I'm presently recovering from a mild case of shock.
Well, actually, it's a significant case of shock.
The cause: A Bombshell of a News Story that I only stumbled across tonight. And, I do mean "stumbled". Stumbling is the only way anyone in the U.S. is going to find it. I'd have never found it in any of the usual places one depends for news. I only found it after following leads left when it was cited by third-parties.
*The Original Article: Israeli firm blasted for letting would-be plane bomber slip through is at Haaretz.com.
Hello? America's News Outlets? "Stop The Presses!"
For some reason - albeit, an inconceivable one - virtually all of America's Network TV and Print News Media Outlets have been blatantly ignoring what might be the Biggest News Story in Years.
Exemplary journalists do still exist - somewhere. Several actually did some serious digging into some recently-foiled airline bomber incidents. And, what these individuals uncovered is shocking, to say the least.
They confirmed that there are several definitive, strange and repeated connections between:
A.) Each of the aforementioned failed bombers (ie - The "X-mas"/"Underwear" bomber; Richard "Shoe-Bomber" Reid, etc.).
B.) ICTS International (an airport security firm and the developer of APS ("Advanced Passenger Screening"), which is the logarithm-based process used in airports across the U.S.A. (APS was rejected by the Israeli authorities)
ICTS International is also the airport security firm that - on multiple occasions and despite multiple red-flags - inexplicably allowed the would-be-bombers (incompetent as they were, too... thankfully.) pass through their own multi-layered security measures - unhindered - and onward to board airplanes.
And, C.) Israel.
Breaking nearly a year ago, this bombshell news story has actually been widely-reported across the globe - including Israel & Europe. But, there was just one incredibly Glaring Exception/Geographical News Blackout: The U.S.A.
Which happens to be exactly where those very same airport security/screening firms (the ones who've repeatedly displayed an inexcusable level of incompetence) are raking in enormous profits.
Huge profits being made - one could say - as a direct result of not only the evil intentions of the incompetent bombers - but, also as a result of the repeated failures of those very same airport security firms to provide adequate and effective airport security and prevent the men from ever setting foot on the planes.
Oh, and we must'nt forget the TSA's early gift to airline travelers. Those new TSA regulations requiring that all airline passengers either submit to being intimately-groped by latex-gloved strangers OR to being publicly-humiliated whilst being irradiated.
At least you have a Choice, right?
Door Number 1: Enduring a pervy pat-down. ~ Or ~ Door Number 2: A Fancy full-frontal/rear body x-ray/scan.
Psst ~ Did I mention that those same airport security firms also build and sell us their expensive x-ray scanners?
Hmmm... I smell a rat. And, this rat doesn't have anything explosive anywhere on his person.
*Please see The Haaretz.com Story & Share It. (It's a genuine news outlet. Not a tabloid.)
This story is important on its own merit. And also because - despite dropping a bomb and despite being beyond news-worthy - it's un-reported... not by the whole World... just by all of the national/local/TV/internet/cable News sources and journalists that Americans rely upon for important information.
Personally, I think that - basically - they can't All be this incompetent - at least not simultaneously.
So, what the heck is going on?
Thanks.
L.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
TSA Pat-Downs & Full-Body Scans Don't Make Us Safer. If They Did, Israel Would Be Using Them.
The Ha-Ha-Holidays are quickly approaching...
And, as in previous years - for generations - a mass human migration will be taking place. Well... perhaps it's more of a massive number of mini-migrations... as hundreds of thousands of people hit the road on a journey that will take them quite a distance from their Home-Sweet-Home.
For many, if not most, of these travelers this yearly sojourn has become something of a ritual... a "Family Tradition".
"Look on the bright side...", I say to myself. "Remember, you're one of the Lucky Ones. You don't have to do the unthinkable... Namely Flying what can only be described as the Way Too Friendly Skies."
For now, thanks to Frankenfear, abject paranoia and the complete absence of taking a deep breath and thinking the situation through logically and rationally, thousands of people who must take to the air to reach their holiday destinations are facing one particular facet of their upcoming trip with greater apprehension, discomfort and dread than those of us who only cringe as we read about what they must go through to do it.
I don't fly. Not during the holidays. Not ever. I haven't flown in ten years. And, boy, am I glad. As in doing The Snoopy Dance-kind of glad.
The TSA, in all of it's... well, it's not Wisdom... whatever it is. But, it's gotta be super uber-expensive.
Question: Am I the only one who thinks that somebody's gotta be getting a huge Christmas Kickback for unloading all of those Full-Body X-Ray Scanners?
Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of keeping air travel safe. Of keeping every kind of travel safe, in fact.
But, the new Status Quo of air travel in which: All airline passengers must either allow TSA personnel to get up close and ridiculously personal with their latex-gloved hands OR must undergo the humiliation of an allegedly "harmless" Full-Body X-Ray Scan. (According to the TSA. But I remember, quite vividly, the EPA declaring the air around Ground Zero "Safe to breathe. And, upon hearing that, thinking, "Wow! You EPA guys are Nuts!")
Question: If the Full-Body Scans are so "Harmless", then why is it that I've been taught to keep my Full-Mouth X-Rays (during which I'm covered with a Lead Vest and the hygienist leaves the room entirely) to a bare minimum?
Safety is - without question - of the utmost importance.
But, in forcing Americans to undergo these physical assaults and abject humiliations - when the practices don't and won't make us any safer - the TSA seems to have lost it's individual and collective mind.
And Americans should not be so quick to cave and allow the TSA or anyone else to cause us to lose our heads (and our personal privacy) in this manner. (The terrorists are probably laughing their heads off.)
How can we know for sure that these measures are utterly over-the-top and completely useless?
It's simple, really. All you do is look at countries whose people have been targets of terrorist attacks for decades.
Look at Israel, for example. Israel's under a constant threat of terrorist attack. It has been for generations. But, travelers through their airports don't get manhandled, poked, prodded, nor felt-up. Nor are they forced to undergo full-body x-ray scans.
And, guess what: No would-be bombers have infiltrated their planes.
What does Israel do to prevent airline attacks?
They Observe people. They Talk to people. And, sometimes, they Interview them.
That's pretty much it.
Israel's tried and true methods are Affordable, Simple, Non-Humiliating and (Best of All) They Are Effective.
Israel's methods do not require that airline passengers be groped... nor irradiated, for that matter.
Not only that, they start checking people out Before they enter the airport.
Gee, go figure...
And, as in previous years - for generations - a mass human migration will be taking place. Well... perhaps it's more of a massive number of mini-migrations... as hundreds of thousands of people hit the road on a journey that will take them quite a distance from their Home-Sweet-Home.
For many, if not most, of these travelers this yearly sojourn has become something of a ritual... a "Family Tradition".
"Look on the bright side...", I say to myself. "Remember, you're one of the Lucky Ones. You don't have to do the unthinkable... Namely Flying what can only be described as the Way Too Friendly Skies."
For now, thanks to Frankenfear, abject paranoia and the complete absence of taking a deep breath and thinking the situation through logically and rationally, thousands of people who must take to the air to reach their holiday destinations are facing one particular facet of their upcoming trip with greater apprehension, discomfort and dread than those of us who only cringe as we read about what they must go through to do it.
I don't fly. Not during the holidays. Not ever. I haven't flown in ten years. And, boy, am I glad. As in doing The Snoopy Dance-kind of glad.
The TSA, in all of it's... well, it's not Wisdom... whatever it is. But, it's gotta be super uber-expensive.
Question: Am I the only one who thinks that somebody's gotta be getting a huge Christmas Kickback for unloading all of those Full-Body X-Ray Scanners?
Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of keeping air travel safe. Of keeping every kind of travel safe, in fact.
But, the new Status Quo of air travel in which: All airline passengers must either allow TSA personnel to get up close and ridiculously personal with their latex-gloved hands OR must undergo the humiliation of an allegedly "harmless" Full-Body X-Ray Scan. (According to the TSA. But I remember, quite vividly, the EPA declaring the air around Ground Zero "Safe to breathe. And, upon hearing that, thinking, "Wow! You EPA guys are Nuts!")
Question: If the Full-Body Scans are so "Harmless", then why is it that I've been taught to keep my Full-Mouth X-Rays (during which I'm covered with a Lead Vest and the hygienist leaves the room entirely) to a bare minimum?
Safety is - without question - of the utmost importance.
But, in forcing Americans to undergo these physical assaults and abject humiliations - when the practices don't and won't make us any safer - the TSA seems to have lost it's individual and collective mind.
And Americans should not be so quick to cave and allow the TSA or anyone else to cause us to lose our heads (and our personal privacy) in this manner. (The terrorists are probably laughing their heads off.)
How can we know for sure that these measures are utterly over-the-top and completely useless?
It's simple, really. All you do is look at countries whose people have been targets of terrorist attacks for decades.
Look at Israel, for example. Israel's under a constant threat of terrorist attack. It has been for generations. But, travelers through their airports don't get manhandled, poked, prodded, nor felt-up. Nor are they forced to undergo full-body x-ray scans.
And, guess what: No would-be bombers have infiltrated their planes.
What does Israel do to prevent airline attacks?
They Observe people. They Talk to people. And, sometimes, they Interview them.
That's pretty much it.
Israel's tried and true methods are Affordable, Simple, Non-Humiliating and (Best of All) They Are Effective.
Israel's methods do not require that airline passengers be groped... nor irradiated, for that matter.
Not only that, they start checking people out Before they enter the airport.
Gee, go figure...
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Senator Kyl Nukes Obama's Push For US-Russia START Treaty
Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) just did his part to torpedo not only President Obama; but, also the President's efforts to "re-start" relations with Russia; whilst he simultaneously extended the ridiculous period during which America's National Security has been utterly left to chance.
How?
Well, instead of ratifying the new START Treaty (which returns American investigators to live/work 'on the ground' & observe/report on the numerous Russian nuclear sites), Senator Kyl (who only recently spoke on the urgency of the Treaty's renewal) now says that he and fellow GOP Senators will be serving the myopic goals of the GOP (trying to make Obama a one-term President), instead of serving the National Security of America.
Yep, the Senate's GOP members are just gonna twiddle their thumbs (just to thumb their noses at the President) until next year.
They're just going to keep on ignoring the screaming elephant in the room...
That postponing the vote on the Treaty (until its approval will be virtually impossible to get, at that) only does one thing: It only extends and increases the already serious risk that terrorists could acquire Russian-made nuclear materials.
Gee, thanks, Jon! :P
Here's a link to The Washington Post's article:
Kyl statement deals serious setback...
Friday, November 12, 2010
Dog vs Alligator... Good News From Florida!
Good News From Florida!
(Yes, I know ~ Believe it or Not.)
Dateline: Tampa, FL ~
The owner of an adorable Jack Russell terrier, named Lizbeth, is one of my Heroes.
If only for today - for One Heroic Act:
Lizbeth and her owner were walking by the river when an alligator lunged at the dog, grabbed her in its jaws and dragged her into the murky water.
The desperate owner then actually fired a hand-gun at the gator. When it let Lizbeth go, the owner pulled her unresponsive form from the water.
Not one to let the prehistoric reptilian remnant win, he performed CPR on Lizbeth and held her upside-down - attempting to drain water from her lungs.
Said "Good News"? Lizbeth then began to breathe on her own and is at the vet's.
The gator? Snared by a professional and taken far away from people and their dogs.
Hurray!
Enjoy!
Check it out:
Minnesota Morning: A Cornfield... A Combine... And... A Bear?
*Please Note: This one doesn't have a "Happy Ending"... at least, not for the bear.
Farmers operating a combine in a MN corn-field accidentally ran over a 300+ lb. black bear.
Authorities in MN say that bear sightings are rare this time of year, as bears are typically in hibernation.
Which begs the question: Why was this one in the cornfield?
Also: Why didn't the bear hear the combine approaching and run to safety?
(I've heard that they can run pretty fast.)
Perhaps it was already dead. Was it sick? Had it been shot by a hunter and died there?
As for the farmers...
One was quoted as saying:
"... Never had bear before, so I guess we'll see what it tastes like."
*Hmm... Well, I'm fairly sure that bears haven't had you before either, sir, so...
From: "My List Of Persons To Whom I Would Happily Do Grievous Bodily Harm To".
From: "My List Of Persons To Whom I Would Happily Do Grievous Bodily Harm To".
The person or persons who set a heavy cinder-block on this sweet dog's head...
... and then set the poor, chained and somewhat abandoned being on fire.
Police in North Carolina are searching for the perpetrator of this despicable daylight deed but, sadly, as of yet haven't much to go on.
I, for one, am hoping that at least one witness (or more) comes forward... Preferably with video evidence.
And for this incarnation of "Man's Best Friend" to fully recover.
L.
The person or persons who set a heavy cinder-block on this sweet dog's head...
... and then set the poor, chained and somewhat abandoned being on fire.
Police in North Carolina are searching for the perpetrator of this despicable daylight deed but, sadly, as of yet haven't much to go on.
I, for one, am hoping that at least one witness (or more) comes forward... Preferably with video evidence.
And for this incarnation of "Man's Best Friend" to fully recover.
L.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
It's Not A Simple Temper Tantrum, It's An Unequivocal Terrorist Threat
It's Not A Temper Tantrum, It's An Unequivocal Terrorist Threat:
"If Ballots Don't Work... Bullets Will."
Without exception, this is an utterly shocking statement.
No, wait. It's more than that. It's a direct threat of gun violence.
But, don't delude yourself that, surely, it was said by some long-dead outlaw from back in the "Wild West".
It isn't.
This direct and publicly-made threat of violence was spoken by a woman named Joyce Kaufman. Who is she? She's the Chief of Staff of newly-elected Congressman Allan West of Florida's 22nd Congressional District.
Specifically, Ms. Kaufman (a "conservative radio personality" in FL.) made this overt threat at a July 4th speaking engagement in Florida.
Gives New Meaning to the term "Sore Loser", doesn't it?
With supporters like Ms. Kaufman (now going to D.C.), I guess we should consider ourselves Lucky that Mr. West didn't lose the election...
Not.
Sound familiar? It should.
Why? Because Ms. Sharron Angle, the Republican Congressional candidate from Nevada, had made a very similar statement earlier this year. She said something (also at a public speaking engagement) about utilizing "... our Second Amendment remedies" if she and her supporters didn't achieve their goals through America's traditional, 200+ year old, Constitutional & Democratic means.
Considering the fact that Ms. Angle lost the election to Harry Reid, I kinda hope that someone is keeping tabs on her activities and those of her more looney-tunes supporters.
Dear Law Enforcement Officials/State Department/Justice Department/Homeland Security: Umm... I'm pretty sure that ol' Gitmo is still open - and has vacancies...
Here's a brief clip - with more of Ms. Kaufman's threats on video - from TRMS:
Enjoy! (I cringed.)
L.
"If Ballots Don't Work... Bullets Will."
Without exception, this is an utterly shocking statement.
No, wait. It's more than that. It's a direct threat of gun violence.
But, don't delude yourself that, surely, it was said by some long-dead outlaw from back in the "Wild West".
It isn't.
This direct and publicly-made threat of violence was spoken by a woman named Joyce Kaufman. Who is she? She's the Chief of Staff of newly-elected Congressman Allan West of Florida's 22nd Congressional District.
Specifically, Ms. Kaufman (a "conservative radio personality" in FL.) made this overt threat at a July 4th speaking engagement in Florida.
Gives New Meaning to the term "Sore Loser", doesn't it?
With supporters like Ms. Kaufman (now going to D.C.), I guess we should consider ourselves Lucky that Mr. West didn't lose the election...
Not.
Sound familiar? It should.
Why? Because Ms. Sharron Angle, the Republican Congressional candidate from Nevada, had made a very similar statement earlier this year. She said something (also at a public speaking engagement) about utilizing "... our Second Amendment remedies" if she and her supporters didn't achieve their goals through America's traditional, 200+ year old, Constitutional & Democratic means.
Considering the fact that Ms. Angle lost the election to Harry Reid, I kinda hope that someone is keeping tabs on her activities and those of her more looney-tunes supporters.
Dear Law Enforcement Officials/State Department/Justice Department/Homeland Security: Umm... I'm pretty sure that ol' Gitmo is still open - and has vacancies...
Here's a brief clip - with more of Ms. Kaufman's threats on video - from TRMS:
Enjoy! (I cringed.)
L.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
My Thoughts On The Mid-Term Results (& All Other Cases Where Countless People Voted As If They Were Insane)
Hurray ~ The Mid-Term Elections Are Over!!
(Ugh...) Where the heck are my meds?! :P
(Hey you - Where's that "Happy Face"? That's better. Cheerfully, now.)
"Cheerfully"? ...(Big Sigh.) You've gotta be kiddin' me...
(Come on. Big Smile.) "Big what?" Oh... O.K. Here goes:
D'ya know what I honestly think...
I think that - to a great extent - what we see with the results of the 2010 Mid-Terms and in every previous election where people were conned, yet again, into voting for oil-slick candidates who enjoyed lots of financial backing, but have simply no genuine interest in (nor measurable history of) doing what's right for America and most Americans (the wealthiest among us do not fit into the category of "most Americans")...
Is Exactly What We Deserve.
This is what do-gooders get for all of the incessant - albeit good-intentioned - interfering we do with Good Ol' (Older & Much Wiser) Mother Nature's (It Ain't Broke, So Don't Fix It) "Survival Of The Fittest" Law.
Yes, people... it's a little something called "Evolution".
I hear tell that God came up with it. The concept behind it was that it weeded out those members of each species who - for whatever reason(s) simply lacked the abilities, intelligence and basic common sense that is required to survive - if left to their own devices in the world. T'wasn't anything personal about it.. It made sense and it worked - for eons - making each species stronger and healthier as a whole.
Then, along comes humanity... and compassionate-minded people... and people terrified of getting sued by idiots who don't seem to comprehend that hot coffee is hot; knife/saw/ax blades are sharp; standing on the top rung of a ladder is unwise; riding on top of the roof of/in the bed of a truck at high speeds is dangerous; messing with wild animals is hazardous to your health; etc.
Going out of our way to Protect stupid, reckless, dangerous people from themselves and each other...
Simply is Not doing humanity any favors. In doing so, we've gummed up/thrown a monkey wrench/sabotaged the natural means of promoting the survival of our species at its healthiest.
The Results of doing so:
1.) Yeah, sure - We feel better about ourselves. We feel like we're being "Good" People... Like we're doing the "Right Thing". (I used to feel the same way.)
And, on the surface, perhaps we are.
But, in the long run... We are killing ourselves, slowly, very (and aggravatingly) slowly:
2.) We're drowning in an ocean of other (equally) well-meaning people who - sadly - aren't quite bright enough to keep a seat warm (or, at least, to know when they're being bamboozled, flim-flammed & lied to) and who - tragically, for us all - Vote.
(*Not a judgment. Just an objective and honest observation - albeit, perhaps not explained as well as I'd have liked.)
*On a Much Happier Note*
Hurray ~ Jerry Brown(D) was elected Governor of California (again)!
Governor Brown's opponent - the former head of eBay: Meg Whitman (R) - actually had spent @ $78 Million of her (apparently) endless fortune to both spin the Republican Base & to win the Republican Primary.
Then, Meg dropped another (mind-boggling) $70-80 Million trying to buy herself the Governor's Office.
Er, I mean... Trying to beat Good Ol' Jerry B.
Governor Brown's Sizable Trouncing Of & Victory Over (utilizing a vastly smaller "war chest") Meg's $160+ Millions proves that - at least in my Beloved California - voting Americans aren't as easily duped as in other places and - equally important - The Ones With The Most Money DON'T Always Win.
(Thanks Be.)
L.
(Ugh...) Where the heck are my meds?! :P
(Hey you - Where's that "Happy Face"? That's better. Cheerfully, now.)
"Cheerfully"? ...(Big Sigh.) You've gotta be kiddin' me...
(Come on. Big Smile.) "Big what?" Oh... O.K. Here goes:
D'ya know what I honestly think...
I think that - to a great extent - what we see with the results of the 2010 Mid-Terms and in every previous election where people were conned, yet again, into voting for oil-slick candidates who enjoyed lots of financial backing, but have simply no genuine interest in (nor measurable history of) doing what's right for America and most Americans (the wealthiest among us do not fit into the category of "most Americans")...
Is Exactly What We Deserve.
This is what do-gooders get for all of the incessant - albeit good-intentioned - interfering we do with Good Ol' (Older & Much Wiser) Mother Nature's (It Ain't Broke, So Don't Fix It) "Survival Of The Fittest" Law.
Yes, people... it's a little something called "Evolution".
I hear tell that God came up with it. The concept behind it was that it weeded out those members of each species who - for whatever reason(s) simply lacked the abilities, intelligence and basic common sense that is required to survive - if left to their own devices in the world. T'wasn't anything personal about it.. It made sense and it worked - for eons - making each species stronger and healthier as a whole.
Then, along comes humanity... and compassionate-minded people... and people terrified of getting sued by idiots who don't seem to comprehend that hot coffee is hot; knife/saw/ax blades are sharp; standing on the top rung of a ladder is unwise; riding on top of the roof of/in the bed of a truck at high speeds is dangerous; messing with wild animals is hazardous to your health; etc.
Going out of our way to Protect stupid, reckless, dangerous people from themselves and each other...
Simply is Not doing humanity any favors. In doing so, we've gummed up/thrown a monkey wrench/sabotaged the natural means of promoting the survival of our species at its healthiest.
The Results of doing so:
1.) Yeah, sure - We feel better about ourselves. We feel like we're being "Good" People... Like we're doing the "Right Thing". (I used to feel the same way.)
And, on the surface, perhaps we are.
But, in the long run... We are killing ourselves, slowly, very (and aggravatingly) slowly:
2.) We're drowning in an ocean of other (equally) well-meaning people who - sadly - aren't quite bright enough to keep a seat warm (or, at least, to know when they're being bamboozled, flim-flammed & lied to) and who - tragically, for us all - Vote.
(*Not a judgment. Just an objective and honest observation - albeit, perhaps not explained as well as I'd have liked.)
*On a Much Happier Note*
Hurray ~ Jerry Brown(D) was elected Governor of California (again)!
Governor Brown's opponent - the former head of eBay: Meg Whitman (R) - actually had spent @ $78 Million of her (apparently) endless fortune to both spin the Republican Base & to win the Republican Primary.
Then, Meg dropped another (mind-boggling) $70-80 Million trying to buy herself the Governor's Office.
Er, I mean... Trying to beat Good Ol' Jerry B.
Governor Brown's Sizable Trouncing Of & Victory Over (utilizing a vastly smaller "war chest") Meg's $160+ Millions proves that - at least in my Beloved California - voting Americans aren't as easily duped as in other places and - equally important - The Ones With The Most Money DON'T Always Win.
(Thanks Be.)
L.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
MI Assistant AG Shirvell On His Own Cyber-Bullying Blog: "He acts like a gay Nazi." (Yes, he really said that.)
"How can you seek protection from crazy people?"
- Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell during an interview on The Daily Show (Monday, November 1, 2010)
It's a very reasonable query. And, it's one which I'm sure most Americans can relate to. And, it's one to which I would respond: "That's a very good question, Andrew. How do you do that?
Especially when those crazy people...
A.) Run for public office?
B.) Receive enormous and untraceable campaign donations?
C.) And, scores of bamboozled people vote for them?"
(Sigh) But, I digress...
It's what Mr. Shirvell said during an interview on Monday night's The Daily Show that very nearly caused me to rupture a blood vessel...
He was being interviewed by TDS correspondent Jason Jones on the very serious and timely topic of cyber-bullying.
During the interview, Mr. Jones read an excerpt from "The Parent's Guide To Cyber-Bullying" (As published by the State Of Michigan Attorney General's Office):
Mr. Jones: "Cyber-Bullying is defined as 'Technology used to harass or embarrass.'"
And, what was Mr. Shirvell's responses to that definition (a definition taken, verbatim, from the Parents' Guide, mind you)?
Mr. Shirvill's 1st Response: "No, that's too broad of a definition."
(To which Mr. Jones informs Mr. Shirvill, "That's the State's definition.")
Mr. Shirvill's Next Response: "That's not the State's definition."
(At which point which Mr. Jones informs Mr. Shirvill that he has The Parents' Guide (which he's been holding the whole time) and raises the papers in each hand.
After which Mr. Shirvill begins looking like he's becoming uncomfortable...
But, not being the type of person who would ever want to admit to having made any error of any size...
(What influential attorney or Assistant AG would?) Mr. Shirvill goes on to declare:
"That (the definition given by Mr. Jones) was taken out of context."
(*Oh, before I forget to mention it: Mr. Shirvill is the Assistant Attorney General for the Great State of Michigan.)
Continuing in the same conversational tone, Mr. Jones points out that he's just reading the definition exactly as it's written in The Parents' Guide.
Now, the interview takes a completely unexpected turn and gets really interesting.
(It was just like watching a top-quality police drama... during one of those scenes where the lead detectives are interrogating a suspect... they not only know he's guilty - they also have all the evidence needed to convict him - regardless of whether he cooperates or not... that spectacular moment when the camera cuts to the suspect's face... and it hits him: He has nothing they want and he's going to prison.)
Mr. Shirvill's next two declarations spill out much faster than anything said said earlier. His voice rises, noticeably... and he begins shaking his head side-to-side - at an odd angle:
Mr. Shirvill: "I've done nothing immoral. And, I've done nothing illegal."
(How strange... Did anyone else hear an accusation being made?)
At this point, Mr. Jones holds up an image which had been posted on a blog of Mr. Shirvill's.
This particular blog, Chris Armstrong Watch, is one that Mr. Shirvill, himself, created with a single purpose in mind.
That purpose can be summed up in one brief definition: "Cyber-Bullying: Technology used to harass or embarrass."
Turns out, Mr. Shirvill has dedicated a great deal of his online time and effort to harassing and embarrassing Mr. Chris Armstrong, a student at the University of Michigan who had been elected to the position of "Student Body President".
And, why would the 30yr. old (and one might assume, busy?) Mr. Shirvill use his valuable time to harass the University of Michigan's Student Body President, you might ask?
Another very reasonable query...
The Answer:
Because he's gay, of course!
(Well, duh! According to Mr. Shirvill, being gay is "... diametrically-opposed to the natural order of things.")
The image Mr. Jones had presented was a Photoshop'd image of Mr. Armstrong... with the word "Resign" written in prominent black magic-marker across his face... along with the iconic and much-loved Rainbow Flag alongside his neck - here and now-defaced by Mr. Shirvill's personal superimposition of a large, black magic-marker Nazi swastika in a white circle at the flag's center and a black magic-marker arrow pointing from the flag to Mr. Armstrong's face.
When Mr. Jones questioned Mr. Shirvill on the morality of his creation (not a one-of, by any stretch of the imagination)... Mr. Shirvill deflected, "How is that immoral?" Mr. Jones began to reply, "Well, you're likening him to a...". (Mr. Jones, thankfully, didn't have to finish the statement, Mr. Shirvill was more than happy to do it for him, triumphantly):
Mr. Shirvill: "He's acting like a gay Nazi... yes." (Said while simultaneously nodding his own head - in agreement with himself.)
"... A Gay Nazi?"
Oh, Really?
Are you 100% Positive of that, Mr. Shirvill??
Mr. Shirvill: Not only are you a shamelessly-hateful, intolerant bigot...
One with a bizarre obsession/fixation on one male college student - at that...
But, you are also an accomplished imbecile:
A Quick History Lesson - Just For You:
"The Nazi campaign against homosexuality targeted the more than one million German men who, the state asserted, carried a "degeneracy" that threatened the "disciplined masculinity" of Germany. Denounced as "antisocial parasites" and as "enemies of the state," more than 100,000 men were arrested under a broadly interpreted law against homosexuality. Approximately 50,000 men served prison terms as convicted homosexuals, while an unknown number were institutionalized in mental hospitals. Others—perhaps hundreds—were castrated under court order or coercion. Analyses of fragmentary records suggest that between 5,000 and 15,000 homosexual men were imprisoned in concentration camps, where many died from starvation, disease, exhaustion, beatings, and murder." (From: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
"... gay Nazi."
You're a blithering idiot.
(Whew! O.K., Take a deep breath. Ahh. That's better.)
Here's the link to the episode and the (brief/funny/infuriating) interview (it's the 2nd segment of the show):
Enjoy! (I did, really.)
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 11/01/10 (*For unknown reasons, the link goes to the 11/02 episode. Just scroll down and click on Monday night's. Thanks!)
- Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell during an interview on The Daily Show (Monday, November 1, 2010)
It's a very reasonable query. And, it's one which I'm sure most Americans can relate to. And, it's one to which I would respond: "That's a very good question, Andrew. How do you do that?
Especially when those crazy people...
A.) Run for public office?
B.) Receive enormous and untraceable campaign donations?
C.) And, scores of bamboozled people vote for them?"
(Sigh) But, I digress...
It's what Mr. Shirvell said during an interview on Monday night's The Daily Show that very nearly caused me to rupture a blood vessel...
He was being interviewed by TDS correspondent Jason Jones on the very serious and timely topic of cyber-bullying.
During the interview, Mr. Jones read an excerpt from "The Parent's Guide To Cyber-Bullying" (As published by the State Of Michigan Attorney General's Office):
Mr. Jones: "Cyber-Bullying is defined as 'Technology used to harass or embarrass.'"
And, what was Mr. Shirvell's responses to that definition (a definition taken, verbatim, from the Parents' Guide, mind you)?
Mr. Shirvill's 1st Response: "No, that's too broad of a definition."
(To which Mr. Jones informs Mr. Shirvill, "That's the State's definition.")
Mr. Shirvill's Next Response: "That's not the State's definition."
(At which point which Mr. Jones informs Mr. Shirvill that he has The Parents' Guide (which he's been holding the whole time) and raises the papers in each hand.
After which Mr. Shirvill begins looking like he's becoming uncomfortable...
But, not being the type of person who would ever want to admit to having made any error of any size...
(What influential attorney or Assistant AG would?) Mr. Shirvill goes on to declare:
"That (the definition given by Mr. Jones) was taken out of context."
(*Oh, before I forget to mention it: Mr. Shirvill is the Assistant Attorney General for the Great State of Michigan.)
Continuing in the same conversational tone, Mr. Jones points out that he's just reading the definition exactly as it's written in The Parents' Guide.
Now, the interview takes a completely unexpected turn and gets really interesting.
(It was just like watching a top-quality police drama... during one of those scenes where the lead detectives are interrogating a suspect... they not only know he's guilty - they also have all the evidence needed to convict him - regardless of whether he cooperates or not... that spectacular moment when the camera cuts to the suspect's face... and it hits him: He has nothing they want and he's going to prison.)
Mr. Shirvill's next two declarations spill out much faster than anything said said earlier. His voice rises, noticeably... and he begins shaking his head side-to-side - at an odd angle:
Mr. Shirvill: "I've done nothing immoral. And, I've done nothing illegal."
(How strange... Did anyone else hear an accusation being made?)
At this point, Mr. Jones holds up an image which had been posted on a blog of Mr. Shirvill's.
This particular blog, Chris Armstrong Watch, is one that Mr. Shirvill, himself, created with a single purpose in mind.
That purpose can be summed up in one brief definition: "Cyber-Bullying: Technology used to harass or embarrass."
Turns out, Mr. Shirvill has dedicated a great deal of his online time and effort to harassing and embarrassing Mr. Chris Armstrong, a student at the University of Michigan who had been elected to the position of "Student Body President".
And, why would the 30yr. old (and one might assume, busy?) Mr. Shirvill use his valuable time to harass the University of Michigan's Student Body President, you might ask?
Another very reasonable query...
The Answer:
Because he's gay, of course!
(Well, duh! According to Mr. Shirvill, being gay is "... diametrically-opposed to the natural order of things.")
The image Mr. Jones had presented was a Photoshop'd image of Mr. Armstrong... with the word "Resign" written in prominent black magic-marker across his face... along with the iconic and much-loved Rainbow Flag alongside his neck - here and now-defaced by Mr. Shirvill's personal superimposition of a large, black magic-marker Nazi swastika in a white circle at the flag's center and a black magic-marker arrow pointing from the flag to Mr. Armstrong's face.
When Mr. Jones questioned Mr. Shirvill on the morality of his creation (not a one-of, by any stretch of the imagination)... Mr. Shirvill deflected, "How is that immoral?" Mr. Jones began to reply, "Well, you're likening him to a...". (Mr. Jones, thankfully, didn't have to finish the statement, Mr. Shirvill was more than happy to do it for him, triumphantly):
Mr. Shirvill: "He's acting like a gay Nazi... yes." (Said while simultaneously nodding his own head - in agreement with himself.)
"... A Gay Nazi?"
Oh, Really?
Are you 100% Positive of that, Mr. Shirvill??
Mr. Shirvill: Not only are you a shamelessly-hateful, intolerant bigot...
One with a bizarre obsession/fixation on one male college student - at that...
But, you are also an accomplished imbecile:
A Quick History Lesson - Just For You:
"The Nazi campaign against homosexuality targeted the more than one million German men who, the state asserted, carried a "degeneracy" that threatened the "disciplined masculinity" of Germany. Denounced as "antisocial parasites" and as "enemies of the state," more than 100,000 men were arrested under a broadly interpreted law against homosexuality. Approximately 50,000 men served prison terms as convicted homosexuals, while an unknown number were institutionalized in mental hospitals. Others—perhaps hundreds—were castrated under court order or coercion. Analyses of fragmentary records suggest that between 5,000 and 15,000 homosexual men were imprisoned in concentration camps, where many died from starvation, disease, exhaustion, beatings, and murder." (From: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
"... gay Nazi."
You're a blithering idiot.
(Whew! O.K., Take a deep breath. Ahh. That's better.)
Here's the link to the episode and the (brief/funny/infuriating) interview (it's the 2nd segment of the show):
Enjoy! (I did, really.)
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 11/01/10 (*For unknown reasons, the link goes to the 11/02 episode. Just scroll down and click on Monday night's. Thanks!)
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
What The Heck Are Republicans Whining About?
What The Heck Are Republicans Whining About?
Over the last 21 months - less than a full 2 years into the Obama Administration...
The 111th (Democratic-majority) Congress has accomplished a significant amount of work that they should be proud of and for which they should be respected and admired.
The cries, cracks and complaints of the most-shrill of the small-in-number/full-of-bluster and (frequently) apoplectic critics of President Obama's Administration and this Democratic Congress... the ones who have repeatedly displayed their expertise in the art of taking audio/video clips completely out of context and then creating a crisis where none existed... the ones who have, quite inexplicably, been given a spot in front of a functioning tv camera and/or radio microphone... have been singularly-obsessed with this Congress' significant, positive and yet, somehow, controversial, banner legislation: Health-care reform, Financial regulation, the (successful) Economic Recovery Act, etc....
So caught up in their singular obsession, these perpetual panic button-pushers have completely overlooked a vast number of significant and effective pieces of legislation successfully-passed by this Congress. (Or, they didn't think they could be transformed into ranting-and-raving, ratings-boosting issues.)
Examples: Passage of several bills aimed at assisting all of our veterans, the 25 separate tax cuts passed, a land conservation bill (the most significant in 2 decades), the creation of the very first Consumer Financial Protection Agency, etc.
Another noteworthy and ignored fact: Contrary to the gloom-and-doom forecasts of: "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" by the far right-wingers...
This Democratic Congress has actually reduced federal spending and reduced the deficit, too.
And yet, despite these and other accomplishments, if one tunes in to a network news program or talk show, one will consistently be presented with clips of people considered to be "in the know" who've made predictions that - after the final tally of votes in tomorrow's elections - Republicans will have won a number of seats in the House of Representatives and, perhaps, a few in the Senate.
If their predictions turn out to be correct, the change would be an unfortunate one for our country.
Even though it was the Bush Administration and its Republican Congress who were wielding their political power/influence over all of us a mere two years ago, it seems that many Americans are suffering from a very specific type of short-term memory loss. The barely two years gone two-term Bush Administration definitely wasn't eight years of "Happy Days Are Here Again" - unless, that is, you were one of the uber-wealthiest Americans gifted with big tax cuts.
Doesn't anyone remember those multiple tax cuts for the upper-echelon of wealthiest Americans (May they be allowed to Expire)?
How about those fictional findings fabricated and, repeatedly, shoved down our and the world's throats by Bush's war-mongers/profiteers as their justification for the utterly unprovoked multi-billion dollar Iraq War?
Of course, even before that happened, there was the (now-seemingly endless) Afghanistan War?
Or, don't any of those people recall a monstrosity/pile of bureaucratic crap Bush & Co. came up with called: "Medicare Pt. D"?
All of the above were obviously going to be mind-bogglingly expensive and, alas, not just at that point in time but, also, for the foreseeable future.)
Not only that... when it came time for the Bush Administration to present their budget... GWB's bean-counters were... ah, shall we say creative?
Like many members of the Bush Administration, these imaginative accountants were utterly unencumbered by commonly accepted concepts like "Reality" (and honesty, integrity, etc.). Without hesitation, they intentionally neglected to include the costs of the aforementioned, phenomenally-expensive items/actions. Why? Because doing so meant the amount of their deficit total would be much lower and - needless to say - completely inaccurate (their made-up total was, of course, many billions of dollars below the actual deficit total.)
(Sigh...) Regardless, I still hope for the best.
I have faith (hopefully not misplaced) that plenty of Americans, when standing alone in the voting booth, have enough good sense to differentiate between political bluster and basic facts.
Here's a Fun Fact:
Showing "The Right Stuff", certain members of the 111th Congress saw to it that important legislation - designed to be of long-lasting benefit for our country - was successfully passed. Not only that... they did so with the knowledge that, in the upcoming midterm elections, their Republican opponents would likely attack them for supporting that legislation and, in doing so, would possibly defeat them.
If actions speak louder than words, they showed themselves to be persons of considerable integrity, admirable character, backbone and that they were true patriots (rare traits in politicians).
They made a conscious decision to do what they'd been elected to do: They did what they knew to be in the best interest of Americans instead of doing what was in the best interest of prolonging their personal political careers. It's worth repeating: This type of personal sacrifice is extremely rare - especially in politics.
Call it "Policy Ahead Of Politics".
(*I encourage everyone to take a moment to remember what such a sacrifice looks like and what it entails. Because it's possible that, after tomorrow, we may not see it again for a while.)
What other accomplishments, you might ask?
Want a brief but detailed summary?
(No problem. I would, too.)
Take a look at this:
Over the last 21 months - less than a full 2 years into the Obama Administration...
The 111th (Democratic-majority) Congress has accomplished a significant amount of work that they should be proud of and for which they should be respected and admired.
The cries, cracks and complaints of the most-shrill of the small-in-number/full-of-bluster and (frequently) apoplectic critics of President Obama's Administration and this Democratic Congress... the ones who have repeatedly displayed their expertise in the art of taking audio/video clips completely out of context and then creating a crisis where none existed... the ones who have, quite inexplicably, been given a spot in front of a functioning tv camera and/or radio microphone... have been singularly-obsessed with this Congress' significant, positive and yet, somehow, controversial, banner legislation: Health-care reform, Financial regulation, the (successful) Economic Recovery Act, etc....
So caught up in their singular obsession, these perpetual panic button-pushers have completely overlooked a vast number of significant and effective pieces of legislation successfully-passed by this Congress. (Or, they didn't think they could be transformed into ranting-and-raving, ratings-boosting issues.)
Examples: Passage of several bills aimed at assisting all of our veterans, the 25 separate tax cuts passed, a land conservation bill (the most significant in 2 decades), the creation of the very first Consumer Financial Protection Agency, etc.
Another noteworthy and ignored fact: Contrary to the gloom-and-doom forecasts of: "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" by the far right-wingers...
This Democratic Congress has actually reduced federal spending and reduced the deficit, too.
And yet, despite these and other accomplishments, if one tunes in to a network news program or talk show, one will consistently be presented with clips of people considered to be "in the know" who've made predictions that - after the final tally of votes in tomorrow's elections - Republicans will have won a number of seats in the House of Representatives and, perhaps, a few in the Senate.
If their predictions turn out to be correct, the change would be an unfortunate one for our country.
Even though it was the Bush Administration and its Republican Congress who were wielding their political power/influence over all of us a mere two years ago, it seems that many Americans are suffering from a very specific type of short-term memory loss. The barely two years gone two-term Bush Administration definitely wasn't eight years of "Happy Days Are Here Again" - unless, that is, you were one of the uber-wealthiest Americans gifted with big tax cuts.
Doesn't anyone remember those multiple tax cuts for the upper-echelon of wealthiest Americans (May they be allowed to Expire)?
How about those fictional findings fabricated and, repeatedly, shoved down our and the world's throats by Bush's war-mongers/profiteers as their justification for the utterly unprovoked multi-billion dollar Iraq War?
Of course, even before that happened, there was the (now-seemingly endless) Afghanistan War?
Or, don't any of those people recall a monstrosity/pile of bureaucratic crap Bush & Co. came up with called: "Medicare Pt. D"?
All of the above were obviously going to be mind-bogglingly expensive and, alas, not just at that point in time but, also, for the foreseeable future.)
Not only that... when it came time for the Bush Administration to present their budget... GWB's bean-counters were... ah, shall we say creative?
Like many members of the Bush Administration, these imaginative accountants were utterly unencumbered by commonly accepted concepts like "Reality" (and honesty, integrity, etc.). Without hesitation, they intentionally neglected to include the costs of the aforementioned, phenomenally-expensive items/actions. Why? Because doing so meant the amount of their deficit total would be much lower and - needless to say - completely inaccurate (their made-up total was, of course, many billions of dollars below the actual deficit total.)
(Sigh...) Regardless, I still hope for the best.
I have faith (hopefully not misplaced) that plenty of Americans, when standing alone in the voting booth, have enough good sense to differentiate between political bluster and basic facts.
Here's a Fun Fact:
Showing "The Right Stuff", certain members of the 111th Congress saw to it that important legislation - designed to be of long-lasting benefit for our country - was successfully passed. Not only that... they did so with the knowledge that, in the upcoming midterm elections, their Republican opponents would likely attack them for supporting that legislation and, in doing so, would possibly defeat them.
If actions speak louder than words, they showed themselves to be persons of considerable integrity, admirable character, backbone and that they were true patriots (rare traits in politicians).
They made a conscious decision to do what they'd been elected to do: They did what they knew to be in the best interest of Americans instead of doing what was in the best interest of prolonging their personal political careers. It's worth repeating: This type of personal sacrifice is extremely rare - especially in politics.
Call it "Policy Ahead Of Politics".
(*I encourage everyone to take a moment to remember what such a sacrifice looks like and what it entails. Because it's possible that, after tomorrow, we may not see it again for a while.)
What other accomplishments, you might ask?
Want a brief but detailed summary?
(No problem. I would, too.)
Take a look at this:
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