Abuse of power

West Bank: a government in jail

Barghouthi was one of scores of Palestinian officials arrested by Israel after Shalit's abduction, including 33 elected members of the Palestinian legislative council and five cabinet ministers. Most have been held without charges, as Israeli law permits when someone presents a security threat. Some, according to a request by the Monitor for information on their cases from the IDF, are accused of "membership in an illegal organization" - Hamas.

Barghouthi, an independent who is not a member of Hamas but was appointed to the Ministry of Labor because of his professional management credentials, was released more than six weeks later on Aug. 14. By then, he was so thin and disheveled, his family recalls, that when he came home his children cried and his mother collapsed.

Ten Big News Stories You Aren't Hearing


If you are as old as I am (which is slightly older then dirt) you will recognize the names John Dean and Liz Holtzman.

If not then start learning your history kids.

John Dean and Liz Holtzman Square off on Impeaching Bush

The impeachment proceeding against Bill Clinton was itself a congressional abuse of power. There were no grounds for impeachment. It was a partisan effort to undo an election. It was not to protect the country from an abuse of power, which is what impeachment is all about. The framers understood—because they had lived through a monarchy—that when you have a president, even though you have a limited four-year term, even though you have checks and balances through the Supreme Court and the Congress, a president can still abuse his power, become a despot, oppress the people, and have to be removed from office. That’s why they created the impeachment power; it’s part of the way of preserving our democracy; but it has to be very carefully used, because it undoes the results of a presidential election. It cannot be used as the Republican majority tried to [with Clinton]. The American people won’t stand for it and shouldn’t stand for it.

Contra-wise, when you have a president who so seriously abuses his power as President Bush does, who signs a bill into law but says that he doesn’t have to obey it; that he doesn’t have to obey 750 bills that became laws because of his signature; that he doesn’t have to obey the explicit terms of the federal wiretapping law.... What happens to a democracy if a president says, “I’m above the law”? We dealt with that in the Nixon impeachment. The Supreme Court dealt with it when President Truman said, “I’m the commander in chief; I can seize steel mills.” [In the famous Youngstown decision] The Supreme Court said no.

by Elizabeth Holtzman

Wandering down memory lane

Man, I'm so old. The first song I learned the complete lyrics to was "Leaving on a Jet Plane". I think I was four or five. I know my parents and I were still living on Shawnee Lane in Trumbull.

I still remember all the words. It was on the radio so often when I was a kid, the lyrics just stuck with me.





Where's the music of the protest movement? Shit, for that matter... where's the protest movement?







I couldn't find a video of PP&M doing one of their songs that's been stuck in my head for days now, so here's the lyrics:

Tell me why you’re crying, my son
I know you’re frightened, like everyone
Is it the thunder in the distance you fear?
Will it help if I stay very near?
I am here.

Refrain:
And if you take my hand my son
All will be well when the day is done.
And if you take my hand my son
All will be well when the day is done.
Day is done, day is done
Day is done, day is done

Do you ask why I’m sighing, my son?
You shall inherit what mankind has done.
In a world filled with sorrow and woe
If you ask me why this is so, I really don’t know.

(refrain)

Tell me why you’re smiling my son
Is there a secret you can tell everyone?
Do you know more than men that are wise?
Can you see what we all must disguise
Through your loving eyes?

(refrain)



~ ~ ~

Airline Could Pull Ads From ABC.

Good. I hope they sue too.

Fall Fashion Statement: Fear is the new black

Finally, it's September 12.

I've been avoiding the bullshit about September 11 all weekend. By bullshit I mean the false mourning of the Media and the politicalization of our sorrow over that horrible day by the President. Oh, and the out-right lies by ABC/Disney.

Sickening. And a slap in the face to those who died that day - to all who lived through it and all who lost someone they loved.

So, I avoided all contact with it.

It is beyond shameful"

~ ~ ~


Global Media Abhors US Response to 9/11


September 11, Permanent Fear

"Humanity now is under the impression of living in a state of permanent insecurity, where fears of violent death and of a nasty, brutish, and short life dominate," political scientist Pierre Hassner explained already in 2003. "The issue therefore, has become that, in order to eliminate fear of the other - by definition a mysterious, multiform, and more or less anonymous other - further risks are taken that give birth to other fears: the risks of outrages to personal freedom and the fear of violence coming from those same states or empires that we had charged with protecting us."

Dedicating September 11th to Bush

George W. Bush is an ordinary human being, in fact a quite stupid one. So are all of his handlers. They are ordinary people, and we have the power, should we choose to use it, to throw them out of our public housing.

Gaping Holes in the 9/11 Narrative

After five years of official deceit, it is not too difficult to believe that the isolation of those prisoners was done less for reasons of learning the truth about 9/11 and more in an effort to politically manage the narrative released to the public.

The Day That Changed Everything Wasn't 9/11

A recent poll tells us that only 14% of Americans feel safer now than they did five years ago. Seventy-nine percent expect another attack on U.S. soil within the next year, and 60% think it's likely in the next few months. Four out of five say that "we will always have to live with the threat of terrorism," though only one in five admits to being "personally very concerned about an attack" in his or her own area. A Florida woman captured the prevailing mood when she told a reporter: "When I stop to think about it, I don't feel very safe. But then again, on a day-to-day basis, I feel fine." As Rep. Peter King, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, put it: "It's like we live in two parallel existences."

~ ~ ~


The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street.


~ ~ ~


Do you want to stop living in fear? Impeach Bush. It's that simple.

Impeach Bush.

Impeach Bush.

Impeach Bush.

Impeach Bush.

Impeach Bush.

This just cracked me up

I need a hobby or a life or something.

Pointless Palaver

Freeway Blogger - Impeach Campaign

~ ~ ~



Why isn't the United States government interested in capturing Osama bin Laden anymore?


~ ~ ~



Live in fear.

Is There Still a Terrorist Threat?

Or live in truth.

It's your choice.


~ ~ ~


Raising Yousuf, Unplugged

Gaza seems so far away, yet it is every day in my heart. And it pains me to watch it suffer in the distance. I miss everything, from its sweeping, desolate shores to all it embodies in madness and character. But as I watched what little news I could stomach on the television, I realized, we are not considerd as human; our tears, our blood, it is all more affordable. An entire population is still surrounded, deprived, occupied, but its ok-things are calm on the northern front, that's all that matters.

Gaza's Darkness

In large parts of Gaza nowadays, there is no electricity. Israel bombed the only power station in Gaza, and more than half the electricity supply will be cut off for at least another year. There's hardly any water. Since there is no electricity, supplying homes with water is nearly impossible. Gaza is filthier and smellier than ever: Because of the embargo Israel and the world have imposed on the elected authority, no salaries are being paid and the street cleaners have been on strike for the past few weeks. Piles of garbage and obnoxious clouds of stink strangle the coastal strip, turning it into Calcutta.

UN warns of Gaza 'breaking point'

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
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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.