Spy Spy Away

FBI secretly sought data on 3,501 people in 2005
Agency ramped up use of approach that requires no court approval

Updated: 6:40 p.m. ET April 28, 2006
WASHINGTON - The FBI secretly sought information last year on 3,501 U.S. citizens and legal residents from their banks and credit card, telephone and Internet companies without a court's approval, the Justice Department said Friday.
Full Story

Worlds going to hell and we're escalating spying on our own citizens. What's wrong with this picture? September 11th isn't billed as 'home grown' terror - yet it's being used to instill homegrown terror tactics by our own government on its citizens. There's something seriously wrong here. Something very very wrong here.

U.S. Reports a Surge in Global Terrorism
The count has soared since the Iraq invasion, but only now are attacks there being included.
By Josh Meyer, Times Staff Writer
April 29, 2006

WASHINGTON — The State Department's annual report on global terrorism, released Friday, concludes that the number of reported terrorist incidents and deaths has increased exponentially in the three years since the United States invaded Iraq, largely because of Iraq itself.

The report also said that although the United States had made some gains in fighting terrorism, Al Qaeda and its affiliate groups remained a grave threat to U.S. national security at home and abroad — both in Iraq and elsewhere.
Full Article

You mean not because of American citizens? That would blow that whole justification to HELL then, wouldn't it? And if it ever came to light, man people would be pissed ... what to do?

Feds Move to Dismiss Domestic Spying Suit
By DAVID KRAVETS, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 50 minutes ago
SAN FRANCISCO - The Justice Department said Friday it was moving to dismiss a federal lawsuit challenging the Bush administration's secretive domestic wiretapping program.

The lawsuit, brought by the Internet privacy group, Electronic Frontier Foundation, does not include the government.
Full Article

And the sun came up this morning.

A court case would certainly shake the whole 'it's because of September 11th and terrorism' idea, because declassified NSA documents prove it was ordered by Tates before September 11.
Sticky situation, that whole truth thing. Bites you in the ass. Lovin the hell out of the small, nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation right now, in addition to supporting them financially.
I like putting my money where my mouth is. You're on shaky ground complaining about something you do nothing about.

---

Tates declared today, "...the enemies of freedom have suffered a real blow in recent days, and we have taken great strides on the march to victory."

Thousands of Shiites Displaced in Iraq
By THOMAS WAGNER, Associated Press Writer
8 minutes ago
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Sectarian violence has forced about 100,000 families across Iraq to flee their homes, a top Iraqi official said, and 16 Iraqis were killed Saturday, six of them tortured in captivity. -more-

Obviously 'terror' families are suffering a blow, deathsquads and a real housing shortage.

Ex-head of interrogation at Abu Ghraib charged
Lieutenant colonel is highest-ranking officer to face criminal abuse charges

Updated: 6:10 p.m. ET April 28, 2006
WASHINGTON - The Army on Friday charged the former head of the interrogation center at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq with cruelty and maltreatment, dereliction of duty and other criminal offenses for his alleged involvement in the abuse of detainees at the notorious prison in 2003.
Full Article

The wages of sin, paid by the little guys. Let's not bring up the obvious fact that his bosses knew, approved and implemented these policies. If they 'claim' innocence, then they are too incompetent to command anyone in the field. Criminal or incompetent - I frankly don't care what they charge them with. But they need to clean house from the TOP DOWN, not the bottom to the knee. However, they are already honoring Army investigator Brent Pack honored for Groundbreaking Work on Abu Ghraib, which is very cool unless the investigation stopped right at the middle.



SuperDon_™ Corner (squeeeeaaaaaal!):

I'd like to answer this argument, other than pointing out the sky is blue, gravity works and oh yeah, the UCMJ:
"Where are the officers serving now? Where are the enlisted? Huh? Those Generals are retired!"
Right here:

Embassy, April 26th, 2006
COLUMN
By Richard Gwyn
A week ago, it was the generals. Now it's the colonels and majors and captains. Moreover, these officers are in uniform and have none of the security from retribution of the generals who have all already retired.

In a front-page story Sunday, The New York Times described an "extraordinary debate" now going on among younger American officers "in military academies, in the armed services staff colleges, and even in command posts and mess halls in Iraq."

This debate is about the war in Iraq, about the tactics and prospects of the American forces there, and, most particularly, about Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, already the target of stinging criticism by a half dozen recently-retired senior generals, most of whom had served in Iraq.

The names of these junior officers have all been withheld by the Times. If ever identified, they would be court-martialed. So readers have to take it on faith that the paper has described their opinions accurately.

But it's hard to doubt that the report is close to the truth. To heighten its credibility, by no means all of its findings are predictable.

Thus, while the younger officers overwhelmingly fault Rumsfeld, they are less critical of President George W. Bush.

Several thought their own generals were as much to blame as Rumsfeld, for having gone along silently with his bad planning.

The sense of malaise, though, is widespread.

FULL ARTICLE

Sucks to be an idiot, doesn't it?

Yunno, like this guy - who has declared The Iraq War is Over. Hey, I'll pass it along to the guys who died there this month, the deadliest month this year. Assclown.

---

Today, thousands marched in Manhattan.
I wish we could bring them home right this minute. But we've started something that we can't just walk away from. We invaded them. We caused this. This is our fault. We can't take out toys and go home. 'Sorry, too bad, so sad, now you can just go straight to hell and die horribly because of our mistakes.' It's called responsibility. And it's ours.
What we need are real military strategists, real planners, real policies and a real exit plan. We've got the finest military and finest military minds in the world. Let 'em get to work - away from the political screwup appointees and SuperDon_™ syncophants.

.

Yahoo for Iranian Rice Chinese Style

Yahoo cited in jailing of China Internet writer
1 hour, 8 minutes ago

BEIJING (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - news) has been cited in a Chinese court decision to jail a dissident Internet writer for 10 years for subversion in 2003 -- the fourth such case to surface implicating the U.S. Internet giant.
-more-

That Yahoo, what a buncha practical jokers. They didn't really mean to ruin someones life. They were just ... cooperating with a tyrannical foreign power.

China launches "Remote Sensing Satellite No.1"
Ahhh, the good old days, when they would consider launching primates into space. You know ... before they started taking office.

Israel: NO to peace
The prospect of a peace summit between Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was shot down by Israel Wednesday almost as soon as it was floated by the Palestinians.
-Full Story-

Coming Up: Those mean Palestinians don't want peace! All they care about is terror and suicide bombs! Let's launch missiles!
And they wonder why those people elected Hamas. Israel, come down off the cross and save yourself. Your fine people deserve it. Your leaders, on the other hand, should join ours for a nice War Crimes Tribunal.

She did not ask that...

Rice Says U.N. Must Act on Iran Nuke Plan
By ANNE GEARAN AP Diplomatic Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Iran seems determined to defy international demands to control its disputed nuclear program, so it is time for the U.N. Security Council to act, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday.

"Is the Security Council going to be credible?" Rice asked after meetings with NATO foreign ministers.
-Full Story-

Sweet Britches, glass houses and all that. Wait, here's a good idea. Get together a satellite presentation, head over to the UN, and show them all those suspicious trucks and weapons of mass destruction. I think there might be some leftover in Colin's old drawer.

We are the World. We think You're Idiots.

Pakistan: No violence against Iran
"We are against any resort to force," Foreign Secretary Riaz Khan said after a meeting with Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns.
-Full Story-

Brzezinski: Do Not Attack Iran
Brzezinski: Air Strike on Iran Could ‘Merit the Impeachment of the President’
In an op-ed titled “Do Not Attack Iran,” former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski today makes the case against launching an air strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
-Full Story-

The problem is entirely a public relations one. What we need is a catchy tune, like say this one: Let's Bomb Iran.
Wooo! Catchy.

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics:

29 have been accused of spousal abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad checks
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 are current defendants in lawsuits
84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the past year

It must be Enron, huh?
This ‘company’ is called the US Congress.

Definitely Not Kansas

House passes draconian intelligence bill
By Bev Conover
Online Journal Editor & Publisher
Apr 27, 2006, 00:37
The cretins in Congress better start using their gray matter, if they have any, because the repressive legislation they pass that bites the people today will also bite them tomorrow.
No one is immune from the horrors of a police state. No one. None. Fall out of favor with the ruling clique, for whatever reason, and your goose is cooked.
And a police state is what they are creating, all under the guise of "national security" and keeping us "safe" from "terrorists."
The latest nightmare is buried in the HR 5020, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, which the House of Representatives passed, 327-96, yesterday. Among its provisions are giving National Security Director John Negroponte authority to devise a plan for revoking the pensions of retired intelligence agency employees "who commit unauthorized disclosures of classified information." That takes care of any retired whistleblowers.
If that weren't bad enough, the Baltimore Sun is reporting "It also would permit security forces at the National Security Agency and the CIA to make warrantless arrests outside the gates of their top-secret campuses."
Plus, according to the Sun, "The measure also directs Congress to conduct a study of possible new sanctions against those who receive leaks of classified information, including journalists."
In effect, a total shutdown of any knowledge of the crimes your government has committed or is committing in your name.
Is this a sign that we are reaching the tipping point and the real terrorists in the executive branch and their fellow travelers in Congress are fearful of a rebellion? Is this a preemptive attempt to thwart an uprising?
It's better to put all the control mechanisms in place while most Americans are still preoccupied with the daily dose of lies and omissions dished out by their handmaidens in the corporate media. After all, how long can the Busheviks continue to trot out phony Osama tapes and Zarqawi videos, threatening mayhem, when things are going badly for the administration?
With Hitler, it was the Jews, homosexuals, gypsies and anyone else who opposed him. With Bush, it's darker complexioned people ("terrorists," possible "terrorists," and aiders and abettors or sympathizers of "terrorists") and anyone else who opposes him.
Fascism doesn't descend all at once. It comes creeping in, in seemingly benign ways at first. A little chip off your liberties here and a little chip there -- all for your safety and welfare, you're told -- and one day you wake up to find all your liberties are gone. We are nearly to that point.
The USAPATRIOT Act, which too many persist in calling the Patriot Act, has nothing to do with patriots or patriotism. The full title alone should have horrified people: Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act. As slickly as it was rammed through both houses, without being read or debated, in the wake of 9-11 and reauthorized this year, its provisions weren't harsh enough to keep us in line. So now the Congress critters have come up with HR 520 to punish anyone who discloses things the Busheviks want kept secret. The question is will the Senate also vote for this abomination?


The irony is that the chippers in Congress, in the state legislatures, in the city halls, fail to realize that one day they, too, make become victims of their chipping. Absolute power may corrupt absolutely, as Lord Acton noted, but power of the smallest degree is a siren song that tends to blind.

Copyright © 1998-2006 Online Journal
Original Article

Here’s the text of the Bill.


Here’s the roll call of who voted, note the shameful 'representatives' who voted in favor.

If this legislation passes in the Senate, it becomes Law.
Isn't it time to email, write and call your Senators before the Bill of Rights becomes a distant memory?

And while you're at it, send a clownbeating to those 'representatives' who aren't representing anything resembling America The Free anymore.

You cannot disagree:
Silencing The Squeaky Wheels
By Shane Harris, National Journal
© National Journal Group Inc.
Thursday, April 27, 2006

The CIA has imposed new and tighter restrictions on the books, articles, and opinion pieces published by former employees who are still contractors with the intelligence agency. According to several former CIA officials affected by the new policy, the rules are intended to suppress criticism of the Bush administration and of the CIA. The officials say the restrictions amount to an unprecedented political "appropriateness" test at odds with earlier CIA policies on outside publishing.
Full Article

Draconian measures, silencing critics. Dorothy, we're not in Kansas anymore.

You ever get the feeling we woke up in the Soviet Union via the Third Reich?

SuperDon™ goes to Iraq

SuperDon_™ will be visiting a warzone near you! Be the first in your bunker to get an autographed sandbag! Ask about your nifty-difty stop loss plan!
Inquire into top placement in the next Ramadi all-fire-all-the-time billet! You,too, can be part of the SuperDon Squad*
*some restrictions apply; offer not valid to those in a free fire zone, all applicants must be at least certifiably insane for over 30 days, submit requests in triplicate signed in blood (preferrably your own). Please note: background in military and/or foreign policy not neccessary, proctological sobriquets preferred.

Rumsfeld Makes Surprise Visit To Baghdad
April 26, 2006 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Baghdad on an unannounced visit aimed at showing support for Iraq's emerging government.

Rumsfeld has so far held talks with the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General George Casey. After the meeting, Rumsfeld stressed the importance of the new Iraqi government, calling the formation of the "first government that doesn't have a qualifier in front of [its name] ... another important milestone."
Full Story

So without a qualifier, would that make it un-qualified? A state which I'm sure he can fully empathize with. Because you know he's just going there to gloat because they tossed out the guy they didn't like.
But hey, anytime SuperDon's out of the country sounds like party time to me.

Let's do a Fun & Profit Edition!

Spying on people for Fun & Profit:

AT&T Sees Net Income, Sales Jump
Cingular's growth helps profit rise 63% in the first full quarter since SBC purchased the erstwhile Ma Bell.
By James S. Granelli, Times Staff Writer
April 26, 2006
AT&T Inc. on Tuesday reported a 63% increase in profit and a 54% jump in revenue, as the former SBC Communications Inc. released its first full quarterly results as a combined company. Full Story

You gonna share some of that with the National Spook Association? I mean, the NSA has to be one of your biggest customers by now.
Right after reading this, I made another donation to EFF. I sincerely hope their profits rise another 63%, so they can be sued silly.

Terorrism and Death for Fun & Profit:

Silverstein announces World Trade Center Deal
The developer Larry A. Silverstein announced yesterday that he had accepted the economic terms of a new deal at ground zero. The proposal reduces his overall role on the 16-acre site and clears the way for construction of the Freedom Tower, the tallest and most symbolically important of five towers planned for the site.

Larry Silverstein made the announcement at 7 World Trade Center.
The deal calls for Mr. Silverstein to surrender control of the $2 billion Freedom Tower, along with more than one third of the ground zero site, to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. But he would retain the right to build three office towers on the most valuable parcels there. Full Story

Wow, I'm all choked up. Let me wipe away the tear with one of Larry's billion dollar bills.

Schilling for Fun & Profit:

FOX Host to be named White House Spokesman
By TERENCE HUNT AP White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON Apr 26, 2006 (AP)— Conservative pundit Tony Snow will be named White House press secretary, Republican officials said Tuesday night, in the latest move in President Bush's effort to remake his troubled White House.Full Story

Stop. It's too easy. Snow jobs..Yellow Snow... TSno... there's no challenge.
I do think it would be economically wiser if Fox News just broadcast from Cheney's rectum.

Strawmen for Fun & Profit:

Iraqis Condemn Al-Zarqawi Video
Wednesday April 26, 2006 10:01 AM
By THOMAS WAGNER
Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi politicians and citizens on Wednesday condemned terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as a foreigner determined to destroy their country, but they also seemed to take his new video promising more attacks as a serious threat.Full Story

Uh, guys, we don't all have the attention span of snap peas.

Military Plays Up Role of Zarqawi
Jordanian Painted As Foreign Threat To Iraq's Stability
By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 10, 2006; A01
The U.S. military is conducting a propaganda campaign to magnify the role of the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, according to internal military documents and officers familiar with the program. The effort has raised his profile in a way that some military intelligence officials believe may have overstated his importance and helped the Bush administration tie the war to the organization responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The documents state that the U.S. campaign aims to turn Iraqis against Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian, by playing on their perceived dislike of foreigners. U.S. authorities claim some success with that effort, noting that some tribal Iraqi insurgents have attacked Zarqawi loyalists.
Full Story

Workin on some serious credibility issues here. I mean, how can they honestly expect Americans to take anything the Pentagon claims seriously anymore?
Yeah, you wanna impress us? Find Waldo.

Hey listen up. I'm going to assist my loyal military psyops brigade and spell out just where you're losing us. We know there are militant groups. We know about the Mujahadeen and Radical Islam. For crissakes, why do you have to talk UP somebody? Aren't there enough real threats to go around? Stop invoking this already discredited puppet. And while you're at it, enough with all Al-Qaeda all-the-time. I mean, apparently Al Qaeda has a base in my laundry room - because they're just about everywhere else. If they're that omnipotent, I say we give up the ghost and move to the Outer Hebrides.
It is impossible to win a war that you're losing at home. (cough, Somalia, cough Vietnam) You want support? Stop lying to us. Stop pretending we're adolescents unable to comprehend that soldiers are going to die in war zones. Stop showing us Iraqi 'successes' and start laying it out on the table: good and bad.
Fallujah was a nightmare, Ramadi is under 24/7 siege, Baghad is a few ducks short of a revolving wheel, Al Anbar's official uniform has a moving target crest... as a matter of fact, just admit the whole Triangle has us in the crosshairs.
See, if there's one thing about honestly, it begets respect. While doling out happy horsepuckey wins you one free ride on the Magic Skeptical Garden Kingdom and a free all day pass to DelusionQuest:3D.
And increasingly waning support at home.
Or... you could keep dressing up AlQaeda leaders, hiding soldiers coffins, gagging military experts, promising draw-downs we can't afford, and telling us things are going swimmingly. Because it's working so well for you.
Bill O'Reilly and at least nine other people are thoroughly convinced.

As to seasoned experts, thanks to Mr. Goss, that's undergoing a nice purge:

Top leaders of CIA's clandestine service resign
From David Ensor
CNN Washington Bureau
Monday, November 15, 2004 Posted: 11:14 PM EST (0414 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Steven Kappes and Michael J. Sulick, the top leaders of the CIA's directorate of operations, resigned Monday morning, sources told CNN.

Their departures come in a period of turmoil at the intelligence agency as the new director, Porter Goss seeks to impose his control.
Full Story

Has anyone bothered to point out to Porter that he works for us? Or would that totally decimate his rampant God-complex? Clear indication, as Freud would say, of big egos coming with tiny packages. Not that he's alone in purging the best for the kiss assiest:
State Dept sees exodus of weapons experts, replaced by syncophants w/ no experience
Hey, let's not let experience get in our way:

Tehran insider tells of US Black Ops
By an Asia Times Online Special Correspondent

TEHRAN - A former Iranian ambassador and Islamic Republic insider has provided intriguing details to Asia Times Online about US covert operations inside Iran aimed at destabilizing the country and toppling the regime - or preparing for an American attack.

"The Iranian government knows and is aware of such infiltration. It means that the Iranian government has identified them [the covert operatives] but for some reason does not want to show [this]," said the former diplomat on condition of anonymity.
Full Story

Wow, what choices! Destabilize the country, topple the regime, or prepare for an American attack. Gimme a second here.


Okay, back. I'm not even going to point out that this has never worked. We've spent decades and decades toppling regimes and destabilizing countries. It coined the term 'blowback'. That invasion idea is fabulous. Here's an animated scientific presentation of what their limited nuclear strike on Iran would do: HAVE A LOOK. It's a quick animation, and will give you an idea of what they are considering a viable strategy.

And lest we forget another nuclear tragedy:

Chernobyl Horror Remembered
Ukrainians mark 20th anniversary of nuclear disaster
SLAVUTYCH, Ukraine -- Bells tolled across Ukraine and the families of victims carried red carnations and candles Wednesday to mark the 20-year anniversary of the world's worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl.

The April 26, 1986, pre-dawn explosion which spewed radioactive contamination across whole swathes of Europe was being marked in Ukraine with daylong events on a day of national mourning.Full Story

The victims of Chernobyl continue into this day, a lesson to all men who seek the possibility of winning against the Chaos Theory.

With a determination to leave you with the positive, I urge you to go watch this online Eagle cam, a nesting pair with eggs. It makes you realize what it it is we really stand and fight for. To preserve life at all costs, not to take it needlessly.

.

Witch Hunts & Green Zones

Can you say Witch Hunt?

Mueller: FBI Probes Classified Data Leaks
By TIM WHITMIRE, Associated Press Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The FBI is conducting investigations similar to the one that resulted in last week's firing of a senior CIA analyst who acknowledged leaking classified information, director Robert Mueller said Monday.
Full Story

Hey, you could start at the White House.

Since this is all spurred on by the supposed 'leak' of CIA-agent Mary McCarthy, take a look at this article about her. Just to preempt any partisanship shots that should be coming from the LGF crowd. She protested a Clinton nonstrategy, too. Try again.
What do I mean 'supposed leak'? She leaked classified information, that's why she was fired! Well, according to one official at the CIA and Mary McCarthy, she didn't. It appears up for grabs at this point. One thing is certain, she did disagree with patently stupid neo-policy. Which makes her still fired.

---

• Australian PM Howard: No indication US intends to draw down troops by end of year.
  Would the clue be the biggest embassy ever built on foreign soil?

Let's take a look at the Green Zone:


One must keep in shape for dodging mortar rounds & IEDs.


Hey American food!


Delivered by third world slave labor!


I'm ready to sign up for dessert!


....except it comes with Guard Duty.



Here's a more Prophetic photograph taken at the Green Zone:




Remember the Alamo?

Yes, I know I know - we can't leave (thanks neojerks). But how's that Iraqi training going?

U.S. Military Warily Eyes Iraqi Forces
By ANTONIO CASTANEDA, Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. troops aren't just training Iraqi forces, they're also keeping an eye on them, watching for signs they could be moonlighting in the Shiite death squads that target Sunnis.
Bound and tortured bodies — both Sunni and Shiite — turn up every day in the capital, dumped in the streets. Sunni Arabs say their people are the victims of Shiite militiamen who have infiltrated government forces, especially paramilitary commando units of the Shiite-led Interior Ministry.
Full Story

Maybe not so good.

Now considering there are Arab and Muslim coalitions and countries all around Iraq who would be more welcomed by them in offering diplomatic solutions, why are we not reaching out to them to assist in defusing the quagmire? Or should we wait until the last American is evacuated off the rooftop of Baghdad, then say, 'Wow, we should've done that differently.'

Weird, Wacky, Unexplained Links Day

Apologies for the lateness: I couldn't connect today at all after a traffic accident interrupted service to our area. I also lost the first transfer of links I was posting and all the commentary at the time. Those of you who know me are unsurprised. The internets, frankly, hate me. They conspire to make my online existence virtual hell. Well, I've visited hell (and so did you in our Sundays links 2 weeks ago) - and frankly, I'm not impressed.

• The Flat Earth Society
  Giving us hope that the moon really IS made of green cheese.


• Searching For the Chosen Ones
  Featuring this disturbing tidbit:
  You have the future, I have the past,
  Together we create the world.
  I had no idea the past was kidnapped. Where do you think he keeps it?


• Stop Clown Porn Now
  And you thought two unwinnable wars were bad.


• The Toilet Museum
  Urging us to grab popcorn and a drink is a bit much.


• Money Origami
  It's refreshing to know our money will be good for something.


• 9:05 - The Adventure Game
  To start with, I typed: Answer Phone and hit enter. Hey, good start!
  Then I got bored.


• Super Robot Monkey
  Your guess is as good as mine.


• Extreme Elvis
  Fatherland Security got here first. No, they really did.


• Geek of the Day
  Tell me 'Cino' doesn't look stoned. And 2Hot4U should be filed under 'Geek Dream', because odds are she's entirely photoshopped.


• The Travel Brain™ guides you through Roadside America
  I think the Merman is being comletely maligned. Mermen are a minority, after all. Ever since Caligula first declared War on Poseidon, these guys have been getting a bad rap. It's not all Chupacrabra and Sasquatch, yunno.


• Adopt a Ghost
  Whatever you do, don't tell Angelina Jolie. She'll give it a strange name and a mohawk.


• I Hate Men.Com
  Because Amazon.com was already taken.


• Dead People Server
  I wouldn't say this was macabre.... yes I would.


• Sub Genius Recovery and Support Network
  Damn, the cults you don't know about, huh? But here they are, and X-Day is rapidly approaching: X-Day: The End is Coming
  July 5th. It figures, a day sooner and I wouldn't have to peel 10 lbs of potatoes for salad. It's just so unfair.

Great, now a violent thunderstorm complete with lightning just started. So I'll have to leave you with Bone Garden Estate - a virtual online haunted house, and real truth in advertising:

Who ever said labels were misleading?


The real reason we should buy American.

Until tomorrow...
Stay cool.

Unappealing Repeal

After reading of the resolution to repeal the 22nd Amendment, that godsend which limits the President and Vice President to two terms, I was thunderstruck. What kind of chuckleheads would consider proposing this? Yunno, outside of Tojo's inner circle? So I thought it was time to do some snooping. I put on my Encyclopedia Brown hat and consigned myself to the dank backrooms and shadowy alleys of net sleuthing. Yeah, I went to Google.
Turns out, it's been a pretty popular idea, although thus far with nonidiot presidents:

109th Congress - HJ Res 24 (2005)
108th Congress - HJ Res 25 (2003)
107th Congress - HJ Res 39 (2001)
106th Congress - HJ Res 24 (1999)
105th Congress - HJ Res 39 (1997)
104th Congress - HJ Res 71 (1995)
103rd Congress - HJ Res 107 (1993)
102nd Congress - HJ Res 61 (1991)
101st Congress - HJ Res 84 (1989)
100th Congress - HJ Res 156 (1987)
99th Congress - HJ Res 687 (1986)

So it's not looking too extraordinary, right? Except we're talking about Bush & Cheney, possibly the worst criminal mental midgets to ever to suck a taxpayer paycheck off the public dole. Whereupon this idea (still in committee, I might add) becomes downright scary in a wholly sinister way. It's like substituting a placebo for Adolph's last bennie or asking Fritz Haarman to dinner. Something Mensa-centric like that. Not only baffling, but akin to political suicide. Face it, they didn't win the first two times, and Congress better count on having a theses hammered on their door if they think we're going to hand a third one over. Just won't happen - even with a lot of Tiannamen Square people mowers. Ask the students at Stanford, who didn't even want Tates on their campus, and faced down a 2 ton firetruck to prevent it. Students: 1 Firetruck: 0.
Or all over California, where protestors lined the streets to 'serenade' his motorcade - with catcalls. They greeted him Mussolini-style in Portland, him being Mussolini and they being wannabe Colonello Valerios. Even in hardcore redstate Utah, the mayor chose to attend the anti-Bush rally while the Tater was visiting.

Hell even nerds are protesting Bush. When geeks venture out of their basements into actual sunlight and voluntarily disconnect the CPU drip, you're in world of trouble. Right about now the Ku Klux Klan is getting a warmer reception in heartland America than Senor Slinky.
So rate this idea up there with New Coke and The Segway.

Fair. Balanced. The Good News.
In my fruitless search for good legislation to balance out the bad news that somewhere someone with opposable thumbs believed this an idea on a par with issuing Helen Keller a drivers license, nowhere did I discover a bill in Congress to Repeal Tates. A legislation which would receive widespread support, an outpouring of gift cards from BestBuy© and an offer to father my child . This could be attested to by Senator Feingold, the cojones con pelo who is pushing presidential censure, who has seen his campaign contributions double in the 4 weeks since introducting that legislation...and who could probably father my child if he's not busy anytime in roughly the next 99 years.

Congress - Cowering Or Never Getting Real Executive Stuff Signed

Meanwhile the bodycount mounts: Australia suffered its first loss, Canada lost four soldiers, a British engineer was beheaded, and five more were added to the American tally of soldiers coming home in hushed up, unphotographed flag draped coffins. Because if we saw a photograph, we'd say, 'Whoa, it must be real.' Yeah, otherwise we'd believe they were erecting those stone markers as some form of macabre art. Asshats.

Army suicides rose to the highest rate since 1999, the majority taking place in the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.
And amidst all this death and destruction, the solution is to put the dissenters on trial. Like attempting to prosecute the peace-loving Granny Brigade into jail for 15 days.
We must stop terrorism at it's roots, people. Clearly, killing 2,385 soldiers is nothing compared to feisty senior citizens protesting to stop it. They pose a clear and criminal threat to being able to quietly kill 2.5 good soldiers daily.
This, then, is a national security issue of utmost importance. A Homerland Security issue, where the grants for good Nazis will get you clowns and gym equipment.

Eh, I don't even have reach here. It's like going to a tanning salon at the equator. Un-necessary.

It's the same deal with sending 'detainees' on CIA rendition flights so they can be tortured. Not a problem. Now daring to bring that illegal and immoral practice to light? You get fired and face pending prosecution. So if you think calling them Nazis is extreme, then here's a heads up - Harpers is already calling them the German Wehrmacht. Pota-toe, Pota-toh. You could dress it up and take two FDA-Certified PharmaProduced Vioxx....but that's just a quicker way to die believing in the overwhelming competency of private interests in your government. It won't change the facts and it certainly shouldn't make you feel any better.

It might help you forget Bush droning on about 'Free Speech' at Chairman Hu's visit - minutes before his SS (secret service for the Vioxx impaired) put their hand over the mouth of a doctor excersizing that very right. They hauled her off and charged her. Free speech, what a freakin concept in Bushworld. Then Tatertot goes and apologizes to Hu. Apologizes! Hey, dinkwad, apologize for this.(Warning: Graphic Photos) That's what happens in China when you're a dissenter.
Are you sure Vioxx is strong enough for you?

I can't leave you without hope, because there is hope. While there may be a few glimmers at the top like Feingold & Murtha, Kerry & Gore, there are even larger lights shining among the ordinary protestors and the principled whistleblowers, the gutsy Generals and the small organizations taking on the NSA and illegal spying, the Blackwater families taking on the private merchant armies, the soldiers coming back as Iraq veterans and running for office, the college students waking up and walking out, and the internet - where information is exchanged, shared, passed and disseminated so action can be undertaken.

And there are the cities and towns and states, the towns in Vermont and across this country that have already passed Impeachment proceedings. And the state of Illinois, who are about to rock the nation:

The Illinois General Assembly is about to rock the nation. Members of state legislatures are normally not considered as having the ability to decide issues with a massive impact to the nation as a whole. Representative Karen A. Yarbrough of Illinois' 7th District is about to shatter that perception forever. Representative Yarbrough stumbled on a little known and never utlitized rule of the US House of Representatives, Section 603 of Jefferson's Manual of the Rules of the United States House of Representatives, which allows federal impeachment proceedings to be initiated by joint resolution of a state legislature. From there, Illinois House Joint Resolution 125 (hereafter to be referred to as HJR0125) was born.

The Illionis State Legislature is about to drop a Bombshell

There is a moral to this story. And it's very simple:
Don't Take on Heartland America.
That's where the real sleeping giant lives.
And once you wake up the Sleeping Giant ... there's no going back.

See you at Nuremberg II.

.......
Yes, tomorrow is Weird, Wacky and Unexplained Links day.

Technorati Tags: Bush, CIA, Democrats, Humor, Politics, America, War, Protests, Censure, Impeach,Cheney, Government

China, Cheney, Superpower

Yes, we know Dick Cheney was sleeping during a crucial China meeting, but don't ever believe he's asleep at the wheel. Proof?

a Carlyle Group to be biggest ever foreign investor in China .
a Dick and the Carlyle Group
a Meet the Carlyle Group


Is China serious about being a superpower? Dead serious. And they'll employ any methods possible to gain it.

Chinese Military linked to Missile Smuggling
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
April 20, 2006
Court papers made public yesterday in the case of a California man who pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle anti-aircraft missiles into the United States show that a Chinese general and state-run manufacturer are linked to the crime.
more

The thing is, they don't really have to resort to strictly dirty tricks to succeed. They are doing it militarily, economically, and politically.

But still, we're superior to them militarily, right?
China has invested heavily in 'leapfrog' technology. They have an enormous nuclear arsenal of ICBMs(InterContinental Ballistic Missiles) with MIRVed warheads. MIRV, which stands for multiple independently targeted reentry vehicle, allows one warhead to carry multiple nuclear bombs with separate city destinations. Their Sunburn cruise missile is capable of 'ship killing' every one of our deployed aircraft carriers, battle groups, cruisers, and floating platforms. Once launched against them, our navy would have a scant 2.5 seconds to attempt a response. Suffice to say, it's not something that can be done.
They can hit us at land and at sea. Swift, silent, deadly. Done.

But still, we're superior to them economically, right?
China owns more of our national debt than anyone. Why would they want to buy debt? It's not profitable. But it is a powerful sway to hold over a nation's economy. If China decides to sell off their investment, our economy would collapse. While our trade deficit runs over year after year, China handily pockets surplus billions. China is invested in cheap goods, genetically modified foods, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, optoelectronics, and robotics just to name a few. Microsoft located a Research & Development facility in Beijing. Bad idea. China's modus operandi is to steal technology and then produce it cheaper and in larger quantities.
NEC & Intel better take note, though you know they won't.

But, we have the largest alliance with foreign powers, yes?
In April 2001, China's President (really Chairman - the President makes him seem all Western friendly) made a trip into our strategic Latin American backyard to cement alliances with Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba and Venezuela. He went to Mexico and pow-wowed with Vincente Fox. They've even reached out to Japan. By investing, buying goods and giving out hundred million dollar loans to these countries, they've built up goodwill relations for their 'New International Order'.

Yup, that's what they are peddling across the globe and they repeat it incessantly - a 'New International Order' - as opposed to what they view as the current American dominated one. All this is happening while we bomb third world countries and fearmonger. They are building blocks for global superiority and dominance one patient step at a time.
China is reknown for their patience. One need only to look to 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu for the strategic benefits of stealth and patience. And they are doing it very, very successfully.

A UK paper blared of the recent meeting, "US to meet the New Superpower".

Meanwhile, we've turned our spy agencies inward on our own people.
How brilliant is that?



.

Friday Fun

I'm off to dinner, but I thought I'd post this before I leave. Weekends just need a little lightheartedness.
You can click on the image for an enlarged and clearer view.

Nibbles n Bits

The Secretary of Statements issued this prophetic missive to the masses:

Condi: No VE day for Iraq
Even assuming Iraq forms a national government, there will be no sudden stop to violence such as the V-E Day that formally marked the end of World War II in Europe, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday.
Full Story

Yeah, and using that analogy, there was no Pearl Harbor either. Shh, don't tell Dick, he's still milking it for all it's worth.
China's President (really Dictator, thanks for the semantics though) Hu is here to meet with the guy who says he is President (and really wants to be Dictator) of the Free World, and my-oh-my there was a lot of speculatin going on:

• US/China Meet 'Historical'


• Awaiting China’s Hu, unavoidable topic is Oil

What an opportunity for American foreign policy to shine! So here's the summary of that historic meeting:

• Bush, Hu Break No New Ground
  
• Bush, Hu: no breakthroughs

Uh, yay for historic meetings!

Which would cement the fact that things such as good friend Japan's problems weren't discussed:

Japan: 107 alerts on Chinese spy planes
By HIROKO TABUCHI, Associated Press Writer Associated Press
April 20, 2006

TOKYO (AP) - Japan has scrambled fighter jets 107 times this year to intercept suspected Chinese spy planes, a top general said Thursday, amid growing concern in Tokyo over China's arms buildup.
The 107 alerts in the first three months of 2006 - the most in at least a decade - were a dramatic increase from the previous year, when fighters scrambled only 13 times against Chinese planes, said Gen. Hajime Massaki.
More

Good photo op, though.
I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he wanted to have serious talks, but as Senator Joe Biden says, "No one believes the President". He's talking specifically about foreign countries, but listen up, Joe, WE don’t believe him either.

However, let's look at a few things we should be concerned about with China:

China's alliance with Russia:
Russia, China join BRICS alliance

China allied with Russia, Russia's alliance with Iran:

Russia will deliver Air Defense system to Iran
MOSCOW, April 19 (RIA Novosti) - The chief of the General Staff said Wednesday that Russia would honor its commitments on supplying military equipment to Iran.

"We discussed supplies of military equipment to Iran, including the Tor M1, in the framework of bilateral cooperation, but it does not fall into the category of strategic weapons," Army General Yury Baluyevsky said after talks in Moscow with NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe General James Jones.

"And I can assure you it will be delivered under the control of the relevant organizations," he said.
More

Iran ticked at the US, Russia ticked at the United States:

MOSCOW, April 18 (RIA Novosti) - The Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. ambassador in Moscow Tuesday to hand him a note of protest against a seminar in Washington which it said called for new terrorist attacks in Russia.

"The organization of such events in the United States contradicts the country's international obligations in the sphere of counter-terrorism," the ministry said.

A seminar entitled, Sadullaev's Caucasian Front: Prospects for the Next Nalchik, took place in Washington on April 14 under the aegis of Jamestown Foundation, an American non-governmental organization. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the floor had been given to speakers who called for new terrorist acts in Russia.

"Such concessions on the part of Washington to Chechen militants and separatists also run counter to the spirit of partner-based bilateral anti-terrorist cooperation, and damage bilateral relations," the Russian ministry said.

In October 2005, at least 150 militants attacked administrative buildings in the city of Nalchik, the capital of the North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. Russian officials say that during two days of fighting, 35 law-enforcement officers and 12 civilians were killed. A total of 92 militants were killed and dozens captured.
Article

The JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION that is mentioned in the article.
Now check this out on their own webpage under Connections:
Right Web connections
• American Committee for Peace in Chechnya

• Center for Security Policy

• Project for a New American Century <--------

• Freedom House

• Dick Cheney <---------

• Nicholas Eberstadt

• Laurent Murawiec

• Keith Payne

• Nina Shea

• John Tkacik

• Arthur Waldron

• R. James Woolsey

PNAC, Dick Cheney – nuff said, no?

So while we are appealing to Russia about Iran, Cheney's little buddies are muckracking terror hits in Washington against them. Smmmooooth criminals.

Back to Iran, and we find:

Iran Testing New Nuclear Centrifuges
April 19, 2006

TEHRAN: A claim by Iran's president the country is conducting tests on a more sophisticated type of nuclear enrichment centrifuge could – if true – mean Iran has a quicker ability to make fuel for either electrical plants or bombs, analysts feared yesterday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Islamic republic was testing the P-2 centrifuge – a more sophisticated type that has quadruple the capacity of the P-1 centrifuge. A day earlier, he had trumpeted Iran's success in enriching a small amount of uranium using a less-sophisticated type of centrifuge.

The president's words were Iran's first acknowledgement it is working with the faster centrifuge – after the country told the UN nuclear watchdog it had given up all such work three years ago.

It is not clear if Iran had been doing work all along on the more-sophisticated model, or had recently restarted such work.

Either way, Mr Ahmadinejad's assertion is sure to raise concerns that Iran might have a more sophisticated program than thought.
more

Iran->Russia->China->USA

So, is it possible that Bush's strategy since taking office been actually to contain China?
Taking Aim at the Sleeping Dragon
Well, if there has been such a strategy, the smart money is that George W. Bush had absolutely nothing to do with it. However, he does tend to surround himself with smarter-type individuals. (I know, I know, the pool is endless).

But even the 'smart' ones get caught sometimes.

Here's a fun new political game. Let's connect the following dots:

• The Bush ‘shake up’, Rove takes smaller role.
  
• Rove is subject in Libby Filing
  
• Fitzgerald testifies re: Rove Indictment

Libby, going down down in an earlier round....and sugar he's going down singing.

Okay, I have much more to update but as I am typing this Nikita is literally drooling on my knee. She's wants outside big time.

As Ahnold would say, nahhhh... just kidding. See you in a little bit.

DoD Question of the Day: When filling out forms, we are asked to use a No. 2 pencil because it's most popular. Well, what happened to No. 1? And how is that less popular?

Isn't it bubonic ironic?

Ugh. It's official. I'm sick.
Which is awful, but at least it's not Bubonic Plague - which recently reared it's 'extinct' ass in LA. Now we dug up the 1918 Spanish Influenza victims in 2005 to 'resurrect' the virus:

Using lung tissue from long-dead victims, researchers hoping to prevent another flu pandemic said they have reconstructed one of history's deadliest pathogens - the 1918 Spanish flu virus.

The Spanish flu began as a virus in birds before jumping to humans and killing an estimated 20 million to 50 million people worldwide. Determining why it was so lethal and how it spread could help scientists blunt the threat posed by the avian flu in Asia and future variations. Full Story

Hold on, the Coincidence Fairy just knocked. Ostensibly this expedition was for research purposes lockstepped with Bird Flu fears. So digging up a virulent killer just seems like a - what am I searching for? Colossally stupid idea. Yeah that works. While the 1918 pandemic quickly hopped from birds to their victims, Bird Flu does not.

Fortunately so far, the H5N1 virus seems to only reluctantly infect people. Almost all cases of confirmed infection can be traced to close contact with birds, Stanford

Chances of aiding us? Well, 1 year later = Zero results. Chances of not being weaponized at Fort Detrick? I'd venture it's about the same chances as us discovering the source of that US military-milled weapons grade Anthrax that scared the living hell out of everyone 4 years ago.

Now I know I've missed a ton of news, so bear with the attempt at a recap tomorrow.

Unexplained Links

HAPPY
EASTER

Once again, it's time for that weekly feature of stress relief. Although considering that I have to fix an entire Easter dinner in about four hours, I'm not so sure it's going to work in my case.

Everyone decided dinner was at my house and forgot to consult me. Thanks guys. The 24 hour notice thing is sah-weet. But I digress (and whine). I'm actually totally cool with it.
I've stocked up on real wine.

Enough about me, it's time for Weird, Wacky, Fun and Unexplained Links:

• The Worst Sin: from 19th Century
  Now this could be a real pandemic.


• Play with Gee Dubya
  I made him look a lot better. I did.


• Rate My Kitten
  Picture the oversexed 15 year olds who googled here... only to realize it really is all about cats. I dunno why, but I rated them all 1. Just cause I could.


• Ghost Sites of the Web – Where dead sites live on
  No ghosts...just an internet graveyard of sorts. Bring pixel wreaths for the HTML coffins. Actually overall pretty interesting.


• Manson Family Picnic
  Author of Dahmer Family Picnic: MIA


• The TWINKIES Project
  These snack cakes may or may not be filing a class action suit for extreme duress. Also, I may sue this website for bad haiku.
  
• Famous People Punch steve
  Who Steve is I have no idea. But after seeing these pictures, it seems like a good idea to punch him. Or at least it’s semipopular.
  
• Wingmakers
  The Wingmakers are something something and all about ancient tech or something future and people who left ancient-future stuff. Oh, and one of them is now living among us translating documents. Yeah, who did he piss off on another planet?
  Dr Neruda Interview
  They completely lost me during the Neruda interview – by the time I got to Blank Slate Technology it was more like Blank Stare Nephrology. Because I was brain dead.


• Aliens abducted her panties
  Gail, seriously – look in the dryer.


• The Mars Times
  And their journalists suck as much as ours. So much for Advanced Civilization.


• What Should I put on the Fence?
  This guy in the UK chains things to his fence.
  And YOU can help him decide.
  It seems he disappeared in about 2002, it could be someone suggested he chain himself to the fence. Just sayin.


• American Atrocities
  U-S-A! U-S-A!
  
• REEMCO
  Shopping as an Art...with crayons. Featuring:
  CDC Ebola Outbreak ™ Action Playset
  Now I love the whole catalogue, but who could resist that Action Set? Right?


• Bun-O-Vision
  Fuzzy theatre in 30 seconds. I particularly liked Titanic.
  And Reservoir Dogs: The Unbleeped Version


• The Best Page in the Universe
  I hope he comes to MY state and eats all my food.


• Kelly Hu
  I don't know who she is, either, but David Arquette better stop leaving her phone messages he DOESN’T want posted on the internet..
  
• The Teen Girl Squad
  Because you can’t be popular AND smart.
  Hey, thanks for sending back the cultural revolution 76 years.

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Picture of the Week

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Holy Hell

.... this is seriously disturbing.

That's all for this week.

Have a great, great day.
And for inspiration, make sure you watch this: Battle For America. Watch it. There will be a test.

Food and wine and friends and family. Today is gonna be.....

Technorati Tags: , HUMOR, WEIRD, STRANGE,UNEXPLAINED,INTERESTING, COOL, FUNNY,ODD, FUN