Good points made, Lawless, as usual.
Recording update: We went back in the studio with the awesome Brian Harper Monday night, and Mr. Lennon laid down more guitar tracks. Lawless, I think you're going to be impressed: Instead of the searing metal tones we had originally considered for this, we opted instead for a more dry, molten sound, somewhere in the middle ground between Blue Cheer and AC/DC. I really like the way this is turning out. We go back in early next week. Can't wait!
Now, on to other things.
Are YOU on a hightened state of alert? I mean, what is the sense of John Ashcroft telling all of America "we've got very credible threats, but we have no specific information, just remain on your highest alert?" That's bullshit: Either they know something or they don't. We're just so used to being lied to at this point that Americans don't even bat an eye. I understand the benefits of not wanting to send people into mass hysteria if they know specifically where any of this is going down, but what Ashcroft is doing is pretty effective terror in it's own right. If you know, get people out of there. If you don't, well, spare the children a few nightmares and tell us something useful. Tell the cops and the authorities what they need to know, but don't get everyone paniced when you're not giving us any real information.
And what of these different levels of alertness? After 9/11, I think the entire nation is pretty alert as it is, but I guess we need to turn it up a notch. Being the good American that I am, I'm prepared for this. I'm drinking 10 cups of coffee a day. I'm not sleeping. I've sworn off marajuana, alcohol, and Nyquil, and I'm sticking to crank, uppers, and cocaine. I'm ready for everything. Nothing's going to get by this sharp mind, no-siree!
I don't know about you, but I've been on a "hightened state of alert" since January 20th.
Recording update: We went back in the studio with the awesome Brian Harper Monday night, and Mr. Lennon laid down more guitar tracks. Lawless, I think you're going to be impressed: Instead of the searing metal tones we had originally considered for this, we opted instead for a more dry, molten sound, somewhere in the middle ground between Blue Cheer and AC/DC. I really like the way this is turning out. We go back in early next week. Can't wait!
Now, on to other things.
Are YOU on a hightened state of alert? I mean, what is the sense of John Ashcroft telling all of America "we've got very credible threats, but we have no specific information, just remain on your highest alert?" That's bullshit: Either they know something or they don't. We're just so used to being lied to at this point that Americans don't even bat an eye. I understand the benefits of not wanting to send people into mass hysteria if they know specifically where any of this is going down, but what Ashcroft is doing is pretty effective terror in it's own right. If you know, get people out of there. If you don't, well, spare the children a few nightmares and tell us something useful. Tell the cops and the authorities what they need to know, but don't get everyone paniced when you're not giving us any real information.
And what of these different levels of alertness? After 9/11, I think the entire nation is pretty alert as it is, but I guess we need to turn it up a notch. Being the good American that I am, I'm prepared for this. I'm drinking 10 cups of coffee a day. I'm not sleeping. I've sworn off marajuana, alcohol, and Nyquil, and I'm sticking to crank, uppers, and cocaine. I'm ready for everything. Nothing's going to get by this sharp mind, no-siree!
I don't know about you, but I've been on a "hightened state of alert" since January 20th.
by at 4:16 PM
I suppose I should mention that several of the groups named in my last post, alleged "eco-terrorists" ALF and the ELF, as well as such violent indignants as the Aryan Nation and the World Church of the Creator, were among the groups mentioned in an FBI report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh to the Senate Appropriations Committee last year. Also mentioned was the Workers World Party, an ultra-socialist organization who's only crime to date is marching in several anti-globalization marches.
Strange that extreme anti-abortion groups reknowned for bombings and murder (some even post hit lists on their websites) only received a passing mention, huh?
I wonder how long it'll take before being a member of PETA will cause law enforcement agencies to dub you a "possible terrorist".
Strange that extreme anti-abortion groups reknowned for bombings and murder (some even post hit lists on their websites) only received a passing mention, huh?
I wonder how long it'll take before being a member of PETA will cause law enforcement agencies to dub you a "possible terrorist".
by at 6:45 PM
I hope that the legal definition of "terrorist" is adequately addressed somewhere within the Patriot Act, though I sincerely doubt it. The Congress and the President are aware of the qualifications of THEIR ideas as to what a terrorist is, but I fear that they are yet again biased and completely based upon age-old racial and ethnic standards, let alone political ones. I doubt very seriously that someone from Operation Rescue-- or any of the more extreme anti-abortion groups who believe that in order to stop the killing of babies they must kill the abortion doctors who perform them or the people who request their services-- will find themselves courted by the FBI. After all, Richard Ashcroft is an anti-abortion uber-conservative. Many within the Bush cabinet sympathize with him in at least this respect. Hell, Gov. Tom Ridge couldn't get an administrative post until now b/c of his pro-choice views.
However, it is more than likely that someone from or even remotely affiliated with groups like the Animal Liberation Front or the Earth Liberation Front will find themselves tagged and monitored. It is more than likely that any registered and/or vocally admitted socialists will soon be hearing strange noises on their telephone. What we will soon be seeing is a bright and shimmering return to the fabled COINTELPRO tactics of yore, aggressive and clandestine tactics which caused the disintigration of such progressive movements as the Black Panthers and the murder of their leading members. If you're a black female Moslem socialist political-vegan with gay anarchist friends, then chances are you will soon find yourself with a FBI file if not interred in some backwater jail cell for a few days if not weeks. As for me, I'm just waiting for the feds to kick down the door and haul me-- the vegan socialist Buddhist progressive anti-Corporate America employee/friend of rich and well-connected Islamic men-- away.
The rabble-- or at least what the federal government defines as rabble-- will soon find themselves under hot lamps, whether they know it or not.
I wonder if this is not all just a great conspiracy to bolster the Republican party and pass every plank of their platform. You have to admit, the GOP has gotten everything it has wanted. Every major player in this crisis has been a Republican. The only people to receive anthrax letters have been Senate Majority leader Tom Dashle and liberal journalists like Tom Brokaw, never mind the escalation in anthrax letters-- though many were hoaxes-- sent to abortion clinics. And still no direct binding evidence as to who was financially and politically behind the 9/11 attacks! You know, in light of Mr. Lennon's recent post, I've been reading up on Operation Northwoodsand-- wait, I'm already in enough hot water as it is. Maybe I better stop speculating now before the feds come for my skeptic badge, too.
However, it is more than likely that someone from or even remotely affiliated with groups like the Animal Liberation Front or the Earth Liberation Front will find themselves tagged and monitored. It is more than likely that any registered and/or vocally admitted socialists will soon be hearing strange noises on their telephone. What we will soon be seeing is a bright and shimmering return to the fabled COINTELPRO tactics of yore, aggressive and clandestine tactics which caused the disintigration of such progressive movements as the Black Panthers and the murder of their leading members. If you're a black female Moslem socialist political-vegan with gay anarchist friends, then chances are you will soon find yourself with a FBI file if not interred in some backwater jail cell for a few days if not weeks. As for me, I'm just waiting for the feds to kick down the door and haul me-- the vegan socialist Buddhist progressive anti-Corporate America employee/friend of rich and well-connected Islamic men-- away.
The rabble-- or at least what the federal government defines as rabble-- will soon find themselves under hot lamps, whether they know it or not.
I wonder if this is not all just a great conspiracy to bolster the Republican party and pass every plank of their platform. You have to admit, the GOP has gotten everything it has wanted. Every major player in this crisis has been a Republican. The only people to receive anthrax letters have been Senate Majority leader Tom Dashle and liberal journalists like Tom Brokaw, never mind the escalation in anthrax letters-- though many were hoaxes-- sent to abortion clinics. And still no direct binding evidence as to who was financially and politically behind the 9/11 attacks! You know, in light of Mr. Lennon's recent post, I've been reading up on Operation Northwoodsand-- wait, I'm already in enough hot water as it is. Maybe I better stop speculating now before the feds come for my skeptic badge, too.
by at 4:35 PM
Hey RUSTY! You left without your drugs!
Good thing too: Just today, the House passed the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, which is the most clever acronym ever devised for an astonishing loss of freedoms and unprecedented government and police control." Read this letter sent to the House by the ACLU. Think about it: Due to the anthrax scare, (and I don't mean "Fist Full of Metal") the House hasn't even been doing regular business. That likely means that many of the delagates DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO READ IT! Although it didn't seem to matter with a vote of 357 to 66 (apparently most of the time was spent thinking of an acronym.) They voted on the "Original Fascist-Strength" version, not the one that a subcommittee made more palatable for those of us that loved our country before 9/11. (That's Knife of Simpson, kiddies.) This includes dozens of pet projects that legislators have been trying to sneak in for years that have nothing to do with terrorism, such as secret searches without probable cause, instant seizure of medical, financial, and educational records without probable cause, identification of political activist groups as terrorist suspects, and expanding the CIA beyond even the glory days of McCarthyism. Aren't these the same tools they tried to get for the war on drugs? My guess is that the War on Terrorism will be every bit as sucessful as that one. This is set to extend until 2005, but even the limit doesn't make me feel much better (will we be at war for 4 years?) By then W may legislate himself as supreme ruler. (Wait, he already did that.) And you know what they say: Legislation is much easier to create than it is to dismantle.
I remember when standing up for freedom was considered patriotic. Now, W's flipped yet another thing upside down. A patriot accepts whatever his government tells him. Enduring Freedom means limiting freedom in the name of safety. Ignorance is strength. War without end, amen.
After today, I'm apparently a target for investigation. And if you're reading this, you could be, too. How does that feel?
Good thing too: Just today, the House passed the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, which is the most clever acronym ever devised for an astonishing loss of freedoms and unprecedented government and police control." Read this letter sent to the House by the ACLU. Think about it: Due to the anthrax scare, (and I don't mean "Fist Full of Metal") the House hasn't even been doing regular business. That likely means that many of the delagates DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO READ IT! Although it didn't seem to matter with a vote of 357 to 66 (apparently most of the time was spent thinking of an acronym.) They voted on the "Original Fascist-Strength" version, not the one that a subcommittee made more palatable for those of us that loved our country before 9/11. (That's Knife of Simpson, kiddies.) This includes dozens of pet projects that legislators have been trying to sneak in for years that have nothing to do with terrorism, such as secret searches without probable cause, instant seizure of medical, financial, and educational records without probable cause, identification of political activist groups as terrorist suspects, and expanding the CIA beyond even the glory days of McCarthyism. Aren't these the same tools they tried to get for the war on drugs? My guess is that the War on Terrorism will be every bit as sucessful as that one. This is set to extend until 2005, but even the limit doesn't make me feel much better (will we be at war for 4 years?) By then W may legislate himself as supreme ruler. (Wait, he already did that.) And you know what they say: Legislation is much easier to create than it is to dismantle.
I remember when standing up for freedom was considered patriotic. Now, W's flipped yet another thing upside down. A patriot accepts whatever his government tells him. Enduring Freedom means limiting freedom in the name of safety. Ignorance is strength. War without end, amen.
After today, I'm apparently a target for investigation. And if you're reading this, you could be, too. How does that feel?
by at 4:47 PM
so now we're after the nicaraguans, the afghans, the iraqis (soon enough). when do we start bombing the ira? arent' they terrorists, too?
anyway, i'm flying to phoenix on saturday for a week-long vacation.
i was really worried for a while about flying. i'm a peaceful man and i didn't want to get into any trouble while i had some time off. i mean, if my plane was hijacked, then i'd have to kill three or four terrorists with my bare hands, and boy, wouldn't that just be a bummer; killing people to start my vacation.
but then i started to feel better. you see, my flight leaves at 6 a.m. saturday, so i figure i'm pretty safe. i mean, i'm sure even terrorists like to sleep in on saturday mornings. i'm sure they're not that much different from the rest of us.
i'm sure plotting diabolical schemes and raising money and training all week long can really take a lot out of a guy. i'm sure they all pack up at 5 p.m. on friday and start partying like crazy. maybe go to dinner, kill a few beers, hit the strip joints, whatever.
i know they're not going to rock'n'roll shows.
my point is, who wants to hijack a plane with a massive hang-over? i wouldn't.
so i'm feeling better about flying this weekend.
on an unrelated note, today is chuck berry's 75th birthday. i can't believe he made this far! god bless chuck and god bless rock'n'roll!
anyway, i'm flying to phoenix on saturday for a week-long vacation.
i was really worried for a while about flying. i'm a peaceful man and i didn't want to get into any trouble while i had some time off. i mean, if my plane was hijacked, then i'd have to kill three or four terrorists with my bare hands, and boy, wouldn't that just be a bummer; killing people to start my vacation.
but then i started to feel better. you see, my flight leaves at 6 a.m. saturday, so i figure i'm pretty safe. i mean, i'm sure even terrorists like to sleep in on saturday mornings. i'm sure they're not that much different from the rest of us.
i'm sure plotting diabolical schemes and raising money and training all week long can really take a lot out of a guy. i'm sure they all pack up at 5 p.m. on friday and start partying like crazy. maybe go to dinner, kill a few beers, hit the strip joints, whatever.
i know they're not going to rock'n'roll shows.
my point is, who wants to hijack a plane with a massive hang-over? i wouldn't.
so i'm feeling better about flying this weekend.
on an unrelated note, today is chuck berry's 75th birthday. i can't believe he made this far! god bless chuck and god bless rock'n'roll!
by at 5:39 PM
Now we're going after Ortega and the Sandinistas!!!!!! !Dios mÌo!
Washington Post
And the Contras weren't state sponsored terrorists. Right. And Andy Dick is just flamboyant.
Washington Post
And the Contras weren't state sponsored terrorists. Right. And Andy Dick is just flamboyant.
by at 4:56 PM
Hey there, thanks to everyone who came out on a Sunday night, and especially to those who stuck around through our epic song lengths!!
(Sigh) Things are getting worse. So Iraq sent the anthrax? Couldn't have seen THAT coming in a million years.
It's on, just like Rusty said it would be. God help us, he's out to avenge the old man!
(Sigh) Things are getting worse. So Iraq sent the anthrax? Couldn't have seen THAT coming in a million years.
It's on, just like Rusty said it would be. God help us, he's out to avenge the old man!
by at 3:34 PM
Two airliners, fully laden with fuel for a transcontinental flight, crash into the WTC's twin towers within minutes of each other, sowing destruction and panic in their wake. Flames billow out upon impact--the buildings collapse in a gray cloud of smoke, mortar and debris, impelling thousands to an urban sepulchre. Another takes out a wing of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
America Under Siege. America Under Attack. America's New War.
America Strikes Back.
Sounds like it could be a scene from any one of a number of boilerplate screenplays from a Tinseltown hack, doesn't it? "Get Jerry Bruckheimer on the phone, this one's hitsville, baby!"
What if the author of that spec script turned out to be our own Government?
Investigative reporter James Bamford's book "Body of Secrets," (Doubleday) relates an eerily similar scenario. Although his book is about the history of the NSA, Bamford dredged up some horrifying recipes for disaster our own Joint Chefs of Staff cooked up in 1962. Bamford stumbled on the documents in the National Archives--documents that were supposed to have been destroyed to save the reputation of then-top military chief Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer.
The plans, code named Operation Northwoods, included hijacking planes, blowing up a U.S. ship, orchestrating acts of terrorism in U.S. cities, sinking boats of Cuban refugees on the high seas, possibly assassinating Cuban ÈmigrÈs and causing U.S. military casualties, all as a way of tricking the American people and the international community into supporting a war against Cuba in order to oust Fidel Castro.
The Kennedy administration rejected the diabolical scheme and, according to Bamford, " . . . three days later, President Kennedy told Lemnitzer directly there was virtually no possibility of ever using overt force to take Cuba, Bamford reports. Within months, Lemnitzer would be denied another term as chairman and transferred to another job."
Even after Lemnitzer was gone, the Joint Chiefs continued to plan "pretext" operations at least through 1963.
One idea was to contrive a war between Cuba and another Latin American country so that the United States could intervene. Another was to pay someone in the Castro government to attack U.S. forces at the Guantanamo naval base ó an act, which Bamford notes, would have amounted to treason. And another was to fly low level U-2 flights over Cuba, with the intention of having one shot down as a pretext for a war.
Curiously enough, of all the JCoS documents that were ordered destroyed by Lemnitzer, only the plans to Operation Northwoods survived.
I normally don't like to entertain outlandish conspiracy theories, but this time my tinfoil hat is humming. It seems like we've employed a few of those stratagems before: Contras vs. Sandinistas; the Gulf of Tonkin affair in Vietnam; Iraq's invasion of Kuwait; even the Spanish-American War.
I'd hate to think that 9/11 was the opening day of yet another unfortunate sequel to this bad script.
America Under Siege. America Under Attack. America's New War.
America Strikes Back.
Sounds like it could be a scene from any one of a number of boilerplate screenplays from a Tinseltown hack, doesn't it? "Get Jerry Bruckheimer on the phone, this one's hitsville, baby!"
What if the author of that spec script turned out to be our own Government?
Investigative reporter James Bamford's book "Body of Secrets," (Doubleday) relates an eerily similar scenario. Although his book is about the history of the NSA, Bamford dredged up some horrifying recipes for disaster our own Joint Chefs of Staff cooked up in 1962. Bamford stumbled on the documents in the National Archives--documents that were supposed to have been destroyed to save the reputation of then-top military chief Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer.
The plans, code named Operation Northwoods, included hijacking planes, blowing up a U.S. ship, orchestrating acts of terrorism in U.S. cities, sinking boats of Cuban refugees on the high seas, possibly assassinating Cuban ÈmigrÈs and causing U.S. military casualties, all as a way of tricking the American people and the international community into supporting a war against Cuba in order to oust Fidel Castro.
The Kennedy administration rejected the diabolical scheme and, according to Bamford, " . . . three days later, President Kennedy told Lemnitzer directly there was virtually no possibility of ever using overt force to take Cuba, Bamford reports. Within months, Lemnitzer would be denied another term as chairman and transferred to another job."
Even after Lemnitzer was gone, the Joint Chiefs continued to plan "pretext" operations at least through 1963.
One idea was to contrive a war between Cuba and another Latin American country so that the United States could intervene. Another was to pay someone in the Castro government to attack U.S. forces at the Guantanamo naval base ó an act, which Bamford notes, would have amounted to treason. And another was to fly low level U-2 flights over Cuba, with the intention of having one shot down as a pretext for a war.
Curiously enough, of all the JCoS documents that were ordered destroyed by Lemnitzer, only the plans to Operation Northwoods survived.
I normally don't like to entertain outlandish conspiracy theories, but this time my tinfoil hat is humming. It seems like we've employed a few of those stratagems before: Contras vs. Sandinistas; the Gulf of Tonkin affair in Vietnam; Iraq's invasion of Kuwait; even the Spanish-American War.
I'd hate to think that 9/11 was the opening day of yet another unfortunate sequel to this bad script.
by at 12:45 PM
Yessir, Rusty, there's something rather sinister about the President of the United States coming onto national television and begging the country's children to send him a dollar to help bolster his image as a compassionate conservative. Wanna know how compassionate the conservatives are? Well, look no further than America's new hero and leading fascist Rudy Giuliani. That's right, I'm marking on the chump.
Yesterday he refused to accept a 10 million dollar donation from visiting Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal because of the Prince's remarks at a memorial sevice at Ground Zero. The Prince, after offering his condolences, was quoted as saying that we "must address some of the issues that led to such a criminal attack", that we should re-examine some of our policies in the Middle East and adopt a better understanding of the Palestinian cause. The ever-blustery Guiliani retorted that the statement was "highly irresponsible" and "dangerous". Wrong, Rudy, your remarks and refusal of generosity from a compatriot were as such. The Prince spoke the truth, plain and simple, and now the already-shaking coalition among some of the more moderate Islamic countries is under more durress. What led to the attacks of September 11th and virtually all acts of terrorism in Israel for the last forty years are due to our constant, unflagging financial and military support of Israel. Wouldn't you be angry seeing hundreds of your brothers and sisters killed by American-made munitions from American-made armaments, murdered for simply throwing rocks, for protesting the occupation of your land? Yes, Israel deserves a state. No question about it. But so do the Palestinian people. And now that the guns have been pointed at the United States we need to address the situation and end the violence now. Only when the guns are aimed at her heart does America respond. It's time to work toward peace with a newfound vigilance, not turn our heads and hope the issue goes away. Negotiation, or at the very least the willingness to, has to be brought to the forefront now.
Yesterday he refused to accept a 10 million dollar donation from visiting Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal because of the Prince's remarks at a memorial sevice at Ground Zero. The Prince, after offering his condolences, was quoted as saying that we "must address some of the issues that led to such a criminal attack", that we should re-examine some of our policies in the Middle East and adopt a better understanding of the Palestinian cause. The ever-blustery Guiliani retorted that the statement was "highly irresponsible" and "dangerous". Wrong, Rudy, your remarks and refusal of generosity from a compatriot were as such. The Prince spoke the truth, plain and simple, and now the already-shaking coalition among some of the more moderate Islamic countries is under more durress. What led to the attacks of September 11th and virtually all acts of terrorism in Israel for the last forty years are due to our constant, unflagging financial and military support of Israel. Wouldn't you be angry seeing hundreds of your brothers and sisters killed by American-made munitions from American-made armaments, murdered for simply throwing rocks, for protesting the occupation of your land? Yes, Israel deserves a state. No question about it. But so do the Palestinian people. And now that the guns have been pointed at the United States we need to address the situation and end the violence now. Only when the guns are aimed at her heart does America respond. It's time to work toward peace with a newfound vigilance, not turn our heads and hope the issue goes away. Negotiation, or at the very least the willingness to, has to be brought to the forefront now.
by at 3:06 PM
kids, whatever you do, don't give the president any money. take it from your uncle rusty.
i mean it. i know he told you he's going to give it to feed the starving children of afghanistan, and give them blankets and clothes like he was santa claus, but he ain't gonna. i'm sorry to break it to you like this, but your president is a liar.
he's going to take your dollar and build bombs with it. and then he's going to take those bombs and drop them on the childen of afghanistan.
bombs are evil things, kids. they blow up buildings, like the world trade center, or smaller buildings, too, like your school or your house. so don't let the president take your money and drop more bombs on people.
go ahead and wash someone's car, or do the neighbor's lawn. but keep that money for yourself, and buy some baseball cards instead. wouldn't you like some baseball cards?
all joking aside, i can't believe the president asked our "children" to participate in his "crusade" against terrorism.
this war makes me so sad.
peace, brothers and sisters! hope to see you sunday.
i mean it. i know he told you he's going to give it to feed the starving children of afghanistan, and give them blankets and clothes like he was santa claus, but he ain't gonna. i'm sorry to break it to you like this, but your president is a liar.
he's going to take your dollar and build bombs with it. and then he's going to take those bombs and drop them on the childen of afghanistan.
bombs are evil things, kids. they blow up buildings, like the world trade center, or smaller buildings, too, like your school or your house. so don't let the president take your money and drop more bombs on people.
go ahead and wash someone's car, or do the neighbor's lawn. but keep that money for yourself, and buy some baseball cards instead. wouldn't you like some baseball cards?
all joking aside, i can't believe the president asked our "children" to participate in his "crusade" against terrorism.
this war makes me so sad.
peace, brothers and sisters! hope to see you sunday.
by at 8:13 PM
So, we're at war, huh? A lot of articles are popping up such as this one showing violent reactions to the U.S. conquest of Afghanistan. This is making a lot of people angry, but seriously, can you blame them for questioning Bush's motives? Remeber, right when this happened, Bush got on TV in his first speech and vowed retaliation, he referred our war on terrorism as "a crusade." Let's see what Websters' Dictionary has to say about this...
Crusade n: 1. Any of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to win the Holy Land from the Muslims. 2. a remedial enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm.
Now, while Bush and his speech writers took this to mean definition #2, the rest of the world, who, due to the slow nature of news traveling on that side of the globe are probably just now getting Bush's initial speeches, interpret the primary definition. The word "crusade" isn't used lightly over there as it is here, because many Muslims were killed during the Crusades. No sane man would refer to our ousting of Bin Laden as "a holocaust for freedom," right? But that's essentially what Bush said to the Muslims!
Pure ignorance, and at a deadly price to America. Didn't someone proof-read that thing?
No wonder the whole region is up in arms: They're scared shitless we're going to wipe their homes and their faith from all existance! Once again, Bush and buddies should have showed up to history class once and a while. Instead, they botched this one up big time. I mean, big time. Now, there are scores of young men waiting to line up to take pot shots at our military to defend their way of life, to prevent a Western-sponsored holocost, not to mention terrorists willing to die to fend off our evil empire that's trying to start "a crusade" against Islam. Good job dipshits! WE could really have used an elected president right now; Gore wouldn't have made this mistake, Nader wouldn't have either. (Jesse Ventura might have, though. Thank God he ain't getting any farther than Minnesota.)
As Illyich said to me earlier today, all of these war hawks we run into these days crying for blood and revenge better be prepared for two things. 1. they'd better be willing to sign up as infantry in our Afghan ground war and 2. THEY'D BETTER BE AWARE OF THE DANGER OUR LEADERS HAVE PUT ALL OF US IN. Otherwise I wish they'd sit the fuck down and pray like the rest of us.
Crusade n: 1. Any of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to win the Holy Land from the Muslims. 2. a remedial enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm.
Now, while Bush and his speech writers took this to mean definition #2, the rest of the world, who, due to the slow nature of news traveling on that side of the globe are probably just now getting Bush's initial speeches, interpret the primary definition. The word "crusade" isn't used lightly over there as it is here, because many Muslims were killed during the Crusades. No sane man would refer to our ousting of Bin Laden as "a holocaust for freedom," right? But that's essentially what Bush said to the Muslims!
Pure ignorance, and at a deadly price to America. Didn't someone proof-read that thing?
No wonder the whole region is up in arms: They're scared shitless we're going to wipe their homes and their faith from all existance! Once again, Bush and buddies should have showed up to history class once and a while. Instead, they botched this one up big time. I mean, big time. Now, there are scores of young men waiting to line up to take pot shots at our military to defend their way of life, to prevent a Western-sponsored holocost, not to mention terrorists willing to die to fend off our evil empire that's trying to start "a crusade" against Islam. Good job dipshits! WE could really have used an elected president right now; Gore wouldn't have made this mistake, Nader wouldn't have either. (Jesse Ventura might have, though. Thank God he ain't getting any farther than Minnesota.)
As Illyich said to me earlier today, all of these war hawks we run into these days crying for blood and revenge better be prepared for two things. 1. they'd better be willing to sign up as infantry in our Afghan ground war and 2. THEY'D BETTER BE AWARE OF THE DANGER OUR LEADERS HAVE PUT ALL OF US IN. Otherwise I wish they'd sit the fuck down and pray like the rest of us.
by at 2:14 PM
Hoo Nelly!!!
Thanks for everyone who showed up to the Knife of Simpson show on Saturday night. We made over 3 million dollars for the Red Cross! No shit! We hope that the sounds of our music brought the planets into alignment and thwarted some terrorists too! I'd like to apologize for our spinning blacklight too: I gotta get that bulb fixed. COME SEE US ON SUNDAY, PLEASE! We're going to throw in a few surprises for ya!
Just a small note before I continue: My favorite anti-Bush site, Bushisnotpresident, run by a friend of mine, has been taken off line, which is a shame. I'm sure she doesn't want to be seen as being in bad taste or anything, but what the Bush family and the Supreme Court did last year is historical fact, and I have a right to be bitter about it. Especially since this war is creeping into that "die for oil, motherfucker" territory. More on that later today (I'm sure Illyich is going to weigh in on this.)
Thanks for everyone who showed up to the Knife of Simpson show on Saturday night. We made over 3 million dollars for the Red Cross! No shit! We hope that the sounds of our music brought the planets into alignment and thwarted some terrorists too! I'd like to apologize for our spinning blacklight too: I gotta get that bulb fixed. COME SEE US ON SUNDAY, PLEASE! We're going to throw in a few surprises for ya!
Just a small note before I continue: My favorite anti-Bush site, Bushisnotpresident, run by a friend of mine, has been taken off line, which is a shame. I'm sure she doesn't want to be seen as being in bad taste or anything, but what the Bush family and the Supreme Court did last year is historical fact, and I have a right to be bitter about it. Especially since this war is creeping into that "die for oil, motherfucker" territory. More on that later today (I'm sure Illyich is going to weigh in on this.)
by at 9:16 AM
Rodney King & PCP? Where is the Disco Godfather, Rudy Ray Moore, when you need him? He'd know what to do about the scourge of "Anjo Dust!"
Of course Ol' Strom isn't going to retire before his term is up. SC's governor would certainly appoint a Democrat to take his place. He can barely speak or move without assistance, but this dog in the manger isn't ready to leave politics behind just yet.
Of course Ol' Strom isn't going to retire before his term is up. SC's governor would certainly appoint a Democrat to take his place. He can barely speak or move without assistance, but this dog in the manger isn't ready to leave politics behind just yet.
by at 10:54 AM
Via Salon, Strom Thurmond collapses. Get out of office and spend some time with your grandkids already, you racist bastard! This guy is so old that he was alive when they were still naming people "Strom."
Again from Salon, Rodney King arrested AGAIN for PCP. You know, the LAPD really fucked up in 1992. Because of their brutality, King is walking around with 3.8 million dollars! Too bad most of it went to his lawyers, because THINK OF ALL THE PCP HE COULD HAVE BOUGHT WITH THAT! The police punished themselves on that one, because now they have to deal with that drugged up freak!!!
Again from Salon, Rodney King arrested AGAIN for PCP. You know, the LAPD really fucked up in 1992. Because of their brutality, King is walking around with 3.8 million dollars! Too bad most of it went to his lawyers, because THINK OF ALL THE PCP HE COULD HAVE BOUGHT WITH THAT! The police punished themselves on that one, because now they have to deal with that drugged up freak!!!
by at 11:53 AM
Check out this warning about emergency anti-terrorism legislation. Pretty scary stuff. Especially when you consider it came from a Conservative website. Read it. Kids going to prison for life for breaking a post office window?
by at 3:46 PM
Before I start, DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE SHOW THIS WEEKEND! Saturday at Phyllis' in Chicago. Meet all of your weblog heroes in person! Now,
Hoo Nelly, it certainly is a confusing time right now. If you thought life in pre-ground zero America was confusing (and it ab-so-fucking-loutely was) now things are getting stranger. On the radio today, I heard three commercials. The first was a solemn message brought by a few local businesses, urging people that, although the events of September 11th were tragic and we as a country face uncertain times, we need to take action. Continuing, it is most important right now, in order to best aid the country, to get back to business and kick start this economy by spending. OK, fair enough. The second commercial was for an auto manufacturer, claiming that interest rates are lower than ever, and to help this country, I need to buy a car. OK, I can see that, maybe it is a good time for that. The third commercial was from Metra and PACE, the suburban train and bus system, urging people that Chicago now has the third worst traffic in the nation, and that whenever possible, everyone needs to start taking the trains and busses.
WHICH IS IT? WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
Do I buy a car and not drive it? Do I sell my car and help out the traffic situation?
Or do I d just shut up, watch Fox News, huddle in my living room at the fear of chemical weapons, refuse to take a cab with an Arab driving, abide by whatever the government tells me, expect that cops have free reign to tap my phone and search my car without just cause, buy as many American flags as my income permits, and rally behind our illegitimate leader like both parties are doing?
I just don't know. The only thing that's clear is that none of us have any idea what is really going on in Washington. That's war for you.
On a more encouraging note, check out this article about the women's resistance to the Taliban. I find this inspiring, but most interesting is their warning to NOT BACK THE NORTHERN RESISTANCE. This is the first time I've heard this, and I trust this to be a good source: The Northern Resistance is just a different flavor of insane and repressive.
Hoo Nelly, it certainly is a confusing time right now. If you thought life in pre-ground zero America was confusing (and it ab-so-fucking-loutely was) now things are getting stranger. On the radio today, I heard three commercials. The first was a solemn message brought by a few local businesses, urging people that, although the events of September 11th were tragic and we as a country face uncertain times, we need to take action. Continuing, it is most important right now, in order to best aid the country, to get back to business and kick start this economy by spending. OK, fair enough. The second commercial was for an auto manufacturer, claiming that interest rates are lower than ever, and to help this country, I need to buy a car. OK, I can see that, maybe it is a good time for that. The third commercial was from Metra and PACE, the suburban train and bus system, urging people that Chicago now has the third worst traffic in the nation, and that whenever possible, everyone needs to start taking the trains and busses.
WHICH IS IT? WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
Do I buy a car and not drive it? Do I sell my car and help out the traffic situation?
Or do I d just shut up, watch Fox News, huddle in my living room at the fear of chemical weapons, refuse to take a cab with an Arab driving, abide by whatever the government tells me, expect that cops have free reign to tap my phone and search my car without just cause, buy as many American flags as my income permits, and rally behind our illegitimate leader like both parties are doing?
I just don't know. The only thing that's clear is that none of us have any idea what is really going on in Washington. That's war for you.
On a more encouraging note, check out this article about the women's resistance to the Taliban. I find this inspiring, but most interesting is their warning to NOT BACK THE NORTHERN RESISTANCE. This is the first time I've heard this, and I trust this to be a good source: The Northern Resistance is just a different flavor of insane and repressive.
by at 2:51 PM