Jon Stewart: True Patriot

Oh, Jon Stewart, you seem to be begging for the Golden Ruler Award! And you deserve it!!

If you didn't see last night's Daily Show where Jon Stewart interviewed John McCain, go see it now, in two parts: Part I and Part II.

Jon Stewart's words of great measure:

"Is it part of the insurgency, and isn't this part of the difficulty that we have to win over the Iraqi people and can we win them over when we seem to almost consistently diminish their suffering. Rumsfeld has said 'when you fly over Baghdad the whole place isn't on fire.' Condi Rice has said that this is birthing pangs. You know, think of how we're grieving for (the deaths at Virginia Tech), and rightfully so... (disrupted thought about mismanaged war) But even the mindset... (again disrupted thought win/loss militarily or politically) But don't you think we already won militarily? (disrupted) Can we describe this as won or lost? Even the president said this isn't the kind of war you win and people surrender on a battleship. Shouldn't we get away from the language of win or lose in Iraq and get more to a descriptive success, a metrics, deadlines, if you will, timetables."

"They're fighting each other. We're there keeping them from killing each other. Surrender is not--We're not surrendering to an enemy that has defeated us, we're saying how do you quell a civil war when it's not your country?"

(In reply to McCain's audience comment "I think I know who's side they're on.") "They're on America's side because they're patriots."

"If the architects that built a house without any doors or windows don't admit that's the house they built, and continue to say it's your fault for not being able to see into it, then I don't understand how we're supposed to move forward."

"What I believe is less supportive to the good people who believe they're fighting the great cause is to not give them a strategy that makes their success possible...(disrupted thought) All I'm saying is you cannot look a soldier in the eye and say questioning the president is less supportive to you than extending your tour for three months when you should be coming home to your family. And that's not fair to put on people that criticize."

"And you know I love you and I respect your service and I would never question any of that. And this is not about questioning the troups and their ability to fight, and their ability to be supported. And that is what the administration does and that is almost criminal."

In regards to this interview as an observer, John McCain wasn't listening attentively to any of the questions or comments Jon posed, and it seemed to my unskilled ears that McCain was answering questions from some make believe interview that was happening at the same time, as if Jon Stewart wasn't really saying anything. I don't believe there was one question that John McCain directly addressed and answered in the theme of Jon Stewart's moderate perspective.

Sad that a Republican candidate for our highest office can't get off his party's rhetoric and spin long enough to truly listen to and honestly answer questions from a true patriot: Jon Stewart.

The Best of 2006

It's 2007! And it is time to review the best of 2006. Let' s see what 06 gave us:

Best Science Book Edit: Pluto, formerly known as a Planet
Best Moment in Satire: Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondent's Dinner
Best Dictionary Addition: Truthiness, again, thanks to Stephen Colbert
Best Political Coup: Democrats winning majority in both House and Senate
Best Presidential Boo-boo: "The only way we can win is to leave before the job is done"
Best Repetitive Ad: Head On, apply directly to the forehead; Head-On, apply directly to the forehead...(repeat, repeat, repeat)
(My) Best Epiphany: One who looks for the truth in the world will look forever and never find it. One who looks for the truth within, will see the truth for what it is to them.--Me
Best Reincarnation of Edward R. Murrow: Keith Olbermann
Best Time Person of the Year: Me (And you thought it was going to be You! Kind of selfish, isn't it!!)

Oh, I could go on, but I'll end it there, because 2007 is already here and it is beginning to be such an excellent year already.

Political Camouflage?

What do you do when you are a red republican in a very true blue state, like Maryland? If you're Michael Steele, you wear political camouflage.

In a recorded appearance today on CNN's Situation Room, it was clear that Michael Steele's favorite color is rrrrrrr-royal blue! What? Not red?? That's right, red republican Michael Steele's bid for Maryland senator was all blue. From the blue signs that supporters shook behind him, to the blue jacket he wore, and even to the blue striped button-down shirt and blue tie that peeked through his jacket.

Apparently, this is not a case of the blues for Steele. Even his website is predominately blue. The color red is completely absent on his website, with the possible exception of a photo with a supporter wearing red.

So, is this just another sign that Steele is one of many campaigning republicans that are supposedly turning their backs to the president? According to Steele's interview with Wolff Blitzer, the answer is no.

So, what's wrong with red, Mr. Steele?

Democrats Whimper

Whimper is the sound an injured animal makes. The Democrats seem to be whimpering a lot lately. You'd think that with all the Republican scandals, the Democrats would have licked their wounds and become prepared to attack. Wrong.

Harkin made a comment that practically burst the bubble for many democrats in the room for last Sunday's Democrat Rally. He said that if the Democrats gain the majority in the House and Senate that they will not impeach. Some in the crowd made some noises, most of them sounded like whimpers. I whimpered inside, as well.

Harkin tried to redeem himself by saying that if they didn't want to impeach (the president), because they didn't want Cheney as president. Apparently, that appeased much of the crowd as they clapped and cheered at the comment.

It did not appease me. C'mon, if President Bush is found to be impeachable, who's to say that Cheney also has impeachable advances? I was hoping that it would be the Democrats, but apparently I am wrong there.

Harkin went on to say that the Democrats want to hold them accountable, and they want to investigate. I whimpered. I thought, what's accountable anymore? Hold them accountable is like telling the school yard bully to stop name-calling.


Well, that's all fine and dandy if Harkin wants to take the low road, but why vote Democrat on Nov. 7 if the democrats aren't willing to impeach and punish those who've mangled the Constitution, and to right the wrongs that were made against the Constitution and freedoms of the American people?

Accountability is one thing. Responsibility is taking the bull by the horns and doing what needs to be done to make the Constitution a valid, living, breathing document vital to our country. I hope the Democrats will change their tune, but I won't hold my breath.

Is there anyone out there willing to defend, protect, and resuscitate the Constitution out there? Defending the Constitution should be the platform the Democrats should take, but no, they just sit in the corner and whimper.

“The Silence of Politics, Under a State of Persecution”

“I wish that my memory and name may animate those who survive me…”—Robert Emmet’s Speech from the Dock.

On this, the 203rd year of his death and martyrdom, we honor Robert Emmet.

Robert Emmet was a freedom fighter, just as those who formed what we know as the United States of America had done less than a quarter of a century before Emmet's involvement in Ireland's quest for freedom from Britain.

His famous Speech from the Dock continues to evoke similarities in his struggle and current situations around the world, including the United States:

“I look down with complacency on the destruction of that perfidious government which upholds its domination by blasphemy of the Most High-which displays its power over man as over the beasts of the forest-which sets man upon his brother, and lifts his hand in the name of God against the throat of his fellow who believes or doubts a little more or a little less than the government standard--a government which is steeled to barbarity by the cries of the orphans and the tears of the widows which it has made.”

Towards the end of his statement to the courts, Emmet continues his reasoning: “My lords, you are impatient for the sacrifice-the blood which you seek is not congealed by the artificial terrors which surround your victim; it circulates warmly and unruffled, through the channels which God created for noble purposes, but which you are bent to destroy, for purposes so grievous that they cry to heaven.”

Is there an echo here?

In a declaration for Ireland, it is written: "And we call first on that part of Ireland which was once paralysed by the want of intelligence, to shew that to that cause only was its inaction to be attributed; on that part of Ireland which was once foremost, by its fortitude in suffering; on that part of Ireland which once offered to take the salvation of the country on itself; on that part of Ireland where the flame of liberty first glowed; we call upon the NORTH to stand up and shake off their Slumber and their oppression."

"...Once paralysed by the want of intelligence..."--doesn't that seem familiar?!

As Emmet and his freedom fighters called upon their countrymen (and women) to rise up, shake off their slumber and their oppression, so we too need to awaken and stand for our freedoms.

I offer Robert Emmet the distinguished Golden Ruler, in hopes that his legend will encourage us all to stand up for what is truly right and defend democratic freedom.

“I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world--it is the charity of its silence! Let no man write my epitaph: for as no man who knows my motives dare now vindicate them. Let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times, and other men, can do justice to my character; when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written.”

More Lies?

Don't you think we've heard enough lies and half-truths, if you will, about any and all links to 9/11?? Now, the ABC mini-series docu-drama "Path to 9/11" that will air this Sunday and Monday is reported to stray from 9/11 commission report and fictionalizes key scenes.

Sounds a lot to me like what the DaVinci Code did to Christianity...

Oh, and it gets deeper... Apparently, there's a darker mission in ABC's "Path to 9/11": Pinning the blame on former President Bill Clinton. The documentary's creators are aledging that the Clinton administration let Osama bin Laden get away in the 90s, as they think that at that time the CIA had several chances to nab him. Osama bin Laden? Wasn't he the CIA's best friend in Afganistan? Oh, right. That was the 80s. I just keep getting stuck in the 80s! Love that music.

Whoa... Letting Osama bin Laden get away? I thought I heard some strange report that in the height of the war on terror in Afganistan, George W. Bush let Osama bin Laden get away? Maybe the creators of "Path to 9/11" are getting their wires crossed and are confused about the timeline of events?

At the time of the Clinton presidency, bin Laden had been a minor terrorist to American interests. There were few that got super-enraged about the strikes bin Laden's posse made on Americans in foreign lands. Few media sources really trumped what bin Laden was doing in 90s as a major evil terroristic force. Remember, we were still reeling from Khaddafi.

Even before the 9/11 attacks, the Bush Administration on September 10th put together a strategy to deal with the Taliban. If the bin Laden and al-Qaeda were such a "menace", if you will, to the US, then both the Clinton and Bush Administrations both really dropped the ball on this one.

Oh, wait. Osama bin Laden is wanted by the FBI for..."murder of U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Conspiracy to murder U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Attack on a federal facility resulting in death." It mentions the August 7, 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, but no mention of September 11, 2001. What?

So, Osama is still free out there to plot and reign as terror king. Why?

Ok, if there are no other truths out there lurking, let's just say that the ball was dropped by both administrations on this whole Osama (Usama) bin Laden thing. I'm sure there are reasons behind it.

It's not just the Clinton Administration's fault, especially when the Republican Party was in process to impeach Clinton for enjoying some hanky-panky in the White House.

And when the filmmakers sent copies to important people, including Republican pundit Rush Limbaugh, but sent no copies to Democratic interests and especially not to the Clinton Administration depicted in the film...I'm sure there are reasons behind it.

Headlines: DemoIndeRepub... Who Wins? And More!

Ah, HEADLINES for the midweek crisis...

DemoIndeRepub--Where's the Party for Joe Lieberman? Who Wins?
Well, Iraq war loving Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman lost his bid for the democratic ticket to ... who is Ned Lamont? The Republican Party would love it if Lieberman had won or lost, because now they are just reviving the lost Democratic Party propaganda machine. And what a great diversion to this whole Israeli-Lebannon issue! Kill two birds with one stone on this one!! I don't know who wins, but the American people yearning for truth will ultimately lose. Sorry, truth, we are too busy attacking and/or defending the weakness of the Democratic Party.

Cease-Fire? I Thought You Said Seize Fire!
Isrealis push forward to more bombings and a ground war in Lebannon, as contemplations of a cease-fire seem to be ignored. Cease fire--seize fire?? I guess it's either cease fire and seize the day or seize fire and cease the day. Israelis continue to show the world that their policy is about "loving thy neighbor"--to death. Who wins? God only knows.

Fed Up?
The Feds decided on a holding pattern yesterday, but who knows what the future holds. Talks of recession (downers) and inflation (uppers)... Who wins? The ones with the most money. Sigh.

George W. Bush: Under God or Playing God?

Some say that the US president, George W. Bush, is a born-again Christian, others say he was ordained by God to lead our country, and some say he is the anti-Christ. But, how could they possibly say that someone is the anti-Christ, or even some powerful Dragon of the Revelations dreamed Beast?

The title link (please right click and open in a new window) has an interesting article that poses George W. Bush against his own religious beliefs, and patches some holes in the way American Christians might be viewing the US president.

New Stamps, Again??

It seems like I just went out and bought new stamps with the new rate, along with those weird looking 2 cent stamps with the alligator teeth on them, and now the US Post Office wants to raise the rate of stamps again!

They claim its because of the rising costs of gas. Hey, I see my postal delivery guy walking to deliver my mail everyday, they don't use gas.

Besides, no one is giving me more money to compensate the rising gas prices. Oh, wait. I guess congress was looking into doing just that this week with a $100, or even a $500 tax rebate. Hmmm... Wait a minute, if I pay taxes, and they want to give me money from the taxes to pay for gas so the gas companies will lessen their high price assault, but the gas companies are too greedy to lower gas prices, and our country is running a large deficit right now... Hey, I'm going to pay for it anyway. Ok, that's a bad idea. Relegate that one to the circular file.

USPS is also claiming the rise in the stamp rate is to pay for their employees' rise in health insurance. Pssst--businesses don't care about that silly rise in their employees' health insurance, they're just letting their workers foot that bill.

And, get this, they want to raise it to 42 cents! That means all those extra 2 cents stamps I have laying around wouldn't work--I'd have to get one cent stamps, too! Good grief!

Oh, they want to have a Forever Stamp?? Buy that stamp and I would never have to worry about adding stamps for rate increases?? Why didn't they come out with this idea sooner?

Colbert, That's French, Isn't It?! That's OK, Mr. Colbert, Here's a Golden Ruler!

Although not characteristic of Stephen Colbert's "professional newsiness", a nudge-nudge and a wink-wink might sums up his monologue at the White House Press Correspondents Dinner last Saturday night.

Mr. Colbert decisively marked the evening with way more inside humor and jabs than the large gathering of media, government leaders, and stars could possibly digest, especially the guest of honor, our president.

Playing as if he's in on the good-ole-boys club and up on their antics in the media, Colbert subtly and many times not so subtly discloses his perception of the media's coverage on important events, while maintaining his composed "newsiness" during the speech.

Maybe the reason why some didn't like his speech could be the same reason they now refer to freedom fries and freedom toast. There's just too much French in that guy's name. Toward the end of his speech, President Bush looked like he was about ready to export him back to France. Colbert better be carrying his passport next time he's close to the president, or might get a special trip out of the country. You know how the president feels about those darned immigrants!

On his truthiness, Colbert knows better than most real news outlets how to give his audience the truth, and he delivered in his usual fashion. Why are some people upset about this? Did you not know his style? Did you not watch his show?

Regardless of his neo-con leanings, Colbert stuck it to the man. Thank goodness he got some practice on Bill Kristol a couple days prior to his WHCD gig. He was ready to tackle the news that the media forgot to tackle. And tackle, he did.

By the way, what was with the lame Double-W skit? And last year's skit where the president was running around the room looking for WMDs while our troops in Iraq were dying? And those skits don't offend people? But Stephen Colbert's truthiness does offend? Why can't those people handle the truth?

Mr. Stephen Colbert, in recognition of your courage to fight for the truth, I bestow unto you the Golden Ruler Award. Just as those golden nuns from parochial school used rulers to maintain order and keep their students in line, this Golden Ruler exemplifies your accomplishments to keep truth in line. Use this Golden Ruler to continue to keep truth and justice in line, and to give a gentle tap on the hand to those who deviate from the truth.

Omega Glory

With all the discuss of corruption (especially on Len Hart's blog: existentialistcowboy.blogspot.com) on Capitol Hill, and even in the White House, along with many practices by our government that seem to really subvert the Constitution of the United States, I started to think back to an old (I mean original) Star Trek episode: Omega Glory episode (#54, first aired 3/1/68). Although I am not a true Trekkie, I remember seeing this show when I was young, and the overtones of our US civilization stuck with me.

Wikipedia has a nice overview of this episode. Their summary of the Omega Glory: Captain Kirk must battle a deadly virus and prevent a meaningless war.

Sound familiar? In 1968, the good and bad guys were different than today, but it can easily be changed to today's political climate within the US. Ok, the feared deadly virus today: Avian Bird Flu (I'm sure our president will talk your ear off with coherent discuss about this, since he is way more knowledgeable about this virus than about his current war in Iraq). And today, we are in a pretty much meaningless war in Iraq (Sorry, no WMDs and really, if Saddam was really as dicky of a dictator as they say, then why is the US just as dicky or even more so. Yes, Saddam tortured and used chemical weapons on his people. Pssst--The US has done this, too, on Iraqis--have you forgotten Abu Graib and white phosphorus? Doesn't sound very nice to me.)

Can you see the word "freedom" turn into a "worship word"? I can.

Close to the end of the show, Capt. Kirk finds what looks like a tattered copy of the US Constitution and says "Look at these three words written larger than all the rest, and with special pride never written before or since -- tall words, proudly saying "We the people" .. these words and the words that follow ... must apply to everyone or they mean nothing."

Is the Omega Glory predicting our present and future?

George W. Bush: RICO Suave'??

RICO Suave'? George W. Bush?? What do they have in common???

George W. Bush finally admits to being the leaker in the Plame Game... now the blamer is blamed. Well, if the courts ever get to try anything against George W. Bush and his gang, they may use the RICO Act. If that ever happens, die-hard Bush fans will hope that Bush and his attorneys are RICO Suave' enough not to get indicted on such charges because penalties are super stiff with the RICO Act.

Anyone care for some hot, latin salsa dancing?

You Gotta Know When to Hold 'Em, Know When to Fold 'Em

I don't know if Kenny Rogers wrote that song especially for this ocassion, but it seems a bit fitting, doesn't it?

If you didn't right click and read the title link in a new window, well Card has folded. Andrew Card, who's been sitting at the same poker table at the George W. Bush White House Casino for almost six years, has decided to collect his poker chips and go home. Kind of makes you wonder what the House is holding in their hand, doesn't it? Hmmmm...

EEeeeck! Dr. Evil Is Likely Working Hard In His Laboratory

The Avian "Bird" Flu doesn't scare me as much as what some creepy mad scientist will do with it. Oh, you're not following me? Didn't you read my last post about the bird flu? Well, scroll down and read it.

One of my diligent blog readers forwarded the Title Link (right click on the title and select open in new window), which expands the knowledge that our mad scientists have to make such a pandemic a reality.

Here's the statements from that article that are likely making Dr. Evil laugh with evil delight:

First and foremost, it (avian flu virus) would need mutations in the spike, the haemagglutinin molecule, to enable the virus to bind to cells in the upper respiratory tract.

This would enable the virus to spread via coughs and sneezes and nasal mucus, which are caused by irritation to the upper airways.

To boost its pandemic potential, the virus also needs changes in its PB2 gene, which controls an enzyme essential for efficient reproduction.

I can hear it now: "Muwaaaah ahhhh ahhhh. My scheme to take over the world, it's all coming into place now. Muwaaaah aaaaah aaaah."

Tale of Two Cities: New Orleans & Baghdad

There's a sense of similarity when it comes to redeveloping the destruction of these two cities: New Orleans & Baghdad.

As we look at the Iraq War over the past three years, the redevelopment that we were expecting after capturing Saddam Hussein just isn't happening. As we continue to spend billions upon billions to get Iraq to become civil, now we have a civil war knocking on the Iraqi door. Most of the billions we spend in Iraq is not for rebuilding, but for what? I don't see the promised rebuilding there. The Iraqi people don't look better off than three years ago.

On the other side of the coin is New Orleans. Devastated last fall by an epic hurricane, and subsequent flooding. Will they ever be able to redevelop their neighborhoods to their previous grandeur? Will normal life in New Orleans ever happen for displaced citizens of New Orleans? Will our government spend millions of dollars, just so the rich can rebuild in New Orleans?

It seems that both locales have plans that are going wrong for their average citizens. Normalcy in either location seems a distant and obscure prospect. We can't in all real expectations think that either city can rebuild from such devastations in one or two years. But, you'd hope that they would have a plan and a timeframe to get the job done. A feasible plan that in both cases is not there.

Does That Make Censure?

"The president has broken the law," says Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin). Sen. Feingold views Bush's public surveillence without a warrant as an offense against the constitution and grounds for censure in the US Senate. Feingold's five-page resolution will be presented to the US Senate today.

Republicans that support Bush, however, have rebutted the notions of censure and possible impeachment in the House, not by proving Bush did not offend the constitution, but by linking the Democrats actions with hindering the war on terror and degrading the US international reputation.

Senate majority leader Bill Frist claims that this action will "weaken the United States in a time of war."

Ah, reality check, Mr. Frist. Ok, we started a war based on weak intell in Iraq, when we still had not finished one in Afganistan and have yet to capture Osama bin Laden, the kingpin of 9/11. We have ignored our own constitution by detaining US and US-based foreigners without any due process, allowed a president to spy on our citizens without a warrant that would nullify any evidence received this way in a court of law, and weakened constitutional rights under the guise (disguise) of the unwinnable war on terror. As insurgents and the workings of an Iraqi civil war surface, the US military situation is not looking very good there. And then there's Hurricane Katrina, proving that Homeland Security isn't so secure after 9/11 after all the money we've dumped into such an idea as homeland security. You think President Bush is making the US safer, Mr. Frist, really? C'mon. I think we've done a "helluva" job weakening US foreign and domestic impressions very well, already.

And you, Mr. Frist, want to claim that standing up for the constitution would weaken international impressions of the United States? On the contrary, defending the Constitution of the United States would be a symbol of a strengthening United States, showing the world that we are responsible for upholding our laws and willing to stand strong behind the one document, the foundation that sets the United States as a great nation.

Senator John Warner (R-Virginia) claims that Feingold's censure announcement is "political grandstanding... And it tends to weaken our president." Actually, the process of censure will either prove that President Bush is strong in upholding the Constitution, or as weak as his actions prove him to be.

If we don't defend the Constitution of the United States when it is tested, either by the president or any other action by the US government, then the checks and balances imparted by the Constitution have failed.

If we don't uphold the Constitution of the United States, then we are a weak nation.

MMmmmm-Impeaches are Ripening

A case of mmmm-impeaches, please. With House Resolution 635 that Rep. John Conyers (D., Michigan) presented to the House in December 2005, the first fruits of the impeach tree were noticed as budding from the spent blossoms of impropaganda. Now, in the March 2006 edition of Harpers Magazine features an article on this bold statement from Rep. Conyers.

It is amazing, especially recently, how so many incidents, negligence, and ignorance from the Bush Administration inadvertently proves those yummy impeaches are just about ready for harvesting. And you know what that means? Delicious Impeachment Pie! Check out my recipe for impeachment pie, and when those impeaches are perfectly ripe, make yourself a couple of impeachment pies--one for you and one for a friend (or if you are impatient, frozen impeaches work, as well). Hey, if impeachment pie is too long to say, you can call it "Imp Pie", too!

O'Reilly Says Let's Cut and Run--Oh, Really?!

Bill O'Reilly, host of the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News Channel, claimed in his radio show that Iraq is full of nuts and "the only solution to this is to hand over everything to the Iraqis as fast as humanly possible. Because we just can't control these crazy people." Oh, Really?!! When'd ya figure that out?

So, what happened to the pep rally that this is a war we must win??? Mid-term elections starting to knaw at you? Or are you just going crazy?

I will stand by my previous statements that if we are truly there to liberate the Iraqis, then this is a war for the Iraqi people to win. This is not a victory the United States should be flaunting.

Oh, well, we are a land of arrogant people, aren't we. Calling the Iraqis crazy and gettin' the heck out of Dodge, or Baghda--Fallujadad, as fast as we can, well that is just a funny way of saying "cut and run." Funny, isn't it?!

A Little Wine With Your Port?

"Bush Defends Port Deal" reports the VOA. "This deal would not go forward if we were concerned about the security for the United States of America," stated President Bush. So, does that mean that President Bush is not concerned about the security here? The president notes that he will quickly veto anything that will delay or disrupt this port deal with the United Arab Emirates. So, why is this deal to hand over major US ports to UAE so vital to President Bush? Things that make you go... hmmmmm.

In the Forbes article on "Senator Challenges Ports Deal Procedure" they quote President Bush saying, "The more people learn about the transaction that has been scrutinized and approved by my government," Bush said, "the more they'll be comforted that our ports will be secure." Umm... Since when did this country go from our government to your government, President Bush? Semantics, I know.

It seems that the last time something major changed hands, within a couple of months devastating events happened. Let's see here... Let me look into my crystal ball and see... Oh, my. April and May look to be active months. The beginning two weeks of each month seems to show major events happening. Oh, dear. It's clouding over now. It's turning blue. Is it Windows 2000 for crystal balls acting up again? Oh, it's turning red now. This isn't good. Is this thing even on the right year?

Head Spinnin' Headlines

"The White House Was Clearly in the Fog" says ABC News, regarding the response to Hurricane Katrina. So, did the National Weather Service issue a fog watch for this severe fog? Was this fog also hovering heavily in Crawford, Texas where the president was vacationing at the time? You know, if the White House would have said, hey, we're stuck here in a thick blanket of fog, we just can't help right now, maybe people wouldn't be so upset.

"Shark Attacks Fall in 2005 as Humans Fight Back" says Reuters. In the beginning of the 1980s we had songs that said "I'm a lover, not a fighter..." and "Don't fight it.." but thank goodness for Twisted Sister who clamored "We're not gonna take it..." If it weren't for the big hair metal bands, where would we be now? Probably short a few humans who declared to the impending shark attack "I'm a lover."

"Suit filed to get tricolored blackbird on endangered list" according to an AP wire story. First of all, make up your mind first about the poor bird: is it tricolored or black? Secondly, why are you filing the suit when you should be putting the black suit on the bird? Maybe it's because the bird is a tricolored blackbird that it is becoming extinct... you think? It just doesn't fit in with the rest of the blackbirds at the old bird pond, and then there's that pecking order issue.

In a semi-related story:
"Ready to Test Their Wings? U.S. Plans to Remove Bald Eagles from the List of Threatened Species" reports the Washington Post. I wonder what cure for bald eagles worked? Transplants? Wigs? Comb-overs? Rogaine? Propecia? Hair Club for (the) Birds?