Moving to WordPress

I'm moving my site over to WordPress. I'm going to leave this one up so that your links will be broken, but from now on I will be posting at WordPress. The new blog's name is Constant Scholars. PLEASE CHANGE YOUR BLOGROLL LINKS AND LEAVE COMMENTS ON THE NEW SITE!

Say, "Please".

I mentioned Jeff Key's documentary, Semper Fi, a few days ago. Jeff said that he saw a Marine talking to an Iraqi child, who was very hungry. The Marine had a Starburst in his hand and the child was begging for it. The Marine, rather than handing it over with a smile, since he not only had food, but CANDY, forced the child to say, "please".

Please? Are you kidding me? This is what we're teaching our soldiers in Values Training (not one Marine stepped in to stop it, and many laughed at the story when it was later retold)? We're getting rid of soldiers who have incredible loyalty to our country and amazing compassion for the people they were told attacked us for no other reason than their sexual preference, and yet we choose to allow these barbarians who are capable of unwarranted hatred towards the innocent to serve in our Armed Forces and represent our country.

We are not the cause of Islamofascism, but we are most certainly not the cure, not when Marines are requiring the contrition of hungry children before offering them a small piece of candy. It is stories like this (and there are a thousand of them) that reduce my pride in being an American, and even more, my pride in those who serve my country.

Catholicism: What I Like

I read a post on Saur's Blog about the Pope. Apparently he believes that if you're not Catholic, you're going to hell. This is the general consensus among the Christian religions, and I'm really glad the Pope is now in the same category as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. But that's not what this post is about.

Despite my general aversion to religion, I did learn a few things from the Catholic Church. One of the things I liked was the emphasis on good works. Though the motivation for being a Good Samaritan is an easier pathway to heaven, the principal is a good one. The notion that one should help those who cannot help themselves (otherwise known as gathering good karma) and atone for the wrongs they have done (rather than simply asking for forgiveness) is something I've kept with me.

The idea that one should refrain from committing sin rather than simply asking forgiveness (once you've done whatever it is you shouldn't be doing) is also a decent idea. It definitely leads to a more repressive society, but constantly having to think before you act about whether you're doing the right thing probably prevents a lot of disasters in a lot of lives. The sheer number of things that are considered sins makes it impossible to ever live without a constant feeling of guilt, (but hey, guilt is what keeps you doing the good works, right?). Though I'm not perfect, I do try to make an effort to think about what I'm doing before I take action.

The high importance placed on education is something ingrained in my soul. Unfortunately, the need students feel for getting that education is based more on fear (of being subjected to a variety of horrible punishments) by the nuns, priests, or your parents, making some students extremely happy to graduate and be rid of the burden. Although my love for education is based mostly on my need to find out the truth about things, the discipline to get that education probably comes from the Catholic Church.

3,608 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
26,558 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Because They're Crooks

CNN is finally asking the question: Why do gas prices follow oil up but not down? They're trying to say that it's basic economics, but I think we all know that's bullshit. The commission last year that determined that price gauging was not happening outright LIED. Driving around town will make that pretty clear. Yesterday I drove no more than a mile down one road from the poor part of town into an extremely wealthy area. The price of gas (again, after driving no more than a mile) raised 30 cents when I crossed the township line. Is the government really trying to tell me that driving half a mile down the road justifies that kind of a hike, especially when we live close to refineries and there's absolutely no reason for that kind of difference? If we're going to let the oil and gas companies fuck us in the ass, let's not pretend that they're bending over as well.

And again, if we would all use less oil, buy fewer plastics, and DRIVE LESS, our troops could come home, the assholes in power would have less money, and we would be doing a lot more to help the environment.

Philadelphia Folk Festival

Last year I wrote about attending my first Philadelphia Folk Festival in years. Last year I was incredibly huge and couldn't volunteer, but we'll be pulling our weight this year. It's 3 days (this year, August 17th to the 19th) of music and harmony (in every sense of the word) and I would say that it can be an almost religious experience. For 3 days a year on a farm in Schwenksville, everyone gets together (some camp, some don't) to enjoy amazing music (this year's theme is Through the Looking Glass!!!) by mostly independent artists. There are plenty of things for families to do together, and there are even children's music performers!

Last year a lot of people wrote me and said, 'Why didn't you tell us a month beforehand so that we could plan to go?" So, here's your warning. If you'd like to go and you don't want to camp, we're about a mile from the site. Bring your bike and you can ride up there (warning: there are hills in PA).

Yeah... I Don't Think So

To look at the conflict in Iraq as anything other than a problem created by our arrogant government for their own profit is more than a little naive. President Bush and his friends created this war from a pack of lies, and and THAT is the basis for the anti-war movement, (well, that and the fact that we're stuck in an endless war that is being incredibly mismanaged) NOT that "we have brought the wrath of Islamofascism upon ourselves", though invading a sovereign nation in the middle of territory controlled by Islamofascists probably didn't help us any.

We did not have to invade a country that had NOTHING to do with us being attacked in order to protect ourselves as much as possible from Islamofascists. Screening Visa applicants a little more vigilantly, making sure our boarders are secure, slowly withdrawing our unconditional support for Israel, reducing our dependence on oil, and staying the hell out of their territory would have been a good start. And a better way to Support the Troops.

And one more reason for the Anti-War Movement:
3,607 US Soldiers have been killed in Iraq
26,588 US Soldiers have been wounded in Iraq

What is the reason we are expending the lives of those who have offered to give them so freely for their nation?

Anger and Politics

People who are merely agitated are more productive than people who are ANGRY (thanks Dr. Deb!), which might be one of the reasons there's an extreme lack of grassroots political movements in this country. The people who are inclined to enact political change are on average much too angry to be productive. I saw Blog Wars on the Sundance channel yesterday and watched what can happen in political campaigns with people power, and it made me wonder why we're not all involved in this. We should all be picking our favorite (or least favorite) candidate and posting as much information (positive AND negative) about them on our sites as possible. Even if it doesn't sway people to vote for our guy and finally, OUR GIRL (not a plug for the candidate, but the gender), it can start some interesting debate and keep us informed about the people we're supposed to be voting for (find out which candidate fits you best by visiting this site).

Here's what I'm proposing:
We start a new blog in which we post as often as possible about our political candidate and discuss what's happening in the campaigns. Information and analysis is what we're focusing on, but if people want to go to an appearance, ask the candidate questions, and post it on the blog, more power to them! I would really like to have Republican candidates represented as well. Maybe we should all choose an issue that's really important to us and analyze each candidate's position on it. What do you think? And what should we name it? Can we really afford NOT to do this?

By The President's Logic

I have a neighbor who had his croonies on the township board change the zoning laws to allow his bankrupt business to operate from his home, causing a HUGE industrial eyesore on the neighborhood. It wouldn't be that bad if he ever cleaned up his yard, got the rusting metal off the ground, or, at the very least, put up a fence, but he won't do any of that. We have a lot of kids in our neighborhood, and because it's adjacent to the property, I'm constantly telling the kids to stay away from there or they'll get hurt.

Our President went to war with an entire nation because he thought they might hurt us. Why can't we sue the neighbor because we think the kids might get hurt on his property? If they do, we can sue him for it being an attractive nuisance anyway, so why do we have to wait until someone gets hurt? Shouldn't we be able to force him to clean up his property (which will severely hurt the environment) and put a fence up (so that the kids can't get over there) just like the President was able to invade Iraq so that Saddam wouldn't be able to destroy his own country with nuclear weapons and hurt his own people?

Pills Instead of Pot

Because pills are easier to get in most American and Canadian communities than pot, our teenage population has turned to them as the drug of choice. Due to the government's misinformation campaign, many kids believe that prescription drugs are safer than marijuana. I wouldn't necessarily call pills "the new marijuana", especially since pills are addictive, they're easier to overdose on, they can cause serious and irreversible liver and kidney damage, and have a litany of side effects depending on the drug.

I think the more important question is this: why are our kids feeling the need to heavily medicate themselves? Why are we so heavily medicated as a society? If kids are abusing these drugs in record numbers, doesn't it stand to reason that adults are doing so as well (which probably contributes quite a bit to our health care crisis)? Is it possible that one of the reasons Americans aren't getting angry about what's happening to them is that they're taking Xanex, Valium, pain killers, and anti-depressants? It's hard to feel anything when you're that doped up.

Is there a pill for this?
3,593 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
26,558 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Semper Fi

Since one of the only benefits to being gay is not having to go to war, Jeff Key’s friends were stunned when he announced that he had joined the Marine Corps. But he was raised in a town where love of country came directly after love of God (since loyalty to country is demanded in the Bible), and he knew in his heart that his homosexuality had negated neither. Unfortunately, not everyone was of the same opinion. Jeff’s father and preacher truly believed that God no longer loved him. They prayed to their all-merciful God, not that HE would accept Jeff, but that Jeff would change and learn to love women, the same prayer that Jeff himself had sent up tot the Lord so many times.

But God wouldn't change poor Jeff. Maybe God didn't feel that Jeff was worth changing. Or maybe HE felt that Jeff didn't need to be changed, for Jeff had a higher purpose - to bring the hypocrisy of the church and the United States Armed Forces to the forefront and change things. Maybe God didn't believe that Jeff should have to worry about his rack mates finding out about his sexual preference and bashing his head in during the night.

Maybe God wants us to know that you don’t have to be Republican to love your country and you don’t have to be Baptist to love God. Maybe, just maybe, God Blesses Everyone. No Exceptions. And the people who believe THAT will be the ones who inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Bullets and shrapnel don't care if these people are gay:
3,587 US Soldiers have died in Iraq
26,350 US Soldiers have been wounded in Iraq

On the Eve of Our First Revolution

We don't feel much like celebrating. On the eve of our first revolution, we do not feel independent, not when our President can wiretap our phones and check our library records. We are in a country so currupt that a political movement is nothing but an empty gesture. I want so badly to believe in my country and those who have sworn to protect it. I am embarrassed that there are men and women fighting and DYING because they believe in the ideals of this country and we're letting it happen because we don't.

We're having a wake instead. We are mourning the passing of the presence of the American People in politics as well as the deaths of those men and women who died truly defending freedom. The 3,584 US Soldiers who died in Iraq have lost their lives for a lie, and the 26,350 US Soldiers wounded in the Iraq war will have to live with that for the rest of their lives.

To prove that you're worthy of this country, take part of the naturalization test. My husband and I both got a 100%.

You Tube Debates

This would be a great idea if there were no media filter, but at least CNN and YouTube are taking submissions from the "Average American" and putting them to the candidates. One of the things I would like to see as the Presidential race continues is the "Average American" talking about why they would vote for a certain candidate and debating people who want to vote for someone else. It could open up the potential for political discussion all over the country, especially if those engaging in debate have gained as much information about their candidate as possible. The possibilities for this medium of communication are endless, and I don't think we're making proper use of the technology. What CNN is doing is a start, but we could be doing MUCH better.

3,582 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
26,350 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Extremely Relevant Movie

'Sicko', the documentary made by Michael Moore about the American health care system, premiered last night nationwide, and I hope the judge deciding my sister's disability case on Monday saw it this weekend. Our lawyer informed us that though she's had 4 open-heart surgeries for Tetralogy of Fallot (also known as Blue Baby Syndrome), a spinal surgery for bone spurs that cut into the nerves in her spinal column (and is in need of another), has a shunt in one of her arteries, and suffers from firbromyalgia and is constantly in horrible pain, the Federal Government will most likely deny her claim and force her to work, basically giving her a death sentence. Thanks America.

No News, Part 2

I was watching the Colombian news this morning and it struck me - our news really isn't as relevant to us as Caracol is to its people. In addition to the sports, weather, and major news stories for the world and the country, they always impart some sort of cultural or societal information and go to the various regions of the country to get their take on whatever the subject happens to be. From watching the Colombian news for a few weeks I can learn about how to eat right, cultural food traditions from all over the country, what various regions feel their contribution to Colombian culture is, how language and dialect varies throughout the country, favorite vacation spots and how (and why) the preference for beach, mountain, or jungle resorts changes depending on their state of origin, and many other things (including history, science, technology, etc...).

In a country of 30 million people with a struggling economy that has been mired in civil war for over 50 years, journalists can bang out a spectacular 60 minute news program (with commercials) filled with relevant news from the country, the region, and the world, and report what's significant, regardless of where it's happening. In contrast, in a country of 300,000 million people with one of the strongest economies in the world, the news from America will be 30 minutes long, have possibly one ACTUAL story that MUST be relevant to Americans, will contain NO cultural or societal analysis, and will avoid (all all costs) any REAL questioning of the government or its politicians.

And CNN.com's new format has made this information MUCH more difficult to find:
3,576 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
26,350 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

And Now For Something Incredibly Frightening

c/o The Department of Homeland Conspiracy

Contingencies for nuclear terrorist attack

Government working up plan to prevent chaos in wake of bombing of major city

As concerns grow that terrorists might attack a major American city with a nuclear bomb, (why the concerns? Is there something you're not telling us) a high-level group of government and military officials has been quietly preparing an emergency survival program that would include the building of bomb shelters, steps to prevent panicked evacuations and the possible suspension (ending) of some (all) civil liberties.

Many experts say the likelihood of al Qaeda or some other terrorist group (Bush & his Dick) producing a working nuclear weapon with illicitly obtained weapons-grade fuel is not large, but such a strike would be far more lethal, frightening and disruptive than the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. (The attack "they" didn't stop) Not only could the numbers killed and wounded be far higher, but the explosion could, experts say, ignite widespread fires, shut down most transportation, halt much economic activity and cause a possible disintegration of government order. (Oh no "we"can't have that)

The efforts to prepare a detailed blueprint for survival (who's Survival? the governments?) took a step forward last month when senior government and military officials and other experts, organized by a joint Stanford-Harvard program called the Preventive Defense Project, met behind closed doors (why the the closed doors? what do "they have to hide?) in Washington for a day-long workshop.

The session, called "The Day After," was premised on the idea that efforts focusing on preventing such a strike were no longer enough, and that the prospect of a collapse of government order ("they" seem obsessed with keeping ORDER) was so great if there were an attack that the country needed to begin preparing an emergency program.

Please read the rest of the post here.

Homosexuality in America

There's been a fury of research about the gays lately. I think it's probably an attempt to neutralize the issue so that it's not a large part of the upcoming election. One researcher thinks that a person's homosexuality can be perceived by the way they walk. If that's true, I'll be watching the Republican National Convention VERY carefully. More Americans are beginning to believe that if a person IS gay, he or she was born that way. I think that would stand to reason as I can't imagine people would choose to be ostracized by a majority of their society, such as the military and the Christians. Maybe this is our biological answer to overpopulation and the homosexual community should be celebrated as humanity's saviors.

Faith-Based Decisions

The Supreme Court seems to be making a lot of decisions based on faith and very few based on justice lately. One of the most recent involves giving millions of tax dollars to faith-based charities with the justification that taxpayers do not have the "standing" to challenge the White House. What the HELL does that mean? We don't have the "standing"? Aren't we the ones who pay their salary? Aren't we the ones who elect them? And we don't have the political standing to sway their decisions or forced them to make moral and ethical ones.

But to show I'm not biased, I agree with the Supreme Court's ruling on the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case. Though I think the student has a right to free speech, and the school shouldn't be able to do anything if he's talking, say, in the cafeteria, about doing bong hits for Jesus, to put it in writing at a school-sponsored event is a violation of school policy and he should have been punished. Parents have the right to expect that their children won't be exposed to advertisements seemingly promoting drug or alcohol use (though I believe profanity should be allowed).

3,566 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
26,129 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Thinking Green

I don't believe in supporting the movie industry. I think it has sold out in a variety of ways, and I'm not going to get into them now. I haven't gone to see it yet, but I feel I should support Evan Almighty for its work in creating a green set. Whatever your stance on Global Warming, it goes without saying that humans need to reduce their impact on the environment. I applaud Universal Studios, director Tom Shadyac, and The Conservation Fund for setting a new standard for making movies.

In the same general vein, Big Ideas for a Small Planet on the Sundance Channel has become one of my favorite series. It has given us a lot of great ideas for things we can do around the house and organizations we can get involved in to help reduce our carbon footprint.

And in totally off-the-wall environmental news, a lake in Chile has disappeared recently. It's probably not due to Global Warming, though a rise in the suspected earthquakes may be connected to climate change.

War is never good for the environment, but it's GREAT for overpopulation:
3,557 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
26,129 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq (at least we'll have a use for some of those plastics)

Stop the Hate

On Flimsy Sanity there is a discussion going on about racism. Several people have taken the "what can you do" approach, and that it really disturbing for me. The don't-make-waves culture of America has gone to far and everyone is so concerned about Political Correctness that they have completely forgotten about Actual Correctness.

It is NOT okay to be racist. It's just not. Don't make excuses. Don't say, "everyone has to hate someone". Don't laugh uncomfortably and walk away. It is WRONG to hate someone because of their race. Yes, everyone has a right to their opinion, but if their opinion is offensive or intolerant, YOU have the right to call them on it. all you have to do is say, "I am not a racist person and I would really appreciate it if you would not make those comments/jokes around me." How hard is that?

It is NOT okay to proselytize. Again, let's not make excuses. It is not okay for someone to come to my home and try to convince me that the way I am living my life is wrong. It is WRONG to try and make everyone think that if they don't believe what you believe, they are going to hell. You shouldn't have to hide inside, turn the TV down, and pretend you're not home. Open the door. Say, "I am an adult. I know all about religion and I am not interested in hearing what you have to say. I don't appreciate you coming to my home to tell me that how I'm living my life is wrong. Please don't come back here again." Then shut the door.

Human Chow

"Tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are." This quote opens every Iron Chef, but I'm not sure where it comes from. I think it's a fitting way to tell about the culture of a people. I really started thinking about this after seeing a report about cereal companies no longer being able to use licenced characters like Shrek to market to children. I think this is great, especially since cereal is a part of the obesity problem in America. I think puppy chow has more nutritional content than most cereals.

We are an institutionalized and industrialized nation, which is why it's so easy to have a bowl of cereal in the morning (serving size: 1/2 cup) instead of an actual breakfast. Cereal is supposed to be part of a balanced breakfast, which should also include an egg (or other protein), some sort of fruit, and the milk poured into the cereal. In MANY it's cost prohibitive, but the rest of us have no excuse. A 20 oz. box of Cheerios costs $5.29. A dozen eggs costs $0.94. Bananas cost about $0.69 per pound. People who can afford it and choose not to do so are simply lazy.

3,519 US soldiers killed in Iraq
25,950 US soldiers wounded in Iraq

Gr8

I'm really surprised that more people haven't been writing about this, though I guess at this point the G8 Summit is an exercise in futility, at least where the US is concerned. These world leaders get together, and President Bush, with all of the intelligence of an eight year-old says, "I don't have to do what you say. Nanny, nanny, boo-boo." And the other world leaders do... NOTHING. No one, not even Merkle will put him in his place, nor will they explain to him that the US is not the only country in the world, nor is it the one with the largest population. At some point its citizens, or more likely the citizens of the world, are going to call the government on its bullshit, and THAT will NOT be pretty.

Save Some Energy!!!

Move your thermostat down 2° in winter (or leave it at 65 and put on a sweater) and up 2° in summer (or leave it at 76 and put the quilt away for the season). Turn the thermostats WAY down or off when you leave the house, and LEAVE THE HOUSE often. If it’s too hot or too cold to do things outside, go to public places that are being heated or cooled anyway. Remember that heating and air conditioning is a luxury, not a necessity in most places throughout most of the year. Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has more tips for saving energy on heating and cooling.Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner. Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Really, how much does a filter cost? It only takes a minute to change.

In Other Countries...

I am getting a little tired of the argument that because something isn't working perfectly in another country, that it cannot possibly work here. Why do people assume that Americans, with all their intelligence and ingenuity, would not take an idea and run with it? Why do they assume that we cannot make something our own. Yes. There are problems with Universal Health Care in other countries. Okay. What can we do to minimize those problems? Yes. France has issues with immigration, too. Does that mean it's okay for us to have an old an outdated system that causes us nothing but problems? Absolutely not! And you say that I've lost hope. our education system is leaving millions of children behind a year, but let's not look at Japan, Switzerland, or Canada, because those countries have problems, too. Just ignore that their students have fewer problems and higher test scores. If a system has ANY PROBLEM AT ALL, it MUST be a failure.

I'm also annoyed at how often this principle is applied to politicians, as in, "they're all corrupt" or "they all spin information". Does this make it right? HELL NO!!!! This is play yard mentality that I attribute partially to the American education system, but that's besides the point. Yes. ALL politicians lie about one thing or another. Does that mean we should accept it when they do, especially when those lies do something like SEND US TO WAR WITH A COUNTRY WHO DIDN'T ATTACK US? Are you kidding me? If all of your children lie instead of just one, does that make it more acceptable?

And does ANYTHING make this more acceptable:
3,501 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
25,830 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

People Are DYING

While we're in the middle of dealing with my sister's never ending health care problems, I thought it might be a good idea to focus on the system as a whole. The American health care system is failing horribly, as evidenced by Michael Moore's new film 'Sicko'. Universal Health Care is the way to go, and surprise, surprise, some of the candidates have plans! (Though they're not QUITE universal). and before we get into the whole, "a welfare state is a bad thing" debate, let's just discuss the fact that many people who HAVE health insurance and full-time jobs still can't afford proper health care because what they need is not covered on their plan. Kusinich probably has the best ideas, for this as well as most other things, so it's a pity that he'll never be elected (some TV stations are editing him out of the debate completely).

Some other health care stories: Stressed-out moms are at higher risk for mental health problems. It's too bad that psychologist appointments aren't fully covered under most health plans, especially if you need to see someone more than six times a year - and that includes family counseling, individual therapy, and marriage counseling. Military Veterans don't get much more help than the rest of us, so it's a good thing we're supporting our troops.

These people no longer need health care: 3,494 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
These people will need health care for the rest of their lives: 25,549 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq.

Worth Reposting

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos slogans symbols, songs and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

Media Cover-Up

In this article, 20 journalists (such as Dan Rather) describe the ways in which corporate media ownership prevented them from reporting important - and often troubling - stories. Rather than allowing these stories to air and letting the people decide their importance, they were stifled by corporate brass and the threat of pulled sponsorship. Some writers and journalists have even been fired.

Not all of these stories would be detrimental to the government, but they would have an impact on the profits of key government employees. Some expose things like the expensive and pointless war on drugs or the hormones put into our milk supply, but others talk about the detaining of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and voter fraud in the 2000 election. Most important is the reason why all this censorship is possible - the consolidation of the country's major news outlets.

Let's not forget that in a fascist government the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives, sometimes under the guise of consumerism. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

Especially this weekend, but as always, take a look at these faces:
3,435 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
25,378 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Dishonerable Deceptions

Military recruiters are becoming even more desperate as young people show their distaste for the war by not joining the military. Recruitment numbers are down, ROTC enrollment is low, and Uncle Sam wants anybody, and I mean ANYBODY to pick up a gun and point it at Iraqis.

A man who had been discharged from the Army a decade ago for suicidal feelings (not to mention talking to himself) during boot camp was allowed to try again and killed himself as a result. Military personnel are resulting to telling new recruits to lie on forms and top Army officials are becoming fed up with these practices, but not the reason recruiters are resorting to them.

We're recruiting gang members and the mentally ill to serve in our military while young, healthy men and women refuse to even acknowledge that a recruiter is speaking to them. I wonder why that is? Have the youth of this country finally decided that they do not want to go to war? Are they tried of being raised in a nation where violence and war is the norm? Probably not. My guess is that they're just too egotistical to dedicated their lives to anything bigger than themselves. But at least they're not joining the Army.

Sicko

Michael Moore's next film, Sicko, will be premiering at the Cannes film festival on June 29th. This film is being blocked by the Bush Administration because Moore visited Cuba with 10 first responders from 9/11 for a segment for the film. They were there to receive treatment that they could not get in the US due to the Bush Administration's denial that anything was wrong with the air around ground zero in the days directly following the demolition of the Twin Towers. Whatever your personal feelings about Michael Moore, it has to be acknowledged that there are very few reporters, journalists, and documentarians asking the questions he's asking. I hate that he is my only source of information when it comes to the answers to these questions. He has his own agenda, of course, but NO ONE ELSE IS ASKING. And before you say, "Well, he went to Cuba, and that's illegal," please remember that Oliver Stone got to go, as did Stephen Spielberg.

Our media is conspicuously absent from this administration. Controlled mass media is a symptom of a fascist nation. Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. Here is the very least you can do to get the word out to as many poeple as possible that this Administration has to go.

UPDATE: At the screening of 'Sicko' several journalists and critics admitted to crying, and even Fox News gvae the film a good review.

Don't Go Breakin' My Heart...

The City of Brotherly Love is not feeling very lovely lately. Gun violence is at an all-time high, and children are becoming afraid to leave their homes. Last year 406 people were murdered in our fair city, more than in most countries. But it's not just Philadelphia. Violence has been spiking nationwide. Many people believe this is due to the ease with which people are able to aquire guns, but I have a feeling this is actually speaking to the overal emotions of the country.

People are angry and armed. They have few prospects. Poor people already feel like they have been abandoned. Look what happened with Hurricane Katrina. A lot of the youth in the inner cities feel that the only way they can get a job is to go into the military. Of those that do, they don't leave their gang affiliations behind. The military has openly stated that they don't have an issue with gang members joining the military. So when these kids get out, they are now trained soldiers. Former military personelle with gang affiliations have been known to set up ambushes for rival gangs and police officers.

In sort-of unrelated news: Master P has started his own lable with a 100% clean policy. He will not sign artists who say "nigger", degrade women, or talk about sex, drugs, or violence in their music. An artist who is not so pure: when opening for a Gwen Stefani concert in Trinidad, Akon (a Sengalese "artist") called a 15 year-old girl on stage, held her down, spead her legs, and simulated sex.

Immigration and Something REALLY Disturbing

A deal has been reached on the immigration issue, and it seems to include some of the components other countries are using. Mexican immigrants are not happy with the plan, but I'm not sure they would accept anything other than amnesty and immunity. I completely agree with the point system for immigrants. I know that the tired, the hungry, and the poor need a good place to live, but right now we have to look after ourselves or we won't be able to help anyone. I think that every illegal immigrant in the country should have to pay a $5,000 fine for each member of the household. Those who cannot must leave within 90 days. Those who can pay the fine must do so and apply for citizenship through the new point system. Those who have enough points may stay. Those who do not must leave within 90 days of their application being denied.

UPDATE: I did not see anything in the article referring to the people who hire and house illegal immigrants. I should mention that I 100% support a $5,000 fine for each illegal employee a company hires, as well as fining landlords $5,000 for each illegal immigrant living under their roof.

The Army has ordered soldiers to stop posting to blogs or sending personal emails without clearing them with an officer. There are three missing soldiers in Iraq, but we know where these ones are. When are we going to find out why they died?
3,401 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
25,378 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Military Censorship

The military has put MySpace and YouTube on a list of sites that are banned for soldiers to access from government computers. They say they are doing this to boost productivity, just as other employers have done, and I would believe that if MySpace and YouTube weren't the major means of communication among soldiers in Iraq. I know my cousin uses it to check in with his wife and the rest of the family, all in one click. If it weren't for MySpace, we would never know what's going on with him because he just doesn't have the time to email all of us.

Another friendly reminder: In a fascist nation media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

These voices have already been silenced:
3,400 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
25,245 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Military Sexual Trauma

Sexual assaults on women in the military are on the rise, and it's safe that the military is attributing it to a better reporting program rather than an actual rise in crime. This means that military officials were aware that women in service were being raped and assaulted. 2,947 sexual assaults were reported last year, but women who work in fields dominated by men are less likely to report an assault, and much less likely to report an assault by someone they work with. For women who have been assaulted and do report it, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a major problem, and Veteran's Organizations have made help available, but with the morals and ethics we expect of our soldiers, this really shouldn't be happening in the first place.

Just a friendly reminder: The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution. It's time for women to band together. One my first actions will be to attend the Mother of a March on May 14th, the day after Mother's Day in Washington DC. We'll be meeting in Lafayette Park at noon. It's time, ladies.

And let's not forget about the mothers of these men and women:
3,380 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
25,245 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Packaged Goods!

Be sure you’re recycling at home, and make sure that your county is ACTUALLY recycling those materials. Some don‘t. You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates. Earth 911 can help you find recycling resources in your area. Buy recycled paper products. It takes 70% to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide. Proofread papers on the computer and only print out a hard copy (on recycled paper) when you absolutely need one. If you’re in school, ask your professors or teachers if you can submit papers electronically. If they say no, ask why and demand that this option be made available. Avoid heavily packaged products, including (and especially for your health) those at Fast Food places. Cake mixes, pre-packaged snacks, and frozen foods are convenient, but they're not great for the environment. You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%. Terrified by the question: Paper or Plastic? Neither is great, but if you live on or near the coast, don’t use plastic. It blows away from landfills and hurts the wild life. Canvas is always the better option.

The Long Arm of the Law

An peaceful and legal immigration rally turned into a nightmare for many when police officers used clubs to hit people and fired rubber bullets into a crowd, hitting women, children, and journalists. Due to the controversy, 60 police officers have been taken off the streets. LA is lucky that Latino immigrants were a lot more peaceful than those who rioted after the Rodney King verdict, but it seems not much has changed in the police force since then.

In the area of Kansas torn apart by tornadoes, 4 uniformed soldiers from Fort Riley Army Base and a uniformed reserve police officer who had not been called to duty after the disaster were arrested for looting.

Governor Corzine of New Jersey is back to work today, only weeks after his driver, a State Police Officer, slammed the car into a guardrail at 91 miles an hour. The Governor would have been in better shape if he had been wearing a seat belt (as required by state law).

So, if we cant trust the local police, the state police, the soldiers who are supposed to defend us, state officials, and those running our federal government, who can we trust?

3,377 US troops killed in Iraq
25,090 US troops wounded in Iraq

What is Wrong With Us?

Recruiters admit that they promise things they can't deliver and several have been caught blatantly lying to high school students. Even some of our soldiers can't be trusted anymore, so if you speak to one and they make you a promise, GET IT IN WRITING. Of those who have already signed up, one third are highly stressed. Their soldiers' ethics are suffering. One third of Marines support torture if it would protect others and sixty percent would not turn in a fellow soldier if they killed innocent civilians. (Let's not even try to discuss the moral ethics of the Blackwater crowd, our nation's mercenary army.)

But the lies and lack of morality don't stop when our troops die. A parent of one of our soldiers is conducting a private autopsy to find out what really happened to their child. Was she raped by her fellow soldiers? What really happened the day Jessica Lynch was rescued, and why were we lied to about Pat Tillman's death? And let's not forget about Patrick McCaffrey! Doesn't our government trust us?

We are not a fragile country. This nation has been built by our own hands. Why are we allowing ourselves to be manipulated and deceived? Have we lost so much self-esteem as a nation that we don't believe that we deserve to know what's happening in the White House? Have we convinced ourselves that those in power MUST know better than we, the PEOPLE? Even those who disagree with Impeachment MUST know that there are serious problems with this President, this war, and this nation. The lack of response to those problems indicates something incredibly troubling deep within our collective conscience.

Even MORE troubling is that so few people seem to notice this:
3,361 US soldiers killed in Iraq
25,090 US soldiers wounded Iraq

Why We're Slow Learners

Change comes when a people are uncomfortable. Small changes have come throughout American history when business required it or a group of uncomfortable citizens demanded it. As a whole, Americans are not nearly uncomfortable enough for change to come anytime soon.

Reason Number One: The majority of our country has its physical needs met, though poorly. We have to work for them (some of us harder than others) but the majority of us are sheltered, fed, relatively healthy, and warm. Most people who are comfortable will maintain or increase their comfort by staying within their zone. Conversations about controversial subjects are uncomfortable, especially when pertaining to religion and politics. I don't know why. People whose needs are met to a lesser degree spend too much time working hard to "waste" their free time on politics, and need to believe that there is a better place than this one. Which brings us to:

Reason Number Two: Religion is enfeebling America. When people believe that they will get to heaven eventually, that everything happens for a reason, and that their mistakes (no matter how many times the same ones are made) will always be forgiven if they ask, they are less likely to focus on the problems that exist in the here and now. Or they believe that those problems will not matter so much (as suggested by our resident "logician") if we just accept Jesus. Those people who are religious and interested in politics tend to follow the party line or the Preacher's line. If it's all in god's hands, then it's not in their's, so why bother?

Just a reminder: Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions. The current President makes mention of religion and religious issues more than others. Faith-Based initiatives are put in motion. The President interferes in legislation on the behalf of religious issues. Non-Christians grow weary of persecution and seek to remove religious symbols from government. Social issues and debate hinge on religious doctrine.

On May 14th, the Mother of a March in DC will be calling attention to the:
3,355 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
25,090 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

The Feminine Mistake?

One of the measures of a civilization is how its children are raised. I believe that America has greatly devolved with regards to childcare. Shelter, heat, and food are essentials that are becoming harder and harder to afford, especially with the drasctic and excessive raise in gas and food prices. Two adults in most households must work just to make ends meet, and children are slipping through the cracks. They are spending more time in daycare and less time with their families. We tend to ignore this when we look at American culture, and specifically our young people.

I love being home with my son. I would love to do it until he's ready for school, but we just can't afford it. We discussed not having children until we could afford for one of use to be at home with them, but decided that I would probably be in menopause by then, so it would be best to start now. I've worked in the childcare industry and have not been impressed at all by what I've seen. I would advocate small, home-run daycares over an institution any day. For women who can afford it, I believe that they should stay home with their kids.

National IMPEACHMENT Day

Today is National Impeachment Day. For those of you who disagree with the job President Bush has done and will continue to do, please call attention to the administrations impeachable offences today on your blog. If you can't do that, put up a sign in your front yard, in your window, on your car, or write it on your forehead. Here are just some of the reasons why President Bush and Vice President Cheney should be impeached:

President Bush pressured the EPA to clear the area around Ground Zero so that construction crews and first responders would get to work earlier.

The Bush Administration has consistently denied the existence of Global Warming until recently, and has taken no steps to improve the condition of the planet.

President Bush and his Administration completely mishandled everything involved with Hurricane Katrina, including the evacuation, the housing of survivors, and the clean-up effort.

President Bush introduced and The Patriot Act, which puts no limits on what the government can do to form a case, arrest, and detain a US Citizen without telling them what they're being accused of or allowing them access to a lawyer.

President Bush ordered the illegal wire-tapping of US Citizens.
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Presdident Bush allowed the torture of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghrab.

President Bush and his Administration initially lied to the American people about why we were going to war with Iraq, and has continued to lie about the purpose of the war, the management of the war, and what is happening to our soldiers.

And let's not forget:
3,334 US Soldiers have died in Iraq
24,912 US Soldiers have been wounded in Iraq

9/11: Toxic Legacy

Though 3,000 people were killed on 9/11, many are still dying from the effects the environment in and around the area of the World Trade Center has had on their lungs. The people who are truly most important to us as a nation, the men and women who sacrifice EVERYTHING to save us, are dying because the Bush Administration and the EPA said that it was safe to go back to work. Our fighter fighters and police officers who responded first and those men and women who were active in the clean-up (about 25,000 people) have lung problems beyond belief, some of them with so much debris in their bodies that they are almost at 0% lung capacity, and their health benefits are going to run out in 2009. Please contact your local, state, and federal representatives and tell them that the REAL heroes of 9/11 need our continued help and support, and that President Bush and Vice President Cheney should be impeached for their role in the cover-up.

And the continued victims of 9/11 could use a little help as well:
3,322 US Soldiers have been killed in Iraq
24,764 US Soldiers have been wounded in Iraq

What I Learned From Virginia Tech

I learned that 32 people can be killed in the course of several hours and no one in this country really gives a damn. Don't mistake the voyeuristic media coverage for actual concern. Yes, people are upset by what happened and their hearts go out to the students and staff at Virginia Tech, but few people are talking about what's really important about this massacre: that we live in a culture where this kind of thing can happen anywhere at any time to anyone.

Isn't that just a little disturbing? Forget about all the political crap that goes along with this tragedy. Forget what the kid said on the videotapes that the media has so insensitively aired on national TV. Forget about the debate on the 2nd Amendment and the people's right to have guns (even though we don't have the right to decide what do do with our own bodies, we have what we need to decide what to do with the lives of others). Forget that he's an Asian kid from Virginia and has probably been the victim of horrible racism since he came to this country (trust me, I've lived in VA). Sure, he had mental problems. How many people are there across this country with some sort of mental illness? How many of them have access to guns? How many of them have motive, real or imagined, AND opportunity?

This tragedy is a symptom of the violent culture of America, as were about a hundred other SCHOOL shootings in the past 10 years (not including Lancaster or VT). We live in a country where we cannot say with reasonable certainty that our children are safe in school. How do people not find this alarming? How are people not rioting in the streets? This tragedy has illustrated beyond a reasonable doubt that gun violence is OUT OF CONTROL in the United States and the only people truly outraged DON'T LIVE IN AMERICA. More children are going to die. If we don't do something now, we might as well get used to seeing higher and higher numbers of casualties in tragedies such as this, tragedies that could have been prevented.

And let's not forget the other victims of gun violence:
3,315 US Soldeirs killed in Iraq
24,764 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq
Over 60,000 Iraqis killed

The Imus Double Standard

I think Don Imus is an asshole. I don't like him, but I don't get to decide how people choose to entertain themselves. Imus was fired for making a racist and sexist comment, but no one has really mentioned all of the other people on the air whose comments have been just as bad or worse. Bill O'Reilly, for example, has referred to Mexicans as wetbacks and has NEVER apologized. Ann Coulter recently called John Edwards a faggot, but apparently that doesn't count because she had to go to rehab. Rosie O'Donnell has used a very offensive "Chinese" accent on The View. I haven't even mentioned all of the rap "artists" who use offensive language on their albums, but no one is stringing them up.

And while America was paying attnetion to Don Imus, few people noticed that Karl Rove and his staff deleted hundreds of emails over the course of several years.

3,302 US soldiers killed in Iraq
24,645 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

300 - The Other Side?

The idea for this post is completely stolen from Dave Away From Home. He suggested that the movie could be seen as a triumph of reason and logic (Sparta) against Fundamentalism and the supernatural (Persia). It's an interesting point, especially if we add in that Leonidas was in the position of fighting the entire Persian army with a small force of 300 men because the priests in Sparta had been paid off to tell him that to go to war was against the will of the Gods. God, apparently, wasn't a huge fan of liberty. Both the Persians and the Greeks were slaves to their religion. The Greeks served old, outdated Oracles who were really just drug-induced playthings. The Persians served a man-god who believed he was immortal but was really only a man. Still, all involved believed that their god was the real god, the one who would allow them to triumph.

How is religion today any different? How is this war any different from that war? People blindly follow religious leaders without question, even when they build huge temples with a fast food place in the back and a Starbucks by the altar (didn't Jesus warn about that?). The Muslims follow their clerics into a war they could probably win due to sheer numbers, destroying everything and everyone they love in the process. The Christians follow their leader into a war they cannot win without reinforcements that will not come until the first wave has been slaughtered completely.

3,292 US soldiers killed in Iraq (the living ones have had their tours extended by 3 months)
24,645 US soldiers wounded in Iraq

300 - Entertainment or Propaganda?

My husband received movie tickets for his birthday and decided he wanted to see a movie that didn't come out until recently. We both have an interest in the ancient world, so I thought 300 might be interesting. What I found was a movie so mired in propaganda that the message was loud and clear. Support our troops, fight for freedom, or we all die! Here are just a few of the parallels I found:

Leonidas lead a small group of free troops against the vast minions of slaves serving Xerxes (who thought himself a god), just like the small number of troops we have in Iraq are fighting against untold numbers of insurgents faithful to Allah. The Greek troops have racial features closer to our own and the Persian troops looked, well, like Persians. The weapons of war were tried and true on the Greek side - the sword and spear (guns and knives), the phalanx (tanks), the shield (body armor) - while the Persian weapons were sneaky and strange - unusual animals (IED's), Immortals (suicide bombers), and fear. Finally, Spartan women are free to make their own decisions, as long as those decisions support the men in upholding and pursuing liberty, democracy, and freedom, unlike the Persian women who are slaves to their men and their god.

After leaving the theater I found myself asking a lot of questions. Why would Hollywood choose to tell this story now, especially when there were battles that were so much more spectacular? Is it because support for the Iraq war is beginning to fade? Since it was the Queen who ultimately convinced the Greeks to fight, and it is women who carry on social traditions, is Hollywood trying to convince women to be strong, to support our troops, or even to join the military? Who knows? Every war has propaganda. It seems this movie is part of ours.

3,280 US soldiers killed in Iraq
24,476 US soldiers wounded in Iraq

You Are What You Eat

Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce, and let’s not forget how much energy it costs to store. Fresh foods taste better and are better for you. Frozen and overcooked foods lose a lot of their vitamins and almost all of their taste. Buy locally grown and produced foods from area farmers markets or Whole Foods. The average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate. Not only does buying locally help reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport the food to you by 1/5, it keeps money in your local community, which is ALWAYS a good thing. More farms means fewer housing developments, which means more green space and less carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Try to make sure the farm you buy from is organic. Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. If all of our corn and soybeans were grown organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere! Eat less meat. Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath. Besides all that, less meat is better for your health.

Disney - Gays Are OK

Though Disney has never actively discriminated against homosexual visitors, they have made their policy even more inclusive by changing the requirement that those participating in their Fairy Tale Wedding program have a legal marriage licence. Of course, this probably has more to do with revenue than common decency, but for a major US company to publicly admit that there is a large enough population of homosexuals for them to make a profit from could be the beginning of some actual social change. Most of this country revolves around money, after all, and once it becomes okay to exploit the gay population, it also becomes okay to BE homosexual. The military HAS actively discriminated and continues to do so.

3,268 US soldiers have died in Iraq
24,476 US soldiers have been wounded in the us

12,000 more National Guard soldiers (if they're in Iraq, who will guard the nation?) are being sent to Iraq in addition to the 21,000 "Troop Surge" that President Bush said would stabilize Iraq. Tell me again how this ISN'T just like Vietnam.

The Death of Habeas Corpus

I was going to say that I have no idea how this was overlooked by the American people and the American media, but I know exactly how. The breaking of the Mark Foley scandal was timed exactly to cover up the Senate's passing of a Bill giving the President the ability to bypass the Writ of Habeas Corpus. For those who are unaware, bypassing the Writ of Habeas Corpus gives the government the opportunity to hold detainees who have been labeled as "the enemy" for extended periods of time without contact with a lawyer and with no idea when the accused will be granted the right to appear before a judge or receive a fair trial. But let's not talk about impeachment.

The Cost of Entertainment

I'm posting this because I have the feeling that gas prices and movie prices are much the same - they differ depending on where you live in the country. Even if they don't both are way too high. The cost of both are due to intense greed, and in some cases, extreme stupidity. So, for two adults to go to the movies in the suburbs of Philadelphia the cost is:

Two Tickets: $18.00
Shared Large Popcorn: $7.00
Shared Medium Drink: $5.00 (Water - $4.00)
Candy: $2.50 - $3.50
Total Cost: $ 33.00

This is not even factoring in the cost of going out to dinner beforehand (or gas to get to the movie theater because none are within walking distance anymore), assuming you can afford it. How are college kids affording this? Of course, their tickets are only $7.50, but I remember being completely broke through most of college. Maybe this is why the kids are drinking so much. Select beers at many places on a Friday night cost no more than $3.00. If a family of four wants to go to the movies, they have to save for a month. This is ridiculous. There is no reason why entertainment needs to be so expensive.

3,254 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
24,314 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Save the Planet!!!

Lawns may be nice, but they don't absorb a lot of carbon dioxide. Plant a tree. A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. If you have children, plant one tree for every year they are alive and measure their growth each year. Plant them in a pubic park so that everyone can enjoy them. Tired of sitting in the sun to watch your children's sporting events? Ask if you can plant trees on the sidelines of municipal fields. Donate a tree to your local civic association, school, or church. Plant roses in your front yard. Plant a garden in your back yard and save money on vegetables. If you live in a housing development, petition the Association to allow you to plant trees in public areas. Even better, build benches under them to promote community living. The Arbor Day Foundation will send you 10 trees for a $10 donation.

Something to Live For

Last night on 60 Minutes John Edwards and his wife were interviewed about their decision to stay in the Presidential race despite Elizabeth's ongoing battle with cancer. The questions were difficult. It almost seemed like the interviewer was trying to convince them to drop out of the race, but they handled each question beautifully - the way any Presidential candidate should. Last night's interview showed that John Edwards can be diplomatic and Presidential, which was no doubt part of the goal, and I applaud Elizabeth for choosing to deal with her disease based on what she feels is best for herself, her family, and her country.

Make no mistake, this is not a post about John Edwards. This is about the choice one woman has made to continue to battle an awful disease by choosing to live her life. It's true that a political campaign is hard on the body and mind, but after the interview I saw last night, I have no doubt that Elizabeth can handle it. I also have no doubt that it was HER decision that kept John in the race. She believes in her husband and she believes that his Presidency would be what's best for America. While that remains to be seen, she has done what all cancer patients are told to do - find something to live for. I hope that her very public battle will serve as inspiration for anyone living with terminal disease such as cancer. I wish her good luck and good health.

Prostitution for the Pill

The price of birth control pills doubled, and sometimes tripled overnight. For women in college, with children, or already working 2 jobs to cover costs, this is quite a shock. So my suggestion is that they make the men they are having sex with pay for birth control. It's only fair. why should women have to cover 100% of the cost when they're only having 50% of the fun. Usually less, but that's besides the point.

Really, women should be charging for sex every time they get into bed. They're bearing the financial burden of any outcome, anyway. There are millions of dollars of unpaid child support floating around out there. How many men who plead with their inconveniently pregnant girlfriends to have an abortion actually pay for half of it? Often if a man chooses to walk away from his responsibilities there are only repercussions if the mother of his children can find him AND afford a lawyer. Happily married women should charge their husbands and donate the money to shelters for abused women. Since money is what truly rules this country, the only way for women to ever be equal is to make men financially responsible for their reproductive rights.

3,233 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
24,187 US Soldeirs wounded in Iraq

Drugs... And Not the Good Kind

Some doctors are prescribing Adderall, a drug most typically used to treat ADHD, to treat obese and overweight children, not that it's been approved for that use. One of the side effects of Adderall is weight loss, but it can also stunt children's growth. My question is: why is it legal for doctors to prescribe drugs for conditions they weren't designed to treat? Why isn't the FDA paying more attention to regulating legal drugs? More importantly, why are doctors handing out drugs like candy? Is it possible that the reason Americans are so complacent is because they're sedated? How many people are on anti-depressants and other mind-controlling substances like Adderall? I'm not saying that some people don't need these drugs. If you're bi-polar, take the medication, but if your depression is being caused by major life changes and some serious bad luck, put down the pills and get some counseling first.

A Bright Idea

Whether you believe in Global Warming or not, you can still reduce your impact on the environment by following this tip from An Inconvenient Truth. Replacing just one regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb makes a difference in your electric bill as well as the amount of carbon dioxide your home emits. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. It might be a little more expensive in the short run, CFLs cost about $3.25 each, but you'll quickly make up the cost on your electric bill. They use 60% less energy than a regular bulb and need to be replaced less often. You can purchase CFLs online from the Energy Federation, and they are available at some local and chain hardware stores. If every family in the U.S. changed JUST ONE bulb, we’d reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds! Imagine what we could do if we switched the bulbs in ALL of our lamps.

If you work in a place where you are comfortable doing so, talk to your boss about replacing the bulbs there, as well. Many people are interested in doing little things to help the environment but they feel overwhelmed or insignificant. Others just can't be bothered to find out what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint. Take the initiative and let them know. Your grandchildren will thank you for it.

3,220 US Soldiers killed in Iraq
24,042 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq

Burning Bushes in South America

For the past two weeks I have been watching the news from South America, so imagine my surprise when I read the CNN headline, "Bush trip may have started healing Latin American rift". I think they forgot to mention something, like the HUGE protests in EVERY city he visited. Mayan Priests in Guatemala felt the need to purify a sacred site he visited to rid it of bad spirits. In Uruguay there were anti-imperialist rallies. The Brazilians called our President an assassin, claiming that he was simply a representative for the multinational companies that want to control bio fuels. Mexicans protested Bush's visit, his immigration policies, and his war with Iraq. So the question becomes: what does a lame duck President do when his country doesn't need him and other countries don't want him? And why isn't he being impeached?

Let's not forget the damage he's caused in THIS country:
3,199 US soldiers killed in Iraq
24,042 US soldiers wounded in Iraq and returning to substandard housing and medical care

Way to Support Our Troops, Mr. President!
To help soldiers far away keep in touch with their families, please click on this link.