Inside Schlomo's Head

Is this thing on?

2006-06-02T11:59:00.000-07:00

Where the heck have I been? Let me tell you...no, why bother.

There is big news afoot. I have been approached to sell my humble little blog. I think that I am going to accept the offer, no matter how meager ,it's better than I can ever hope to make from my current advertising efforts.

Further, I haven't been able to keep up with all my other demands so I think this is farewell from me.

However, stay tuned...

Where'd you go?

2005-10-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

So, my pretties, you are wondering what has been taking me away from my blogial duties. Suffice it to say that earning a living in reality television is taxing at best. With only about 4 hours a day of down time I really don't have the energy to keep writing or pay attention to the Neo-Cons.
I should be back sometime around Thanksgiving.

Mark My Words

2005-09-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

If the Neo-Cons have their way the 2005 Hurricane Season will be the end of FEMA and the beginning of Military control of Federal emergency disaster response.

The Neo-Cons believe that a strong miltary is the key to success. They don't believe in diplomacy. They don't believe in cooperation. They are only interested in unilateral decision making and a Pax America...peace through military supremacy.

By shifting FEMA resources to the military BushCo can further add to the military coffers and, through his Commander In Chief duties, have even greater power over the public.

This is a very bad thing and we need to be paying attention before BushCo amends the constitution to get rid of term limits.
__
Currently I'm listening to my cubicle neighbors on the telephone.

Oh No He Didn't!

2005-09-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

In a whiplash causing statement Dubya has managed to, once again, tie Osama Bin Laden to the death of over a thousand American lives...

"You know," Bush said, "I've been thinking a lot about how America has responded [to Katrina], and it's clear to me that Americans value human life, and value every person as important. And that stands in stark contrast, by the way, to the terrorists we have to deal with. You see, we look at the destruction caused by Katrina, and our hearts break. They're the kind of people who look at Katrina and wish they had caused it."

So that's why we've called out the military...to fight the terrorist hurricanes, not rescue innocent Americans from a terrible storm.

What a dolt.

Currently I'm listening to Mothers Little Help from the album "Desperate Housewives Soundtrack" by Liz Phair

Not So Super Anymore...

2005-09-14T22:50:00.000-07:00

My favorite Super Model has always been Elle...sigh...but the teutonic Claudia Schiffer has held a special place in my heart. When my Audi navigation system talks to me I imagine that it's Claudia.

Click It Player!

Currently I'm listening to Arabesque from the album "Modular Systems" by Nicola Conte

More on BushCo Responsibilty

2005-09-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

I received a rebuttal to my entry Why BushCo is Responsible. Rather than enter it as a comment on the site this Neo-Con apologist sent it to me directly.

The rebuttal actually helped to gel some of my earlier thoughts. So if you're interested I present them after the jump.

I wrote:

The President is mandated, it could be argued it is his sole duty, to protect America and it's citizens.

The Neo-Con Asked:

Where did this come from? It's not in his oath of office or the constitution.
Here you commit the fallacy of assuming what you're trying to prove, also called "Begging the question" or "Circular reasoning."
Jesus loves me, this I know, because the Bible tells me so.

My response:

The only ill logic here is your claim of circular arguments. Try again.

Presidential Oath of Office
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

The Preamble of the Constitution
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

The Constitution, a document for the people by the people, is a roadmap for protecting the people. The Presidents oath is to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

What part of promoting general welfare, insuring domestic tranquility and providing for the common defence etc do you fail to understand?

Or are you going to argue that it's the president's job to just preserve, protect and defend a piece of parchment?

As part of a private back and forth I referred to BushCo as a "cult of personality" This apparently struck a nerve.

Neo-Con:

In general, you use "mandated" as carelessly as you use "cult" and that's not conducive to reasonable discourse.

My response:

I initially referred to Neo-Cons and other followers of Dubya as a "cult of personality." You went off on some other tangent trying to get me to define cult. But for the purposes of discourse I give you the definition of a cult.

cult ( P ) Pronunciation Key (klt) n.

1. A religion or religious sect generally considered
to be extremist or false, with its followers often living
in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an
authoritarian, charismatic leader.

2. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its
originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing
a particular disease.

3. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for
a person, principle, or thing.

4. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually
artistic or intellectual interest.

That pretty much sums it up. I will be glad to explain the application of the definition to the Dubya cult of personality if you need help.

Now this is where it got really good and lots of concepts sort of gelled in my mind.

Now I could go and refute your arguments point by point but since Dubya's admission of responsibility today there is no point. He knows his government fucked up and, for a pleasant change, admitted the mistake.

However, there are a few things you should be aware of.   It's amazing what you can find if you go to the source and avoid the spin.

Gov Blanco and Mayor Nagin did beg for help. Repeatedly. Starting on August 26 with phone calls to Bush and a declaration of emergency from Gov Blanco and a voluntary evacuation order from the Mayor. There were additional pleas for assistance to Bush on August 28 and Sept 2.

I refer you to Gov Blanco's office

Guard Troops were called up on Aug 26 as confirmed by this transcript of a Defense Department briefing

In my opinion, The locals did their job to the best of their ability. But as I stated you can't rely on the victims to provide their own support. That's why FEMA exists. FEMA failed.  The scope of the disaster was accurately predicted by Operation Pam which was conducted by

And for the following reasons you can't remove FEMA from the equation that ultimately finds President Bush at fault.

Bush is responsible because there was a massive failure of the beuracracy that Dubya, and his neo-con advisors, set up. Bush established the Dept of Homeland Security. Bush put FEMA under DHS control. This isn't some lingering problem from a former Democrat administration.

EVERYTHING was re-written after 9/11.  Hurricane Katrina was the first test of the massive department Bush established to handle securing the homeland and managing disasters.

The President's plan failed. Miserably.  Where does the buck stop?

Even by your "powerless" definition Bush is hardly a leader. Being dogmatic, unilateralist and unwavering do not make a leader.  If you think that it was appropriate for Bush to stay on vacation for 6 days, or play guitar with a country music star, while bodies were floating in the streets you are delusional. He is divisive, unaware, uninformed and un-inspirational. A leader makes you want to stand up. He doesn't have many people standing with him at the moment. Check out Pat Buchanan's latest ramblings. He thinks Bush should be impeached.

A leader brings people together. Bringing people together requires building a coalition. You can't do that with recess appointments of ambassadors that failed to make it out of committee. You can't do that with messing around with senate traditions like the filibuster. You can't do that when you ignore over 50% of the public. You can't do that when you support one religion over another. You can't do that when you occupy sovereign nations under false pretenses. You can't do that when you play cowboy while people are dying.

Even if you agree with his ideas, his success rate is miserable. Despite the Republican dominated congress and courts, He has been given everything he asked for and still can't get anything done.  Bush has not succeeded in Iraq or Afghanistan...Neo-Cons don't understand you can't dictate democracy. He hasn't grown the economy. He hasn't stopped terrorism or captured Bin Laden. He hasn't taken care of health care or welfare. He hasn't delivered substantive tax cuts, only rebates. He did take a budget surplus and turn it into the largest deficit in history. He has managed to create the largest federal government in history. He has managed to squander international goodwill through his inept unilateralist foreign policy.

Despite my naysaying I am fully aware that the Republic will stand. However, your granddaughter will be taught Intelligent Design. Your granddaughter will be forced to pay for the massive federal deficit. Your granddaughter will lose her choice (I hope she's smarter than that). Your granddaughter won't be any safer from a terrorist threat. She will have to fight someone from Bangladesh for a job. And if she is ever caught in a natural disaster she has little hope of being rescued.

I love you too, Dad, despite your obvious early-onset dementia.

Currently I'm listening to If I Were A Groupie from the album "The Sound Of Music" by Pizzicato Five

OCD SOTD - Harry Palms

2005-09-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

I've been busy. All kinds of surfing. And as I surf I collect future OCD Sites of the Day. I prime the pump so to speak. Which leads us to today's OCD SOTD

It's not easy picking out an OCD SOTD. Just as it takes a lot of batting practice to hit a home run. You have to bait your hook to catch a fish. You have to bludgeon a lot of beefsteak.

In case you're not familiar with all the hand wringing that's involved in burping the worm I suggest you check out the The World's Largest Collection of Male Masturbation Synonyms

Currently I'm listening to Blue Monday from the album "Then & Now - The Ultimate Cover Album" by Swan Lee

Not So Intelligent Design

2005-09-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

By now you should all know that Intelligent Design isn't. You should also know that ID is being shoved down the throats of primary education systems all over the country. You should also know that the President of the United States supports teaching ID in schools on an equal footing to Evolution.

I think I just puked in my mouth.

There is a book floating around called "The Republican War On Science" The book chronicles how the Neo-Cons have tried to use pseudo-science to push their agenda (global warming or stem cell research...anybody been listening?).

My peers and I have been railing about this for years but we have been ignored by the mainstream media. Now that the blinders are off and Journalists are re-establishing the Fourth Estate questions about the Republican agenda are being asked. Now that's something for which you can thank G*d.

Anywho, Intelligent Design is an attempt to get religion taught in schools. It's a two pronged attack. Tear down Darwin and float the idea that the world is too complex to have developed on it's own. Their had to be an 'intelligent designer' behind our universe.

To lower Darwin to their level they try to couch his work as "just" a theory. By definition a theory is unproven. Since his theories are unproven shouldn't their be 'alternative' theories taught side by side so students can learn all sides of the equation? Sounds fair. Until you start to think about it in context.

Sure, Evolution is just a theory. But so is Eugenics. I think that we should teach, on an equal footing to Natural and Divine Selection, Mechanical selection based on our genetic properties...Like skin color.

Eugenics isn't any more ridiculous than ID or a flying spaghetti monster.

Evolution has well over a century of research and evidence to support the theory. All of the scientific work that has been conducted only further reinforces the theory of evolution. There can be no research or proof to ID because it is open-ended. How do you prove the existence of a designer? Do you have his address? How about his mobile number or instant message handle?

To the second prong, ID advocates like to use mechanical metaphors to get their point across. A mousetrap works because of uniquely designed parts. Without each of the parts the trap would not work. And the parts have no function outside of the trap. It sort of makes sense...until you start to think about it in context.

The mousetrap didn't start out fully formed. It was developed over a series of iterations, evolutions if you will. It also is made up of disparate parts that have functions of their own. A spring can be used in a clock for example. The wooden base can be used to prop open a door or as a shim. The metal bar can be used as an underwire in a bra.

If you would like to read more on the problem with teaching ID in schools check out this excellent site.

I find it hard to believe that any rational person could think that teaching Intelligent Design in public schools is a good idea. It's not right to shove religion down someone's throat. And certainly not at taxpayer expense. And certainly shouldn't be advocated by a public official.

I personally believe it shouldn't be taught anywhere but if you are of that persuasion then you go right ahead and study what you want. No matter how ridiculous.

Currently I'm listening to Space Spiritual from the album "1968 to 1970 An Axelrod Anthology" by David Axelrod

You Control

2005-09-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have occasionally come out in favor of technology that I enjoy. One piece of software that made me happy in the past now makes me very unhappy.

You Control used to be great but it has turned into a piece of crap with my upgrade to OSX 10.4 Tiger.

I was one of the first users of the software. My receipt said I was customer number 104, or something like that. I encouraged several of my friends to check it out and try the software.

They were all happy. Until Tiger.

Tiger has been out for several months. Developers get advance copies of OS to prevent disconnects. Apparently You Software has let their Developer status lapse.

So until you hear otherwise don't buy You Control

Currently I'm listening to I Like to Move It (radio edit) from the album "I Like to Move It (feat. The Mad Stuntman)" by Reel 2 Real

Brilliant Editorial

2005-09-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

I generally avoid the Guardian but this editorial caught my eye and mind

I was a child when Nixon resigned (of whom, believe it or not, I am a fan) but it is clear to me that his legacy isn't opening China or finally pulling us out of Vietnam but how he single handedly destroyed the trust we had in our leaders.

Bush is making exactly the same mistakes. By the time his reign is over America will have even less respect for the political process.

I am willing to bet that voter rolls will dramatically decrease over the next two decades.

Give the article a read.

Currently I'm listening to Frim Fram Sauce from the album "Penny and Nathan Get Married - Greatest Hits" by Diana Krall

Hell Has Frozen Over!!!!!!

2005-09-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

HOT HOT HOT! President Bush says he takes responsibility for the federal government's failures in responding to Hurricane Katrina.

My nipples just got hard!

I can't even imagine what has come over the ice man. Maybe it was the constant stream of video and photographic evidence of the destruction. Maybe it was the invectives being hurled. Maybe the thought of rats feasting on the bloated corpses laying on the streets.

In any case, I'm glad the President is finally waking up to the disaster that is his Presidency.

Now if we can just get him to admit his mistake in Iraq.

Currently I'm listening to Flesh Cartoons from the album "Eye (1995 Rhino Reissue)" by Robyn Hitchcock

The Great Carla Gugino Experiment

2005-09-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned a few weeks back Naked Celebs are big business these days. And since I'm writing this thing to try and build an audience I might as well take advantage. Besides, Sex and Politics go hand in hand (right Newt?)

So I have pondered the possibilities. Am I risking my blogger credibility by posting pictures of buck-naked celebs? Can you ethically put credibility and blogger in the same sentence? Will this really help build my audience? Seems to be working. Will this embarrass my friends and family? No, they already know I'm a perv.

So for the next few weeks I will drop some pics of naked celebs to spice things up. If you want to help me out please link to my site and click on some of my advertising banners.

In the meantime here is a picture of the very lovely Carla Gugino from the movie Sin City. I wonder if she realized that her wife-beater would be transluscent when it got wet? If you click on it will get bigger...heh, that's what she said.

Currently I'm listening to Outlaw Blues from the album "The Bob Dylan Songbook" by Dave Edmunds

Why BushCo is Responsible

2005-09-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

The President is mandated, it could be argued it is his sole duty, to protect America and it's citizens. Whether they are rich or poor. Black or white. Stupid or smart. Self-sufficient or entirely dependent.

No matter the adjectives, in this task Dubya completely failed.

However, the Neo-Cons (at some point we should just drop the Neo) refuse to accept responsibility. In their eyes Dubya can do no wrong. Their reasons are as follow:

A) It is the responsibility of local officials to tend for the natives

B) The Federal government does not have to protect the citizenry from flooding.
Louisiana should pay for the Levees since they are the ones threatened.

C) The Federal response was adequate and appropriate.

Let me break it down for you...

Response to point A.

I have repeatedly read in conservative journals that inept and corrupt Nola authorities fucked up by not bussing people out of the city.

There were city and school buses available. 401 to be exact.

What they fail to explain is who would drive the buses. They also fail to explain who had command and control of the buses. What was the destination? Only a major city could supply 30,000 refugees with shelter. How would the buses be fueled after traveling a hundred miles? Were all of the 401 buses in service? There weren't nearly enough buses to transport all of the evacuees. Who determined evacuee priority?

Of course they also fail to recognize that all roads out of Nola were log-jammed with people evacuating in their own cars. By the time the roads cleared it was too late. The buses wouldn't be able to outrun the storm. It was safer to house people in the Super Dome. That's why it was part of the official disaster plan.

Another point they argue is that the Governor had responsibility. Read this article in Time Magazine about the extensive efforts Gov Blanco took before during and after the storm. She tried, and ultimately failed, but the scope of the disaster was much larger than her authority. More importantly the President has far more comprehensive resources at his disposal than a Governor.

The article nicely summarizes the situation with a quote from a LA official, "That's like telling a drowning man that you are not going to help him until he asks for a life preserver."

Lastly, I don't want to diverge into an Iraq discussion but there were only a few thousand guardsman available in the entire tri-state region. The rest of the troops, and all of the heavy equipment, were deployed, ahem, elsewhere. The Governor did, despite claims to the contrary, deploy the Guard on August 26, asked for additional troops on August 28 and even more on Sept 2.

Response to point B.

It absolutely is up to the Government to control flooding throughout the nation. Large swaths of the nation's farmland are in flood plains. Sediment makes for rich soil. What would happen if the nation's breadbasket was under water? But New Orleans is crucial for another reason.

The Gulf of Mexico is a major strategic resource of the United States. Beyond the extensive oil reserves under the ocean, the ports along the gulf are the among the most utilized in the nation. Running smack dab through the center of the country, and terminating in the gulf, is the Mississippi River. The Mighty Mississippi is the backbone for transporting supplies and commodities to and from the heartland. The Federal Government has built all sorts of levees and locks to ensure that the river is continually usable. Since the river runs through multiple states, and the chain is only as strong as the weakest link, responsibility for the river, from dredging to flood control, lies with the Federal Government.

Steel, chemical, agriculture and oil products all cruise up and down the river causeway. And it all starts, or ends if you prefer, in New Orleans. It is unfair, and imprudent, to task Louisiana (or any single state) with that much responsibility.

Response to point C.

Neo-Cons argue that the President doesn't have much power. Fine, if he is powerless, he should at least be our leader. The man responsible for steering the country. A proverbial rock in the storm.

On Tues 8/30, the day after, the President was not en route to the Gulf Region. He wasn't working on a disaster relief bill. He wasn't handing out water at the shelters. Our leader,..a compassionate conservative. A Christian. A man of the people. Our President was laughing, smiling and playing guitar with a country music star. Here's the photo from AP to prove it.

The reason the Federal Government is mandated with disaster relief is simple. You can't rely on local authorites and resources. It doesn't matter if it is the corrupt Nola PD or the well trained LAPD. When the people tasked with disaster relief are themselves disaster victims it's a problem. You need to bring people in who are unaffected by the disaster. Relief workers who aren't worried about their families and homes.

FEMA, part of the far-reaching Homeland Security department, had command and control of the situation once Dubya signed the disaster declaration two days before the Hurricane struck. They also had command and control of the fuel depots, mass-transport, communications systems and National Guard. FEMA was responsible for staging disaster relief supplies in advance of the storm. They failed. FEMA was responsible for sending out their multitude of search & rescue teams. Only 7 teams were sent. The list of FEMA foibles is much longer but this is already off-topic.

Neo-Cons want to leave FEMA out of the discussion but FEMA, and the response it is federally mandated with carrying out, is the discussion. FEMA is the tool in the Presidential arsenal he is supposed to use for disasters.

The fact that our nincompoop of a President appointed a guy that had no emergency experience is the reason the system failed.

They argue, often vehemently, that the response was fast and adequate. If that is even remotely true why was Brown replaced and subsequently asked to resign?

They applaud the fact that Brownie was replaced with a seasoned Coast Guard officer. While completely overlooking the fact that their man Bushie put Brownie there in the first place.

In summary...From constitutionally established responsibilities to the chain of command to plain and simple leadership, Bush completely failed.

Politics aside, the question you should be asking is why did it take a week to get food and water to New Orleans? Happily the death toll isn't 10,000, but how many deaths could have been prevented if the Federal Gov't had responded in their mandated 48 hours.

Currently I'm listening to You Can't Blame Me from the album "Eccentric Soul: The Capsoul Label" by Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum, & Durr

Blogger Wierdness

2005-09-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Ever since Google purchased Blogger there has been ever increasing wierdness in the publishing of my blog. Pages not appearing correctly. Java funkiness. It makes me question some things. I doubt I will switch providers but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced Blogger madness?

--
Currently I'm listening to the sound of my own fingers typing.

Having a wonderful time...

2005-09-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm still on vacation. We're having a delightful time. So good that we have decided to extend our stay until this Saturday.

The weather is perfect and I don't have to be at work until Sept 19. Why rush back to L.A.?

I know that I am missing all the Kanye West excitement and the Bush idiocy but at this moment I would rather watch my daughter splash her feet in the warm waters of Waqoiut Bay while drinking an electric lemonade and eating stuffed quohogs.

Life really doesn't get much better.

--
I'm currently listening to the sounds of waves lapping off of Monmoscoy Island on Cape Cod.

I'm Outta Here!

2005-09-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

Faithful Readers...I'm heading out of town for the long weekend. Cape Cod bound. You have been so patient with me I might just surprise you with an update or two while I'm gone...but don't hold your breath. Later player haters.

Currently I'm listening to Leaving On A Jet Plane from the album "The Best Of Peter, Paul And Mary" by Peter, Paul and Mary

The OCD SOTD is back!

2005-08-31T13:34:00.000-07:00

The throngs have been clamoring for...well not really clamoring so much as completely ignorant of... the Obsessive Compulsive Site Of The Day. So I would like to re-introduce you to a favorite segment of mine. I scour the web, not in some cash-for surfing scam, but in an effort find sites are obsessively compulsive. Past examples have included...

oh for crying out loud just search through the archives for them. They're easy enough to find.

Today's site is simple enough. Take a cat. Any cat. Put it in a sink. Wait for it to do something cute and then take a picture.

Simple in concept. Difficult to execute. Obsessively maintained. I present to you Cats in Sinks.

Currently I'm listening to the PodCast Gaza Pullout and the Future of Peace in the Middle East from the album "KCRW's To the Point" with Warren Olney

Some fun with Naked Celebs

2005-08-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

I have discussed, some would say ad nauseum, my penchant for naked celebrities. To these puritanical netizens I say pshaw. Naked Celebs are good business. And if Charlize Theron's ta-tas put food in my baby's mouth I'm all for it!

My traffic quintupled when I last blogged about my fascination. Which increased my monthly take from just $0.12 in July to almost $5 in August.

Since I provide my snarky witticism gratis you need to accept some nipples, and the occasional penis for my faithful female readers, to cover my expenses.

Without further ado...

It doesn't matter if they're attractive, or not.

Need no never mind if they're young or old

Singer or Actress or a wanna-be-both.

As long as they are naked, or in some close approximation thereof, I'm happy.

And I think that Natalie Portman has nice buns and a bushy jet strip.

Currently I'm avidly listening to Nourishment Nation from the album "Out of the Shadow" by Rogue Wave. I suggest you run out and buy it immediately.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is...

2005-08-31T01:50:00.000-07:00

When the Tsunami hit last year I was, rightly, among those calling for a larger support package from my government. Now I'm calling on all of my compatriots, in foreign lands, to do the same.

Hurricane Katrina hit over 48 hours ago and I haven't heard one word from a foreign government. Where are the rescue workers? Where are the monetary donations? Where are the leaders calling on their citizens to lend support?

Bastards.

Of course we probably brought this on ourselves. After 9/11 we were overwhelmed with support. But after the endless lies, illegal war and occupation of Iraq the planet isn't quite so sympathetic.

Neo-cons, with the support of the Christian Right, will tell you that the two aren't related. They are certain that Saddam and Bin Laden were tied at the hip but the world's attitude toward this catastrophe isn't the result of our inability to play nice on the world stage.

Bastards, all.

To quote Green Day...

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives

When will, Christian, America learn to treat others as we expect to be treated? How many have to suffer because we haven't learned that compassion requires an open heart and mind not strong ministrations? What will future generations of American's need to do to deserve the respect, concern and support of sovereign nations after we have abused our power and friendships with such disregard?

Bastards we.

Call me a self-hating American and I'll call you blind. America is built on tremendous ideals. The problem is that it's almost impossible to live up to ideals. We have done a pretty good job but there have been plenty of screw-ups. Mostly on that 'all men are created equal' bit.

But one truth is self-evident, America is a great nation. It has an indefatigable human spirit that burns brightly and can't be quenched by flood waters or collapsing towers. As one people we can surmount any obstacle.

The problem is that we have spent the last 4 years as bad teammates. We're a global Kobe Bryant.

The neo-cons could learn a lesson from the Founding Fathers. Together we stand, divided we fall. And in times like these it is far better to stand with friends.

So, I call on foreign nations to teach us a thing or two about ourselves. Please turn the other cheek and reach out to America in this time of dire need.

Show these idiots in Washington what a Coalition of the Truly Willing can actually achieve.

Appropriately, I'm listening to Holiday from the album "American Idiot" by Green Day

Plucking While Nola Burns

2005-08-30T23:21:00.000-07:00

I swear to G*d this picture is from today. Here's the proof.

Maybe Dubya is laughing because he just saw this amusing picture.

Dubya smirks "Heh, heh...Boat people are funny...Heh"

There's nothing else I can say other than we have to get this jerk out of office.

--
Currently I'm listening to Hyperballad from the album "Telegram" by Björk

Technorati Tags: Bush, Celebrity Photos, Hurricane, Neo-Con Bashing, Ranting, Worst President Ever

Simply put...

2005-08-30T23:06:00.000-07:00

Who supplies the manpower for the myriad of issues that arise with a natural disaster?

That's right, the National Guard.

I wonder what those guys are up to these days?

How will the Neo-Cons try to shrug this off? Maybe blame FEMA or the local Louisiana authoriites...Who knows but they will try and probably succeed.

Water Displacement

2005-08-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

I don't think that America, or the world, has grasped the enormity of the hurricane Katrina disaster.

The Gulf State region has been obliterated. It doesn't exist anymore. In particular New Orleans is devastated. Gone, probably not to return.

By itself NOLA had a population of 1,337,726. Let me repeat that...1,337,726 do not have a home to which they can return. 1,337,726 do not have a job anymore. 1,337,726 do not have access to medical attention. 1,337,726 do not know where there next meal is coming from. 1,337,726 do not have electricity, fresh water, sewers, telephone or even radio reception. 1,337,726 souls are effectively cut off from the rest of the planet for an undetermined period of time.

Where are the 1,337,726 people going to stay? I have a spare bedroom with a trundle bed. That lowers the bar by two. I don't know about the rest...

I'm not trying to be smarmy. What community could absorb that many new, completely indigent, inhabitants? When you realize that it's not just New Orleans, but Gulfport and Biloxi and hundreds of smaller communities the numbers are potentially much larger.

Wake up America! You cry over one lost child. How about you get off your ass for 1,337,724?

Currently I'm listening to Refugee from the album "Pack Up The Plantation Live!" by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

City of New Orleans

2005-08-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

I knew this storm was going to be different from previous hurricanes. I could feel in my gut that New Orleans would never be the same. I foresaw awesome devastation. I hoped I was wrong but knew that wasn't possible.

Nothing against Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee or Florida but New Orleans is part of our cultural legacy. Part of our cultural future...Home to music, art and theater.

And it is all lost. Forever. An entire city vanished like some sick voodoo trick.

Thousands dead and millions of displaced. History washed away. Beautiful cities destroyed.

I'm nauseous. Deep breath.

I have always been fascinated by the New orleans tradition of the funeral march. As the coffin is carried through the streets a band plays somber, melancholy music. After depositing the coffin the band kicks in and plays raucous Dixieland. It's their way to celebrate life rather than mourn death. Literally, laissez les bons temps rouler!

The residents of New Orleans celebrate each day like it's their last. Mardi Gras is the embodiment of that belief. On Bourbon Street every day is Tuesday.

I can only think that it will be a while before we party in the French Quarter.

I don't know how to proceed. I don't know what we're going to do. I don't know if we should.

New Orleans was doomed the day the French built the levee's. By re-routing the Mississippi, in an attempt to prevent flooding of farmlands, they started a slow erosion of the outer banks which had historically protected the area. Further, the river deposited fresh silt. The city is built on very loose soil. Over the last hundred years the literal weight of the city has sunk the land to below sea level.

Smarter minds will ponder this for many years. In the meantime we all need to help. Do our part.

American Red Cross (800) HELP NOW (435-7669) English; (800) 257-7575 Spanish

Operation Blessing (800) 436-6348

America's Second Harvest (800) 344-8070

The worst part of the hurricane is yet to come. Disease and famine are going to be rampant. Where are the millions of people going to live? Where are they going to work? How will they get medical attention? Another small issue are the wild animals, like snakes and alligators, that have already moved in to their old stomping grounds.

Something this big is not going to be easy but today, in our best New Orleans fashion, we can mourn the loss but must look forward to tomorrow.

Currently I'm listening to Seasick on Land from the album "Out of the Shadow" by Rogue Wave

It pains me...

2005-08-19T00:06:00.000-07:00

TV Guide and Bravo commissioned a poll. They asked Americans "which reality personality do you most hate?" Now I would have guessed Dubya would come up the winner, but I would have been wrong.

Oddly enough America went with Trump dumpee Omarosa. Apparently the TV Guide/Bravo poll was related to reality TV personalities. Who knew?

Anyway, reality TV is so pervasive in our culture that it has outstripped just about everything else in importance. People just don't care about the real villains in the world.

Heck, Cindy Sheehan, despite massive PR, is barely registering in the American conscience. I guess America prefers it's women braindead.

Our nation is in a weird place. One generation cares all too deeply. Another doesn't care at all. One wants strict regulations on just about every aspect of society, the other completely ignores the rules. There is so little common ground that I wonder if we will ever be able to resolve these differences.

Oh well. It's late and I have to go to work tomorrow. On a reality TV show.

Currently I'm listening to Miss Me Blind from the album "Billboard Top 100 of 1984" by Culture Club

Nude Celebs

2005-08-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

Y'all know I love nude celebs. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wonder what Elisha Cuthbert, Lindsey Lohan or Jennifer Garner look like naked. But imagine my surprise when I stumbled on this, ahem, little discovery...

Jude Law, fresh off his little escapade with the nanny, decided to let it all hang out while vacationing in France. When in Paris...

But all the internet scuttlebutt has managed to tick me off. An undying sense of fair play and a bit of outrage have driven me to address the insulting nature my fellow bloggers have taken to describe Mr. Law's, ahem, shortcomings.

First off he is obviously a grower, not a shower. Secondly, and more importantly, the guy is stooped over. For those of you that think a penis is completely independent of the body (unless you perform a certain lengthening surgical procedure) you are incorrect. It's attached by two ligaments to the pubic bone. When you bend over the pelvis tilts and pulls the penis back into the body.

Even the infamous Tommy Lee, of goes to college fame not Men In Black, isn't hung like a moose when he contorts his body.

So ladies, and lothario loving gay men, don't worry. I am certain that Jude has more than enough to get the job done. And Sienna Miller did take him back for some reason having to do with more than an apology.

Currently I'm listening to Cell Block Tango from the album "Chicago: The Musical" by Chicago Cast Recording