6.29.2004
Cheney Dismisses Critic With Obscenity (washingtonpost.com)
Cheney Dismisses Critic With Obscenity (washingtonpost.com): "There is no rule against obscene language by a vice president on the Senate floor. The senators were present for a group picture and not in session, so Rule 19 of the Senate rules -- which prohibits vulgar statements 'unbecoming a senator' -- does not apply, according to a Senate official. Even if the Senate were in session, the vice president, though constitutionally the president of the Senate, is an executive branch official and therefore free to use whatever language he likes. "
This is too rich. On one hand it is sad that the political discourse in this country has come to this. on the other hand the ironies are so plentiful and satisfying, not to mention that it brings me a certain pleasure to know cheney is resorting to expletives on the senate floor. maybe he doesn't think things are going so well in the reelection campaign.
probably the greatest irony isn't the simple hypocrisy of calling out kerry's use of la langue, but that fact that Cheney told a senator to go fuck himself "on the same day the Senate passed legislation described as the "Defense of Decency Act" by 99 to 1."
This is the legislation Stern thinks will take him off the air, holding him personally accountable for fines of up to 3 million dollars per violation. Now of course Cheney wasn't on the radio, but Cheney's ejaculation is more likely to make a splash than what Stern has to say, and as the president of the senate, not to mention vice president of the country, the tenor he takes sets the tone for the most powerful men and women in the world. Hypocrisy, the new leadership.
and by new i mean as old as the wind.
thanks California Joe
Three weekends past I saw a big sequoia tree in a desert town called big pine. Turns out the town is named after the tree, which was planted by Roosevelt in 1913. I ate hamburgers cooked in the high desert. I climbed up a mountain, past two lakes, to discover the third, nestled into the side of a snow covered peak. We took the peak, snow and all. I followed in Joe's footsteps through the powder-- his boots made a nice staircase and I was wearing sneakers. When we got a couple hundred feet above flower lake, and everything was white with snow and sun, we slid down the mountain on our asses. It was too much fun so we did it a few more times, leaving an unmistakable mark on the landscape. We cooked and ate camp food on a coleman, got drunk off whiskey, played cards, fired guns, etc...
The Torrey Pine
The Torrey Pine: "What is special about a Torrey pine? It's not the rarest pine in the world. The Dalat pine is. It isn't even the rarest tree in California. That's the Monterey cypress. The Torrey pine doesn't grow to a great size like a redwood. It doesn't grow to a great age like a bristlecone pine. It isn't known for excellent lumber like a sugar pine. Torrey pine wood is brittle, rots easily, and doesn't even make a good fire. The Torrey pine doesn't even have the dubious distinction of being endangered. So, 'what's special about a Torrey pine?' The Torrey pines along the sea cliffs suffer from persistent drought. Their roots are growing in poor sand which can hardly be called 'soil'. The trees are blasted by storms and cooked in the sun. Some trees die, but the species lives stubbornly on. some trees, like some people, develop character during hard times. That's what I think is special about the Torrey pine..."
I was feeling a bit nostalgic for San Diego and looked up the Torrey Pine. Amy's roomate had a Torrey Pine hat from the golf course and I liked the name and the image of the tree. If you are ever in San Diego, check out the Torrey Pines.
I was feeling a bit nostalgic for San Diego and looked up the Torrey Pine. Amy's roomate had a Torrey Pine hat from the golf course and I liked the name and the image of the tree. If you are ever in San Diego, check out the Torrey Pines.
6.25.2004
GeorgeWBush.com :: The Official Re-election Site for President George W. Bush
GeorgeWBush.com :: The Official Re-election Site for President George W. Bush
check out bush's new spot and tell me what you think. and for the intel: Hitler Reappears in '04 Campaign, This Time in Bush Ad
Bush Says Europe Supports U.S. on Iraq
what you're talking about: "'First of all, most of Europe supported the decision in Iraq. Really what you're talking about is France, isn't it? And they didn't agree with my decision. They did vote for the U.N. Security (news - web sites) Council resolution. ... We just had a difference of opinion about whether, when you say something, you mean it.' "
So Mr. President, I guess France's opinion is that when one says something, one doesn't mean it, and that is just a difference between the french leadership and straight talkers like you from Texas, huh? Like the time you promised to call for a vote on the UN resolution to invade Iraq?
A history:
"No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote. We want to see people stand up and say what their opinion is about Saddam Hussein and the utility of the United Nations Security Council. And so, you bet. It's time for people to show their cards, to let the world know where they stand when it comes to Saddam."
George W. Bush
White House Press Conference
March 6th, 2003
"After insisting for a week that it would force a vote in the Council, the White House has over the last few days waffled about its intentions Today, administration officials did not rule out the possibility that the three leaders would decide on Sunday to abandon the resolution altogether."
The New York Times
March 15th, 2003
"The United States, Britain and Spain at the United Nations _ facing certain defeat in the Security Council _ announced they would withdraw their resolution setting a deadline for full Iraqi disarmament and authorizing war."
Knight-Ridder
March 18th, 2003
Maybe the french just don't believe that when you say something, you mean it.
6.24.2004
frostgiant
These images are from the forthcoming short film "frostgiant" taped in late 2003 and to be released via this website late 2004. This image and the short film come courtesy of Microfilms.
ive been feeling really low all week. i took tuesday off and just slept. ive really just been waiting for the sickness to rear its phlemmy head.
but it has not. i have remained heavy in mind and body, with no other symptoms to speak of, except perhaps a case of the malaise.
today, i had a cup of joe, and BOOM, i feel much ameliorated, enlivened, magipercolated, spectinternized and generally smotamalous. So now im wondering if it was all caffene withdrawl. I havent really had any in a week, except for just now. and if it was that, then what now? on one hand it makes me want to use the stuff, but it also makes me want to do the opposite of that.
'Fahrenheit 9/11' ban?=The Hill.com=
The headline is misleading, but it sounds like there will likely be a ban on commercials for Fahrenheit 9/11 after july 30, because of campaign finance reform. A hairy issue, methinks, because there is a legitimate worry that people will try to sneak around mccain-feingold, but there is also a legitimate worry that the bill will become a license to censor.
6.23.2004
No cheating!
Maggot Art is a fantastic new teaching tool for use in the elementary school setting. Children get hands-on experience with insects that most people find truly disgusting -- maggots -- while creating a beautiful piece of artwork to share with others."
Video - Jonglage avec un stylo
ok, its a movie, so you need some bandwidth or patience, but anyone who did debate in high school needs to check this out.
NY Promoter Wants Springsteen to Upstage Bush
Yahoo! News - NY Promoter Wants Springsteen to Upstage Bush
not a bad idea at all. funny how protests just don't do the trick anymore. you need a high profile highly entertaining event which is associated with a cause. Actual substantive discussion about said cause is a non-starter.
not a bad idea at all. funny how protests just don't do the trick anymore. you need a high profile highly entertaining event which is associated with a cause. Actual substantive discussion about said cause is a non-starter.
i like to think that i tend not to drool over movie stars. but i like her. lame is me, and woe.
6.21.2004
The New York Times > Movies > Michael Moore Is Ready for His Close-Up
The New York Times > Movies > Michael Moore Is Ready for His Close-Up: "After a year spent covering the federal commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, I was recently allowed to attend a Hollywood screening. Based on that single viewing, and after separating out what is clearly presented as Mr. Moore's opinion from what is stated as fact, it seems safe to say that central assertions of fact in 'Fahrenheit 9/11' are supported by the public record (indeed, many of them will be familiar to those who have closely followed Mr. Bush's political career)."
Talking Points Memo
An Anonymous human makes some very interesting points about the war on terror. basically, we need to change policies or start with the heavy killing. I favor plan A. He also says something I've been saying here for a while:
"[T]here is nothing bin Laden could have hoped for more than the American invasion and occupation of Iraq."
6.17.2004
Report Says U.S. Has 'Secret' Detention Centers
'Secret' Detention Centers are awesome! So cool! Now other countries and citizens will fear our wrath and power and we will, like, totally be able to spread democracy!
6.16.2004
CNN.com - Mind over video game - Jun 15, 2004
CNN.com - Mind over video game - Jun 15, 2004
i think there is a future in this kinda shnaz.
GameSpy.com:
JO Hype
the game is released people. all my thanks to everyone for sticking with me and by me throught this. i know i have been MIA way too much. thanks all.
just in case this comes up again
Yahoo! News - 9/11 Panel Disputes Iraq Link to Attacks: "WASHINGTON - Bluntly contradicting the Bush administration, the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks reported Wednesday there was 'no credible evidence' that Saddam Hussein had ties with al-Queda."
Cheney keeps saying otherwise, why? The TV press has never called him on it, that's why. Maybe now, wish Bush looking weak, the election impending, and the 9.11 commission dissenting, they will.
we are so fucked... literally
Yahoo! News - P&G Female Sexual Desire Patch Effective in Trial
Alexandra was telling me about some of this stuff. I think the article says the drug, "intrinsa," is for women who have had their ovaries removed, but already that feels like a footnote. Doubtlessly the drug will be prescribed to many women who simply don't want to be dysfunctional.
this is not to say im against a drug that allows men or women to have and enjoy more sex-- I'm not. But I am creeped out by the idea that women, or men, who aren't having the greatest most mind blowing sexual encounters with enough frequency, are dysfunctional. will we all be stoned on sex while the world slowly crumbles? I guess not, but I can't help but be turned off at every "new market" created in this overly commercial world, especially when the market starts calling behavior not in line with fantasy or normalcy "dysfunctional."
Also, what's with the name? Intrinsa is anything but, right?
6.15.2004
BartCop's most recent rants
BartCop's most recent rants: "'When courts extend constitutional prohibitions beyond their previously recognized limit,
they may restrict democratic choices made by public bodies.'
--Rehnquist, who sided with the conservative majority in Bush v. Gore, explaining why
he couldn't rule in favor of Newdow's 'under God' challenge in the Pledge Attribution "
6.14.2004
Retired Officials Say Bush Must Go
Retired Officials Say Bush Must Go: "WASHINGTON � A group of 26 former senior diplomats and military officials, several appointed to key positions by Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, plans to issue a joint statement this week arguing that President George W. Bush has damaged America's national security and should be defeated in November.
The group, which calls itself Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, will explicitly condemn Bush's foreign policy, according to several of those who signed the document."
"Ever since Franklin Roosevelt, the U.S. has built up alliances in order to amplify its own power," he said. "But now we have alienated many of our closest allies, we have alienated their populations. We've all been increasingly appalled at how the relationships that we worked so hard to build up have simply been shattered by the current administration in the method it has gone about things."
6.10.2004
6.08.2004
first person to email me gets a gmail invite.
FIRST PERSON ONLY. Sorry, and dont ask if you already have one please.
ACCOUNT GIVEN. Thanks for playing.
BartCop's most recent rants
BartCop's most recent rants: " Reagan's 'landslide' over Mondale
I keep hearing the TV babbling Clinton-haters bragging about Reagan's 'landslide' over Mondale.
That had nothing to do with Reagan's 'greatness,' it was all about Mondale breaking Bart's Law #1
> Bart's Law #1
> Don't EVER tell the truth in a political campaign.
> People want to be lied to.
> They don't care if you're the best, most qualified candidate in history, they're going to vote for
> a candidate who stars in a fuzzy video of him playing with the family dog while his pearl-necklaced
> wife and your 2.3 small children watch in awe while the voice-over dude explains that this guy
> has whatever-state-you-live-in family values.
> If you doubt me, ask President Mondale about telling the truth.
In the 1986 debate, Reagan promised he'd never raise taxes, so Mondale looked the camera right
in the eye and said, 'I'm going to raise your taxes, and so will Mr Reagan. The difference
between us is I'm telling you the truth.' And Reagan did raise taxes in 1986 with Bob Dole's help.
That's how you lose 76 states - don't ever be honest with the voters because voters are like children.
They don't have the courage to hear the damn truth. Voters want to be lied to. "
The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: The Great Taxer
"Over the course of this week we'll be hearing a lot about Ronald Reagan, much of it false."
another shweet Krugman column, this one on reagan's tax cuts. krugman is a professor of economics (and international relations) at princeton, so that's something.
6.07.2004
Fahrenheit 9/11 Trailer
Fahrenheit 9/11 Trailer
"This is an impressive crowd: The haves, and the have mores. Some people call you the elite. I call you my base."
-George W. Bush.
"I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you. Now watch this drive."
-George W. Bush before hitting one straight down the fairway
6.04.2004
dig and be dug in return
a rainbow is created "real-time" by the reaction between your eyes, the sun's light, and the water droplets in the sky. this is why as you move, the rainbow seemingly moves to stay ahead of you, remaining always between you and the sun. This explains sayings like "the gold at the end of the rainbow" or " don't go chasing rainbows." Ok, fine, but what about the other side? rainbows also seemingly follow you, if we shouldnt chase remembers, we should also not run from them. actually, you can get away by getting out of the drizzle or not looking at the side of the landscape with the sun. interestingly, everyone who sees a rainbow sees a different one, the one in line with them and the sun. Is there only one rainbow? So you move the rainbow doesn't move at all, but rather the universe (you + everything else) creates new rainbows constantly as you move.
so it is with all things.
But going further, the rainbows only come in and out of existence because of things like people and water and light. A play of light by the universe. without the people, no rainbow, so does it exist? I think this question is the opposite of "if a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around does it make a sound?" If a person IS around and SEES a rainbow, does it make a rainbow? Everything in your life that brings you to that spot to see that instantly unique rainbow helped create the rainbow. Any rainbow is indistinguishable from the rest of the universe, through all time. The only reason we can is because the senses of the body lie.
so it is with all things.
also, it sucks how they've made thinking about rainbows such a cliche we dare not do it. Next week, a meditation on lollipops.
the game is gold and im off to the sierra mountains for three days of hiking, camping, and soul-searching. Either soul-searching or beer.
American Empire
Twentieth Century Atlas - 21st Century Predictions - American Empire: "The Roman Empire was ruled by an Emperor.
In the intervening 2000 years, we've taken to using anglicized/russified/germanized variation of Roman terms like Emperor, Czar and Kaiser to label absolute rulers of vast territories, wielding godlike powers that pass with dynastic regularity from father to son across the centuries, but this represents a kind of semantic drift. The original meaning of the Latin word imperator was probably closer to the modern generalissimo.
If the classical Roman Empire were planted in the modern world, we probably wouldn't call it a monarchy. It was more of a military dictatorship, and we'd call the emperor a strongman, a person who pulled all the strings, but didn't necessarily hold any fixed constitutional office or have any kind of title beyond princeps - first citizen.
There wasn't any kind of established rule as to who became emperor after the old one died. Generally, the role fell to a close associate or adult relative with combat experience and influential connections. Almost as often, the office was grabbed by coup d'etat. It wasn't until the accession of Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius, that Rome got its first emperor born to the purple, that is, born to a father who was already emperor. That was in 180 AD, or 211 years after Augustus. Since American constitutional history begins in 1789, that would be the equivalent of seeing a major dynastic first in the 2000 election, let's say the first presidential son to be appointed to the presidency by the Supreme Court -- not that I'm implying anything."
bright blue is more than 1000 US Soldiers, medium is more than 100, darkest blue is "use of facilities."
bright blue is more than 1000 US Soldiers, medium is more than 100, darkest blue is "use of facilities."
6.03.2004
Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey: "We�re spreading democracy, are we? Same way European explorers brought Christianity to the Indians, what we now call �Native Americans.�
How ungrateful they were! How ungrateful are the people of Baghdad today."
6.01.2004
not really worth reading, but this line is just too funny
Yahoo! News - Julia Roberts expecting twins : spokeswoman: "Roberts shot to worldwide fame after playing a loveable prostitute in 1990's 'Pretty Woman,'"
also, in the same article:
"She is due to begin shooting in Italy later this month on "Ocean's 12,""
Yahoo! News - Saint, Peace Seeker, Hero by Turns
Yahoo! News - Saint, Peace Seeker, Hero by Turns: "'I move during cyclones, during blazing summers and cold winters,' he said. 'I think of God, I think of Mother Earth, and then I roll and roll and roll. I don't feel dizzy. I don't consume any food, just tea and cigarettes. At night, I eat fruits, roti [bread], whatever I can lay my hands on.' "
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