BOOKS NOT BOMBS!

National One-Day Student Strike - March 5th

The Bush administration is intent on plunging America into an illegitimate and pre-emptive war in Iraq that will only increase danger for Americans and the world. At the same time education, healthcare, and the economy are being neglected.

Published on Thursday, February 27, 2003 by the Globe & Mail/Canada

So, Bush Wants Civil Disobedience?

The U.S. President is urging Iraqis to rise up against Saddam Hussein. It's time to turn the domestic tables and -- voilà! -- escalate the war against the war

by Naomi Klein

At the Pentagon, they call it the Voilà Moment.

That's when Iraqi soldiers and civilians, with bombs raining down on Baghdad, suddenly scratch their heads and say to themselves: "These bombs aren't really meant to kill me and my family, they are meant to free us from an evil dictator!" At that point, they thank Uncle Sam, lower their weapons, abandon their posts, and rise up against Saddam Hussein. Voilà!

Or at least that's how it is supposed to work, according to the experts in "psychological operations" who are already waging a fierce information war in Iraq. The Voilà Moment made its first foray into the language of war last Monday, when a New York Times reporter quoted an unnamed senior U.S. military official using the term.(read more)

Published on Thursday, February 27, 2003 by CommonDreams.org

War

by Howard Zinn
 
As I write this, it looks like war. This, in spite of the obvious lack of enthusiasm in the country for war. The polls that register "approve" or "disapprove" can only count numbers, they cannot test the depth of feeling. And there are many signs that the support for war is shallow and shaky and ambivalent.. That's why the numbers showing approval for war have been steadily going down. (read more)

U.S. Lowers Warning Level from Orangey to Lemony

WhiteHouse: Homeland Security:

U.S. Lowers Warning Level to 'Yellow': "The Bush administration lowered the nation's terrorist alert level from orange to yellow, but warned that the nation still faces a serious threat of attacks." In New York Times: National

I got my test results fropm the doctor. The good news is that they came back normal. The bad news is that they still don't know what the problem is.

Corey Flintoff Unleashes Sonorous, Pleasantly Modulated String Of Obscenities

The Onion: "WASHINGTON, DC -- Upon injuring a toe Sunday, Corey Flintoff, newscaster for NPR's All Things Considered, unleashed a string of rich, pleasantly modulated obscenities. "God fucking dammit," Flintoff warmly intoned after dropping a heavy-duty router on his foot while working in his garage. "Stupid fucking cocksucking son of a bitch." Added Flintoff in a lush baritone: "Goddamn motherfucking shit-for-brains. This is NPR." Next-door neighbor Cheryl Thomas, who overheard the tirade, said Flintoff's delivery was so melodic, she was unaware that he was swearing."

Believe me, that is funny if you are an NPR nerd like me.

Fred 'Mister' Rogers Dies of Cancer

NPR News (Audio): "Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, dies of cancer at the age of 74. Rogers hosted the popular children's program on public television for more than 30 years. David Newell, who played Mr. McFeeley on the show, has a remembrance. Feb. 27, 2003"

Reminder: Virtual March on Washington Today

When the rich wage war it is the poor who die.
-- Jean-Paul Sartre

Today is the first ever virtual march on Washington. Join over 200,000 of us who will be contacting our representatives; just go here and fill in your information and they will send a free fax to your Senators.

High School Tells Student to Remove Antiwar Shirt

New York Times: National: "A high school student's controversial T-shirt rekindles a debate over the extent to which students may express themselves politically within school gates."

for Iraqi civilians

Visit Jesus via Online Perpetual Adoration

The miracle of transubstantiation online 24 hours a day!!

I'm not making fun of this. :-) I just think that this is a strange use of technology by the church. I understand broadcasting Sunday Mass for shut-ins or even as a form of what I would call passive evangelization. I am just wondering who goes to savior.org for the online adoration of the sacrament. Is there a guy at his desk who keeps it up there all day? Is there a family gathered around the computer? Hmmm....

Oh wait...I found an explanation their site:

Saying Goodnight - Our children have quickly adopted a routine of wanting to 'say goodnight to Jesus' on-line. Before they go to bed, they will ask us to bring up the Blessed Sacrament online, then they will say their evening prayers and say 'goodnight' to Jesus as the last act before they climb into bed.

Public Readings of Lysistrata in 42 Countries and All 50 US States Condemn Preemptive War on Iraq

NEW YORK, NY -- On March 3, 2003, the Lysistrata Project will present worldwide readings of Aristophanes’ bawdy ancient Greek anti-war comedy Lysistrata. To date, 739 play readings are scheduled in 42 countries and in all 50 U.S. states to voice opposition to the war on Iraq; those numbers increase hourly. Readings will raise money for charities working for peace and humanitarian aid in the Middle East.

Lysistrata tells the story of women from opposing states who unite to end a war by refusing to sleep with their men until they agree to lay down their swords. Powerless in their society, with too many of their sons and husbands being slaughtered in battle, the women take the only tactic available to them: a sex strike.

I clicked on the zonkboard site tonight and this is what I found:

Kane: ooo it all maces seantes now

bunni: huh? maces seantes

bunni: wat

Kane: never mined

bunni: u still readin

bunni: okey dokey

Kane: so do you know eney good

     lockel bands were you live

bunni: mum and bro came

bunni: good lockel bands?

bunni: soori, i misss out on a lota life.

bunni: sorri

Kane: do you have eney freands in bands

bunni: well, theres...

Kane: theres?

Kane and bunni may be "special" :o)

Visit the Google mirror site:

Thanks to Carey

In an effort to get closer to my goal of 0% original content:

From Dave Barry's Blog:
WHY I GO ON LIVING:
It is simply not possible to watch this too many times.
posted by Dave

Bush Faces Increasingly Poor Image Overseas

Washington Post: "The messages from U.S. embassies around the globe have become urgent and disturbing: Many people in the world increasingly think President Bush is a greater threat to world peace than Iraqi President Saddam Hussein."

un message spécial à mes amis françaiss

*ecouter*

song du jour: Shutterbug by Veruca Salt
*listen* (1MB)

written by Louise Post
partial lyrics...

it's morning in Philly
(it's morning in Philly)
my head's feeling heavy
(my head's feeling heavy)
the sun makes me dizzy
(the sun makes me sick)
you monkey, you left me
and I know
that you miss me
by the way
that you kiss and resist me

Walken brings the funny on SNL

So I'm a media critic now? No, just awake with nobody to talk to and too tired to read.

Anyhow, Walken was funny as he always is on SNL. He was in a lot of sketches, including The Continental--the anti-French version tonight. The show opened with a Hardball sketch in which Walken played a French diplomat then he did a song and dance number during his monologue.

The News was excellent tonight. It included a walk-on by Steve Martin and a hilarious bit with Will Ferrell and Britney Spears (no really) announcing their love for each other.

Jim Carrey also made an appearance and Foo Fighters performed two songs.

Walken on SNL tonight

Chris Walken and Foo fighters are on SNL tonight. So, in honor of that, one more Pulp Fiction audio clip. We'll call it The Watch. ;-)

When I saw this in the theatre I laughed out loud at this scene. I was the only one who found it funny. I guess there were a bunch of morons there.

Sorry to Smurf you again

I am Brainy Smurf. Oh, I know, I really do have too much time on my hands.

I am watching Pulp Fiction, it is a good movie; I just can't stand Quentin Tarantino.

So, to tie this whole thing together I will paraphrase Jules (Samuel L. Jackson): Check out the big brain on Rob!

Jules: They're filthy animals. I don't eat filthy animals.
Vincent: Sausages taste good. Pork chops taste good.
Jules: A sewer rat may taste like pumpkin pie. I'll never know 'cause even if it did, I wouldn't eat the filthy motherfucker. Pigs sleep and root in shit. That's a filthy animal. I don't wanna eat nothin' that ain't got enough sense to disregard its own feces.
Vincent: How about dogs? Dogs eat their own feces.
Jules: I don't eat dog either.
Vincent: Yes, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal?
Jules: I wouldn't go so far as to call a dog filthy, but they're definitely dirty. But a dog's got personality. And personality goes a long way.
Vincent: So by that rationale, if a pig had a better personality, he's cease to be a filthy animal?
Jules: We'd have to be talkin' 'bout one motherfuckin' charmin' pig. It'd have to be the Cary Grant of pigs.

Oh yeah, my favorite - click on Fonzie:

Everyone should use proper English.

Embarrassing confessions

Last night I checked out MTV2 and, to my surpise, they were actually showing "rock" videos. Well, I saw two; then it was back to rap and hip hop. I, being the lazy guy that I am, couldn't be bothered to pick up the remote and change channels. I think I saw LL Cool J, J-Lo, Snoop Dogg and other "artists."

Now the embarressing part. A Missy Elliott video came on and I watched it and I actually liked it. It's not something that I would buy or even listen to on the radio but I really liked the video. What I really liked were those freaky dance kids--an evil-looking little white girl and a little asian kid.

OK, confession over. :-)

Virtual March - Win Without War

Join over 100,000 people who will be filling the fax machines, email boxes, and phone lines of our Senators reminding them that their constituents back home want to find a peaceful solution to the problems in Iraq.

'Ready Campaign' Unveiled

Washington Post: Nation and Politics: "The Homeland Security Department unveiled a major new advertising campaign yesterday that uses television, radio, newspapers and billboards to urge Americans to prepare for possible terrorist attacks and educate themselves about the differences between chemical, biological and nuclear weapons."

duct tape: check
plastic: uhhh nope
can of peas: one

from: Chortler.com

SatireSearch: "Chirac Sends Letter To The American People"

I had to laugh at this: “cheese-eating surrender monkeys.” But, really I am happy that the French are trying to stand in Bushy's way.

Update: Whitehouse.org responds to threat from Dick Cheney's office

whitehouse.org: "IRATE VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY ISSUES A PUNCTILIOUS, LEGALLY PRECISE "OH, WISE GUY, EH? WHY I OUGHTA!" LETTER TO NEFARIOUS "WHITEHOUSE.ORG" TERROR PORTAL!"

I am watching Conan. If I can make it thru the interview with Carson Daly :-| it should be a good show. I love Chris Elliott and Beck. Chris Elliott was in my favorite bowling movie--Kingpin--and my favorite movie about a holiday named for a rodent--Groundhog Day.

Pop-up ad update

Tripod is one of the few free hosting sites that still allows ftp access, that is why my little bloggy is here. I want to offer some help for anyone who is being attacked by those pesky little pop-ups.

1. Opera 7.01 - It's a small and fast browser that you can customize and I have it set to allow only pop-ups that I request. The downside is that I can't post to Blogger with it.


2. POW! - A pop-up blocker that works with Internet Explorer and Netscape. You have to add each pop-up to its kill list once and then it blocks it each time.


3. Alexa 7.0 - A nifty little toolbar for IE. It now includes pop-up blocker in addition to a Google search box, site info, dictionary and thesaurus. I just started using it yesterday, if you can't live without your IE this might be the way to go. It is very easy to install and when it detects a new pop-up it asks if you want to accept it or block it.

If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know.

for "that annoying american girl": the Sarah Vowell "Guns" piece teased us with a snippet of Ginsberg's "Father Death Blues" at the end so here is a *link* (3.5 MB)

Zap...twitch...zap

I spent my day with wires attached to my head and electrodes all over my body. Actually it wasn't so bad, it was relatively painless.


I got into one of those stylish hospital gowns and then Angie, the technician, placed the wires all over my body. The first test was the visual evoked potentials and I just sat there staring at a computer screen watching the pretty lights. Then on to the Somatosensory Evoked Potentials during which Angie zapped me repeatedly making my thumbs and toes twitch. I think the worst part was the gown.


So now I have to wait for the results. I was looking at MS symptoms and I have had most of them at some point since this began.

From Dave Barry's Blog

I HAVE A DREAM
I have a dream that a guy who designs popup ads is having a major colonoscopy, and the proctologist is saying, "It's the darnedest thing! Every time I snip a polyp, two more spring up in its place!"

posted by Dave.

I totally agree! :o)

Stef's away message:

Ronnie: that's bullshit. Smurfette fucks all the other smurfs. Why do you think Papa Smurf made her? Because all the other smurfs were getting too horny.

Sean: No, no, no, not "Vanity." I heard he was a homosexual.

Ronnie: Okay, well, you know what? Then, she fucks them while Vanity watches. Okay?

Ronnie: What about Papa Smurf? He must get in on the action.

Sean: Yeah, what he does, he films the gang-bang. Later on, he beats off to the tape.

Donnie: First of all, Papa Smurf didn't create Smurfette. Gargamel did. She was sent in as Gargamel's evil spy with the intention of destroying the Smurf village. But the overwhelming goodness of the Smurf way of life transformed her. And as for the whole gang-bang scenario, it just couldn't happen. Smurfs are asexual. They don't even have..reproductive organs under those little white pants. That's what's so illogical, you know, about being a smurf. What's the point of living...if you don't have a dick?

It has been five days since the miraculous appearance of Jesus on this page (see upper-right corner). But I am not alone. Je Je has been appearing in Monte Christo Apartment G-32 since February 6, 2001.

wishes for sons
by Lucille Clifton


i wish them cramps.
i wish them a strange town
and the last tampon.
I wish them no 7-11.

i wish them one week early
and wearing a white skirt.
i wish them one week late.

later i wish them hot flashes
and clots like you
wouldn't believe. let the
flashes come when they
meet someone special.
let the clots come
when they want to.

let them think they have accepted
arrogance in the universe,
then bring them to gynecologists
not unlike themselves.


Copyright ©1991 by Lucille Clifton. Reprinted from Quilting: Poems 1987-1990

There is a lot going on this weekend: peace rallies, snow storms, 300th Simpsons episode, I have my neuro exams tomorrow.

Yesterday, after more than a week of feeling lethargic, I was energized. So I spent the whole day reading and getting caught up on things.

I need more coffee. :-) bye

Western Jets Again Attack Iraq

Friday, Feb. 14
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Aircraft taking part in U.S.-British patrols attacked Iraqi missile systems on Friday, the fifth strike on Iraqi assets in a week, the U.S. military said.

Whitehouse.org gets threatening letter from White House counsel

FARK: "(whitehouse.org)"

We are about to invade another country and they are worried about a parody website.

Bittersweet

It is February 14th again, Valentine's Day--a cruel holiday. I have always hated this day.

From elementary school when we would all show up with our little cut-out hearts for each classmate, to high school when you had to be either a popular kid or in the band (or bowling team) to have a love life, to now.

Though I am in a long-term relationship, it is also a long-distance relationship. So, as I walk across campus I notice the couples holding hands or sitting together between classes in the union and I wish it was that easy for me. Not that I have so bad. We see each other for about a week at a time every month or so and we talk on the phone almost every day.

Anyhow, back to Valentine's Day. I remember learning about Lupercalia in my tenth grade Latin class. This was a Roman spring festival celebrated on February 15th (yes, February was springtime on their calendar) and it involved (among other things) young men running around nearly naked and whipping women with straps of goatskin. This was supposedly a way of purifying them.

Today Valentine's Day is big business. You are supposed to send a HAllmark card to your sweetheart, send flowers through FTD, make reservations at a fancy restaurant for a romantic dinner, then take her to a get-away bed and breakfast where there is champagne and chocolate covered strawberries waiting by the jacuzzi, and don't forget to get her the Victoria's Secret lingerie.

I will spend my Valentine's Day at home--alone--and in the library. I'm not complaining...really, I'm not. I would like for us to live in the same town and see each other every day, but I am lucky to have her at all.

Kissing the right way
Yahoo! News: Oddly Enough Reuters UK: "How people kiss, with a preference to turn the head either to the right or left, is a trait that is developed in the womb but probably lasts throughout life, a German psychologist says."


Now you know. Happy VD :-|

Listen to *this* (well, the first two minutes)
Aminatta Forna reading from her book "The Devil That Danced on The Water"

Health Update

The doctor's office just called and rescheduled my tests for Monday. Hooray!

When I was there they said "our first opening is in six weeks," so they scheduled me for then. I got home and thought "what the heck, I'll call and see if they can get me in sooner" and what do you know, all I had to do was ask. :-)

List du jour

1. coffee
   
2. pocket lint
   
3. the machine that goes "PING!"
   
4. ice cream
   
5. bunny rabbits
   
6. Big Yellow Taxi
   
7. blue food items
   
8. accordians
   
9. the stigmata
   
10. dark purplely (sort of bluish purple)
    

An apparition of Jesus miraculously appeared in the upper-righthand corner of this page this morning.

This must be a sign...but a sign of what?

Is he trying to send me a message?

Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers
by Alissa Quart

Kiplinger's Feb. 2003: "An anti-capitalist tract."

I heard an interview with Alissa Quart yesterday and her book sounds very interesting. She looks at how advertisers try to not only get teens to buy their products but how they change the way teens think.

Quart describes teens in three categories: those embracing corporate labels/lifestyles, teens trying to make a "self brand", and those who reject consumer culture altogether. She also talks about peer-to-peer marketing (very disturbing) where teens tell their friends about products in exchange for free stuff.

I only heard the interview with her, I put this here so I remember to get the book. :-)

UPDATE: Fence Post Like a Virgin Again

FARK: "AFTER a brief hiatus due to vandalism, the Blessed Virgin is back drawing crowds in Sydney.

Randwick City Council today repaired a fence at the north end of Coogee Beach, which the faithful say at certain times of the day and in certain light looks like the Virgin Mary."

Where are they now? Grover from Sesame Street -- the monster behind the myth

FARK: "GROVER. To millions of children throughout the world in the seventies and eighties, that name was synonymous with a funny, cuddly and ultimately loveable fuzzy blue monster from Sesame Street."

Another gray day in Happy Valley.

Electronic Surveillance Spies a Perfect Gift

New York Times: National: "Information Awareness coffee mugs, T-shirts and thongs have been the early best sellers."

I have a feeling that these guys will be shut down shortly, but here's a link to their site. Click Here

Update: Virgin Mary fence post torn down

Yahoo! News: Oddly Enough Reuters UK: "Vandals have torn down a fence post in Australia's largest city, Sydney, which devoted Catholics had begun to flock to because they believed it projected an image of the Virgin Mary."

Amen.

I added the Tagboard thingy

<~~~ over there

so leave me a message!

Sleepy Time
I have been sleeping about 11 or 12 hours a day for the past few days. When I am awake I feel like going to sleep. I couldn't even stay up long enough to see Saturday Night Live last night, I was out by about 10:45.

I think I will call tomorrow to see if they can put me on a cancellation list for my tests. Six weeks is a long time to wait.

Yeah, so that's about it...so exiting.

Scott Simon Essay: The Columbia Tragedy (audio 3 min)
NPR: "NPR's Scott Simon reflects on the Columbia tragedy and human exploration of space."

Justice Dept. Drafts Sweeping Expansion of Anti-Terrorism Act

The Center fo Public Integrity: "
(WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2003) -- The Bush Administration is preparing a bold, comprehensive sequel to the USA Patriot Act passed in the wake of September 11, 2001, which will give the government broad, sweeping new powers to increase domestic intelligence-gathering, surveillance and law enforcement prerogatives, and simultaneously decrease judicial review and public access to information."

He's at it again - Patriot Act II will reduce or eliminate judicial oversight over surveillance, authorize secret arrests, create a DNA database based on unchecked executive ?suspicion,? create new death penalties, and even seek to take American citizenship away from persons who belong to or support disfavored political groups.

Health Update #2

I did some research and now I am concerned about the patellar hyperreflex or knee-jerk (click on movie icon below). Everything that I am finding points to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). I also called a doctor friend and she said that it is a serious finding and mentioned MS.

The tests that I have to take are SomatoSensory Evoked Potentials (SSER) and Visual Evoked Potentials (VER). Both tests are used to diagnose MS. There is also a history of autoimmune diseases in my family.

I was trying to find something less serious listed patellar hyperreflex as an indicator. The only thing that I found was a drug side effect. It was actually kind of funny when he was doing it and my leg would fly up.

Health Update

I'm back from the neurologist. I have to go back for more tests next month, but for now the doctor thinks that I have essential tremor. Which is good, I guess. I was worried that it might be from a brain tumor or something serious. My dad has this same kind of tremor. The bad news is that it does not go away unless I want to be on medication for the rest of my life.

Also, when he was checking my reflexes I almost kicked him in the face. So, he is concerned about that as well (something about hyperreflexes?). Then he stuck needles in my muscles and shot electricity through them...ooohhh fun!!

When I go back next time I get to be hooked up to a machine for four hours worth of testing.

Preacher sneaks past secret service again, gives President Bush an eight page note about Iraq from God

Washington Post: "The Rev. Richard "Rich" Weaver, nicknamed "Handshake Man" because of his knack for getting up close and personal with the high and mighty, struck again yesterday morning."

<~~ Crazy people always look so happy.

Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist changes mind, now sees evidence for Iraq war. Journalists still don't understand nobody cares what he thinks

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations.
Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

Catholics Flock to Fence-Post Virgin Mary
Yahoo! News: Oddly Enough: "Catholics in the Australian city of Sydney are flocking to pray at a fence post at Coogee beach which they believe projects an image of the Virgin Mary."

The neurologist had a cancellation so I get to go the doctor tomorrow. Yippee!! :-|

This morning's headlines:

NPR's Morning Edition:
Teaching Patriotism in Time of War: "What does it mean to love America? What does it mean to be patriotic? Should teachers instill in their students a love of country?"

Performance artist wins grant for kicking a curry carton around street: "A performance artist has been given a £12,200 grant to kick an empty curry carton up and down a high street while wearing white platform boots. In Ananova: Quirkies

Mothers better at coochy-coos: "Although infants don't really understand when their parents speak to them, women seem to be better at baby talk than men.
In Yahoo! News: Oddly Enough Reuters UK

"I’m just a little wary of most home-schooling advocates, because they are most likely doing it not because of a lack of faith in public education, but because, really, they’re racists or religious nuts who don’t want their precious little lambs exposed to reality."

David Cross

UN Cover-Up: Guernica Hidden as U.S. Speaks on Iraq
Yahoo! News: "In a bold cover-up, the United Nations on Wednesday concealed behind a blue cloth and a row of flags the world body's treasured tapestry of "Guernica," the celebrated Picasso anti-war masterpiece."

Powell briefing: Key points
From BBC World

• WAR
• OIL
• WAR
• OIL
• WAR
• OIL
• WAR

Bumper Sticker of the Day

Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up. Hosea 13:16

And you think that YOU have problems? Check out this guy.

Girls that rock: Sleater-Kinney

"You love them, you just don't know it yet. You want to take the three of them home and never stop hugging them." -- maeve, emergentmusic.com

They were on Latenight with Conan O'Brien a few months ago and they gave a great performance. In case you haven't noticed, I get all of my music news from Conan.

*listen here*

Also, Laura Cantrell was on a few weeks ago. I'm not a country music fan but there is something about her voice and understated performance that interested me.

*listen here* (2.9 MB)

What is depersonalization?

18 times the speed of light?!

CNN

It must be true, I saw it on CNN. :-|

Rice News: See Rice for Peace

Happy Groundhog Day!

(Candlemas for you Catholics)

Well, not so happy, according to Phil we get six more weeks of winter.

The Gert Jonnys make us all feel a little better about ourselves.