Breathe

Our Farewell

2008-05-19T19:40:00.008-05:00

As we are moving on to a new place...

we will have to learn some new skills...

we will have to try to work as a team...

but we are pretty sure that you know us by now....

Thanks for the friendship.

2008-04-28T18:05:00.003-05:00

Oh, that food crisis...

This blissful state of unawares came to mind today, when I asked a co-worker if she heard anything recently about the food crisis, and if she had noticed any increase in her groceries, especially rice and oil, as I was chopping up not-native-to-North-Dakota-kiwis.

"...what crisis?"

"...um...the food crisis...you know, the hungry people that are rioting in the streets, Haiti for a major example, Egypt too... how export crops are being restricted in places like India and Vietnam ...the food inflation..."

"oh, goodness, I haven't heard of that..."

"You mean you haven't heard about the mainstream IMF, World Bank , and UN reports on the current food markets, called the food crisis ?"

"No, I haven't heard anything about food costs, but you know, I bought frozen raspberries the other day and I thought they were a little expensive, but I needed them anyway."

Wow.

Arabian Knights

2008-04-22T20:15:00.012-05:00

"Saudi women 'kept in childhood' " article. Good read.

It is a tricky situation. We need Human Rights Watch groups to keep reminding us about them so we won't forget, unfortunately, I can see how the U.S./western powers may use that in the future to occupy that part of the middle east...like "liberating Afghani women from the Taliban" and "liberating Iraqis! Free them, and let them fly away!" In our current foreign policy of "WMD"...War Makes Democracy...we are treating them like pawns of our democratic monopoly.
Anyways, that is just speculation.

I still strongly believe that the change must come from within, and right now, the majority of the Saudis seem content with their separation, because of their lavish lifestyle and free benefits if you are a citizen. I know my relatives are split, some believe in the oppression, or are indifferent to it (grandmother, an aunt and two female cousins at the least) and some are against it.. (the rest of the family, including my father and my late grandfather... my father did say we moved here because I would get an equal education and be seen as achieving the same status as male, that is why he taught me to hunt and pushed me
into high professions, (a.k.a. professions that make $$$ and notoriety...opposite of my chosen profession), and he also did not believe in segregation of the sexes, even in the mosque, he did not create a dividing wall as some/most mosques do)

...but when you are provided for, why try to kill the gift horse?

I don't believe the US or any "western" power should invade, or force beliefs and "liberate the women, because it will be seen as imperialism, look how our other occupations worked out... and an insult to the religion itself ("Christian", secular nations invading the "heart of Islam" is reminiscent of the Crusades, that is what likely comes to mind for the Muslim , ....and yes, I am forcefully ignoringanti-relativist, such as anti-relativist Maryam Namazie who says by denying some practices while authorizing others, it won't be seen as a form of imperialism that will create a backlash...I'm sorry, but this case shouldn't compare to banning child pornography, where she says "it is as ridiculous... , it is like saying if we ban child pornography there is going to be more of it out there." Since her quote pertains to the issue of this post, I will have to say that it is an ignorant example that innocently skips through any analyzation. It deserves a critique. Child pornographers/abusers harbor a type of mental disillusion, almost a desperate sickness, that is not tied to a learned cultural belief system, it is tied to individual experiences,
and is not taught to them. Otherwise, if it was a learned cultural belief like a religious cultural belief, everyone (a majority) would be able to be persuaded into child pornography, and would be indifferent to the issue...but there is something inherent that
makes the basic human being against it, and human beings, for the most part, are inclined to protect the innocent instead of violating it. So that excuse has hollow evidence.

Anyways, I think that the oil has to either dry up, or the rest of the world has to STOP buying oil from that country, but it has to be a collective agreement with other Islamic nations in the decision process, not just he U.N./United States puppet, So it won't be seen as a "western" persuasion against the Islamic culture. Once the gift horse is drying out, the entire people will be uncomfortable enough to start a revolution in their own hands. I know it sounds slow, but that is what I believe will be the best way, and a way to UNITE Muslims for a cause within themselves,
not dividing Muslims into siding with "western/secular" powers or "fanatical/religious zealots"

For the time being, it is important for human rights campaigns to stabilize the current situation by helping to establish and push for SAFE houses that are really SAFE, and continuing to increase the transparency of abuses. I think actual SAFE communities would be necessary,
like a compound for women, and these need to be established from the inside, with transparency and government cooperation with the outside. Compounds are like mini nations in Saudi, mostly for families of the richer class, like my family where they work for the King's Hospital, and women and young girls are able to walk around freely in them, I only needed a hijab and not an abayyah...I didn't mind the compound, but once we were on the streets of Dammam, that is where we were oppressed and the it was like walking on eggshells.

I know people want a swift, "let's now go save the women!" move, but I think that would create a stronger divide, and add more ignorance of what is really needed, and what the people want, not what the west wants for the people.

These views might sound harsh at a time where anything hinting of cultural relativism is being gagged by staunch anti-relativists, but I'm looking at the long term health of the culture and the people themselves, instead of just instantly homogenizing it into a secular nation like all others. After all, are we not our beliefs? Do you create your beliefs, or do your beliefs really create you? What is beyond our animalistic physical being, what is beyond eating, sleeping, and fucking? Beliefs are beyond this. Values are beyond the animalistic nature, but in the end are reduced to just products of beliefs. I could see how the US could hijack this article/issue for future moves. I also can sadly see how the US population will be appeased with the move if it means better oil prices and
"liberating," cuz after all, "peace is our profession?" We like to chew on the excuse of "liberation" and then poop it out into "democratizing" the country. I love how women's rights in Islam weren't noticed until after 9/11, until after we saw how "unfree" those Afghanis were. Before 9/11, the Middle East was in the realm of "Arabian Nights," a place where it was so different, so far away, it didn't matter. Now, We are so free, we want others to be free too! ha, funny it is
coming from a republic. o, perhaps this country to rust out with all this irony.

Everything

2008-04-09T17:43:00.005-05:00

"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another [theory] which states that this has already happened." --Douglas Adams

No-fly zones, misappropriated condemnation from the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile "Success" is Iraq, Iraq, Iraq.
Damn that crazy Olympic torch.

Found Art: Rural, Pastoral News

2008-03-31T17:48:00.007-05:00

The following was taken from my small town newspaper. Obviously, whole names have been left out to protect decency:

We had a nice weekend. Friday we had stations of the cross with about 6 attending. We had tomato dumpling soup and fresh bread afterwards and good visiting. Tina and Ralph were host and hostess.

Saturday Tina came to do her laundry and studying for her religion class. It's quieter here. James is a TV nut and her cats bother her when she's in the house. She has two cats, one big orange and white and one really big that is a mixture and I mean really big. She did my kitchen floor for using the washer and dryer.

Sunday after church and Tina's religion class we went to Vern and Chris's for roast beef dinner and haircuts. We also had Chris's birthday cupcakes. James and I got haircuts. Chris got a little too scissor happy. My hair isn't much longer than Ralph's Crew-cut. She cut the damaged ends off. So it will grow healthy now before my next perm. Its going to take some getting used to.

Vern is so busy calving, he goes to sleep sitting up. He goes out at 4 am to check them an several times a day and night. He and out other son-in-law Doug are really busy. Each have had twins. They went looking for a new simmental bull. Doug got one and his friend Clayton got one. So we didn't see much of Vern until coffee time...

Playing the Flaming Piano

2008-03-20T17:27:00.003-05:00

Fire, Fire, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.

Amid mounting opposition to the war and its costs,
A fast staccatissimo
cry of victory and fight them over there slurs was muffled in part by the
War Resisters League and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates of $600bn spent on Iraq, Iraq, and Iraq. Near Kirkuk, US troops shot dead three Iraqi police. Iraqi parents worry about the next mistake, tragic accident, and incident as their children, brutalized by war, are sincerely regretted.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Bear Stearns, sincerely regretted, incident, mistake, and tragic accident sends pouts of dollar woes as the Fed invades on ideological grounds,
removing the "risk" for JP Morgan with 30bn in troop reinforcements. Light sweet crude began being traded at $111.80.

Fire, Fire, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.

Selfish Symbiosis - let them eat cake

2008-03-11T15:40:00.016-05:00

Supply and Demand...one farmer profits, another farmer loses...As the world approaches 9 billion people...and we push great "economic growth".... praise countries when they approach middle-class status
Are we really seeing the whole picture? Or, are we in fact, not caring about the whole picture?

We still want wheat for our cheap meat and dollar menu, but ignore the people of the world who need to feed themselves as well, meat cannot afford to become a necessity.

It is a

Good thing that

we got our

Priorities

Right...

"crime against humanity" to convert food crops to fuel

But Dark Humor is always a relief.....it shows some Truth behind the chuckles..

Pop Sensations

2008-03-05T19:32:00.009-06:00

I have been struck by Pop sensations.
Amnesty International, Save the Children, Cafod, Care International, and Christian Aid criticize Israel's smooth criminals of collective punishment. Meanwhile, 8,000 people are still in slavery after being captured during the great Sudan north-south breakdown.
We are all locked in the basement of the private sector,
And American family radio just can't seem to get enough bibles to China.

I have been struck by Pop sensations,
Sensation play and the great Sado-"machoist" McCain, with "determination to defeat an enemy and a heart big enough to love those who hurt," invites me for more than erotic tickling as Lou Pearlman caresses my inner thigh with his silk money laundry singing nipple clamp false statements in the back, Conrad Black leather seat of his 2004 Rolls Royce Phantom.

I have been struck by Pop sensations.

Fear Mongering and Divine Evil

2008-02-24T18:04:00.006-06:00

God needs a spanking.

They do whatever they can to urge others to join them in their faith, but they are well aware that many will not fall into line, and they think that, if that happens, the perpetrator will be right to start the eternal torture. They endorse the divine evil. --Philip Kitcher

Women of Manila

2008-02-19T17:02:00.007-06:00

Although a quarter of the million is the “consensual” figure of historians, estimates of Filipino deaths from the war have ranged as high as one million, which would have meant depopulation of the islands by around one-sixth."Kipling, the 'White Man's Burden,' and U.S. Imperialism". Monthly Review 55: 1.
The Women of Manila protest a history of military intervention.
A history of the Spanish American War, the Philippine-American War;
Sold into American colonization slavery for $20 million.
Just ask the Treaty of Paris.
The Great General MacArthur, "liberator of the Philippines"
took part in an extensive "campaign"
to suppress the local population. One million of them.
His campaign also attempted to kill
everyone over the age of 10 years old.
He received the Medal of Honor for his work

The Women of Manila are still fighting MacArthur.
They want the US troops out now.
The U.S. closed down its bases in the country in 1992,
after the Philippine Senate voted not to renew a military accord
between Manila and Washington.
Yet as part of the "war on terror,"
thousands of American troops have been in the Philippines training
and advising on how to fight "communists" and "terrorists."

The women of Manila are not happy.

You know what they say about the girl that wears black panties...

2008-02-11T18:28:00.000-06:00

Is there a Happy Medium for.....Valentine's Day?
......Modesty?
......Liberation?
......Sexuality?

In a land where roses are on the black market, people pretend to be brother and sister in order to go on a date, and abayas are slipped over the lacy lingerie...

They may say there there is more to the veil...

but in the end, is it not just tromp l'oeil?

"Sexual love is a troubled and problematic relationship in cultures where there is a strong sense of man's separation from nature, especially when the realm of nature is felt to be inferior or contaminated with evil" - Alan Watts

A Conversation: Ron Paul comes to Fargo

2008-02-04T19:55:00.000-06:00

Me: I was invited to experience "democracy" in Action.

Jerry Lundegaard: Oh jeez.

Me: I know, in preparation for Super Tuesday, ya know.

Jerry Lundegaard: What the heck are ya talking about? What do you fellas have yourself mixed up in?

Me: The NDSU Campus republicans, God please draft them all, are hosting Ron Paul at 1:00 pm. Afterwards, with some irony, they are planning a "support or troops" event on Saturday the 23rd.

Jerry Lundegaard: Ya?

Me: Ya.

Jerry Lundegaard: Ya.

Me:Ya.

Jerry Lundegaard: Is he stayin' for supper then?

The $720 million dollar day

2008-01-31T18:36:00.000-06:00

It's a Quaker organization and I'm not so sure
about the 10 friend thing, but the common sense
is universal.

It seems like the same people arguing for Iraq are
the same people arguing against a "welfare state" of
School lunches.

Dance of the Ferret King

2008-01-29T21:09:00.001-06:00

Sound clip

The seven-headed Ferret King
and his mouse minions are no more.
Stuck together with blood, dirt, and excrement,
he focused almost his entire campaign
on Florida's orange juice,
But Fresh squeezed only 15%.

Audio file from This American life

Now who is the snake?

2008-01-11T17:49:00.000-06:00

Introducing the vagina's version of the "make my day law"

RapeX

Sorry Oprah, your advice of urinating on the attackers and fighting back doesn't cut it in the real world anymore, time to make the Vagina Dentata real.

RapeX is described as, "a new product that was developed to empower women to defend themselves against rapists"

Basically, a woman puts it in just in case a man will attempt to rape her. If he does, teeth sink in, it pulls out, and he as to rush to the hospital to get it removed, where he will be persecuted.

Yes, Rape is a very serious crime, but is this really the right way to deal with it...because this is actually NOT dealing with the intent/psychological motive of rape

I believe that this raises some psychological issues...

Victim blaming still occurs in many parts of the world, and in many cultures. But what is more personal is the strong instance of rape victims blaming themselves over the act, by harboring shame......as rape victims usually blame themselves (wrongly, of course), that little voice will say..."O, if only I would have worn the RapeX...if only I had bought that pepper spray." Just a FYI, Fargo suppliers were sold out of pepper spray one week after the Dru Sjodin issue...

This furthers the fear of every man being a potential rapist (like how the P2 movie furthered "every" women's fear of working late at night/dark places/parking garages/no cell phone service/waking up naked in sexy white cleavage dress to find the creepy janitor staring at you...this list can go on and on and on....)

So...here are some of the FAQ's from the site:

Q. When should I wear it?

A.

Should you have to travel long distances alone, on a train, working late, going out on a date with someone you don’t know too well, going to clubs, or in any situation that you might not feel comfortable or even just not sure.

Actually, 4 out of 5 rapes are "acquaintance rape." Women usually know the offender, or have a relationship with them. And only about 16% of the acquaintance rape victims actually report the crime....which means that there is a lot more going on than we even know about.

Q. From what age can this device be worn?

A. Menstruating age, thus 11-12 years of age.

But, more than 50% of the female victims were raped while a minor, and the majority of them were victimized by relatives...

And just to make sure you have good dreams before going to bed...

Q. What if I'm asleep and someone enters my house and tries to rape me?

A. Golden rule... keep the device right next to you. Remember it is very easy to insert, and very quick too.

Ironically, RAPEX is also the acronem for the "EU rapid alert system for all dangerous consumer products"

Just a related issue, here is a movie that is about the Vagina Dentata myth.

*Note: This post is not meant to trivialize or ignore the instances of male rape. However, due to the object of the criticism, it focuses on female rape.

Happiness and the warm gun

2008-01-09T16:34:00.000-06:00

My hands are busy working overtime.
We'll be back by February.
In the mean time, we'll be commenting,
not posting.
But don't worry, you Bobby Mcferrin you,
be happy.

that New Year's Break

2007-12-28T18:21:00.000-06:00

As we have been traveling for a couple of days and heading out again...here is something to get you in the party mood...ready for the great '08

Yummm....a bowlful of watered-down history

2007-12-18T13:10:00.000-06:00

Line right up, Americans...time for your daily SoyLent Green

Did Rudy Giuliani witness something that the rest of the world missed?

Or

Did the rest of the world acknowledge something that Rudy Giuliani is missing?

Oh Rudy, I understand that 30-second time limit for your TV ad:

- gotta use "Islamic terrorists" Because they are Islamic and "terrorists".....there's our 9/11 link

- throw in some "dictator" and "tyrant" along with the "terrorist"...because they are all the same to Americans, right? At least the good 'ol red+white+blue Americans that will vote for you

- no time to go into any of that silly Iran-Contra affair...that would require at least a couple of minutes....better time spent in the Rudy Introductory video, where it spends those minutes talking about how America is the "last best hope of man on earth"

Rudy must not be getting the same soup I have, for mine is overflowing with Nicaraguan blood.

Spare Me My Life

2007-12-10T06:51:00.000-06:00

Stoic acceptance of the accommodations
made when traveling
to the bandanna republic wearing "Wild West,"
where women know their place in the shopping malls,
where men are in business or in prison or in the business of prison.
People talk slowly, presidents emulate cowboys,
and everybody has a gun because shootings are common
and shootings are common because everybody has a gun.
Spare Me My Life.

Post of Zen

2007-12-08T20:24:00.000-06:00

(Silence and some white space,
you'll thank me later)

moderate-to-high confidence

2007-12-03T22:57:00.000-06:00

We, as Americans, don't often do this,
But it appears we may have missed an opportunity for another "just" war... OR Maybe not.

With "moderate to high confidence,"

We believe Iran is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005.

(Picture is one of Banksy's latest creations)

Atrial fibrillation

2007-11-26T20:03:00.000-06:00

Over the "break," I was feeling danceable in flannel, touring all-night diners with my pregnant Styrofoam cup. Yes, I've been opening doors for it. It tastes like rice cakes, cardboard, and red meat conservatives. Mr. Dick has had four heart attacks and a quadruple bypass.

Sorry for the absence. My muse was in a secret detaining center, experiencing a kind of electroshock therapy. Doctors at the Washington University Hospital also gave Chaney an electric shock

"No one quite knows the reason.
It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were to tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too..." Irregular.

Nietzsche in the Bathtub

2007-11-16T18:04:00.001-06:00

So...denying the issue of salvation leads to to such "scary" thoughts of science and...gasp...humanism!

I can't decide what choice would be scarier when "staring mortality in the eyes"....

a) snuggling up with the Bible in bed

b) thinking it is time for Nietzsche in the bathtub

A Belated

2007-11-12T16:19:00.000-06:00

I feel like a 1969 Jimi strumming a different kind of banner, alienated by another gunpowder filled Veterans Day as more than a dozen members of an antiwar veterans group were arrested while dusting off their civil rights. We're deafened in headaches of red, white, and blue vigils of nationalistic pride honoring the behavior of Benito Mussolini and Stalin's mustache.

The Elementary school had a "Wall of Peace." Once again, Jennifer Love Hewitt told us Veterans help keep the freedom of speech, travel, and purchase--the new american'ts Trinity.

A gods-blessed belated Veteran's Day wearing Stalin's mustache,
and an American flag do-rag.

Case Closed.

2007-11-09T19:24:00.000-06:00

Yup, no need to question creationism with that lovely cartoon. That looks like evolution in a nutshell...

And all that fuss about us privileged children of God sharing our created DNA with those lowly life forms like apes and flies?

.............Well, that's because the immaterial God ran out of material substances. Case closed.

Fargo's Finest on the BBC

2007-11-04T20:42:00.001-06:00

"So that was Mrs. Lundegaard on the floor in there. And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper. And those three people in Brainerd. And for what? For a little bit of money. There's more to life than a little money, you know. Don't you know that? And here ya are, and it's a beautiful day. Well, I just don't understand it."

Our own Fargo's Finest graces the BBC:
"Oh my. Where? Yeah? Aw geez. Okay, there in a jif. Real good, then."
World news looks at our flannel wearing all-night diner town,
"Lazy" or "creative" policework looks back as Ozzy Osbourne bites the head off of Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney. Our local Puritanical gardens can taste the second coming.

" So ya went and married Norm Son-of-a-Gunderson!"
Perhaps somewhere in a ditch lies the money,
waiting to be burned by an unwilling farmer
or placed as payment for that new pick-em-up truck
with a fresh yellow painted snow plow.

"Keep it still back there, lady, or else we're gonna have to, ya know, to shoot ya."

Quotes obviously from Fargo's other Claim to Fame.

The Extreme measures against the Extremists

2007-11-03T16:13:00.000-05:00

Oh, when your powers are dimming...that's when it seems like a great time for martial law.

President General Musharraf of Pakistan declared a "state of emergency" due to "extremism."

This martial law included the usual parade of troops and officers in the street...but also included

blacking out all independent television news reports and suspending the

constitution.

Good thing he did that,

because I'm sure the "extremists" won't be able to bother Pakistan anymore, with all that independent television and the constitution gone.

The Great Flying Fist Scuffle

2007-10-29T20:48:00.000-05:00

In a suspected, specially-sanctioned, Tehranian flying fist scuffle of undeclared nuclear material proportions taking place in a backstreet of Abu Dhabi, as so many great flying fist scuffles do; Mohammed ElBaradei, keen on the weapons of Mass distraction, will have none of it.

However, the fists are still flying in Jaisani, Iraq. 25 dead suspected "criminals" (including women and children), but the US forces do not keep complete records on civilians killed.

In essence, the C-130 is a converted cargo plane with numerous Gatling and mini-guns, a modern version of the "Puff the Magic Dragon" gunship used to win the hearts an minds of the suspected "crim-animals" (including women and children) of Vietnam. The precision is limited. Ask Iraq, Iraq, Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan.

The Domino Theory

2007-10-23T21:47:00.000-05:00

If we allow gays to marry, people will want to marry their parakeet and goldfish and the Viet communists will take over Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and the hearts and minds of the Iraqistani people will not flutter with those freedom-loving bombs. The greatest threat to the nation is Islamofascism, affordable and non-profit anything, along with Mexican'ts who crossed the boarder that first crossed them.

I heart the Republican debate, the finest Reaganites of The World is Flat.

Honorary Colonel

2007-10-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Great God of the Ants, thou hast granted victory to thy servants. I appoint thee honorary Colonel. Third division, forward, all reserves forward--no prisoners!
--Karel Capek

We are but ants.

The Emperors of Ice Cream Strike Back

2007-10-15T21:36:00.000-05:00

The Emperors of Ice Cream strike back in the debate over the derivatives of Donald Trump,
All seeking to Acquire.
Alan Greenspan cauterizes Ayn Rand,
the Alchemy of those smiling purple fingers displaced by the violence of net worth, annual income, adjustable rate mortgages, and bombs over Baghdad.

Its not a time to be complacent.
Freedom lovers unite, you've got nothing to loose but
the few dying ambulances able to extort you from the target audience.

Smartypants whus not heres.

2007-10-10T20:53:00.001-05:00

It's an Iraqi salad filled with peppered blackwater cheese, you know the kind that emulates the wild west...or rather Mogadishu, when wars in Africa and a hushed whisper of ongoing imperialism wipe out aid gains.

It's great and cloudy when the lame cowboy takes time out of his day to be "deeply disappointed" over the recognition of Armenian Genocide. Remember the Alamo, healthcare for children? It's all located in the Regional Operational hub for the US Military.

Smartypants whus not heres. Never wus. Never will bee.

Asphyxiation

2007-10-04T22:12:00.000-05:00

In an illuminated projection of divine nausea,
after swallowing a handful of Dramamine,
she weakly opened the overhead door
exhibitioning her exhaust fumes,

"If I have to die,

I'm taking God with me."

Are we Winning the War on Terror? You Bet!

2007-09-28T20:57:00.000-05:00

We may be having a hell of a time with them in Iraq, but those "terrorists" in Saudi Arabia have no chance......Not when we have an elite team of

Alias (aka Jennifer Gardener...who doesn't seem to be following the dress code...),
Ray (Jaime Foxx)

...And miscellaneous other people that don't even get to grace the promo poster

A big hearty dose of patriotism, anyone?

"No Volveran"

2007-09-24T23:17:00.000-05:00

Hands off Venezuela,

F-M Premiere of "No Volveran!" A new film on the Venezuelan Revolution

What: A public meeting of the F-M Hands Off Venezuela Campaign

When: Tuesday, October 2 at 6:30 pm

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Fargo-Moorhead (community room)
121 9th Street South Fargo, ND 58103

For more information, go to Left in East Dakota or Hands Off Venezuela homepage.

The Dream and Lie of War

2007-09-19T20:51:00.000-05:00

"cries of children cries of women cries of birds cries of flowers cries of wood and stone cries of bricks cries of furniture of beds of chairs of curtains of casseroles of cats and papers cries of smells that claw themselves of smoke that gnaws the neck of cries that boil in cauldron and the rain of birds that floods the sea that eats into the bone and breaks the teeth biting the cotton that the sun wipes on its plate that bourse and bank hide in the footprint left imbedded in the rock."
---Piccasso, The Dream and Lies of Franco

Picasso, We too are pissed off.

Fargo Turned Me On.

2007-09-14T13:08:00.000-05:00

The evil that once held Fargo captive with its Eroticism is dead, or close to it.

First, Rock 102 thought we could be fooled with a modest hula skirt. They thought that would turn away the puritanical pitchforks.
Now they know better. They covered the wedgie and completely gave up on design.

I wonder what says "Fargo"?
Something in Flannel perhaps?

"Have you Forgotten"

2007-09-11T20:25:00.000-05:00

September 11th,
1906.

Satyagraha, the pursuit of truth.
Most of us quit looking quite a while ago.

Islamophobia

2007-09-07T18:45:00.000-05:00

I find the controversy surrounding the newly opened New York Arabic language school interesting, mainly because I'm finding it very hard to believe why this should be a controversy.

Khalil Gibran International Academy will teach Arabic language and Arabic culture. And since it is a public school (also funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), you do not have to have any Arab ethnicity or be a follower of Islam to attend, it is open for anyone.

There are basic core requirements for the standard subjects (as with any public school) and Arabic language and culture is also taught.

I believe this is a great opportunity for Arab-Americans to reconnect with their culture. However, some believe that it is a "breeding ground" for radical extremist thought.

There are two important factors that the opponents should consider before labeling it as a "breeding ground"......

1. It is named after "Khalil Gibran," who was a Lebanese Christian poet.

2. The current principal is Jewish

But some groups are still paranoid....

Stop the Madrassa Coalition has such important questions as:

What will be the reaction to someone eating a pork or ham sandwich if they are in proximity of one of KGIA’s students?

Gosh, gee, I don't know. Hmmm... I'm guessing they will be jumped on or beheaded. Seriously, I can't believe that can be a real question to ponder over.

Will Halal food be served in the cafeteria?

If it is, why is that a problem? In my highschool, we had fish on Lent days. Cafeterias should accommodate dietary restrictions.

The Thomas More Law Center (endorsed by Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, Rick Santorum, Pat Buchanan, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, enough said!) has more important questions on mind.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Council of the Law Center imagines the following conversation that will [supposedly] take place during lunch time...

"I wonder what they will be talking about? Will it be about Al Queda or Hamas, the Palestinian issue, Muslim versus Jew, Muslim versus Christian, anti-American diatribe, who knows?

Yes, Richard, I'm sure all the 6th grade students would have those heavy issues on their minds, I'm sure they wouldn't talk about popular culture issues at all (because Arab-Americans are all just sly, undercover terrorists, right?) .....Actually, it would be great if more students engaged in some healthy diatribe, maybe the sedated youth population on the "War on Terror" would wake up. I also would like to point out how wonderful, vague "Palestinian issue" that was used.

Alert the protesters! I just found a picture of Robin Williams wearing shirt with the "terrorist language" in front of Old Glory. But he was raised a Christian....Doesn't matter! We all know he is a secret "breeding ground" for fundamentalism, right? Hey, wait a second, it says "I love New York!" (must be a secret message....)

I'm a Roller Girl

2007-09-05T21:31:00.000-05:00

For some reason,
and no reason in particular, I feel like Anna Karina.

"Are you surprised that people can dance and sing in a world on its head?"-Dylan Thomas

Behind a Spiral Staircase

2007-08-31T11:53:00.000-05:00

"Many a man may look respectable, and yet be able to hide at will behind a spiral staircase." --P.G. Wodehouse.

August is the cruelest month. Did you see Putin's pecks? Dew is on the inside of the windows and work is picking up again. China is getting rid of their virgin chickens.

After the pentagon looses track of 190,000 weapons given to Iraqi security forces, "Iran must stop supporting militants fighting in Iraq." Blame "the others" mr. bush. Iraq fails to meet Key targets, US admits Iranian arrests were a mistake, there is a deadly Cholera outbreak in Iraq, yet Sudan manages to help Iraq's Palestinians.

August is the cruelest month. New York billonare, Leona Helmsley, left $12millon to her pet dog named trouble? Dew is on the inside of the windows and work is picking up again. The Vatican has a new chartered airline.

"Many a man may look respectable, and yet be able to hide at will behind a spiral staircase." --P.G. Wodehouse.

They're History, Their History

2007-08-27T11:23:00.000-05:00

Gonzales

"The war against terrorism is a new kind of war. It is not the traditional clash between nations adhering to the laws of war that formed the backdrop for [the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War]...in my judgment, this new paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners..."

Rove

“If there's a leak out of my administration,
I want to know who it is.”

"Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers."

"Just get me a fucking faith-based thing. Got it?"
--to David Kuo, Office on Faith-Based Initiatives

Wolfowitz

"I think one has to say it's not just simply a matter of capturing people and holding them accountable, but removing the sanctuaries, removing the support systems, ending states who sponsor terrorism. And that's why it has to be a broad and sustained campaign. It's not going to stop if a few criminals are taken care of."

--Dept of Defense News Briefing (September 13, 2001)

"There's a lot of money to pay for this. It doesn't have to be U.S. taxpayer money. We are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon."

--Congressional Testimony (March 27, 2003)

"Fuck You"
--to Al Franken at the White House correspondents dinner
(after he asked "Hi. Dr. Wolfowitz. Hey, the Clinton military did a great job in Iraq, didn't it?")

Rumsfeld

"But no terrorist state poses a greater or more immediate threat to the security of our people and the stability of the world than the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq."

--Hearing Before the House Armed Services Committee (September 10, 2002).

"You and a few other critics are the only people I've heard use the phrase immediate threat. I didn't, the president didn't. And it's become kind of folklore that that's what's happened."

--CBS Face the Nation, March 14, 2004

"We know where they [Iraq's WMD] are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south, and north somewhat....I would also add, we saw from the air that there were dozens of trucks that went into that facility after the existence of it became public in the press and they moved things out. They dispersed them and took them away. So there may be nothing left. I don't know that. But it's way too soon to know. The exploitation is just starting."

--ABC News this week, (March 30. 2003)

Oh, where have all the secularist gone...

2007-08-24T11:12:00.000-05:00

What recent high school graduate wouldn't want to attend this unaccredited institution, the Honor Academy, where one of the rules is "no dating"?

Don't worry, since you are a child of God, your child is then taken care of here. No need to worry about him getting influenced with secular ideas by...working at the local gas station... or waitressing at one of the city's food chains at night to help defray those costs, the Honor Academy states...

"No, interns are not allowed to have an outside job while at the Honor Academy. Life as an intern will stretch you in all areas of your life. In order to ensure that you have the time and energy needed to devote to the internship program, interns are not permitted to seek outside employment."

As the father of one of the intern states, "they can leave home, go off to college and get a lot of knowledge, or...they can get God's plan for their lives."

And God is pricey.... these programs can cost anywhere to $500/month to $1500/month, for yearly programs. But God is generous, all contributions are tax-deductible.

God also is not a socialist, he's a true American. You must pay for your own health insurance. No free office visits like those available on unholy "secular" campuses.

And what kind of worldview would these students be exposed of?
....only the best, of course....the book How Now Shall We Live? by Chuck Colson, the former Nixon aide that pled guilty to Watergate......Wonderful.

*Honor Academy is the group behind the campaign against popular culture that CNN reported about. This blog will Self-Destruct and Angry Dakota Democrat have more information.

YouTube to be soiled

2007-08-23T11:44:00.000-05:00

There is more important issues (like the intergalactic battle against evil fought by the US military and evangelicals everywhere),
But I am truly upset over Google's announcement to pimp out YouTube even more that it already has.

Coming soon, fifteen seconds after a video is started, a banner will appear that takes up 20% of the screen. Ten seconds later it will disappear, leaving my experience of watching a Chiwawa bite someone's crotch, an Adam Ant music video, or a bird defecating on bush forever tainted.

The first advertisers will include: "Warner Music, News Corporation, 20th Century Fox and New Line Cinema."

Just so you get a last uninterrupted taste of goodness. I have enclosed the following:

Fargo, KSA. The Great Tankini Debate.

2007-08-21T11:35:00.000-05:00

There is an inherent, filthy, evil gripping Fargo, an evil so vile that it does not just play 80's hair bands (Also known in ND as "today's best music"), but it also "turns you on" while driving around the streets of our humble, values-based, puritanical garden that is Fargonia.

Obviously, like someone planning to put a silly homeless shelter in the Fargo area, it has caused an uproar. The finest printed dilutions in North Dakota, The Dakota Beacon, naturally jumped right on it. After much deliberation, they concluded that "fighting" the "liberal 'rock' media" very much outweighed the implication of fighting for a progressive idea, like that of standing up for the subjugation of women. They even allied themselves with the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, which, if your dillutional enough to read the Dakota Beacon, you'd think is obviously a socialist-statist group.

However, Rock 102 was not going to take this conservative fanatic/social welfare hybrid sitting down,

Having an issue with our LEGAL billboard does not give you the right to attack our business. Or the business of our clients. Disrupting commerce takes down the economic infrastructure of our community. Is that what you want?

They even tried to arouse the Republican party-line,

Where your fight is, is with what can be regulated by the government. And no one wants more government interference. If you start with the billboards, then you'll have a long fight, because what you see on our billboard can be seen in many other VERY PUBLIC places. Just standing in line at a grocery store puts you in view of many magazines with "tips" on how to "make your man happy in bed". You don't have to open the magazine to see that. And there is usually some girl in a bikini next to it. Tell me that our billboard is worse than that?

So the Great Tankini Debate continues. Especially after this recent "sensorship":

(Yes, a hula skirt)
Also, aren't tankini's what middle aged women wear to the pool?

US and Israel,

2007-08-17T15:22:00.001-05:00

Approximately six months after Israel was formally accused of having "broke the US arms Deal terms" (and those of international law) in using cluster bombs on civilians in Lebanon, Nicholas Burns, the US Undersecretary of State, signed another deal that will give Israel 30billion in military aid over the next 10 years (A 25% increase).

"The aid agreement with the US is an important and significant component for Israel, and proves once again the depth of the relationship between the two countries and the United States' commitment to Israel's security, and to preserving its qualitative advantage over other countries in the Middle East." --Ehud Olmert

No one should still be asking, "why do they hate us?"

However, to be fair, our tax dollars also bought bombs for Saudi Arabia ($20bn), Egypt ($13bn), and Qatar, Barain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates all have to share $13bn worth of military "aid."

The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. (Exodus 15:3)

2007-08-14T20:55:00.000-05:00

It's not an advertisement for the Marines or even the Christian Coalition (well not formally).
It is a good way to get today's youth militantly excited about Christianity, which is probably the best way to escalate this "war effort in any way possible."

Wayward Christian Soldiers, right back to the middle ages.

Mr. Rove,The Damage has Been Done

2007-08-13T14:26:00.001-05:00

"Who Will be
Left To
Celebrate
A 'Victory'...

...Made of Blood
and Fire"

--THICH NHAT HANH

Persuing the Profit from the Non-Profit

2007-08-10T17:15:00.000-05:00

A Fortune 500 company is suing the American Red Cross.

Johnson & Johnson, which ranks as the 36th most profitable corporation in the United States (above Metlife, Pfizer, Dow Chemical and Microsoft to name a few...) is suing the American Red Cross for use of the emblem on inventory that is not specifically related to disaster relief.

This Red Cross inventory that is sold to the general public includes such items as first aid kits, sanitizers, and medical gloves.

According to the Red Cross, they had used the emblem six years before Johnson & Johnson put a trademark on the emblem.

Apparently, Johnson & Johnson and the American Red Cross have had good relations in the past, as the American Red Cross has sold commercial first aid kits for over a hundred years.

On the corporation's side, Johnson & Johnson allege that Clara Barton signed an agreement on how the Red Cross emblem was to be used. And this use has been violated.

So, what does Johnson & Johnson want from this suit?

..............do they just want the American Red Cross to cease using the symbol on their commercial products? That might be okay.

..........................oh no. Of course not. The corporation would not get any money from that, now would they?

They are demanding:

Stop the Red Cross and its licensing partners from using the Red Cross emblem permanently on first aid, preparedness and related products sold to the public;
Surrender to J&J for destruction the Red Cross' inventory of accused products;
Hand over to J&J all Red Cross proceeds from the sale of these products with interest
Pay punitive damages to J&J along with attorney fees related to its legal action against the Red Cross

According to the Red Cross, in 2006 they made only $2 million in revenue from the products in dispute.

***An average of 91 cents for every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.

Johnson & Johnson may be able to pocket this $2 + million, putting it into their bank account along with their personal $11 billion in profits ($53.3 billion in revenues) they made last year.

O wonderful America. Freedom has its fees. Where a wealthy corporation may sue and collect money from a non-profit.

Sex Sells

2007-08-08T15:24:00.000-05:00

However, I'm not quite sure what demographic they are going for.

Picture Taken in South Fargo.

A good, clean Christian threesome with Jesus. Sign me up!

2007-08-04T16:29:00.000-05:00

We offer great prices on our Christian sex toys and fantastic customer service, while keeping Jesus Christ at the center of it all.

As the topic of religion and sex is always fascinating, one expects the usual “religion is for procreation” talk and that sexual toys are bordering on sin. Though not quite as socially damning as murder, it still is implied that Jesus doesn’t care to watch that Jack Rabbit Vibrator in action.

Therefore, It’s a good thing you have the sexual website of My Beloved Garden to turn to in this crazy, liberal sex-fetish world.

So what do you do if you get a natural urge to engage in some kinky sex with your Christian spouse? Oh, and don’t worry, you won’t be getting this urge from anything that the sinful population engages in, such as Victoria Secret ads or that Wal-Mart lingerie aisle. This urge will most likely come from watching your wife ponder deeply over a Solomon passage or from watching your husband’s lips pucker as he leads the Lord’s Prayer.

But if you do decide to purchase a sex toy…excuse me, “Marital Aid,” then you need to know the dangers of the packaging. That’s one of the great advantages of ordering with My Beloved Garden; you have the peace of mind that you won’t have to sift through those packaging pictures of slim, silicone-injected, airbrushed, white females that grace the covers. And, of course, your husband won’t want to see any of that nonsense either…

So My Beloved Garden has their own disclaimer for their packaging…

… “All our packages are delivered in plain brown boxes with no pictures or writing on them…however the product itself in its original package may have offensive pictures on it. We recommend opening your shipped box together with your spouse…and then dispose safely of the packaging."

Note: to diminish the chance possible lesbian or adulterous thoughts, open it "together with your spouse."

Fantasy/Role play

So, after all those years of sex with the same person, same time, same bed, and same absence of clothes, you want to spice up your sex life a bit. Well, on the topic of fantasy/role play…

"Since God cares about our thoughts, not just our actions, there must be a line in this that we should not cross, but where is that line? A safe way to approach this is to say it's wrong to fantasize or act out anything it would be wrong to actually do. This means you must always play yourselves, not a real movie star or someone you know. It also means you must be married in the fantasy.

If you want to pretend it's several hundred years ago and you are a ship captain and a damsel saved from pirates, go for it (you got married at the nearest port). Or maybe you are husband and wife on a spaceship, exploring the bounds of the universe and the bounds of weightless sex."

I’m sorry, I should have warned about the explicit material you just read.

Fun with Freud

After years of using those two, titillating role-playing techniques that were outlined for you, Freud would be proud if you and your spouse tried Adult Nursing.

"Those who have this kind of relationship say it is a real blessing to them, and their marriage…working very diligently to 're-lactate' so the woman has milk for the husband…we can not find any evidence that there are health reasons to avoid adult nursing, nor can we find a Biblical principle that would preclude it."

I believe that imagination should be left to deal with that topic.

Also, while browsing their lingerie page, notice the airbrushed nipples? Oh, just enough to make a true Saudi zealot proud.

Recent Mild Surrealism

2007-07-31T12:49:00.000-05:00

Things Have been crazy lately. Three things in particular have been on my mind.

I. Russia, leaving their flag on the oil rich seabed of the North Pole, is claiming the Arctic and is ready to fight the US for it. They are apparently eagerly awaiting global warming.

II. America is the only western country that hasn't joined the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw). Even Saudi Arabia has, but Iran also hasn't.

III. Blogs for Bush...they exist. And they harbor great minds that write things like this:

The U.S. should officially re-classify Islam from a religion to a terrorist ideology. As a terrorist ideology, Islam should be declared illegal. All U.S. mosques and Islamic madrassas should be closed down and then razed. Any Imams/muftis/Muslims who refuse to stop preaching the terrorist ideology of Islam should be deported and/or imprisoned.

But some are slightly less fanatical:

I don't think we can keep blaming the liberals for everything including this since we control the senate, house, and presidency. I think we have to start looking within all our hearts and blame ourselves for getting away fom jesus.

My Favorite Talabangelical

2007-07-25T12:27:00.001-05:00

"There's a slow poison out there that's severely damaging our children and threatening to tear apart our culture. The ironic part is, it's a "health food," one of our most popular."

And according to Jim Rutz, one of my favorite "talabangicals" and head of Megashift Ministries, that poison is soy-based tofu.

"Soy is feminizing, and commonly leads to a decrease in the size of the penis, sexual confusion and homosexuality. That's why most of the medical (not socio-spiritual) blame for today's rise in homosexuality must fall upon the rise in soy formula and other soy products. (Most babies are bottle-fed during some part of their infancy, and one-fourth of them are getting soy milk!)

Homosexuals often argue that their homosexuality is inborn because "I can't remember a time when I wasn't homosexual." No, homosexuality is always deviant. But now many of them can truthfully say that they can't remember a time when excess estrogen wasn't influencing them."

Now Jim Rutz is no medical expert of any kind. He is a Minister. Eight years in a medical school couldn't give him 5 minutes worth of expertise when it comes to God. And he has five minutes worth of expertise. Just listen to a few quotes from his ministry Megashift:

“Miracles are happening like popcorn starting to pop. That is amazing enough, but they are also attracting numbers of people globally that no movement in history has seen before.”

“You cannot build towers of truth on the quicksand pools of skepticism.”

Jim Rutz, my newfound hero, also writes for the conservative National Enquirer, WorldNetDaily (which also prints the column by Chuck Norris). So Rutz isn't just any crazy after your credit card, He also has illusions of grandeur, especially when it comes to the "war on terror"(AKA the "Great War" according to Rutz).

"Hidden behind the semantic fog bank of the liberal media, the Great War between good and evil roars on, now louder than ever, week by week.

In turn, that Great War between life and death is, when you peek behind the scenes, a global stage play wherein 6.4 billion puppets with free wills are acting out the improv drama of the greatest conflict of all, the Great War between God and Satan.
And in that war, my money is on God."

When it comes to a special sort of fear mongering mixed with intergalactic spiritual battles for our souls, my money is on Rutz...every single time.

"P.S.: Soy sauce is fine. Unlike soy milk, it's perfectly safe because it's fermented, which changes its molecular structure. Miso, natto and tempeh are also OK, but avoid tofu."

Left = Reality in Nigeria

2007-07-23T20:40:00.000-05:00

It is interesting how an answer can change the political spectrum according to who is answering the question...

When asked why the oil-rich country of Nigeria has over half of it's citizens in abject poverty,

Otive Igbuzor, the Nigerian-citizen, poverty expert of the international charity, Action Aid stated:

"The causes, not necessarily in order, were,

one, colonialism,

two, exploitative capitalism and,

three, the failure of Nigerian politicians
......who were often the local collaborators of multinational corporations."

--When the interviewer stated that answer was a left-wing theory,

Otive Igbuzor said, "it was not about labels, left or right. It was about the reality of life for most poor Nigerians."

Obviously, the American, majority, rich-European led powers in IMF and the WB are too fat, arrogant, and greedy to comprehend this.

No More Torture (Including Sexual and Religous)

2007-07-20T20:55:00.000-05:00

No more
"cruel,
inhuman
or degrading
treatment"
of detainees.

(This includes sexual acts and attacks on religious beliefs.)
George Bush 7/20/07

Leaving aside the issues of how hypocritical it is to denounce something that he says isn't going on and how disturbing it is that "sexual acts" has to be separately highlighted (as if someone was going to ask "But Mr. President, you surely wouldn't also ban sexual acts against detainees would you?"); this is disturbing.

And we should be scared...because "Military lawyers say the main point of the orders is to offer protection to CIA officers who might get sued in US courts if they were deemed to have abused prisoners," because Critics say guidelines are still too vague, and because Bans didn't work in the past.

And also
General Micheal V. Hayden said:

"The President’s action—along with the Military Commissions Act of 2006—gives us the legal clarity we have sought. It gives our officers the assurance that they may conduct their essential work in keeping with the laws of the United States."

Because it's so much harder to preform essential terrorism, both internationally and domestically, when your CIA officers' own illegal, Christian, xenophobic, homo erotic sexual deviance gets in the way of a good torture session.

Ma sha Allah! A Sale on Salah (prayer)!

2007-07-18T13:29:00.000-05:00

In this busy, capitalistic world, who has time to stop and pray?

Well, now you can!

While you are shopping as an adult with your mandatory all-female troupe of friends, just jump into the nearest prayer room.

Since this is your obligatory religious duty, mind you that you pause from purchasing items that can lead to the exploitation of countries and resources, at the same time contributing to the profits of large corporations that would rather pocket the money than giving zakat (alms) to the needy in that nation...o...how religious of you.

NOW BACK TO THE EXPLOITATION!

Satan made $223 million at the box office!

2007-07-16T19:48:00.000-05:00

Don't be swayed by the "liberal" media and other rating-houses such as the 77% on Rottentomatoes.com , Dr. Baehr says this movie should be avoided.

As he states, Harry Potter is a

"Very strong occult, pro-witchcraft worldview where the hero and his friends conquer evil villains through evil means, i.e., witchcraft..."

And don't let your child hear such nonsense as when Harry Potter's godfather tells him,

“You are not a bad person. Every person has light and darkness in them. You have a choice.”

Free will?...What a ridiculous statement, as Dr. Baehr affirms, "Imagine saying this to Michael Cho after he has had his killing spree. Or, Adolf Hitler."

Watching this movie, your child will have such harmful effects as,

"Instead of dreaming about the joys that God gives us through Jesus Christ, they will be dreaming of casting spells, using magic spells, riding brooms, and rebelling against their parents."

But, as the Dr. says, perhaps the worst part about this film is the theme of,

"immoral pagan, politically correct, anti-conservative elements."

What about other Movies?
Don't worry, Dr. Baehr is not just focusing on a childrens' films as anti-conservative, the film Sicko is in the Abhorrent category as well.

Abhorrent being,

"Intentional blasphemy, evil, gross immorality, falsehood, evil worldviews, and/or destructive, horrendous worldview problems."

Don't be fooled, America! This film is not about America's healthcare system, it is apparently really about...promoting fascism!

"Mr. Moore’s movies are like the movies made by Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and Communist China to prop up those despotic regimes and promote their evil fascist policies."

MovieGuide.org Philosophy
As Dr. Baehr states,
“He who controls the media controls the culture.”

So it is good thing George W. Bush supports this film review group, stating this in a letter about their annual Movieguide Awards,

"I applaud this year's honorees and all those who promote high standards and values in the entertainment industry. May God bless you and may God continue to bless America."

Let Christian, politically incorrect, conservative elements ring Mr. President. A job well done indeed (Sarcasm).

No Sicko For Fargo? (and most Marcus "Theatres")

2007-07-14T17:50:00.000-05:00

I've been waiting to see Sicko, I'll be waiting a while longer.

Although Michael Moore is about as intellectually stimulating as the latest Grisham, and even though the movie is about what most educated Americans (who care) already know, I have been waiting to see what all the commotion is about.

But I'll be waiting a while longer.

Marcus Theatres--which in Fargo owns all but the independent, downtown theatre that mostly concentrates on independent and foreign films--has not played it.

And out of 500 screens in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and North Dakota; Marcus is playing Sicko in one theatre in Madison Wisconsin.

However, to Marcus's credibility, Knocked Up is being played in 50+ theaters.

(Korova at Mask of Anarchy has some more information.)

Update:
Sicko for Fargo
After much anticipation, Marcus theaters is to show Sicko in 29 theatres on the weekend of the 20-22 of July. According to Marcus, they originally scaled back the film due to the "demographics" of Fargo and due to a release cutback from LionsGate.
I won't have to wait much longer.

ALSO:
Since my readership is all liberal "commie scum," constitution-loving humanists, or the vagrantly unemployed (they are just so damn accepting); I know I've written some posts leaning toward the left. However, I didn't think this was one of them.

Apparently Rob at SayAnything did.
He blitzkrieged here and even here at CBS 12.

Free Hidanovic Website Launched!!

2007-07-11T15:33:00.000-05:00

Even with a juror coming forth and
swearing in an affidavit that she helped convince other jurors

to convict him based on race,

Even with a new witness coming forth saying he wasn't the one

participating in the fight,

No New Trial

Mevludin Hidanovic and family have been through a lot.

And if his conviction is not overturned, deportation is eminent.

The Website proclaiming the injustice in the State of North Dakota vs Melvudin Hidanovic cause is launched.
Check it out.

"Decades" of Violence

2007-07-09T22:24:00.000-05:00

"Northern Ireland, I think, taught you that very well. My counterparts in your [British] forces really understand this kind of operation... It took a long time, decades."--Gen. Petraeus

Morbidly Funny, one wouldn't expect General Petraeus to compare Iraq to Northern Ireland. I now understand American Imperialism so clearly.

And yet,
I am quite sure
the Strategy
to "handle"
Northern Ireland
didn't Include
a "Surge"
in Violence.

"Give Me Your Milk Money"--God

2007-07-07T16:33:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe,
but God's omnipotent and omnipresent feelings of steel were hurt when it was formally not allowed in school...and hence because of this, not gun-control, we have to endure the wrath of school shootings.

Also,
We can't beat our children.
Teachers can't beat our children.
OUR daughters have the right to choose and have choices
Sons get access to condoms.
The President, and elected officials, can have a private life.
There is free speech on the internet, TV, and Radio.

But, If you want to step back into the Dark Ages, join the American "Family" Association (you know the group that "saved" America by getting the TV show Ellen canceled).

Tattered and Frayed

2007-07-04T11:17:00.000-05:00

Careful
with that!

It's not like it used to be when we at least pretended to follow the Constitution.

Meanwhile, let the NASCAR reruns, hot dog eating contests, and Chinese made explosives commence, for senile America, though confused about present and past events, made it through another year.

Foundlings, Livestock, And Mules

2007-07-03T22:53:00.000-05:00

"Moses was a foundling; Jesus Christ was born in a stable; and Mahomet was a mule driver."--Thomas Paine

Don't let the God Bless America Crowd fool you, these obscure and humble beginnings are either a testament to how "lost" are the credit card peddling, miracle wielding tele-evangelists and born again Presidents alike or, merely, an indication of historical misuse of legacies in which of the origins very little is known about.

Inciting Violence

2007-07-02T13:30:00.000-05:00

I know some people really get off on this End-of-Days, East vs. West, fight-the-"brown"-people stuff.
I know it's apparent on both "sides."
But, kind of like telling the Sunnis not to attend parliament, it isn't going to help.

We already have a hyped "BAA’s answer to Jack Bauer" and "real danger of backlash against Muslims."

Sadly, the network news and the public seem to be treating it like a bad TV show (see Jack Bauer). As real news, real violence, and real car bombs are happening in Iraq, We are glued to Glasgow, and we can't wait to see what happens next.

But Fear not...
Bush appatently let out Scooter Libby to help fight terrorists.

Sweating the Holy Spirit

2007-06-29T11:54:00.000-05:00

THAT is really great!! an absolute alternative to keep our holy temple in shape, with god's blessing!!

If your like me, you feel uncomfortable going to the gym where they listen to "secular music," where homo-eroticism is rampant (and I hear they want to marry), and men an women sometimes intermingle whilst displaying fleshy slabs of shoulder, forearm, and even thigh.

Paul Eugene at Gospel Aerobics understands this...and he also understands the importance of catering towards a niche market that will purchase material regardless of price or quality.

Fit 4 A Purpose
Why are you trying to get fit or stay fit? Ask yourself that question seriously? Is it so that you can get a mate? Fit in? Being a Christian I can only think of one good reason, that is to be healthy enough to carry out the purpose of God on this earth.
"For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God purposed in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

Yes! Say I'm a naughty little schoolboy...say it!

2007-06-26T13:19:00.000-05:00

A while ago...Enemy of the Republic from Cruel Virgin was kind enough to provide me a link to a hilarious, but immensely sad practice that is being done today.

Wife-beaters/spankers unite under God!
or
Christian Domestic Discipline (CDD)

which is ....."An arrangement between a Christian married couple that involves the husband having authority in the household and enforcing that authority through spanking or other means of punishment."

Nope, not this....

......................Butt this

So why is this needed?

"He uses his authority to keep peace and order in his home, protect his marriage, and help his wife mature in her Christian walk."

Here's a glance at their guestbook

Ginger said: May 30th, 2007 6:25 pm

Thank you for this site! I am married to an alcoholic, adulterer and am trapped. If and when I can get out, I will be seeking a good Christian Man who believes in the practice of CDD!

(....because apparently there are only two kind of men: the wankers and the spankers.)

Jake said: May 29th, 2007 10:01 pm

My wife love's your site, and tries everyday to be a perfect christian wife. Will you online store carry any paddles or whips for safe discipline when my hand is not enough to remind her of Proverbs 31? If not can you suggest some and the proper technique for their use?

( I don't know, maybe you could smack her with a wooden cross or bible to get her a little more perfect, excuse me, Christian...)

Mr Bowie said: May 21st, 2007 3:41 pm

This is a lovely website. Thank you. My wife has emotional problems and sometimes she snaps without any reason at all. We used to fight constantly and my life was a chaos. Until the day I came to this website and things changed for me. Occasional spanking keeps her in line and being a devout christian I am glad that it is permitted in the Holy Bible. Now our relationship is as strong as it used to be when we first started the courtship. I just can't thank you enough!

(Let's wait till she hits menopause...)

But some people may be breaking thru...

Amy said: May 28th, 2007 3:30 am
My husband has been spanking me for sometime now, and although I definitely don't enjoy the feeling of it, I do see a positive outcome. The pain from his slapping my buttocks combined with the humiliation of having my bottom naked (and to be spanked itlself is pretty embarassing, even the positioning), keeps me from doing anything unchristian. I'm pretty sure it's legal, because I agreed to it at the begining of our relationship, although I do struggle when he's spanking me. I do have one problem though, which is when he uses a belt (since the position keeps my legs apart) it can curve inward and slap my anus. If you could contact me with a solution that would be wonderful. Thanks and God Bless.

(hmmm....maybe the solution would be stop DELUDING yourself and get a real husband)

So it is not just the "terrorist!" religion that has subordinates...?

Use such tender, loving, objects as:
razor strop
switch
tawse (A specially cured leather strap with strips or “tongues” on the end historically used to punish Scottish schoolchildren.)

Or, if you cringe at physically punishing your loving companion just do...Corner time: An alternative form of punishment where a wife is required to stand facing a corner, often with her bottom on display, before, during, or after a spanking.

Come on, who wouldn't want to spank this gal for punishment?

HSA= Hiding the Savings Account

2007-06-25T12:06:00.000-05:00

I used to work for a company that handled Health Savings Accounts (HSA). It got to the point where I couldn't work there any more due to my conscience. Advocating for further privatization and telling people to ignore others that can't pay for their own health insurance--take care of yourself only, really got to me.

Who can afford this :
people with a high deductible health plan
people who want to lessen their taxes

How I was told to sell this
Emphasize that it will...

Cut your income taxes (taxes = socialism = evil!!)
Grow your savings tax free (hide it from those poor people!)

This is not a program offered by the government, banks usually offer it, with fees attached...either the banks charge the fees to the employer, or the employee.

--Deposits are tax deductible
--Earnings/Withdrawals are tax-free

so...save on those taxes...

After all, who wants to fund schools, the poor, the elderly, the unemployed...

Gosh, call me an uber-radical, but instead of privatization, how about not funding Fatah and not invading other countries and not giving corporation tax breaks.....
and instead funding our health system? Crazy, I know...

Fragile

2007-06-25T11:40:00.001-05:00

Our Affordable Housing Movement,

Or Operation Don't Get Sick for the Next 30 Years.

"Keep it in your pants"--God

2007-06-22T10:50:00.000-05:00

"No matter how much he begs'
No matter how much he pleas,
Sex is what he wants,
Not what he needs."

With less than half of the federal money going into abstinence programs actually being spent on the public domain (51% goes to private organizations and 11% goes to strictly faith based organizations), its clear that it is geared more toward the long white arm of christian suburbia rather than providing a public service.

With 40% of the states not offering any mention about safe sex of even HIV/AIDS, it is also clear that it isn't about education at all.

With the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy concluding that from ten different studies on Abstinence only education, just one showed and real evidence of changing attitudes; its clear that it is not working.

And Finally, it's clear "the quality of AFLA evaluations funded by the federal government vary from barely adequate to completely inadequate" and researchers "are aware of no methodologically sound studies that demonstrate the effectiveness" of Abstinence only programs.

But fear not for...

"...about a third of the people interviewed say they wish they would have waited till they got married...and that's probably a low number."

Life

2007-06-21T11:18:00.001-05:00

"You can't destroy life in order to save it"
--Bush, Stem Cell Veto

His words are EMPTY,

coming from our favorite "Just-War" theologian.

Infotainment

2007-06-20T10:56:00.000-05:00

With the over fifty U.S. Media outlets of the 1980's combining to form the six major media conglomerates of today, it's clear that our television, radio, magazines, and newspapers are now more focused than ever upon increasing shareholder profits
...with companies like Xango juice.

I wonder how they handle issues that matter?

"Our guys" in Iraq "have got every right to have good news put into the media and get to the people of Iraq, even if it's got to be planted or bought."--Pat Buchanan, MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews

Bill Clinton "was a very good rapist"; "I'm getting a little fed up with hearing about, oh, civilian casualties"; "I think we ought to nuke North Korea right now just to give the rest of the world a warning." --Ann Coulter, New York Observer

"I think you could probably make an absolutely airtight case that more than 3,000 Americans have been either killed or injured, based upon the 11 million illegals who are here." -- The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly

"Blowing up Iran. I say we nuke the bastards. In fact, it doesn't have to be Iran, it can be everywhere, anyplace that disagrees with me." --Glenn Beck

(Quotes from Media Matters)

True Terror

2007-06-19T09:15:00.000-05:00

There comes a time in one's life, when one is really truly scared for one's country.

No, it isn't from the setbacks in the constitution, our courts, the civil services, the environment, science, the economy, our military, or diplomacy.
It isn't even from the manufacturing of an ill conceived war and steadfast resolve to keep at it--we've done all that before.

But the true terror is that a Sioux Falls, SD couple would name their baby after George W. Bush.

(A personal thanks to Anna from DakotaWomen for catching this and providing living proof that South Dakota has a chance.)

Feeding an Ignorant Beast, the "Citizen Soldier"

2007-06-18T11:06:00.000-05:00

Away on "vacation," I had a chance to page through GX magazine, the National Guard's own monthly retention propaganda. It's similar to Army times only, if you can believe it, less scholarly.

Alongside glorified images of "U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters" setting out on an air assault mission, articles about flag etiquette, wrestling moves, and NASCAR news updates seem to be a monthly occurrence. (NASCAR sponsorship is apparently only logical because, says LTG Clyde Vaughn, it is a great program due to "strong family values that line up well with the Guard").

But perhaps the most disturbing dilution is the "Victory Map."

Truly, they didn't just starve the beast, they changed it's diet.

Romeo...an anti-capitalist?

2007-06-15T21:47:00.000-05:00

William Shakespeare = love, trust, fate, homoeroticism, life, death, freedom, oppression, etc..etc....
...........and now...anti-capitalism?

While I was reading Romeo and Juliet, I came across a quote that reveals what Will thinks about money...

(this is at the scene of Romeo buying illegal poison for suicide after hearing upon Juliet's death)

Romeo:

There is thy gold--worse poison to men's souls,
Doing more murder in this loathsome world
Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell.
I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none (5.1).

Hm... I think I like this play after all! Now...only if they could include this theme when reading Romeo and Juliet in our education system. These verses would benefit the world a lot more than a notion of barely reproductive virgins dying for love-at-first-sight.

Wow..The Russian army has some Good Training...

2007-06-12T21:18:00.000-05:00

This Story is way Too Crazy to pass up...

...A Russian "Ninja" has been robbing Italian farmers at knife and arrow point...Yup, a Russian Ninja.

...He wrapped himself in a black bandanna, and was armed with a bow...and a knife strapped to him

He was trying to rob an old farmhouse, when the owner tripped on the gun...So the ninja fled...on a bicycle...and hid in a....cornfield.

He was a former soldier in the Russian Army
-and was inspired by Robin Hood

Take heed fellow citizens: Don't expose yourself to too many cultures ;)

Full Story

I'm an American...How embarassing...

2007-06-09T22:20:00.000-05:00

Would you like some more hearsay with that hearsay?

Wow..I'm getting warm fuzzies thinking of how fun it would be dancing away at the Resurrection with Jesus instead of hanging out with angels...hmm..the 72 virgins + young boys sound a lot more appealing...

And on a side note...

In case you missed it...

he said "81% of Americans believe in heaven."

AND..

90% of Americans believe in God.

....44% of Americans believe there should be some restrictions on the civil liberties of American Muslims...

35% of Americans believe torture is "acceptable" with "terror" suspects...while 46% of Americans believe that physical abuse is also acceptable to those suspects

I don't know about you, but those stats make me cringe.

Be Back Soon

2007-05-31T23:31:00.001-05:00

I will be gone for 2weeks, my last Annual Training before my conscious will be free.

In the meantime...Fear Not!!!
Freedom will be defended as this blog will be maintained in about a week by Nadia and friends.

Multiple Os and a Ripa!

2007-05-29T21:08:00.000-05:00

I seriously thought that women have started advancing away from material things that make themselves "sexy" for the next orgasm catch...

But I guess not.

Hey...at least Oprah is doing the "O Girl, O Beautiful" campaign...

"What I know for sure is that you really don't become what you want. You become what you believe."

Does this mean that women really believe that they are subordinate to men in all three monotheistic religions?

Does this mean that women really believe that they need to buy billions of $ of cosmetic products, including that newest scented tampon! (Sandalwood Rose Ambrosia, anyone?)

Finally....

Does this truly mean that the millions of women glued to the obnoxious, asinine show "Live with Regis and Kelly" believe that Kelly Ripa should get $36,000 per show?

I'd like to post some more, but I need to go take a bubble bath, read the latest from Oprah's women-overcoming-victimization book club, and then hang myself from my jewel-encrusted thong that I bought at Victoria's Secret's "Semi-Annual, Try To Get Your Conservative Husband To Notice You" sale.

"This I'll Defend?"

2007-05-27T17:47:00.000-05:00

Unlike most Americans, I won't be celebrating my Memorial Day with a 3-day sale at Macy's, a Burgerking-hat clad NASCAR race rerun, or even a cholesterol cookout.

I have a strict regiment of freedom-loving self-flagellation, a meditation upon how we became that despised and illegal occupation, and a dumbfounded wonderance at the idleness and unwillingness to change the current course.

Almost 1,000 more troops and countless more Iraqi civilians dead since last Memorial Day. But hey, anything to keep the status quo, to keep fat America's place at the peak oil supply table, and to keep the patriotic boxers made by Chinese dissidents selling.

Evil Forces

2007-05-24T15:32:00.000-05:00

From Porn-Free:

Q:"My boyfriend and I are Christians. I recently found out he is addicted to pornography. What should I do?"

A:"I think it's important to gain a spiritual and practical understanding of what sex addiction is. As you proceed, ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance on what to do. Sex addiction usually involves some tremendously powerful evil forces that are typically very deceptive.
Helping people break sex addiction is spiritual warfare, and you need to be adequately equipped!"

As the video reminds us:

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away." Matthew 5:29

But be careful men:

"He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD." Deuteronomy 23:1

They've Got Secret Decoder Rings

2007-05-22T21:30:00.000-05:00

The search for the so called "War Czar" was embarassing. Not only because it was denied by many retired generals and drew attention away form the what was happening on the ground, but also because of the mere concept.

It's often been stated by Bush that leaving Iraq:
"substitutes the opinions of politicians for the judgement of our military commanders."

But by making Lt. Gen Lute both director of operations and "assistant to the president" so that he even will be in the awkward position of having four-star generals answer to him, doesn't that "substitute the opinions of politicians" (Bush and the deputy national security adviser) for the judgement of the "military commanders" (the few left that didn't quit)?

Despite a supposed criticism of the "surge"(escalation), Lute seems to have a conflict of interest.

DISCONNECT

2007-05-18T11:35:00.001-05:00

Is she going to talk about

the War in Iraq? Healthcare?
or the economic divide?

No...She'll go for the American Idol crowd.

"The sharp divide between public opinion and public policy, one of the reasons for the fear, which cannot casually be put aside, that, as Gar Alperowitz puts it in America Beyond Capitalism, 'the American 'system' as a whole is in real trouble - that it is heading in a direction that spells the end of its historic values [of] equality, liberty, and meaningful democracy.'" Noam Chomsky

Perhaps it is over for America.

As always, America profits...

2007-05-16T21:15:00.001-05:00

Wow.

With the average cost of a funeral now over $6500, it isn't surprising that some capitalist in America would profit off things that should not be profited off...like death. But this company takes it one step further.

Since about 50% of Americans still think the "War in Iraq" is still related to 9/11 events, the company seems to be profiting off ignorance as well.

This is some of his hero list ( check out the link, some have sound clips):

Jesus (of course, first and foremost)
George Bush (in various locations/outfits)
Super Hero Bush
Condi Rice
Tony Blair

And some of his villians (with sound clips as well):

Crack-head Saddam
Osama (hmm...shouldn't some of this sound clip be used for Bush as well?)
Conrad Putin
Herr Schroeder
and of course....................Jacque Chirac

A hypocritical fish fry

2007-05-16T12:07:00.000-05:00

I recently went to a keynote address given by Demetria Martinez (life coach, activist, and award winning non-autobiographical and non-confrontational writer and poet)...and I was disappointed.

She mainly spent the time reading/hawking/shelling out of her books, which were novels and poems. Some of her statements were almost quoted word for word from the interview that I read from an article earlier.

She did make one good point with, "America has a schizophrenic outlook." She went further to say America needs someone to pick on, but also needs someone to pick their lettuce. Corporate schizophrenia, that's is a good description of America.

Her Q and A session was a bit better...except for one important exclamation that she made. When asked if she had an FBI file and was ever hampered by it, she replied, "They have bigger fish to fry." But she continued on saying, "I am Glad they have bigger fish to fry."

Now, Demetria never went to prison...much less Guantanamo...she stood on trial for conspiracy against the U.S. government for trying to help people cross into the U.S. border about twenty years ago. One of the women she was helping cross over was pregnant and was due around Christmas. She said it would make a "good Christmas" story...how trivializing.

She stood trial and was found "innocent." However, the "Bigger Fish" that she's glad the government is after don't get a trial. She may call herself an activist fighting for human rights, but her human rights doesn't seem to extend to the "terrorists," the many people stuck in limbo for being in the "wrong" group...at least not at that address.

Leda and the Swan

2007-05-15T00:42:00.000-05:00

Every once and a while, that special Bible verse comes along and brightens your day:

"There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown." (Genesis 6:4).

Seriously, misogynistic "MIGHTY MEN?"
It most likely was trying to relate to pagan and Roman mythology.
Obviously the Bible should not be taken literally.

Someone needs to alert the Christan Coalition.

(picture: Leda and the Swan by Cy Twombly)

Romancing Mom

2007-05-13T15:56:00.000-05:00

Once again, it's consumer's day, Mother's Love is for sale.
Sophocles and Freud would be proud.
Adam Smith and the Hallmark
corporation are ecstatic.
We the people
are broke.

Dick Cheney Slept Here

2007-05-10T14:45:00.000-05:00

In a discussion with a wishful freedom lover of the military persuasion, I was shocked once again to hear that same media bias argument applied to Bush's "Surge" (Escalation). Apparently we are making real tangible progress...only the media isn't reporting it.

To say nothing of the American media's flag waving up to the invasion, the muting of the anti-war movement, and the under counting of the Iraqi dead, the media has done a horrible job and can be accused of many things, but not reporting the US military aggression in a favorable light just isn't one of them.

Dawning my American flag lapel pin, I am going to suspend disbelief and reason and facts. This post is dedicated to progress. Four Months of a Escalation and I am happy to proclaim the first "benchmark" of Progress:

Dick Cheney, one of the men behind this four years of war, spent the night in Iraq for the first time, staying in Tikrit, the former hometown of Saddam.

No Justice for Oil

2007-05-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

Remember the Oil-for-Food scandal, that win-win situation between American oil companies and Saddam Hussein, that "evidence" of corruption used to taint UN credibility before invading Iraq?

Well, Chevron, "investing in human energy," is about to settle with federal prosecutors, admitting it gave kickbacks to Saddam but denying any wrongdoing.

They will be paying a 38million dollar fine, "seven tenths of one percent of its weekly revenue base." Seven tenths more than the amount of justice administered.

Chevron, Home of the "2006 Corporate Responsibility Report"
(More information at Mask of Anarchy)

Have you killed a kitty today?

2007-05-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

Because it is Sunday...we need to talk about something very, very serious.

You have just been enlightened by the #1 porn site...for christians. xxxchurch.com So that whole thing you heard in high school...the message "sex can wait, masturbate".....is totally wrong now. The thing is, xxxchurch.com doesn't really specify what to do instead of masturbating....so I'm thinking the slogan is now "masturbation can wait, cuz sex is really great!"

Oh, and they are pretty witty when it comes to the issue of masturbation...

"We have heard all the scenarios. 'Well if I think about fruit while I'm masturbating, then that is not sin.' Well isn't that clever. Or...'If I'm giving glory to the Lord while I'm doing it, then that can't be wrong.' Hmmm. Why don't we just make that part of our Sunday morning services then? We have heard all the Pro-Masturbation Christian arguments and I wonder if these people are really dealing in reality."

Hmmm... I don't see how one can't masturbate while reading the Bible, whichever persuasion you suits you, especially with verses like this:

"Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love"(Proverbs 5:18-19).

"There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men" (Genesis 6:4).

And this is my favorite, a perfect line for a porno:

"For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses" (Ezekiel 23:20).

Bestiality, anyone?

Update: Hidanovic Case

2007-05-03T16:31:00.000-05:00

Mevludin Hidanovic
and family have been through a lot.

Convicted purely on witness testimonies, Mevludin is charged with assault with a deadly weapon (a since missing baseball bat)
at the Red River Valley fair.

Since his trial, a juror has came forth with an affidavit swearing that she convinced other jurors to convict him based on past experiences she has had with Bosnians.
No new trial.

A new witness, a girlfriend of the victim, testified that Mevludin did not have a bat and was merely watching the fight.
No new trial.

Justice looks bleak.

More information here

(Picture by Alvin Booth)

Divine Right

2007-05-02T16:33:00.000-05:00

Hmm...sound familiar?

"I am driven with a mission from God'. God would tell me, 'George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan'. And I did. And then God would tell me 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq'. And I did."
--George Bush, Israeli-Palestinian Summit Transcripts
(Disputed, but then Bush reaffirmed them saying, "I stand by what I said.")

Like Ahmadinejad, Bush Talks to God. And, in case you forgot, his spiritual advisor was Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son.

Peace be with you,

"Can't We All Just Get Along and Fight the Occupation?"

2007-05-01T10:35:00.000-05:00

Today, the big debate is whether or not Abu Ayyub al-Masri, self-proclaimed Iraqi "leader" of Al-Qaeda, died in a fight with Sunni Tribal leaders.

"I hope it's true, we're checking, but we're going to be doubly sure before we can confirm anything" --Lt Col Chris Garver.

But doesn't this just add one more piece of evidence that US troops aren't fighting terrorists or even "keeping peace." There is no organized terrorist force in Iraq...there never was.

But Maybe if we keep holding on there just might be.

Happy fourth anniversary

to "Mission Accomplished,"
Mr. Veto

Update: Hidanovic Case
Also there is an evidentiary hearing May 3 at 11am at the Cass County Courthouse. If you'll be in Fargo, try to make it.

The Coalition of Evil

2007-04-30T10:58:00.000-05:00

Israeli children, bomb signing

Today Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, hitting his lowest popularity level, was criticised by a government inquiry panel for "very serious failings," for being "overly ambitious," and for "a severe failure in judgement, responsibility and caution" leading up to the Lebanese invasion.

I know it isn't much. After all, he has been involved in war crimes, profiteering, and horrors that by no means is limited to just Lebanon, but what about the US?

Sure, among many others, a few Vermont Senators want those responsible for Iraq held accountable, and things are unraveling for the Administration. Yet, we supplied the condemned cluster bombs to Israel, and continue on in Iraq unheeded?

Surely we are the good guys, right?

Exodus

2007-04-26T15:46:00.000-05:00

Let my people go.
Today, the US Senate supports a bill to withdraw from Iraq by October.

Who will blink first, the President (pictured left) or Congress(right)?

It became necessary to destroy the town to save it.
--Unidentified US Army Major on the Bentre bombing in Vietnam, Feb. 7th 1968.

It didn't make sense then; it doesn't make sense now.

We Can Do it

2007-04-24T23:00:00.000-05:00

Women, we may be outnumbered but we should by no means be quiet.These three things have been going through my mind lately:

1.
Israel's "Modesty buses" should make it a lot harder for them (and their primary supporter the US) to criticize Arab and Islamic states for slow pace in updating women's roles in society. However, I do not think it will, and neither will these women leaders: Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia, Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Tansu Ciller of Turkey, and Khaleda Zia and Sheik Hasina Wazed of Bangladesh.

2.
Is the US Supreme court ban on the partial birth abortion (I know they are especially gruesome) a start to an all out dissolve of a woman's constitutional right to an abortion? Meanwhile, today Mexico city, the capital of the second largest Roman Catholic country, voted to legalise abortions.

3.
The US funding of abstinence only programs in Africa has been hurting the whole region in 2005, in 2006, and in 2007. It's kind of like watching the Iraq war, only with genitals and a slower mortality rate.

We are all Damn MONKEYS?

2007-04-23T09:56:00.000-05:00

"Teach a child he's an animal, and he acts like an animal"

Surely Virgina Tech was caused by none other than.....
....Evolution
Right?

Pommeling America

2007-04-20T10:01:00.000-05:00

Once again, Washington correspondent Justin Webb is at it, trying to find self-gratifying excuses to why the world lies waiting to pummel America. This time, in his "Death to America" article he focuses on Venezuela and Latin America.

Suggesting much of the hatred is due to "the result of local attitudes to poverty, local attitudes to honesty in government, and local attitudes to the rule of law," he asks rhetorically "is anti-Americanism a smoke screen, a very convenient smoke screen, whose noxious fumes hide the reality of local failure?"(Notice that clever routing through a rhetorical question, he's not telling; he's asking, right?)

Perhaps due to criticism over the last installment, he does entertain both sides. But he does so by quoting Otto Reich, the former Bush appointed ambassador to Venezuela:

"The United States is the scapegoat. It provides an easy excuse for the failures: if something isn't working, blame the Americans. Scratch the surface of some of these anti-Americans and you find self-loathing."

And comparing him to Ms Golinger, a random Venezuelan and US citizen raised in New York:

"Hugo Chavez is a threat to the United States government but not in the way Washington portrays him, as a threat to democracy. He is a threat to US domination."

Though events like Venezuela's Bank of the South would point more toward Ms Golinger's conclusion, her quote might as well be attributed to a seaside fisherman who rides a bicycle to work. If a news agency like Democracy Now has no trouble getting into contact with Latin American officials, why should Justin Webb? Ms Golinger, a local gardener perhaps, doesn't quite qualify.

Finally, the overall conclusion of the article is that "one of the great features of the anti-American mindset is the blotting out of the positive and the accentuating of the negative." Apparently it would be more fitting for Latin Americans to spend time focusing upon positive aspects like the increased US military aid, training, and arms sales to the region. After all, Kennedy gave humanitarian aid to Latin America, and some still have his picture up on their wall. Bush gives guns. Be thankful.

Even more thankfulness is in order because, as Webb points out, Venezuela sells 39 billion dollars worth of oil to the US and also:

millions and millions of Latin Americans benefit every day from the powerhouse US economy - from relatives cleaning cars in Los Angeles, making beds in Las Vegas and picking fruit in rural Georgia. They send money home to places where economic development is stymied by corruption and government interference.

Isn't that the problem? Money sent home by Latin Americans working elsewhere exceeds the combined total of all direct foreign investment and aid to Latin America. In a NAFTA world, the only way people can help out their family is by leaving, and they don't like it.

Overall, I'd like to hear more of his interview with that congress member, Augusto Montiel:

"They call it free trade when you shut up and against your dignity, your sovereignty, you lower your head and say 'yes' we will give you everything. That is not democracy, my friend, that is dictatorship."

Letter to 8-ball Allah

2007-04-18T20:26:00.000-05:00

Dear 8-ball Allah,

I'm so glad I'm back in a land which goes by the word of Allah the Almighty. I just came back from visiting my male cousin who lives in the United States of Imperialism, and I'm very distressed. I attended his high school, where I was being tempted at every turn by the infidel students who attempted to lure me into the path of Satan with their bosoms and tight pants. But the part that distressed me the most was science class, forgive me for saying this Allah ...but I was told that your creation of man evolved from monkeys! I would have screamed a fatwa against the female teacher, but I was momentarily distracted by her exposed calves and forearms.
Allah, my master, please sooth me with your non-contested words, do humans come from monkeys?

-Servantly yours,
Muhammad Ibn-Saud

Dear Muhammad,

Fear not. The infidels, just as with their belief in Jesus, have the order confused. I did not make man from monkey, but I do regularly make monkey from man, as stated my Surah 2 titled "The Cow:"

"And indeed...you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath. We said to them: "Be you monkeys, despised and rejected" (v2:65).

Not only are the Sabbath breakers warned, but also the Jewish and Christian disbelievers. They too will turn into monkeys. As stated in one of my unclean Surahs, titled "The Women:"

"O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what We have revealed (to Muhammad)...before We curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers" (v4:47).

And unlike some leaders, I, Allah the most gracious and merciful, do have a timeline detailed in my Surah titled "The Repentance:"

"So travel freely for four months throughout the land, but know that you cannot escape Allah, and Allah will disgrace the disbelievers" (v9:2).

I now order you to cleanse yourself by completing the holy pilgrimage, Hajj, through walking around and worship towards a black box where my fav prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) declared that people should stop worshiping idols there.

I'm the only one and I'm great.

Update: SHOUT!!!

2007-04-17T21:46:00.000-05:00

Shout out
the injustice in the

Mevludin Hidanovic Case


E-mail:
mark.boening@co.cass.nd.us








You don't have to be from Fargo to be outraged.
Let the assistant state's attorney, Mark Boening,
know that the nation is watching this case.

More info at Left in East Dakota

Goin' through Withdrawl

2007-04-16T09:27:00.000-05:00

Today, Moqtada Sadr ordered his ministers to withdraw from the Iraqi parliment in an effort to press Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki for a timetable for US troop withdraw.

Congress and the People too have been wishing And
asking politely for a 2008 withdraw.

Someone hasn't
been listening.

Also, if you havent got the chance, check out "The Terrorist Walks" by Fidel Castro (from Counterpunch).