will work for freedom

The Abyss

2006-08-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

~ The Abyss - Faces of Drama (1986 - Video 2006)

Puppet of the Religious Right

2006-07-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

Behind closed doors ....
In First Veto, Bush Blocks Stem Cell Bill

*sigh* What a tool he is...

Thought Experiment: There is a fire at a fertility clinic and you, the reader, are inside. On one side of the room is a cooler with 100's of blastocysts, on the other is a 2 year old baby. You only have time to save one.
What do you do? What do you save?
Living baby? or 100's of snowflakes?

......a hint via Darksyde

One more time for those in the back row: On the left is a blastocyst from which embryonic stem cell lines are made. It's ten times smaller than the dot at the end of this sentence and contains roughly 100 cells. On the right is a human baby, one of many who's life might someday be saved or greatly enhanced by treatments developed from ESC research. Any questions?

Rove's November Laundry List

2006-06-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

Ø - Fags - ~~Amendment on same sex marriage~~
Ø - Flags - ~~Amendment on flag burning~~
Ø - Mexicans - ~~Immigration bill~~
Ø - Dead white males - ~~Estate Tax~~
± - Media - House condemnation of NY Times
Ø - ~~Blacks~~ - cancelled due to Katrina
± - Abortion - ? ? ?

"Full Liquid Jacket"

2006-06-20T22:54:00.000-07:00

The Iraq Mis-Adventure has cost the lives of thousands of American soldiers with thousands more severly wounded. Today's body armour and protective head gear works very well, keeping the death rate at about 2 soliders a day - despite "the level of violence that we’ve encountered". But the protection is limited and as such has left thousands with out their limbs. One product may soon help with the extreme loss of extremities.

Liquid Armor

A new "liquid armor" could be the solution for protecting the parts of the body that aren't currently covered by standard-issue ballistic vests – arms and legs, where many of these devastating and life-threatening injuries occur. Co-developed by two research teams – one led by Norman Wagner at the University of Delaware, and the other led by Eric Wetzel at the U.S. Army Research Lab in Aberdeen, MD – the liquid technology will soon lead to light, flexible full-body armor.
...
The liquid - called 'shear thickening fluid' is actually a mixture of hard nanoparticles and nonevaporating liquid. It flows normally under low-energy conditions, but when agitated or hit with an impact it stiffens and behaves like a solid. This temporary stiffening occurs less than a millisecond after impact, and is caused by the nanoparticles forming tiny clusters inside the fluid. "The particles jam up forming a log jam structure that prevents things from penetrating through them," Wagner explains.

Very cool and very very necessary.

The Eyes Have It

2006-06-17T23:38:00.000-07:00

On June 16th 2001 Bush said about Russian Federation President Putin

I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul;...

And just last week June 2006

President Bush flew to Baghdad last week to size up Iraq's new leader. "I have come not only to thank you," he told American troops gathered in the Green Zone on Tuesday, "but to look Prime Minister Maliki in the eyes -- to determine whether or not he is as dedicated to a free Iraq as you are."

The presidential determination? "I believe he is," Bush said.

And this past week again - June 2006.

President Bush To Legally Blind Reporter: ‘Are You Going to Ask That Question with Shades On?’

Tony Snow - Day 2

2006-05-17T21:29:00.000-07:00

Well he did it again. No no no, not something like his first day.

MR. SNOW: Well, as I pointed out -- I mentioned this yesterday, and for -- let me see if I can find my quote, because I pulled it out. Chuck Hagel, as you may recall, made a fair amount of news over the weekend when he first said that -- let's see -- "Well, I want to listen to the details and I want to listen to the President," said Senator Hagel -- he said this on "This Week" on a competing network.

A competing network?

Yes, ABC is in competion with the White House News Network, or as it's commonly known, Fox News.

(via crooks and liars)

Immigration - It's a Shinny Thingy.

2006-05-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

It's been the mantra - BushCo will protect us. - 4 years of flogging the security whip, keeping a level of fear present in the country at all times. But it's really all a continuing political campaign to maintain power - all issues focused on the continuation of republican power. Real world issues, revelations of corruption and lies arise and fade away because BushCo drives the media agenda. It's all about pushing the issues that perk the ears of average Americans.

This time it's Immigration that's being trotted out. It's a tactic to bring out their biased base. We've seen it with same sex marriage, Stem Cell research, abortion and other hot button issues. These smaller "hot" issues are wrapped deep beneath the flag of security.

The absence of, the actual ignoring of, border security was the something that always bothered me - hit me as odd. Why, if they were in control, had all the power and security was their mantra, why didn't they do something about the borders before this? If America was truly vulnerable they would have done something right away. But why didn't the issue come up? Why didn't BushCo address it and show America, in a tangible way, they were strong on security? It could be because of the "Big Business" interests involved in the issue, but a better explanation fits the Rovian Political MO a bit better.

The immigration issue was kept purposely in their back pocket. It's the perfect election year distraction issue. Not only does it deal with an issue that riles up their biased base but also touches, nay, embraces the "security" mantra. Think about it. If the immigration issue wasn't swirling around, what would the headlines be? Iraq... Rove... Darfur... Iran... but no, the main issue is immigration and everyone has an opinion - a deep emotional opinion.

Ben Ferguson is a Big Pussy

2006-05-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

Crooks and Liars has the Video

~

Someday Someone Somewhere Somehow

2006-05-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

“Last Goodbye” - Agent Orange 1981 Mp3

someday someone somewhere somehow
is going to make you understand
these words will drill into your head
you undergo the process then
you will do anything they say
they will have power over you
you will not question their authority
you know what they can do
i shake my head i don't know what to say
i see my chance to turn and walk away
i will not be a part of this romance
i just can't take that chance
because i see my opportunity to shout
the last goodbye
i bet you never did expect
to have a big important name
they all will have exquisite taste
but everyone will look the same
you will be quickly photographed
you will be shot from every side
they'll teach you what you need to learn
then they will take you for a ride

Quaint and Antiquated

2006-05-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

Fourth Ammendment of the the Constitution of the United States of America.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

This used to mean something in America...

In the eye of the NSA

2006-05-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

~ 2006

NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls

The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.

The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren't suspected of any crime.

~ 200X

A Party member lives from birth to death under the eye of the Thought Police. Even when he is alone he can never be sure that he is alone. Wherever he may be, asleep or awake, working or resting, in his bath or in bed, he can be inspected without warning and without knowing that he is being inspected. Nothing that he does is indifferent. His friendships, his relaxations, his behaviour towards his wife and children, the expression of his face when he is alone, the words he mutters in sleep, even the characteristic movements of his body, are all jealously scrutinized. Not only any actual misdemeanour, but any eccentricity, however small, any change of habits, any nervous mannerism that could possibly be the symptom of an inner struggle, is certain to be detected. He has no freedom of choice in any direction whatever. 1984 - Orwell

Privacy - a quaint and antiquated concept.

Got Tact?

2006-05-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

The Emperor in Chief went on a little MediScare tour yesterday and stopped Broward Community College in Florida. Whilst meeting with seniors, Bush, as is his styleless style, showed his lack of tact, compassion and decency when he

...greeted a man who remained sitting in a wheelchair with, "You look mighty comfortable."

Maybe next time Bush could ask the guy if he wants to go for a run...

~

DBJP

2006-05-09T14:47:00.000-07:00

Join the Death Bed Joke Project over at the Liberal Avenger.

gods of nature

2006-05-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

Creationism dismissed as 'a kind of paganism' by Vatican's astronomer

Believing that God created the universe in six days is a form of superstitious paganism, the Vatican astronomer Guy Consolmagno claimed yesterday.

Brother Consolmagno, who works in a Vatican observatory in Arizona and as curator of the Vatican meteorite collection in Italy, said a "destructive myth" had developed in modern society that religion and science were competing ideologies.

He described creationism, whose supporters want it taught in schools alongside evolution, as a "kind of paganism" because it harked back to the days of "nature gods" who were responsible for natural events.
...

"Religion needs science to keep it away from superstition and keep it close to reality, to protect it from creationism, which at the end of the day is a kind of paganism - it's turning God into a nature god. And science needs religion in order to have a conscience, to know that, just because something is possible, it may not be a good thing to do."

Elmo Goes to War

2006-04-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

Sesame workshop and Wal-mart are producing a DVD, starring little red retarded Elmo and big red shell-shocked Elmodaddy, to help little kids deal with issues involved with military families and parents who are deployed in the Iraq and Afghanistan. Though the plot is still a closely guarded secret, The Rude Pundit has an idea about how it might go down when Elmodaddy comes back home to Sesame Street.

Elmo Doesn't Like It When Daddy Screams In His Sleep:

...Then how cute it'll be when Elmodaddy discovers he's got no job he can possibly do, being so fucked up from his injuries, and so he starts to drink, which doesn't help the nightmares, the way he's gotta get up every night to walk the perimeter inside his own home, and the fact that he can't fuck Elmomommy anymore, and Elmo disappears ever more into his fantasy land of psychic goldfish, smiling computers, and strange bow-tied men and women who mime their misunderstanding of basic language outside his window.

Of course, that's all might be wishful thinking. The whole thing could end with Elmodaddy being ripped to cloth and stuffing shreds by an IED because his government couldn't afford to equip him with the armor he needed to protect his red fuzzy ass. Then we can watch as Elmo radicalizes, marches, and chants, "One, two, three, four, Elmo doesn't want your fucking war." And, hey, he'll still be teaching the children how to count.

Section 603

2006-04-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

Who would have thunk it? Jefferson that's who!

Section 603 of Jefferson's Manual of the Rules of the United States House of Representatives states Impeachment can be initiated in several ways.

... by charges made on the floor on the responsibility of a Member or Delegate ...by charges preferred by a memorial, which is usually referred to a committee for examination ...or by a resolution dropped in the hopper by a Member and referred to a committee... by a message from the President... by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State ... or Territory ... or from a grand jury ...or from facts developed and reported by an investigating committee of the House

Both the Illinios and California legislatures are moving to charge Bush and begin the proceedings.

California Becomes Second State to Introduce Bush Impeachment

Walker Peace Brigade on Trial

2006-04-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

18 Antiwar `Grannies' on Trial in New York

NEW YORK — Eighteen antiwar protesters who call themselves the Granny Peace Brigade went on trial Thursday for staging a rally in Times Square last year, with the prosecution saying the case was about disorderly conduct — not war.
The defendants, some supporting themselves on canes and walkers, entered the small courtroom packed with about 75 supporters. They are each charged with two counts of disorderly conduct stemming from an Oct. 17, 2005, protest against the Iraq war outside the military recruiting station in Times Square.
...
The women — several in their 80s and 90s — wore buttons that read: "Granny Peace Brigade" and "Love the Troops, Hate the War." Some wore T-shirts that said: "We will not be silent."

Give em hell grandma...

The Decider

2006-04-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

Bush is no Alan Turning

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decider

"In computability theory, a machine that always halts — also called a decider (Sipser, 1996) — is any abstract machine or model of computation that, contrary to the most general Turing machines, is guaranteed to halt for any particular description and input (see halting problem)."
...
"In practice, a machine that always halts can be implemented as a programming language with restricted flow control instructions, so that no program (i.e. description) will ever cause the machine to enter an infinite loop."
...
Machines that always halt are less powerful than Turing machines, as the following theorem shows:

There are (Turing-)computable total functions that are not computable by any machine that always halts.

...(see theorem)

Despite the above theorem, it is possible to construct a machine that always halts and yet computes the majority of functions of interest (the so-called primitive recursive functions),
...

primitive recursive functions... hate...war...greed.

“I’m the decider” Mr. Bush said

Continue reading the post...

I’m of the opinion that Bush is Halting all the time as he is guaranteed to halt for any particular description and input

“Mr President, we need more troops for Iraq invasion…”

HALT !

“Mr President, things aren’t looking good in Iraq…”

HALT !

“Mr President, we have this Hurricane and…”

HALT !

“Mr President, the constitution says…”

HALT !

and so on and so on and so on….

Kind of a variation of “Talk to the hand”.

Intelligent Design's Ugly Cousin

2006-03-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

Dadahead has a piece up about those wacky geocentrists.

Sungenis is a geocentrist. He contends the sun orbits the Earth instead of vice versa. He says physics and the Bible show that the vastness of space revolves around us; that we're at the center of everything, on a planet that does not rotate.

Time for the...Galaxy song by Monty Python

~

The Walker Brigade

2006-03-27T01:05:00.000-08:00

Woman, 78, gets recruitment letter from Marine Corps

SAUGUS - Sonia Goldstein was flattered by the nice recruiting letter asking her to consider becoming one of "the few, the proud."

...

The letter told her the corps could use her unique language skills, but also warned that life as a Marine would test her physical and mental abilities "beyond anything you've ever known."

"There I am with my walker. I can't maneuver from here to there without it," said Goldstein, who added that her only language is English.

She's gonna have a hard time with the obstacle course...

~

Remember this later

2006-03-14T12:52:00.000-08:00

US general says no proof Iran behind Iraq arms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer said on Tuesday the United States does not have proof that Iran's government is responsible for Iranians smuggling weapons and military personnel into Iraq.

President George W. Bush said on Monday components from Iran were being used in powerful roadside bombs used in Iraq, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said last week that Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel had been inside Iraq.

Asked whether the United States has proof that Iran's government was behind these developments, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon briefing, "I do not, sir."

briefs or going commando

2006-03-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

Judge Says Libby Can See Bush's Briefs

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton rejected CIA warnings that the nation's security would be imperiled if the presidential-level documents were disclosed to lawyers for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Cheney's former chief of staff.

The judge said the CIA can either delete highly classified information from the briefing material and provide copies of what Libby received six days a week, often with Cheney. Or, Walton said, the CIA can produce "topic overviews" of the matters covered in the briefings.

The judge also ordered the CIA to give Libby an index of the topics covered in follow-up questions that the former White House aide asked intelligence officers who conducted the briefings.

Scooter is gonna get to paw around in the Presidential drawers.

But how long till the Porter simply refuses to drop the presidents pants?

~

nanobiobots

2006-03-08T23:05:00.000-08:00

Salon - I, Nanobot

Nanofabricated animats may be infinitessimally tiny, but their electrons will be exactly the same size as ours -- and their effect on human reality will be as immeasurable as the universe. Like an inverted SETI program, humanity must now look inward, constantly scanning technology space for animats, or their progenitors. The first alien life may not come from the stars, but from ourselves.

greymail

2006-03-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

We all knew this was where it was going - it's the defense focus and Libby's only hope. Greymail the Fitz into dropping the case.

To refresh his mind, as it "turns in clusters", Scooter asks for classified documents that, if released, would damage national security.

The government , "because their roots connect them" to national security, could be forced to drop the case - and do so for a variety of national security reasons.

Like this one...

CIA says Libby defense could disrupt intelligence

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
CIA would have a hard time advising President George W. Bush on security threats if a judge forced it to provide material sought by a former vice presidential aide accused of perjury, the agency said in a court filing made public on Tuesday.

CIA officials would need up to nine months to dig up classified information sought by Lewis "Scooter" Libby as part of his defense against perjury charges, the CIA said.

"The job would divert their precious time and effort away from their primary task: preparing breaking intelligence for the president's immediate attention," CIA information review officer Marilyn Dorn wrote.

Not that the President pays any attention to those intelligence briefings...

(ht: noz)
~crossposted at the liberal avenger

Bush Says He Doesn't Care About US Security

2006-02-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

This deal wouldn't go forward if we were concerned about the security of the United States of America
George Bush regarding the DPW port deal