addendum

as further illustration to the point made yesterday, read this and then repeat as many Frank Herbert mantras as possible.

be afraid.  be VERY afraid. (or, the GOP 2004 Convention Keynote Address)

okay, guys... an attack's coming... we just don't know when, where or how... but don't be deceived... they're OUT THERE and they're COMING FOR YOU.

so for chrissakes, be AFRAID... don't let those terrorist bastards SNEAK UP on you with your Fear down or take away your right to SHIT YOUR PANTS at our command...

we suggest you buy some duct tape.  a whole HELL of a lot of duct tape.  we don't know precisely WHY yet, but remember, it's better to be afraid than caught OFF GUARD.

thank you, god bless america, and remember - only bush/cheney can save you from the Fear.

ps.  michael moore is a weenie.  vote bush.  thanks.

jimmy

i've been a fan of president carter's now for some time... his human rights credentials are second to none and aside from being from Plains, GA (and my mom working for him when he was governor), i think the man really blossomed into a fine human being after his tumultuous term as president... 

carter showed his true statesmanship last night in his speech to the democratic national convention.  his truly shining moment came here:

"In repudiating extremism, we need to recommit ourselves to a few common-sense principles that should transcend partisan differences.

First, we cannot enhance our own security if we place in jeopardy what is most precious to us, namely the centrality of human rights in our daily lives and in global affairs.

Second, we cannot maintain our historic self-confidence as a people if we generate public panic.

Third, we cannot do our duty as citizens and patriots if we pursue an agenda that polarizes and divides our country.

Next, we cannot be true to ourselves if we mistreat others.

And finally, in the world at large, we cannot lead if our leaders mislead."

ahhh... if only he had waited another 20 years to run for president...

NEWSFLASH:  don't be an asshole

a few quotes i'd like to throw at ya:

Two-thirds (of polled Americans)  believe the United States president should not have the right to override constitutional requirements that all people in detention should be given a hearing.

Three-fourths agreed with the statement that the United States is a moral leader in the world and should not set a bad example by torturing or degrading people in detention.

you can read the whole article here.

true, this poll applies to 892 people surveyed, but i'd like to think it represents the majority of opinion in america... here's to hoping this sentiment carries through to november...

bad businessmen

so not only is the government obstructing marijuana research for scientists, when they DO provide it, they're kicking down Mississippi schwag.

researchers:  if ya REALLY need a good score, just get in touch with me.  i got the hook up...

what's good for the goose...

okay... so israel states that they are going to defy a UN vote.  i can virtually guarantee that US forces will not unilaterally invade israel.

makes another of bush's reasons for going to war with iraq seem mighty weak...

desperado
 
as my wife just pointed out to me, the "aladdin" casino may very well be owned by unimpressed saudis.
 
lovely trampling of first amendment rights, no?  check out mike moore's response...
 
 

if at first you don't succeed...

well, at least the bush administration is persistent...  what's next?  a possible tiny tim (god rest his soul)/9-11 link?

maybe someone (other than michael moore) should explore the possibility of a george bush/9-11 connection...

the good, the bad, and the incredibly stupid

the good:

fine to see judges using some common sense...


the bad:

they'll never learn...

dig this quote:

"Pot is no longer the gentle weed of the 1960s and may pose a greater threat than cocaine or even heroin because so many more people use it."

oh man...


and the incredibly stupid:

did anyone not see this coming?


good lord.

microcosms

the LAPD is at it again.

this sound familiar?

"It's compounded by the fact that somehow the chief was presented with inaccurate information which he, in turn, presented to the council," Weiss said. "Something clearly went terribly wrong — not only with this arrest, but with the information presented up the chain of command. I'm sure the chief is embarrassed."

i'm sure the chief's embarrassed that the truth's coming out, too... can't really blame him for this tactic, though... the washington regime has showed them that if anything goes wrong, blame it on intelligence.

i happen to think that it's actually lack of intelligence that's the problem.

um...

now, you tell me... what else would go with "freedom fries"?

at the break

anyone who knows me relatively well (and i guess that would include all of you reading this) is aware of my obsession with baseball... the 2004 season is halfway through, and for those of you who don't particularly follow the sport, here's a rundown of what's happening...

first, and actually surprising quite a few people this year in light of all the personnel changes made in the offseason, the Atlanta Braves (my favorite team) are one game out of first place behind the Phillies... actually four out of the five teams in the NL East division are in contention, with 2 games separating the four teams (Phillies, Braves, Mets & last season's world champs, the Marlins)... should be fun to watch this second half of the summer...

more surprising, perhaps, is the play of two AL clubs, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Detroit Tigers ... both are seasonal "cellar dwellers" in their respective divisions and both are in the middle of the pack with 42-45 records... Tampa Bay will have a tougher time making the playoffs, though, with Boston and NY slugging it out in the top of their division...

the AL West is shaping up to be a three-team race (Texas Rangers - another quasi-surprise, Oakland A's and Anaheim Angels), with the slumping Mariners continually attempting to avoid embarrassing themselves with another poor outing, much to the probable ire and chagrin of my native Seattle readers/friends... 15 games outta first at the break ain't gonna cut it...

ok. so what does all this mean?

absolutely nothing. it's only the first half of the season and anything can happen. but division leaders at the break usually go on to at least appear in the playoffs more than not... stay tuned for more details.

we now return you to your regularly scheduled illegal war.

another view

my good friend in Topanga, CA, Celeste, has shot her first video (which, i assume, will be stuffed and mounted for "posterity and export" in the very near future...) it's called Another View and you can view it here... her favorite version is the "absinthe cut", and i have to agree...

return

greetings all... back at work for another depressing year... santa cruz/san francisco were, as usual, amazing...

seems like a lot of things happened in my absence... bye to brando (will always remember you as Kurtz in Apocalypse Now and Vito in The Godfather - two of my all-time favorites)... cheers to the success of Fahrenheit 9/11 and all the republicans it's pissed off...

more later when my head gets screwed back on...