Month: April 2005

A bit late for “Frivolous Friday,” but:

A former senator who engineered Jesse Ventura’s surprise election as Minnesota governor is joining author Kinky Friedman’s independent bid for governor of Texas.

Former Sen. Dean Barkley, who has recently been a consultant and lobbyist, will serve as campaign director and chief strategist, Friedman announced Friday.

Barkley founded Minnesota’s Independence Party and in 1997 recruited Ventura, a former pro wrestler and actor, to run the following year. As governor, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the vacancy left when Sen. Paul D. Wellstone died in a plane crash in 2002.

More.
As many of you know, the Texas Governorship is one of the nation’s weakest. There’s little to do beyond letting your political consultants wreak devastation over at the Legislature and mocking death row inmates.

Oh, and plot a future run for the White House.

Into this explosive situation steps Kinky Friedman, ex-leader of the “Texas Jewboys” and lately, an author. As the article points out, turnout in the last gubernatorial election was 29.3 percent, which leaves a lot of room for a charismatic outsider run a la Ventura.

And after that, who knows?

Friedman gets the implications, too:

Friedman — whose books include “Kill Two Birds and Get Stoned” and “Kinky Friedman’s Guide to Texas Etiquette” — said his candidacy should be taken seriously.

“What better place for an independent to win than Texas?” he said. “And if it can be done, I think every career politician in the country is going to feel a little shiver up his spine.”

Conspiracy theorists, represent! How can we sustain Kinky’s political career from there?

“The bird captured on this video can be
nothing other than an ivory-billed woodpecker.”
John W. Fitzpatrick
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Ivory-billed Woodpecker
(Campephilus principalis)

“Despite numerous unconfirmed sightings and much searching, including an extensive search in the bottomlands of Louisiana in 2002, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is thought to be extinct. Once inhabiting the bottomland hardwoods and montane pine forests of southeastern US and Cuba, this large black and white woodpecker disappeared as its habitat was increasingly cleared for agriculture and lumber.”
Audubon Society Watchlist

Thought to be extinct, the last confirmed sighting was 60 years ago in the Big Woods.

VIDEO link to follow  » »

#

UPDATE

I enjoyed doing the search for web pages on this bird, as well as other flora and fauna! The additional INFO and links provided by this diary and in the comments, of their own merit, are worthwhile to read and enjoy!

• Return of the ivory-billed woodpecker
  by Scott in NAZ
  Wed Apr 27th, 2005 at 22:43:50 EST

• Best News All Day, Week, Month
  by Devilstower
  Thu Apr 28th, 2005 at 17:53:10 EST

• ivory billed woodpecker back from the dead
  by virginia4kerry
  Fri Apr 29th, 2005 at 14:28:51 EST

[Thanks to comment by R Lucian]

Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité

That disappeared 5 nanoseconds after it appeared.

Mr. Stirling Newberry’s diary Monetary Insanity Continues is an overview of why the Bush economic policy is a disaster waiting to happen.

Mr. Newberry always writes Good Stuff but this is really good and deserves better than sinking into the night.

If you are interested in an analysis of Bush’s Social Security proposal check out the Jason Furman article on the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities website. This is long but well worth the read. Thanks to Angry Bear for the link.

Let me clear something up for the brain-dead. You can save all our money that you are using to educate people about homeland security by adopting a foreign policy more akin to Canada, Germany, Norway, Japan, or New Zealand. In other words, stop pissing people off, and work within the context of international consensus about human rights, representative government, and the organizations set up to lobby for these worthy causes.

If you would rather continue to blow off those organizations and you would rather torture innocent people (directly) in Cuba, or (indirectly) in Tashkent, then you can expect to pay an exorbitant price in both taxpayer treasure and moral credibility.

I am speaking to both parties here. Wake up. Homeland security is best secured by changing policies, not by distracting co-eds from their legitimate studies.

What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know? [CSN&Y]

Finally got the paper I’d been waiting for.  Three years, ten months, two days.  May 2, 1970.  “Honorable Discharge”.  Goodbye Thailand, hello California. Then two days later, this:

[Note:  All the information about that day is maintained on the May4th website.]

Because of the international dateline, after a flight of roughly 10,000 miles, we took off and landed on the same day at the same time.  Deja weird.  One day to process out at Travis AFB, then no more living according to military rules.  First on the list:  see who’d made it home.  In our case, all of them.  Seven went in, six saw combat, one shoulder wound (two weeks to fix, then back in the shit), I was the last man back.  W-a-a-a-y too much fun after four years of stars, bars, and striped-ass-APes.  You would have thought we were all mad dog rowdies.  Close.  

America had changed when we were gone, and had become a very strange place indeed.  Complete polarization of the populace.  Absolutely no middle ground.  Fer’ it, or agin’ it; “love it or leave it”.  Bullshit.  We knew what was going on in “theater”, but found the public had no clue.  Eighteen-year-old long-hair kids on campus passing out literature against the war, telling vets what was really going on in Vietnam.  F*ckin’ idiots.  

They raged against the “military”, felt anyone in uniform was supporting the war, and Nixon was the enemy.  Youth in search of a clue.  How could they say that?  One heartbeat after arriving in-country the job became staying alive for 364-and-a-wakeup.  When we got back the job was to do anything we could to help end the war.  So the rest of our people could come home.  No politics involved.  F*ckin’ idiots.

From the time we got home, to the time the war “ended” 30 years ago, neither side gave an inch.  Thank god for Watergate.  A most excellent distraction from the war.  We were “scaling down”, and finally left Vietnam.  Ford finalized the ending.  Carter came in talking about “healing” America, realizing our potential as a people and a nation.  Most of us agreed.  Except the chickenhawk Republicans.  F*ckin’ idiots.

May 4, 2005.  Extreme polarization, neither side willing to give an inch, our people engaged in a war-cupation with a smaller country, and a growing movement demanding that we “bring home the troops”.  This time the people held off slamming the people in uniform.  Until Abu Grahib.  “We love you and want you home you poor misguided sons-a-bitch-baby-killers”.  F*ckin idiots.

It’s Rummy.  No, it’s King George.  No, it’s all of them + PNAC.  No, it’s us, just like it’s always been.  In a participatory democracy, it is our responsibility.  We’ve got the best government money can buy.  MoveOn bought the democrats, just ask them.  The religious right owns the Republicans, just ask them.  The media is clueless, just read them.  F*ckin idiots.  

It is the chickenhawks, the wannabe “Gucci Boy Warriors” in congress, the religious right’s “Jesus Hates Muslims”, and the entire executive branch on one side.  On the other side it is the democrat’s internal pissing contest, machine vs. roots war, dazed and confused leadership, and “morally superior” catechism.  The chasm between the two sides of that counterfeit coin puts the American public between a rock and a hard case.  F*ckin idiots.

Meanwhile, back at the farm, the rest of us just try to make sense of it all.  But how to make sense of the images?  I’ve seen them from the first photographs ever taken in war in the 1800’s, and from every war since.  Written descriptions back to antiquity.  No variance.  The acts perpetrated by one human being upon another haven’t changed in millenia.  F*ckin idiots.

I remember the captioned picture that started this thing, along with the picture of the woman screaming in rage and pain following the “battle” for Hue.  Now I’ve added the picture of the little girl who’s family has been shot to pieces, screaming and covered in blood by the side of their car.  And the man in the uniform looking older than Lazarus holding her in his arms, exploding inside with rage and frustration, wishing to god life came with an eraser.  And that the people responsible for starting this thing, for putting him in that position, could just for five minutes stand there in his boots, live in his skin, and tell that child that life will go on.  Somehow.

F*ckin idiots.

The U.S. media have been fixated on yet another white, brunette young woman. This one went missing after going out for a marathon run near Atlanta, Georgia. A clump of hair and discarded sweats were found in the woods. Fox’s Greta Van Susteran quizzed former L.A. detective Mark Fuhrmann and medical examiner Michael Baden on the scant clues. Fox’s Bill O’Reilly devoted half his Friday show to the lost young Caucasian bride-to-be.

Only the local police, who for unstated reasons called off the search early yesterday — and Keith Olbermann, who questioned her mental stability and noted how her eyes bugged out in all the photos — seemed to have a clue. This morning, Jennifer Wilbanks turned up safe. She’d run away. (More below.)

Thousands of miles away, another young woman — unknown to U.S. media — faces a firing squad on Monday. There is no photo of her, and only scant publicity. But her story, which includes imprisonment and rape, is vastly more compelling and time-critical (How to help in comments!):
First, a word for those of you who do not live in the U.S.: It is impossible to describe to you adequately the amount of time and resources that U.S. media devoted to Jennifer Wilbanks. CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, the major networks, newspapers — all the media — gave constant updates, interviews with every person who’d ever known this woman, and constant analyses with “experts” on criminal investigations from the FBI, police, and medical examiners’ departments.

She is a white, middle-class brunette bride-to-be, and her fiance looked, on television, slightly suspicious. And those are the key factors — like the Laci Peterson saga — that made her story a “hit” on television. And those maddening factors are what drive the Americans who frequent this blog away from television.

I turned to CNN at 9AM PDT. It is now 9:37 AM and, even though she’s been found, this is the only story reported in the last half-hour by CNN.

A Word About Missing Persons:

There are thousands and thousands of other missing people in this country alone. Look at the photos of missing people in Manhattan alone: Stephanie Servio, Last seen 07/03/04, Manhattan (black); Veronica Aguires, Last Seen 12/22/03, Manhattan (Hispanic); Rafine Caballero, Last seen 04/15/04, Manhattan (Hispanic), Lucia Casa, Last seen 04/15/04, Manhattan (Hispanic), and on and on. The police department asks that their photos not be reproduced elsewhere.

Then, as we learned last night from David Brancaccio on PBS’s NOW, the family of Haj Ali — the famous man in the hood — searched for him after he went missing. Haj’s family went to Abu Ghraib and, when they asked if he were a prisoner, were told by U.S. authorities that no, he was not at Abu Ghraib. One can only imagine his family’s suffering, not knowing what had become of him until his abrupt release from Abu Ghraib.

Did we ever hear a word about the Ali family’s search? Or about the search for Stephanie, Veronica, Rafine, or Lucia? Of course not.

_____________________________________________________

From Amnesty International UK — the story the U.S. press ignores –about a 21-year-old woman who was tortured and then confessed to murdering her husband when she was 15 and who subsequently was raped in prison, giving birth to a child, now a toddler:

Yemen: Young mother faces execution for crime committed when 16

The Yemen Times reports that “Mrs. Shadha Mohammad Nasser, a lawyer at the supreme court appealed, on behalf of Amina Ali Abduladif suspected of killing her husband Hizam Hassan Miqa’el, to the President and Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council to repeal the execution of the suspect.”

The total number of news stories after a Google News search: Two. Both from The Yemen Times.

Compare that to the number of stories about Ms. Wilbanks:

What might we do for Amina? I didn’t find an “action” suggestion at the UK Amnesty International site.

By author David Ray Griffin (book & bio details below). Goes to 9AM PDT. Watch live. Weekend schedule. More below, including the LA Times Festival of Books panel schedules — the list of panelists will knock your socks off:
Griffin’s book and bio details below this section:

__________________________________________________

Also: On Saturday, April 30 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, May 1 at 1:00 am, CSPAN2 covers the 2005 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. “From the campus of UCLA, highlights from the 10th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Each year the festival features nearly 400 authors and nearly 100 panel discussions, book signings, and other author events around campus. The festival is hosted by the Los Angeles Times.”

Look at this list of speakers! I hope it rains all weekend:

Saturday, April 30

Sunday, May 1

__________________________________________________

On Saturday, April 30 at 10:30 am

The 9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions

David Ray Griffin

Description: David Ray Griffin takes a critical look at the official 9/11 Commission Report put out by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Professor Griffin argues that the “omissions and distortions” in the report amount to a cover-up by government officials and says that the available evidence suggests that the Bush administration was complicit in the 9/11 attacks (either by ignoring known threats or through actual participation in the planning of the attacks). Professor Griffin asks a series of questions which he says have been either inadequately answered or completely ignored by the commission. These include questions surrounding the attack on the Pentagon, the way in which the World Trade Center towers collapsed, and the behavior of President Bush and his Secret Service detail following notification that a second plane had hit the WTC. The talk was hosted by the Muslim-Jewish-Christian Alliance for 9/11 Truth (www.mujca.com) and took place at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Includes Q&A.

Author Bio: David Ray Griffin is professor emeritus at the Claremont School of Theology, where he taught for over 30 years (retiring in 2004). He has authored or edited over two dozen books, including “God and Religion in the Postmodern World,” “Religion and Scientific Naturalism,” and “The New Pearl Harbor: Disturbing Questions About the Bush Administration and 9/11.”

Publisher: Olive Branch Press 46 Crosby Street Northampton, MA 01060

__________________________________________________

[From the diaries by susanhbu.]

The USAID Famine Early Warning System Network has put an “Emergency” red famine warning on Zimbabwe.

The report on their site is very neutral and does not lay the blame where it firmly belongs, at the feet of President Mugabe. Political repression involving the use of farm takeovers and their handover to his cronies and control of the distribution of the main staple foods by the Army was emboldened by the failure of the Western nationst to make an adequate response to his stealing the last elections earlier this year.

The country is producing one third of its annual consumption of maize. It used to export this grain and was the “breadbasket” of southern Africa. Initial examination of the crop predictions show that the crop failure has been most sever in the provinces in the south. This area abutts South Africa where hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans have fled to survive as illegals. The total Zimbabwean diaspora is put ion the millins.

I need to do some more research into the details on this but it looks like there is a causal effect between emigration and crop failures in the south. The other map show the black market price of maize in different areas. At first sight, it looks like the highest prices are in areas where the anti-Mugabe MDC got the most votes. Presumably this means that there are greater amounts slipping out of the government warehouses in the cheaper areas. If the political-geographic supply link is borne out, it would confirm the threats made at the elections to force people to vote for Mugabe.

The best way wof illustrating this would be to have a map of the outcome of the 2005 election results. So far I have not found one so if anoyone does know of any, please let me know. The only areas that look like they have lower prices but support for the MDC are around the capital but I seem to remember the results were mixed anyway. Mugabe would anyway ensure a good supply for his hangers-on in Harare.

As you can infer this is a bit of a work in progress so any useful links would be gratefully received.

[From the diaries by susanhbu]

Following the CNN sample of misleading reporting when it comes to Palestine/Israel conflict, another classic example of how the US media adopts the version of the Israeli Occupation Forces:

More below the fold:

More on this report: Off the Charts: Report on New York Times Israel/Palestine Coverage – If Americans Knew

Construction of a section of the Annexation Wall in Bethlehem.

• One Palestinian civilian was killed by IOF.
• A number of Palestinian civilians were injured by IOF.
• Construction of the “annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued and at least 260 donums (1 donum is equal to 1000 square meters) of land were confiscated in Bethlehem and Jerusalem for this purpose.
• IOF conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas.
• At least 27 Palestinian civilians were arrested by IOF.
• 3 Palestinian civilians were used by IOF as human shields.
• Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank and more areas of Palestinian land were confiscated in Hebron.
• IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF positioned at checkpoints arrested 16 Palestinian civilians and injured one, and IOF have continued to use a special checking machine at Rafah International Crossing Point.

Introduction:

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have launched more attacks on Palestinian civilians and property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).  IOF willfully killed a Palestinian civilian in Hebron.  This week, human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included shooting at Palestinian civilians, incursions into Palestinian areas, house raids and arbitrary arrests. In violation of international law and humanitarian law, IOF have also continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory and confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose.  They have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  This week, IOF used three Palestinian civilians as human shields in military operations in the OPT.  

On 25 April 2005, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Hebron.  The victim lost control over his car and was not able to stop it when he was surprised by an Israeli military checkpoint, so IOF opened fire at him.  IOF claimed first that the victim ran down an Israeli soldier.  Then, they stated that “lived bullets were found in the soldier’s head fired by his colleagues who were on duty” and that “it is possible that this was the cause of his death.”

This week, IOF conducted at least 20 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank, the widest of which was into Balata refugee camp near Nablus on 21 April 2005.  IOF raided and searched a number of houses and opened fire at Palestinian civilians.  As a result, two Palestinian civilians were wounded and 27 others were arrested.  On 23 April 2005, IOF used two Palestinian civilians as human shields while raiding a photo exhibition in Yassid village near Nablus.  On 27 April 2005, IOF used a third civilian as human shield while raiding a flour company in the Gaza Strip.

IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.  On Sunday, 24 April 2005, IOF issued military orders confiscating 80 donums of agricultural land in al-Ja’ba village near Bethlehem, and 181 donums in Beit Sourik village near Jerusalem for the purpose of the construction of the wall.  This week, IOF published a planning map for Kherbat Jebara village, south of Tulkarm, which has been isolated behind the wall.  According to the local council of the village, the map ignored 30 out of the 60 houses of the village and areas of land devoted for public projects, such as an elementary school and a clinic.   In addition, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the wall.  

Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property.  This week, IOF confiscated eight donums of Palestinian land in Hebron for the purpose of settlement expansion.  Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian schoolchildren in Hebron, injuring two of them.  They also attacked and seriously injured an old Palestinian man in Beit Dajan village near Nablus.    

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem.  In the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians.  They closed checkpoints on the main road in the Gaza Strip several times this week.  They also fired at Palestinian civilians waiting at the checkpoints, injuring one.  IOF also arrested four Palestinian civilians at Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border.

In the West Bank, IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities.  They closed al-Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron for three days.  They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians as well as erecting a number of sudden military checkpoints.  They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians and arrested 12 of them, including two children.

Read full report at:
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR).