R.I.P. health care reform

Great video that captures a bit of information, and a lot of emotion (that I share) about the current B.S. that's making its way through congress about health care. Is the host being helpful? No -- but I can relate to where he's coming from:



Bp

[via Faith in Honest Doubt, whose post is worth reading]

Federal Employee Sacked for Reporting Illegal Cougar Kills

Here is an article from the journal Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) about an upcoming whistleblower case in Nevada. Gary Strader, a professional hunter for U.S. Wildlife Services, had is position "de-funded" after he reported his agency co-workers had killed up to 5 Cougars from government aircraft and then filed false paperwork to cover up the act. Only the heads of the animals were taken, apparently for trophies.

This will be a good sample case for how the Obama administration deals with whistleblowers in the government.

(nothing to enjoy here)

Bp

[article originally found through Truthout.org, photo credit and explanation also at Truthout]

Terminator Salvation -- I tried, I really tried

I'm sorry folks, I tried, but I failed. By the end of the movie, I was completely overwhelmed by The Suck. Or The Stupid. Or The Horriblest writing you could imagine for such a high-budget movie.

I pride myself on my willing suspension of disbelief. I really do. I can watch schlocky action movies with the best of them -- until this. Excise the last 10 minutes of the film, and I may have been able to have walked out of the theater without feeling like I had just unnecessarily aged 5 years. Maybe.

The beginning has some action sequences (ok I'll say it, helicopter crash) that are awesome, inventive, and fun to watch. Hell -- the action sequences (UNTIL THE END) are all inventive and fun to watch. But EVEN THOSE fell down for the sake of cliche at the end. The demands of cliche that someone put on this movie are staggering. Holy hell it ruined a perfectly watchable movie.

The palette of this movie, most of the action sequences and special effects, the grittiness, the apocalyptic world -- all very decent. In fact, some of the monster and actions effects are in the "fucking great" category. But the writers and their overlords shit all over that high-budget work with some incredibly, mind-numbingly stupid writing.

I knew it was going to be a rough ride when a kid who never drove a car before pulls off an epic chase scene behind the wheel of a jeep in the first 1/4 of the movie. All for the sake of one crack joke. "Oh no," my gut told me, "this is too early in the movie for a fuck up that bad.... oh no."

I can only give this movie a C (very tempted to put a "-" on that). And I'm telling you -- that says A WHOLE LOT about the look and feel of the actiony parts of this movie. Even about the first 1/2 of the movie in its entirety. Because... well yeah, what I already said.



Enjoy what you can,

Bp

Obama and "Prolonged Detention"

Ok, dammit, here is the straw. Camel's back is broken. Obama is talking about detention without trial. Not only not closing Guantanamo, but keeping it working in the same way it is now -- for holding SUSPECTS WITHOUT TRIAL. Indefinite detention -- no charges, no rights, for "preventative detention."

Get that phrase in your head -- "preventative detention." Meaning someone, somewhere, in the government has decided that you MAY commit a crime, IN THE FUTURE, so they're going to lock you up now. For as long as they want, without a trial.

Do the math on that. The real math.

God damn it.

Here is an excellent post at Pearls Before Swine about the speech in which this came out and the ramifications. There are lots of sources cited at the bottom for your perusal and investigation. And below is the Rachel Maddow clip talking about this as well.



Now we have to fight the Obama administration for basic human rights in our own country.

Here is the link to USA.Gov's "contact your government" page. I knew we'd have to be on top of this administration, but I didn't know it would be over issues this dire. Dammit.

Bp

[via Dani, of Dani Boynton Photography]

The best political writing I've encountered in quite a while

Below is the introductory paragraph from an article called When Atheists Attack, by Sam Harris of Newsweek. Even though Sarah Palin is old news (please,dear god, let that be true), I had to share at least this intro. The article is long, and well researched, and worth a read if folks feel they need a primer on the subject. This intro, though, is some seriously spot-on writing.

Let me confess that I was genuinely unnerved by Sarah Palin's performance at the Republican convention. Given her audience and the needs of the moment, I believe Governor Palin's speech was the most effective political communication I have ever witnessed. Here, finally, was a performer who—being maternal, wounded, righteous and sexy—could stride past the frontal cortex of every American and plant a three-inch heel directly on that limbic circuit that ceaselessly intones "God and country." If anyone could make Christian theocracy smell like apple pie, Sarah Palin could.

Enjoy watching a ball being hit out of the park, even if it is a couple months late,

Bp

[image credit in linked article]

Bush's 8 years in 8 minutes

A quick reminder of what we're walking away from.



Bp

Judges admit to jailing children for money

You know, I occasionally get dour enough to figure shit like this happens -- but I talk myself out of it before I get too pissed off.

However, the world provides ample opportunity for righteous indignation. For fuck's sake people.

Why were privatized prisons a good idea again?

Oh, it looks like the judges are going to be getting sued civilly -- and may get some prison time (hold your breath on that one). Despite this, I have a punishment suggestion. Put them both in maximum security prison, after distributing a pamphlet describing their crimes to the prison population. Even a year might suffice, though 7 sounds better.

Bastards.

Bp

YGTLTO: Vice Presidential Handlers Lure Cheney into Traveling Crate

Simply Genius. I'll let The Onion speak for itself:

WASHINGTON—A team of nine specially trained handlers have successfully lured outgoing vice president Dick Cheney into a reinforced steel traveling crate in order to transport him back to his permanent enclosure in Casper, WY, official sources reported Monday. "He's a smart one. Once he sees the crate, he gets pretty nippy, but we've learned a few tricks over the years," chief VP wrangler Ted Irving breathlessly said while applying pressure to a deep gash on his forearm. "If we break a rabbit's legs and throw it in there, he will eventually go in to finish it off. Doesn't work with dead rabbits, though. Cheney only eats what he kills." Irving said that the latest vice presidential relocation went much more smoothly than September's diplomatic trip to Georgia, which was delayed for several hours after Cheney mauled three secret service agents and escaped inside the White House walls.

Enjoy the truth stated in creative ways,

Bp

A rundown of the farewell speech

I couldn't bring myself to watch this speech. It's historic, but I just couldn't do it. I would have been spitting broken glass by the end. So, here is William Rivers Pitt, writing for Truthout.org to give you the blow by blow. Click the teaser quote for the jump:

Of course, of course, of course, it was a ridiculous speech. Preposterous. The worst one of all, and boy howdy, that is saying something. This, after all, was the man who gave us "Bring it on" and "Mission Accomplished," and who once was unable to think of any mistakes he might have made. Each of these was a legitimate phenomenon in every respect, to be sure, but the spectacle on Thursday night bent the definition of "absurd" into bold new shapes.

Enjoy basking in his gone-ness,

Bp

Nicolas Cage movies, memories

Does anyone remember the last good Nicolas Cage movie? I keep trying to remember, but am not coming up with anything.

This looks like it will suck rocks too -- Knowing:



Enjoy being forewarned,

Bp

For the record: I support Sea Shepherd

Over at the Born Animal blog, a lively discussion has erupted over a post on Sea Sheperd and "Whale Wars." It got me rolling, and I found myself firing off a comment of my own.

In essence, I get very tired of people expecting activists and direct-action organizations to be perfect. The hackneyed example: did Martin Luther King sleep around? WTF do I care -- look at the amazing contribution he made to American society. I could care LESS what he did on his own time.

Is Sea Shepherd grandstanding? Are all their facts straight? What the hell do I care? Their actions are working, directly saving the lives of endangered and threatened species. They are also generating awareness and discussion. Plus, they only go after illegal whaling operations, this is not legitimate business we're talking about.

Besides, if the Dalai Lama is behind them, come on people.

So, here is my comment on the above post, it's probably too hot headed and not well thought out, but C'est La Vie. Below that is some video of Sea Shepherd doing their thing if you don't want to make the jump:

I fully support what Sea Shepherd is doing. It's unfortunate that they aren't perfect, saints, and paragons of human ethics and conduct -- but I simply don't care. Those whales are alive, and wouldn't be if it weren't for their presence.

When folks accuse activists for not being perfectly ethical, I always cringe. No one is perfect, no organization is perfect. What I'm interested in is what is the overall, over-arching effect of their presence? That's the question I'm interested in. This year, approximately 500 more whales in the world that weren't illegally killed. That's dandy by me.

As for the argument against direct action proposed by Lynn -- I say keep Sea Shepherd out there doing their thing AND close the loophole.

The way polluters and poachers work is they clog up resistance to their actions (even if illegal) long enough to commit more crime while the courts and diplomats are bogged down with procedure. meanwhile, irreplaceable natural resources are lost forever.

A perfect example is a prime stand of Oregon old-growth forest was cut down on a holiday when the court hadn't yet put a stop on the sale. Those trees are gone forever, because people depended on procedure and protocol.

I think all avenues need to be pursued, not just diplomacy and education. Whale populations get low enough while we wait on this cultural shift to occur, and they'll enter the extinction vortex and be gone forever, we can't afford that.

Enjoy getting your blood boiling occasionally, I am pretty sure it means you've still got a pulse,

Bp

[image via Sea Shepherd official website]

Some light political art for your day

How paranoid should I be -- I will start with "not all the views expressed in this art are shared by this blog author." But some of them sure are.

The art is by David Dees, here is his home page. The selections I found are from this blog that my uncle sent me a link to. His selections are in the "more tame" category. However, if you feel like digging deeper, then go straight to the massive political satire archive. Lots of intense and frankly jarring stuff there, if that's your taste.

This guy is out there, but so many of the pieces are spot on I had to share it despite how controversial most of the content is. Here are some that caught my eye:






Enjoy a perspective that puts yours in perspective,

Bp

[via Uncle Ted, all image rights to Dees Illustration]

Apparently gay is the new Black

And on the down side of the election news -- gay marriage banned or re-banned all over the country. Bigotry did get one victory yesterday, bigtime.

After the thrill of Obama's victory, this news sobered me to say the least. People apparently still need to have second class citizens around. Folks they think are less than human. Ok, and let me put it out there -- not "sobering" to me -- infuriating, humiliating, degrading. Sobering is much too light a language for my feelings about this.

To me it is an obvious and severe breach of separation of church and state, so it stings that much more. People not only believe that their bigotry is justified, but that it needs to be part of the government -- even though most of it is religiously based.

My opinion on this issue has been the same for a long, long time. Civil unions for those who want to marry (gay or not) to take care of the governmental/legal issues of insurance, death benefits, hospital rights etc. Then, if you want a full-on "marriage" -- you go to a church and have that. Or not. I repeat -- this for everyone, gay or straight. This way your legalities have been taken care of. Sounds like separation of church and state to me. It's how they do it in many countries in Europe.

I look forward to a time when folks don't feel the need to keep other humans down to feel right themselves. I really do.

Bp

[photo credit at signonsandiego.com]

Bush to pardon himself and his cabinet

I really can't even speak I'm so mad. Just watch.



Bp

Palin cartoon almost too scathing for me to post -- but I did anyway

From the ever-entertaining Guardian Uk, behold a view from across the pond:



'Nuff said,

Bp

[via Babs, cartoon credit at Guardian UK]

You thought the Bailout sucked before, check out these 32 words

Here is the infamous "Section 8" of the bailout plan. I won't even comment yet, you see for yourself.

Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.

Here is the Huffington post article that talks about it -- The Dirty Secret of the Bailout: Thirty-Two Words that None Dare Utter.

Makes me so mad I can't even comment.

Enjoy your life, despite info like this

Bp

[image via Yuri, via The Wooster Collective]

Gathering rainwater illegal in some states!!??!!

Oh how to post this without expletives every other word, HOW. So here is a video of a newscast talking about a forward-thinking businessman who ran into a shitpile (oops there I go) of trouble and red tape, because (close your eyes kids) the fucking government wasn't going to let him use rainwater to decrease his ecological impact on the planet.

FOR FUCKS SAKE!

I know, I know -- water rights are complicated, and you can't just set aside a law because one instance makes sense, because it opens a loophole/opportunity that others will exploit, blah blah blah. It's still ASININE.



Enjoy the fact that eventually the government worked with this guy and we don't have to do something foolish in that state to correct the FUCKING IDIOCY,

Shutting up now, *grumble*

Bp

[Yuri sent this one just to make me insane, I know it]

Patton Oswalt coming to Crystal Ballroom Sept. 7th

Title pretty much says it all, Patton is coming to town, soon. Here is the information from the McMenamins site.

We're pretty big Patton Oswalt fans here at this house, especially his work with the Comedians of Comedy tour. It's hell to find good free video of him, however. Here's the best one I dug up -- his take on KFC Famous Bowls, freaking hilarious.



Enjoy the opportunity to see "indie" comedy whenever you can get it,

Bp

Sunday Vitriol

In the process of dealing with the mild culture shock I am experiencing upon returning to the media-soaked urban landscape, I sometimes retreat into a cave of reaction, judgment, and blame. It's dark, but comforting in there. I never stay long, because I know I'd become a withered up sanctimonious dickhead if I did -- however, brief forays do help me adjust to being home.

Case in point, when reminded about the many ills of our society -- this rant about the U.S. voting public was just the ticket. It is #9 on The Beast's 50 most loathsome people of the year 2007 list. Besides being funny and cathartic, some of this stuff is so spot on it's painful, especially the "sentence" at the end.

9. You

Charges: You believe in freedom of speech, until someone says something that offends you. You suddenly give a damn about border integrity, because the automated voice system at your pharmacy asked you to press 9 for Spanish. You cling to every scrap of bullshit you can find to support your ludicrous belief system, and reject all empirical evidence to the contrary. You know the difference between patriotism and nationalism -- it's nationalism when foreigners do it. You hate anyone who seems smarter than you. You care more about zygotes than actual people. You love to blame people for their misfortunes, even if it means screwing yourself over. You still think Republicans favor limited government. Your knowledge of politics and government are dwarfed by your concern for Britney Spears' children. You think buying Chinese goods stimulates our economy. You think you're going to get universal health care. You tolerate the phrase "enhanced interrogation techniques." You think the government is actually trying to improve education. You think watching CNN makes you smarter. You think two parties is enough. You can't spell. You think $9 trillion in debt is manageable. You believe in an afterlife for the sole reason that you don't want to die. You think lowering taxes raises revenue. You think the economy's doing well. You're an idiot.

Exhibit A: You couldn't get enough Anna Nicole Smith coverage.

Sentence: A gradual decline into abject poverty as you continue to vote against your own self-interest. Death by an easily treated disorder that your health insurance doesn't cover. You deserve it, chump.

Hurts so good,

Bp

Exactly when can we nail their balls to a board?

[Note, this blog title is metaphorical and is meant to convey "calling them to justice" -- this blog author in no way supports the actual nailing of Karl Rove's genitals to a piece of wood with large, possibly spiral-patterned nails for what he has personally done to degrade the United States and the rule of law.]

Well, Rove said fuck you to Congress and refused to testify. He said he would in writing, with attorney approval, blah blah blah.

Imagine if you or I did this. Joe Blow citizen telling Congress that they'd like to testify only in writing, and that they'd refuse to show up for questioning otherwise. Just imagine the hellfire, tear gas, and tasers involved in our dear government's response.

Not only does this neo conservative cabal think they are above the law, they are asserting it in ways that create precedent. And Congress will let them, you watch.

Fuck them, fuck them all.

Bp