Thursday, August 27, 2009
Good riddance.
When I first heard of Ted Kennedy's death, I was glad to hear of it. In my journey across the political spectrum one thing has remained constant: I have always detested Ted Kennedy. Despite the glowing eulogies - even hagiography - for Ted Kennedy, I am confirmed in my initial reaction.The only thing better than a dead Ted Kennedy now - seemingly the only way to get him out of the Senate - would be if the son of a bitch had drowned 40 years ago instead of Mary Jo Kopechne. Though unfortunately his influence lingers on, I, for one, am glad he's gone. My only desire is that the Massholes who kept returning the bloated gasbag to office will collectively come to their senses.
I'm not holding my breath.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
R.I.P.
****
In the dim recesses of memory, all the faces of my youth look the same now as they did when. Angela, Kathy, Cecil, Terry and all the other friends, acquaintances, lovers and enemies of my past haven't changed at all. On the rare occasions when I encounter any of them, there is a momentary struggle to match the latest incarnation of an old friend to my memories. Pop icons are no different.
I can't say I was ever a fan of Michael Jackson, but there was no escaping him. He was on the cover of every fan mag and tabloid for the last 40 years. With his increasingly bizarre behavior and the sad, strange caricature of himself that he became, it's hard to believe that this normal kid became the media's favorite train wreck of the past decade or so.
Michael Jackson and I had little in common. He was a male, born a Hoosier and 50. That was about it. Today, we have even less in common, as he is no longer sucking air. Jackson had issues and demons I'll never face. I wouldn't trade places with him for all his money. While I certainly don't condone his actions or his "lifestyle," I try not to cheerlead for the devil. So here's hoping that Michael stands before his Maker and is shown the mercy none of us deserve.
****
On the wall in my office is a Snap-On clock of early '80's vintage, I'd guess. The lovely young model who posed for the photo that is on the face of that clock is probably at least 45 now. I know she has more than a few admirers a third of her age because the model in that 27 year old picture is as lovely now as she was then and will remain until the end of time - or of that clock at any rate...
The Farrah Fawcett of 2009 is not the same person as the youthful Farrah of 1976. If you came of age in the 70's, chances are you either had this poster or knew someone who did. In 1976 I was a senior in high school. This poster was everywhere. 33 years later, the subject of the photo, and the object of so many young men's fantasies, is dead.
Rest in peace, Farrah Fawcett.
In the dim recesses of memory, all the faces of my youth look the same now as they did when. Angela, Kathy, Cecil, Terry and all the other friends, acquaintances, lovers and enemies of my past haven't changed at all. On the rare occasions when I encounter any of them, there is a momentary struggle to match the latest incarnation of an old friend to my memories. Pop icons are no different.
I can't say I was ever a fan of Michael Jackson, but there was no escaping him. He was on the cover of every fan mag and tabloid for the last 40 years. With his increasingly bizarre behavior and the sad, strange caricature of himself that he became, it's hard to believe that this normal kid became the media's favorite train wreck of the past decade or so.Michael Jackson and I had little in common. He was a male, born a Hoosier and 50. That was about it. Today, we have even less in common, as he is no longer sucking air. Jackson had issues and demons I'll never face. I wouldn't trade places with him for all his money. While I certainly don't condone his actions or his "lifestyle," I try not to cheerlead for the devil. So here's hoping that Michael stands before his Maker and is shown the mercy none of us deserve.
****
On the wall in my office is a Snap-On clock of early '80's vintage, I'd guess. The lovely young model who posed for the photo that is on the face of that clock is probably at least 45 now. I know she has more than a few admirers a third of her age because the model in that 27 year old picture is as lovely now as she was then and will remain until the end of time - or of that clock at any rate...
The Farrah Fawcett of 2009 is not the same person as the youthful Farrah of 1976. If you came of age in the 70's, chances are you either had this poster or knew someone who did. In 1976 I was a senior in high school. This poster was everywhere. 33 years later, the subject of the photo, and the object of so many young men's fantasies, is dead.Rest in peace, Farrah Fawcett.
Monday, May 11, 2009
An anonymous 8th century Saxon...
beholds the Roman ruin:
‘Strange to behold
is the stone of this wall
broken by fate
The strongholds are bursten
The work of giants decaying
the roofs are fallen
the towers are tottering
Mouldering palaces roofless
Weather marked masonry shattering
Shelters time-scarred tempest-marred
undermined of old
Earth’s grasp holdeth
Its mighty builders
tumbled, crumbled
in gravel’s harsh grip
Till a hundred generations
of men pass away.’
Labels: melancholia
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
RINO Specter a Demonrat
...and also a liar.
Sen. Arlen Spector: ‘To Eliminate Any Doubt, I Am a Republican’
One RINO down; quite a few more to go. Snowe of ME should be shown the door so she can hit it too.
Sen. Arlen Spector: ‘To Eliminate Any Doubt, I Am a Republican’
One RINO down; quite a few more to go. Snowe of ME should be shown the door so she can hit it too.
Labels: politics
Friday, April 24, 2009
“What a bunch of stupid bitches most single mothers are.”
Hey, I didn't say it! This guy did! And if you think that statement was bad, wait'll you catch the title of the article.
I didn't say it, not in this way anyway, but I agree with him.
Funnily enough, an old New York University study from the ’50s says they’re just that, specifically, “overtly dominant, aggressive, narcissistic and bitterly hostile.” Sounds accurate to me. Shit, I get uncomfortable when I see babies with pierced ears, but you’re cutting out 50% of their parenting? Isn’t that child abuse? Talk about starting your child out with a crippling handicap. - Gavin McInnes
I didn't say it, not in this way anyway, but I agree with him.
Labels: social issues
Just...Wow!
Starving the Beast
I wish I could increase spending with falling revenue, but then I don't have my very own printing press. Counterfeiting is worse when the government does it. The small-timers can't make enough funny money to do any real damage and the bills are spotted and taken out of circulation quickly. We'll be straightening out this mess for generations.
What morons we elect. What morons we must be.*
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*in the collective of course. We both know we're really pretty smart, don't we?**
**At least I am!***
***No - really!
I wish I could increase spending with falling revenue, but then I don't have my very own printing press. Counterfeiting is worse when the government does it. The small-timers can't make enough funny money to do any real damage and the bills are spotted and taken out of circulation quickly. We'll be straightening out this mess for generations.
What morons we elect. What morons we must be.*
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*in the collective of course. We both know we're really pretty smart, don't we?**
**At least I am!***
***No - really!
Labels: economy
Really good, without hyperbole!
Jim Babka writing at Positive Liberty -
Huzzah!
As a more-or-less orthodox Catholic - that is, a social conservative - I obviously take issue with my more socially liberal brethren at Positive Liberty and other such sites, but this is a great site. The ability to hit all of my congresscritters at the same time is, if not priceless, then wonderfully convenient.
Babka's post on the evil's of HR 875 Really Bad (Without Hysterical Exaggeration) is spot on. It is a farm safety bill that would be a disaster for farmers and the rest of us. You can see information on HR 875, including the whole text of the bill, at govtrack.us. No exaggeration, this bill is a disaster in waiting.
If you’ve never been to DownsizeDC.org, I encourage you to visit. We provide a free to the user program that we call the Educate the Powerful System. With your basic contact information, you can find out who your Representative and Senators are, and then, send them a personalized message, simultaneously (no need to go to all three sites and input all your information each time). Register once, and you’re done with that too — no need to redo the process when you use the site again. Plus, you’ll get a subscription to the Downsizer-Dispatch. The benefit of using our system is that you’re not alone in sending your messages. 24,900+ people receive the Dispatch each day.
Huzzah!
As a more-or-less orthodox Catholic - that is, a social conservative - I obviously take issue with my more socially liberal brethren at Positive Liberty and other such sites, but this is a great site. The ability to hit all of my congresscritters at the same time is, if not priceless, then wonderfully convenient.
Babka's post on the evil's of HR 875 Really Bad (Without Hysterical Exaggeration) is spot on. It is a farm safety bill that would be a disaster for farmers and the rest of us. You can see information on HR 875, including the whole text of the bill, at govtrack.us. No exaggeration, this bill is a disaster in waiting.
Labels: politics
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The revolution begins?
Not by windbag libertardians talking King George to death, but a 68-year-old fart with a thing against getting speeding tickets in the mail, apparently.
Prayers for Georgianni and his family, and for Destories.
The comments to the story are revealing. The photo radar program, put in place by current head of DHS and ex- AZ gov Napolitano seems to be unpopular.
Doug Georgianni, 51, was on the eastbound side of the highway inside a Ford Escape used in the Arizona Department of Public Safety photo-enforcement program when police said (Thomas Patrick) Destories pulled up in a 1980s model Chevrolet Suburban and fired several shots at the van about 8:45 p.m.
Prayers for Georgianni and his family, and for Destories.
The comments to the story are revealing. The photo radar program, put in place by current head of DHS and ex- AZ gov Napolitano seems to be unpopular.
All Purpose O-pology
From American Digest:
The rest of the post is equally sad and funny. Sadly funny. I swear Obambi is actively trying to supplant Jimmy Carter as "Worst President Ever." I'm already longing for the good ole days of the Bush presidency - urkh.
TO: White House Staff
FROM: David Axelrod
cc: POTUS, FLOTUS, TOTUS, CNN, MSNBC, JOURNOLIST
RE: Standard O-Pology Policy [For immediate release to loyalists]
The continuing strain on our beloved President Obama of His world-girdling apology tour is beginning to show on our Commander-in-Chief. In addition, even with several hundred more aides in the White House than his predecessors, the effort of crafting new craven and groveling statements is beginning to tax even those resources. In the interest of a more efficient government, our beloved President today signed off on the following document which will be used henceforth for all state occasions.
All Purpose O-pology
I, [SAY YOUR NAME AND TITLE], come to [NAME EVENT / COUNTRY / MEDIA OPPORTUNITY / CHANCE ENCOUNTER] today as the very first penitent, conscience-stricken, regretful and contrite American President. Speaking as the one and only unifying voice for My country, I beg your indulgence to say that all Americans now share the pain our very existence causes you and we deeply regret it. We repent of our lives, our freedom, and our prosperity with every shred of our American soul. Hear now our eternal confession of sin and error.
The rest of the post is equally sad and funny. Sadly funny. I swear Obambi is actively trying to supplant Jimmy Carter as "Worst President Ever." I'm already longing for the good ole days of the Bush presidency - urkh.
Labels: politics
AIDS Prevention in Africa
It seems strange that 30 years later we are still having a conversation about a disease that is easily preventable. And yet, due largely to a wholly inadequate response to the problem of AIDS, more people have died and many more have contacted AIDS than is necessary. It seems that sin does indeed make one stupid.
Dale O'Leary has written a provocative paper, provided by the blog Feminine Genius here that brings us up to date with the situation in Africa, and the picture isn't pretty.
In the wake of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Africa and the attendant brouhaha over O'Leary updated a 2005 paper, providing an overview of the various strategies for dealing with AIDS.
Be sure to read the full report.
Dale O'Leary has written a provocative paper, provided by the blog Feminine Genius here that brings us up to date with the situation in Africa, and the picture isn't pretty.
In the wake of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Africa and the attendant brouhaha over O'Leary updated a 2005 paper, providing an overview of the various strategies for dealing with AIDS.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has caused immeasurable suffering, but prevention is possible. The disease does not strike randomly – we have identified the virus that causes AIDS, and we know the pathways the virus can take. The question for the people of Africa is: What is the most effective strategy for preventing transmission?
The protection of public health in the face of deadly epidemics has always required a balance between respecting freedom and saving lives. Governments are given three options from which to build a strategic response: risk elimination, risk avoidance, and risk reduction. Even the most devastating epidemics can be stopped if the government is willing to abridge its citizens' freedom by employing draconian risk elimination strategies such as mandatory testing and quarantine. Such strategies are normally only employed for deadly, fast-moving epidemics. Risk avoidance strategies prevent infection by motivating the public to avoid all possible sources of infection and enforcing public health regulations. Risk reduction strategies allow people to continue to engage in behaviors that could expose them to infection while encouraging a reduction – but not elimination – of the risk of infection.
Early in the epidemic, various nations made different choices with differing results. When Cuban soldiers returned from fighting in Angola, the government realized that some were infected with HIV. The regime responded with mandatory testing and quarantine. The epidemic was blunted.
The U.S. opted for risk reduction. Mandatory testing and quarantine were suggested but ruled unacceptable. Standard public health measures that were used to control sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis and gonorrhea were also rejected. Instead, prevention focused on educating people on the ways in which they could protect themselves by using condoms. The result: twenty-five years after the threat was identified, over a half million citizens have died of AIDS and three times that many are living with HIV. In 2006 in the U.S. 56,300 people were newly infected – the majority of them being men who have sex with men. The U.S. strategy with some modifications has been exported to other countries as the preferred method for controlling the epidemic.
Africa’s leaders and those who fund AIDS prevention programs in Africa need to consider the full range of options available. The following is a review of what is known about how HIV is transmitted, standard public health strategies, the prevention strategy presented to Africa as the "scientific consensus," the agendas of those who created this consensus, the challenges to that consensus, alternative strategies, and the effect of the choice of prevention strategy on the culture.
Be sure to read the full report.
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