One Week Until Midterm Elections

It looks more and more like the Democrats will take back the house in 2006. I know this is supposed t be good news, but now that the Democrats are as far to the right as the Republicans, I don't think it will make any difference.

During the primaries earlier this year, I worked for Jonathan Tasini in his effort to unseat right-wing poster girl, Hillary Clinton.

Tasini received 117,986 votes for 17%. Not bad, considering Clinton's war machine makes the Marine Corps look like a bunch of pansies.

It is rather obvious to me that Clinton will win re-election to the Senate next week.

I have a fantasy that the 117,986 New Yorkers who voted for Tasini will continue their protest against Clinton's brand of faux liberalism by voting Green.

If you are a New York voter, please consider voting for Howie Hawkins. Send a message to the Democrats that they don't automatically get all our votes.

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Happy Halloween!

Waiting For The Man - Bowie/Reed Duet

One of the best moments I've seen at Madison Square Garden! David Bowie and Lou Reed perform the Velvet Underground's "Waiting For The Man," at Bowie's 50th Birthday bash, January, 1997.



A sixtieth birthday bash should take place in January!

Another Stupid Move By The stupid President

George Bush has ordered that a 700 mile wall be built on our border with Mexico. What?!?!?!

As we become more isolated from the rest of the world because Texans and Southerners blinded by Jesus scare Americans into voting for exclusionary policies, the last thing we need is an Iron Curtain around ourselves.

>Bush approves 700 miles of fence on south border

"We have a responsibility to secure our borders. We take this responsibility seriously," Bush said in a signing ceremony at the White House.

Failing to illuminate, of course, his family's relationships with the Saudi Royal Family and the binLaden family, the people who've made our borders so unsafe.

The President of Mexico responded appropriately:

"The wall will not solve any problem. Humanity made a huge mistake by building the Berlin Wall, and I believe that today the United States is committing a grave error in building the wall on our border," he said.

What is most frightening is that there are no liberals left to fight against such an absurd waste of money.

If you want to make our nation safe, stop doing business with Saudi Arabia. Bomb the living fuck out of UAE and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. THOSE are the nations that pose the most danger. While you're at it, bomb Texas! Or better yet, give it back to Mexico.

Idiots!

Stupid People Speak-Up During Elections

Idiots from the world of entertainment are coming out of the woodwork this election season to speak-out against stem-cell research.

Mental giants like St. Louis Cardinals Jeff Suppan, football quarterback Kurt Warner, Kansas City Royals player Mike Sweeney, actress Patricia Heaton and actor Jim Caviezel, have all spoken out against medical research.

Fortunately, Michael J. Fox has is speaking out for medical research.

The wrong-wing idiots like Suppan appear in television ads were they distort the issue with their jesus-thumping hocus-pocus claiming that because the a ballot initiative does not include text banning human clones, that the amendment will open the floodgate of human cloning. Idiot!

Patricia Heaton has previously appeared in campaigns against abortion. I understand why people are opposed to abortion. They are grossly misinformed and blinded by the jesus in their eyes; but I still understand why an idiot like Heaton is opposed to abortion. However, being opposed to stem-cell research is like being opposed to petri dishes. It makes no sense.

If you have the opportunity to switch-off any broadcasts in which these idiots appear, please switch-off. (That includes those dreadful "Everyone Loves Raymond" re-runs and the World Series.)

It's time to show these Luddites that progress is good for humanity. Please speak-out against them and let people know you think stem-cell research is a good thing.

>Stem-cell research foes get own ad

Darth Vader Speaks The Truth

Cheney compared to Darth Vader

Associated Press October 24, 2006

WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney, a villain? He knows some people think of him that way.

"People say, 'Well, that's just Cheney. He's the Darth Vader of the administration, always taking the dark view,'" Cheney said in an interview Tuesday with the "Hannity & Colmes" show on Fox News Channel.

The two were discussing the bloodshed terrorists could cause if they used a nuclear, biological or other dangerous weapon on an American city.

"The threat is very real," Cheney said. "It's out there. And we need to do everything we can to make certain that we aren't struck again."

He trumpeted President Bush's national security policy, then he criticized Democrats who are trying to take control of Congress on Nov. 7.

"Unfortunately, at this stage, I think there's some jeopardy, depending on how the election comes out, as to whether or not we'll be able to continue those policies," Cheney said.

The biggest relief is this statement:

"Unfortunately, at this stage, I think there's some jeopardy, depending on how the election comes out, as to whether or not we'll be able to continue those policies."

Damn right! The Bush Administration's policies (foreign and domestic) have been a disaster on a scale unseen in all of American history.

Let's all hope and pray that we'll be unable to continue some of those policies!

More stupid people getting caught

I was thrilled to see that Jeffrey Skilling was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in the Enron debacle.

Skilling was stupid enough to think that the American people and the American law enforcement agencies were stupid wnough to let him rob us of billions. Generally, he is correct: we are a stupid people; but he didn't get away with it this time.

Last year, Art Gurfunkel was caught being stupid. When pulled over for blowing a stop sign, he was caught smoking a joint while driving.

Somehow, Garfunkel thinks it's OK to drive on America's roads, endangering Americans in his pursuit of getting high.

Now, Calvin Broadus (a/k/a Snoop Dogg) has been arrested for carrying a weapon through airport security.

Snoop Dogg insists the collapsible baton in his lartop case was a prop for a moving he was filming. I have never been professionally employed in the movie industry, but I have worked in the theater industry. I have never heard of an actor needing to provide his own dangerous weapon as a prop.

Idiots!

A Life Of Misheard Lyrics

"'Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy," is now the most famous misheard lyric, thanks to the website of the same name. Of course, the correct lyrics is "'Scuse me while I kiss the sky." After learning of this website, visiting it and adding my own idiocy, I started hearing Jimi Hendrix's lyric from Purple Haze incorrectly!

My biggest gaffe is a misheard lyric from David Bowie's "Station To Station," and you can read about it here.

My latest gaffe can be found on last Friday's blog entry titled "Switchblades for bones . . . ". I chose the title because it is a lyric from the song Land on Patti Smith's first album; and I was going to see her at the Met.

The song Land was released 31 years ago, without a lyric sheet, and it took years for me to decipher all of the lyrics and I needed the input of everyone interested.

"Johnny gets up, takes off his leather jacket, reaches to his chest and there's the answer: he's got pen-knives and jack-knives, and switch-blades for bones, switch-blades for bones. . . . "

It is a very tense lyric that fit perfectly with the album, which is loaded with songs about sex, and drugs, and rock and roll, and homosexuality, and death. I think I finally learned the lyric in 1976 or 1977.

I have seen Patti Smith in concert about 25 or thirty times. On Friday night, however, I was in the second row directly in front of the singer.

The evening's theme was Joan of Arc, and the event was taking place on the anniversary of Arthur Rimbaud's birthday.

Patti read poems and excerpts from a 'biography(?)' of Joan of Arc, some of her own poems, some other poems, sang a Dylan song, sang "Paris In Springtime" and "La Vie En Rose," she sang "Kimberly" and then there was the encore.

"The boy was in the hallway sipping a glass of tea . . . " She was singing it! And I was this close. I could see every word coming across her lips. Then she got to the part I was so proud of deciphering and she sang:

"Johnny gets up, takes off his leather jacket, taped to his chest, there's the answer: he's got pen-knives and jack-knives and switch-blades preferred, switch-blades preferred. . . . "

He doesn't have switch-blades for bones, at all!

"Go Rimbaud! Go Rimbaud! Go Rimbaud! Go, go, Johnny go, and do the Watusi!"

Switchblades for bones . . .

After work yesterday I made my way to Chelsea. I met friends and had a horrible dinner at Hollywood Diner.

We boarded the F train to Queens and before switching to the Flushing line we were lost!

Having made our way to Shea Stadium we did see the first pitch, and the first run, and the great catch, and the bases loaded (twice), and the Mets lose.

I was home by 1:30 A.M. It's a long subway ride from Flushing to Kensington.

Happy Birthday, Arthur Rimbaud, who turns 152 today.

Tonight: Patti Smith at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Go Mets!

Tonight I will take the Flushing line to Shea Stadium and watch Game 7 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) between the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals.

I have not been to a baseball game since I saw the Red Sox defeat the Yankees in an ALCS game a few years back.

I've only attended one World Series game: Game 5 of the 1986 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets at Fenway Park. (See the "Baseball" article below.)

I abandonded baseball when Dale Petrosky, president of the Baseball Hall of Fame, abandonded America. (See the "Bull Durham Debacle" article below.) I now only attend playoff games when tickets are easily available. No easy feat in New York City. Hence, it is rare I attend baseball games.

I was a huge baseball fan for many many years, as evidenced by some of the writing linked below.

Baseball

Brooklyn's own Marianne Moore

Baseball Hall Of Fame – The Bull Durham Debacle

Watery Beer

Sex, Lies and Videofilms

Kirby Puckett

It's OK To Be A Crook . . .

You can collect a Congressional Death Benefit if your husband is a convicted felon, but not if your husband was a homosexual.

Hey, all you liberals, please note that it was Bill Clinton who signed the law that prevents spouses of homosexuals frmo receiving any pension benefits.

Here is an excerpt from the full article at the Lowell Sun:

Federal law blocks Studds' gay husband from pension

WASHINGTON -- Gerry Studds, the nation's first openly gay congressman, pushed the country to another landmark development when he died Saturday: the federal government for the first time will deny death benefits to a congressman's gay spouse.

The federal government does not recognize the 2004 Massachusetts' marriage between Studds and Dean Hara, and won't provide a portion of Studds' $114,337 annual pension to his surviving spouse.

The federal law, defined by the Defense of Marriage Act, not only trumps the Bay State's gay marriage law but reveals its limitations.

. . .

U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, the Ohio Republican who pled guilty Friday to conspiracy charges and faces up to 10 years in prison for taking bribes from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, will receive about $29,000 a year from his pension for the rest of his life.

"He will receive a pension while in prison," said NTU spokesman Sam Batkins.

It is disgustnig that Ney will benefit from the pension plan, but Studds' will not.

NBC Reporter Dares To Describe The Real Baghdad

In a blog at msnbc.com Jana Arraf desribes life in Baghdad:

Day-to-day life here for Iraqis is so far removed from the comfortable existence we live in the United States that it is almost literally unimaginable.

It's almost impossible to describe what it feels like being stalled in traffic, your heart pounding, wondering if the vehicle in front of you is one of the three or four car bombs that will go off that day. Or seeing your husband show up at the door covered in blood after he was kidnapped and beaten.

I don't know a single family here that hasn't had a relative, neighbor or friend die violently. In places where there's been all-out fighting going on, I've interviewed parents who buried their dead child in the yard because it was too dangerous to go to the morgue.

Imagine the worst day you've ever had in your life, add a regular dose of terror and you'll begin to get an idea of what it's like every day for a lot of people here.

There's more. Ms Arraf pulls no punches. Read the full article here.

Thanks to lefionthenews for pointing me to this.

Freedom Is Not Free. Whew!

Here's your 2007 wall calendar.



100% of the proceeds go to those wounded in the Iraq War and their families.

Order yours now! And send one to me!

What A Girly-Man!

Reuters reports that he commander of Britain's army wants neo-con Tony Blair to witdraw from Iraq.

I think history will show that the planning for what happened after the initial successful war fighting phase was poor, probably based more on optimism than sound planning.

The Brits are complicit in this crime against humanity and they have no right to pull out until the United Nations tries Blair, Bush and all the rest for their crimes.

As opposed as I am to the war, the Brits have no right to pull-out until everyone pulls out, or all the Iraqis are dead (which seems to be the new plan).

UK army chief says troops should leave Iraq

Pitcher, Catcher, who's next?

Twenty-seven years ago, Yankees catcher Thurman Munson was killed in an airplane crash while he was piloting his private plane.

Yesterday, Yankees pitcher, Cory Liddle died in the exact same fashion.


Let's hope that Yankees players refrain from piloting aircraft in the future.

Autumn In New York

Autumn is the best time of year in New York.

The air is crisp and clean. The leaves are turning color. People seem more animated.

Today, I saw my favorite Autumn incident.

On my walk to the subway each morning, I pass a series of businesses owned by people who have immigrated from Eastern, er, Central Europe. The street is often bustling with men yelling at each other and bundled-up women picking over vegetables. It's very New York. It's very Brooklyn.

There is a fish mongerer that opened in a new space a couple months ago. The men who run it are rude and unfriendly and loud and they smoke too much and they litter. I have never entered the establishment, though I might like to someday. The men hanging about make it very unappealing.

Each morning someone is out front sweeping the sidewalk. This morning, the man sweeping had a big task, as the tree in front of the store was dropping leaves faster than anyone could ever sweep them up.

I make it a point to say hello to everyone I encounter on the street, especially the shop workers. Today, the man saw me approaching and he shook his head in defeat. As I got closer, he started hitting the tree with the broom.

"Good morning," I offered.

"Morning," he said.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"This tree," he hit it with his broom again. "She is throwing too many leaves."

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled. "It's Autumn!"

He waved his had at me and yelled, "Ahhhhhhh!"

I love New York.

Stewart/Colbert '08

Nothing says 'I am ashamed of . . . my government' more than Stewart/Colbert '08

Yup! T-shirts have appeared suggesting that the late night Comedy Central stars would be good candidates for the White House.

Stewart scoffed at suggestions that some people actually get their news from "The Daily Show."

"There's no way you could get the news from us," he said. "I've seen the show. It couldn't happen."

The jokers currently running the presidency now aren't funny anymore and a couple of totally unqualified television stars would likely be a huge improvement.

The Daily Show and The Colbert Report do provide more accurate analyses of world events than the so-called news agencies. Maybe they can also provide better leaderships -- well, anyone can, really.

Stewart dispels rumor of White House run

Happy Columbus Day

Americans of all stripes will parade Fifth Avenue today, waving Italian flags, celebrating Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of the New World. Of course, the New World was inhabited by old people's and had been 'discovered' many years earlier by Northern Europeans.

Still, we celebrate Columbus Day in an effort to cleanse the history of genocide that makes us uncomfortable. Celebrating Columbus makes it seem like a wise European made good choices and laid the foundation for a new civilization. This is true, as long as you ignore the genocide.

Oddly, this celebration of genocide and the display of another nation's flag seems acceptable to most Americans. Somehow, suburbanites think it's OK to wave another nation's flag today. However, when Mexicans want to celebrate their participation in the slaughter of American aborigines by waving their flag in public it is deemed to be unpatriotic.

Either you wave the American flag in public, or you don't. If waving another nation's flag is unpatriotic, then it is unpatriotic to wave ANY nation's flag in public, including the Italian flag (even if you voted Republican).

Waving a Mexican flag is no less American than waving an Italian flag.

Hell . . . Wave any friggin' flag you want.

America's obsession with its flag, instead of an obsession for what the flag represents, is one of the most idiotic dynamics in American culture.

Anyway . . . Happy Columbus Day!

Go Mets! Go Tigers!

Go Mets! Go Tigers!

Nothing else. No links. Just cheering!

The Homophobia of Republican Page Turners

A favorite pastime of the Right is to equate pederasts and gay men.

My own colleagues do this, and they call themselves liberals. When they say Foley was gay and I correct them they don't really get it. This is institutionalized homophobia at its most insidious. Liberals not understanding the difference between consenting adult relations in gay male culture and homosexual rape is one the greatest battles that gay men have to fight today.

Of course, I have no idea why I bother helping gay men with this fight when they consistently support elected conservatives like Hillary Clinton who are participants in this insidious homophobic movement.

To say that Mark Foley wanted to have gay sex with pages is like saying the guy in the last Colorado school massacre wanted to have straight sex with his victims.

Mark Foley may have wanted to participate in homosexual activity with children, but that does not make him, or his acts, gay. Foley's physical sexual acts and suggestion might by homosexual in nature, they are not the same acts performed by gay men, they are the acts of a pederast.

The GOP uses homosexuality whenever it meets their needs. They smear homosexuals regularly, and now because it is convenient, Foley is claiming he is gay in hopes it will save him some trouble down the line. Mark Foley is a pederast, not a gay man.

Please see the recent article about this same issue at thinkprogress.com.

Thank you to the Randi Rhodes show for pointing me to the article above.

There is a difference between homosexual rape and gay male relationships.

Mark Foley is a horrible, awful man

Mark Foley did not solicit sex from children because he was molested as a youngster. Many people are molested as youngsters and they don't solicit sex with children. Mark Foley didn't solicit sex from children because he is an alcoholic. I know scores of alcoholics who do not solicit sex frmo children.

Mark Foley solicits sex from children because he is a horrible, awful man who should be imprisoned.

Mark Foley claims being molested as teen

The Wonder Pets Help A Puppy Go Pee Pee

While home from work one day last week, I heard my daughter watching a television show that sounded like an opera or operetta. The characters were singing their lines: "The phone! The phone is ringing!" as if Bizet, Gilbert & Sullivan, or Puccini had written the libretto, er script.

I was fascinated to see my daughter glued to this show and she knew the words to some of the songs. I didn't watch with her, but I kept an eye on the festivities from my desk and I was bowled-over when she got up from the couch, walked to the television, start dancing and singing along to the theme song.

The show is "Wonder Pets" and this hilarious episode is available at YouTube:



Pretty amazing, huh?!?!?

A Jewish Kid in Catholic School

A Jewish student was doing well in every subject except Math. So his parents decide to send him to a private Catholic school locally renown for their disciplined teaching.

While there the boy came home from school and studied every day. At the end of the semester the boy got straight A's.

His parents asked him, "What motivated you to do so well in school?"

He replied, "When I saw that guy nailed to a plus sign I knew they weren't fooling around!"