I've avoided the Terri Schiavo fiasco. I believe it is a private issue. I am appalled by all the attention is getting and the blatant politicizing of her case.
So why are people stupid?
They're stupid because they actually think she's the first person to die this way. They're stupid because they don't realize how many die every day. They're stupid because they spend time, money, and energy on a no-win case when there are plenty of children and adults who need someone to stand up for them.
These people make me ill. How many protested when a baby was taken off life support against his mother's wishes? How many will continue to fight for the ill? How many care about all the other patients in the hospital? I say none.
There are many who are using this case to make a statement. You don't make a statement in one act of protest. You make a statement by all the little things you do every day. You don't make a statement by getting involved in a private, family dispute. You make a statement by getting involved with an international or national crisis and standing up for lasting change there.
Get educated, people! Stop jumping on whatever story the media throws at you and making it yours. Find your cause. Get involved. Stay involved. Before you do, learn about it. Stop making stupid comments.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
I Wonder Why
Army recruiting still down
The Army is likely to miss its recruiting goals again in March and April, and will open a campaign targeting parents to encourage their children to join up. Army Secretary about the National Guard, which has missed its recruiting goals by 25 percent so far. Recruiting across all branches of the Army is slightly off so far this year. The active duty Army is recruiting at 94 percent of its goal, and the Army reserves is at 90 percent. The Army is retaining existing soldiers at 100 percent of its goal or better, Harvey said. The Army has increased the number of recruiters by more than a third and has offered extra cash bonuses to new recruits. It is also targeting teachers and parents to explain the benefits to young people of joining the military. These "chief influencers" are believed to be the source of some of the recruitment problems. "We're going to appeal to patriotism. We're going to appeal to the value of service. And we're going to do that in a very proactive way. ... We're getting that message to the influencers, including parents, including teachers," Harvey said.
The Army is likely to miss its recruiting goals again in March and April, and will open a campaign targeting parents to encourage their children to join up. Army Secretary about the National Guard, which has missed its recruiting goals by 25 percent so far. Recruiting across all branches of the Army is slightly off so far this year. The active duty Army is recruiting at 94 percent of its goal, and the Army reserves is at 90 percent. The Army is retaining existing soldiers at 100 percent of its goal or better, Harvey said. The Army has increased the number of recruiters by more than a third and has offered extra cash bonuses to new recruits. It is also targeting teachers and parents to explain the benefits to young people of joining the military. These "chief influencers" are believed to be the source of some of the recruitment problems. "We're going to appeal to patriotism. We're going to appeal to the value of service. And we're going to do that in a very proactive way. ... We're getting that message to the influencers, including parents, including teachers," Harvey said.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Egg Art
Egg Art
In honor of Easter, I direct you to this wonderful website that features eggs.
I would happily display any of this guy's egg art. I love eggs!
Happy Easter!
Bush and Religion
The short-term objective of this country is to find an enemy and bring them to justice before they strike us. The long-term objective is to make this world a more free and hopeful and peaceful place. I believe we'll succeed because freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world.
-- Without the slightest sign of compunction, Dubya enters the muddy waters of religiosity mixed with warfare once again, Portsmouth, Ohio, Sep. 10, 2004
I don't think you order suiciders to kill innocent men, women, and children if you're a religious person.
-- No, I don't reckon you do, even if there were such things as suiciders, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, Jul. 14, 2004
I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.
-- Dubya: Mouthpiece of God. Statement made during campaign visit to Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Jul. 9, 2004
We don't believe that freedom is America's gift to the world. We believe freedom is the God Almighty's gift to each and every person in the world.
-- Dubya invokes the Almighty yet again in a favorite line of his (just in case you thought he had stopped), Dinuba, California, Oct. 15, 2003
And we base it, our history, and our decision making, our future, on solid values. The first value is, we're all God's children.
-- Not even attempting to rhetorically separate his religion and politics anymore, Washington, D.C., Jul. 16, 2003
The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today.
-- Remarks on the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia, Washington, D.C., Feb. 1, 2003
If we remain strong and focused and tough when we need to, if we continue to speak clearly about right from wrong and defend the values -- which are not American values, but God-given values -- we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace in the world, we can achieve peace for our citizens.
-- Dubya the Crusader doing his best to put the fear of God into the enemies of Christianity the U.S., Manchester, New Hampshire, Oct. 5, 2002 )
-- Without the slightest sign of compunction, Dubya enters the muddy waters of religiosity mixed with warfare once again, Portsmouth, Ohio, Sep. 10, 2004
I don't think you order suiciders to kill innocent men, women, and children if you're a religious person.
-- No, I don't reckon you do, even if there were such things as suiciders, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, Jul. 14, 2004
I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.
-- Dubya: Mouthpiece of God. Statement made during campaign visit to Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Jul. 9, 2004
We don't believe that freedom is America's gift to the world. We believe freedom is the God Almighty's gift to each and every person in the world.
-- Dubya invokes the Almighty yet again in a favorite line of his (just in case you thought he had stopped), Dinuba, California, Oct. 15, 2003
And we base it, our history, and our decision making, our future, on solid values. The first value is, we're all God's children.
-- Not even attempting to rhetorically separate his religion and politics anymore, Washington, D.C., Jul. 16, 2003
The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today.
-- Remarks on the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia, Washington, D.C., Feb. 1, 2003
If we remain strong and focused and tough when we need to, if we continue to speak clearly about right from wrong and defend the values -- which are not American values, but God-given values -- we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace in the world, we can achieve peace for our citizens.
-- Dubya the Crusader doing his best to put the fear of God into the enemies of Christianity the U.S., Manchester, New Hampshire, Oct. 5, 2002 )
Friday, March 25, 2005
Saturday, March 19, 2005
On the Two year Anniversary
Two years ago, we declared war on Iraq.
Let us remember the soldiers.
In the spirit of the day, let us also take a look at which of our lawmakers have children serving:
For more than a year, Rep. Joe Wilson's desk at the House Armed Services Committee was the intersection of his personal and political interest in the Iraq war.
On the table were bills about how to pay for and supply the conflict. Underneath, a handheld computer buzzed with real-time reports from his son Alan, an intelligence officer in southern Iraq.
"I would get a 'Hey Dad' message almost every day," the South Carolina Republican recalls. "I felt like I was voting on legislation, but I was living it simultaneously."
Read about the others here.
Let us remember the soldiers.
In the spirit of the day, let us also take a look at which of our lawmakers have children serving:
For more than a year, Rep. Joe Wilson's desk at the House Armed Services Committee was the intersection of his personal and political interest in the Iraq war.
On the table were bills about how to pay for and supply the conflict. Underneath, a handheld computer buzzed with real-time reports from his son Alan, an intelligence officer in southern Iraq.
"I would get a 'Hey Dad' message almost every day," the South Carolina Republican recalls. "I felt like I was voting on legislation, but I was living it simultaneously."
Read about the others here.
Insanity- Get Involved
A message:
Dear Media for Democracy Member,
Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that at least 20 federal agencies have made and distributed pre-packaged, ready-to-serve television news segments to promote President Bush's policies and initiatives.
Congress' Government Accountability Office determined that these "video news releases" were illegal "covert propaganda" and told federal agencies to stop. But last Friday, the White House ordered all agencies to disregard Congress' directive. Wednesday at a press conference, President Bush shrugged off responsibility for the deceptive nature of the releases, which are designed to look like television news segments. "Local stations ought to -- since there's a deep concern about that -- ought to tell their viewers what they're watching," Bush told reporters.
The Bush administration, in other words, is planning to continue using hundreds of millions of your tax dollars to manipulate public opinion.
If you agree that this is an illegal, undemocratic and propagandistic effort by the government to advance a partisan political agenda, join MediaChannel and other concerned groups in our effort to stop fake news.
In the weeks to come, we will work with groups like Free Press, Common Cause and the Center for Media and Democracy to connect you with others in your area working to ensure local broadcasters identify the sources behind the "news." We will create "citizen agreements" with local TV stations in our communities to stop fake news broadcasts. These agreements are documents filed at the FCC that -- if broken -- can be used to help communities deny broadcaster license renewals.
If you haven't already, sign up for our free daily newsletter Media Savvy, to stay abreast of the latest news about Fake News. http://www.mediachannel.org/email/
Unless we speak out now, the White House will continue to act with impunity -- taking advantage of understaffed and incautious local news operations to manipulate public opinion.
Remember that MfD members were able to make significant impact during the last election (download our annual report) through similar simple actions. Within a week of our letters to presidential candidates demanding to know where they stood on media consolidation, Senator John Kerry made the first of what turned into a series of comments against the loosening of ownership regulations: "I think that too much media in the hands of one powerful entity or one individual is a mistake," Kerry told CSPAN. "I think it runs counter to the foundation of our country. I think it runs counter to the need for Americans to know that they are getting news and information from multiple sources that are not singularly controlled."
Thanks for standing up for a better media.
Doug George
MediaChannel.org
Media for Democracy
Dear Media for Democracy Member,
Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that at least 20 federal agencies have made and distributed pre-packaged, ready-to-serve television news segments to promote President Bush's policies and initiatives.
Congress' Government Accountability Office determined that these "video news releases" were illegal "covert propaganda" and told federal agencies to stop. But last Friday, the White House ordered all agencies to disregard Congress' directive. Wednesday at a press conference, President Bush shrugged off responsibility for the deceptive nature of the releases, which are designed to look like television news segments. "Local stations ought to -- since there's a deep concern about that -- ought to tell their viewers what they're watching," Bush told reporters.
The Bush administration, in other words, is planning to continue using hundreds of millions of your tax dollars to manipulate public opinion.
If you agree that this is an illegal, undemocratic and propagandistic effort by the government to advance a partisan political agenda, join MediaChannel and other concerned groups in our effort to stop fake news.
In the weeks to come, we will work with groups like Free Press, Common Cause and the Center for Media and Democracy to connect you with others in your area working to ensure local broadcasters identify the sources behind the "news." We will create "citizen agreements" with local TV stations in our communities to stop fake news broadcasts. These agreements are documents filed at the FCC that -- if broken -- can be used to help communities deny broadcaster license renewals.
If you haven't already, sign up for our free daily newsletter Media Savvy, to stay abreast of the latest news about Fake News. http://www.mediachannel.org/email/
Unless we speak out now, the White House will continue to act with impunity -- taking advantage of understaffed and incautious local news operations to manipulate public opinion.
Remember that MfD members were able to make significant impact during the last election (download our annual report) through similar simple actions. Within a week of our letters to presidential candidates demanding to know where they stood on media consolidation, Senator John Kerry made the first of what turned into a series of comments against the loosening of ownership regulations: "I think that too much media in the hands of one powerful entity or one individual is a mistake," Kerry told CSPAN. "I think it runs counter to the foundation of our country. I think it runs counter to the need for Americans to know that they are getting news and information from multiple sources that are not singularly controlled."
Thanks for standing up for a better media.
Doug George
MediaChannel.org
Media for Democracy
Contraception
Moral values. Pro-life. Anti-abortion. W is for Women.
It was a sad week this week.
The Republicans had a chance to show some moral values. They had a chance to cut abortion rates by supporting sex-ed and equal access to birth control.
To be fair, Olympia Snowe and Lincoln Chaffee did show moral values. They did show their commitment to women.
They weren't enough.
In the same week that Newsweek reports about how the U.S. ranks right up there with Somalia on women's rights, we get this vote. You see, at a recent gathering of world leaders, our president was too busy trying to make every other country take a stand against contraception to get involved with the real problems women face.
We have a country that provides insurance coverage for Viagra but not birth control.
You can't have it both ways. You can't encourage male sexuality, rally against abortion, and then deny women access to contraception.
The bill that went up before the Senate tried to fix this.
It was denied. 47-53.
It was a sad week this week.
The Republicans had a chance to show some moral values. They had a chance to cut abortion rates by supporting sex-ed and equal access to birth control.
To be fair, Olympia Snowe and Lincoln Chaffee did show moral values. They did show their commitment to women.
They weren't enough.
In the same week that Newsweek reports about how the U.S. ranks right up there with Somalia on women's rights, we get this vote. You see, at a recent gathering of world leaders, our president was too busy trying to make every other country take a stand against contraception to get involved with the real problems women face.
We have a country that provides insurance coverage for Viagra but not birth control.
You can't have it both ways. You can't encourage male sexuality, rally against abortion, and then deny women access to contraception.
The bill that went up before the Senate tried to fix this.
It was denied. 47-53.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Fluff
Go Anwar (If you don't know what I'm talking about, just pretend this post isn't here)!
I understand the point about singing a quiet song, but he sounded amazing. I'm really into music- this guy gave me chills.
I'd like to see him, Nadia, and Bo in the end.
I understand the point about singing a quiet song, but he sounded amazing. I'm really into music- this guy gave me chills.
I'd like to see him, Nadia, and Bo in the end.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
I'm famous
Someone wrote a story about me. I'm so excited!
The best part is that I collected lions as a kid. I even had lion sheets for my bed. For Christmas this year, my fiance got me a lion stuffed animal because he knows I love them.
The best part is that I collected lions as a kid. I even had lion sheets for my bed. For Christmas this year, my fiance got me a lion stuffed animal because he knows I love them.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Comfort
According to the March issue of Jane magazine, Republicans are three times as likely as Democrats to have nightmares. And those nightmares are more grisly.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Marlboro Loves Me
There's a reason they make so much money, and for today I don't want any lectures. I know tobacco is bad. I know the tobacco companies are bad. I know they support bad politics. But....I love Marlboro.
You see, a bunch of years ago I added my name to their mailing list. Because of the nature of the product, my birthdate was required to do so. Every year, they send me a birthday present.
The presents aren't cigarette related- they've never sent me a lighter or coupons, or an ashtray for my birthday. The gifts don't even have the word Marlboro or a Marlboro logo on them.
They sent me a horseshoe my first year and after that the gifts got better and better: coffee and a mug, a superpower keychain flashlight.
I got this year's gift today (my birthday is next week)- a deck of cards with this message: On your big day, nothing beats living it up with a full house. inside: except four of a kind. They even write sweet messages!
I realize it's kind of sad, but these mass-produced sentiments always make me smile. So much so that I can almost deal with the fact that smoking will shorten my life. Crazy? Maybe. But who doesn't enjoy a sweet birthday message?
You see, a bunch of years ago I added my name to their mailing list. Because of the nature of the product, my birthdate was required to do so. Every year, they send me a birthday present.
The presents aren't cigarette related- they've never sent me a lighter or coupons, or an ashtray for my birthday. The gifts don't even have the word Marlboro or a Marlboro logo on them.
They sent me a horseshoe my first year and after that the gifts got better and better: coffee and a mug, a superpower keychain flashlight.
I got this year's gift today (my birthday is next week)- a deck of cards with this message: On your big day, nothing beats living it up with a full house. inside: except four of a kind. They even write sweet messages!
I realize it's kind of sad, but these mass-produced sentiments always make me smile. So much so that I can almost deal with the fact that smoking will shorten my life. Crazy? Maybe. But who doesn't enjoy a sweet birthday message?
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Mourning and Praying
We passed the 1500 mark this week. Over 1500 soldiers have died (needlessly) in this war.
The Tortoise and the Hippo
I've had this story for awhile and it's a nice one (true story, BTW).
A BABY hippopotamus, swept into the Indian Ocean by the tsunami, is finally coming out of his shell thanks to the love of a 120-year-old tortoise.
Owen, a 300kg, one-year-old hippo, was swept down the Sabaki River,
into the ocean and then back to shore when the giant waves struck the Kenyan
coast.
The dehydrated hippo was found by wildlife rangers and taken to the
Haller Park animal facility in the port city of Mombasa.
Pining for his lost mother, Owen quickly befriended a giant male
Aldabran tortoise named Mzee - Swahili for "old man".
"When we released Owen into the enclosure, he lumbered to the tortoise
which has a dark grey colour similar to grown up hippos," Sabine Baer,
rehabilitation and ecosystems manager at the park, told Reuters on
Thursday.
Haller Park ecologist Paula Kahumbu said the pair were now inseparable.
"After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatised. It
had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed
on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep
together," the ecologist added.
"The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother.
If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if
protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.
"The hippo was left at a very tender age. Hippos are social animals
that like to stay with their mothers for four years."
She said the hippo's chances of survival in another herd were very
slim, predicting that a dominant male would have killed him.
Officials are hopeful Owen will befriend a female hippo called Cleo,
also a resident at the park.
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