If Only Regular Americans Could Refuse Reality By Simply Not Reading Their E-Mail, Like Bush!

The White House in December refused to accept the Environmental Protection Agency’s conclusion that greenhouse gases are pollutants that must be controlled, telling agency officials that an e-mail message containing the document would not be opened, senior E.P.A. officials said last week.

I find this to be one of the more hillarious avoidance techniques of the current administration! When was the last time any of us adults had the privilege of saying to our boss "nanner, nanner, nanner, if I don't open up your e-mail, I don't have to do the job, nanner, nanner, nanner?" Uh, like never! We would have been fired on the spot, not only for simply avoiding doing our job, but for acting like a 5 year old when we're 55 years old.

Steve Benen has his take on it.

Henehene Ko Aka

11 years ago today, Bruddah Iz passed away.




One of my most favorite Iz songs, which I am sure I have already put up one or more times on this blog!

Now, if you want to learn to play it on the ukelele, this video is helpful.



Here is the link for the words and the chords to the song.

FISA Bill Delayed Until After July 4th Holiday

Objections by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) will push back an overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) until after lawmakers return in July, Democratic leaders said Thursday. Feingold is strongly opposed to language that would likely give telephone companies that participated in warrantless surveillance retroactive immunity from lawsuits.

We can all breathe a little easier through this upcoming holiday weekend. Good work, Senator. H/T to Think Progress.

Gas Prices Still On The Rise (What OPEC Meeting?)

Gasoline price went up two more cents over this weekend. It had been stable for about a week at $4.67, but now it's at $4.69. I've been reading a lot about more people switching to mass transit. Hell, even my boss now rides Metrolink a couple of times a week!

Light, sweet crude for August delivery rose again to settle at just over 136 US dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. There is widespread disappointment over Saudi Arabia's modest production increase and concerns that output from Nigeria will decline.

What good is a president that holds hands, literally (while denying being gay), and yet, still can't extract a decent deal for them Amerikans?

And the beat goes on.

Someone, Please, Smack Some Sense Into Zimbabwe

Not a good time to be a Zimbabwe'an.

The soldiers and ruling party militiamen herded the people of Rusape to an open field at the back of the local sports club and made their point crystal clear.

"Your vote is your bullet," a soldier told the terrified crowd.

Everyone knew what he meant.

UPDATE: Rival Out Of Race

JOHANNESBURG — The leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition party withdrew Sunday from a presidential runoff, just five days before it was to be held, saying he could neither participate “in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process,” nor ask his voters to risk their lives in the face of threats from forces backing President Robert Mugabe.

Bugs That Eat And Poop Crude Oil!

“Ten years ago I could never have imagined I’d be doing this,” says Greg Pal, 33, a former software executive, as he squints into the late afternoon Californian sun. “I mean, this is essentially agriculture, right? But the people I talk to – especially the ones coming out of business school – this is the one hot area everyone wants to get into.”

He means bugs. To be more precise: the genetic alteration of bugs – very, very small ones – so that when they feed on agricultural waste such as woodchips or wheat straw, they do something extraordinary. They excrete crude oil.

As long as we are on the topic of amazing nature posts, this one is sure to make a lot of you PAYING HUGE BUCKS FOR GASOLINE sit up and pay attention. Of course, if you're an oil lobbyist or petrol company CEO, then move along, nothing to see here.

You CAN Change DNA Make-up

Comprehensive lifestyle changes including a better diet and more exercise can lead not only to a better physique, but also to swift and dramatic changes at the genetic level, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

In a small study, the researchers tracked 30 men with low-risk prostate cancer who decided against conventional medical treatment such as surgery and radiation or hormone therapy.

The men underwent three months of major lifestyle changes, including eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and soy products, moderate exercise such as walking for half an hour a day, and an hour of daily stress management methods such as meditation.

As expected, they lost weight, lowered their blood pressure and saw other health improvements. But the researchers found more profound changes when they compared prostate biopsies taken before and after the lifestyle changes.

After the three months, the men had changes in activity in about 500 genes -- including 48 that were turned on and 453 genes that were turned off.

That is pretty amazing, when you think about it. What them damn hippies have been saying all along, proven to have some credibility! Eat healthy, exercise and meditate (or for me, medicate .. lol) Of course, if you are of the intelligent design persuasion, move along, nothing to see here.

How Much About America Do We REALLY Know?

I took this test. It was fun. I got a 26. H/T to AMERICAblog.

Getting Political News Off Net Increases

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans dissatisfied with political sound bites are turning to the Internet for a more complete picture, a new study finds.

In a report Sunday, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said that nearly 30% of adults have used the Internet to read or watch unfiltered campaign material — footage of debates, position papers, announcements and transcripts of speeches.

"They want to see the full-blown campaign event. They want to read the speech from beginning to end," said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew group. "It's a push back from the sound-bite culture."

Google Inc.'s YouTube and other video sites have become more popular. Thirty-five percent of adults have watched a political video online during the primary season, compared with 13% during the entire 2004 presidential race.

It's about time, considering all the crap they try to pass off as news on traditional media.

Golly, Gee, We DID Use White Phosphorous In Fallujah! My Bad!

FALLUJAH, Jun 12 (IPS) - Babies born in Fallujah are showing illnesses and deformities on a scale never seen before, doctors and residents say.

The new cases, and the number of deaths among children, have risen after "special weaponry" was used in the two massive bombing campaigns in Fallujah in 2004.

After denying it at first, the Pentagon admitted in November 2005 that white phosphorous, a restricted incendiary weapon, was used a year earlier in Fallujah.

Just reconfirming what we in the real world knew, oh, about three years ago. Emphasis added by me.



Falluja pictures.

2,000 Year Old Seed Germinates

A 2,000-year-old seed recovered from the ancient Jewish fortress of Masada near the Dead Sea has become the oldest seed in the world to have germinated successfully, scientists said yesterday.

The seed, which grew into a date palm plant, was one of three recovered during archaeological excavations in the early 1960s, but it was only planted two years ago as part of an experiment to see if it could germinate and grow after such a long time.

Kind of makes you think twice about the realities of a "Jurassic Park."

R.I.P. George

Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker and tits.

If you have to ask, you've never seen the routine.

"With John F. Kennedy And The Beatles"

Sugarland (my new favorite band - I'm in lust with the guitar player!), Little Big Town and Jake Owen's version.


The chorus of the song is what rocks it.

Heamamama.

Father's Day

I hope all those that are parenting fathers had a happy day today.

Funny, my daughter, who has never had a relationship with her father, despite the fact that he technically had joint physical custody of her during most of her childhood, did not call her dad. Nor did she have her son call his father (who lives in Chicago).

Before they all died, I always remembered my uncle, who was never my dad, and my grandfather, and at least gave them a card and a phone call. I would have called my own father, if anyone in my family would have given me a phone number. Oh well.

Today Is Flag Day, In The U.S.A.

In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

Today is Flag Day, so in honor of that, I have my desktop theme a giant American flag, and I have this program that puts a little waiving flag at the bottom right hand side of your screen, on.

I Was Against Privatization Of Social Security Before I Was For It!

I find it hillarious that every day, McCain is caught with outright lying, or with denying that he said something he said!

McCain does not have the apparatus behind him that Bush had in 2000 and 2004 (Rove, Cheney, Rummy, Rice, et al.) that covered his ass when he lied or made shit up. In addition, the internet wasn't in play in 2000 or 2004 as much as it was in 2006. Now, it's just stupid to lie and say you never said something that has been YouTubed like a million times!

SCOTUS Rips Another One Against Bush Policies

Our political and media elite were more than willing -- they were eager -- to relinquish that right to the President in the name of keeping us Safe from Terrorists. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court, in what will be one of the most celebrated landmark rulings of this generation, re-instated that basic right, and in so doing, restored one of the most critical safeguards against the very tyranny this country was founded to prevent.

Glenn Greenwald's take. I can never say most political commentary as well as Greenwald. Read the whole article.

For the third time, the Supreme Court has not backed the Bush administration's claims with respect to how they handle supposed terrorists. Thank goodness the Constitution prevailed in this decision. Shame on you congressmen for even voting to eliminate habeas corpus in the name of security. This country could benefit from reinstating civics classes in school, and remind people what a true democracy is supposed to be like.

Congress Votes To Stick It To The Regular Guy, Again

They won't extend unemployment benefits, but they will bail out wall street, mortgage brokers, lenders, banks, etc. You get the drift.

WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday blocked an effort by Democrats to quickly pass an extension of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed.

Even though a large majority of the House, 279-144, voted for the measure, it fell three votes short of the two-thirds vote needed under special rules for passing the bill, which would have extended jobless benefits for those who exhaust the usual 26 weeks of state benefits.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said the bill will be brought back to the floor on Thursday under rules requiring only a simple majority for passage. If it does pass, the Senate would then consider it.

Congrats, Kuroda, On The Shutout

Hiroki Kuroda threw the first complete game and shutout of his major league career, beating the Chicago Cubs, 3-0.

This happened on Friday. For baseball fans, we know how difficult it is these days to actually be allowed, as a pitcher, to go the full nine innings. Back in the days of Koufax and Drysdale, it was a no brainer they would complete the game. Nowadays, we have openers, middle relief and closers with respect to pitching.

As a Dodger and baseball fan, congrats, although delayed, to Kuroda. (Please, I still remember where I was when both Valenzuela AND Dave Stewart threw no hitters on the same day! Hint, it's on the east coast and um, is aka The Big Apple!)

Golly, Gee, Carrie's Gonna BUY A CD!

I haven't bought a CD in years. I download my music (cough, cough). I purchased a Diana Krall CD about 8 or 9 years ago, and when I actually spent over two years trying to download the album "Jack Jones Sings Michel Legrand" and came up with only three of the songs, I actually bought it, although I couldn't find it in a store; I purchased it off E-Bay. I am still trying to find a place to purchase one of the two albums recorded by Hula Joe & The Hutjumpers.

I don't listen to radio. And now that artists and the RIAA are going after public radio to finally start paying them royalties for the songs played, that will spell the end of radio as we know it.

Obviously, radio had it's importance for a good many years, and it was what drove popular music and sales. That's why so many "payola" scandals arose from radio and the music industry.

I stopped listening to it when radio stations were changing format every couple of months! You'd finally get a groove on with a station, and next thing you know, it's an all Spanish station, or a right wing talk show. When KZLA, the only country station in Los Angeles on FM radio just disappeared, which followed the earlier withdrawal of Los Angeles' only jazz station, it was the last straw for me.

At first, I just started streaming radio stations over the internet, but not from Los Angeles. I found it funny I could listen real time to stations in Hawai'i or NYC. Then somewhere around early 2000/2001, that changed, when the stations had to go dark (not stream) during commercial breaks, which made listening tough. Also, the lack of proper broadband space to actually deliver proper streams back then made the stations start and stop a lot during the "buffering" phase.

Then all the internet communication sites began offering music, like AOL and Yahoo. I started streaming music from Yahoo about two years ago, and was impressed that there was no buffering. I could actually listen to music from the net without any interruption, for hours at a time. When I checked Yahoo Music's catalogue, I just had to throw up my hands and admit defeat! I actually pay $36 a year to have access to the Yahoo Music catalogue and stream. At work, it is on all the time, with mostly jazz. At home, I play it a lot depending on the mood I am in, funky 70's disco/jazz/fusion or 80's head banging!

I watched the country music awards last month because I wanted to see Garth Brooks live. I ended up becoming a fan of the group Sugarland, after viewing their performance. They did a song that I YouTubed, but could not find on the internet. Finally, browsing their website, I realized the song hadn't even been released yet! Sugarland will be the third CD I will have purchased in the past 8 or 9 years.

"The FDA has said it does not know where the contaminated tomatoes originated."

Speaking of the FDA, would you like some tomatoes in your salad?

MIAMI (Reuters) - Florida's tomato industry is in "complete collapse" and $40 million worth of tomatoes will rot unless federal regulators quickly trace the source of a salmonella outbreak and clear the state's produce, an industry official said on Tuesday.

"We probably have $40 million worth of product we can't sell. We've had to stop packing, stop picking," said Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange.

South Koreans Demonstrate Against American Beef Imports

A picture says a thousand words, sometimes.

And to think that these people don't want to eat our American beef! One has to wonder why (snark). With an FDA like ours, who would feel safe eating our beef?

Tisch Family Cut "Newport" Cigarette's Loose

I wasn't really going to comment on this sale, but I can't help but have a gut feeling that philanthropy was not the primary reason for this divesture. It has the ring of the "we don't want to be on the losing end of a lawsuit" tone to it.

Well, At Least The Rest Of The World Is Pissed At High Gasoline Prices

Over the July 4, 2005 holiday the price of regular gasoline across the street from me was $2.47. Three years later, it is nearly double that.

As many of my readers know, I have been keeping tabs on the price of gasoline ever since that weekend. I have constantly questioned where the cajones of the American people have been while the price has risen steadily during the Bush administration's reign.

I found them in Spain, of all places, as well as most of Europe and even in some parts of Asia!

MADRID (AFP) — Auto plants in Spain were paralysed and Portugal's main airport banned planes from refueling Wednesday as a third day of strikes by thousands of truckers caused heightened chaos and shortages.

Truckers in Thailand also threatened to strike next week while their counterparts in South Korea plan to stop work on Friday, as the outrage over soaring fuel prices intensified around the world.

Tens of thousands of truck drivers launched stoppages in France, Portugal and Spain on Monday to demand government help to cope with the rising price of fuel caused by rocketing oil prices, which last week reached almost 140 dollars a barrel.

The protests have paralysed roads, causing huge tailbacks, notably on the French-Spanish border and around major Spanish cities, and left supermarkets short of fresh produce and some petrol stations without supplies. Two strikers were run over by vehicles and killed at picket lines on Tuesday.

The Spanish auto plants of Seat, Nissan, Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mercedes Benz said they had cut or halted production as the strike left them short of parts.

In Belgium, the Volvo and Audi auto plants said they would be forced to close from Thursday due to the strike in Spain.

In Portugal, the strike hit air transport as fuel shortages forced authorities at Lisbon airport to ban planes from refuelling, except those on high priority flights.

"We cannot refuel any planes, except those on urgent, military or state flights," a spokesman for the airport authority, Rui Oliveira, told Lusa news agency.

The European Commission on Wednesday called on EU nations to take targeted action to help those most vulnerable deal with high oil prices.

The commission, the EU's executive body, said the measures should focus on the fishing, farm and transport sectors, as well as the chemical and auto industries.

In Spain, road haulage unions resumed negotiations with the government that were suspended on Tuesday after a truck driver was run over and killed by a van as he manned a picket line in the southern city of Granada.

Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba promised to guarantee deliveries of food, fuel, medicines and spare parts for auto plants, under police escort if necessary.

Portuguese police stepped up patrols after a striker manning a picket line north of Lisbon was run over and killed by a lorry on Tuesday.

Police escorted about 40 oil trucks to petrol stations around Lisbon and the western town of Setubal. Strikers had prevented the trucks from leaving a warehouse north of the capital.

Long queues formed at many petrol stations, some of which were out of supplies.

The Portuguese truckers vowed to step up their blockades Wednesday, particularly in the north of the country, where they plan to seal off the port of Leixos as well as supermarket warehouses.

Several supermarket chains have already expressed concern over the shortage of fresh products, especially milk.

In Spain too, the blocked roads meant wholesale food markets in large cities suffered shortages of fresh fish, milk, fruits and vegetables.

Truckers also maintained a blockade of a motorway across the French-Spanish border by the western town of Biriatou. On the French side, traffic jams were reported up to the western port of Bordeaux.

But Spanish police early Wednesday reopened the main motorway linking Barcelona with France at the northeastern border town of Jonquera. On the French side, truckers who had blocked the road since Monday also left.

Elsewhere in Europe, around 50,000 Polish truckers staged one-hour protests across the country Wednesday, although without blocking roads, the organisers said.

The British government is also finalising contingency plans to cope with a four-day strike by oil tanker drivers this weekend.

And Dutch truckers announced plans to block roads at 18 points across the country for 30 minutes on Thursday.

Across the world, Thai truck drivers threatened Wednesday to go on strike next week and block roads to the capital with 400,000 lorries unless the government helps them pay for soaring fuel costs.

Truckers in South Korea have voted to go on strike on Friday.

In Malaysia, the opposition has planned a series of rallies culminating in a July 12 demonstration which they hope will attract 100,000 people following the government's fuel price hike of 41 percent last week.

Obviously, we're not going to see mass coverage of this here in Bush Amerika.

King Kamehameha Day

Most of you who read my blog know of my love for the islands of Hawai'i. Today is King Kamehameha Day, celebrated in Hawai'i. Wikipedia has a good rundown on the history of King Kamehameha, which is worth a read.

Happy ho'olaule'a!

Flatiron Building Sold

I love this building in NYC, and I have this poster of a picture taken by Edward Steichen that I bought at the Met and have it hanging in my apartment.

Today, the building was sold to Italian investors.

President Cooties

Sheesh! Talk about having the cooties!

German gratitude for the role the US has played in much of its 20th century history - the Marshall Plan, the Berlin airlift, protection against the Soviet Union - still endures, but it has been greatly overshadowed by seven Bush years, the Iraq invasion, Guantnamo and Abu Ghraib.

It has often been said that Germans became more anti-American during this period than at any time, but the more thoughtful ones have always been quick to point out that it was rather "antibushismus".

Go on. Say it. Who needs Germany? LOL!

Can't wait till this Bush term finally ends.

60 Cent Increase In 18 Days For Regular Gas

UPDATE V 6/10/08: Another ten cent increase in just four days. At this rate, the price of gas could increase $1.00 in under a month. Think about that for a little while, and then think about how the Republican senators blocked the Democratic plan to tax the windfall profits of the largest oil companies.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a proposal that would have taxed windfall profits of the largest oil companies and allowed the government to take OPEC members to court, handing Democrats fresh ammunition in an election year in which voters are struggling with surging gasoline prices.

The Democratic energy package would have imposed a 25% tax on any "unreasonable" profits of the five largest U.S. oil companies, which together made $36 billion during the first three months of the year. It also would have given the federal government more power to address oil market speculation that the bill's supporters argue has added to the crude oil price surge.

Republicans, however, have said the bill would do nothing to ease soaring gasoline prices in the United States.

The Democrats failed, 51-43, to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster — a procedural tactic to delay debate on a bill — and bring the energy package up for consideration.

The defeat affords Democrats another opportunity, going into the November congressional and presidential elections, to try to cast Republicans as siding with the oil companies at a time of record gasoline prices.

Remember when a "majority" in the senate meant 51 votes? The Republicans have made such a mess of things within this country, financially, that the resounding defeat you hear in the not too distant future will probably cause most Republicans to suffer PTSD.

UPDATE IV 6/6/08: Five days later, and the price increased another 10 cents. So, now, the price is $4.57 for regular gas. The price of gas increased by 50 cents in two weeks. I am completely just blown away. What really gets me, is that the people on the top that are profiting from this gauging of the world with regard to the price of gas, are not young people, but old farts, like me. Like, what do these people think they are going to do with all this money, take it with them when they die? At my age, one can barely keep up ONE home, let alone seven or eight! What is with all this ostentatious wealth build up by such a small percentage of mankind?

If Bush thinks he has a great legacy ahead of him from an historical point of view, the unbelievable increase in the price of oil during his 8 year reign will be the bone tied around his neck for all of posterity.

UPDATE III 6/1/08: Unfuckingbelievable. In one day, the price of gas jumped 12 cents. TWELVE CENTS!!!!!!! An increase of 40 cents in 9 days, which is about 4.4 cents PER DAY IN A LITTLE OVER A WEEK. What is the matter with these people?

UPDATE II 5/31/08: They just upped the price to $4.35! That means in 8 days they price of gas increased 28 cents which is 3.5 cents a day in the past 8 days. Amazing that no one is revolting against this absurdity.



UPDATE 5/30/08: As you can see, since yesterday, the price went up another two cents!

On Friday, May 23, 2008, this gas station raised the price from $4.07 to $4.15. Today, a mere six days later (5/29/08), it upped the price another ten cents, to $4.25.

(shaking head)

Lego's Are Not Always For Kids

277 pieces later ... boy, I need a new back! It took us over two hours (my grandson [5, almost 6] and I) to put this thing together. We also bought a children's Monopoly game, which actually was fun to play ... so much so he cried when he left and I ended up putting it in the bag to go home with his mom (grins). At least he won't touch my old school Monopoly game anymore(which is still missing two green houses, damn it).

40 Years Ago Today, RIP RFK

I was 16 years old, and I was watching this live on our black and white television at home. Occurring just two months after Dr. King was assasinated, this tragedy occurred. This is a unique video that I have only seen parts of on the media.







His "it's on to Chicago" comment is what always stayed in my mind over the years. I can hear it in my head the same way he said it 40 years later.

Will She Or Won't She? Only Her Hairdresser Knows For Sure

News reports indicate she'll concede this Saturday. We shall see.

Obama Finally Declared The Democratic Candidate For President

I am truly amazed that in my lifetime, I am seeing a black man as the candidate for President of the United States. I sure hope I see this man take it all, as well as have the progressives in all parties take over congress. It is time to reverse the damage that the Bush administration has inflicted on our country, and heal, heal, heal.

A true high five to Barack Obama.

Stanley Cup - We'll Have To Wait Another Day

The oldest sports trophy.

In tonights game, which went three overtimes, the refs mostly kept the whistles in their pockets, which gave us fans a glimpse of games of the past -- fast and furious. (Although, the two goalie interference calls against Detroit were bogus, given the overall context of the overtime calls, i.e. NONE -- it was unfortunate re the four minute against Detroit in the third overtime). Pittsburgh needed to win to make it to another game and Detroit needed to win to hoist the cup. Detroit clearly dominated every period except the first, where it went down by two goals. Detroit came within 36 seconds of winning it in the third period, when Pittsburgh, with an empty net and an extra player, tied it up.

Detroit dominated the overtimes, but amazingly, Pittsburgh's goalie just kept blocking away.


My call was Zetterberg getting the winning goal for Detroit -- Unfortunately, the four minute penalty was it for Detroit. Game six in Pittsburgh ...

Saying Goodbye To Bo Diddley

RIP Bo.