Bill Mahr Smacks Down Bush on Patriotism

Click here for the video of Maher's "New Rules" segment, which ended with the new rule that traitors don't get to question his patriotism, and here for the rest of the transcript of that segment.

I Free-Cycle My Quilts

These days many towns including those in my area operate a Free-cycling system. It's an organized network, using the internet to help people who are tired of things they have or have no more use for them, to offer them free for the pickup. It's one of the many ideas emerging from the save-the-planet movement.

It works well because people respond who need or would just like the things offered/ No money changes hands. It's a sort of barter system. The only thing you have to watch for is that an unsavory person might show up. But first you talk on the phone and arrange an off-site meeting place if you have any qualms.

I had two reversible goosedown comforters (red on one side, beige on the other) that I was getting tired of. They were about six years old, boring, and too warm most of the time. So I bought pretty cotton quilts at Target to replace them and daughter said she'd freecycle the quilts for me. Within five minutes she got ten requests and the first person to respond picked them up this morning.

My gain? The new cotton quilts--so comfortable and easy-breathing--instead of the usual insomnia, I now fall asleep under them immediately.

Blackwater

Below, an excerpt from a review of a new book. Remember the four civilian workers in Iraq who were killed, burned, and their body parts hung up on a bridge? They worked for Blackwell, an American corporation specializing in private armies.. Jeremy Scahill's new book, "Blackwater" tells the story.Here's a link to the complete review: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/25/112857/665

by SusanG

Sun Mar 25, 2007 at 08:34:30 AM PDT

Blackwater
The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army
By Jeremy Scahill
Nation Books, Avalon Publishing
New York, 2007

"The Blackwater corporation is quickly becoming one of the most powerful private armies in the world, and several of its top officials are extreme religious zealots, some of whom appear to believe they are engaged in an epic battle for the defense of Christendom. .... For its vaunted American forces, Blackwater has expanded the mercenary motivating factor (or rationalization) beyond simple monetary gain (though that remains a major factor) to a duty-oriented, patriotic justification. Naturally the MSM is ignoring this.

"Jeremy Scahill’s Blackwater would be a masterpiece of the genre of futuristic sci fi were it not so regrettably real. It’s got all the twists and turns and secret corners of a Hollywood thriller: records and contracts that can’t be traced, shady characters recruiting other shady characters in violent Third World nations, extremist religious figures lurking in the background of a mysterious unregulated company that uses PR tactics worthy of Orwell. Unfortunately for America, we’re living the plot in real time.

[Snip]

"The use of these contractors raises an even more alarming prospect, if followed to its logical conclusion: why not cut governments out altogether? As multi-national corporations continue to grow and exercise a power greater than that of many nations, what’s to prevent them from employing their own private armies – as they do now with smaller, more passive security forces – and ignoring all laws of any country, the ones they’re occupying or the ones they’re at least nominally registered in?"

...

House: My Comment in The Guardian

"House' benefits from tight, intelligent, knowing scripts and the appeal of a fine ensemble cast. Integral are the conflicts that arise between House, Cuddy, Foreman, Chase, and Cameron as they all struggle not only for the medical solution in each week's case, but also to resolve issues between each other. As an American I can attest to Hugh Laurie's astonishingly spot-on accent. While it's not regional (not Southern, Midwestern, or Eastern Seaboard), Laurie manages to make it sound absolutely authentic. Many people I know here in the U.S. were astonished to learn that Laurie is British. Usually when British actors assume an American accent, we wince--it's so patently wrong. Even Laurence Oliver couldn't quite master it. A little troubling is the fact that Chase, Foreman, and Cameron can't continue to train under House's guidance forever. It's sad to think of them being replaced. But attractive as they are in the show, in real life they would be moving on to separate professional careers. One wish of mine is for Wilson to have a larger role. Robert Sean Leonard is a respected Broadway actor who could add more to the show.

Doctors Like a Good Attitude

"Doctors advise a good attitude as part of "patient management", I think. It's easier for them to deal with a patient who is on best behavior - and more compliant. They like "good patients" who don't question or speak out - and kill them regularly."

by Tigana on Fri Mar 23, 2007

Gore Watch: Snide Press Comments

[Keeping track of spiteful remarks in the New York Times headlines or reports--and other publications.]

New York Times headline today:

Star in New Role, Gore Revisits Old Stage
By MARK LEIBOVICH and PATRICK HEALY 2 minutes ago

"For Al Gore, returning to Capitol Hill is akin to a recovering alcoholic returning to a neighborhood bar."

Can't bear to read the report--perhaps tomorrow I will while holding my nose.

Barak Obama on Larry King Last Night

Obama's my man. What an impressive hour. Intelligent, thorough, and adroit answers to Larry King's questions, including King's "gotcha" ones and the stupid ones, which Barak skillfully redirected into important points he wanted to raise.