Updates and Cartoons

Hat tip to AMERICABlog for posting this letter from the Democratic leadership of the United States Senate to Robert Iger, President of The Walt Disney Company:

September 7, 2006

Mr. Robert A. Iger
President and CEO
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank CA 91521

Dear Mr. Iger,

We write with serious concerns about the planned upcoming broadcast of The Path to 9/11 mini-series on September 10 and 11. Countless reports from experts on 9/11 who have viewed the program indicate numerous and serious inaccuracies that will undoubtedly serve to misinform the American people about the tragic events surrounding the terrible attacks of that day. Furthermore, the manner in which this program has been developed, funded, and advertised suggests a partisan bent unbecoming of a major company like Disney and a major and well respected news organization like ABC. We therefore urge you to cancel this broadcast to cease Disney’s plans to use it as a teaching tool in schools across America through Scholastic. Presenting such deeply flawed and factually inaccurate misinformation to the American public and to children would be a gross miscarriage of your corporate and civic responsibility to the law, to your shareholders, and to the nation.

The Communications Act of 1934 provides your network with a free broadcast license predicated on the fundamental understanding of your principle obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving the public interest. Nowhere is this public interest obligation more apparent than in the duty of broadcasters to serve the civic needs of a democracy by promoting an open and accurate discussion of political ideas and events.

Disney and ABC claim this program to be based on the 9/11 Commission Report and are using that assertion as part of the promotional campaign for it. The 9/11 Commission is the most respected American authority on the 9/11 attacks, and association with it carries a special responsibility. Indeed, the very events themselves on 9/11, so tragic as they were, demand extreme care by any who attempt to use those events as part of an entertainment or educational program. To quote Steve McPhereson, president of ABC Entertainment, “When you take on the responsibility of telling the story behind such an important event, it is absolutely critical that you get it right.”

Unfortunately, it appears Disney and ABC got it totally wrong.

Despite claims by your network’s representatives that The Path to 9/11 is based on the report of the 9/11 Commission, 9/11 Commissioners themselves, as well as other experts on the issues, disagree.

Richard Ben-Veniste, speaking for himself and fellow 9/11 Commissioners who recently viewed the program, said, “As we were watching, we were trying to think how they could have misinterpreted the 9/11 Commission’s findings the way that they had.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]

Richard Clarke, the former counter-terrorism czar, and a national security advisor to ABC has described the program as “deeply flawed” and said of the program’s depiction of a Clinton official hanging up on an intelligence agent, “It’s 180 degrees from what happened.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]

Reports suggest that an FBI agent who worked on 9/11 and served as a consultant to ABC on this program quit halfway through because, “he thought they were making things up.” [MSNBC, September 7, 2006]

Even Thomas Kean, who serves as a paid consultant to the miniseries, has admitted that scenes in the film are fictionalized. [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]

That Disney would seek to broadcast an admittedly and proven false recounting of the events of 9/11 raises serious questions about the motivations of its creators and those who approved the deeply flawed program. Finally, that Disney plans to air commercial-free a program that reportedly cost it $40 million to produce serves to add fuel to these concerns.

These concerns are made all the more pressing by the political leaning of and the public statements made by the writer/producer of this miniseries, Mr. Cyrus Nowrasteh, in promoting this miniseries across conservative blogs and talk shows.

Frankly, that ABC and Disney would consider airing a program that could be construed as right-wing political propaganda on such a grave and important event involving the security of our nation is a discredit both to the Disney brand and to the legacy of honesty built at ABC by honorable individuals from David Brinkley to Peter Jennings. Furthermore, that Disney would seek to use Scholastic to promote this misguided programming to American children as a substitute for factual information is a disgrace.

As 9/11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick said, “It is critically important to the safety of our nation that our citizens, and particularly our school children, understand what actually happened and why – so that we can proceed from a common understanding of what went wrong and act with unity to make our country safer.”

Should Disney allow this programming to proceed as planned, the factual record, millions of viewers, countless schoolchildren, and the reputation of Disney as a corporation worthy of the trust of the American people and the United States Congress will be deeply damaged. We urge you, after full consideration of the facts, to uphold your responsibilities as a respected member of American society and as a beneficiary of the free use of the public airwaves to cancel this factually inaccurate and deeply misguided program. We look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid
Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron Dorgan

Scathing. I hope it works.


~ ~ ~

Think Progress is requesting help in pressuring ABC/Disney to pull the program "The Path to 9/11".


~ ~ ~


Clinton Officials Protest 9/11 Mini-Series:

Calls to ABC seeking comment Thursday were not returned.

Neither were emails. None of the dozens of emails I sent yesterday were responded to. I didn't think they would be.


~ ~ ~


In case you missed Keith Olbermann the other night, Truthout.org has the transcript: Have You No Sense of Decency, Sir?.

More over, Mr. Bush, you are accomplishing in part what Osama Bin Laden and others seek - a fearful American populace, easily manipulated, and willing to throw away any measure of restraint, any loyalty to our own ideals and freedoms, for the comforting illusion of safety.

~ ~ ~


Election 2006 & World War III:

As Americans go to the polls in two months, they should have one thought fixed in their minds: they will be voting on whether to commit the nation to fighting World War III against large segments of the world's one billion Muslims. Beyond the cost in blood and treasure, this war will mean the end of the United States as a democratic Republic.

~ ~ ~


Disney wasn't always in service to evil.

"To speak his thoughts is every freeman's right, in peace and war, in council and in fight."

Homer

Some freedoms are too important to be abused.

~ ~ ~

So Bush has finally admitted to what everyone else has known for months... we're operating illegal prisons. Surprise! They lied again. I've lost track of how many times this has happened.

Do you hear anyone in Congress using the I word yet? Nope, me neither. What's it going to take? Seriously, do these people have to bbq the baby Jesus before Congress begins impeachment hearings?

~ ~ ~

ABC television is to air a "docudrama" about September 11 on September 10 and 11. It contains numerous factual errors - it's so bad former President Clinton has requested it not be aired.

I suggest that you not watch this program. I also suggest you not purchase products or use services provided by the following companies:

ABC Network and ABC Radio and all of their affiliates
ESPN
ABC Family
Disney Channel
Toon Disney
SOAPnet
Walt Disney Pictures
Touchstone Pictures
Hollywood Pictures
Miramax Films
Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Pixar

This list hurts me - Publishing:

Book Publishing Imprints
Hyperion
Miramax Books
ESPN Books
TheiaABC Daytime Press
Hyperion Audiobooks
Hyperion East
Disney Publishing Worldwide
Cal Publishing Inc.
CrossGen
Hyperion Books for Children
Jump at the SunVolo
Michael di Caupa Books
Disney Global Children's Books
Disney Press Global Retail
Global Continuity

They also publish:

Automotive Industries
Biography
Discover
Disney Adventures
Disney Magazine
ECN News
ESPN Magazine
Family Fun
Institutional Investor
JCK
Kodin
Video Business
Quality

Do not go to:

Disneyland Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Tokyo Disney Resort
Disneyland Resort Paris
Hong Kong Disneyland
The Disney Store
Disney Cruise Line
ESPN Zone
Disney Toys
The Baby Einstein Company
Walt Disney Internet Group

A large portion of this list was created by someone identifying themselves as Boycott ABC/ Disney/ ESPN at AMERICABlog. Also, Scholastic Books is (was maybe?) going to distribute this film, this "docudrama" to kids. I suggest complaining to them at:

1-800-SCHOLASTIC
(1-800-724-6527)
custserv@scholastic.com
www.scholastic.com/custsupport/index.htm

Edited to add: SCHOLASTIC REPLACES “THE PATH TO 9/11” CLASSROOM GUIDE WITH NEW DISCUSSION MATERIALS FOCUSING ON CRITICAL THINKING AND MEDIA LITERACY SKILLS, which will be available on September 8, 2006.

"Without free speech no search for truth is possible... no discovery of truth is useful... Better a thousandfold abuse of free speech than denial of free speech. The abuse dies in a day, but the denial slays the life of the people, and entombs the hope of the race.

" Charles Bradlaugh

In ordinary circumstances, I would agree with the esteemed British reformer. But when we live in an era where the press refuses to address the abuses of a government, when the government refuses to address the abuses of one of its branches, freedoms we normally just take for granted must be guarded against those who will turn them against us. ABC/Disney, et al, are using the Mass Media to tell lies about one of the most painful days in the history of this country. This administration has done nothing but wave the bloody flag of 9/11 at us for five years. They have used that horrifying day to justify the continuing evisceration of our civil liberties, to wage wars on people who had nothing to do with that sad, cruel day.

I haven't seen the other films about September 11 and probably never will. I don't like that they've been produced - it's too soon, the pain is still too deep - but I don't object to them because they don't seem to have an agenda. They are only telling a story. "The Path to 9/11" seems to have a slant to it, so that others are blamed for the destruction of the Towers, the Pentagon, the crash into the Pennsylvania field. The message seems to be that Democrats, and the previous administration in particular, are to blame for what happened five years ago. Two months before an election. Coincidence?

The sad reality is no one, no one government, can prevent determined people from doing something horrible if they have the will and the money to do so. Five years on we are still not dealing with the root causes of terrorism: poverty of mind, of body, of soul. Charismatic and evil people cannot take root and flourish in regions where all people have enough to eat, safe water to drink, medicine or access to it, free education and the right to worship the Creator of their choosing. Without those basic necessities of life people can be led to strap bombs onto themselves and blow up ships, bars, hotels; they can be convinced that the best way to their Creator is to fly planes into buildings. They have nothing left to live for and everything to gain in the afterlife. Being a martyr brings honor, and occassionally much needed cash, to families left behind in this life. It's a win-win situation for them. Until their needs are addressed there will always be people willing to listen to anyone who promises them something, anything, better than what they have right now.

Please don't buy or use products or services listed above. Instead, send some money to:

Oxfam
Heifer
AmeriCares

or a charity of your choice ~ you can find many other worthy organizations at Charity Navigator.

Just testing

Blogger had issues with the pictures from last week so I'm testing with roses this week.

"Your faith was strong but you needed proof"

It's been a busy week.

Busy with what I no longer remember.

Busy.

I'm tired. Not quite sure why, but I am. I think I'll spend the weekend unwinding.

Quietly.

I've been trying to ignore the anniversary of Katrina. I can still feel the rage leftover from last year. Just thinking about it starts the bile rising.

I've been trying to ignore Iraq, Iran, Bush and his evil cohorts.

I'm not succeeding, but I'm stubborn enough to keep trying.

Anger. Deep, deep anger. It's not a good thing to live with. I'm angry with this country; I'm angry with the stupidity of humanity. With things I cannot control. So, why should they control me?

Sick world. Always has been, always will be. It pisses me off and I should just let it go.

So, I'm letting go.

Well, I'm trying.

I get brownie points for that, right?

I'll settle for brownies.

Onward!


Friday is art appreciation day!

And today's artist is: William Bouguereau.




Petites Maraudeuses



La Charité



Petite mendiante



L'art et la litterature



L'innocence

There is so much more at that site ~ Art Renewal Center. Well named. In addition to William Bouguereau, see the works of Lord Frederick Leighton, John William Godward and any others who might strike your fancy.

Renew yourself.

~ ~ ~

Today's title, children, is from Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah.


I did my best, it wasn't much

I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch

I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you

And even though

It all went wrong

I'll stand before the Lord of Song

With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah




Hallelujah.

Awww...

Poor Pluto. No longer a planet.

I can't access the IAU website for text of the decision yet.

Probably because the rest of the planet is doing so.

A bit more sense

is coming out of the IAU:

Positing new planets divides astronomers.

I do think Pluto should be left alone (though I'm glad to see the term "pluton" is, apparently, history). It's been a planet for 76 years - leave it that way.

Not quite sure what to make of the "dwarfs", but I will have the soundtrack to Snow White running through my head for the rest of the day.

Does the term "orbital dominance" strike anyone else as a bit... kinky?

Edited to add ~

I Heart Pluto

"The solar system is a mess."

Funny! Hat tip to AstroCocktail for pointing this article out.

BY THE LIGHT OF A BURNING BRIDGE: A Permanent Goodbye to the United States by Michael C. Ruppert.

My country is dead. Its people have surrendered to tyranny, and in so doing, they have become tyranny’s primary support group; its base constituency; its chief defender. Every day they offer their endorsement of tyranny by banking in its banks and spending their borrowed money with the corporations that run it. The great Neocon strategy of George H.W. Bush has triumphed. Convince the American people that they can’t live without the “good things”, then sit back and watch as they endorse the progressively more outrageous crimes you commit as you throw them bones with ever-less meat on them. All the while, lock them into debt. Destroy the middle class, the only political base that need be feared. Make them accept, because of their own shared guilt, ever-more repressive police state measures. Do whatever you want.

~ ~ ~


Impeach

Call To Action

Impeach For Peace

Evidence

After Downing Street - Resource Center

Draft of Articles of Impeachment

Impeach

Call To Action

Impeach For Peace

Evidence

After Downing Street - Resource Center

Draft of Articles of Impeachment

Woke up to a whole new definition of the local space.

This is weird.

Nine Planets Become 12 with Controversial New Definition

I'm with Michael Brown on this one:

"It's flattering to be considered discoverer of the 12th planet," Brown said in a telephone interview. He applauded the committee's efforts but said the overall proposal is "a complete mess." By his count, the definition means there are already 53 known planets in our solar system with countless more to be discovered.

Alan Boss said:

"It looks to me like a definition that was written by a committee of lawyers, not a committee of scientists," Boss said. "I think these criteria are as arbitrary as any other you might come up with."

and again, I agree.

Here's the draft: Draft Resolution 5 for GA-XXVI: Definition of a Planet

Bizarre.

I consider Pluto a planet, though I understand the argument that says it's not. But 12 planets, including Ceres, which is (in my opinion) clearly an asteroid? Holy frioles Batman! I hope this doesn't pass the IAU.

That's all folks - for today, anyway

The Israeli-Lebanon truce is holding. I'm still betting some fool will do something stupid to end it. Mr. Ahmadinejad isn't helping keep things peaceful: Ahmadinejad gives 'victory speech' before masses

"The problem in Lebanon did not end with the obtaining of a ceasefire. A holding of account with Israel must be held and with those who stood at its side. The stance of America and Israel harmed the image of the Security Council. The two don't have the right to be members of the Security Council," said the Iranian president. He added that "the nations of the area demand a Middle East clean from the American-British hegemony."

Syrian President Bashar doesn't want to be left out, so he's cheering on Hezbollah as well. As I said yesterday, this isn't much of victory for anyone - but try telling that to Mssrs. Ahmadinejad and Bashar, as well as Bush and Olmert.

If everyone claims victory, does that mean no one wins?

The end of August and beginning of September should be interesting.


I've read Seymour Hersh's take on the Israeli attack on Lebanon. For the most part, it makes sense, and some points I thought of in July, especially about this being a dress-rehersal for an Iran invasion. And since Bush thinks Israel won... you gotta wonder what these fools are going to do next.

"The Israeli plan, according to the former senior intelligence official, was “the mirror image of what the United States has been planning for Iran.” (The initial U.S. Air Force proposals for an air attack to destroy Iran’s nuclear capacity, which included the option of intense bombing of civilian infrastructure targets inside Iran, have been resisted by the top leadership of the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps, according to current and former officials. They argue that the Air Force plan will not work and will inevitably lead, as in the Israeli war with Hezbollah, to the insertion of troops on the ground.)"

“There is no way that Rumsfeld and Cheney will draw the right conclusion about this,” he said. “When the smoke clears, they’ll say it was a success, and they’ll draw reinforcement for their plan to attack Iran.”

Read the article and draw your own conclusions.



How I never quite fell for South Africa

"After almost four years in Johannesburg, the time has come to move on, and I do so with a sense of detachment. This never really became home. Partly it was running to the airport every other week for overseas trips; partly it was being white and European; but mainly it was because South Africa was such a fraught place to live. The anxiety about crime, the crunching on racial eggshells, the juxtaposition of first-world materialism with third-world squalor - it all added up."

Excellent article by Rory Carroll of the "Guardian Unlimited".

When sharing can become TMI

The World History Blog highlights an article at Cracked.com entitled 8 Important Lessons Learned from '80's Cartoons.

"Actually, we’re pretty certain that our strategy for the Iraq War was conceived after a two day long G.I. Joe marathon in the Pentagon."

'Tis funny, go read.

While you're at the World History blog, read the short bio on Alaric I.

"Alaric did not survive his triumph over Rome long. While contemplating an invasion of Roman Africa, he died. It was still 410 A.D. and he had not survived the year he sacked Rome. His death was rumored to have been caused by a fever but many Christians attributed the death to God's vengeance."

Of course they did. And New Orleans was destroyed because of gays.

The stupidity of humanity never ends.

~ ~ ~

Another favorite site of mine is French Word a Day, though the author has cut back to three days a week. Because of this site, and some others, I may yet recover my (pathetic) French language skills.

Naturally, this will lead to my moving to the south of France and becoming the next great Impressionist painter; living with some seriously sexy and brilliant French writer; hanging out in cafe's discussing philosophy and the nature of universe...

Well, it's good to have dreams. Especially on rainy days like this one.

~ ~ ~


La bouderie en amour est comme le sel; il n'en faut pas trop.


~ ~ ~

Hello. My name is Laura and I'm addicted to food.

I watch the Food Network. PBS cooking shows. I buy cookbooks. I have more kitchen equipment than most restaurants. I read food & restaurant reviews, right after the book reviews. My guiltiest of all secrets... I watch Top Chef. Shhhh! Don't tell anyone! I pick on friends and family for watching reality television because it's trash... so don't tell them, okay? It's our little secret.

I love food.

I love looking at food related websites. Some folks have porn, I have food. One of my favorites is She Who Eats. The pictures she puts up are nearly orgasm-inducing. To me, anyway. She writes quite well too. Go see for yourself.

Yes, I am an enabler.

Language lessons

"As a member of Lebanon's multi-confessional government, the militant Shia Muslim movement Hezbollah is formally committed to its own removal as a military presence in south Lebanon."

I saw this paragraph, by Martin Asser, at the BBC. The word multi-confessional stuck out. I've seen it a few times in recent weeks and wondered about it's usage. Apparently it's correct, but it is new to me and it strikes me as odd. See also: Parliament of Lebanon

"Although distributed confessionally, all members, regardless of their religious faith, are elected by universal suffrage, forcing politicians to seek support from outside of their own religious communities, unless their co-religionists overwhelmingly dominate their particular constituency."

It's fun learning something new!

US to roll out electronic passports

"Despite ongoing privacy concerns and legal disputes involving companies bidding on the project, the U.S. State Department plans to begin issuing smart chip-embedded passports to Americans as planned Monday."

I've got $20 on these things never working properly and some 12 year old hacks the system in a week.

Your tax dollars at work folks!

Did pictures of the creature also known as Suri Cruise ever show up? What about Bigfoot? Nessie?

Definition of pyrrhic victory: Hezbollah claims victory against Israel. How many people have died in Lebanon during the past month - 900+? It's estimated that it will cost approximately $2.5 billion to rebuild what the Israeli's have destroyed. And that money will come from... where? Lebanon was deeply in debt before this started and was just starting to pay some of it down. Where will they get the funds for this? Their devastated tourism industry?

Hell'uva victory.

Monday Monday

Holy frijoles, it's another glorious day here in southern New England. Cool air, no humidity, the sun is shining - just amazing!

I had a great time at the Bruce and Maritime museums. Just go peeps, they're a good time.

Dinner with the 'rents Saturday night, just the three of us for a change. Afterwards we went to Paradise - the bookstore. Barnes & Noble in Westport. We had coffee, bought books, just kinda hung out. A good time. When you were 12 or 15 or even 25, did you ever think the time would come when hanging out with your parents on a Saturday night would be a good time?

I only bought one book (yes, only one), "The Iranians". Dad looked at the title and said "We should all be reading that." I get to the counter and the clerk said the exact same thing. I haven't started it yet because I just started "Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War" on Thursday night.

Mom picked up books for the kids and Dad bought a Bible.

A Bible.

In late March he had an ocular stroke and another one recently. What's happening is that plaque is breaking off and going into his eye; if it went into the vessels in his brain, he'd have a cerebral stoke. He's lost about 25% of his vision in his left eye. He's dealing with the root-causes of the problem but his mind is, apparently, on something else, hence the Bible. Large print version.

Grandma's death in December of last year has thrown him out of sorts as well. Dealing with the loss of one parent is difficult enough, but when they're both gone, no matter how old you are, you end up feeling like an orphan. On top of that he's had to come face-to-face with his own mortality again. He's not in a good place, a happy place, and I'm not sure how to reach out to him. While he's mellowed alot with age, he's still not someone who wants anyone prying into how he's feeling. He's perfectly capable of taking care of himself, thank you. He can get really snotty if you push too hard. I understand. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

When my Mother was dying seven years ago he pretty much kept our large extended family at a distance, knowing I wouldn't want a whole bunch of people crowding me. "Call me if you need anything" he said. Had I, I would have. After she died, and we got through the funeral, Mom called to check up on me. She said my Father had mentioned he was very proud me. I laughed and what's there to be proud of? She said it was how well I had handled everything. I just said okay or something, but I didn't get it - still don't, really. It was my job to take care of my Mother. It wasn't hard - painful, but not hard, and I did the best I could. What else was I supposed to do? I don't explain this well. In any event, Christmas night I was at the 'rents house and, as usual, it was happy chaos for everyone. It wasn't an easy time for me and by the end of evening I had retreated to the dining room with a glass of wine. Not drinking it, just sort of fidgiting with it. Dad wandered past and then sat down and didn't say anything for a while. Eventually he said:

"Rough year."

"Yeah."

"It'll get better."

"Yeah."

Not exactly the pinnacle of touching, heart-felt, Father-Daughter conversations, but it helped, strange as that might seem.

I've never had a problem "being there" for family or friends - to hold a hand, to wipe the tears - I just can't deal with it when it's me. Afterall, like Grandma, like Dad, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you. So when it comes to Dad, I'm at a loss as to what to do because I know what he really wants is to be left alone.

When he was buying the Bible a lot of jokes went through my head. Dad's not the most religious of people - usually sacrilegous.

"A Bible?" I said.

"Can't read the one I've got." he answered. So many jokes went racing through my head... but I let them go.

"Where's your Grandmother's Bible?" he asked me.

"Um... I don't know." I was surprised he didn't know. "One of your siblings?" I asked.

"I guess. I'll ask Bill. Should have asked Mother for that before she died." he said. I just nodded my head, at a complete loss for words, and we went off to the check out.

I guess the answer is I need to hang out with Dad more often.

It's been a rough year.

Short weeks are best!

It's a really lovely day here in southwestern Connecticut. Not too hot or humid - for August, it's nearly perfect. We should all go outside and play.

Cute Overload
The Daily Kitten
Kitten War!
Rate my kitten
Stuff on my cat

I have nothing against dogs or puppies, I love my dogNephews Malcolm and Niko, I'm just a cat person.

Or Cat Woman?



Or Woman with a Cat?



The last one.

I'm in search of something to do this weekend. A friend suggested either Mohegan or Foxwoods, neither of which appeals. I thought about going to Mystic, but it's always a zoo this time of year. Wall-to-wall bratty children with overly permissive parents who haven't got the first clue about to make their bratty children behave themselves in public.

Jeezus, I'm turning into my Dad.

I thought about heading up to Goodspeed but I'm going to be there in October. That whole area is really lovely. I'm looking forward to that trip... which reminds me, I have to book a B&B or hotel room.

I guess I'll just drive down to Greenwich on Saturday and hit the Bruce Museum, which I haven't been to in ages, and then stop at the Maritime Aquarium on the way back. I'm supposed to have dinner with the 'rents Saturday night and they live close to Norwalk... so, boring as it is, that's the plan.

She's Back!

I was away last week. I guess I should have said something. Nothing much fun or exciting to report. I read, slept and generally loafed about. A much needed break.

So... the world is still shot to hell. The Moron-in-Charge is still in office with no hope on the horizon of him getting arrested. His dearly beloved buddy Joe Lieberman lost the primary (YAY Lamont!) and, typical of dear Joe, he's sulking and gonna run as an Independent. I'm hoping Nutmeggers ignore him from now until November.

Am I paranoid or does anyone else think this foiled "terror plot" in the UK is a lotta horseshit? Mighty convenient, given what Cheney and Rove have been saying in support of their best friend Joe the past couple of days. I've been thinking, for many months now, there would be an "attack" on the US before the November elections - just to keep Bush and Co. in power a while longer. I've been expecting a bloody October. Maybe this is just a taste of things to come.

I hope not, but with this crew in charge anything is possible.

I see the Israeli's are still trying to reduce Lebanon to its composite atoms, one child at a time. The body counts in Iraqi morgues is inching up to ever greater heights every day.

Off to ramble amoung other blogs in search of more happy news.

It's not that I'm not paying attention to Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel and Lebanon, or the lunacy of the US administration - I just need a break from it all. I keep reading about the horrors human beings are inflicting on each other, at home and abroad, but I don't feel much like discussing it.

Maybe next week.

In the meantime I'll share some of my favorite things (cue Julie Andrews):

Astronomy

Cassini finds evidence of hydrocarbon lakes on Titan

How cool!

Researchers counted about a dozen lakes six to 62 miles wide. Some, which appeared as dark patches in radar images, were connected by channels, while others had tributaries flowing into them. Several were dried up, but the ones that contained liquid were most likely a mix of methane and ethane.

See Titan at The Nine Planets as well as Universe Today.

~ ~ ~

Art



The image above is of Claude Monet's oil painting Springtime, another of my favorites. According to the Fitzwilliam Museum website:

It shows Suzanne Hoschedé, the eighteen-year old daughter of Monet’s then mistress, and later wife, Alice, and his own son, Jean Monet, in the orchard of his garden at Giverny in 1886. The tonality perfectly examplifies the ‘violettomania’ or ‘seeing blue’ for which the Impressionists were repeatedly criticised: one commentator described the third Impressionist exhibition in 1877 as having the overall effect of a worm-eaten Roquefort cheese!

It might seem strange, but, another favorite artist of mine is Piet Mondrian.




I love the clean geometric lines and bold colors of his work.


~ ~ ~

Glass




I love beach glass and blown glass, cut glass and stained glass. Glass has fascinated me... forever. And, being 41 years old, that a long freakin' time. The chandelier above is from FunctionArt.com. As much as I love glass, I probably wouldn't hang that in my home, but it's an amazing piece of art containing 101 individual hand-blown glass pieces.

See also:

It's all about perspective ~ Hm. Next glass art piece for my collection? I think I'll email the artist and find out what it costs. It would look really nice on the dining room table.

Blue Bamboo

Rattled

And my favorite of all cut crystal, Waterford:



This is the 8 inch Cecily Rose Bowl.

sigh

I need to marry a billionaire or hit the lottery.

~ ~ ~

Gemstones



My birthstone, (as is this, but I don't like it) courtesy of Gemstone.org, the website of the International Colored Gemstone Association.

July 21 ~ Friday Night Poker

I'm finally getting around to the story.

Not that there is much to tell.

Some background might help.

Deep Throat comes to mind.

Best not go there.

Anywho...

I think I've mentioned here before my sister started a "Ya Ya Sisterhood" group a few years ago which I was reluctant to join. Because I'm anti-social. In her opinion. But I eventually joined up and I enjoy the monthly night out with the girls more than I had ever anticipated.

Several months ago my sister started playing Texas Hold'em poker online with our brother Matt in Maine. They play other online games together as well, but she came up with the idea of Ladies Poker Night one evening while playing with Matt. Again, I was reluctant to join up. I'm not a huge fan of gambling and I prefer word games or intellectual puzzle-like games as opposed to card games. I'm boring as hell. But after several ladies said, "Come play with us!" I did.

We play at a different home each month and it's more about the alcohol and food than the card playing. It's a ten dollar buy-in for 400 chips.

"$400?" my sister-in-law asked.

"No, just 400. Ten bucks buys you 400 chips. When you loose all that, you can buy in one more time, for 400 more chips for ten bucks." I said.

"Um, ok." she said.

It doesn't compute really, but what the hell, it works. We cover a wide range of rungs up and down the socio-economic ladder and $20 for a night out is cheap. Everyone cooks or bakes or buys something to eat and one of our happy little group works for a major international liquor distributor and gets deeply discounted alcohol, so even getting hammered is cheap.

Which can be a problem.

We gathered at my sister's house on Friday night around 7pm. Nearly everyone was there except my sister-in-law, who was bringing pizza, our major source of food that night. None of us had eaten yet but we started drinking anyway. Appletini's and margarita's. Three pitchers of each. It was hot, humid and we're drinking schnapps, vodka and tequila like they're water.

Not a good thing.

Our sister-in-law finally shows up around 8:30, with pizza, and we're all buzzin'. Not being a piker, she catches up with us on the booze while we down pizza and start playing poker.

I didn't notice how hammered I was until midnight. One of the ladies with kids had to head for home so she wouldn't owe her babysitter next month's mortgage payment (man, do babysitter's get paid big bucks! I'm in the wrong business!). Because my sister and her friends are affectionate people, they do the kissy-kissy huggy-huggy thing when the arrive and leave. My sister-in-law and I, being Irish, just don't get this whole ritual however, reluctantly, we participate.

I stand up to give Dani a hug and a kiss on the cheek and... nearly land face-first on the table.

I'm not much of a drinker. A couple glasses of wine and my lips go numb and I stop drinking. I had every intention of getting good and snokkered Friday night, but knew I'd probably quit after my lips went numb - it's what I always do.

Only, it was a hot and humid night, vodka and tequila on an empty stomach, just sitting around on the porch laughing and playing cards. I lost track of what I was doing and just got wasted.

In any event, I recovered myself and don't remember much after that except that I stopped drinking. Everyone, myself included, believed that I was okay to drive when I left around 2 am. But then, except for Mishka, our supplier of alcohol, everyone believed they could drive as well. My sister and one of our friends drove Mishka home... which was a bit like asking the blind to lead, but no one got hurt. My sister-in-law made it back to Westport and I made it back to Trumbull...

sans shoes.

Which I still haven't located.

Unlike most woman, I'm not a shoe fiend. I have (had) three pieces of foot apparel: sneakers (or every day wear), one-inch black heels (now MIA evening wear) for when I'm feeling girly, and winter boots. That's it. For poker night I changed out of my daily wear tee-shirt, jeans and sneakers into a lightweight knit top and batik skirt, with matching jewels (I'm a gem collector and jewelry freak; my only condesention towards being girly), stockings (not pantyhose) and my one-inch black heels. At some point I took off the stockings and stuck them into my shoes - it was a hot and sticky night... but after that things get hazy.

I don't remember getting home. I woke up around 8 am with the hangover from hell, three cats sitting on me, screaming for food, and bright light streaming in through the windows. I stumbled out of bed and walked into a wall trying to get to the bathroom to hurl my guts out. Barely made it. Limped my way back to bed after hissing at the cats to shut up.

They refused.

"Mrowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!"

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir would have made less noise than my Lads.

"Shhhhhh. Lads! Stop! Mommy's hung." I hissed at them.

See why I don't have kids? I can barely care for cats.

They ignored me. If I hadn't been so sick I would have thrown those three screaming demons outside. Without bothering to open the window.

They got louder.

MROWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

So loud, in fact, they set off the dog upstairs. So now I've screaming cats and whiney ass dog to bounce around in my pain-filled brain.

MROWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWHIMMMMMMMMMMMMPPPPPPERRRRRRRRRR

I'm not happy.

Doing my best imitation of my Irish sister-in-law to date, I fling blankets and pillows and scream FOR FUCKS SAKE! and get out of bed.

I immediately regreted my temper-tantrum because:

a) my head exploded
b) I tripped on the blankets and landed on the floor, smacking my pain-racked head on the (blessedly) carpeted floor
c) may have given myself a slight concussion

I may have passed out. Or, it just got really, really quiet. The Lads aren't used to Mommy's temper. Mommy has a really, really, bad temper, which she inherited from her Father, that she keeps a very tight rein on and hasn't "lost it" in at least two decades. Mommy often threatens her Lads with being turned into violin strings if they puke on the rug again or shred one more chair, but it's said quietly. And with love.

Mommy screaming like a banshee is something they're not used to.

Again... see why I don't have kids? Or, is that obvious?

The littlest one eventually came back and sat on my back and started doing the picky-picky kneady-kneady thing cats do. I just lay there, on the floor, praying for death.

Do not believe the lie. God does not answer prayers.

Slowly the other two came back and gave half-hearted "mrrowws", which were half purrs-half questions about Mommy's sanity. The biggest boy licked Mommy's hand and then did his ritual morning greeting of head-butting me.

"Now's not the time for that Raven." I whispered.

He replied by rubbing his face all over mine.

No, I did not bite his face off. Thought about it, but it would have required too much effort.

I sighed and dislodged the littlest boy, Pewter, and slowly, painfully, hauled my sorry ass upright.

No mean feat 'twas that. I deserve a medal. Platinum. Encrusted with Ceylon pink sapphires and indicolites.

The Lads are now kitten-happy skipping about my feet because Mommy is moving towards Nirvana - the KITCHEN! Fidgit, my middle Lad, was so happy he even forgot to scream and attack Pewter (they have issues).

I got the Lads fed and stood staring at the coffee pot. I was so miserable I couldn't even make my morning fix. Me, sans coffee, is a bad thing, so I went back to bed.

The Lads joined me.

Fidgit gets seriously pissed if Pewter is on my bed so I had to endure Pewter bouncing on the bed, then Fidgit screaming, and Pewter scrambling off the bed;

silence for two minutes;

Pewter bouncing on the bed, then Fidgit screaming, and Pewter scrambling off the bed; repeat for 15 minutes until Raven has had enough of this shit and smacks Fidgit in the head.

Peace descends.

Until 10:30. My sister calls. She had just awakened and was checking to see if I was okay. I muttered somethingsomethingsomethingdyingsomething and we hung up.

Oblivion.

Until 11:42 am. Psychotically neat upstairs neighbor, he of the whiney ass dog, starts vacuuming. This fuckwit vacuums every goddamn day, usually at 10 POST MERIDIAN! But not that day... no, of course not. He finally stops 20 minutes later and I go back to sleep.

Until 1 pm.

Phone, instrument of the Devil, goes off.

I try to ignore it but Fidgit loves the telephone and jumps on it and talks to it whenever it rings.

Why would I have normal Lads?

So, it's a bit hard to ignore the phone when it goes off.

I pick up it and go mrrmmrrw?

"Hi sweetie, it's Mom!"

Oh shit. Mom, always happy and chipper, was not someone I wanted to talk to in my current condition. Love her to bits... when I'm not hung over and dying.

"Hi." I said.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Mrwfo.. yeah... umimfineandyou?" I kinda said.

"I'm fine happyhappychippertalkensues..." and then somewhere in there she says "tag sale".

SHIT!

SHIT!

Forgot about the tag sale I had promised to help with. Mom never complains, she was just concerned because "it's not like you not to call."

Guilt, thy name is Italian StepMom.

No, not really. She really was worried because it isn't like me to promise to do something and not show or call. I'm the Responsible One. I'm the Reliable One.

I told her about the poker game and getting way too drunk and now being punished with the hangover from hell. She asked if she could bring my anything and I said no and she reminded me to drink lots of water and eat white rice and something else and I just okay.

Thanks Mom. For being cool and not giving me shit for skipping out on the tag sale and being irresponsible. See, this is why we love you more way than Dad. We just suck up to him for his Waterford collection.

Which is mine, by the way. MINE! But that's a story for another day.

I went back to bed and sleep, blessed sleep! Morpheus and I cuddled in peace, without interruption, for several hours. When I finally woke up, around 6 pm, covered in cats, I was feeling semi-human again. I stumbled into the kitchen for water and then onto the living room, with cats en-tow and Fidgit screaming at Pewter, and flicked on the television. CNN. Oh, no... screw that. No news, no war, no dumber-than-dirt politicians today.

TV, off.

Sit in silence.

Watch cats take turns attacking imaginary monsters on the other side of the sliding glass door.

Think about the night before and the missing pieces and realize, again, I don't remember coming home and I am still wearing most of what I had on the night before. I had spent the day in bed wearing knit top, bra and panties and nothing else.

Spied the skirt under the table. Hm. Well, that's good, I thought.

Shoes?

Shoes.

No where to be found.

I threw on some jeans and put on my sneakers and went out to the car.

No shoes.

Thought about getting some food but that was just too much work when I have ice cream (yeah, I know, rice... I never listen) in the freezer.

Call my sister.

"Hey. Howyoudoin'?" I ask.

chuckles... "Oy! Did Mom call you?" she asks.

"Yeah. We're both evil and going to hell." I said.

laughter... "Oh god, don't make me laugh. Hey, did I call you this morning?"

laughter... "Yeah. Bitch." I said.

I told her about my day from hell, she said "At least you don't have to walk a 150 pound Rottie!" after I complained about the Lads.

Good point.

She said she had checked in with everyone and all got home safe and sound. She and AnnMarie don't remember getting Mishka home and then getting back to her house. We both agreed that we were all really, really lucky and really, really stupid.

We decided it was Dani's fault we behaved so stoopidly. Dani owned a bar and restaurant until her first child was born. She's also married to a cop who delights in sharing crime scene photo's (camera phone's are not a good thing) of accidents and shootings with her and anyone else dumb enough to look. So she is really good at cutting people off the booze and making sure they can drive. As she decamped early... we got stoopid. However, even without Dani watching over us, we're not usually that stupid. Ah well, we learned a lesson without hurting ourselves or anyone else.

Next poker night will be tea and crumpets, I'm sure.

I asked my sister if she had seen my shoes and stockings.

"Huh?"

"Um, yeah... both seem to be missing." I said.

laughter... "I'll look, but I haven't seen them. Did you check your car?" she asked.

"Yup. Not there." I said.

She never found them. Neither have I. If anyone in Fairfield County, Connecticut, comes across a pair of one-inch black shoes with stockings stuck in them, let me know, mkay?

Hm. Turns out I had more to tell than I thought.

Donations please

Read Informed Comment and try not to put your fist through something.

The American University of Beruit is looking for donations. Please give what you can to them or to:

American Red Cross

Heifer

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Medecins sans Frontieres

Oxfam Canada

I know that, since the tsunami of 2004, we're all tapped out, both financially and psychologically, but please give what you can.

~ ~ ~

I'll get back later today on Friday night's doins. Let's just say I slept through most of Saturday...

Friday is art appreciation day

As it's Friday, and hot, I thought I'd leave some beautiful and serene and soothing art work for anyone lurking to enjoy.

Claude Monet is one of my all-time favorite artists. The picture above, entitled Waterlilies, Green Reflection, courtesy of the WebMuseum.




Pierre-Auguste Renoir is another one of my favorite artists. La Parisienne above isn't one of his very best, but my Mother's parents had a copy of this in their home, along with Lady at the Piano, both of which I really loved as a child. I think I started my love affair with the Impressionist painters because of those copies. If you can find it, get your hands on a copy of Jean Renoir's book, Renoir, My Father. It's a lovely read.



Last is Alfred Sisley's Bridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne, also courtesy of the WebMuseum.

Well I'll be damned

Gotta love Mercury retrogrades.

For no discernable reason, I can now see my blog in all browsers again.

I see that there have been comments made during the week which I received no email notification of.

Who knows why.

Certainly not the Blogger Support Staff.

I called the Manhattan DA's office and NYS Attorney General Spitzer's office yesterday and complained about Coulter and asked if there was an impending investigation. "We do not generally discuss any investigations" was the (and I'm paraphrasing) answer both offices gave me.

Harry Reid is finally stating Iraq is in a civil war. Surprise!

I'm taking a vacation from all war and stupid politicians today. It's Friday and I'm tired. I just want to kick back with some cold drinks, good friends and laughter today. I will have to wait until this evening for the drinks and friends though. It's poker night at my sister's and I can't wait. I might even beg for a designated driver and just get wasted. Carpe diem!

Twisted Sister

Hat tip to AMERICAblog for pointing this out:

Coulter Jokes to Reporter About Mailing White Powder to 'NY Times'

If true, Ms. Coulter has committed an act of terrorism and should be prosecuted for it.

Contact, fax, email, phone, snail mail, the New York State Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, and demand the State of New York arrest Ms. Coulter.

Contact the Attorney General.

You can also contact the Manhattan DA's office at 212-335-8900.

I'll let you know if I get any response.

Don't hold your breath.

I still haven't heard back from the State and Feds about my questions regarding the evacuation of US citizens from Lebanon and what the US policy regarding the Israeli over-the-top response to Hezbollah would be.

Day Three, still can't see my own blog.

Thanks to a lead from Elsa I got to read Mecury In Retrograde at the Huffington Post. I don't read Huffington every day, so I might have missed that article. It's a brilliant essay ~ go read!

~ ~ ~

Civil war in Iraq?

I cannot believe people are still questioning whether or not Iraq is in the midst of a civil war. They are. We sparked it. Got it?

Informed Comment

Israel Drops 23 Tons of Bombs in Dawn Air Strikes

Lebanese short of food, water under Israeli bombs

Americans escape battered Beirut

One week after Israel launched its onslaught in Lebanon, the first mass evacuation of U.S. citizens finally got under way. It was later than many would have liked but in time for Alaina Hamade, 8, who finally broke into a smile after six harrowing days spent running to and from her family's basement in the mountain town of Gharifa.

I was listening to Rush while having lunch yesterday. Why, you ask? I like torturing myself I suppose. I also like hearing what the edjit has to say. Yesterday, he was bitching about the Americans not being grateful for their rescue and not expressing their thanks to the US government.

The overwhelming majority of US citizens in Lebanon work there, mainly in the oil and gas industries, and many for US companies as well as Middle Eastern and European companies. These people are not in support of terrorists - they just work and live there.

The minority of US citizens in Lebanon right now are tourists or visiting families. Tourism helped to rebuild Lebanon after its devastation by Israel during the 18 year occupation. Without tourists, Lebanon would be in an even worse debt crisis than it was in before the attack by Israel 9 days ago.

The US government left these people to fend for themselves for approximately seven days. They should be grateful someone's finally gotten their collective shit together and are rescuing them?

Gee, thanks. Better late than never, I suppose.

Israel hints at a full-scale invasion

Key facts on Somali Islamists

Tensions worsened on Thursday between newly powerful Somali Islamists and Ethiopia, which supports Somalia's interim administration.

The Islamists threatened to wage holy war on Ethiopian troops they said had crossed into the Horn of Africa country as Addis Ababa said it would crush any attack on the government.

Witnesses: Ethiopian troops in Somalia

How to meet the Somalia challenge

The first veto

Idiot.

Numbers games

Israeli ground troops in Lebanon:

The Bush administration also has refused to yield to international calls to press Israel for a prompt end to it campaign against the Hezbollah militia.

As of today, the completely useless and totally inept United States of America under the Bush Administration has managed to evacuate 1,300 of the over 25,000 United States citizens currently trapped in Lebanon. It took them a week just to figure out how to go about getting people out.

During May and June, 6,000 Iraqi's died.

6,000 in two months.

The report charts a month-by-month increase in the number of civilians killed, from 710 in January to 1,129 in April. In the first six months of the year, it said 14,338 people had been killed.

But it's not a civil war. And we're not responsible.

Turkey signals it's prepared to enter Iraq

In my opinion, it's diplomatic speak for: Clean up the fucking mess you made and get the fuck out of Dodge!

US has no idea of 'war on terror' cost: watchdog

According to the GAO, US military and diplomatic commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan "will continue for the foreseeable future and are likely to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars."

~ ~ ~

Informed Comment

World Comment: how does it end?

Hezbollah critics may bring progress, if not unity

Afghan troops fight to retake southern towns

The showdown

Israel's maximal option

Analysis: Hezbollah's big gamble

~ ~ ~

Note to the ever-so-helpful Blogger Support Staff:

Your idea didn't work.

Next?

This is a test

I cannot view my own blog. Don't know if anyone else can. Blogger, ever helpful (yeah, that's sarcasm), has suggested posting as a way to make the blog appear.

I'm thinking their next suggestion might be a scarifice to Cthulhu. Any volunteers?

Monday Morning Question

How long will it be before the Administration rescues American citizens currently trapped in the Middle East? Or, like the residents of Louisianna, will they be left on their own to fend for themselves?

PS:

I've emailed my State and Federal represenatives the question above. What, if any, response I receive I'll post.

Don't hold your breath.

Friday Reading List

Q&A: Middle East crisis

Sign That Crisis Is Regional, Not Just Israel vs. Palestinians

Middle East II: Israel's invasion, Syria's war

American Policy in Middle East Caught in "a Perfect Storm"

Rarely can United States policy in the Middle East have been in such disarray as now.

Widening Crisis Tests Olmert

Israel and the Doctrine of Proportionality


"This Is Going to Be a Big War"

"It is civil war now in Iraq, no doubt," he continues, "But no matter who you ask, no one will admit it. Because people are too afraid to admit this. People prefer to deny it."

The Occupation of Iraqi Hearts and Minds

Last Clinic Standing

Between July 15 and 20, OSA/OR will be staging an extended protest in Jackson, Miss., aimed at closing the state’s last abortion clinic—a move the group hopes will “send a message” to abortion providers and lawmakers throughout the country.

Rape and Murder of Abeer Qassim Hamza: Bloody Reality of the U.S. Occupation

LAST STAND: The military’s problem with the President’s Iran policy

Inside the Pentagon, senior commanders have increasingly challenged the President’s plans, according to active-duty and retired officers and officials. The generals and admirals have told the Administration that the bombing campaign will probably not succeed in destroying Iran’s nuclear program. They have also warned that an attack could lead to serious economic, political, and military consequences for the United States.

A crucial issue in the military’s dissent, the officers said, is the fact that American and European intelligence agencies have not found specific evidence of clandestine activities or hidden facilities; the war planners are not sure what to hit. “The target array in Iran is huge, but it’s amorphous,” a high-ranking general told me. “The question we face is, When does innocent infrastructure evolve into something nefarious?” The high-ranking general added that the military’s experience in Iraq, where intelligence on weapons of mass destruction was deeply flawed, has affected its approach to Iran. “We built this big monster with Iraq, and there was nothing there. This is son of Iraq,” he said.

With the U.S. bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq, there wasn't much the Bush administration could do to convince Iran and North Korea to abandon their nuclear ambitions. Bombing Iran's nuclear facilities or North Korea's missile testing pads would only trigger wider wars. Iran has transferred several thousand missiles that can reach towns and cities in northern Israel. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also bragged about wiping Israel off the map. The ingredients for a larger regional conflict are present.

UPI-Arnaud de Borchgrave

"Why is Hizbullah doing this? Why do we have to suffer for the sake of the Palestinians?" asks Mr. Haddad.

CSM - A second front opens for Israel

Lebanon: Red Cross braces for further attacks

Arab leaders scramble to contain Mideast crisis

India names suspects in train attacks

"Today a unit of al-Qaida has been established in Jammu and Kashmir which shall henceforth be called al-Qaida Jammu and Kashmir," the man said. "We shall be giving out statements regularly and will soon announce our aims and objectives."

And so, the insanity continues...

Warning: Do not feed the hamster.

A review of Frank Rich's new book is available at Editor and Publisher.

A new book by New York Times columnist Frank Rich, "The Greatest Story Ever Sold: The Decline and Fall of Truth from 9/11 to Katrina" will be published by Penguin on Sept. 26. In the book, Rich delivers a savaging sermon on the US government's "rampant cronyism, the empty sloganeering of 'compassionate conservativism,' the reckless lack of planning for all government operations except tax cuts"—and so much more.

Pre-order available at Amazon.

I've finished Ms. Thomas' book, Watchdogs of Democracy: The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public - long title, excellent book. Go forth and buy and read!

Other reading matter has included Elaine Pagels' books on the Gnostic Gospels ~ The Gnostic Gospels, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, which is a good book, but not really about the Gospel of Thomas. I'll be looking elsewhere for more information on that. Don't misunderstand, I liked Beyond Belief very much, it's just not what I was expecting. I think I'll order The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated and Explained for more information. I'll also order Pagels' The Gnostic Paul.

"What? You? The Angry Agnostic??"

Yeah, me.

No, I'm not wandering off to join some church or cult or anything; I still think religion (God) is an invention of humanity in an attempt to try to comprehend itself.

I've spent quite some time pondering several of the Gnostic writings over the past few years, so I'm finally digging into them some more. Things like:

"When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the kingdom]."

attributed to Jesus, recorded in the Gospel of Thomas, fascinates me. As does:

70 Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you. If you do not have that within you, what you do not have within you [will] kill you."

See also: The Gospel of Thomas at Sacred Texts.

I suppose these Gnostic Gospels appeal to me because they stress reliance on the self instead authority imposed from the outside. The idea that we already know all we need to know, we just haven't figured it out yet. It's all there, locked within, just waiting for us to release it.

Fascinating stuff that just sets the hamster in my head to spinning ever faster on the wheel.

Reading Pagels' The Gnostic Gospels I was struck the parallels to today. The holy martyrs of early Christianity are the same people who are now strapping explosives on themselves and walking into theatres and hotels and airports. It's not a new revelation to me, it's just that... I don't know how to explain this except to say that it's so painfully sad to be constantly reminded that the human race never learns. 1,900, 1,800 years ago those now known as the holy martyrs in Christianity died for proclaiming, confessing, themselves as Christians. Now Islam is doing this. Are we embarking on a new religious cycle, replacing Christianity with Islam, I wonder? Or will we see a renewal of Christians turning themselves into martyrs, getting themselves killed for Christ?

I'm not saying we are, though it wouldn't shock me, it's just some of the many things the hamster makes me ponder.

Damn hamster.

Brutalize acclaim the leach

Frontier Editor has a link on his blog this morning for Anagram Genius. The anagram of my name is:

'Brutalize acclaim the leach.'

Hm.

I'll be pondering that one for a while.

~ ~ ~

Is it war yet?

Hezbollah has captured two Israeli soldiers and the Israeli's have increased their "response". Prime Minister Olmert has declared this kidnapping an "act of war".

From Joseph Panossian, AP:

The clashes came after Israel sharply escalated its military campaign in Gaza in an effort to press Palestinian militants to release another Israeli soldier who was captured during a raid across the Israel-Gaza border last month. Israel dropped a quarter-ton bomb on a Gaza home Wednesday in a failed attempt to assassinate top Hamas fugitives, killing seven children and two adults.

I think the response by the Israeli's has been excessive. However, Hamas knew it would be. They know well that the Israeli's have always been fiercely protective of their soliders. It is mandetory for all citizens, male and female, over 18 to serve. In one sense, the soliders in the Israeli army are everyone's children and the capture and/or death of one is deeply felt by all.

They knew what would happen. Everyone knows what would happen. That's why the did it. The jury is still out on whether or not Hezbollah captured two soliders on purpose or if it was an accident. Regardless, they've opened the second front of the Islamic-Israeli war.

And that's what this is folks. War.

See also:

Christian Science Monitor

Middle East Report

The Times


~ ~ ~


170 to 190 people died in India yesterday. While Pakistan has condemned the attack, some are looking in their direction - or at their radical Islamic rebels, at any rate. Others are looking towards Kashmir and the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

See also: MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base


~ ~ ~


Over 200 people have died in Iraq in just the last three days. People are still reluctant to state the obvious: Iraq is in the midst of a civil war and there is "ethnic cleansing" going on.

See: Professor Juan Cole for more details on Iraq and the Middle East.

Never forget we caused this nightmare into being. When we will be made to pay the piper for what we've done is anyone's guess. It appears that those directly responsible for this, George Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, Condoleezza Rice, et al, will never be held accountable. It seems the people of the United States and the rest of the world will let them walk away, unscathed. We, the people, however, will one day pay a heavy price for what they've done. Retribution is coming folks. Plan accordingly.


~ ~ ~


Now that I'm depressed, I'm going back to work.

So, Italy won

It was a unexpected weekend of barbeques. My upstairs neighbor, he of the nightly 9pm vacuuming and all-day whiny dog, invited me to his barbeque Saturday morning. Except to do the semi-polite New England headnod greeting at each other Monday through Friday, I've never communicated with this guy in the 15 months I've lived in the apartment below him. Cussing his ass out every night for vacuuming at 9pm (sometimes much later) from the safty of my own apartment doesn't count as communication. Unless he's a telepath. Which he must not be because:

1) He's still vacuuming at 9pm (or later) every night and

2) he would be well aware of what I really think of him and his annoying whiny dog and so

3) he'd have moved by now - or gotten a restraining order.

Instead, he invites me to his barbeque. Now his party was to be right outside my back door, so it may be he felt he had to invite me. I don't know. I also don't know why I went, but I did. Nice people, good food, it wasn't a horrible time and I left (walked a whole ten feet back into my apartment) around 8pm. At which point my sister calls:

"Come over to my house tomorrow, I'm having a barbeque."

Oy. I just left one!

(No, I'm not a huge fan of barbeque's)

Our brother Matt and his wife spent the weekend in Mahattan, leaving their two kids with our parents. They were driving back to Maine (yeah, they drove from Maine to Connecticut then to NYC) on Sunday, leaving one child behind with Grandma and Grandpa for the week and taking the other one home. My sister reasoned that it would cause less "separation anxiety" on the three year old who was staying behind if she went home with Grandma and Grandpa before her parents left for home with her baby brother.

Yeah, I don't get it either.

But any excuse my sister can grab to feed people she takes. So... more barbeque on Sunday. I was late getting there because the upstairs neighbors party, which mostly finished by 8:30 Saturday night, revived itself at 10pm and went on until 2:30am.

Thankfully we cannot yet, even in Bush's America, be prosecuted for our thoughts.

Normally, I'm not a wuss about confronting rude people. But... I steamed instead of dealing with the problem. I think it's because it sounded like it was all men and they were pretty drunk I didn't want to go out there and tell them to buzz off. I was also praying that one of our other neighbors would do something about it.

So much for the power of prayer.

In any event, I didn't get to sleep until 3am or so and didn't get up until 10am. I had laundry and catbox cleaning to do before I could leave, which I had intended on doing Saturday until I went to the barbeque.

I know, I know, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. That's only one reason why I know I'm going to Hell. Provided it exsists. Which I doubt.

But I digress: I had promised my sister I would head over to her house early to help her out but I didn't arrive until 1pm - the start time to her party. Thankfully she wasn't pissed and when I finally explained why I was late she understood.

The 'rents left my sister's house around 3 and Matt and Kelly about 45 minutes later. My sister and I hung out on her backporch chatting for a while when all hell broke loose. You see, my sister lives slighty south of what used to be the Bridgeport version of "Little Italy". In our lifetimes it's become home to people from Southeast Asia and the southern Americas, not so much Italian any more. But you'd never know it from yesterday's insanity.

First there was the 35 minute (yes, I timed it) fireworks barrage just two blocks from my sister's house. Then we watched the Parade of Morons. Everyone with a mechanized vehicle drapped an Italian flag on it (covering windshields in many cases), or sat on top of cars, holding onto gigantic Italian flags, while some edjit drove them around at top speed. This impromptu parade went up and down the two major thoroughfares of that section of Bridgeport, covering several dozen blocks and snarling traffic to no end. What a disaster. There were a great many accidents but I don't think there were any fatalities. I suppose that's a good thing, but the morons have been left behind to further pollute the gene pool.

I'm a huge, life-long, diehard Yankee fan. Even if I lived in the Bronx I wouldn't carry on like most people do when their team win. Gloat, sure. Parade around honking my horn, driving over peoples lawns, getting into fights, causing accidents and generally behaving like an asshole? No.

I don't get it.

I don't understand people. The building explosion and collapse in Manhattan today? Apparently a suicide attempt. Suicide is one of the most selfish things any person can do, in my opinion. More often than not it leaves behind people who spend the rest of their lives beating themselves up for not stopping the suicide from happening. But this guy, in Manhattan, goes all out on the selfish meter: sets off a gas leak which blows up his house and injures 15 or more people in the process of trying to kill himself, yet doesn't die. He's reported to be burned over 70% of his body, which is a hellish injury to suffer from and I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

sigh

I guess my grumpy mood can be blamed on the heat and lack of sleep and being fed up with rude people in general. I tried trolling the 'net for some cheeriness, but it didn't work. Probably shouldn't have read Robert Scheer interview at Democracy Now.

We have lots of good documentaries now out on this. Greenwald’s Uncovered, I think, is an excellent one. The other one I saw the other night, Hijacking 9/11. There are many of these things. They're right. People have a right to question how this happened. But clearly, these people hijacked the government with a very narrow ideological view. They excluded the old establishment, the Brent Scowcrofts and that group. And they went in a very dangerous direction. He went along with them, because there is no there there. There is no George W. Bush. Here is a person who is totally disinterested in the world, uneducated. I’m not saying he's stupid. I don’t think he’s stupid. He’s crafty as hell, but he projects well on television. And that's the real big problem. He is the perfect "what, me worry?" president.

Even Molly couldn't cheer me up.

I need a vacation. Badly.

Some faith restored

Given the extremely conservative nature of the Supreme Court of the United States, I had resigned myself to the Court ruling in favor of the Administration in the Hamdan case. Thankfully that hasn't happened - see SCOTUSblog for details on Hamdan. This is, as everyone is saying, huge. The President of the United States has been rebuked:

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Congress did not take away the Court's authority to rule on the military commissions' validity, and then went ahead to rule that President Bush did not have authority to set up the tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and found the commissions illegal under both military justice law and the Geneva Convention. In addition, the Court concluded that the commissions were not authorized when Congress enacted the post-9/1l resolution authorizing a response to the terrorist attacks, and were not authorized by last year's Detainee Treatment Act. The vote against the commissions and on the Court's jurisdiction was 5-3, with the Chief Justice not taking part.

The Court expressly declared that it was not questioning the government's power to hold Salim Ahmed Hamdan "for the duration of active hostilities" to prevent harm to innocent civilians. But, it said, "in undertaking to try Hamdan and subject him to criminal punishment, the Executive is bound to comply with the Rule of Law that prevails in this jurisdiction."

Mr. Bush is not above the law. About time someone said so.

What worries me is the Republican House and Senate. It wouldn't shock me if they ruled the Geneva Convention no longer applies in this "new war". Nothing these people do shocks me any more.

But for one, brief moment, my faith in Constitutional law has been restored.

"I thank my stars, I am happy! and Jove, and my stars be praised!"

Strolling around the web this morning, as I do every morning, I stopped at one of my favorite haunts, Astrodynamics and saw the title:

Astrology hits HGTV

Whoa!

See What's Your Sign? Design.

Thanks for the heads-up Lynn (and AstroCocktail)! I can't wait to see this show.

Holy frijoles Batman! I've turned into Martha Stewart!

The 'rents and my sister are coming to my place for dinner tonight. I'm not a huge fan of fish, except for shrimp and lobster, but my parents like it, so I thought I'd compromise and make a scallop casserole for dinner tonight:

2 pounds of baby scallops
6 ounces, more or less, of cream
a dash, or so, of white wine
fresh dill... teaspoon, half a teaspoon? well, to taste at any rate
bit of garlic, not a lot
some scallions
dash of salt and pepper
freshly grated parmesean and bread crumbs over the top

Mix it all together and bake at 350 degrees, in a large casserole dish, for about 30 minutes.

I'll put together a spinach salad with a light balsamic dressing on the side. I'd love to make some saffron rice, if I had saffron or cardamom... I guess I'll go with plain white. Yeah, boring, I know. A vegetable platter with some nice cheese (that I'll have to pick up on the way home tonight) since I don't have the time to make a spinach dip and/or a tapas as an appetizer.

One of the problems of serving fish is I have to serve white wine... right? Only, I hate white wine and I know nada about it. I picked up two bottles of Trimbach 2000 Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling and a bottle of St. Supery 2004 Sauvignon Blanc last night. I have no doubt Dad's going to make fun of these selections. Well, if he does, he gets no dessert! Which, by the way, is my pecan apple pie, that I made last night.

I also dragged out the damask table cloth and napkins, the good china, the good silver, the crystal candlesticks last night... Dad's coming, and he gets... snippy, let's say, if the table isn't properly set. Because the linens were in the dresser, I had to press those last night as well. This is why I entertain so infrequently. It's too much galdarn work! Why am I doing this? Well, we've been to my sister's house three times since she moved in, in October, so it's my turn. I guess. I suppose I'm feeling guilty that Gret's gone through all this work and I haven't.

I still have to pick up flowers and cheese on the way home tonight. As I have this whole white theme going on here (unintentional, but still), I'm hoping to pick up some white flowers - daisies, lilies, alstroemeria... um, isn't alstroemeria a lily too? What I know about flowers I could write across the head of a pin and have loads of room left over for something short like, um... Shakespeare.

Ah well, whatever... all white flowers to go with the all white linens, china, candles and casserole dish... all of which coordinates with my all white kitchen. Except for the toaster, which is bright red. Leave it to my sister-in-law Mary to introduce the only hint of color in my kitchen. My red toaster was a Christmas gift from her last year. It really stands out in my all white kitchen.

Two Moons

The above photo is of Pluto and two new moons, Nix and Hydra.

Nix, which I believe is usually spelled Nyx in Ancient Greek, means night. Her mythology, according to Hesiod, is:

Hesiod states that Night was the daughter of Chaos, which makes her one of the first creatures ever to emerge from the void. This means that Nyx was the sister to some of the oldest deities in Greek myth, including Erebus (Darkness), Gaia (the Earth), and Tartarus (the Underworld). From these primeval powers came the rest of the Greek gods and goddesses. And Nyx was responsible for bearing her share of divine children.

Nyx gave birth to a number of offspring. Some of these children of Night were Eris (Discord or Strife), the Moirai (Fates), Hypnos (Sleep), Nemesis (Retribution), Thanatos (Death), and the Hesperides. While these beings were born from the goddess alone, without a father, Nyx also had children by the god Erebus. To Erebus the goddess bore Aether (Air) and Hemera (Day).

Also from Hesiod, in Theogeny:

"There also stands the gloomy house of Night;
ghastly clouds shroud it in darkness.
Before it Atlas stands erect and on his head
and unwearying arms firmly supports the broad sky,
where Night and Day cross a bronze threshold
and then come close and great each other."

Not someplace I want to live.

The other moon is named Hydra. From Pantheon.org:

The Hydra which lived in the swamps near to the ancient city of Lerna in Argolis, was a terrifying monster which like the Nemean lion was the offspring of Echidna (half maiden - half serpent), and Typhon (had 100 heads), other versions think that the Hydra was the offspring of Styx and the Titan Pallas. The Hydra had the body of a serpent and many heads (the number of heads deviates from five up to one hundred there are many versions but generally nine is accepted as standard), of which one could never be harmed by any weapon, and if any of the other heads were severed another would grow in its place (in some versions two would grow). Also the stench from the Hydra's breath was enough to kill man or beast (in other versions it was a deadly venom). When it emerged from the swamp it would attack herds of cattle and local villagers, devouring them with its numerous heads. It totally terrorized the vicinity for many years.

These names are quite gloomy, aren't they? I was wondering if the astronomers were completely without humor until I read the article:

Nix was originally spelled "Nyx" by Stern's group. Nyx is the Greek goddess of darkness and Hydra is the nine-headed serpent that guarded the underworld. Pluto is the Roman god of the underworld.

But since a near-Earth object was already called Nyx, the IAU decided to tweak the spelling to "Nix" to avoid confusion.

Stern said he wasn't disappointed by the spelling change because the pronunciation and significance of the names were still intact.

"The joke was that they nixed Nyx," Stern said.

Gotta love the Greeks... um Geeks.

Edited to add:

Spotted this at Planetwaves this morning and it made me laugh:

Donald Rumsfeld is an idiot. True, he is one of a cabal of the most idiotic idiots in the Annals of the Idiotic Idiocy of the Human Race, but this dude stands out like the Eiffel Tower on a clear night. He has other problems, but mainly, he's bloody stupid.

:)

My home world.

Photo courtesy of NASA.

Now if they'd just give me a ride home.

Astronomy Picture of the Day

What passes for a government in Iraq these days announced last week it would grant amnesty to anyone who did not kill Muslims in this, the Iraqi Civil War.

It is now open season in Iraq on US soliders. The Senate has no problem with this.

Do you?

Last week two US soliders were kidnapped. Their bodies were found yesterday:

An Iraqi military official said Tuesday that the bodies of two missing U.S. soldiers showed signs of torture, and that men appeared to have been killed "in a barbaric way." Also, the umbrella group for Iraqi insurgents claimed responsibility for the soldiers' deaths.

Surprised? I'm not. It's only going to get worse.

If you pray, say a prayer for our soliders and the families of Pfc. Menchaca of Houston, Texas and Pfc. Tucker of Madras, Oregon.

7 US Troops Wounded Looking for Comrades

A Father Speaks Out Against the Iraq War

US Embassy Memo

By the way, in case you missed it, your home is no longer your castle and anyone can enter without knocking - Police, FBI, CIA, anyone.

Also, make damn well sure you have your birth certificate on you. You see, if you are suspected of not being a US national, a non-citizen, you may be arrested and held without charges or explanation, for as long as anyone chooses to hold on to you. And no, you won't have access to an attorney, even if you ask for one.

City to crackdown on illegal immigration

Love it!

Bush Abrogates 3rd Amendment, Just to Complete the Set

Book Launch

"Watchdogs of Democracy?", by Helen Thomas, is excerpted at Rawstory and available for pre-order at Amazon.com