An hour or so ago I had something I thought was meaningful I wanted to post for you. I’ll tell you, it was really quite thoughtful and provocative. Sadly, it has been a little while and I’ve had a few drinks, so I’ve lost my train of thought altogether. Whatever. We’ll get through this together.
On my own blog, I used to try to end each evening with the Fourth Amendment and a panda. I seem to have been left to my own devices this evening, so here goes.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
May all your dreams be sweet and none of your data mined. Speak up and tell us what’s on your mind. If you would like to promote your blog, or another you think is great, this would be a fantastic time to do it.
reporting for duty!
I’m signing off, nocturnal turkey or no. Boo has finished the last of my pringles and my only recourse now is to play dead.
bird is cooked, I’m off to bed now too. See you on the flip. Stay away from the Ambien.
On my way home from work, I found out that Chimpy was in town today, and I had no clue the miserable, despicable prevariactor in chief had sneaked in with no previous publicity.
Apparently he was speaking at a retirement home in West Des Moines, most likely doing his “Social Security Reform” song and dance. I just hope some spunky oldster gave him hell, because if I could have known, I’d have taken the day off to try my best to ruin his. Fat chance I would have gotten through the loyalty screening, but given the general sentiment around these parts regarding him, I seriously doubt he got the usual warm, fawning marshmallow reception he loves so well.
He pulled the same BS in 2004 several times during the campaign… unannounced visits to select groups, the old in and out in a flash. No chance for anyone to organize any protests, nor way for anyone to get close enough to voice any dissent.
I guess this is the point I meant to make: this misadministration has all but killed off true free speech as we once knew it. When people are either forced to self-censor (no examples needed there) or not even allowed to know in advance (well at least the general public) that there will even be a visit, there is no free speech. No chance to voice a contrarian stance, nothing. Am I surpised? Not at all. Dismayed, angry and frothing at the mouth, yes. I keep hoping the tide has truly turned, but I think what has to happen and soon, is that we need to get people out on the streets, loud, angry and relentless. If our immigrant friends can organize and demonstrate so visibly, why can’t we?
Ok, that’s it. You asked for my 2 cents worth, and ya got it.
Got flood watches in assorted parts of the Bay Area — good thoughts for those affected greatly appreciated. (We’re in good shape in the Silly Con Valley, but I know of at least one BooTribber up in the North Bay…)
I finally got around to posting the third installment in my occasional series in which I apply social psychological theory to understanding the causes of torture and genocide (check here). It’s basically a rough draft of a manuscript that I’m working on, and part of what I presented at the National Social Science Association conference in Vegas last week. Just in case someone finds it of interest.
Reading this, the thing that keeps leaping out at me is that like so many things, the real battlefield on which the war against atrocity is fought is in the home.
If I remember correctly, the experimenters, just like every military organization, had a few participants who said “no.”
While we cannot say with any certainty that the strength of values, of moral character, that caused them to refuse to harm their fellow human beings was learned at home, but we are free to be willing to bet that it was, and those of us who are charged with the guidance of young minds can take a tip accordingly 🙂
Last week, I published an article here called “Danse Macabre — and the band played on”; it was on Wednesday, April 8.
On Friday, Sy Hersh’s article regarding a potential strike on Iran — potentially nuclear — came out.
I updated and reposted the “Danse Macabre” piece, but only in a limited theatre. The updated piece is now the first of a series. Until I had fleshed out the series a bit (identified the # of articles, the topics, and the titles) I held off reposting the updated first segment in the other venues. I now have completed my task list, outlined the articles, and defined the titles.
Anybody interested in having “Danse Macabre — And The Band Played On [UPDATED]” posted here, as well as on the European Tribune, in addition to getting the other parts crossposted as they are completed?
Here’s a list of the article titles, to whet your whistles a bit:
Danse Macabre — And the Band Played On [UPDATED]
Danse Macabre — A Tale of Two Cities
What is the measure of a man, a political party, an ideology or an Administration? The year 2005 gave us the opportunity to see, up close and personal, two key examples embodied in the form of two cities located nearly half a world from each other: New Orleans & Fajullah.
Danse Macabre — The Return of Jaafar
“Unlimited cosmic power / teensy-weensy living space”…this time, Jaafar is not the evil genie of a Disney flick bent on domination and destruction, but instead an astute analyst of the political clime as it pertains to the United States and the Middle East… […snip…] There’s more than one way to skin a cat, as the saying goes, and along those lines there’s also more than one way to define a word or name. In this case, JAAFAR, which holds significance not only as the name of an individual, but of a set of regulations. Specifically, the “Joint Army and Air Force Adjustment Regulations”…
Danse Macabre — Bang the Drum Slowly
The steady, slow march toward yet another unnecessary war of aggression has begun.
Danse Macabre — The Two Towers
“9-11 Changed Everything.” Did it? Did our nation cease to be? Or is the event now the excuse for the convenient removal of the governors upon imperial power that our founding fathers installed to this newfound system of goverment?
Danse Macabre — The Return of the King
Two hundred and thirty years ago, our forefathers brought forth …”
Danse Macabre — Where Eagles Dare
Danse Macabre — Into the Heart of Darkness
Danse Macabre — The Kingdom, The Power & The Glory
Danse Macabre — The Crisis
These are the times that try men’s souls…
Danse Macabre — The Patriot Papers
In July of 2004, an eclectic group of United States citizens representing several different political perspectives and dispersed across the globe came together for a common goal…
Danse Macabre — Schoolhouse Rock
Education, environment, propaganda and politics — (Preamble, No More Kings)
Danse Macabre — The Final Countdown
Unlike the movie “The Final Countdown,” we as a nation will never again have the opportunity to intercede on behalf of humanity in order to avoid the impending nuclear strike upon Iran…
Danse Macabre — To Be, or Not
Danse Macabre — Soliloquy (Funeral for a Friend)
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This fifteen-part series was inspired through the absolute stark raving lunacy that exists within the current US “regime” — affectionately known to the author as “The Bush Cabal.”
The titles and the lead-lines are posted above as they initially stand, and ideally one or both will provide a peek inside the upcoming content.
Okay, since you insist. Check out my blog in sig line below. </ Shameless self-promotion>