back to the car. We asked if they knew of a cabin that had been designated for women. The "host" (the hosts are Oklahoma civilians who have been employeed??? by FEMA to reside at each cabin and have already gone through at least one "orientation" meeting conducted by FEMA at "BASE" which is some unknown but repetitively referred location within the camp) told us he believed McAlester cabin was dedicated to females. He then explained there were male, female and family cabins designated.
We then started lugging in our food products. The foods I had purchased were mainly snacks, but my mother - God bless her soul - had gone all out with fresh vegetables, fruits, canned goods, breakfast cereals, rice, and pancake fixings. That's when we got the next message: They will not be able to use the kitchen. Excuse me? I asked incredulously. FEMA will not allow any of the kitchen facilities in any of the cabins to be used by the occupants due to fire hazards. FEMA will deliver meals to the cabins. The refugees will be given two meals per day by FEMA. They will not be able to cook. In fact, the "host" goes on to explain, some churches had already enquired about whether they could come in on weekends and fix meals for the people staying in their cabin. FEMA won't allow it because there could be a situation where one cabin gets steaks and another gets hot dogs - and... it could cause a riot.
It gets worse. He then precedes to tell us that some churches had already enquired into whether they could send a van or bus on Sundays to pick up any occupants of their cabins who might be interested in attending church. FEMA will not allow this. The occupants of the camp cannot leave the camp for any reason. If they leave the camp they may never return. They will be issued FEMA identification cards and "a sum of money" and they will remain within the camp for the next 5 months. My son looks at me and mumbles "Welcome to Krakow." My mother then asked if the churches would be allowed to come to their cabin and conduct services if the occupants wanted to attend. The response was "No ma'am. You don't understand. Your church no longer owns this building. This building is now owned by FEMA and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. They have it for the next 5 months." This scares my mother who asks "Do you mean they have leased it?" The man replies, "Yes, ma'am...lock, stock and barrel. They have taken over everything that pertains to this facility for the next 5 months." We then lug all food products requiring cooking back to the car. We start unloading our snacks. Mom appeared to have cornered the market in five counties on pop-tarts and apparently that was an acceptable snack so the guy started shoving them under the counter. He said these would be good to tied people over in between their two meals a day. But he tells my mother she must take all the breakfast cereal back. My mother protests that cereal requires no cooking. "There will be no milk, ma'am." My mother points to the huge industrial double-wide refrigerator the church had just purchased in the past year. "Ma'am, you don't understand... It could cause a riot." He then points to the vegetables and fruit. "You'll have to take that back as well. It looks like you've got about 10 apples there. I'm about to bring in 40 men. What would we do then?" My mother, in her sweet, soft voice says, "Quarter them?" "No ma'am. FEMA said no... It could cause a riot. You don't understand the type of people that are about to come here...." I turn and walk out of the room...lugging all the healthy stuff back to the car.
My son later tells me the man went on to say "We've already been told of teenage girls delivering fetuses on buses." My son steps toward him and says "That's because they've almost been starved to death, haven't had a decent place to get a good night's sleep, and their bodies can't keep a baby alive. I'm not sure that's any evidence some one should be using to show these are 'bad people'."
We then went to the second dorm room and made up beds. When we got through and were headed outside the host says to me and my daughter, "How did you get in here?" I told him we came in through the back gate. He replies, "No, HOW did you get in here? No one who doesn't have credentials showing is supposed to be in here." (I had noticed all the "hosts" had two or three badges hanging around their necks.) I told him it might have had something to do with the fact my daughter was snapping pictures of the OHP presence at the gate. He then tells us, "Well, starting in the morning NO ONE comes in. So if you have further goods you want to donate you will have to take them to your local church. They will collect them until they have a full load and then bring them to the front gate." Me and my two kids then walked over the hill to the camp's amphitheater. First - just another OHP car... The amphitheater is full of clothes (but I'm not sure I'm seeing enough for 5000 people for 5 months). But there was more...an Oklahoma Department of Safety truck and a military vehicle... and a cell phone tower (which fretling didn't get a pic of...grrr). Falls Creek, because it sits in a "bowl" surrounded by mountains, is notorious for no cell phone coverage. There were buses coming in the front gate at about a rate of 1 every 2 or 3 minutes. We could hear them below us as we walked back up the hill. We could also see their white tops through the trees. We figured these were busloads of refugees arriving, but we never saw these buses in the camps, nor were any refugees visible at the camp while we were there. We then loaded back into our vehicles and headed toward the cabin we had been told was for women so that we could off-load our appropriate products. When we arrived there was no one in the cabin so we preceded to unload our vehicles and take the merchandise in to the cabin. A horde of "hosts" who had been hovering at a nearby cabin head toward us. "Can we help you?" I explained to them what we were doing. "Uhh... you can't just leave donated goods in the cabins. FEMA has stated they want all supplies to go to their central warehouse. They said they have had far too many supplies come in and they need to handle them. You can't leave ANY clothes." I just stared at them. One chubby-checker, after several moments of pregnant pause broken only by the sound of my 82 year old dad continuing to shuffle boxes out of the back of his car (GO DAD!), says "I'll call "BASE" and confirm what should happen here." I continue to stare. He pounds out the number on his cell phone and when some one picks up he chickens out and just asks "I need to verify that cabin 11 is a female only facility." When he hangs up he says that it is and I respond, "Well, good, we'll get on with this then." It's at that point my son pulls me aside and says, "Every damned one of them have the same phone. That's what the comm tower is for at the amphitheater. Now we know how FEMA runs through billions, they've given every one of these people a Cingular phone when walkie-talkies would have worked just fine." We off-load our goods into the McAlester cabin. Fretling takes pics of the buckets of toys that have been donated by citizens for the kiddos coming this way. And a dorm room: We then start out of the camp. I tell my daughter I want to go out the main gate this time.
Here is what we saw on the way out: Just another OHP car... This cabin was apparently commandeered by a group of people in navy blue jumpsuits with insignias all over them. You can see them in the left side of this pic. But they were standing all over the place on both sides of the narrow street. This is just one OHP car in a long line of them parked along the side of the street. Three firetrucks parked along the river. Talk about a surreal moment...troops (unknown if Regular or National Guard) have taken up residency in the Durant First Baptist Church cabin very near the main gate of the camp. Two things to point out in the pictures above...we passed a row of about 6 or 8 ambulances parked in the street just in front of the troop cabin, and the large tent on the top of the hill...we have no idea what that is for. Main gate completely blocked by OHP vehicles as we approach: More OHP vehicles parked at the rear gate as we pass by: Now I'm starting to understand why it doesn't matter that this location is not conducive to starting a new life. [edit on 9-6-2005 by Valhall]
Go to the site to see pictures...it will scare the crap out of you.
Back soon with yet another lesson on fascism, boys and girls.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Holy crap
So not only has Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist up and died, now Georgie has the gall to nominate Roberts for the job?
Holy hell....
Please, oh please, let the Democrats grow some spines between now and the nomination hearings...PLEASE!!!!
Holy hell....
Please, oh please, let the Democrats grow some spines between now and the nomination hearings...PLEASE!!!!
Sunday, September 04, 2005
The Ugly Truth
The truth has reared its ugly head this week...it has become plainly obvious that this administration does not care about this country's poor people. To put it mildly. To be even more blunt, the reason that the people that were stuck in New Orleans did not get help sooner was basically because they are the poorest of the poor, and are primarily African-American. Not Bushie's constituents, so he does not care. Kanye West pointed this out on live TV the other night, and luckily, nobody caught that it was not scripted on the live telecast (and he was smart enough not to curse while he was ranting, so the network "censor" was not smart enough to use the 7 second delay). Of course, they removed it from the later west-coast replay.
The racism that often stays hidden in this country has shown itself in many other ways as well. Kanye West also brought up the fact that the MSM has been making a point of saying white people are "foraging" while black people are "looting". The conservative talk radio nutbags are doing everything they can to insinuate (without actually saying) that the situation in New Orleans is due to the victims' color. And around the internet, the REAL scumbags are starting to come out from underneath their rocks...not even attempting to hide their racism. I have seen numerous blogs (brought to my attention by liberal blogsites) by some outright racist MFers who aren't at all ashamed to show their colors.
I am not a Pollyanna; I know racism still exists in the good old U S of A. It just pains me to see that it is still so widespread, and to see that people are proud to show it.
The racism that often stays hidden in this country has shown itself in many other ways as well. Kanye West also brought up the fact that the MSM has been making a point of saying white people are "foraging" while black people are "looting". The conservative talk radio nutbags are doing everything they can to insinuate (without actually saying) that the situation in New Orleans is due to the victims' color. And around the internet, the REAL scumbags are starting to come out from underneath their rocks...not even attempting to hide their racism. I have seen numerous blogs (brought to my attention by liberal blogsites) by some outright racist MFers who aren't at all ashamed to show their colors.
I am not a Pollyanna; I know racism still exists in the good old U S of A. It just pains me to see that it is still so widespread, and to see that people are proud to show it.
Pass The Buck - What A Surprise
So, the whole country - no wait, the whole world - has finally discovered your administration is completely incompetent; you have shown your true colors and have been called out for it by just about every news agency (including FOX, for goodness' sake!), as well as one of the most popular entertainers in the rap world (you go, Kanye!). What do you do?
Why, you do what you always do of course - blame someone else! In this case, try to pass the buck onto the local and state government for your lack of action. Never mind that they called for martial law, or that they had been trying to get aid and assistance into the area and it had been BLOCKED by federal agencies. There were breakdowns in the system on all levels, but let's face it - the final responsibility for relief and rescue during a disaster of this proportion lies at the federal level.
This is classic Bush administration/neocon work - slander whoever you can to try to avoid the blame, repeat as many times as necessary, and have your minions on conservative talk radio keep repeating it until the sheep actually start believing it to be true. However, as the following post from a thinking, rational person states, what they are attempting to do is false logic:
To address just one of these pathetic excuses, the attempt to shift the blame to the state and local governments is I believe a version of the fallacy known as Ad Hominem To Quoque, in which someone tries to defend a particular action, or inaction, by pointing out that others have done the same thing.In other words, maybe the state and local governments did screw up. So what? That doesn't mean Bush didn't screw up too. And, since he is the President, and since he's built his whole political career on the idea that he keeps Americans safe, the magnitude of his failure eclipses anything you could say about Ray Nagin or Kathleen Blanco.It's sort of like, you're on trial for murder, and your defense is that other people commit murder too. ~ Stephen Stralka
Thanks, Stephen, for letting me use your post to hit the point home.
Why, you do what you always do of course - blame someone else! In this case, try to pass the buck onto the local and state government for your lack of action. Never mind that they called for martial law, or that they had been trying to get aid and assistance into the area and it had been BLOCKED by federal agencies. There were breakdowns in the system on all levels, but let's face it - the final responsibility for relief and rescue during a disaster of this proportion lies at the federal level.
This is classic Bush administration/neocon work - slander whoever you can to try to avoid the blame, repeat as many times as necessary, and have your minions on conservative talk radio keep repeating it until the sheep actually start believing it to be true. However, as the following post from a thinking, rational person states, what they are attempting to do is false logic:
To address just one of these pathetic excuses, the attempt to shift the blame to the state and local governments is I believe a version of the fallacy known as Ad Hominem To Quoque, in which someone tries to defend a particular action, or inaction, by pointing out that others have done the same thing.In other words, maybe the state and local governments did screw up. So what? That doesn't mean Bush didn't screw up too. And, since he is the President, and since he's built his whole political career on the idea that he keeps Americans safe, the magnitude of his failure eclipses anything you could say about Ray Nagin or Kathleen Blanco.It's sort of like, you're on trial for murder, and your defense is that other people commit murder too. ~ Stephen Stralka
Thanks, Stephen, for letting me use your post to hit the point home.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Finally a good story from New Orleans
Louisiana Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu has been working with the relief workers in New Orleans, helping rescue people from roofs and buildings...this is the second-in-command of the state, getting his hands dirty and virtually putting his life in danger to help his constituents! AP had a story today about his continued efforts to assist in the search and rescue of the citizens of New Orleans, and at the end of the article they had this final bit of information that has made this man a hero in my eyes:
During the search and rescue, many people have asked Mr. Landrieu to call their family members in other areas to let them know that they survived the hurricane and have been taken to safety. When many other politicians (or workers in general) may have told them that he did not have the time or ability to do so, Mr. Landrieu has written down the phone numbers on any piece of paper he can find, and is in the process of calling survivors' relatives to give them the news. According to the report, his pockets were literally full of tiny pieces of paper with names and phone numbers for him to call.
He told the reporter about one such call he made: he called the victim's daughter and told her "Your daddy wanted me to call you and tell you he is OK and that he loves you." When the reporter asked what the response was, Mr. Landrieu said the woman started crying tears of joy because she had been convinced that her father had died in the hurricane.
This was just one of many calls that this man is making over the course of this week while he is helping with the relief effort in this city. He is truly a man of great character.
During the search and rescue, many people have asked Mr. Landrieu to call their family members in other areas to let them know that they survived the hurricane and have been taken to safety. When many other politicians (or workers in general) may have told them that he did not have the time or ability to do so, Mr. Landrieu has written down the phone numbers on any piece of paper he can find, and is in the process of calling survivors' relatives to give them the news. According to the report, his pockets were literally full of tiny pieces of paper with names and phone numbers for him to call.
He told the reporter about one such call he made: he called the victim's daughter and told her "Your daddy wanted me to call you and tell you he is OK and that he loves you." When the reporter asked what the response was, Mr. Landrieu said the woman started crying tears of joy because she had been convinced that her father had died in the hurricane.
This was just one of many calls that this man is making over the course of this week while he is helping with the relief effort in this city. He is truly a man of great character.
President "visits" Gulf Coast disaster area
From the "a picture is worth a thousand words" file:
When Dubya finally decides to visit the devastated areas of the Gulf coast, how does he do it?
In Air Force One, from high above, looking down on all the "little people" below.
Heaven forbid he should actually land and rub elbows with the riff raff and see the suffering of the masses...but then, he might actually need to act like a human being for 5 minutes. Without smirking, snickering, or glaring at anyone.
What a perfect snapshot of this administration...the high-and-mighty president, looking down upon the unimportant masses.
When Dubya finally decides to visit the devastated areas of the Gulf coast, how does he do it?
In Air Force One, from high above, looking down on all the "little people" below.
Heaven forbid he should actually land and rub elbows with the riff raff and see the suffering of the masses...but then, he might actually need to act like a human being for 5 minutes. Without smirking, snickering, or glaring at anyone.
What a perfect snapshot of this administration...the high-and-mighty president, looking down upon the unimportant masses.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Today's Lesson: Fascism
Let's get a couple definitions of fascism:
Fascism is defined as that economic system in which Private Industry controls the means of production, but where the Federal Government controls who produces what merchandise, what quantities will be produced, and to whom it will be distributed - from CuttingEdge.org
Historians typically define fascism by the characteristics it assumed in Italy, Germany, and Spain during the second, third, and fourth decades of the 20th century: authoritarian capitalism, superpatriotism, militarism, state secrecy, xenophobia, scapegoating, totalitarian suppression of dissent, and dictatorship. Of these, only the last has not yet appeared on the American scene — though, as Bertram Gross argued in his 1980 book Friendly Fascism, it may be possible for a nation to become fascistic while maintaining formal elections. - from "Bombing our way toward fascism" By Richard Heinberg Santa Rosa, Calif.
Does any of this sound familiar to you, girls and boys? Or were you sleeping through your history classes?
Maybe I was the only person in my age group who actually took a class in European History; it became very clear to me early on what President Evil and his minions were trying to do...
More later......
Fascism is defined as that economic system in which Private Industry controls the means of production, but where the Federal Government controls who produces what merchandise, what quantities will be produced, and to whom it will be distributed - from CuttingEdge.org
Historians typically define fascism by the characteristics it assumed in Italy, Germany, and Spain during the second, third, and fourth decades of the 20th century: authoritarian capitalism, superpatriotism, militarism, state secrecy, xenophobia, scapegoating, totalitarian suppression of dissent, and dictatorship. Of these, only the last has not yet appeared on the American scene — though, as Bertram Gross argued in his 1980 book Friendly Fascism, it may be possible for a nation to become fascistic while maintaining formal elections. - from "Bombing our way toward fascism" By Richard Heinberg Santa Rosa, Calif.
Does any of this sound familiar to you, girls and boys? Or were you sleeping through your history classes?
Maybe I was the only person in my age group who actually took a class in European History; it became very clear to me early on what President Evil and his minions were trying to do...
More later......
Katrina's Devastation
Just when it looked like New Orleans would be saved from the brunt of the storm, the levees broke and/or overflowed. Looking at the photos of the devastation in New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama is really starting to make me reconsider living on the Gulf Coast. When (it's only a matter of time, after all) the big one hits the greater Tampa Bay area, it will look much like New Orleans...
Now they are trying to manage a "total evacuation" of New Orleans due to the continued rising water. The system of canals and pumps they set up just for such a disaster are not working as they had planned...this is a city that PLANNED for a disaster like this, and they are ready to have everyone leave! I hate to think what will happen here when we get hit with a cat 4 or 5.
My friend Susan and her brother managed to make it through the traffic and are high and dry in New Mexico, but are worried about family and friends back in Mississippi. They are unable to get through to anyone, and can't get any news coverage from the area where he lives. We are all searching over the internet for any photos of Pass Christian and the surrounding small towns along the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Gulfport.
There is talk over the web about the environmentalists and local communities in the Gulf Coast areas that told their local governments that clearing out the natural barriers to develop homes and businesses would cause more havoc if a hurricane of this size ever hit...needless to say, it fell on deaf ears. Not to say that there wouldn't still be destruction, but maybe not to this extent.
Now they are trying to manage a "total evacuation" of New Orleans due to the continued rising water. The system of canals and pumps they set up just for such a disaster are not working as they had planned...this is a city that PLANNED for a disaster like this, and they are ready to have everyone leave! I hate to think what will happen here when we get hit with a cat 4 or 5.
My friend Susan and her brother managed to make it through the traffic and are high and dry in New Mexico, but are worried about family and friends back in Mississippi. They are unable to get through to anyone, and can't get any news coverage from the area where he lives. We are all searching over the internet for any photos of Pass Christian and the surrounding small towns along the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Gulfport.
There is talk over the web about the environmentalists and local communities in the Gulf Coast areas that told their local governments that clearing out the natural barriers to develop homes and businesses would cause more havoc if a hurricane of this size ever hit...needless to say, it fell on deaf ears. Not to say that there wouldn't still be destruction, but maybe not to this extent.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
On Relationships
I'm going to keep this short...the only thing I want to say is:
I am somewhat psychic, but I can't read minds. Don't tell me one thing when you mean the complete opposite.
That is all.
I am somewhat psychic, but I can't read minds. Don't tell me one thing when you mean the complete opposite.
That is all.
Katrina
Pray for everyone on the northern gulf coast...that sister is a monsterous category 5 hurricane now. Of all the places that DO NOT need to be hit with a cat 5, New Orleans is the highest on the list. Although I am glad the storm did not come our way once again, I would not wish that mess on anyone.
I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for my friend Susan and her brother, who are driving in the evacuation traffic, on a planned vacation that is taking them from her brothers house in Mississippi to New Mexico and back. I'm sending all the protective energy I can towards you, my friend. Be safe.
I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for my friend Susan and her brother, who are driving in the evacuation traffic, on a planned vacation that is taking them from her brothers house in Mississippi to New Mexico and back. I'm sending all the protective energy I can towards you, my friend. Be safe.
Hope for the future?
I see tiny rays of light popping out of the mess that masquerades itself as the Democratic party these days. I know most people think Howard Dean is insane, but the fact of the matter is he knows how to fundraise and I believe he can be the catalyst for the kind of change that needs to take place within the party to bring it back to some semblance of sanity. He at least brings to the forefront the issues that are important to the core of the party membership, the so-called "liberals". The Dems have been trying too hard to appease the "red state" voters...lets face it, the Dems will never be able to get enough of those voters to make any difference, so why sell their souls to try? They should concentrate on getting their core voters back, and on getting more independent voters. The only way to do that is to start acting like Dems again, instead of like "Republican Lites". What happened to promoting the core values of the party??? There are some good apples in the barrel, however...Barak Obama, Paul Hackett, Barbara Boxer, even John Kerry now that he is back to being just a senator (and a thorn in the side of the administration).
Barak Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention literally gave me goosebumps...and also gave me hope for the future of this country. I can definitely see him as the first African-American president someday. It is apparent that he has the intelligence, common sense (not necessarily the same thing), and principles to make a positive change in the world. Come to think of it, he may be overqualified to be the president. :)
The more I see of Paul Hackett, the more I like him. That man takes absolutely no shit from anyone. It is refreshing to see a Democratic politician willing to give as good as he gets from the Republican slime machine. Those Reps don't know how to handle it when they have someone who doesn't just roll over and play dead...it's quite funny to watch their reaction to him shooting them back down. And as much as I hate to say it, much of being a successful politician these days has to do with looking good on camera and carrying yourself well in front of the camera, and he certainly has that part of the equation down as well. He looks like exactly what he is...an ex-marine with an attitude. Rumor has it he is running for Senate in Ohio for the 2006 elections...god help whoever the Rep is that is running against him. I don't think any amount of sliming, cheating, or irregularity at the polls is going to beat Hackett - even if it's in an area that is heavily Republican.
Kudos to Barbara Boxer & John Kerry for being in the minority of the Dem Senators who have the guts to stand up and ask questions of this administration, question the validity of the candidates President Moron is putting up for various positions, and for asking the tough questions during the hearings.
There may be hope for this country to regain our credibility around the world if we can get more people like this group elected during the midterm elections in 2006. If the Dems can regain a majority, or at least lessen the Rep stronghold, there may be a chance to get some real investigations into this administration's wrongdoings. Then maybe, just maybe, this country will be able to get back on track once this poor excuse for a president and his evil cohorts are out of office.
Barak Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention literally gave me goosebumps...and also gave me hope for the future of this country. I can definitely see him as the first African-American president someday. It is apparent that he has the intelligence, common sense (not necessarily the same thing), and principles to make a positive change in the world. Come to think of it, he may be overqualified to be the president. :)
The more I see of Paul Hackett, the more I like him. That man takes absolutely no shit from anyone. It is refreshing to see a Democratic politician willing to give as good as he gets from the Republican slime machine. Those Reps don't know how to handle it when they have someone who doesn't just roll over and play dead...it's quite funny to watch their reaction to him shooting them back down. And as much as I hate to say it, much of being a successful politician these days has to do with looking good on camera and carrying yourself well in front of the camera, and he certainly has that part of the equation down as well. He looks like exactly what he is...an ex-marine with an attitude. Rumor has it he is running for Senate in Ohio for the 2006 elections...god help whoever the Rep is that is running against him. I don't think any amount of sliming, cheating, or irregularity at the polls is going to beat Hackett - even if it's in an area that is heavily Republican.
Kudos to Barbara Boxer & John Kerry for being in the minority of the Dem Senators who have the guts to stand up and ask questions of this administration, question the validity of the candidates President Moron is putting up for various positions, and for asking the tough questions during the hearings.
There may be hope for this country to regain our credibility around the world if we can get more people like this group elected during the midterm elections in 2006. If the Dems can regain a majority, or at least lessen the Rep stronghold, there may be a chance to get some real investigations into this administration's wrongdoings. Then maybe, just maybe, this country will be able to get back on track once this poor excuse for a president and his evil cohorts are out of office.
For those who doubt he is evil
Here's the evidence, courtesy of "WTF is it now"...check out the blog at www.maruthecrankpot.blogspot.com.
Bush's obscene tirades rattle White House aides
Jebus, is this for real??!
While President George W. Bush travels around the country in a last-ditch effort to sell his Iraq war, White House aides scramble frantically behind the scenes to hide the dark mood of an increasingly angry leader who unleashes obscenity-filled outbursts at anyone who dares disagree with him.“I’m not meeting with that goddamned bitch,” Bush screamed at aides who suggested he meet with Cindy Sheehan, the war-protesting mother whose son died in Iraq. “She can go to hell as far as I’m concerned!”Bush, administration aides confide, frequently explodes into tirades over those who protest the war, calling them “motherfucking traitors.” He reportedly was so upset over Veterans of Foreign Wars members who wore “bullshit protectors” over their ears during his speech to their annual convention that he told aides to “tell those VFW assholes that I’ll never speak to them again is they can’t keep their members under control.”- more here (via BartCop).
Spoiled brat @**hole.
Bush's obscene tirades rattle White House aides
Jebus, is this for real??!
While President George W. Bush travels around the country in a last-ditch effort to sell his Iraq war, White House aides scramble frantically behind the scenes to hide the dark mood of an increasingly angry leader who unleashes obscenity-filled outbursts at anyone who dares disagree with him.“I’m not meeting with that goddamned bitch,” Bush screamed at aides who suggested he meet with Cindy Sheehan, the war-protesting mother whose son died in Iraq. “She can go to hell as far as I’m concerned!”Bush, administration aides confide, frequently explodes into tirades over those who protest the war, calling them “motherfucking traitors.” He reportedly was so upset over Veterans of Foreign Wars members who wore “bullshit protectors” over their ears during his speech to their annual convention that he told aides to “tell those VFW assholes that I’ll never speak to them again is they can’t keep their members under control.”- more here (via BartCop).
Spoiled brat @**hole.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Crazy Musings of an Insomniac
And this is after taking Ambien...how can I possibly still be this coherent? NOOOOO, it can't be enough to have a raging headache, now I am staring blankly at the walls, unable to sleep. At least before when I had insomnia, interesting and somewhat important thoughts came to my head that would later become photo projects or lifestyle changes - but now, it is nothing but mush in there.
I must learn to convince my brain that it will not miss anything by getting a few hours of sleep a night....
I must learn to convince my brain that it will not miss anything by getting a few hours of sleep a night....
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
MIGRAINE 101
Today's visit to the neurologist went exactly as expected; there is no other medication that we can try to fight the migraines - the next step is an inpatient migraine clinic or botox. Either course of action requires an approval from the insurance company, which of course is where everything will become a big giant mess. I am hoping against hope that it will not become a fight and that they will not scream "pre-existing condition" and refuse to treat it outright, thus preventing me from getting ANY treatment, including the medication I am already taking that keeps the headaches down to a somewhat dull roar.
The fact that the insurance companies have become evil corporate monsters who try their best to avoid treating patients for anything if they can help it disgusts me beyond belief. It took my primary care doctor threatening and yelling at a previous insurance company for me to even be able to be referred to a neurologist for the migraines to begin with...I was lucky to have a halfway-decent insurance company at the time that said neurologist gave up and referred me to my current one, who is one of the top guys in the country (it is good to have a research university nearby).
So once again, I am back to square one - hoping that a new course of treatment can be found that will help me keep from going completely insane from the pain. My coworkers and friends will be crossing their fingers as well, I am sure, just so they don't need to deal with me being surly from being in pain. I am also sure they are tired of me being "stupid" since I am not able to complete thoughts or ideas or even sentences at this point. I am not used to this anymore; I had really thought that we had control of this with the preventatives I have been taking, and it really stinks that I am right back where I started. :(
The fact that the insurance companies have become evil corporate monsters who try their best to avoid treating patients for anything if they can help it disgusts me beyond belief. It took my primary care doctor threatening and yelling at a previous insurance company for me to even be able to be referred to a neurologist for the migraines to begin with...I was lucky to have a halfway-decent insurance company at the time that said neurologist gave up and referred me to my current one, who is one of the top guys in the country (it is good to have a research university nearby).
So once again, I am back to square one - hoping that a new course of treatment can be found that will help me keep from going completely insane from the pain. My coworkers and friends will be crossing their fingers as well, I am sure, just so they don't need to deal with me being surly from being in pain. I am also sure they are tired of me being "stupid" since I am not able to complete thoughts or ideas or even sentences at this point. I am not used to this anymore; I had really thought that we had control of this with the preventatives I have been taking, and it really stinks that I am right back where I started. :(
Monday, August 15, 2005
My First REAL Post
My thoughts are jumbled today, Mercury in retrograde for the last day (thank god), so bear with me.
1) Hats off to Paul Hackett, the Marine who ran for office in Ohio on the Democratic ticket in a 70% Republican district and took 49% of the vote. He has the conservatives in the RNC and the pundits on the radio and newspapers all in a tither. Rush Limbaugh tried to be his usual arrogant self-aggrandizing self by calling Hackett a "staff puke" on his show...Hackett responded by stating that Limbaugh is a "fatass drug addict" who basically wouldn't know patriotism if it bit him in his forementioned fat ass. Just what the Dems need...a representative of the party (in addition to Howard Dean, who everyone thinks is crazy but is really crazy like a fox) who is willing to say exactly what he thinks and is willing to fight back when the nutwings on the right try to slime him!
Interesting how the right-wing pundits are all about "supporting the troops" and the veterans of the Iraq war unless the said person happens to be a Democrat running for office, eh?
2) My thoughts and support to Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a fallen soldier who is keeping vigil outside of "not my president's" Crawford, Texas ranch until he will speak to her or until his extremely long vacation is over, whichever comes first (we all know hell will freeze over before he will talk to her again). Again, the right wingnuts are trying to slander this poor woman in her grief...of course she could never possibly have been in shock when she met with the president right after her son was killed in the war, thus precipitating her saying that she didn't harbor any ill feelings toward the war or the president at that time. Of course, we as humans are not allowed to change our minds as time progresses and further information comes to light either - then we are "flip-floppers" according to our president and his cadre of slimy slanderers.
3) Some of my friends are obsessed with the baby panda at the National Zoo. They spend I don't know how much time each day watching the "Panda Vision" camera monitors online to look at the little bugger. It's much better now that it actually looks like something other than a blob - at least now you can tell it is a panda. Before, I couldn't really get into the excitement of it all...the muddy images of a blob of something that might be the little critter (wait, is that it? No, that's just the mom's butt!) (Sue, I told you I just had to mention this!).
4) Finally, my friend Ryan has an audition for a movie in Atlanta tomorrow; break a leg, babe!
1) Hats off to Paul Hackett, the Marine who ran for office in Ohio on the Democratic ticket in a 70% Republican district and took 49% of the vote. He has the conservatives in the RNC and the pundits on the radio and newspapers all in a tither. Rush Limbaugh tried to be his usual arrogant self-aggrandizing self by calling Hackett a "staff puke" on his show...Hackett responded by stating that Limbaugh is a "fatass drug addict" who basically wouldn't know patriotism if it bit him in his forementioned fat ass. Just what the Dems need...a representative of the party (in addition to Howard Dean, who everyone thinks is crazy but is really crazy like a fox) who is willing to say exactly what he thinks and is willing to fight back when the nutwings on the right try to slime him!
Interesting how the right-wing pundits are all about "supporting the troops" and the veterans of the Iraq war unless the said person happens to be a Democrat running for office, eh?
2) My thoughts and support to Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a fallen soldier who is keeping vigil outside of "not my president's" Crawford, Texas ranch until he will speak to her or until his extremely long vacation is over, whichever comes first (we all know hell will freeze over before he will talk to her again). Again, the right wingnuts are trying to slander this poor woman in her grief...of course she could never possibly have been in shock when she met with the president right after her son was killed in the war, thus precipitating her saying that she didn't harbor any ill feelings toward the war or the president at that time. Of course, we as humans are not allowed to change our minds as time progresses and further information comes to light either - then we are "flip-floppers" according to our president and his cadre of slimy slanderers.
3) Some of my friends are obsessed with the baby panda at the National Zoo. They spend I don't know how much time each day watching the "Panda Vision" camera monitors online to look at the little bugger. It's much better now that it actually looks like something other than a blob - at least now you can tell it is a panda. Before, I couldn't really get into the excitement of it all...the muddy images of a blob of something that might be the little critter (wait, is that it? No, that's just the mom's butt!) (Sue, I told you I just had to mention this!).
4) Finally, my friend Ryan has an audition for a movie in Atlanta tomorrow; break a leg, babe!
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Help us all....
They are actually giving me a space for my rants...The world is not ready for this!!!
Keep checking back...you may be surprised.
Keep checking back...you may be surprised.
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