Nathan

Justice Dept. to probe leak of spy program - U.S. Security - MSNBC.com: "The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the leak of classified information about President Bush's secret domestic spying program."

The ugly irony is thick: they probably will use the wealth of illegal spying materials they have collected to 'catch' the patriot who exposed some of what our government is doing these days.

ESPN.com: Page 2 : What mattered most in 2005: "How do you make Mother Moses cry? In a year when ball players were getting press for 'str8 stupidness' it seemed strange that Kevin Garnett's written appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show went notice-free.

He wrote her a letter."

The chills running up my back now, like those when I saw and appreciated the ad's showing KG doing his pre-game ritual with the baby powder, remind me again how good some people can be and how great this man is. The people on his shoulders in the newer ads, they don't speak to what an MVPerson he really is.

MATISYAHU - King Without A Crown: "Strip away the layers and reveal your soul
Got to give yourself up and then you become whole
You're a slave to yourself and you don't even know
You want to live the fast life but your brain moves slow
If you're trying to stay high then you're bound to stay low
You want G-d but you can't deflate your ego"

New and original. Very.

Former top Enron accountant pleads guilty - Corporate Scandals - MSNBC.com

These guys aren't dead yet? I thought for sure this has been dragging on long enough that they would all be dead by now.

TAPPED: December 2005 Archives: "This is honestly just dumb. The story we're all talking about isn't a story about how, in September and October 2001, the president authorized some kind of illegal program on a temporary emergency basis before getting things sorted out. That would arguably be forgivable, depending on the details of the hypothetical. The story we're talking about is that today, on December 27, 2005, more than four years after 9/11, the president is still authorizing some sort of illegal, secret surveillance program. The administration has had ample time to make his case to Congress -- if necessary, in a secret closed-door session -- and ask them to re-write the law to say whatever he thinks it ought to say. If the program is really so wonderful, there's every reason to assume Congress will approve it. If the White House really has no intention of abusing whatever it is they've implemented, then they have nothing to fear from the implementation of some oversight or safeguards. There's no excuse for the way they've behaved, and it's grossly premature to just assume they're doing something useful and innocuous when they won't explain to anyone what it is that's going on. "

Where�s the Outrage? - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com

I am outraged. By a lot. But I also work. It is a rock and a hard place situation.

I'm off. Have a great holiday there reader.

ECHELON

ECHELON: NSA's Global Electronic Interception: "The centre near San Francisco has also been used to train staff from the 'Technical Department' of the People's Liberation Army General Staff, which is the Chinese version of GCHQ. The Department operates two ultra-secret joint US-Chinese listening stations in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, close to the Soviet Siberian border. Allegedly, such surveillance systems are only used to target Soviet or Warsaw Pact communications signals, and those suspected of involvement in espionage and terrorism. But those involved in ECHELON have stressed to Congress that there are no formal controls over who may be targeted. And I have been told that junior intelligence staff can feed target names into the system at all levels, without any check on their authority to do so. Witnesses giving evidence to the Congressional inquiry have discussed whether the Democratic presidential contender Jesse Jackson was targeted; one source implied that he had been. Even test engineers from manufacturing companies are able to listen in on private citizens' communications, the inquiry was told.
But because of the special Executive Order signed by President Reagan, US intelligence operatives who know about such politically sensitive operations face jail sentences if they speak out--despite the constitutional American protection of freedom of speech and of the press. And in Britain, as we know, the government is in the process of tightening the Official Secrets Act to make the publication of any information from intelligence officials automatically a crime, even if the information had already been published, or had appeared overseas first."

It seems oddly non-crackpot-ish now doesn't it?

Bush's Snoopgate - Newsweek National News - MSNBC.com: "Bush claimed that the fact that we are discussing this program is helping the enemy. But there is simply no evidence, or even reasonable presumption, that this is so. And rather than the leaking being a shameful act, it was the work of a patriot inside the government who was trying to stop a presidential power grab."

Newsday.com: For Bush, 9/11 justifies eavesdropping: "It's a long way from that terrible day, but Bush is betting its potency as a political argument is as strong as ever -- compelling enough to win public acceptance for an unpopular war, spying on American soil and terror-fighting restrictions on some civil liberties."

Ex-Raider Darrell Russell is killed in a car crash: "Russell -- whose seven-year, $22 million contract in 1997 was the richest rookie contract ever signed in the NFL -- was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Friends and former teammates of the 6-foot-5, 325-pound Russell -- a Pro Bowl defensive tackle in 1998-99 who missed 1-1/2 years while serving two NFL-mandated suspensions before playing eight games in 2003 for the Redskins -- were stunned and saddened by the news.
Former Raiders offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy, who grew up blocks away from Russell in San Diego and bonded with the likeable, childlike player who gravitated toward thugs and trouble, was in tears as he recalled a tormented friend he could never really reach.
'Darrell was a good guy, he really was. This is so tough for me,'' said the sobbing Kennedy, who played five seasons with Russell, who police say resided in Santa Monica. 'You have regrets in life and things you wish you had done. I wish I could have helped him more.
'He and I were close -- we grew up near each other, we had a similar background. But I had to leave him alone, because he couldn't let his friends in San Diego alone. I tried to help him but I couldn't let him drag me and what I was trying to accomplish down to where he was headed.
'He was a big kid like me that had a big heart,'' said Kennedy, who retired from the NFL after the 2004 season and now works as an analyst for the NFL Network. 'He couldn't say no to anybody. ... He couldn't let his friends go, from San Diego. He couldn't let his past go. He always wanted to try to take care and do for other people. It ended up bringing him down.' "

Bush says he authorized eavesdropping in U.S. - U.S. Security - MSNBC.com: "'If that's true, he doesn't need the Patriot Act because he can just make it up as he goes along. I tell you, he's President George Bush, not King George Bush. This is not the system of government we have and that we fought for,' Feingold told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "

conversant1: anywa, ya Bush is going down I think
conversant1: I mean even the republicans are after him
conversant2: yea, he got what he wanted to get though (or his corporate backers did). he probably is done with the shit anyway
conversant2: he obviously loves vacation
conversant1: hahaadam
conversant1: ya
conversant2: so much out there
conversant2: http://www.wesh.com/news/5542983/detail.html
conversant2: and our last prez got friggin almost kicked out over a blow job...
conversant2: it is pretty obvious what the story is to people who want to pay attention: the war machine runs our country along with the oil cartel
conversant2: Iraq=Vietnam
conversant2: Clinton=JFK
conversant2: Blue dress=Assasination
conversant1: pretty moderate thinking there :)
conversant2: lol
conversant2: don't the similarities seem pretty amazing though?
conversant1: ya

There have been a decent number of people searching and looking for Anna Q's article, Don't Mess with Mother, that I wrote of and really liked. I am very happy to see this and hope that the article and this line of thinking and action takes hold. It is time...

Bush Secretly Lifted Some Limits on Spying in U.S. After 9/11, Officials Say - New York Times

Do you wonder what is going on here? Don't. It is fairly simple: there really are not such things as countries or national identities in this world anymore, though the illusion of such things does help those engaged in what is really going on... the war between have and have not. In the Russian Revolution the 'have nots' 'won' but the haves are really, really trying to make sure they lock this one up.

It is the war of our lives.

Report: Bush Authorized NSA to Spy in U.S. - Yahoo! News: "But some NSA officials were so concerned about the legality of the program that they refused to participate, the Times said. Questions about the legality of the program led the administration to temporarily suspend it last year and impose new restrictions.
Asked about this Friday morning on NBC's 'Today' show, Rice said, 'I'm not going to comment on intelligence matters.'"

WSJ.com - Is Global Warming Killing the Polar Bears?: "It may be the latest evidence of global warming: Polar bears are drowning."

National Security Archive 20th Anniversary: Celebrating 20 Years of Keeping Government Honest: "It's an old story: the greater the secrecy, the deeper the corruption."

The Blog | Arianna Huffington: Plamegate and the Press: When Will Somebody Get Fired? | The Huffington Post: "The Plamegate investigation has exposed the ugly underbelly of modern, big-time journalism: the rampant insiderism, the special treatment afforded superstar reporters, the oh-so-cozy relationship between those in power and those theoretically tasked with covering them, the lack of newsroom checks and balances, the acceptance of transgressions with barely a whimper."

AlterNet: The Fight of Our Lives: "But I don't need to tell you this. You wouldn't be here if you didn't know it. Your presence at this gathering confirms that while an America with liberty and justice for all is a broken promise, it is not a lost cause. Once upon a time I thought the mass media -- my industry -- would help mend this broken promise and save this cause. After all, the sight of police dogs attacking peaceful demonstrators forced America to recognize the reality of racial injustice. The sight of carnage in Vietnam forced us to recognize the war was unwinnable. The sight of terrorists striking the World Trade Center woke us from a long slumber of denial and distraction. I thought the mass media might awaken Americans to the reality that this ideology of winner-take-all is working against them and not for them. I was wrong. With honorable exceptions, we can't count on the mass media.
What we need is a mass movement of people like you. Get mad, yes -- there's plenty to be mad about. Then get organized and get busy. This is the fight of our lives."

She is a great writer who has captured many of my thoughts very well recently (especially her article about ‘our mother’ = earth).

Unfortunately I think a great many things need to happen for true leadership to make and/or want to make a difference in our country these days. Not the very least of which is legislation forcing candidates to focus on policy as opposed to politics of personal destruction, free and available advertisements to candidates and encompassing inclusion in debates (not just Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum like 2004, where they barred any other candidates from even being included). Campaign finance needs to be addressed - $4billion dollars spent on a presidential election is ridiculous. Amazing that when we were in high school or junior high that we used to handle this better huh? I think there were limits of like 100-200 dollars that could be spent by a candidate for student class president in high school.

The barriers between true leadership taking hold and being allowed in the White House are formidable and they are not on accident. JFK and what happened to him and Bill Clinton and what happened to him (with the blue dress) were not a coincidence – both men were fighting against a very large, powerful war machine that wanted to use some of their toys, respectfully, in Vietnam and Iraq. And what did this war machine get as soon as these two men and sometimes leaders, sometimes womanizers were removed?

The undercurrent pulling at our country we have to face and talk about directly: vast international corporations and extremely wealthy individuals that are being extremely gluttonous. There is a reason why those folks at the top of our leadership positions (in government and often even in business) have such dead eyes and beaten down souls generally – you don’t get there any other way.

Enough of the Waiting Game - Newsweek Columnists - MSNBC.com: "Not all of them, of course. The reason that Vietnam vet John Murtha's passionate denunciation of the Iraq war stirred people so was that he was clearly calling on conscience, not listening to the click-click of political calculus. That sort of principled response, without fear or favor, has become the exception, not the rule, in the country and the Democratic Party.
The rule is reaction, not action. The Democrats have become the party that waits. The plan seems to be to wait until the Republicans falter, then to move in for the kill. It's not pretty, it's not inspiring and it's not working."

So true, but what can we expect when we are now living in a real life incarnation of Animal Farm where all the piggy's are filling up at the same trough? Money and politics don't mix, like two dicks and no bitch - to paraphrase biggie. I love you Biggie, btw.

McCain, White House deadlock on torture ban - Politics - MSNBC.com: "WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain and President Bush's national security adviser remained at an impasse Wednesday over the senator's proposed ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of foreign terrorism suspects."

Wow, talk about an issue I would not expect our government to be 'deadlocked' on. Unreal.

Is the Pentagon spying on Americans? - Lisa Myers & the NBC Investigative Unit - MSNBC.com

Well, to spare them the effort of spying on me I blog. Oh, I also ate some peach sorbet last night after a good game of poker. I considered a poo after that, but decided not to.

TIMBERWOLVES: 2005-06 Mark Madsen/Timberwolves Diary Week 5 (Nov. 28): "I think seeing the U.S. Military in action was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. Words can�t describe the respect that I have for the men and women of the armed services. I know a lot of you may have loved ones in the military serving here at home or overseas. May they have a great holiday season and most importantly, may they come home quickly and safely. "

EMINEM

Good redesign. Interesting website.

Obama says Republicans practice "Social Darwinism" - Yahoo! News: "Sen. Barak Obama of Illinois, a fast-rising Democratic star, told Florida party members that only a philosophy among Republicans of sink or swim explains why some Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans still live in cars while Republicans in Washington prepare next week to enact $70 billion in tax breaks."

ESPN.com - NBA - Shirley: Can we talk?: "In general, though, people should relax. I think David Cross would agree. I think he would go on to say that people should discuss whatever the hell they want, while remaining respectful of others' views. (Unless those views are plain idiotic, at which point ridicule and mockery should ensue.) None of us is going to be here that long anyway. We might as well say the things we mean while we're around to do it."

village voice > news >Questions continued

This is the question that interests me most:

"6. Why did 7 WTC fall?
Seven World Trade Center-where, besides OEM, the CIA, Salomon Smith Barney, and other entities had offices-was the last building to collapse on 9-11. It was also probably the first steel skyscraper anywhere to collapse solely because of fire. We still don't know why. While NIST has completed its twin towers reports, it has delayed its 7 WTC report twice; it's currently not expected until next spring.

Several 7 WTC tenants, including OEM and the Secret Service, had tanks filled with diesel fuel to power emergency generators. If that fuel leaked and burned, it may have heated the building's steel supports to the point of failure, but according to FEMA's report on the collapse this 'best hypothesis has only a low probability of occurrence.'"

Ten Questions about 9/11

U.S. resists post-Kyoto emissions control bid - Environment - MSNBC.com: "'Only strong political will can show the way,' he told delegates. 'These impacts are felt mostly by the people who are poor and most vulnerable.'"

Hello boss who won’t read this,
When you come to me to do something it often is nice to sometimes hear, if you feel so inclined, that I have done a good job with this or that. Not every time, but maybe once in a year+ ? Or, maybe twice. It would be nice.

When we sit there in one on ones and redundantly cover the same ground over and over and you talk of the same miniscule tactical things you make me want to choke you. Or as Chris Rock might say, shake the shit out of you. Choking would be wrong.

When you give me a cost of living raise and no promotion and no hope for a promotion you make me want to do no work and you make me wonder why I do any – since you don’t really follow up anyway. Well, actually, you do sometimes follow up about things we never talked about or things you thought you heard to assess blame on me. I kinda like that. It is like being wrapped in a nice warm blanky.

Thank you boss, you are often like a blanky. A blanky made of squirrels that is sometimes cold and wet, but a blanky nonetheless. Keep up the good work.

True Blue Howard - Newsweek Entertainment - MSNBC.com: "Good news, Stern fans. The angry revolutionary is back. "

Hurricane Epsilon refuses to give up - Weather News - MSNBC.com: "The long-term average is 10 tropical storms per season, with six strengthening into hurricanes. For the first time, forecasters exhausted their annual list of 21 tropical storm names and turned to the Greek alphabet to name the last five, including Epsilon."

Activists Gather for Climate Change Marches - Yahoo! News: "The Arctic Inuit who are losing their ice caps and activists demanding urgent action on global warming were among thousands taking to the streets in cities around the world Saturday to raise awareness of climate change."

Ice is melting? I don't get it. It is cold here today.

The Real Price of Propaganda - Newsweek National News - MSNBC.com: "My problem with all of this is less ethical than practical. If it helped build Iraqi democracy or blunted anti-American propaganda, it might even be worth it (though certainly not at those prices). But exporting a bunch of budding Jayson Blairs simply feeds the perception of Americans as inept and hypocritical puppetmasters. If we won't withdraw our troops, can't we at least withdraw our ham-handed propaganda efforts? Can't we stop discrediting the truly independent Iraqi reporters and editors that American journalists are helping to train? Can't we grasp the elemental point that an entirely pro-American Arab media is, on its face, not credible in the region and therefore not helpful to the cause of Iraqi independence?

Obviously the United States needs to do better in countering Arab libels. But the cold war taught us that propaganda works best when it's served straight up - by Radio Free Europe (a hugely positive influence) or by the commercial broadcasters who hawked capitalism behind the Iron Curtain. Some of that is going on in today's Middle East. The beaming of American-produced Farsi programming into Iran, for instance, is working well. It's the culture of secrecy, self-dealing and subversion of truth that's killing us."

My thoughts exactly.

Planted stories a serious problem, senator says - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com

Conflict in Iraq eh? How about Conflict in America too? What and where do you think the totally unserious examination of pre-war intelligence from our press come from? I suppose for those in power they have to be happy that the system they formed here to control the media is more or less working. Unfortunately for them, the same cannot be so true in such a fledgling country such as the young Iraqi republic.

SACRAMENTO / Governor loses ruling on 'news release' videos / Judge says one-sided productions can mislead public: "Three labor unions that opposed workplace rule changes pushed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration declared victory Thursday after a Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled that the state cannot produce video 'news releases' that are one-sided.
The lawsuit was filed after Schwarzenegger's administration produced two videos, styled to be like broadcast news reports, promoting emergency regulations changing nurse-to-patient ratios and ending mandatory meal breaks for hourly workers."

Keep kicking his teeth in.

Eat My Holiday Cheer / Screw joy and togetherness. It's all about retail, just like Jesus would have wanted: "Does it not feel more manic and insane this year? Is there not more commercial pressure and consumerist mania and does it not seem increasingly surreal and obnoxious and silly? Or is it all relative and it just seems more utterly intolerable because we've had 10 months to try and forget the last holiday season's odious marketing-shopping miasma?"

I don't feel it personally because I have been willfully ignoring it, but I do hate that news stories are all about retail sales and economy bullshit these days. Little bit of implicit pressure eh? Fuckwads. Donate my gift money is what I am thinking. Screw this capitalist orgy.

Lost: What Kate Did Episode Trivia - TV.com: "Eko: I have something I think you should see...If you don't mind, I will begin at the beginning. Long before Christ, the king of Judah was a man named Josiah.
Locke: Boy, when you say beginning, you mean beginning."

Hilarious quote and hilarious part of the show the other night.

The president makes a speech for peace - Altercation - MSNBC.com: "And so tonight to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans, I ask for your support.
SOURCE: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States"

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | CO2: This time it's personal: "'In this system, individuals are literally stakeholders in the atmosphere,' Richard Starkey told MPs and other interested parties in the UK's parliament last week.
'One could get [people to] buy-in to the process of emissions reduction and even generate a sense of common purpose.' "

I like it.

It is a bit sad to me Howard. I understand that they dick with you each time you start to feel a little sad about your move, but for some reason it will be weird not to have that total access to you all the time. For instance, is my lazy ass friend going to buy Sirius for his car for when it is his turn to carpool? Maybe, but probably not till 2007 or beyond if history is any judge.

So you move on to a bigger and better studio and a new medium. It is a time of congratulations. It is also a time to feel a little sad I suppose. I’ll still listen to you and am excited for the all new channels you got and all, but a change like this is weird.

Uh-uh-uh forever baby.