Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Skipping town on the Sabbath
With the run to complete a health care bill, Senators are working out what to do to be in place. Some Reps are bragging and twittering about putting in a cot in their offices to be in place.
Being charitable without being a dick
Hands off holy mama
Bo-tax
Friday, December 11, 2009
Glam media
Crooks and Liars is somewhat peaked at the coverage Glenn Beck is getting from Barbara Walters, being called one of the years most interesting people.
The Battle of the Ages!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Maddow vs the Gay Cure
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
The Best Man - 1964
Boosting employment
Monday, December 07, 2009
More with Chopra
... Anyway, he has gone to the very font of new age nonsense, the Huffington Post, to spew more woo: he’s written an article about why skepticism is bad. It’s almost a bullet-pointed list of logical fallacies. ...
- Skeptics don't like speculative thinking. Cause I know I hate innovative and creative ideas, or creative imaginings of applications of science, or potential future discoveries. I'm such a dick. It is just lame. He throws out half-assed, unsupported, and easily disputed claims, and he gets pissed that other than the group than ignore him and those that listen eagerly at his feet...there are others that actually dispute and want sound foundations before they will treat his ideas as anything other than new age guru piffle. I know he finds that unfair...so do the people selling crystals.
This is pointed to by Steven Novella, who looks at where Chopra seems to sit:... What this article demonstrates is that Chopra is unequivocally anti-science. That is the reason he attacks skeptics and skepticism. He wants his woo to get a free pass. He wants to be able to speculate wildly, without ever having to justify his claims with logic and evidence. Chopra laments being called “the emperor of woo-woo” – probably because he knows that this emperor has no clothes.
- Then there is the beaut, that no skeptic has EVER made a major scientific discovery...ever. That is either blazing stupidity, or attempt to tightly control the definition of a major discoveries and skeptic. He no doubt has a few skeptics that are the good sort that won't be counted. Sagan Dawkins, Einstein, etc. All paved over or redressed for Chopra's needs.
...We New Atheist types like to emphasize that religion ought not to be exempted from the usual requirement that assertions of fact be supported by evidence, and that both the methods and findings of science tend to weaken the case for traditional religious beliefs. For this we are accused, with tiresome lack of originality, of being arrogant. We are lectured about the limits of science and about how we can not prove there is no God. Sometimes we are even described as being like fundamentalists.
Such charges are nonsense, of course. It is not arrogant to grow irritated with those who demand respect for their religion without providing a shred of evidence in support of their beliefs. Arrogance is when you claim to know, with “know” in italics and clearly distinguished from “believe,” that some dubious bit of religious dogma is true.
...
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Who for the holidays
Obviously I can't talk about spoilers for the End of Time episodes at the end of the year, but I can at least share the Whovian holiday fun.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Beck is still paying for his words.
Take a stand about rape?
Looking at a Democratic presidency...in the enemy camp
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
More with the Christian Right
Wingnuttery deluxe: Palin's God Can Kick Obama's God's Ass
Cause, you see, Obama's a Muslim...and a cancer...and the best he can do is be a suicide bomber...but we got Sarah Palin [cue the choral music], and she's gonna save us...cause she has common sense (Sir, you insult all that is common, and all that makes sense.) and lives a Christian life (With the lying, gunning animals down from the air, and constantly quitting jobs...she did get someone to write a book and put her name on it...that's pretty Christian.).
And the Salvation Army. I always feel awkward about them. They are EVERYWHERE. They ring bells and give you looks as you walk by. And I would like to give some to help people in need. But it's the Salvation Army...a Christian group...and a nasty at that. I would be rather go with a secular group that isn't out to judge, dictate to, and push there beliefs. It's my money to give, and how is it gonna be used.
Salvation Army accused of checking immigration status of kids before giving them toys
That's right. The have gifts and aid...for the right sort.
More on the Salvation Army's anti-gay jihad
This links to a list of articles looking at the attack on gay rights that
the friendly old SA is party to.
Find a secular group to give support to. Find one that isn't about exclusion.... As a kid I knew the Salvation Army as the Starvation army from old labor songs. They haven't changed much from the organization that would refuse help to striking workers. ...
UPDATE: Added another link.
The Religious Right, The Family, and Uganda
Rachel Maddow and Jeff Sharlet looked at the looming law in Uganda that puts the lives of gay people in the country in peril. The law will put away gays in some cases in prison for life, and others committing aggravated homosexuality will be killed (What is aggravated?). As well, they will seek to have nationals in other countries that are engaged in gay acts extradited back to Uganda...
What they note is just how closely this law is tied to American citizens. There are the evangelicals that have gone to warn them and encourage them to go to war on homosexuals. There are the ties to Rick Warren at Saddleback (You know, the cuddly religious bigot.). Then there is the Family, that group of religious politicians joined together in secrecy. They have been engaged in enticing this assault on gays. In fact the president of Uganda is a member of the Family. What a wonderful group.
Crooks and Liars looks at this and has video from the interview.
Ah, the evangelical right, joined in the imprisonment and murder of homosexuals. How Christlike.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Dealing with paranormal claims: Are the basic points even true.
To not like being a Republican is the first sign of sanity.
The Senate Stupak is now annointed
Afghan speech
The text of the speech is available from a number of sources.
- AMERICAblog
- TPM has looked at Rep reaction on CNN. Apparently Obama is just another Bush...and apparently that is bad to Reps now.
- Firedoglake is not pleased at all.
Waiting for Obama
Well many of us are waiting for the president to speak in an hour. We will hear about where he wants to take out activities in Afghanistan.
Harvey said he wanted to go for a walk.
Canadian hospitality
You may have heard of what happen with Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now, at the Canadian border. As she tried to cross over to Canada to speak at an event, she was detained. Why? Well, they have the right and responsibility to defend against threats. But, why? They searched her car, went through her private papers, and her computer. Why? The main question they seemed to have for her was this, "Are you here to talk about the upcoming Canadian Olympics?" Huh? No, Really. They were scared of a journalist from the US coming to Canada and possibly talking negatively about the Winter Olympics. That is just pathetic.
Fear the debt?
Yesterday, I posted this letter, signed by a dozen moderate and conservative Democrats, which raises concerns about the national debt. ... How does one square a vote to diminish the estate tax with fiscal discipline? ...
Banning a tower
In its coverage, Crooks and Liars notes that now the Netherlands may be trying to follow in the footsteps of the Swiss.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Looking for something too normal in the paranormal
Sometimes it can be hard to be liberal
Being pissed at Obama
As I have stated before, I have trouble with the stands, absence of stands, and just lolly gagging of the president at times. I am not satisfied.
...Obama has wisely deferred some smaller, politically hazardous battles over issues such as closing Guantanamo, ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and fighting the expansion of Israel's West Bank settlements. Instead, he has saved his fire for his most urgent priorities—preventing a depression, remaking America's global image, and winning universal health insurance. Chow time indeed, if you ask me....
Planet Hulk
What about transparency?
Obama made promises about increased transparency during the campaign and has not been as quick as liked to engage in it in many areas. And many of us are not happy with this. But the Reps have worked hard to just harp on this. When the Stimulus Bill was on the floor Rep. Boehner just pitched a fit over the bill not being online and available long enough (even taking the bill and slamming it on the floor like a whiny 5 year old). Then with health care they have done the same, even as the bill was online and available to be reviewed.
...Republicans shot down an effort today by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) to post proposed amendments to the health care reform bill online for before a vote. That would effect how many amendments the GOP could offer in hopes of gumming up the works, so they refused to go along. ...
Planes, Trains, and...oh, no trains?
TPM looks at the Center for Public Integrity work on a project to show the affect of the lobbying over the new rail projects across the U.S.
...The danger, as they see it, is that lobbying cash and congressional barons will ensure that the money is divvied out into so many different places and on to so many different projects that nothing of any real consequence -- in terms of technology or transformative infrastructure will end up getting done at all.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving posts and flying turkeys
TPM: Top 10 Wild And Wacky Political Voices -- For Whom We're All Very Thankful. From Palin to Foxx.
Crooks and Liars: The Turkeys of Thanksgiving Future: What would a President Palin turkey pardon look like?
Finally.
"As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."
Thanksgiving Traditions
I hope everyone is having a pleasant Thanksgiving Day (in the U.S. For some reason the rest of the world doesn't want to celebrate or holiday as set by down by our presidents...I mean, don't we all celebrate Guy Fawkes Night in the U.S.? Or all of the Dias del los Muertos?).
When we used to do Thanksgiving as cross-dressing and insulting authority...... Thanksgiving in the nineteenth century in some parts of the country was a combination of Eddie Izzard (cross-dressing), Lady Gaga (wild costumes and breaking conventions)...
Where will the reform bills take us?
Catholic Church, always doing the lord's work
Crooks and Liars has an interesting look at the trouble that Catholics have had in politics due to perceptions that they were not loyal first to the Constitution. And also how Bishop Tobin, as he does his media charm offensive, is just making those old fears seem strangely prescient. Bishops trying to give walking orders to legislators is just not a good look with a cassock. Catholic politicians have come a long way to the point of the 3 Kennedy brothers, among others. He seems fine to play a part in being the caricature now.
TV: About the Gays
Seeing as I'm cheezed at the prez
So back to the half measure Obama has seemed to take so far.
...A lot of the criticism of this president has been over his willingness to cave on a promise at the drop of a hat, even when he holds some pretty damn good cards....
...Women are pissed because the White House didn't seem very worried about throwing them overboard in the health care reform bill. Gays are pissed for about 40 reasons, including the President's defense of anti-gay laws in court (and his lawyers' unfortunate comparison of gay marriage to incest and pedophilia - oops). Civil Libertarians are ticked that he flip-flopped on his support for domestic spying. Health care advocates are outraged that President Obama seems to have forgotten all the health care promises that Candidate Obama made. Everyone is ticked about the genuflecting to Wall Street that seems to take place on a daily basis. And so on. ...
And media joins in...
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
So it is okay for Limbaugh to say this stuff?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
150 years
It's been 150 years since the publishing of Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.
Here are some looks at what happen today.
Snarky Trek Video Reviews
Here is a taste of some of them.
Star Trek
Space Seed
Movies
The Wrath of Khan - Part 1
The Wrath of Khan - Part 2
The Wrath of Khan - Part 3
The Wrath of Khan - Part 4
The Next Generation
The Outrageous Okona - Part 1
The Outrageous Okona - Part 2
Deep Space Nine
In the Pale Moonlight
Followup
Voyager
The Caretaker - Part 1
The Caretaker - Part 2
Enterprise
Shuttlepod One
CNN wishes to welcome the Republican overlords.
If you keep an eye on the media and/or the RNC you will have heard about the upheaval in the RNC. Particularly in their communications teams, where the Senior Communications Advisor has left. Well in the wake of this event they have called up one Alex Castellanos to take on the role. You may remember him as a regular mouthpiece on CNN throughout the day. He is a Republican mouthpiece, as well as he works with the Chamber of Commerce and the Health Insurance Plans. In all three roles he is called on or paid to attack the presidents agenda, particularly health care.
But now that he is with the RNC, he is leaving CNN. I mean, he is an active official higher up operative of the core of one of this nation's two main political parties. If anything that is a line that can't be crossed and still serve as a constant, and generally unquestioned, voice on CNN. Right? NO. So CNN wants the talk radio people off, except when they do, to get in some more thoughtful conversations, and independent analysis, like with communications advisor for the RNC, or Orly Tates. Great.
So, yes, CNN only wishes to welcome their new overlords.
On the treatment of women
Laughable, yes. But they have also been trying to claim they are the defender of current social programs, civil rights, and actually the one that passed the Civil Rights Act (arm in arm with Martin Luther King, Jr,).
So when they see Palin facing criticism they scream. It's unfair to say she is not qualified, not intellectually engaged, or or acts vapid. Why not? We mostly said the same of the last president as we saw he swagger around, make stupid comments, and just seem board with his job too often.
Now to be fair there is unfair treatment. Mocking her looks is cheap. And the way Ann Coulter is gone after for ridiculous allegations that she is not a women. It is stupid, insulting, and beneath anyone who wants to claim they are in the process of making serious arguments. The same with Limbaugh a cracks at his enormous gut. They all have so much wrong with their ideas, words, and actions. It would take lifetime to go through a critique of just their personal attitudes and claims. But it is easy to just make mockery of the other sort. And I see plenty of that online, and sometimes in the media. Olbermann had a bad habit of making comments about women's looks, but I think I have not heard him dip into that depth in awhile.
But as the link above points to, you can see all the nastiness FOX throws at women that are Dems.
And just recently Limbaugh and Beck have found a new one. Calling a female senator who deals to get support for her state a hooker. Classy Beck. Lieberman is blocking reform for all the money being passed straight to him, not his state. Yet he is not going to be tarred with this epitaph, is he? Certainly not in any media stop on any network where he makes his obstructionist arguments.
Palin is challenged over her seriousness, and she quits jobs, does some social networking, and tours with a book that's 90% vindictiveness. Her acts day after day speak volumes. Senator from LA does as legislators do (for good or ill) and get aid for her state's citizens, and that is a unique and shocking act of prostitution. Tell me what, Beck. How about the Reps that added money for their communities in the Stimulus Bill or in Health Care (Like Orrin Hatch and the money that is going to go to the Christian Scientist), and then vote against it. What's that make them?
What's that make them, Beck?