Month: May 2008

War in Iraq7 Comments

‘A Combination of Ideology and Incompetence’

Philippe Sands, author of the Vanity Fair piece on the torture memo, talks about Doug Feith’s role in it: AMY GOODMAN: Can you talk about Douglas Feith, who he was, his significance, your extended interview with him in Washington? PHILIPPE SANDS: I can talk to him. He—it’s one of the great things about America—my own country is not so open—but you can just get in touch with people, call them up, email them, find their spouses and partners, and say, “Can I come and talk to you?” And Mr. Feith said yes. And I’m very grateful to him for that. … Continue reading ‘A Combination of Ideology and Incompetence’

Your President Speaks1 Comment

Your President Speaks!

Today, at theWhite House. Is-Is And my own judgment is, is that we need to recognize military spouses every day. Does Not Know The Name Of Our Country You’re carrying out the burdens — you’re serving our country. And it’s noble service. And it’s necessary service. And the United States America owes you a huge debt of gratitude. Yes, of course! The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch! She loves our military, she loves her boys, and she loves to sew. So she put these two loves together — or three loves together — and began to volunteer with Quilts of … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

Economy11 Comments

What Gets To Be Successful

Read Heather andthis, via the crack den, and then come back here to talk to me about women and money. Because what runs through both those stories (and I’ve been kicking Heather’s around in my head for a while now) is quite simply the idea that we should be ashamed that women make money. Let me not sugarcoat it, in Heather’s case: Male authors for hundreds of years have been making bazillions peddling thinly fictionalized versions of their own twisted familial shit to anybody who’d listen, making the reading public their therapists as they dealt with alcoholism and child abuse … Continue reading What Gets To Be Successful

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle3 Comments

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Dana Peroxide Is Back, So HelenTries Again Q Yesterday, according to The New York Times, we dropped a bomb on a home in Sadr City and burned alive a pregnant woman and her children. How long is the siege of Sadr — how long are we going to keep bombing Iraqis? MS. PERINO: Well, I’m not aware of that particular report. I have not — I’ve not seen it. Q Well, it was pretty buried in the story. MS. PERINO: Okay. Well, the operation against the militias in Sadr City will continue until they root them out. And that is … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Of Interest8 Comments

Gumbo

This some good shit Okay. After some rebuke in the comments, I’ve decided to post a recipe.  Like most of the stuff I write, it’s laced with profanity. I like to think of it as a verbal spice to accompany the literal spice in the cooking process. Jude’s Ass-Kicking Chicken and Sausage Gumbo  Pots and shit:8-quart or larger stockpot or Dutch ovenLarge skillet3 quart or larger saucepan for riceA smaller saucepan for warming stockSeveral prep bowls for meat and vegetablesKnives and cutting boardsWooden spoons (a fucking must-have)A ladle for adding stock to the gumbo potPatience  For the roux:½ cup canola … Continue reading Gumbo

Diary15 Comments

Thursday Night Shopping Post

As a public service, can I just say one thing? Short-sleeved turtlenecks are stupid. First of all, there’s not a single person no matter how thin who isn’t made to look like a sausage by them. Second, either it’s cold enough for a turtleneck or warm enough for short sleeves. It cannot be both. It is a matter of physics. And justice. Third, oh my GOD, it’s fucking winter. I should not have to go to Major Rock-Climber Mountaineer Elk-Hunter Catalogs Monthly in order to get something that will keep me warm enough for my 20-minute on-foot/bike commute. I should … Continue reading Thursday Night Shopping Post

Happy Democrat Photo3 Comments

Happy Kerry Photo: Old Time’s Sake Edition

From hisplease-take-me-back e-mail office: Kerry Legislation Would Remove Nelson Mandela from Terror Watch List WASHINGTON, DC – Recognizing that Nelson Mandela and many members of the African National Congress (ANC) are currently on U.S. terrorism watch lists, Sen. John Kerry today introduced legislation in the Senate to grant the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, the authority to waive U.S. travel restrictions on former President Mandela and other members of the ANC. Kerry met with Mandela in South Africa in November 2007, and toured Robben Island, where Mandela was kept for eighteen of … Continue reading Happy Kerry Photo: Old Time’s Sake Edition

Geek Cred19 Comments

I’ve Walked and I’ve Crawled on Six Crooked Highways: Galactica Thread

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Jacob:

If absolution waits quietly at the door until it’s opened, if salvation waits for the least and smallest among us all, then in a very real way we are all waiting for this moment: when Gaius Baltar realizes he was already redeemed.

“He loves you because you are perfect. You are perfect just as you are. We are all perfect just as we are.”

And as Lee leaves, weirded out, and Gaius holds his arms cruciform, and the followers go apeshit, and Six looks over at Tory’s face, and sees the beauty there, and smiles, because she’s won, and Gaius comes back from the edge, from the clarity of pain, he looks down, covered in blood and the fire of a new world, and wonders what just happened, as prophets often do, and the screen goes dark again.

I have problems with this, which we’ll get into, once we get past the spoilers, robots and rules of engagement below.

Continue reading “I’ve Walked and I’ve Crawled on Six Crooked Highways: Galactica Thread”

Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle6 Comments

Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Snott Stanzel Says It’s not Chimpy’s Fault… Q Oil is hitting $120 a barrel today — a new record. Any response on that? And any further steps that the administration can take? MR. STANZEL: Well, I think it’s another example that it’s important for the United States to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. I understand some strife in Nigeria may be playing an impact on that. We have here in this nation resources that we are not utilizing. ANWR is an example, an issue that’s been debated over the past couple of decades — has been repeatedly … Continue reading Today On Holden’s Obsession With The Gaggle

Stupid Republican Tricks3 Comments

Price

So I’m well aware that this is like picking the slotted spoon out of the box of kitchen tools to pick on it, butthe most offensive part of Dana Perino’s word-wrangling over “mission accomplished” isn’t “mission accomplished:” President Bush is well aware that the banner should have been much more specific and said “mission accomplished for these sailors who are on this ship on their mission.”And we have certainly paid a price for not being more specific on that banner. Emphasis mine. Price? What price have they paid? Last I heard Bush got re-elected. Last I heard, none of the … Continue reading Price

Political Crack3 Comments

Steve Chapman Finds A Nut

McCain Hearts Watergate Conspirator: How close are McCain and Liddy? At least as close as Obama and Ayers appear to be. In 1998, Liddy’s home was the site of a McCain fundraiser. Over the years, he has made at least four contributions totaling $5,000 to the senator’s campaigns—including $1,000 this year. Last November, McCain went on his radio show. Liddy greeted him as “an old friend,” and McCain sounded like one. “I’m proud of you, I’m proud of your family,” he gushed. “It’s always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon, and congratulations on your continued success … Continue reading Steve Chapman Finds A Nut

Your President Speaks2 Comments

Your President Speaks!

Today, inMaryland Heights, Missouri. In Other Words… Today there was another report out that showed that we lost 20,000 jobs last month, even though the unemployment rate dropped to 5 percent. In other words, the unemployment rate went down. There Is Two Aspects There’s two aspects to that package I want to spend some time talking about; one of them is, is that you’re going to get some money. Energy Prices And Food Price Thirdly, it turns out that this money is going to be very helpful in helping people deal with high energy prices and food price. The Check … Continue reading Your President Speaks!

Of Interest8 Comments

More on Labor

Yeah, this happened right here in Wisconsin. The post about my union below (and especially the comments to it) got me thinking some more about labor. Someone rightly mentioned that a leader of his or her union was involved in corruption, and that fact helped disillusion many workers and fatally weaken the union. It’s not just corrupt people who have ruined the image of unions (though, I’ll admit, American labor has had problems with malfeasance and organized crime). Think about this–when was the last time you saw a labor union depicted in a positive light?  The only thing I can … Continue reading More on Labor

Uncategorized11 Comments

They can be in our Krewe

You’ve probably read of the assholeprinciple who outed 2 gay students. I think the First Draft Krewe ought to make another trip to NOLA and invite Nicholas and his partner to join us… According to Nicholas, he also suffered another consequence of the principal’s discrimination. He had submitted extensive paperwork and several recommendations from teachers for a school trip to New Orleans to assist in rebuilding efforts.  Having a long history of community service, he was considered a shoo-in to be selected to go before the incident, but then a teacher told Nicholas some faculty were afraid he might “embarrass … Continue reading They can be in our Krewe

Of Interest22 Comments

A Positive Note

To borrow a phrase: How about that? Okay, so this bit isn’t earth-shatteringly important, it doesn’t deal with the problems facing our country and the world, and you could easily dismiss it as fluff. But I dare you to readthe following article and not feel a little hopeful about humanity. Go on. I dare you. PORTLAND, Ore. – With two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence. But it … Continue reading A Positive Note

Immoral Values4 Comments

Race Card

Obligatory disclaimer about being the whitest white girl in the history of whiteness goes here. Shark-Fu on the race card: When I call a person out for an ig’nant race-baiting comment that action is not ‘playing the race card’…it’s calling a person out for an ig’nant race-baiting comment. If that person is uncomfortable with that shit a bitch suggests that they get in touch with their inner asshole, because this bitch has had enough of motherfuckers whining and keening about that mythical race card every time they get corrected for deliberate verbal malfunctions designed to rouse prejudices they themselves have … Continue reading Race Card

Your President Speaks1 Comment

Your President Speaks!

Yesterday, at theWhite House. What Government Is – ISN’T! Government is love — government is justice and law, it’s not love. Love is found in the hearts of our fellow citizens. M-O-O-N Spells Volunteer And so Americans, if they want to find out how they can help, if you’re motivated by Volunteer Week, or if you’re motivated by hearing this message, you’re motivated by a neighbor saying, gosh, it’s really made my life better to help somebody in need, why don’t you go to the website of USA Freedom Corps, and you can look it up at “volunteer.gov.” It’s not … Continue reading Your President Speaks!