Is Big Brother alive and well and living in the United State of America? John Kelley at the American Muslim makes a good case. Read John's essay and find out why he concludes, "Forgive me if the more the President tells me he is out to protect me the more worried I get."
http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/big_brother_is_here/009341
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Friday, May 05, 2006
King George and Barron Von Kennedy -- Currying Police Privilege for the Political Elite
I've been pegged a liberal due to my recent anti-Bush posts. With Goerge Bush's job approval rating hovering around the price of a gallon of gas, being anti-Bush simply means that you have a modicum sense in your head. However, being pro-Bush certainly means that you're a right wing neo-conservative. To me, at least.
I'm very troubled by the ongoing trend in America to send political "dynasties" to Washington, DC. No matter to me whether it's a conservative dynasty, like George W. and Jeb riding their dad's coat tails to political prominence, or whether its a liberal dynasty, like we're about to see with Hillary running for office, or as we continue to see with the Kennedy family.
Political dynasties, especially those that have been around for awhile, create American royalty. Unlike Hollywood-fame royalty, political royalty does curries political protectionism.
Here's the latest example of why I hate political dynasties.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2167886,00.html
Here we have Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy's drunk driving crime being covered up by the police. After contacting their supervisors, patrol officers were ordered NOT to administer a breathalizer exam to PK. They certainly would have administered such an exam to you and I. But most certainly because of political connections, it was not.
In America, royal titles are not conveyed, and seats in Congress can not be inherited as they are in Britain's house of Lords. Let's not forget that.
I'm very troubled by the ongoing trend in America to send political "dynasties" to Washington, DC. No matter to me whether it's a conservative dynasty, like George W. and Jeb riding their dad's coat tails to political prominence, or whether its a liberal dynasty, like we're about to see with Hillary running for office, or as we continue to see with the Kennedy family.
Political dynasties, especially those that have been around for awhile, create American royalty. Unlike Hollywood-fame royalty, political royalty does curries political protectionism.
Here's the latest example of why I hate political dynasties.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2167886,00.html
Here we have Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy's drunk driving crime being covered up by the police. After contacting their supervisors, patrol officers were ordered NOT to administer a breathalizer exam to PK. They certainly would have administered such an exam to you and I. But most certainly because of political connections, it was not.
In America, royal titles are not conveyed, and seats in Congress can not be inherited as they are in Britain's house of Lords. Let's not forget that.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Purple Martins, part 2
Regular readers with amazingly peculiar memories may recall my attempt last spring to establish a colony of Purple Martin's in my yard.
It seems like every experience our family has had with pets or wildlife has ended in tears (usually the kids, not me). Allow me to reminisce.
There was Tinkerbell the cat.
There was the fish (intended to replace the cat) that canibalized the baby fish.
There were the frog tad poles that hatched then died last month (I didn't tell you about that one, either).
There was the "pet worm" my eldest boy loved and treasured for about 2 hours, before it broke apart in his hands, sending him bawling to me (luckily, I found a worm that looked identical to the one that passed away, and was able to convince them that I "super glued" it back together).
And last year there were the Purple Martins who were slaughtered by sparrows.
We've decided to try and attract Purple Martins again. We put the house up a week ago, and immediately sparrows claimed it.
This year, I am fighting back against the sparrows. I've purchased a re-setting trap and placed it near the Martin house. I sprinkled a little cracked corn. Within a day, I had captured (and promptly dispatched) no less than eight sparrows.
I have noticed a young Martin male (or males, who can tell) visiting the house. With a little luck, this year's Purple Martin story will have a happier ending than last year. A sad ending for a sparrow is a great start for a Purple Martin.
It seems like every experience our family has had with pets or wildlife has ended in tears (usually the kids, not me). Allow me to reminisce.
There was Tinkerbell the cat.
There was the fish (intended to replace the cat) that canibalized the baby fish.
There were the frog tad poles that hatched then died last month (I didn't tell you about that one, either).
There was the "pet worm" my eldest boy loved and treasured for about 2 hours, before it broke apart in his hands, sending him bawling to me (luckily, I found a worm that looked identical to the one that passed away, and was able to convince them that I "super glued" it back together).
And last year there were the Purple Martins who were slaughtered by sparrows.
We've decided to try and attract Purple Martins again. We put the house up a week ago, and immediately sparrows claimed it.
This year, I am fighting back against the sparrows. I've purchased a re-setting trap and placed it near the Martin house. I sprinkled a little cracked corn. Within a day, I had captured (and promptly dispatched) no less than eight sparrows.
I have noticed a young Martin male (or males, who can tell) visiting the house. With a little luck, this year's Purple Martin story will have a happier ending than last year. A sad ending for a sparrow is a great start for a Purple Martin.
Feeling "Bushamed"
I found this word of the day at "AbsurdWord.com." It certainly speaks to my own feelings. I think this is a not-so-absurd word that I can use regularly.
Bu·sham·ed
Bu·sham·edThe feeling of being ashamed to be an American because of how George W. Bush is conducting himself in office.
Bu·sham·e, Bu·sham·ing
"After the president's speech which promised more of the same failed policies, I was too bushamed to fly to London for the meeting."
See Also: Abu Gharib, NSA Spy Scandal, China Trade Deficit, Big Oil and Gas Prices, Keeping the Peace in Iraq, Capture Bin Laden, Chaney Shoots Senior, Hurricane Katrina, "Heckuva Job Brownie!", US Energy Prices
Bu·sham·ed
Bu·sham·edThe feeling of being ashamed to be an American because of how George W. Bush is conducting himself in office.
Bu·sham·e, Bu·sham·ing
"After the president's speech which promised more of the same failed policies, I was too bushamed to fly to London for the meeting."
See Also: Abu Gharib, NSA Spy Scandal, China Trade Deficit, Big Oil and Gas Prices, Keeping the Peace in Iraq, Capture Bin Laden, Chaney Shoots Senior, Hurricane Katrina, "Heckuva Job Brownie!", US Energy Prices
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