Mad Morris

End of Line....

2009-01-12T20:31:00.003-06:00

Seriously. This is my 201th post. Whew.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I'm done. This phase of my life is over...ranting and raving publicy.

I've started a new blog, which is the complete opposite of this one - it's more positive and productive. And it makes me feel better about what I'm doing.

I'll leave this one up for historical (or hysterical?) purposes only.

As Douglas Adams said, "So long and thanks for all the fish."

Newsweek: The Religious Case for Gay Marriage

2008-12-09T12:43:00.002-06:00

Thank you Newsweek. This week's cover story is "The Religious Case for Gay Marriage - Our Mutual Joy" - Opponents of gay marriage often cite Scripture. But what the Bible teaches about love argues for the other side.

> Read the full story online here

Wow. You can almost see the smoke coming from the divisive religious fanatics ears & also from homophobes across the country.

As Jon Meacham says in his weekly Editor's Letter, "The reaction to this cover is not difficult to predict. Religious conservatives will say that the liberal media are once again seeking to impose their values (or their "agenda," a favorite term to describe the views of those who disagree with you) on a God-fearing nation. Let the letters and e-mails come." (read some of the misguided reactions here)

Tell Newsweek thank you and pass on this great, major story to everyone you know.

Gay Adoption: The Real Agenda

2008-11-30T20:10:00.002-06:00

On Nov. 4, Arkansas voters approved a ban on adoption by unmarried couples. The purpose of the ballot measure, according to the Family Council Action Committee, was "to blunt a homosexual agenda that's at work in other states and that will be at work in Arkansas unless we are proactive about doing something about it."

On Nov. 25, a court in Florida pointed out something that the Family Council Action Committee and other anti-gay groups somehow manage to overlook: Allowing gay couples to adopt is much less about protecting gays than protecting children.

> Read the full piece in the Chicago Tribune here.

Yay for Florida. This is what really gets me - read the language previously in the Florida law:

The Florida ban is simple and stark. It says, in effect, that a child may not be adopted by gays even when the adoption is in the best interest of the child. That's the main reason the court overturned it: It violates the rights of children and "causes harm to the children it is meant to protect."

...and Finally:

Those who want to keep gays from adopting think that's a small price to pay for blocking the "homosexual agenda." But then, they're not the ones who will be paying it.

We have so much more work to do.

Presidential Election Resources

2008-10-22T18:29:00.002-05:00

Voting:

Find your polling place:
http://maps.google.com/vote

Register to vote:
http://www.votesmart.org/voter_registration_resources.php

Candidates:

Non-partisan information about candidates:
http://www.votesmart.org/election_president.php

The facts (non-partisan sites) behind the speeches & campaign ads:
http://www.factcheck.org/
and
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/

It's an important one to be sure, but I don't have to tell you that. I'm voting for Obama, here are a few reasons why:

Palin pt. 2

2008-09-27T06:46:00.002-05:00

An excerpt of the Rolling Stone piece is online here.

The famed atheist also has an amazing piece in the latest Newsweek about Sarah Palin here.

We have all now witnessed apparently sentient human beings, once provoked by a reporter's microphone, saying things like, "I'm voting for Sarah because she's a mom. She knows what it's like to be a mom." Such sentiments suggest an uncanny (and, one fears, especially American) detachment from the real problems of today. The next administration must immediately confront issues like nuclear proliferation, ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (and covert wars elsewhere), global climate change, a convulsing economy, Russian belligerence, the rise of China, emerging epidemics, Islamism on a hundred fronts, a defunct United Nations, the deterioration of American schools, failures of energy, infrastructure and Internet security … the list is long, and Sarah Palin does not seem competent even to rank these items in order of importance, much less address any one of them.

I'm sure you've seen the other stories lately about her - it's been a disaster. She is definitely not ready for prime time - watch this Cafferty piece from the week.

The Truth about Sarah Palin

2008-09-22T19:32:00.003-05:00

Links courtesy of Rolling Stone. Tell your friends...

> The Truth about Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin's credentials as a "reformer" are nothing but spin. She has sided with Big Oil, lobbied to increase pork spending and abused her public power to carry out personal vendettas. Here's a guide to separating myth from fact.

There is also a great piece in the latest issue of their magazine by Matt Taibbi...it's not online yet, but definitely worth reading.

You Can't be a Catholic Church Music Director & be Gay

2008-09-16T20:26:00.003-05:00

Man, even around progressive Madison this kind of thing happens (from Sunday's local paper:

> Church Music Director Was Fired For Openly Gay Life

After decades of honing his musical skills, Charles Philyaw landed his dream job in 2004 as the full-time director of music liturgy at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Verona.

The church, with 1,643 adult members, was more than just a place to work for Philyaw. He and his partner, James Mulder-Philyaw, joined the parish and participated fully in the religious community.

Then in June, it all collapsed. Philyaw said he was told by the parish priest, the Rev. Dave Timmerman, that he would no longer be retained because he was living an openly gay life. He was given two weeks notice.

Philyaw later learned that five parishioners had raised concerns about him and his partner being so prominently involved in church activities. Bishop Robert Morlino's office became involved, leading to his dismissal, Philyaw said.

I've posted and posted and posted about how I feel about this subject. Check the archives. It's a damn shame and I can't imagine the complexities of being gay and loving God in an unjust world.

Some other local residents are outraged as well. And a few old-time haters had to write as well - "I don't hate the homosexual, I hate the sin" - ugh. As I have seen and as it is 0 Gays that are born gay, just like people are born man or woman, or with white or black skin, or like eggplant or hate broccoli. It's a fact of life. Get over it. Letting a man who loves another man marry won't cause society to implode. Yes, the bible says it is bad. But, that was a simpler time when people didn't understand the world or genetics and also stoned people to death and had slaves.

I'll leave you with some rational, un-divided thoughts from today's opinion section:

No wonder Catholic membership is dwindling

In reference to Sunday's article about the firing of an openly gay music director at Verona's St. Andrew Catholic Church, I am outraged! What's next, a lynch mob or burning cross on Charles Philyaw's front lawn?

As a lifelong Christian and confirmed Catholic, I feel certain that Jesus would never turn people away just because they are different or live outside the so-called norms of the majority. Shame on Bishop Morlino for embracing such bigotry and exclusionary practices. We are all God's children and should be respected and embraced as such.

Two devote Catholics were turned away, and we wonder why the church's membership is dwindling. How many more have been lost as a result of this action? How does the bishop justify doing harm to good people in the name of Christ?

-- Jeanne R. Tentis, Poynette

Catholic church rewards honesty with exclusion

Regarding the firing of the St. Andrew openly gay Catholic music director, are we not aware that concealing one's true identity can be an unhealthy and dishonest way of life?

Someday the Roman Catholic Church will have to apologize for its efforts to conceal the sexual identity of so many cardinals, bishops, clergy and faithful. Meanwhile, it practices the politics of exclusion when people try to live honestly as they are.

And all this in the name of Jesus, who practiced a politics of inclusion to the extreme, as the Gospels tell us.

-- Jim Green, Middleton

Some McCain Links - Lies and Deception

2008-09-13T10:24:00.002-05:00

Google "McCain Lies" and you will get 9.5 million hits - google the same for "Obama Lies" and you will still get a lot, but most are web pages debunking all of the lies ABOUT Obama, not the other way around.

Anyway, I wasn't happy to see these stories in my local paper this week:

> McCain's mailer creates controversy

The state elections agency is investigating complaints about a massive campaign mailing Republican Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign has directed toward Wisconsin Democrats and other voters.

Each mailing includes at least one copy of the state application for an absentee ballot that has the address of a local clerk and a box for postage printed on the other side.

But in some cases, the incorrect clerk's address is printed on the application, leading some Democrats to wonder if the Arizona senator's campaign is deliberately trying to get them to apply for absentee ballots in places where they aren't eligible to vote.

Interesting. Mistake? Maybe, but if you are doing a mailing like this IN A SWING STATE, you would think you would check and double-check and check again so this doesn't happen...unless you want it to.

Oh, and then there is this story in WI as well:

> Van Hollen sues state accountability board over registration checks

Saying illegal Wisconsin votes could sway the presidential election, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has sued the state elections agency to force ineligible voters off the rolls.
But election experts warned that if the Justice Department lawsuit is successful, eligible voters could be disenfranchised and the state could face a post-election ballot-counting frenzy similar to Florida's after the 2000 presidential race.
"You shouldn't penalize the voter because you've got mistakes in your database," said Dan Tokaji, an election law expert at Ohio State University. "That's the absolute worst thing to do."

BTW, Van Hollen just so happens to be McCain's Wisconsin co-chair of his Presidential Campaign. He should at least step aside in the case at least so it doesn't look partisan. Sheesh.

In other news, have you been as surprised as I have as just how bad and negative McCain's ads have been - "Obama will try to destroy Palin" and all the lies and distortions about Obama. Talk about a distraction. It's offensive to me as an American.

Today, the NY Times ran a good piece on it:

> McCain Barbs Stirring Outcry as Distortions

Harsh advertisements and negative attacks are a staple of presidential campaigns, but Senator John McCain has drawn an avalanche of criticism this week from Democrats, independent groups and even some Republicans for regularly stretching the truth in attacking Senator Barack Obama’s record and positions.

It's offensive to me as an American. For the next few months, stay informed by cutting through the lies at factcheck.org and politifact.org - on both candidates.

But one little story this week really made my head spin. I'll leave you with this:

>Palin's town billed rape victims to get evidence

When Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, the city billed sexual assault victims and their insurance companies for the cost of rape kits and forensic examinations.

Palin had been in office for four years when the practice of charging rape victims got the attention of state lawmakers in 2000, who passed a bill to stop the practice.

Former Democratic Rep. Eric Croft, who sponsored that bill, said he was disappointed that simply asking the Wasilla police department to stop didn't work. Croft said he doubts she was unaware of the practice.

Christians Must Build Bridges Not Walls

2008-09-04T20:31:00.002-05:00

From Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal [posted in full because I'm lazy to write, angry as hell at the Republicans (who seem to be running solely on the platform of patriotism?!?) and this piece is brilliantly true]. Enjoy.:

Christians must build bridges not walls
By John Torgerson

In his Berlin speech earlier this summer, Barak Obama declared, "The walls between races and tribes, natives and immigrants, Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand." We all need to see this as a necessary, noble, right and apolitical goal.

Let me share a Christian pastor's perspective of the walls between religions.

In most communities there is some effort at cooperation between Christian churches and even between Christians and other religions. Yet the general perception is that we are better wall builders than bridge builders.

There are several factors that keep Christian walls intact. First, we all find it more comfortable to erect walls than build bridges.

I experienced this when I made an impromptu visit to an upscale golf store while wearing some garden work clothes. The appropriately dressed sales person did not attempt to offer assistance, even though I was the only customer in the store. Apparently for him, erecting a wall was easier than having to deal with a "different" person.

Secondly, many Christians are fearful of polluting the purity in their "tribe" of Christianity. I can identify with that; for most of my adult life I participated in a Christianity that was so exclusive that I had nightmares about being at a worship service in another denomination.

Thirdly, Christians believe that they represent the God of the universe, and that the only way one can attain what God has to offer humanity is through Jesus.

Despite these factors, we do not have to be deep theologians to find plenty of opportunities to build bridges in Christianity.

Christians confess that God has the name, Father. Do you think that a God who wants to be called Father is a bridge builder or a wall builder?

Christians confess that God came from outer-space-time to humanity as Jesus, and participated in human life and invited us to participate in God life. Does this suggest wall building or bridge building?

Christians confess the Holy Spirit is God's unseen presence, so that God's GPS reading is always "here" and "now." Does this show a wall-building God or a bridge-building God?

Furthermore, the Christian mission (sometimes called the "Great Commission") is to partner with God in inviting others to participate in God's life with us now. Does the Great Commission require wall builders or bridge builders?

But what about having to "believe in Jesus" to be saved? Consider this story from the July 18 "Making a Difference" segment of the NBC nightly news: Tarik Kamisa was murdered by 14-year-old Tony Higgs for the few dollars Tarik had in his pocket.

Tony was jailed for life, being the youngest person in California history to be charged as an adult. Tarik and his father, Azim, are Muslim.

Azim forgave Tony's family and Tony for the senseless murder. Furthermore, Azim has made it his mission to publicly lecture on breaking the cycle of violence. Also, Azim has invested in Tony's life and is working for his early release.

The segment concluded with Tony saying, "Now I know what a real father is."

I think the God of the universe, who wants us to know him as Father, is big enough to be gracious to both the Christian who confesses Jesus and falls short of living him -- and to the Muslim who lives Jesus but does not confess him.

While writing this column, I received a garbled phone message on my answering machine. I could only make out a few words and a telephone number, but I was pretty sure this was a request for some sort of help.

I would probably be asked for money, and previous experiences with this kind of call would indicate that the person might not be totally up front.

I would have to go out of my way and do some checking before deciding what kind of help I could give.

I quickly thought of some wall-building strategies. Considering the quality of the message, I had a good excuse to not call back at all. Or I could leave a non-specific voice message to call me back, hoping that she would have forgotten whom she called.

But I realized that the caller needed to be assured that she is a fellow child of the Father, and that God loves her and wants to offer his life to her. I decided I must treat her accordingly.

Bridge building is almost always inconvenient and uncomfortable. Jesus' life on earth was inconvenient and uncomfortable, too.

Torgerson is pastor of the Wisconsin Dells Worldwide Church of God.

Fox & Obama

2008-08-06T20:18:00.003-05:00

What do I and the rapper Nas have in common? We both can't stand Fox News:

> Hip-hop artist Nas protests Fox coverage of Obama

Some of the stuff they've done is beyond crazy for a supposedly reputable mainstream news agency.

Last month, Fox News referred in a graphic to Michelle Obama, the wife of the Democratic presidential candidate, as "Obama's baby mama." Later, the network said a producer "exercised poor judgment" during the segment.

Earlier, two other Fox personalities apologized for referring to an affectionate onstage fist bump shared by the couple as a "terrorist fist jab" and, in another case, for joking about an Obama assassination.

Watch the video and share with everyone:

Sign the petition to reject Fox's smears of the Obamas:

www.foxattacks.com

State of Affairs

2008-07-15T20:02:00.003-05:00

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know the posting is sporadic and you know why - I have 2 kids, a wife who works nights, a full time demanding web job that usually burns me out by staring at a computer all day, continuous freelance work, and the last thing I want to do at night is spit out some vitriol about the religious far-right, Republicans or anything else.

But I can't help myself sometimes. Here is what's on my mind.

Politics
This outrage and media driven firestorm over the latest New Yorker cover is completely overblown. I've been a loyal reader for years, and any reader knows that their cover is usually heavy in satire and this is no exception. What really burns me is that while this "controversy" gets top billing, having a Fox News contributor seriously calling Barack & Michelle's fist bumping a "terrorist fist jab" is ignored. What the!?

This isn't new for Fox News obviously, "in May Fox News contributor Liz Trotta apologised for joking that Obama should be assassinated, along with Osama bin Laden."

Satire gets treated as news, but news gets treated as satire. The irony of it all.

Music
The recent albums that have got the most attention on my ears (in no particular order, except that Al Green's is the best):

Al Green - Lay it Down
Coldplay - Vida La Vida
Beck - Modern Guilt
Nine Inch Nails - the Slip (I thought I stopped listening to them years ago, but the free internet download of this disc was intriguing...and it's actually good!)

You can always see what I'm listening to at work by checking out my last.fm profile if you are nosy and/or like good music.

Religion
As readers of this blog know, I'm a straight on the fence agnostic and I read (and post) about religion frequently. For example, how many people read The Purpose Driven Life after just finishing Christopher Hitchen's God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything? Unfortunately for Hitch, Warren's book is a tad more uplifting so far! Anyway, because of my interest, I subscribe to a variety of religious periodicals, some drive me up the wall like Focus on the Family's, but other give me hope - like Good News. If you are into that sort of thing, you should check it out. It's positive, has good tips/articles and isn't divisive like the others. For example, the most recent issue has a good article on debt.

Debt
Do you have credit card debt? Any debt - car loans, student loans, etc? Any debt is bad debt. Last year, my debt was really worrying me (I racked a lot of credit card debt finishing school with a child in Chicago) and I read a few books that really kicked me in the ass - a few Suze Orman books and others.

But the one that really saved my life was Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. Not only does the first half of the book de-mystify many of the money myths that are out there (for example, leasing or buying a new car is dumb), but the plan on paying off your debt actually works. Since August of last year, my wife and I have paid off our car as well as two credit cards - a total of about $15,000! I share that with you only because Ramsey intersperses all of these inspirational testimonials throughout the book like "we paid off such and such, etc" and it's one thing to read about it in a book, but it's another to read it off my blog right?

Seriously though, even if you don't have debt, you need to read the book and share it with others.

Economy
Obviously, if you are a member of a greedy for-profit bank and worried about it tanking (as you should), now would be the absolute best time to join a non-profit credit union. Do it now - it's easy, better, and you'll thank me later. There really is a difference.

Movies
B-B-Batman! 'Nuff said.

Did we Really Torture on Purpose?

2008-07-03T20:06:00.004-05:00

Yes, you probably already knew that...but now there is just more proof:

Torture began at the Top (read the LA Times piece or others)

An investigation by the Senate Armed Services Committee, now partly concluded, already has gone a long way toward explaining the decision to place the United States among the world's pariah states. In a statement delivered Tuesday, committee Chairman Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.) said: "Some have suggested that detainee abuses committed by U.S. personnel at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and at Guantanamo were the result of a 'few bad apples' acting on their own. It would be a lot easier to accept if that were true." In fact, Levin said, senior U.S. officials "sought out information on aggressive [interrogation] techniques, twisted the law to create the appearance of their legality and authorized their use against detainees."

This is a big deal - although you wouldn't know it since the media seems to rather debate the patriotism of the presidential candidates instead, which is like asking if kids like chocolate. It's inherent.

But this needs attention:

The Bush administration has been wretchedly mistaken in its conception of executive power, deceitful in its push for war with Iraq and appalling in its scheming to make torture an instrument of state power. But a healthy democracy punishes policy mistakes, however egregious, and seeks redress for its societal wounds, however deep, at the ballot box and not in the prisoner's dock.

To do otherwise risks the stability of our own electoral politics almost as recklessly as the Bush/Cheney regime has risked our national interests abroad.

James Dobson is a Hypocritical Fruitcake

2008-06-24T20:26:00.005-05:00

I read the following story at work today and smoke practically fumed from my ears:

Evangelist accuses Obama of 'distorting' Bible
A top U.S. evangelical leader is accusing Sen. Barack Obama of deliberately distorting the Bible and taking a "fruitcake interpretation" of the U.S. Constitution.

In comments aired on his radio show Tuesday, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson criticized the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee for comments he made in a June 2006 speech to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal.

What did Obama say exactly?

In the speech, Obama suggested that it would be impractical to govern based solely on the word of the Bible, noting that some passages suggest slavery is permissible and eating shellfish is disgraceful.

"Which passages of scripture should guide our public policy?" Obama asked in the speech. "Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is OK and that eating shellfish is an abomination? Or we could go with Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount?

"So before we get carried away, let's read our Bible now," Obama said, to cheers. "Folks haven't been reading their Bible."

So what's the problem? I agree with Obama 100% - the bible was written at a simpler time when science and morality was a little different. But here is Dobson:

In the comments aired Tuesday, Dobson said Obama should not be referencing antiquated dietary codes and passages from the Old Testament that are no longer relevant to the teachings of the New Testament.
"I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology," Dobson said, adding that Obama is "dragging biblical understanding through the gutter."

Yep, he said that. This is coming from a man that heads a group, Focus on the Family, that is pro-family - meaning demonizing gays and abortion (is anyone really pro-abortion? That isn't the same thing as pro-choice, but I digress). But what are they so against those anti-family homosexuals and baby-killers? Because it's in those same riddled and" antiquated passages" in the Old Testament. At least the dietary restrictions are specifically mentioned in the bible, unlike that little issue abortion.

Give me a %^%$& break Mr. Dobson. You want to talk about "confused theology?" And this coming from a prominent man of faith no less. How many poor gay teenagers, girls who had no choice but to have an abortion are shamed and scarred because of your lies and heretic filth?

Again, I'm not a theologian, but I do know that Jesus was a uniter not a divider. A lover not a fighter. Mr. Dobson, why do you and your organization continually promote "values" such as hatred and intolerance?

BTW - later, Obama said that "the speech made the argument that people of faith, like himself, 'try to translate some of our concerns in a universal language so that we can have an open and vigorous debate rather than having religion divide us.'

Obama added, 'I think you'll see that he was just making stuff up, maybe for his own purposes.'" Read more here.

> Get involved with the Obama campaign and let's unite for change.

Keep your Eyes on Comcast for the Future of the Internet

2008-06-22T20:22:00.004-05:00

I've been meaning to post about this for awhile:

Crackdown: Comcast Blocks Peer-to-Peer Web Traffic - Is "broadband" becoming "broadbanned" at Comcast?

In what is being described as "the most drastic example yet of data discrimination by a U.S. Internet service provider," Comcast has been caught blocking upstream peer-to-peer Internet traffic on its cable network.

> Read the rest here.

I don't know about you, but the thought of an ISP telling you (and stopping you) from doing what you want to do on the internet is a dangerous game. Read the full article for glimpses of the beginning of a big debate over the future of the internet.

Oh, and BTW, in cased you missed it - " A consortium of Western oil companies -- the very definition of Big Oil -- is on the verge of receiving no-bid contracts in Iraq, giving them access to one of the most sought-after prizes in the petroleum industry" - read the whole story here. Does it matter that "The Iraqi public is overwhelmingly opposed to this privatization of Iraqi oil, just like they are overwhelmingly opposed to the so-called security pact with the U.S?" Hell no, because Big Oil trumps all logic with beltway influence, sloth, and greed.

How much money is enough?

Holy #@%^! Obama! Some Reading to Catch Up.

2008-06-10T19:43:00.002-05:00

I've never been prouder to be a Democrat. I will do everything I can from now until November to make sure the country is on the road to Change instead of a third Bush term. You can too.

Through the Obama site, you can join a local list serve to discuss the campaign, politics and find out about events in your area. Someone on one of the Madison list serves just posted the following great collection of recent related pieces. Check them out.

Obama Watch:

What is Obama's Economic Plan?

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1812964,00.html

Obama Names Rubin Ally Furman to Economic Policy Post

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080609/pl_bloomberg/aueioisu8xr4_1

Obama First in More Ways Than Any U.S. Presidential Candidate

http://digg.com/politics/Obama_1st_in_More_Ways_Than_Any_U_S_Presidential_Candidate

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aaUIIClmEfwA&refer=home

Obama to set up anti-disinformation SWAT team

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/06/best-move-of-general-election-season-so.html

McCain related:

McCain wastes no time in turning negative

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mccain-wastes-no-time-in-turning-negative-843556.html

The Crimes and Cover-Ups of John McCain ~ A three part article

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/McCain_s_Role_in_the_WMD_Cover_up

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0806/S00095.htm

Make No Mistake: McCain's a Neocon

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Make_No_Mistake_McCain_s_a_Neocon

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/060808.html

The McCain Report ~ A blog you can believe in?

http://www.johnmccain.com/mccainreport/

The General Election:

Barack Obama is the $100M Man

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/barack-obama-is-100m-man-2008-06-09.html

The Wiki-Way to the Nomination

http://digg.com/remote-done/6936236/1

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/weekinreview/08cohen.html

Conservatives for Obama ~ Obamacons

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/06/conservatives_f.html

One Historic Night, Two Americas

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/One_Historic_Night_Two_Americas

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/opinion/08rich.html?ex=1370577600&en=e5031ce2182300eb&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg

Obama Maps a nationwide Push in G.O.P. Strongholds

http://digg.com/politics/Obama_Is_Mapping_a_Nationwide_Push_in_G_O_P_Strongholds

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/politics/08obama.html?ex=1370664000&en=c96e56315b5e8fc4&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg

Heads Up:

Fact Checking the Reprehensible Misrepresentation ExposeObama.com Ad

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/reprehensible_misrepresentation.html

The DNC:

Biden Blasts McCain after warrentless-wiretap Flip-Flop

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/06/09/biden-blasts-mccain-after-warrantless-wiretap-flip-flop/

Supporting Rep. Dennis Kucinich

http://www.democrats.com/35-articles-of-impeachment

Anna Quindlen Gets it Right

2008-06-03T17:45:00.003-05:00

Like, me I'm sure you cheered recently when you heard that the California Supreme Court overturned the state gay marriage ban.

I was also happy to read Anna Quindlen's column in this week's Newsweek: "The Same People - Scream, shout, jump up and down. No matter. The gay-marriage issue is over and done with. The upshot: love won."

> Read it here.

I love her last quote, which could have been taken right out of this blog:

Someday soon the fracas surrounding all this will seem like a historical artifact, like the notion that women were once prohibited from voting and a black individual from marrying a white one. Our children will attend the marriages of their friends, will chatter about whether they will last, will whisper to one another, "Love him, don't like him so much." The California Supreme Court called gay marriage a "basic civil right." In hindsight, it will merely be called ordinary life.

I've blogged about the topic much over the last few years, and with good reason - it's still an important and urgent issue. How much longer can we say we are all created equal...when we really mean everyone except gays? Gays that are born gay, just like people are born man or woman, or with white or black skin, or like eggplant or hate broccoli. It's a fact of life. Get over it. Letting a man who loves another man marry won't cause society to implode. Yes, the bible says it is bad. But, that was a simpler time when people didn't understand the world or genetics and also stoned people to death and had slaves. If I recall, Jesus really wanted us to love one another if we remember anything at all.

As Lenny Kravitz once said, "let love rule." Take action today.

Support our Veterans - They Deserve a Better GI Bill

2008-05-26T20:16:00.002-05:00

As a veteran myself, I am speechless by the sacrifice that our current soldiers are weathering. I was in the army in the late nineties, when Clinton was president and the only "war" I saw was some NATO peacekeeping in Bosnia for the better part of 1997. That is nothing compared to the extended tours and hardships that soldiers are going through right now in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Whether you are for or against the war does not matter - I doubt there is any Americans that don't support the troops and applaud their heroism.

So on this memorial day, take two a few minutes and do the following:

Read this great piece by Cynthia Tucker about the new GI Bill.
Take action and send a quick email to Congress asking them to pass the new GI Bill. It's real easy and worth your time.

Our veterans deserve this...at the very least.

Obama's Flag Pin Story = Media Gone Mad

2008-05-13T20:07:00.002-05:00

OK, can someone please explain to me why this deserves even a glimmer of thought, much less news coverage, or a question during a prime-time debate?

I'm talking about crap like this:

The Democratic presidential hopeful said he generally stopped wearing a flag pin after the 2001 terrorist attacks because he felt it replaced "true patriotism" for some public officials.
Some Americans, however, say they question the patriotism of a candidate who makes such a choice, a sentiment that shows up in polls. (full story here).

Seriously. In 2008, there are people stupid enough (strong word I know, but c'mon!) to make their decision to vote for the highest office in the United States because whether or not someone wears a flag pin. There was a cover story (!) in last week's Newsweek about Obama's so called "Bubba Gap," which inflamed and perpetuated everything that is wrong with campaign "journalism" these days. Here is what I'm talking about:

In Indiana, the next stop on the primary trail on May 6, Brenda Spreitzer, 42, told a NEWSWEEK reporter at a Clinton rally: "I think Barack's viewpoints and his past is too flamboyant. It's more radical than I want to go … I'm just not comfortable," she said, adding that she is concerned about Obama's practice of generally not wearing an American flag pin. (None of the candidates wear flag pins.) She has been researching Obama on the Internet and discovered that he wants to tear out the bowling alley in the White House (Obama has kiddingly said he wants to replace it with a basketball court). "That freaked me out because no matter if he bowls or not, it's a historic thing that should never be changed." (more here)

With all due respect to Brenda, but a 42 yr-old woman (and Democrat!) is actually going to base part of her voting decision on Obama's blank lapel and that he likes basketball over bowling? Forget about IDs at the polls, how about an IQ test?

I'm only half joking there, but a lot of it is the media's fault for peddling this crap.

> Take Action at Free Press

Soldiers Dying in the Shower in Iraq?

2008-05-05T20:48:00.002-05:00

An underreported story that deserves our immediate attention:

Despite Alert, Flawed Wiring Still Kills G.I.’s

In October 2004, the United States Army issued an urgent bulletin to commanders across Iraq, warning them of a deadly new threat to American soldiers. Because of flawed electrical work by contractors, the bulletin stated, soldiers at American bases in Iraq had received severe electrical shocks, and some had even been electrocuted.

Since that warning, at least two more American soldiers have been electrocuted in similar circumstances. In all, at least a dozen American military personnel have been electrocuted in Iraq, according to the Pentagon and Congressional investigators.

Thanks to KBR and the lack of general contractor oversight, this is what happens. The money we spend as US taxpayers on this war and work like this is obscene. And the work is shoddy or doesn't get done at all. I've posted about this already here and here. Still pretty damn relevant.

Seriously, America - how much is too much?

The most recent fatality occurred on Jan. 2 in Baghdad, when Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth, a Green Beret, died in a shower after an improperly grounded water pump short-circuited.

> Log off now and do something about it.

It's bad enough that soldiers are dying in an unnecessary war, but they sure as hell shouldn't be dying in the bathroom of the army bases.

26 Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

2008-04-26T20:30:00.002-05:00

I'm back from Boston and still in a green mood. My wife and I have been pleased with the coverage that Earth Day has gotten. It was everywhere - TV, print, radio, online. 10 years ago, the mainstream media didn't do this much. Maybe it's because we are at the "fierce urgency of now."

Either way, here is another great article I came across last week from Madison's alt-weekly, The Isthmus:

Do it yourself
26 things you can do without changing a light bulb

> Read it here

My favorite suggestions:

Go vegetarian a few meals a week. According to GoVeg.com, it takes about 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat. And a single five-ounce portion of meat takes an estimated 53 gallons of water and creates 11 pounds of greenhouse pollution.

Pay bills online/sign up for e-statements. Saves paper. Saves transportation costs. The only pain is actually paying the bill. (this is actually more secure and safe then sending a check in the mail - *Chris)

Bring your own cloth shopping bags to the grocery store. Saves paper. Less plastic. No more ripped bags in the parking lot. No-brainer.

Unsubscribe to unwanted catalogs you get in the mail. Usually it's a matter of calling an 800 number or contacting the source via its website.

Sell, donate, recycle. The best way to keep something out of the landfill is to put it to a good use. Be creative.

Green Articles for Earth Day

2008-04-15T21:10:00.004-05:00

I'm leaving for Boston this weekend and will be there for Earth day. I will not have time for blogging so in the meantime, I thought I'd share the following articles with you that I've picked up recently and found interesting....and relevant for the day.

Last week's issue of Newsweek focused on the environment and the Presidential race as well as other green issues. Most of them are online here:

> Just the Tree of Us

Driven by public concern, all the candidates agree that action is needed to slow global warming. No matter who's elected, America's policy will be different a year from now.

> A Leadership Reality Check

Oratory is not enough. It often takes a national crisis to persuade Americans to make sacrifices.

> 10 Fixes For the Planet

Scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs are focusing on ways to help the environment. Some of our favorite ideas.

> Multimedia Map: Which Countries are the Greenest?

We are #66. That is sad :(

And last but not least, there was a great green section in Madison's alt-weekly, the Isthmus, last week. Here is the most useful article in it for all of you apartment renters:

> Green tips for renters
15 things you can do for under $50 — without the help of your landlord

Remember big things start small. Happy Earth Day loyal Mad Morris readers!

More Far-Right Religious Hysteria - UNICEF is Bad?

2008-04-11T20:13:00.005-05:00

If I had the time and the patience, I could easily post many times a day decrying the far-religious right and their ridiculousness. But I won't. Like I said last post, it wouldn't bother me if it wasn't so misguided and so idiotic. I'm not a religious person, but I know enough about the bible and Christianity to know there is so much potential for making the world a better place if you didn't spend all your time demonizing gays and worshiping unborn fetuses.

Here is another example of craziness (ie: poverty isn't as important as our divisive issue of abortion!) from my email inbox this week, courtesy of the always hilarious Family Research Council:

Starting tonight, the contestants on "American Idol" will be getting vocal about global poverty. As part of its second annual telethon, "Idol Gives Back," the Fox talent show hopes to raise millions of dollars to alleviate poverty in the U.S. and Africa. Instead of competing for themselves, the stars are competing for charity. Corporate sponsors have agreed to donate a set amount to groups like Save the Children and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for every vote cast. While it's admirable that the show wants to help the poor, the organizations they are supporting certainly don't have the vote of the pro-life community. Although the word "children" appears in the name of almost every one, many are part of the who's who of worldwide abortion promoters. UNICEF has partnered with International Planned Parenthood for 30 years. If these celebrities want to stop the real suffering, they need to be transparent about where the funding is actually going.... If the show prompts your family to give, consider donating to an organization that shares your values--not one that masks its radical agenda.

Radical. Doing something about poverty is radical? I would argue that being pro-life is saving the lives of those already living a life that is endangered. "Is American Idol really helping children? Oh, no no, they are really harming them if you listen to the Family Research Council, because they are giving money to one of the most reputable global charities and this charity also happens to partner with another group that provides safe abortions to mothers that would otherwise probably die trying to get a secret abortion because they knew they could not afford to take care of a baby....most likely saving a child from dying a cruel young death anyway."

How dare UNICEF - American Idol isn't really easing any suffering giving money to a charity that focuses on five primary priorities: Child Survival and Development, Basic Education and Gender Equality (including girls' education), Child protection from violence, exploitation, and abuse, HIV/AIDS and children, and Policy advocacy and partnerships for children’s rights. Related areas of UNICEF action include early childhood development, adolescence development and participation, life skills based education and child rights all over the world.

And who does UNICEF think they are immunizing all those children? Immunization is a direct intervention method which has made great improvements in the health of children world-wide over the past 20 years. But every year, more than 2 million children die from diseases that could have been prevented by inexpensive vaccines. If you listen to the FRC, this is admirable, but they should really be immunizing unborn babies from those Godless American Idol celebrities.

More on what UNICEF does is here thanks to Wikipedia and here thanks to UNICEF.

Oh, and of course, donate to UNICEF if you can because they do such amazing (radical) work.

Heretics in Wisconsin

2008-04-08T20:49:00.003-05:00

As I was reading the Sunday paper this past weekend, I came across a ridiculous local story about a wayward Christian radio group in Wisconsin.

I would hope that in the spirit of Jesus Christ that this Christian group would be outraged that Wisconsin is ranked first in poverty growth. Or maybe that almost 10% of the state lacks health insurance. Or the 235,000 people in the state who rely on Second Harvest, for food just to live?

Nope.

An elementary-school event in which kids were encouraged to dress as members of the opposite gender drew the ire of a Christian radio group, whose angry broadcast prompted outraged calls to the district office.
Students at Pineview Elementary had been dressing in costume all last week as part of an annual school tradition called Wacky Week. On Friday, students were encouraged to dress either as senior citizens or as members of the opposite sex.
A local resident informed the Voice of Christian Youth America on Friday. The Milwaukee-based radio network responded by interrupting its morning programming for a special broadcast that aired on nine radio stations throughout Wisconsin. The broadcast criticized the dress-up day and accused the district of promoting alternative lifestyles.

> Read the whole story here.

WTF? The story notes that the kids came up with the idea, because they are kids and dressing silly is something kids do. The radio show though is infuriated - "This is tax-funded - this is not a dress-up party in somebody's house. There are parents, taxpayers who do not appreciate the imposition of a particular lifestyle being portrayed as a normal lifestyle for the kids."

Right. What are they afraid of? That a little boy is going to put on a dress for school, one silly day out of the year with his friends, and realize, "Hey, wait a second, this feels and looks good. I am now going to be a homosexual." Right, you are either born gay or you are not. Dressing up silly one day during "wacky week" at your elementary school is not going to change anything. Unbelievable. The kids were trying to have fun, but one puritan parent goes and ruins it all by tipping off a misguided and mean-spirited radio station.

The sad ending to the story is that the principal is going to give in and not do another cross-dressing day.

If you have a moment, contact the radio station and tell them to apologize and broadcast the true meaning and spirit of Jesus Christ instead. Oh, and also to stop picking on little kids who just want to have a little silly fun.

Standing Up for Literary Geeks in Madison

2008-03-31T20:06:00.007-05:00

Yesterday I made the front page of the Sunday Paper here in Madison....the local section actually, but still pretty cool.

SOS: Book-selling pros swarm library used book sales

> Read the whole story here at the Wisconsin State Journal site

The "SOS" section is for readers to write about something wrong with the city or Wisconsin. Now, I know this isn't on the same level as say, homicide, but an interesting issue nonetheless.

Background: I love books and have since I was a wee toddler. I've grown up perusing bargain book sales and used book stores my whole life, mostly with my dad (a fellow and elder literary geek). One of the most impressive things about Madison is these library book sales - the breadth and price of the books is awesome. You can spend ten dollars and walk away with a bag of books worth so much more. Some are new, some are rare, some you've never even heard of, but you buy it for a 25 cents just because the cover looks cool. I have found some great books for my daughters and always for less than a dollar. I've almost never been let down.

Until recently that is. Over the last year, I've seen more and more scanner people at these book sales with baskets and bags full of books. They will take over a whole section and scan almost every one, oblivious to anybody and anything. And of course they buy all the good books - mostly the newer ones (the parasites!).

What set off my initial email and subsequent interviews with the paper was an incident last month. The story makes it sound like I was talking mostly about the obnoxiousness, etc, but it was really about the situation - for example, "Why doesn't the book sale just have one 'scanner people' sale a year and have others for just local residents who will actually cherish the books?" My local branch only holds 2 or 3 sales a year, and I make it a point to go and to go early. It's a small branch too, so once the good finds are gone, the shelves are made up of mostly romance novels and John Grisham-ish pulp.

Anyway, the sale started at 9 AM and I got there at 9:15 AM. In the small room, there were already about 6 or 7 people - with only one other scannerless person. The rest already had totes full of books, scanners a blaze. There was almost nothing left! Making matters worse was that I had my two kids with me and I could barely squeeze my way to the corner to look at the children's books. When I did, I still had a few rude people still trying to scan books literally over my head, while I'm bending down with my two kids looking at books. I kept saying "Excuse me" like a nice person says (again, with my kids and have to set an example) and these people were just oblivious - it's probably good I wasn't by myself! The people that run these things are usually senior citizens and don't seem to give a damn because they are making money anyway. And the scanner people do buy lots of books. Scanner People=1, me=0.

The internet isn't going away and the scanner people will keep proliferating. Ironically, I used to sell a ton of books online like they do, but I would never shamelessly exploit a community book sale in such a rude fashion. It is systematic and pretty soon more and more residents like myself will stop going.

And this isn't a problem for just Madison literary geeks either. See here and here and here - my favorite though is this one. From Florida to Canada.

Sicko

2008-03-30T14:12:00.003-05:00

Because I'm the father of two little ladies, I don't go to the movies that much. New releases to my wife and I usually mean what's new on DVD. I've always been a fan of Michael Moore and his work - there are those that demonize him, but after watching any of his films, it's really difficult to see why. Anyone, right or left, would find it hard to not laugh, cry, and think for days after seeing his last few films (it's a typical line of attack from the Right - distract from the issues by focusing on the messenger instead).

"Sicko" though is his best so far. I've been lax (ok, lazy) to post on it, but the fact that I'm still thinking about it and its material for this long is a testament to its worth. You need to see this movie. It amplifies and exposes everything that is wrong with the U.S. health care system. And maybe it is because I'm a father of two little ladies that this movie, this issue, makes it so much more poignant.

> Check out the Sicko website.
> Ten Facts You Never Knew from "Sicko"

Watch the trailer: