In another shocking loss to the American media firmament, George Carlin's death, in its own way, is just as disconcerting as the recent death of Tim Russert. Carlin was another champion of the common man who spoke without fear or favor to those who hold political power. … [Read more...] about FROM THE TIMES OF LONDON: Cult U.S. Comedian George Carlin dies at 71
The Republican Campaign to Make You Afraid
This was Obama on Friday, speaking in Jacksonville (via Reuters): It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy. We know what kind of campaign they're going to run. They're going to try to make you afraid. They're going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young and inexperienced and he's … [Read more...] about The Republican Campaign to Make You Afraid
Carlin remembrances…
From around the blogosphere. All have video... Xeni Jardin at Boing Boing has the verbatim transcript of "Filthy Words" and the FCC v Pacifica Foundation Supreme Court Case. PZ Myers, "This was a man to whom nothing was sacred, and that was how he inspired us." Andrew Sullivan, Don't Vote. "Some dyspepsia from newly dead George Carlin." Ezra Klein, "the best you can … [Read more...] about Carlin remembrances…
MoveOn’s Alex and John McCain’s One Hundred Years in Iraq
I guess Barack Obama and other key Democrats (“Liberals,“ Bill would say) didn’t do or say anything that Bill Kristol could use as fodder in his much awaited, once-a-week, Monday morning New York Times column. I say that because Bill Kristol decided to go after MoveOn.org by dredging up last September’s General Petraeus ad, and by mischaracterizing a new 30-second TV spot that … [Read more...] about MoveOn’s Alex and John McCain’s One Hundred Years in Iraq
Florida: It’s the Petrol, Not the Politics
The Wall Street Journal is reporting on the next in a series of Rasmussen Reports polls in the Sunshine State which seem to indicate that residents are far less opposed to offshore drilling to increase fuel supplies than they used to be. A Florida poll taken by Rasmussen Reports Wednesday, after Republican presidential candidate John McCain first called for lifting a … [Read more...] about Florida: It’s the Petrol, Not the Politics
Krazy Kristol and Batty Bolton Talk Up Iran Attack
These two headlines from Think Progress sum it all up: -- Kristol: Bush Might Bomb Iran If He 'Thinks Senator Obama's Going To Win' -- Bolton: Israel Will Attack Iran After U.S. Election But Before Inauguration, Arab States Will Be 'Delighted' So they both said on Fox News yesterday morning. (Of course.) They and the warmongering neocons of their ilk have said much … [Read more...] about Krazy Kristol and Batty Bolton Talk Up Iran Attack
Reasons Why Clinton Voters Still Won’t Support Obama
Presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama still faces a big problem: many Senator Hillary Clinton supporters still aren't supporting him and their feelings seemingly override any partisan concerns over what a John McCain administration might bring in terms of specifics. But why? Salon's Rebecca Traister did some interviews and came up with some reasons -- reasons that … [Read more...] about Reasons Why Clinton Voters Still Won’t Support Obama
Those Good Old ‘9/10 Mindsets’: John McCain & The White House Call The Kettle Black
Condi studies briefing paper on Al Qaeda threat; Twin towers burn Inconveniently for the Bush administration and presidential wannabe John McCain, the historic record showing that the White House slept while Osama bin Laden and his merry band of terrorists planned the 9/11 attacks continues to grow, which effectively undercuts allegations that Barack Obama (and John Kerry … [Read more...] about Those Good Old ‘9/10 Mindsets’: John McCain & The White House Call The Kettle Black
George Carlin, Satirist, Has Died
George Carlin, the undeniably clever comedian who, a decade into a career that was comprised of typical Borscht Belt schtick, took his comedy in a self-consciously countercultural direction, has died. It was probably inevitable that the decade that triggered Carlin's comedic transformation would inspire some satirizing court jesters to express the antiestablishment feelings … [Read more...] about George Carlin, Satirist, Has Died
The Realities of Advertising
I had to sigh when I read William Kristol's litany of complaints regarding the new "Alex" advertisement opposing John McCain's candidacy. It's not that Kristol doesn't comprehend the realities of military enlistment, family choices or the tides of war. He grasps and explains those things perfectly. What Mr. Kristol doesn't understand, however, is advertising. For a bit of … [Read more...] about The Realities of Advertising
McCain and the women
Amidst all the speculation surrounding Mitt Romney, Bobby Jindal and Tim Pawlenty, could John McCain be secretly considering taking a woman as his Vice Presidential pick? While top tier black candidates are as common as unicorns in the GOP, there are a number of successful, high profile women who could fill the bill. The Politico's David Kuhn ruminates on some of the female … [Read more...] about McCain and the women
When TV Puppets Were Considered Risque
Most young cartoon buffs just learning about animated cartoon history know the name Bob Clampett as belonging to the late cartoon genius who worked on and created many of the beloved Warner Brothers cartoons and some of their key characters. Cartoon fans consider the Warner Brothers school of cartoons the "anti-Disney": with the focus on laughs versus being cute. Clampett had … [Read more...] about When TV Puppets Were Considered Risque
Arabs Must Let Go of Conspiracy Theories …
Are Arabs finally coming to accept that the United States is not really part of a Zionist conspiracy in pursuit of a Jewish takeover of the world? In this hopeful op-ed from Yemen's Alsahwa newspaper, Sabah Al Kheshni makes quick work of the global Zionist conspiracy and argues against the common habit in many Arab countries of blaming everything that's wrong on a … [Read more...] about Arabs Must Let Go of Conspiracy Theories …
George Carlin, Comedian, Dead at 71
Update:read here too, a brief but arresting post by Dr. Omed's Tent Show Revival about George Carlin as Philosopher/ Shaman. George Carlin who many in the old counter-culture remember for his discourse on 'dirty words,' and other anti-parental and anti-establishment topics, passed away from heart failure today in Los Angeles. The contretemps about his "Seven Dirty Words" … [Read more...] about George Carlin, Comedian, Dead at 71
Stop threatening to put kids in jail for sex!
Geveryl Robinson tells us in the Savannah Morning News today that she saw the Today Show this week. She didn't like what she saw: I saw a story about 17 girls in a Gloucester, Mass., high school who made a pregnancy pact to get pregnant by any means necessary because they wanted to raise their children together. And that's exactly what they did. Now this upsets Ms.... er, … [Read more...] about Stop threatening to put kids in jail for sex!
On Corporate Complicity in the Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II
Douglas A. Blackmon's "Slavery By Another Name" is reviewed today in The Boston Globe: Southern white opponents of Reconstruction and black citizenship launched a series of attacks on African-American economic and political rights. One such assault involved exploiting the portion of the 13th Amendment allowing use of unfree labor "as a punishment for crime whereof the party … [Read more...] about On Corporate Complicity in the Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II
What Happens Next in Zimbabwe?
With the probable continuation and escalation of violence and bloodshed in his country looming in the days ahead, it's impossible to fault opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai for withdrawing from the runoff election for president in Zimbabwe. The withdrawal is certainly not because, as a Mugabe henchman said, Tsvangarai is "chicken." He has soldiered on in spite of numerous … [Read more...] about What Happens Next in Zimbabwe?
Bill Clinton Balks At Publicly Endorsing Obama
A Reuters reporter notes that former President Bill Clinton has not only not yet endorsed Democratic presumptive nominee Sen. Barack Obama but, when given a chance to do so, pointedly balked -- an unspoken but clear stance contradicting his wife Senator Hillary Clinton's public calls for party unity: The former first lady endorsed Obama, urged her supporters to rally … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton Balks At Publicly Endorsing Obama
Vietnamese and Iraqi Refugees: The Same, Different, or Indifferent?
Author's wife (center) with a family of South Vietnamese refugees at the Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, refugee camp in 1975 The New York Times periodically publishes an “Op-Chart” that graphically depicts the progress, or lack thereof, that we are making in Iraq. The latest Op-Chart published today (Sunday, June 22), ("The State of Iraq: An Update") does indeed reflect … [Read more...] about Vietnamese and Iraqi Refugees: The Same, Different, or Indifferent?
CERN and LCH Black Holes: Part Three
(See Parts One and Two) For those following this story, the concerns expressed by a number of scientists over the Large Hadron Collider are more complex (make that far more complex) then earlier descriptions provided here. With thanks to JTankers in previous comment threads, I went and gave a listen to an interview with Nuclear Physicist Walter Wagner. (Parts one, two, three … [Read more...] about CERN and LCH Black Holes: Part Three