With General Patreus' impending testimony to congress about "progess" in Iraq, I thought it'd be interesting to analyze just how that wacky war is going. Below, my brief interview with the Iraq War:
Me: Iraq War, nice to meet you.
Iraq War: KABOOM!
Me: Oops, are you okay?
Iraq War: Just 500 civlians dead in the latest blast, that's all. Added to the 600,000 civlians already dead, of course. But who's counting?
Me: So how's it goin' otherwise?
Iraq War: (weeping hysterically) Just watching as 4 million refugees are streaming out of the country, that's all.
Me: So what about those who stayed behind to brave the daily blasts and horrific urban warfare?
Iraq War: bzzzzzzzbzzzzzzzkeeeeeeeeeek
Me: What was that?
Iraq War: Just the Baghdad power grid failing for the 5th time today.
Me: Hey, it's hot here, and I'm thirsty. Can I have some water?
Iraq War: Sorry, no clean drinking water supplies.
Me: So where are all the children, anyway?
Iraq War: Hiding inside. They don't come out to play or go to school much these days. Too dangerous, plus many of the schools are destroyed.
Me: That's too bad. But other than that, the war is going well, right? Lots of progress, I hear.
Iraq War: KABOOM!
But hey, at least Dennis Kucinich gives a shit about peace:
Report from the Middle East
While the other leading candidates for the Presidency were spending the Labor Day weekend campaigning at picnics, barbeques, state and county fairs, and parading in front of the cameras, YOUR candidate, Dennis Kucinich, without fanfare, was quietly traveling throughout the troubled Middle East in search of real-world solutions to monumental, global challenges.
The votes we cast next year will have an impact here in the United States and around the world, and the candidate we elect must be equipped to make sound foreign policy decisions, based on first hand experience and in-person communications with other world leaders.
So, while other candidates partied and picnicked and posed, Dennis and Elizabeth traveled to a troubled, dangerous region of the world to meet with heads of state and other political leaders to find ways to solve the problems, mitigate the dangers, and find common ground for diplomatic cooperation - and PEACE.
"Strength through Peace" - the Kucinich philosophy - means direct engagement, diplomacy, adherence to international law and upholding treaties. It was in that spirit that Dennis and Elizabeth decided to visit the Middle East; to see whether political and religious leaders as well as the citizens of the region were open to the kind of positive dialogue recommended in the Baker Hamilton report. The kind of dialogue ignored and dismissed by the White House.
Read the rest of the story here.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Lambasting Bush, Family Guy style
If you're a regular reader of my webzine, Clockwise Cat, then you know I am a huge fan of satire. Satire's stinging sardonic style (seems I'm a bit drunk on alliteration, eh?) is the perfect antidote to suicidal tendencies. In other words, if you're so mired in misery that you're tending toward self-homicide, satire might just lift you out of your funk by showing you the comedy in tragedy. True, the comedy is of the bitter variety rather than the pabulum sort, but still.
So anyway, one of my favorite satirical TV shows is Family Guy. It can get a bit crass at times (and sometimes the satirical sexism backfires - more about that later), but mostly it's just hilarious humor that mocks the inanity of society and life.
In this montage of clips, Family Guy makes vicious fun of Commander-in-Thief Bush. Granted, he's an easy target, but then, he deserves it, the fascist fuck.
So anyway, one of my favorite satirical TV shows is Family Guy. It can get a bit crass at times (and sometimes the satirical sexism backfires - more about that later), but mostly it's just hilarious humor that mocks the inanity of society and life.
In this montage of clips, Family Guy makes vicious fun of Commander-in-Thief Bush. Granted, he's an easy target, but then, he deserves it, the fascist fuck.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Sexism ain't sexy
I was re-reading some of my earlier posts (well, *someone's* gotta read my posts), and I got stuck on my post about sexism against women in ancient Greece.
Sexism against women exists still, to this day, and if you don't believe me, fuck off.
Seriously, sexism is still rampant, even in the western world, and of course in the eastern world.
Look for upcoming posts about sexism against women - and even a few about sexism against men, which is an egregious offense all its own.
Sexism against women exists still, to this day, and if you don't believe me, fuck off.
Seriously, sexism is still rampant, even in the western world, and of course in the eastern world.
Look for upcoming posts about sexism against women - and even a few about sexism against men, which is an egregious offense all its own.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Disaster, Inc. Part IV
And from the ACLU :
On Katrina's Second Anniversary, Ongoing Civil and Human Rights Violations on the Gulf Coast Still Reported
A new report by the ACLU, Broken Promises: Two Years After Katrina, exposes numerous civil rights violations that have occurred in Louisiana and Mississippi since the storm, including reports of heightened racially motivated police activity, housing discrimination, and prisoner abuse.
"Politicians made promises, but they failed to fix the problems that Katrina's fury made painfully clear,” said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. “The government must be held accountable for its mistakes rather than allowed to perpetuate the systemic racism and discrimination that only added strength to the storm."
The report highlights the ongoing abuses since the storm, including:
Violence and neglect run rampant behind the walls of the jails. Some conditions in the Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) have even worsened since last year. The House of Detention, the largest of four jail buildings reopened since the storm, is severely overcrowded and conditions are squalid. Prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor without mattresses for weeks at a time in areas where up to 18 prisoners are held in cells designed for 10 people. There is no air-conditioning in most of the overcrowded facility despite excessive heat. These inhumane and dangerous conditions are exacerbated by severe understaffing at the jail.
Medical and mental health services at the jails are grossly inadequate. There reportedly have been several recent outbreaks of "staph" infections, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease caused by filth and unsanitary conditions, and efforts to provide treatment are deficient.
Prisoners who are identified as needing mental health care after being taken into custody have been sent to a unit where they are strapped down to a bed in five-point restraints. The ACLU has received reports of prisoners being left there, largely unsupervised, for days at a time without any breaks, even to use the restroom.
In light of the findings in the report, Congress should pass legislation to address post-Katrina injustices, including racial profiling, voter disenfranchisement, and the dearth of health care facilities and low-income housing. The Department of Justice should investigate severe problems at OPP, the New Orleans jail system where prisoners were abandoned during the storm.
On Katrina's Second Anniversary, Ongoing Civil and Human Rights Violations on the Gulf Coast Still Reported
A new report by the ACLU, Broken Promises: Two Years After Katrina, exposes numerous civil rights violations that have occurred in Louisiana and Mississippi since the storm, including reports of heightened racially motivated police activity, housing discrimination, and prisoner abuse.
"Politicians made promises, but they failed to fix the problems that Katrina's fury made painfully clear,” said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. “The government must be held accountable for its mistakes rather than allowed to perpetuate the systemic racism and discrimination that only added strength to the storm."
The report highlights the ongoing abuses since the storm, including:
Violence and neglect run rampant behind the walls of the jails. Some conditions in the Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) have even worsened since last year. The House of Detention, the largest of four jail buildings reopened since the storm, is severely overcrowded and conditions are squalid. Prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor without mattresses for weeks at a time in areas where up to 18 prisoners are held in cells designed for 10 people. There is no air-conditioning in most of the overcrowded facility despite excessive heat. These inhumane and dangerous conditions are exacerbated by severe understaffing at the jail.
Medical and mental health services at the jails are grossly inadequate. There reportedly have been several recent outbreaks of "staph" infections, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease caused by filth and unsanitary conditions, and efforts to provide treatment are deficient.
Prisoners who are identified as needing mental health care after being taken into custody have been sent to a unit where they are strapped down to a bed in five-point restraints. The ACLU has received reports of prisoners being left there, largely unsupervised, for days at a time without any breaks, even to use the restroom.
In light of the findings in the report, Congress should pass legislation to address post-Katrina injustices, including racial profiling, voter disenfranchisement, and the dearth of health care facilities and low-income housing. The Department of Justice should investigate severe problems at OPP, the New Orleans jail system where prisoners were abandoned during the storm.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Disaster, Inc. Part III
This, too, gives me hope.
Brave New Films has made a short but heartbreaking video about the ongoing disaster, When the Saints Go Marching In.
At the conclusion of the film, it urges us to support The Gulf Coast Recovery Act. Sign the petition to do so.
And here is a brief letter written by Brave New Films:
Dear Friends,
Tomorrow marks the two year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and still there are tens of thousands of families without homes. 30,000 families are scattered across the country in FEMA apartments, 13,000 are in trailers, and hardly any of the 77,000 rental units destroyed in New Orleans have been rebuilt.
During the making of this video, we heard the heartbreaking stories of good people unable to return home. We have heard the story of the Aguilar family who lost their home to the storm and only received $4,000 in payments from their insurance company. We have met Mr. Washington, an 87-year-old man and former carpenter, who owned three homes prior to the storm. He is still living in a FEMA trailer today. And we've met Julie, who could have returned to her job and normal life, if the government had opened up the public housing units that she had lived in prior to the storm.
Brave New Films has made a short but heartbreaking video about the ongoing disaster, When the Saints Go Marching In.
At the conclusion of the film, it urges us to support The Gulf Coast Recovery Act. Sign the petition to do so.
And here is a brief letter written by Brave New Films:
Dear Friends,
Tomorrow marks the two year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and still there are tens of thousands of families without homes. 30,000 families are scattered across the country in FEMA apartments, 13,000 are in trailers, and hardly any of the 77,000 rental units destroyed in New Orleans have been rebuilt.
During the making of this video, we heard the heartbreaking stories of good people unable to return home. We have heard the story of the Aguilar family who lost their home to the storm and only received $4,000 in payments from their insurance company. We have met Mr. Washington, an 87-year-old man and former carpenter, who owned three homes prior to the storm. He is still living in a FEMA trailer today. And we've met Julie, who could have returned to her job and normal life, if the government had opened up the public housing units that she had lived in prior to the storm.
Disaster, Inc. Part II
The heartening part of it all - if there IS a slice of optimism to be discerned amidst the devastation - is that there are a few groups who are clamoring for change in the way that the Katrina aftermath is being handled.
From Campaign for America's Future:
Conservatism Disconnected
The Gulf Coast is still struggling to rebuild and recover, while conservative policies ensure that critical infrastructure and services will continue to be neglected. Write your local paper and inform your community how conservatism is eroding America’s foundations.
Seventeen days after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, and fifteen days after he ended his vacation, President Bush addressed the nation from New Orleans. He urged the displaced to call a toll-free number “and we will work to bring your family back together.”
Call that number today and you’ll find the line disconnected. Sadly, not surprising.
As we approach the second anniversary of the brutal storm, we still have hundreds of thousands of displaced Americans who have still not been able to rejoin their families in New Orleans -- and many others unable to get help with housing or jobs. White House promises made to them were broken, and it’s up to us to hold accountable those who failed to keep their word.
That’s what this week's observance of the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina must be about, if we are to not only rebuild the Gulf Coast, but also rebuild all of America.
Because this is not simply about assailing the incompetence of President Bush and his band of hacks. This is about how the conservative ideology is eroding the foundations of our great country.
From our bridges to our mines to our beloved home of jazz, conservative hatred of responsible government has led to crumbling institutions that have cut short the lives of too many. Unless we speak out and identify the problem, we won’t be able to implement solutions that will restore our infrastructure and revitalize our cities.
At Campaign for America’s Future, we’re doing our part during this week of solemn remembrance.
We’ve released a new video dramatically showing how Washington conservatives are disconnected from the harsh reality that Katrina’s victims are still living.
All week at our blog The Big Con, we’re chronicling how conservatism is at the root of what still ails the Gulf Coast.
And we’ve set up a web page where you can easily send letters to the editor and relay the facts to your community.
After Katrina, a leading congressman said the plan was to bring “conservative, free-market ideas to the Gulf Coast.” They did, and we’ve seen the results.
Less affordable housing. Fewer schools. Less water. Fewer buses. Less medical care. Fewer African-Americans that can come home and exercise their right to vote.
A disaster-relief agency that has served as a dumping-ground for political cronies.
And lots of no-bid contracts and wasted taxpayer dollars.
We cannot allow conservatism to continue to plague New Orleans and the rest of America. Let’s make our voices heard this week, and help get our nation back on solid ground.
Sincerely,
Roger Hickey, Co-Director
Campaign for America’s Future
From Campaign for America's Future:
Conservatism Disconnected
The Gulf Coast is still struggling to rebuild and recover, while conservative policies ensure that critical infrastructure and services will continue to be neglected. Write your local paper and inform your community how conservatism is eroding America’s foundations.
Seventeen days after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, and fifteen days after he ended his vacation, President Bush addressed the nation from New Orleans. He urged the displaced to call a toll-free number “and we will work to bring your family back together.”
Call that number today and you’ll find the line disconnected. Sadly, not surprising.
As we approach the second anniversary of the brutal storm, we still have hundreds of thousands of displaced Americans who have still not been able to rejoin their families in New Orleans -- and many others unable to get help with housing or jobs. White House promises made to them were broken, and it’s up to us to hold accountable those who failed to keep their word.
That’s what this week's observance of the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina must be about, if we are to not only rebuild the Gulf Coast, but also rebuild all of America.
Because this is not simply about assailing the incompetence of President Bush and his band of hacks. This is about how the conservative ideology is eroding the foundations of our great country.
From our bridges to our mines to our beloved home of jazz, conservative hatred of responsible government has led to crumbling institutions that have cut short the lives of too many. Unless we speak out and identify the problem, we won’t be able to implement solutions that will restore our infrastructure and revitalize our cities.
At Campaign for America’s Future, we’re doing our part during this week of solemn remembrance.
We’ve released a new video dramatically showing how Washington conservatives are disconnected from the harsh reality that Katrina’s victims are still living.
All week at our blog The Big Con, we’re chronicling how conservatism is at the root of what still ails the Gulf Coast.
And we’ve set up a web page where you can easily send letters to the editor and relay the facts to your community.
After Katrina, a leading congressman said the plan was to bring “conservative, free-market ideas to the Gulf Coast.” They did, and we’ve seen the results.
Less affordable housing. Fewer schools. Less water. Fewer buses. Less medical care. Fewer African-Americans that can come home and exercise their right to vote.
A disaster-relief agency that has served as a dumping-ground for political cronies.
And lots of no-bid contracts and wasted taxpayer dollars.
We cannot allow conservatism to continue to plague New Orleans and the rest of America. Let’s make our voices heard this week, and help get our nation back on solid ground.
Sincerely,
Roger Hickey, Co-Director
Campaign for America’s Future
Monday, August 27, 2007
Disaster, Inc.
Have I even written about the Katrina disaster yet? If not, mea culpa, and I am deeply chagrined. The way the Katrina aftermath was handled is one of the many fiascos (among the whole huge bewildering mass) that Bush, Cheney, et al. should be impeached (and incinerated) for, and one of the many tragic situations that should be dominating the media, but which sadly and outrageously is not.
Anyway, the Katrina situation is STILL raging, because the government, fascist sick government that it is, is refusing to grant lower income people their RIGHT TO RETURN to New Orleans, and instead are using money that is RIGHTFULLY the victims' to remake the city into a Vegas-style tourist trap. It's happening along the Gulf Coast, too - instead of helping to house people, they are buidling casinos to lure in the tourists. Poor folk be damned - as usual.
It's yet another example of how America is being re-fashioned into a Haiti-like nightmare of huge income disparities. America is third-world-izing right before our very eyes. If you are in any doubt whatsoever, you are not paying attention, and have a lot of catching up to do. Get crackin'.
And none of us are safe from the egregious greed shown by the tyrants and corporations who control our country; middle class folks are already being financially impacted, and even the richest among us will eventually pay, spiritually and emotionally, for the sickening sins of the corporate totalitarians.
Watch a heart-wrenching video about it here:
Voices from the Gulf
And here is the excellent site of a movement that advocates for Katrina victims' rights, among other civil rights:
Color of Change
Anyway, the Katrina situation is STILL raging, because the government, fascist sick government that it is, is refusing to grant lower income people their RIGHT TO RETURN to New Orleans, and instead are using money that is RIGHTFULLY the victims' to remake the city into a Vegas-style tourist trap. It's happening along the Gulf Coast, too - instead of helping to house people, they are buidling casinos to lure in the tourists. Poor folk be damned - as usual.
It's yet another example of how America is being re-fashioned into a Haiti-like nightmare of huge income disparities. America is third-world-izing right before our very eyes. If you are in any doubt whatsoever, you are not paying attention, and have a lot of catching up to do. Get crackin'.
And none of us are safe from the egregious greed shown by the tyrants and corporations who control our country; middle class folks are already being financially impacted, and even the richest among us will eventually pay, spiritually and emotionally, for the sickening sins of the corporate totalitarians.
Watch a heart-wrenching video about it here:
Voices from the Gulf
And here is the excellent site of a movement that advocates for Katrina victims' rights, among other civil rights:
Color of Change
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
YES new taxes!
The bridge collapse in Minneapolis (not to mention the levee failure in New Orleans) perfectly illustrates why conservative rule DOES NOT WORK. The conservative mantra is always "no new taxes," implying that any new taxes are anathema to the health of society and the economy. But precisely the OPPOSITE is true. A healthy society thrives on taxes in order to maintain roads, schools, healthcare and so on. Social Democracy is the ONLY way to smoothly and sanely run society. Socialism because taxes exist for the common good, and Democracy because personal freedom is paramount.
People in America are so conditioned to think that taxes are an abominable evil. No other country in the Western world is so violently opposed to taxes - indeed, people in places like England, France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland embrace taxes because they know that privatization of public services is ultimately much more costly and less reliable.
So I ask you: where would most kids other than those from affluent families attend schools if not for tax-funded public education institutions?* You might say, "but our public schools suck!" Well, first of all, they do not wholesale suck, because there are some great things going on in public schools. And secondly, if they do suck in any way, that's due to the fact of them being UNDERFUNDED, because we'd prefer to spend more on bombing babies than educating them. Did you know that the Iraq War is costing $2 TRILLION? Yes, OUR taxes are going toward annihilating a country. So even though the conservatives CLAIM to abhor taxes, the fact of the matter is, they LOVE them, because how else would they subsidize their nihilistic agenda? What would YOU rather pay to watch - the intellectual nurturing of a child, or the blasting off of her limbs? Because the latter is exactly what is happening in Iraq.
Anyway, a while back, the governor of Minnesota refused to sign onto a bill that would increase taxes for maintaining roads and bridges, and has ended up paying a hefty price anyway. Six people have died. He has blood on his hands. Arrest him and sequester him, because he has not protected the well-being of his subjects.
According to this article, Bridge Collapse Spotlights America's Deferred Maintenance "the nation is spending only about two-thirds as much as it should be to keep dams, levees, highways, and bridges safe."
So now do you feel safer knowing that daily, new terrorists are being created in Iraq, using YOUR tax dollars, while our infrastructure is crumbling all around us? Look for more Katrina- and Minnesota-style fiascos to happen if the current trend of defunding public services continues.
*Besides, in a true social democracy, people would not own such egregious wealth as some do now, and we would not have such vulgar class disparities.
People in America are so conditioned to think that taxes are an abominable evil. No other country in the Western world is so violently opposed to taxes - indeed, people in places like England, France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland embrace taxes because they know that privatization of public services is ultimately much more costly and less reliable.
So I ask you: where would most kids other than those from affluent families attend schools if not for tax-funded public education institutions?* You might say, "but our public schools suck!" Well, first of all, they do not wholesale suck, because there are some great things going on in public schools. And secondly, if they do suck in any way, that's due to the fact of them being UNDERFUNDED, because we'd prefer to spend more on bombing babies than educating them. Did you know that the Iraq War is costing $2 TRILLION? Yes, OUR taxes are going toward annihilating a country. So even though the conservatives CLAIM to abhor taxes, the fact of the matter is, they LOVE them, because how else would they subsidize their nihilistic agenda? What would YOU rather pay to watch - the intellectual nurturing of a child, or the blasting off of her limbs? Because the latter is exactly what is happening in Iraq.
Anyway, a while back, the governor of Minnesota refused to sign onto a bill that would increase taxes for maintaining roads and bridges, and has ended up paying a hefty price anyway. Six people have died. He has blood on his hands. Arrest him and sequester him, because he has not protected the well-being of his subjects.
According to this article, Bridge Collapse Spotlights America's Deferred Maintenance "the nation is spending only about two-thirds as much as it should be to keep dams, levees, highways, and bridges safe."
So now do you feel safer knowing that daily, new terrorists are being created in Iraq, using YOUR tax dollars, while our infrastructure is crumbling all around us? Look for more Katrina- and Minnesota-style fiascos to happen if the current trend of defunding public services continues.
*Besides, in a true social democracy, people would not own such egregious wealth as some do now, and we would not have such vulgar class disparities.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Iraq TRAGEDY, and we are ALL to blame
If there were not such a pathetic media blackout of Iraq war coverage, more people would be upset about what's going on in OUR NAME. As it is, we can sit in complacent comfort in our own homes, ecstatically ignorant about the devastating suffering endured by millions of Iraqis at the hands of a totalitarian American government WE are too lazy to topple.
From AlterNet's War on Iraq:
*80% of Iraqis lack access to sanitation, 70% lack regular access to clean water and 60% lack access to the public food distribution system… As a result of these multiple public health failings, diarrhea and respiratory infections now account for two-thirds of the deaths of children under 5… According to a 2006 national survey conducted by UNICEF, 21% of Iraqi children are chronically malnourished.
*And then there's the poorly covered refugee crisis -- probably the worst on the planet at this moment -- gripping the country. Almost 4 million Iraqis have had to leave their homes, according to Refugees International.
*Iraq is producing one of the -- if not the -- most severe refugee crisis on the planet, a crisis without a name and without significant attention.
*Let's start with the numbers, inadequate as they are. The latest UN figures concerning the refugee crisis in Iraq indicate that between 1-1.2 million Iraqis have fled across the border into Syria; about 750,000 have crossed into Jordan (increasing its modest population of 5.5 million by 14%); at least another 150,000 have made it to Lebanon; over 150,000 have emigrated to Egypt; and -- these figures are the trickiest of all -- over 1.9 million are now estimated to have been internally displaced by civil war and sectarian cleansing within Iraq.
*These numbers are staggering in a population estimated in the pre-invasion years at only 26 million. At a bare minimum, in other words, at least one out of every seven Iraqis has had to flee his or her home due to the violence and chaos set off by the Bush administration's invasion and occupation of Iraq.
From AlterNet's War on Iraq:
*80% of Iraqis lack access to sanitation, 70% lack regular access to clean water and 60% lack access to the public food distribution system… As a result of these multiple public health failings, diarrhea and respiratory infections now account for two-thirds of the deaths of children under 5… According to a 2006 national survey conducted by UNICEF, 21% of Iraqi children are chronically malnourished.
*And then there's the poorly covered refugee crisis -- probably the worst on the planet at this moment -- gripping the country. Almost 4 million Iraqis have had to leave their homes, according to Refugees International.
*Iraq is producing one of the -- if not the -- most severe refugee crisis on the planet, a crisis without a name and without significant attention.
*Let's start with the numbers, inadequate as they are. The latest UN figures concerning the refugee crisis in Iraq indicate that between 1-1.2 million Iraqis have fled across the border into Syria; about 750,000 have crossed into Jordan (increasing its modest population of 5.5 million by 14%); at least another 150,000 have made it to Lebanon; over 150,000 have emigrated to Egypt; and -- these figures are the trickiest of all -- over 1.9 million are now estimated to have been internally displaced by civil war and sectarian cleansing within Iraq.
*These numbers are staggering in a population estimated in the pre-invasion years at only 26 million. At a bare minimum, in other words, at least one out of every seven Iraqis has had to flee his or her home due to the violence and chaos set off by the Bush administration's invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Zenteresting
If a blog post was made but no one was there to read it, does the blog post really exist?
What is the sound of one blog blogging?
If the Dalai Lama were to write a blog post, would it say nothing?
And if it said nothing, would it say "nothing," or would it literally be a blank page?
And if it were literally a blank page, would that count as SOMETHING, since it's a page of white color?
What does nothing look like, anyway?
I suspect it looks like oblivion.
What does oblivion look like, you ask?
Why, it looks like pre-darkness.
What does pre-darkness look like, you wonder?
Why, it looks like post-illumination.
What does post-illumination resemble?
For that, you are going to need to look in the mirror before you were conceived.
What is the sound of one blog blogging?
If the Dalai Lama were to write a blog post, would it say nothing?
And if it said nothing, would it say "nothing," or would it literally be a blank page?
And if it were literally a blank page, would that count as SOMETHING, since it's a page of white color?
What does nothing look like, anyway?
I suspect it looks like oblivion.
What does oblivion look like, you ask?
Why, it looks like pre-darkness.
What does pre-darkness look like, you wonder?
Why, it looks like post-illumination.
What does post-illumination resemble?
For that, you are going to need to look in the mirror before you were conceived.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Canine cruelty
The recent dog fighting scandal involving Michael Vick is harrowing. What kind of society breeds such derelict disregard for animals? I'll tell you what kind of society. The kind of society that would consider the brutal rituals of football and boxing as sports and entertainment. As Alan Watts said, football and boxing are pseudo-sports.
Am I suggesting a link between American football and cruelty to animals? Absolutely. But more on that later.
I am so disheartened by the apparent prevalence of underground dog fighting. And the fact that Vick and others not only practice dog fighting but actually ELECTROCUTE some dogs is unfathomable to me. What the freaking hell?!
And the fact that some fans and teammates would SUPPORT Vick is disgusting. So what if he's a "STAR PLAYER"? He's not a STAR HUMAN, and that's what matters. I don't care if he's the Dalai Fucking Lama. Fire his ass and throw him in jail and incinerate the keys. I don't even like the conditions of jails, but dammit, make a symbol of him, and show society that animals fucking MATTER.
I need more time to digest this.
Am I suggesting a link between American football and cruelty to animals? Absolutely. But more on that later.
I am so disheartened by the apparent prevalence of underground dog fighting. And the fact that Vick and others not only practice dog fighting but actually ELECTROCUTE some dogs is unfathomable to me. What the freaking hell?!
And the fact that some fans and teammates would SUPPORT Vick is disgusting. So what if he's a "STAR PLAYER"? He's not a STAR HUMAN, and that's what matters. I don't care if he's the Dalai Fucking Lama. Fire his ass and throw him in jail and incinerate the keys. I don't even like the conditions of jails, but dammit, make a symbol of him, and show society that animals fucking MATTER.
I need more time to digest this.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
And just in case you disagree...
Food, clothing, shelter, and basic education are HUMAN RIGHTS. Not that we need official documentation of this, but just in case you're still pathetically skeptical, check out this document: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
And if you STILL doubt after reading that and attempting to absorb the idea that ALL HUMANS are deserving of having their basic needs met, then you are in need of heart surgery to instill some compassion.
And I'm dead serious.
And if you STILL doubt after reading that and attempting to absorb the idea that ALL HUMANS are deserving of having their basic needs met, then you are in need of heart surgery to instill some compassion.
And I'm dead serious.
Money for food, not bombs!
It will surprise none of the 0 people who read this blog (I can't even get my boyfriend to read it), that I am a homeless activist of sorts. I do work with a non-profit group which cooks vegetarian food and serves it to the homeless folks who populate the local parks. The group is just a few of us, and we feed the homeless every other weekend. We used to serve on a weekly basis, but work takes its toll during the week, and we just don't have the energy or time to do it every Saturday anymore. I feel badly about this, and yet I realize that in order to keep sane at work, I must rejuvenate my batteries over the weekend.
And anyway, it's not MY responsibily alone to feed the homeless - it's society's, via taxes. We as a society refuse to buy into a more socialized Democracy, and so we reap what we sow. If we bought into a system that served everyone's needs, then we wouldn't have such a problem with homelessness (which is worsening everyday). We would have jobs for everyone, or at least the vast majority, and we would have shelter and financial help for those who were temporarily out of jobs. Societies in Europe do it - why can't we?
Because in Generica we have been conditioned to think that it's everyone for themselves. This is PURE BUNK. Societies subsist on mutual cooperation. Or at least harmonious societies do. Which is why we have a discordant society. Which is why our crimes rates are the worst in the civilized world. Which is why so many are so miserable and existing on 20 types of medication. Yes, even the rich are miserable, because happiness is not about material wealth - it's about spiritual wealth. And our society is spiritually impoverished, and we take our frustrations out on the weak.
My feeling is that people who are callous toward the homeless don't want to face the brutal truth: that it could be THEM out there in the streets. It could be ANY of us. People lose jobs all the time, and not everyone has the financial means to keep afloat in times of unemployment. And with the current rash of outsourcing (hell, they're even starting to outsource JOURNALISTS and BROADCASTERS - WTF?), NONE of us are safe.
There are many reasons for homelessness*, but the main ones include: dearth of jobs, and lack of affordable housing. Here in Atlanta, we are seeing a surge in luxury loft and condo building, and a depressing lack of affordable homes. This affects ALL of us. Who among the middle class can afford a $300,000 mortgage?
Callousness toward homeless people is discouraging, at best. I can barely countenance it, actually, because I don't know why some people must adopt such lofty attitudes toward those less fortunate than themselves. Sure, there is a percentage of homeless who are drug and/or alcohol addicted, but again, why the callousness toward that? If I were homeless, I'd certainly turn to drugs to quell my depression, and there's substantial evidence to show that that drug addiction among homeless was spurred AFTER the homelessness occurred. And even if the drug addiction was a part in enabling the homelessness, I don't understand why people have to be so cruel towards people with the drug problem. We are, none of us, without fault, and so why must we be such a crassly judgemental society? Drug and alcohol addiction is rife in a society that is spiritually bereft, and so in order to heal our wounds, we must begin to work together, as a cohesive unit, for a more harmonious world.
Homelessness is something that could conceivably afflict any of us. Some of the European and Scandanavian countries realize this, and take care to protect their own. Why can't we?
We can find TRILLIONS of dollars to pay for killing and maiming innocent individuals, but we can't fund a society that benevolently exists for everyone?
As Michael Moore says in "Sicko" - "These countries [France, England, Canada, Cuba] understand that it's about WE, not ME."
God bless Michael Moore, and I don't even believe in god.
*Homelessness numbers have soared since the Reagan administration, so yes, it IS ALWAYS about economics, and whether we have a system that either coddles or condemns the masses. It is about whether we have a system that cares more for CEOS, or for real everyday people. I don't care if that sounds like a pedantic liberal cliche - it's the fucking truth.
And anyway, it's not MY responsibily alone to feed the homeless - it's society's, via taxes. We as a society refuse to buy into a more socialized Democracy, and so we reap what we sow. If we bought into a system that served everyone's needs, then we wouldn't have such a problem with homelessness (which is worsening everyday). We would have jobs for everyone, or at least the vast majority, and we would have shelter and financial help for those who were temporarily out of jobs. Societies in Europe do it - why can't we?
Because in Generica we have been conditioned to think that it's everyone for themselves. This is PURE BUNK. Societies subsist on mutual cooperation. Or at least harmonious societies do. Which is why we have a discordant society. Which is why our crimes rates are the worst in the civilized world. Which is why so many are so miserable and existing on 20 types of medication. Yes, even the rich are miserable, because happiness is not about material wealth - it's about spiritual wealth. And our society is spiritually impoverished, and we take our frustrations out on the weak.
My feeling is that people who are callous toward the homeless don't want to face the brutal truth: that it could be THEM out there in the streets. It could be ANY of us. People lose jobs all the time, and not everyone has the financial means to keep afloat in times of unemployment. And with the current rash of outsourcing (hell, they're even starting to outsource JOURNALISTS and BROADCASTERS - WTF?), NONE of us are safe.
There are many reasons for homelessness*, but the main ones include: dearth of jobs, and lack of affordable housing. Here in Atlanta, we are seeing a surge in luxury loft and condo building, and a depressing lack of affordable homes. This affects ALL of us. Who among the middle class can afford a $300,000 mortgage?
Callousness toward homeless people is discouraging, at best. I can barely countenance it, actually, because I don't know why some people must adopt such lofty attitudes toward those less fortunate than themselves. Sure, there is a percentage of homeless who are drug and/or alcohol addicted, but again, why the callousness toward that? If I were homeless, I'd certainly turn to drugs to quell my depression, and there's substantial evidence to show that that drug addiction among homeless was spurred AFTER the homelessness occurred. And even if the drug addiction was a part in enabling the homelessness, I don't understand why people have to be so cruel towards people with the drug problem. We are, none of us, without fault, and so why must we be such a crassly judgemental society? Drug and alcohol addiction is rife in a society that is spiritually bereft, and so in order to heal our wounds, we must begin to work together, as a cohesive unit, for a more harmonious world.
Homelessness is something that could conceivably afflict any of us. Some of the European and Scandanavian countries realize this, and take care to protect their own. Why can't we?
We can find TRILLIONS of dollars to pay for killing and maiming innocent individuals, but we can't fund a society that benevolently exists for everyone?
As Michael Moore says in "Sicko" - "These countries [France, England, Canada, Cuba] understand that it's about WE, not ME."
God bless Michael Moore, and I don't even believe in god.
*Homelessness numbers have soared since the Reagan administration, so yes, it IS ALWAYS about economics, and whether we have a system that either coddles or condemns the masses. It is about whether we have a system that cares more for CEOS, or for real everyday people. I don't care if that sounds like a pedantic liberal cliche - it's the fucking truth.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Dumbocrats 2008 Phun Kwiz
Okay, so I just updated my webzine, Clockwise Cat. Issue Two is now published and live and eager for your perusal.
So I thought that instead of writing an actual blog post here, which would suck up precious time and energy, I'd just leech from Clockwise Cat and do a copy and paste. Below, I offer you my scorching satire of the Democrats.
Okay, so it's blindingly clear that Democratic politicians are just neo-cons in flimsy disguise. Or at least most of them are - there are some decent ones sprinkled throughout the party, such as Rep. John Lewis, Sentator Ted Kennedy (okay, okay, so he killed someone - we all make mistakes), Rep. Dennis Kucinich, and a few others. But face it - the majority of Fuckocrats are spineless corporate errand-boys and girls, more concerned for the futures of Exxon than with the future of everyday peons like toi et moi.
But just to be SURE you grasp this very rudimentary point (that Fuckocrats are cravenly creeps who fellate Big Pharma and do it doggie style with Big Oil), take a few minutes to complete this Phun Kwiz. Return a completed Dumbocrats 2008 Phun Kwiz to Fleurdumal666@gmail.com and get a Phun Prize!
DUMBOCRATS 2008 PHUN KWIZ
Please read each question carefully, and select the best answer from the options provided.
1. Barrack Obama is a true progressive:
a) False
b) Absolutely not
c) Nope
d) Hell no
e) Uh uh, Paco
f) All of the above
2. Hillary Clinton is a REAL progressive:
a) True, if by progressive you mean corporate ass-licker
b) False, she is a FAKE progressive
c) True, if by progressive you mean one inch to the left of a fascist
d) Yeah, and I'm Walker, Texas Ranger
e) Progressively annoying, maybe
3. Obama wants to be President of the United States because:
a) He has the Audacity of Hope
b) He wants to be able to exclaim while standing inside the White House, "Look, it's a Reverse Oreo!"
c) He wants to be able to reiterate the empty rhetoric of his book ad nauseum
d) The midwest is boring
e) "President Obama" sounds better than "Uncle Tom"
4. Hillary wants to be President of the United States because:
a) She wants a blow job from Monica Lewinksy
b) She wants to pretend to be for universal healthcare again
c) She wants to sleep in the same bed that Tony Blair shared with Bush
d) She always wanted to be CEO of a corporation
e) She wants to prove that a female president is different from a male president - oh wait, that's right, she can't prove that, because she's not any different
5. This Kwiz is not racist because:
a) I said so
b) It's just not
c) Obama is not a nappy-headed ho
d) The creator of this kwiz refuses to concede to liberal-fascist political correctness BS and simply tells it as it is, race and gender be damned
e) A kwiz can't be racist, silly - only Don Imus can!
6. This Kwiz is not sexist because:
a) It's too sexy to be sexist
b) This kwiz is too sexy for its shirt, or pants, or underwear, even
c) Hillary sux, period
d) It hasn't mentioned the word whore - although it must be noted that Hillary and Obama are cheap sleazy whores
e) A kwiz can't be sexist, silly - only Bill O'Reilly can!
7. A black and/or female president would be awesome, BUT:
a) There are no black people or females running - only white men in disguise
b) We wouldn't want to alienate our good friends Rush Limbaugh and Neal Boortz
c) It's time to give the white men a chance
d) We need to give black people and women the vote first
e) Democracy simply can't take that much equality
f) There is already a black female president, and her name is Condoleeza Rice - oh wait, that's right, she's Donald Rumsfeld in blackface and high heels
8. Dennis Kucinich is the only Democratic Presidential Candidate worth his salt because:
a) He has a hot wife
b) He's a vegan and won't waste important presidential time devouring dead animals
c) He happens to cherish the Constitution, a rather important document the other Democratic candidates haven't gotten wind of yet
d) He's a real card-carrying progressive, not some pansy-ass soft core right wing progressive poseur with his tongue up the anal canals of Big Business
e) His name is not Hillary or Obama
9. This kwiz is not propaganda because:
a) It's the truth
b) It doesn't lie
c) It was written by me
d) It has the monopoly on reality
e) A kwiz can't be propaganda, silly - only Fox News can!
10. Most Democrats:
a) Suck ass
b) Suck balls
c) Suck monkey ass
d) Suck donkey balls
e) Suck all of the above - and they LIKE it!
11. The names of the other Democratic Presidential Candidates are:
a) Huey, Duey, and Louie
b) Sleepy, Sneezy, and Grumpy
c) Greedy, Fakey, and Lamey
d) Robots have names?
d) There are OTHER Democratic Presidential Candidates? I didn't know that since the media only focuses on Barracky Hilbama
12. This Kwiz:
a) Offended me in parts, because I am a politically correct automaton unable to register irony or satire
b) Woke my fat lazy ass up to REALITY
c) Should be required to pass all grades
d) Will never end, thankfully
e) Just ended, sadly
So I thought that instead of writing an actual blog post here, which would suck up precious time and energy, I'd just leech from Clockwise Cat and do a copy and paste. Below, I offer you my scorching satire of the Democrats.
Okay, so it's blindingly clear that Democratic politicians are just neo-cons in flimsy disguise. Or at least most of them are - there are some decent ones sprinkled throughout the party, such as Rep. John Lewis, Sentator Ted Kennedy (okay, okay, so he killed someone - we all make mistakes), Rep. Dennis Kucinich, and a few others. But face it - the majority of Fuckocrats are spineless corporate errand-boys and girls, more concerned for the futures of Exxon than with the future of everyday peons like toi et moi.
But just to be SURE you grasp this very rudimentary point (that Fuckocrats are cravenly creeps who fellate Big Pharma and do it doggie style with Big Oil), take a few minutes to complete this Phun Kwiz. Return a completed Dumbocrats 2008 Phun Kwiz to Fleurdumal666@gmail.com and get a Phun Prize!
DUMBOCRATS 2008 PHUN KWIZ
Please read each question carefully, and select the best answer from the options provided.
1. Barrack Obama is a true progressive:
a) False
b) Absolutely not
c) Nope
d) Hell no
e) Uh uh, Paco
f) All of the above
2. Hillary Clinton is a REAL progressive:
a) True, if by progressive you mean corporate ass-licker
b) False, she is a FAKE progressive
c) True, if by progressive you mean one inch to the left of a fascist
d) Yeah, and I'm Walker, Texas Ranger
e) Progressively annoying, maybe
3. Obama wants to be President of the United States because:
a) He has the Audacity of Hope
b) He wants to be able to exclaim while standing inside the White House, "Look, it's a Reverse Oreo!"
c) He wants to be able to reiterate the empty rhetoric of his book ad nauseum
d) The midwest is boring
e) "President Obama" sounds better than "Uncle Tom"
4. Hillary wants to be President of the United States because:
a) She wants a blow job from Monica Lewinksy
b) She wants to pretend to be for universal healthcare again
c) She wants to sleep in the same bed that Tony Blair shared with Bush
d) She always wanted to be CEO of a corporation
e) She wants to prove that a female president is different from a male president - oh wait, that's right, she can't prove that, because she's not any different
5. This Kwiz is not racist because:
a) I said so
b) It's just not
c) Obama is not a nappy-headed ho
d) The creator of this kwiz refuses to concede to liberal-fascist political correctness BS and simply tells it as it is, race and gender be damned
e) A kwiz can't be racist, silly - only Don Imus can!
6. This Kwiz is not sexist because:
a) It's too sexy to be sexist
b) This kwiz is too sexy for its shirt, or pants, or underwear, even
c) Hillary sux, period
d) It hasn't mentioned the word whore - although it must be noted that Hillary and Obama are cheap sleazy whores
e) A kwiz can't be sexist, silly - only Bill O'Reilly can!
7. A black and/or female president would be awesome, BUT:
a) There are no black people or females running - only white men in disguise
b) We wouldn't want to alienate our good friends Rush Limbaugh and Neal Boortz
c) It's time to give the white men a chance
d) We need to give black people and women the vote first
e) Democracy simply can't take that much equality
f) There is already a black female president, and her name is Condoleeza Rice - oh wait, that's right, she's Donald Rumsfeld in blackface and high heels
8. Dennis Kucinich is the only Democratic Presidential Candidate worth his salt because:
a) He has a hot wife
b) He's a vegan and won't waste important presidential time devouring dead animals
c) He happens to cherish the Constitution, a rather important document the other Democratic candidates haven't gotten wind of yet
d) He's a real card-carrying progressive, not some pansy-ass soft core right wing progressive poseur with his tongue up the anal canals of Big Business
e) His name is not Hillary or Obama
9. This kwiz is not propaganda because:
a) It's the truth
b) It doesn't lie
c) It was written by me
d) It has the monopoly on reality
e) A kwiz can't be propaganda, silly - only Fox News can!
10. Most Democrats:
a) Suck ass
b) Suck balls
c) Suck monkey ass
d) Suck donkey balls
e) Suck all of the above - and they LIKE it!
11. The names of the other Democratic Presidential Candidates are:
a) Huey, Duey, and Louie
b) Sleepy, Sneezy, and Grumpy
c) Greedy, Fakey, and Lamey
d) Robots have names?
d) There are OTHER Democratic Presidential Candidates? I didn't know that since the media only focuses on Barracky Hilbama
12. This Kwiz:
a) Offended me in parts, because I am a politically correct automaton unable to register irony or satire
b) Woke my fat lazy ass up to REALITY
c) Should be required to pass all grades
d) Will never end, thankfully
e) Just ended, sadly
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Work sucks
Yesterday I decided that I have an aversion to work. Now, mind you, I love to do work that I CHOOSE to do, such as volunteering to help the homeless, editing and publishing a webzine, writing poetry, etc. But I have an aversion to work that I HAVE to do in order to survive, in order to eat and drink and shelter and clothe myself. Work that I MUST do in order to enjoy the work that I LOVE to do, and in order to enjoy LIFE.
It's always been glaringly apparent to me that the Work That One Must Do to Survive interferes with leisure activities such as sitting on one's ass, traveling the universe, reading, watching trashy TV (which I rarely do, but if I had more time I just might), watching movies both trashy and artsy, volunteering, bicycling, swimming, drinking wine, sleeping, etc. etc. etc. But yesterday, my aversion to work became DEAFENINGLY APPARENT. I can no longer ignore it; it's screaming in my ear.
So let's, you and I, start a REVOLUTION! Screw the half-assed revolution I mentioned a few posts ago about the Five Day Weekend (look it up, you lazy-ass). I'm talking a revolution to ABOLISH ALTOGETHER Work That One Must Do To Survive.
Who's on board?
It's always been glaringly apparent to me that the Work That One Must Do to Survive interferes with leisure activities such as sitting on one's ass, traveling the universe, reading, watching trashy TV (which I rarely do, but if I had more time I just might), watching movies both trashy and artsy, volunteering, bicycling, swimming, drinking wine, sleeping, etc. etc. etc. But yesterday, my aversion to work became DEAFENINGLY APPARENT. I can no longer ignore it; it's screaming in my ear.
So let's, you and I, start a REVOLUTION! Screw the half-assed revolution I mentioned a few posts ago about the Five Day Weekend (look it up, you lazy-ass). I'm talking a revolution to ABOLISH ALTOGETHER Work That One Must Do To Survive.
Who's on board?
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Crappy July 4th
So I just remembered today was July 4th. Hooray. And here I am in the country which helped the Americans win freedom from the brutal Brits. Hip hip, yadda yadda.
Seriously, though, I don't think Americans really have much to celebrate anymore, if we ever did. I mean, our freedoms have been flushed down the Toilet of Tyrants, and we are now a nation that revels in third world-style neglect (see Katrina), and medieval/Middle Eastern-style torture (see Guantanomo, Abu Grahib, renditions), among many many many many many other titanic transgressions.
For those people who simply cannot fathom that our nation's pre-emminent throne has been usurped by one with a Fetish for Fascism, who simply cannot wrap their infant brains around the idea that even AMERICA is susceptible to totalitarian takeover, I refer you to the Sinclair Lewis novel, It Can't Happen Here. Granted, I never did finish the tome, finding it too weighted down by stilted dialogue and campy names (it WAS written in the 30s, after all)*, and so that fact alone might disqualify my recommedation. But even if you don't end up reading the book, at least be AWARE of it, as it is a cautionary tale about how our beloved nation could indeed slide down that sloppy slippery slope toward sadistic rule. In other words, this ain't the first time that fascism has tickled its tentacles into our government, and it won't be the last. However, it's my understanding that W and Co.'s wayward wicked ways are indeed the WORST incarnation of American Fascism yet. And of course, there is oodles of evidence to back up that titillating theory.
So anyway. American Democracy may not be dead, but it's certainly been tortured Gitmo-style into submission. It's been sleep-deprived and starved to resemble a supermodel with an anorexia agenda. It's a skeletal Democracy featuring bulging eyes and a propensity for bewildered babbling.
Oh, and by the way, Greek Democracy in its original form was somewhat of a sham as well, in case you'd forgotten: The ancient Greeks owned slaves and treated their women like shit** - sort of like how certain Americans owned slaves and treated their women like caca too. And sort of like how certain Americans still enslave black people through institionalized poverty, and still countenance the maltreatment of women through the proliferation of misogynistic pornography, and through enabling men to be paid higher salaries, and be in charge of Most Things, etc.
*However, I am a HUGE fan of the other acclaimed Sinclair Lewis novel, Babbit. It's an elegant tirade against the pitiable complacency of living a bland, corporatized existence.
**Yeah yeah, the Greeks featured women prominently in its patheon, blah blah blah. But still: women were relegated to secondary status in ancient Greece, period. Screw any country that does that, at any time, anywhere. Parity or perish, is what I say. No nation worth its salt backburners its women, ever. Of course, we women are to blame too, sometimes, for succumbing to our own maltreatment. We should fight against the bastards of bigotry, always.
Seriously, though, I don't think Americans really have much to celebrate anymore, if we ever did. I mean, our freedoms have been flushed down the Toilet of Tyrants, and we are now a nation that revels in third world-style neglect (see Katrina), and medieval/Middle Eastern-style torture (see Guantanomo, Abu Grahib, renditions), among many many many many many other titanic transgressions.
For those people who simply cannot fathom that our nation's pre-emminent throne has been usurped by one with a Fetish for Fascism, who simply cannot wrap their infant brains around the idea that even AMERICA is susceptible to totalitarian takeover, I refer you to the Sinclair Lewis novel, It Can't Happen Here. Granted, I never did finish the tome, finding it too weighted down by stilted dialogue and campy names (it WAS written in the 30s, after all)*, and so that fact alone might disqualify my recommedation. But even if you don't end up reading the book, at least be AWARE of it, as it is a cautionary tale about how our beloved nation could indeed slide down that sloppy slippery slope toward sadistic rule. In other words, this ain't the first time that fascism has tickled its tentacles into our government, and it won't be the last. However, it's my understanding that W and Co.'s wayward wicked ways are indeed the WORST incarnation of American Fascism yet. And of course, there is oodles of evidence to back up that titillating theory.
So anyway. American Democracy may not be dead, but it's certainly been tortured Gitmo-style into submission. It's been sleep-deprived and starved to resemble a supermodel with an anorexia agenda. It's a skeletal Democracy featuring bulging eyes and a propensity for bewildered babbling.
Oh, and by the way, Greek Democracy in its original form was somewhat of a sham as well, in case you'd forgotten: The ancient Greeks owned slaves and treated their women like shit** - sort of like how certain Americans owned slaves and treated their women like caca too. And sort of like how certain Americans still enslave black people through institionalized poverty, and still countenance the maltreatment of women through the proliferation of misogynistic pornography, and through enabling men to be paid higher salaries, and be in charge of Most Things, etc.
*However, I am a HUGE fan of the other acclaimed Sinclair Lewis novel, Babbit. It's an elegant tirade against the pitiable complacency of living a bland, corporatized existence.
**Yeah yeah, the Greeks featured women prominently in its patheon, blah blah blah. But still: women were relegated to secondary status in ancient Greece, period. Screw any country that does that, at any time, anywhere. Parity or perish, is what I say. No nation worth its salt backburners its women, ever. Of course, we women are to blame too, sometimes, for succumbing to our own maltreatment. We should fight against the bastards of bigotry, always.
Man with Stupid Nickname Goes Free
Now I am here in France. Yes, I am shamelessly bourgeois, traversing the earth and scribbling about it in blase fashion.
Anyscrew, I learned today that Bush commuted Scooter Libby's sentence. This is an OUTRAGE. A man with such an inane name should be tortured for life by Syrian prison guards.
Oh yeah, and Scooter not only possessed an idiotic moniker, but he did bad stuff too.
Anyscrew, I learned today that Bush commuted Scooter Libby's sentence. This is an OUTRAGE. A man with such an inane name should be tortured for life by Syrian prison guards.
Oh yeah, and Scooter not only possessed an idiotic moniker, but he did bad stuff too.
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