zed

Beltway!! Hear it.

Single digit two days in a row. I’m on a roll!

Monty Python’s “What, the curtains father?” has always cracked me up.

Even a blind squirrel gets and acorn now and then.

(((((((Christy!)))))))

MMMmmmm, Booooobz.

I started saying as snark, but it has become my mantra. When ever anyone says they are going to stop being involved with politics because they are not getting the results as quickly as they would like I always tell them:

“Look at Sisyphus, you don’t see him complaining, why should we?”

Busted — Just for you and RW. *G* If you haven’t seen this movie, Sigourney Weaver is freaking hilarious in it. Do watch it — you’ll be glad you did.

one of my faves!

Christy Hardin Smith @ 9

Busted — Just for you and RW. *G* If you haven’t seen this movie, Sigourney Weaver is freaking hilarious in it. Do watch it — you’ll be glad you did.

I saw it quite awhile ago, due for another screening.

“I see you managed to get your shirt off again.” Classic. Galaxy Quest is definitely one of the funniest movies ever made.

And I am not a nerd.

Honestly

Sigourney: “I only have one job on this ship, and it’s stupid, but I’m going to do it!”

This is what has cracked me up more times than I can count this week.

Linky Thingy

The visual on the footie pajamas just gets me rolling.

Sewmouse @ 14

This is what has cracked me up more times than I can count this week.

Linky Thingy

The visual on the footie pajamas just gets me rolling.

The funny thing is, when you google codpiece, Bush’s picture comesup first. And I don’t mean google images.

Loved Galaxy Quest, even Tim Allen wasn’t too obnoxious. Gonna have to go watch it again.

BTW, for Pretenders fans: Happy Birthday, Chrissy Hynde! 56 years young and she’s still hot as can be!

I thought this was pretty damn funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWdiHtv6T6s

Just saw GalQuest a couple of days ago-been chuckling ever since. You can imagine my surprise at seeing this post…the other thing that’s had me laughing this week is The Big Lebowski: “You know. I’m the Dude. Or..His Dudeness…or, El Duderino, for those not into the whole brevity thing.”

Great Capt Howdy……love that one. That kid is really good.

Cap’n Phealy at 12 — hehehehe I love that line. Alan Rickman is pure genius from start to finish in it, isn’t he? We may have to make it movie night at Casa Smith tonight. I’m feeling the need for some comedy after The Peanut goes to bed tonight.

‘Bring out yer dead’, ‘Bring me a shrubbery’, ‘Those are not horses…’

Just about anything from Python’s Holy Grail

OK, here’s my contribution…

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/60d14b6331

Y’know, this week Michigan fans sounded like Democrats. Yes we took a mortal blow to the package, but I was amazed at how many whiners were ready to pack it in and stop watching. Give me a break! I love the line in Batman Returns…”why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” I will watch if my team goes 0-11. Thick and thin. Fuckin’ A!

Uhm…. yeah…. I’ve always been partial to the movie Office Space, but there are too many good quotes to pick just one.

Has anyone ever seen “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead?” I haven’t seen it in a long time, but I LOVE that one.

Bad day for the “smirkaholic in chief” at the OPEC APEC summit (via HuffPo):

“Then, speech done, Bush confidently headed out _ the wrong way.

He strode away from the lectern on a path that would have sent him over a steep drop. Howard and others redirected the president to center stage, where there were steps leading down to the floor of the theater.

The event had inauspicious beginnings. Bush started 10 minutes late, so that APEC workers could hustle people out of the theater’s balcony seating to fill the many empty portions of the main orchestra section below _ which is most visible on camera.”

Bush deserves a third term: prison.

Another one bites the dust..
Peter Keisler Thursday became the latest high-ranking Justice Department official to head for the exit….He played a key role in large civil cases such as the government’s massive suit against the tobacco industry and in 2005 signed off on a controversial decision to reduce the amount sought from the industry in that case from $130 billion to $10 billion
http://weblogs.chicagotribune……tics/blog/

my favorite line from Galay Quest was:

“miners NOT minors!”

The Big Lebowski – ‘The Dude’ hates the Eagles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z92vC-q6mbU

wigwam @ 25

Bush deserves a third term: prison.

best funny of the day ;D

kdh22 @ 21

‘Bring out yer dead’, ‘Bring me a shrubbery’, ‘Those are not horses…’

Just about anything from Python’s Holy Grail

Always look on the bright side of life . . .

*g*

wigwam @ 25

Bush deserves a third term: prison.

Or give him Bremer’s old job in Baghdad… AFTER the troops come home.

What can I say, I’m still partial to Blazing Saddles or Support Your Local Sheriff for good comedy. Or The Thin Man

I’ve always liked “The Kids in the Hall.”

“I’m crrrushing your head…”

This is funny one in a sick sort of way…ever seen a dude pour himself a bowl of cereal with a dead bird in it?
If you have 2 minutes, check it out, you’ll be glad you did.

Christy, let me recommend another comedy I saw this week-I’d never heard of it, but it’s hysterical and right-on:
Idiocracy (dir. by Mike Judge). It’s been running on Cine*ax.

RockPaperScissors at 26 — Interesting. Keisler was the one dealing with the internal revolt from staffers who wouldn’t sign off on the Gitmo habeas appeals filings, wasn’t he? Why, yes he was. He’s a DC Ct. of Appeals nominee still, I think. Very interesting indeed…thanks!

Here’s what had me snorting coffee out my nose all over my keyboard this week:
Clothes for kittehs from Japan–OMG the translations!

http://www.petoffice.co.jp/catprin/english/

And … Galaxy Quest? A classic. Sometimes I like to talk like the Thermians by inhaling while speaking. Yes, I am just that nerdy.

Mods, I apologize if I said something wrong-I can’t imagine what it is!

while we are recommending comedies let me drop my personal favorite:

Drop Dead Gorgeous

the funniest look at teen beauty pagents ever made. (I just saw it a couple of days ago and I am still giggleing)

RonD — I’m not seeing anything in mod at all. Try refreshing your whole screen and see if your comment isn’t there..

Rockin’ into Friday afternoon…

Walk Away – James Gang (live in Germany ‘71)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24SOBX4PIx8

wigwam @ 25

“Bush deserves a third term: prison.”

T-Shirt material…

Best of the week for me was today’s RedJenny post on “The American Ruling Class” a new movie based on Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Nickel and Dimed”
The clip posted with the article is a classic!
here:
http://redjenny.blogspot.com/

Alert for the Rusties here:

Cover for Chrome Dreams II:

http://www.thrasherswheat.org/…..html#links

Very funny movie.
Too bad they trashed Goblin Valley State Park while making it.

Hi Christy…it’s telling me after several hard refreshes that my #18 is in moderation. Oh well…

mc @ 24

Bad day for the “smirkaholic in chief” at the OPEC APEC summit (via HuffPo):

“Then, speech done, Bush confidently headed out _ the wrong way.

He strode away from the lectern on a path that would have sent him over a steep drop. Howard and others redirected the president to center stage, where there were steps leading down to the floor of the theater.

The event had inauspicious beginnings. Bush started 10 minutes late, so that APEC workers could hustle people out of the theater’s balcony seating to fill the many empty portions of the main orchestra section below _ which is most visible on camera.”

Here’s video -
http://www.clickondetroit.com/…..index.html

1,591 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Hardin Smith and the Firepup Patriots:

YOU GO GIRL!! YOU BETCHA…NEVER GIVE UP!!

I jest got off the phone with Congressman Ron Kind’s office…the second call this AM, the first was in response to a constituent e-mail he sent wantin’ ta know what constituent services I needed. I let the staff have it the first one…told ‘em that the only constituent services I was interested in were those that had to do with rejoining’ the Democratic caucus and leavin the Blue Dogs. This last one was specifically to tell the staff that a number of us in this part of the district were watchin’ very closely with regard to the next two weeks and the comin’ Petraeus boondoggle. Sounded like the staff are gettin’ a bunch a the same calls…they weren’t belligerent, jest sounded frightened. Wow…did THAT feel good!!

A vet group out here that I jest joined is tryin ta get sompthin’ goin’ ta put pressure on the good Congressman…I think he’s gunna feel the heat.

Great post Citizen Hardin Smith…if ya ever feel like givin up jest give the ol’ Norske a call, I’ll getcha some fresh-frozen Lutefisk…that’ll fix ya right up!!

KEEP THE FAITH AND REMEMBER YA DON’T REASON WITH FASCISTS!!

I gotta rent Galaxy Quest–I love alan rickman!

Here’s my contribution. My daughter and I were searching Weird Al and found his first TV appearance and he just goes for it!

another one rides the bus

Hey! don’t wanna sit by you!

RonD @ 45

Hi Christy…it’s telling me after several hard refreshes that my #18 is in moderation. Oh well…

Ron,
I’m seeing it just fine @ 18. The Dude, right?

Cowards deserve neither

RonD — That’s really weird, because I’m seeing it just fine. Would you mind telling me which browser you are using? I’m wondering if it is an interface issue because we’ve had a similar problem crop up for someone else lately as well. Thanks!

Goopers! Stop putting lipstick on your pig!

Get Over It – The Eagles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdaM8mxEBtY

dakine01 @ 50

RonD @ 45

Hi Christy…it’s telling me after several hard refreshes that my #18 is in moderation. Oh well…

Ron,
I’m seeing it just fine @ 18. The Dude, right?

The Dude is out there, sinnin’ for us…

WHITE FLOUR! That had me cracking up for a few days this week.

Twisted Martini @ 22

Y’know, this week Michigan fans sounded like Democrats. Yes we took a mortal blow to the package, but I was amazed at how many whiners were ready to pack it in and stop watching. Give me a break! I love the line in Batman Returns…”why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” I will watch if my team goes 0-11. Thick and thin. Fuckin’ A!

Don’t you mean, if Big Ten Network permits?

(A very unhappy Buckeye)

BTW Christy fantastic video up there, I absolutely LURVE Galaxy Quest! Tony Shaloub makes that movie for me with his dry wit and sarcasm at just the right moments.

Weird…Explorer, via AOL.
Yes, I’m one of those. I’m glad it’s just me…I was all baffled trying to figure out what I had said!
Ya gotta see Idiocracy. Truly.

gonna get a kick out of this;

Petraeus on Iraq: ‘It has not worked out as we had hoped.’ In anticipation of the White House’s report next week, Gen. David Petraeus sent a letter to U.S. troops today. Brandon Friedman, who served in Iraq and is now a senior adviser to Vote Vets, obtained a copy of the letter and notes that most of it “essentially says what everyone expects him to say.” On the second page, however, Petraeus admits that “tangible political progress” on the ground “has not worked out as we had hoped”:

hoped?

that’s like hoping for the the tooth fairy…everyone KNEW it would NOT “work out”, everyone KNEW there were NOT enough assets, damn it patreas literally wrote the book on there not being enough assets

everyone KNEW we are the CAUSE of the problem, we are THE reason there are problems in the first place

so I have no clue what he means by “not as good as we hoped”

Christy Hardin Smith @ 36
Very interesting indeed…thanks!

Aw, gosh, your welcome. Sometimes I sneak off the FDL Reservation and checkout the other tribes;)

I just discovered Princess Sparkle Pony-”I keep track of Condoleezza’s hairdo so you don’t have to”

http://sparklepony.blogspot.com/

Sha, when you’re feeling down, I recommend the Princess.

At the risk of exposing my increasingly sick sense of humor and penchant for the politically incorrect, this link never fails me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH0awSk7i8Q&v3

Peterr @ 30

kdh22 @ 21

‘Bring out yer dead’, ‘Bring me a shrubbery’, ‘Those are not horses…’

Just about anything from Python’s Holy Grail

Always look on the bright side of life . . .

*g*

“Ere you cross this bridge of death
You must answer me these questions three…”

I saw that movie for the first time only about two years ago, and laughed my ass off.

this might have come in handy for senator craig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzO1mCAVyMw

maybe its not meant to be funny but i’m still cracking up over the larry craig fiasco… this is true comedy and i’m still LMAO!

oddmommy @ 63

Peterr @ 30

Always look on the bright side of life . . .

*g*

“Ere you cross this bridge of death
You must answer me these questions three…”

I saw that movie for the first time only about two years ago, and laughed my ass off.

Life of Brian is also great.

Brian (to crowd): “You are all individuals!”

Crowd (in unison): “WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS!”

Monty Python dials up the irony meter to 11 on that movie.

This song must have been written with Bill O’Reilly in mind.

*Some mature language used, well, immature language.

-GSD

nonplussed @ 42

wigwam @ 25

“Bush deserves a third term: prison.”

T-Shirt material…

I agree!

My son was 10 when Galaxy Quest came out. He and his friends watched it again and again. I disliked it at first, grew to like it, grew to again think it was a bit off. But I did like Alan Rickman throughout.

oddmommy @ 63

“Ere you cross this bridge of death
You must answer me these questions three…”

I saw that movie for the first time only about two years ago, and laughed my ass off.

Monty Python has totally ruined the Arthur legend for me. Tried to watch Excalibur the other night-couldn’t. Ms.D and I kept doing “Holy Grail” dialogues to each other and cracking up. I challenge all fans of Holy Grail to try and watch a “serious” King Arthur flick without laughing at all the wrong places.
Great fun.

The title of this post was serendipitous, because I had just e-mailed a progressive girlfriend who was talking yesterday about how despondent she was about how the Dems have rolled over and it seems like there’s no progress being made, no matter how much we march and call and write.

This is what I wrote her:

It gets really frustrating when we’re confronted with this appalling apathy and the sense that nothing’s going to change because everyone’s standing around with their fingers in their ears going “La la la, I’m not listening – I wonder if Lindsay will go to jail – do you like my new car? la la la!” I know you’re someone who walks the talk, and it’s very disheartening to think that most people aren’t even aware of the problem we’re facing, much less willing to cowboy up and do something about it.

But something else I realize is – it doesn’t matter.

It doesn’t matter if we get the results we want from our activism.

It only matters that it’s right; that we stand up for what’s right.

Whether we have popular support doesn’t matter. Whether things change on the schedule we want doesn’t matter. Whether things change at all doesn’t matter.

What matters is that we do what’s right.

It’s right to end the invasion.

It’s right to get these crooks out of office.

It’s right to stand up for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

It’s right to put people before corporations, and to take care of those who need it.

It only matters that we stand up, individually, for what’s right.

If we only take action if we know we’ll get our way, if we get a ‘good feeling’ and validation out of doing what we do, then that’s not real activism.

We have to search our hearts and consciences, decide what’s right, and then stand up for it.

Nothing else matters.

So, stay strong, and let’s keep fighting the good fight.

I believe that we will prevail if we do.

But if we don’t, that’s no excuse to quit. That just means we need to do it more.

juslin @ 65

maybe its not meant to be funny but i’m still cracking up over the larry craig fiasco… this is true comedy and i’m still LMAO!

You might get a chuckle from this, then:

http://sparklepony.blogspot.co…..-this.html

Alicia at 71 — Oh, brilliant. I love that — thanks so much for sharing it. :)

Okay, I promise, no more blogwhoring.

mc @ 66

oddmommy @ 63

“Ere you cross this bridge of death
You must answer me these questions three…”

I saw that movie for the first time only about two years ago, and laughed my ass off.

Life of Brian is also great.

Brian (to crowd): “You are all individuals!”

Crowd (in unison): “WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS!”

Monty Python dials up the irony meter to 11 on that movie.

Yes!!!

GSD @ 66

This song must have been written with Bill O’Reilly in mind.

*Some mature language used, well, immature language.

-GSD

And are you going to pay for my new keyboard after the spew? LOL

Bob Newhart and Gilda Radner’s movie “The First Family” had great lines; Gilda was the horny daughter of the President (Newhart) that he ended up marrying off the phallic god of a tribe he wanted to negotiate with.

Some say they’ll have to enlarge the men’s rooms at the Minneapolis Airport in anticipation of the 2008 Republican National Convention…

Amps on 11! Scene from This is Spinal Tap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akaD9v460yI

Dan Froomkin has been kicking ass and taking names since his vacation. New White House Watch is up, gang…

Ed*ard Teller @ 78

Some say they’ll have to enlarge the men’s rooms at the Minneapolis Airport in anticipation of the 2008 Republican National Convention…

Hmmm…enlargen, or just add lots more?

just called senator kerry’s office. i was told that he’s been against the war “forever” (which of course is total bullshit – he voted for it, ran for president without repudiating it while advocated increasing the size of the military) he’s been against the war for 2 years… and i thank him for that – but 2 years is not forever.

of course, i didn’t contradict the person on the phone in kerry’s office. instead, i asked if that meant i could count on senator kerry to vote against cloture on spending bills for the occupation. i was told that he wasn’t sure what senator kerry plan was… but he was sure that he had a plan. and then he hung up.

blegh. do they think we’re all idiots? i hate being spun.

hopefully the person answering the phone was short with me because they’ve been getting so many calls that he is getting frazzeled.

peanutbutter @ 68

nonplussed @ 42

wigwam @ 25

“Bush deserves a third term: prison.”

T-Shirt material…

I agree!

and bumper stickers – am off to Cafe Press! If any firepups want a sticker let me know. newspaperbrat at gmail dot com.

nonplussed @ 42

wigwam @ 25

“Bush deserves a third term: prison.”

T-Shirt material…

Cafe Press has them: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/b…..g_/c_/fpt_

nonplussed @ 42

wigwam @ 25

“Bush deserves a third term: prison.”

T-Shirt material…

Oh yea

Thanks for the smiles all

Alicia @ 71 –

beautiful, thank you.

Alan Rickman was originally slated to play Lister in Red Dwarf. He was great in GQ, but Craig Charles owned the Lister role.

The Big Lebowski is an all-time favorite. The quest for the rug that ties the room together.

[while dunking the Dude’s head in the toilet]
Blond Treehorn Thug: Where’s the money, Lebowski? Where’s the fucking money, shithead?
The Dude: It’s uh… uh… it’s down there somewhere, let me take another look.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 73

Alicia at 71 — Oh, brilliant. I love that — thanks so much for sharing it. :)

Thanks, Christy – I really appreciate it, coming from someone who ‘fights the good fight’ all day, every day. You’re an inspiration.

Ed*ard Teller @ 78

Some say they’ll have to enlarge the men’s rooms at the Minneapolis Airport in anticipation of the 2008 Republican National Convention…

we were watching the network news the other night and my 8 year old son asked me why they were showing a picture of the boys’ bathroom.

Yep, the Party of Family Values strikes again.

CSPAN 2 : Just now Al Green (D) of Texas gave a great speech on the Constitution during a House hearing on the domestic use of spy satellites by Homeland Security. Jane Harman was livid.
Karen

juslin @ 65

maybe its not meant to be funny but i’m still cracking up over the larry craig fiasco… this is true comedy and i’m still LMAO!

Then you will enjoy the linky provided just before your comment.

ROFL. dry humor slowly but surely escalating…

Beige Alert!

mc @ 66

oddmommy @ 63

“Ere you cross this bridge of death
You must answer me these questions three…”

I saw that movie for the first time only about two years ago, and laughed my ass off.

Life of Brian is also great.

Brian (to crowd): “You are all individuals!”

Crowd (in unison): “WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS!”

Monty Python dials up the irony meter to 11 on that movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wVT547XxK8

Biggus Diccus

This may be OT but NOT REALLY
CSPAN-2 is showing the “Homeland Security Is Getting Ready to Use Sattelites inside America on Americans aka “Domestic Use of Spy Sattelites – House Homeland Security Agency” hearing before the House.

This is incredibly disconcerting. We understand how DEA/LEO is using such technology in the “war on some drugs” but from what I have heard NO agency is going to have oversight on this program except the Executive Branch. The executive branch makes all the decisions as to who is getting spied on. We know that courts in VA for example have said using thermal imaging is a 4th amendment violation when looking for people who are growing pot in their houses with grow lites.

This is really really scary.

“death at a funeral”

went to see it labor day to escape the hella hot weather. the entire theatre chuckled and guffawed throughout. good fun farce.

with a naked alan tudyk (sp?) (wash in “firefly”) *sigh*

Stamp and Shout has good bumper stickers too. That’s where I got my “Call the village, I found their idiot” one with the picture of you-know-who.

“We’re not looking into your bathrooms…” Ummm.

More things to fight:

The US Justice Department has said that internet service providers should be allowed to charge for priority traffic.

The agency said it was opposed to “network neutrality”, the idea that all data on the net is treated equally.

BBC

How shocking! Can’t have a police state and an open internet can we? I wonder if the DOJ has gotten rights to the Software that the Chinese govt uses?

wigwam @ 84

nonplussed @ 42

wigwam @ 25

“Bush deserves a third term: prison.”

T-Shirt material…

Cafe Press has them: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/b…..g_/c_/fpt_

Thanks! I sent the link to some friends — whom I suspect will disperse it even more widely.

Ed*ard Teller @ 78

Some say they’ll have to enlarge the men’s rooms at the Minneapolis Airport in anticipation of the 2008 Republican National Convention…

As I was telling johnSwifty the other day, that men’s room is already a tourist attraction. Imagine then, all the tourists (and conventioneers) it will attract during the convention.

As much as I love anything Monty Python or Mel Brooks I think I’d pick this for a quick laugh every time –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDaHl7×8Koc

(By the way on my Bush Count Down Meter, we have 500 more days/10 hours of this buffoon unless someone grows a pair and gets the impeachment started.)

selise @ 82

just called senator kerry’s office. i was told that he’s been against the war “forever” (which of course is total bullshit – he voted for it, ran for president without repudiating it while advocated increasing the size of the military) he’s been against the war for 2 years… and i thank him for that – but 2 years is not forever.

of course, i didn’t contradict the person on the phone in kerry’s office. instead, i asked if that meant i could count on senator kerry to vote against cloture on spending bills for the occupation. i was told that he wasn’t sure what senator kerry plan was… but he was sure that he had a plan. and then he hung up.

blegh. do they think we’re all idiots? i hate being spun.

hopefully the person answering the phone was short with me because they’ve been getting so many calls that he is getting frazzeled.

I wrote to Durbin and got the form letter reply. He apparently doesn’t like the Iraq war either but really didn’t say what he is going to do to stop it.

I think the Democrats (in the role of Charlie Brown) were hoping that the Republicans (Lucy) were going to bail on Bush and the war and come over to the Democrats. It didn’t happen (Lucy pulls football away) and the Democrats (and Charlie Brown) are left flat on their *ss again contemplating the universe without learning from it.

No Domestic Satellite Spying! This is outrageous.

DC Chris @ 93

This may be OT but NOT REALLY
CSPAN-2 is showing the “Homeland Security Is Getting Ready to Use Sattelites inside America on Americans aka “Domestic Use of Spy Sattelites – House Homeland Security Agency” hearing before the House.

This is incredibly disconcerting. We understand how DEA/LEO is using such technology in the “war on some drugs” but from what I have heard NO agency is going to have oversight on this program except the Executive Branch. The executive branch makes all the decisions as to who is getting spied on. We know that courts in VA for example have said using thermal imaging is a 4th amendment violation when looking for people who are growing pot in their houses with grow lites.

This is really really scary.

Didn’t Scalia write the SCOTUS majority opinion on police use of thermal imaging?

Hugh @ 102

I wrote to Durbin and got the form letter reply. He apparently doesn’t like the Iraq war either but really didn’t say what he is going to do to stop it.

I think the Democrats (in the role of Charlie Brown) were hoping that the Republicans (Lucy) were going to bail on Bush and the war and come over to the Democrats. It didn’t happen (Lucy pulls football away) and the Democrats (and Charlie Brown) are left flat on their *ss again contemplating the universe without learning from it.

or, more depressingly, we the people who supported dems last november are charlie brown and our party leaders in congress are playing lucy. :(

Biodun @ 100

Ed*ard Teller @ 78

Some say they’ll have to enlarge the men’s rooms at the Minneapolis Airport in anticipation of the 2008 Republican National Convention…

As I was telling johnSwifty the other day, that men’s room is already a tourist attraction. Imagine then, all the tourists (and conventioneers) it will attract during the convention.

The Minneapolis Airport men’s restrooms would be an appropriate location for FAUX News’s Convention HQ.

Hugh @ 102

selise @ 82

just called senator kerry’s office. i was told that he’s been against the war “forever” (which of course is total bullshit – he voted for it, ran for president without repudiating it while advocated increasing the size of the military) he’s been against the war for 2 years… and i thank him for that – but 2 years is not forever.

of course, i didn’t contradict the person on the phone in kerry’s office. instead, i asked if that meant i could count on senator kerry to vote against cloture on spending bills for the occupation. i was told that he wasn’t sure what senator kerry plan was… but he was sure that he had a plan. and then he hung up.

blegh. do they think we’re all idiots? i hate being spun.

hopefully the person answering the phone was short with me because they’ve been getting so many calls that he is getting frazzeled.

I wrote to Durbin and got the form letter reply. He apparently doesn’t like the Iraq war either but really didn’t say what he is going to do to stop it.

I think the Democrats (in the role of Charlie Brown) were hoping that the Republicans (Lucy) were going to bail on Bush and the war and come over to the Democrats. It didn’t happen (Lucy pulls football away) and the Democrats (and Charlie Brown) are left flat on their *ss again contemplating the universe without learning from it.

I think they are afraid of being criticized as anti-Isr*el if they don’t support the surge (and Iran bombing). That seems to be what Hoyer is all about (taking a group of Dems to Isr*el this summer so that they can become “informed” on the issues). The damnest thing is that this war will harm Isr*el more than help it. THis by the way was also a key issue in the Lieberman campaign and in the new “Freedom” ad on TV. Sucks.

If a picture says a thousand words, then a few of them for that one would be:

‘Yukking it up’ over the End of Centralized Federal Government in Iraq.

Ab Fab. Anything from Ab Fab.

Fresh thread from Pach, up and ready for the reading…

DC Chris @ 94

This may be OT but NOT REALLY
CSPAN-2 is showing the “Homeland Security Is Getting Ready to Use Sattelites inside America on Americans aka “Domestic Use of Spy Sattelites – House Homeland Security Agency” hearing before the House.

This is incredibly disconcerting. We understand how DEA/LEO is using such technology in the “war on some drugs” but from what I have heard NO agency is going to have oversight on this program except the Executive Branch. The executive branch makes all the decisions as to who is getting spied on. We know that courts in VA for example have said using thermal imaging is a 4th amendment violation when looking for people who are growing pot in their houses with grow lites.

This is really really scary.

Watching it right now for the second time…..there’s a post up over at ew’s on the subject.

DC Chris @ 94

This may be OT but NOT REALLY
CSPAN-2 is showing the “Homeland Security Is Getting Ready to Use Sattelites inside America on Americans aka “Domestic Use of Spy Sattelites – House Homeland Security Agency” hearing before the House.

This is incredibly disconcerting. We understand how DEA/LEO is using such technology in the “war on some drugs” but from what I have heard NO agency is going to have oversight on this program except the Executive Branch. The executive branch makes all the decisions as to who is getting spied on. We know that courts in VA for example have said using thermal imaging is a 4th amendment violation when looking for people who are growing pot in their houses with grow lites.

This is really really scary.

DC Chris:
Don’t the satellites also handle data? Not a techie here, but access to communications is spying also.
Karen

Alicia #71,

Your words remind me of General Henning von Tresckow, one of the German Generals deep in the plot to overthrow Hitl*r, when his comrades were wavering:

“[it] must be attempted at any cost. Even should it fail, the attempt to seize power in the capital must be undertaken. We must prove to the world and future generations that [we]…dared to take the decisive step and hazard [our] lives upon it. Compared with this object, nothing else matters.”

Later, after the attempt had failed:

“My conviction remains unshaken-we have done the right thing…In a few hours I shall stand before God, answering for my actions…I think I shall be able to uphold with a clear conscience all that I have done in the fight against Hitl*r…The worth of a [person]is certain only if he is prepared to sacrifice his life for his convictions.”

Christy, you are likewise an inspiration to me as well.

Momentary delurking. Riverbend has a new post up, her first since April. I sat at my desk and wept through the entire post. I guess this is what they mean by collateral damage. So very sad.

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

rosalind @ 95

“death at a funeral”

went to see it labor day to escape the hella hot weather. the entire theatre chuckled and guffawed throughout. good fun farce.

with a naked alan tudyk (sp?) (wash in “firefly”) *sigh*

I was completely taken in by the coffin set-up after the wake resumed near the end. What a great moment. It was quite the farce. An earlier scene reminded me of the moment Terry Gilliam kicked over an urn said to have contained the ashes of fellow Pythoner, Graham Chapman, at the Aspen reunion.

Re: Larry Craig:

Also, some in the gay community are saying by soliciting that particular undercover cop, Craig showed that he has good taste.

selise @ 82

just called senator kerry’s office. i was told that he’s been against the war “forever” (which of course is total bullshit – he voted for it, ran for president without repudiating it while advocated increasing the size of the military) he’s been against the war for 2 years… and i thank him for that – but 2 years is not forever.

of course, i didn’t contradict the person on the phone in kerry’s office. instead, i asked if that meant i could count on senator kerry to vote against cloture on spending bills for the occupation. i was told that he wasn’t sure what senator kerry plan was… but he was sure that he had a plan. and then he hung up.

blegh. do they think we’re all idiots? i hate being spun.

hopefully the person answering the phone was short with me because they’ve been getting so many calls that he is getting frazzeled.

I happen to agree with kerry, he authorized the use of force as a last resort not as the primary action

we all know “last resort” was never considered by this president, never the less, that is what kerry agreed with

Yippee.

My daughter just had a baby boy at St. Elizabeth’s. I’m calling him John Edwards.

Bay State Librul @ 118

Yippee.

My daughter just had a baby boy at St. Elizabeth’s. I’m calling him John Edwards.

felicitations!

Kerry and the Democrats didn’t vote for the AUMF on principle. They were caught in a political bind.

If they voted against the war and the war was successful, Bush would brand them as weak and wrong. You have to remember this is what happened with the First Gulf War.

So many Democrats voted for the AUMF knowing it meant war, but this is where the second part of the bind comes in. If the war was successful, Bush and the Republicans would hog all the credit but if it was unsuccessful, Bush could still point to the Democrats and say, hey you voted for it too. This is, in fact, what happened.

alicia@71 – brilliant!!

Bay State Librul @ 118

Yippee.

My daughter just had a baby boy at St. Elizabeth’s. I’m calling him John Edwards.

Congrats and health to all!!!

RonD @ 113

Alicia #71,

Your words remind me of General Henning von Tresckow, one of the German Generals deep in the plot to overthrow Hitl*r, when his comrades were wavering:

“[it] must be attempted at any cost. Even should it fail, the attempt to seize power in the capital must be undertaken. We must prove to the world and future generations that [we]…dared to take the decisive step and hazard [our] lives upon it. Compared with this object, nothing else matters.”

Later, after the attempt had failed:

“My conviction remains unshaken-we have done the right thing…In a few hours I shall stand before God, answering for my actions…I think I shall be able to uphold with a clear conscience all that I have done in the fight against Hitl*r…The worth of a [person]is certain only if he is prepared to sacrifice his life for his convictions.”

Christy, you are likewise an inspiration to me as well.

Ron, have you read the last two books by Richard Evans?

pierce aero @ 112

DC Chris @ 94

This may be OT but NOT REALLY
CSPAN-2 is showing the “Homeland Security Is Getting Ready to Use Sattelites inside America on Americans aka “Domestic Use of Spy Sattelites – House Homeland Security Agency” hearing before the House.

This is incredibly disconcerting. We understand how DEA/LEO is using such technology in the “war on some drugs” but from what I have heard NO agency is going to have oversight on this program except the Executive Branch. The executive branch makes all the decisions as to who is getting spied on. We know that courts in VA for example have said using thermal imaging is a 4th amendment violation when looking for people who are growing pot in their houses with grow lites.

This is really really scary.

DC Chris:
Don’t the satellites also handle data? Not a techie here, but access to communications is spying also.
Karen

Not to be a complete bore, but DHS is also eqipping urban police forces with armed robots that can be used during civil disturbances or terrorist acts.

I don’t wanna be redundant, but all this coupled with war games within the borders kind of pisses me off.

And I’ll risk getting conspiratorial…..the Russian Revolution storming of the Winter Palace, where Kerensky and the Kadets were holed up, took place on 25 October (old date…the modern date would be 7 November). If these people are as inept at history as they are at everything else, they might not realize that there is not a correspondence with the dates.

Yeah I’m paranoid….but at least I’m paying attention.

“In a world truly gone mad, only a lunatic is really insane.”

Homer J. Simpson

One of my absolute favorite movies. My favorite scene is “Push the Blue Button.”

pierce aero @ 90

CSPAN 2 : Just now Al Green (D) of Texas gave a great speech on the Constitution during a House hearing on the domestic use of spy satellites by Homeland Security. Jane Harman was livid.
Karen

Livid in what way? That he was standing up for peoples’ rights?

james @ 127

pierce aero @ 90

CSPAN 2 : Just now Al Green (D) of Texas gave a great speech on the Constitution during a House hearing on the domestic use of spy satellites by Homeland Security. Jane Harman was livid.
Karen

No, she was livid that they are asking for this ability without concern that technology will change and very possibly overreach and she is supporting a moratorium.

Livid in what way? That he was standing up for peoples’ rights?

Broke as usual this morning I was tempted to get grouchy. Then I remembered a favorite scene from Get Shorty and spent the rest of the morning laughing.

When his nephew doesn’t return with his money, the head of a drug cartel flies to Los Angeles to collect in person. We see him in his limo, with the man who is supposed to pay him wedged between his bodyguards. His lines go something like this -

cartel boss: “I sent my nephew to get my money.”

his (non-paying) customer: “Your nephew?”

cartel boss: “Yeah. He’s my sister’s kid. A halfwit, but I gave him a job to keep her happy. You know how that is.”

customer: “uh huh”

cartel boss: “So then last week my sister comes to me. She’s crying. Yayo hasn’t come home. She’s worried. Me, I’m wondering,
where’s my money.”

customer: “Well I showed Yayo where the money was in a locker at the airport and that’s all I know. I figured he was on his way back home.”

cartel boss: “In a locker at the airport? Why would you leave the money in a locker at the airport?”

customer: doesn’t answer

cartel boss: “You know what I think? I think you’d better get me my money. Or maybe I’ll have Ramon and Caesar staple your tongue to your chin. What do you think?”

customer: I think you speak very good English.

cartel boss: “I’ll tell you what. I’m going to stay in LA for a couple of days, take in the sights. Go see that Miami Vice action spectacular. Then I’m gonna come back here for my money.”

bodyguard leans forward and speaks to boss

cartel boss: “Oh yeah, and Yayo.”

Instead of spending the rest of the morning furious because the bank had dinked around my money, I spent it laughing as I imagined myself telling my banker, “Maybe I’ll have Ramon and Caesar staple your tongue to your chin. What do you think?”

Another favorite quote from Galaxy Quest was, “It’s a stupid job, but it’s my job and I’m going to do it.”

My Favorite Year with Peter O’Toole, “introducing Mark Linn-Baker.” The scene where Peter O’Toole jumps off the roof with the fire hose tied around his middle. Mark Linn-Baker’s horrified reaction is priceless. After seeing it at least 20 times, I still laugh uncontrollably. Maybe I’ll watch it tonight.