The Hair is Done For: Blagojevich Convicted

So, you may remember many moons ago I was kind of sort of making this a political blog, or at very minimum many of my earlier posts were about politics. Including this one about Rob Blagojevich, former governor of Illinois. Yeah, that one was a long time go.

It's not that I've dropped politics, I just don't blog nearly as much on the subject anymore. I have been following things, so it comes as no surprise (to everyone except the man in question) that Blago just got convicted. Really,  that's all I have to say about it: This damn thing was so obvious from the beginning I'm surprised it's front page news right now!

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Also sorry about my lack of posts. Given I'm a mere 2 months away from moving out of my home state, finishing my last class here, and wrapping things up at work... yeah, I've got a lot of time on my hands, right ~_^

Osama's death, in funny pictures

So, as in my last post I really don't have a huge amount to write about on Osama Bin Laden's death. It's odd that I am this speechless about politics, as 90% of my blog ends up being about political subjects.

Moving away from that the saying 'a picture is worth a thousand words' has been no truer than in this man's death, so without further ado I submit to you a brief collection of some of the funnier ones I ran into over the past few days. Funnier is in italics because my humor is a bit warped ~_^:

When politics goes violent: The Shooting of Rep Giffords

Oh lord and lady: My heart goes out to AZ Rep Gabrielle Giffords and the others (at least 12 reported right now) whom were shot at today at an event in Tuscon, AZ. So far reports are that Giffords is out of surgery, fixing up the gunshot to her head. She's in critical condition. 6 others, including a federal judge, are dead.

An Artful Return: Keith Returns to Countdown in style

I'm just going to let Keith tell his story, he does it much better. Though of note I was a bit wrong about stumping for one of this donations, but it doesn't pan out as he donated after the person was on air not before. Keith will explain it better, just watch (oh and it's funny too ^_^)

My thoughts on the indefinite suspension of Keith Olbermann

If you haven’t heard as of November 5th Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olberman (henceforth referred as Countdown for convenience) was suspended from his show for making campaign contributions to 3 different candidates for the 2010 mid-term elections and not seeking approval from MSNBC producers.

That’s it, that’s all that has happened. It’s not that Keith did it, but it is that he didn’t seek approval for something that would have been (and was) found out by contribution rosters that by law must be published.
Now I’m going to go out on a limb, as an Olbermann and Countdown fan, and say I’m alright with him receiving a punishment for what he did. I’d also like him to return. He’s the only reason I even watch (via podcast, mind you) any MSNBC show. I don’t care for Shuester, Maddow, or O’donnel. I like Keith, I like his format, and most of the time I like his opinions. I don’t think he should be shoved off his show for one simple reason.
He never ‘stumped’ for any of those he sent a contribution to, period. While I may think he might want to screw his head back on a little tighter given that he thought it was in his power to disobey a rule of his employment, I don’t think is firing (which could happen as ‘indefinite suspension’ usually means that) will do much for him or his network. Plain and simple, bring Keith back if you want to keep your ratings and more importantly your viewers.
So why, you might wonder, do I draw the line on it being ok to donate money but not say anything? I think I’ll leave it to Rachel Maddow to explain.



Bluntly, Fox News isn’t news. Keith, while liberal, kept his overall preference for candidates minimal. He also broke a rule. He’s been punished. He can go on air and apologize. So long as he doesn’t fall victim of his own pet peeve of “to those I may have offended” we’ll be able to move on, and Keith can come back to really what he does best: Entertain me and other on a political level and at least some lean towards journalistic integrity.

Firemen Allow Home to Burn Down for Missing $75 Fee

I'm was at a loss of words when I initially heard about this.

What Country Do I Live In? (Ground Zero Mosque Rant)

I'm going to open up my rant here with two videos. But before I do, I will make this clear: I am in favor of this 'mosque' (see Olbermann's video) being built.

Frist, Obama's words a week or so ago:


Second up is Olbermann's special comment on the subject:


With those show, and using the date from both, I have to ask exactly what country did I wake up to today? I'm pretty damn sure that freedom of religion is protected under the Bill of Rights. Yep, it's right there under the first amendment in the free exercise clause. What's better in the wharrlgarble over this is the fact that it's not even a mosque. Yes there is going to be prayer, but so too would you find this at a YMCA. In fact, it just sounds like a YMIA-like building. To be honest, this sounds like a great place.

But no, religious intolerance has to come into play doesn't it? Listen, we're going to go through a rather hard concept to follow, or at least hard for closed minded people to follow. Freedom is a dual-edged blade. While I don't like the Westboro Baptist Church and their protests (though I did like the geek response to their Comic-Con one) my freedom in not likely thing and being able to express this dislike allows them to exist as well. There is no "because I'm right you can't be allowed to be wrong" in freedom. And I don't like having, as a pagan, Christians get in my face trying to save me. But their right to practice and spread their religion is what make our countries great. Want to be a different religion in a Muslim world? Well, you might be a Shiite or a Sunni in Iraq, but try to be a Jew or anything other than a Muslim you're in deep shit. Like dead deep shit. So we live in a 'free' world, but we don't want to tolerate other ideas/religions? Yeah that makes perfect sense.

In parting, I'll leave you with the words of Henry Rollins (from 2004 but still relevant):

The Prop 8 decision: A good read.

So I picked up the final ruling that overturned the disastrous Prop 8 last night. While some of you may get glazed eyes when reading leagalese (or weaslese, depending on your view of the profession), I find them fascinating. I blame having worked as a copy boy for civil bankruptcy firm about 10 years ago.

McChrystal Relieved: How it couldn't happen any other way

I'd like to start off by saying that I think this General is now going to become a martyr for the right. But, as it were, there's not a whole lot this asshole could do to keep his job. Let me explain.

Article 88 of the Uniform code of Military Justice clearly states:

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

So, I want you to reimagine this for a second. Actually, screw that I'm going to tell you the most sure fire way to get fired.

Get yourself a nice PA system. Something that can broadcast, oh say, at least a city block or more. Moreover I also want you to have the cash on hand to post a few press releases in your local newspaper. Now, I need you to set up that PA system around your place of employment (or former employment, given the state of the economy -_- ). Now, pick out a busy day at said employment, fire (pardon the pun) the PA. Now I want you to say just about the nastiest things you can about your boss. Maybe even his boss, or some middle managers between you and him. I want you about as contemtuous as you can be in your comments. I also want you to write it all down, and buy some ads in your local paper and reprint your words there. Now, sit back. Count how long it takes for you to get fired. Shit, count how long until your bosses sue you for slandar.

Pulling back from the hypothetical and diving into reality: McChrystal is a dumbass. He damn well knew his words were going to be printed. He basically was up for court marshal over this, but Obama gave him an out. Either way it could have gone (Court Marshal, Fired, or Resignation) his infamous wisdom became a CLM.

It should also be noted that he wanted to increase troop levels in Afghanistan, polar to what Obama (shit, THE US PEOPLE) want to do. If he had played it smart he wouldn't have been taken down like this, raked through the mud by everyone.






[Edit] Here's a prime example of what McChrystal did, in civvie terms

Times Square bomb suspect pleads guilty

Interesting. Faisal Shazad pleaded guilty. No plea bargain, no "nope I'm not going to admit it" not guilty plea. Just "yeah I did it."

I'd say this boggles my mind but it really doesn't. I think this guy got way in over his head and now is, like a gentlemen, taking the blame. Given this guy obviously missed a few of the bomb making classes (fireworks? Really? Timothy McVeigh took more care in constructing his own bomb) he has also cooperated with investigators, spilling the beans on all he knows. He is facing live in prison, but I think that is justifiable given his intent and the fact that he failed. We.Got.Lucky. The next person they find to do his type of job will be better, and we had better be prepared for this.

Blago Gone... Now what?

Blago Blago Blago... you stupid little monkey.

First you decide not to defend yourself, all the while screaming that this was a lynching. Then you piss off your lawyer to the point he leaves your council, under the words ""I never require a client to do what I say, but I do require them to at least listen." And instead of defending yourself in court what do you do? A talk show circuit. 

And now? How's it feel to be "Citizen" rod Blagojevich? And voted out unanimously to oust your sorry ass. Oh and it was voted on by people who could not have given 2 farts what you said on The View... or Oprah... or anywhere else you proclaimed your innocence.

I'll give you a hint for your criminal trial, which you still proclaim your innocence in: Get another lawyer, listen to them. Keep off camera. REALLY keep off camera. The people you talk to on it would be the ones deciding your fate. Stop gambling. Burris was a good choice, but so far it's been the only good one you've made.

Inauguration: For posterities sake

These are a bit grainy and given they were taken by my phone that's acceptable. We had a small 'party' as it were since our company filter blocks streams and we had no TVs. The feed cut in and out but in the end, I still watched history.

Funny as it sounds I could tell the mood of the day at sunrise.

It's a dawn of a new day... but there are still clouds on the horizon

The Bush Legacy

Ok so this post has been brewing in my head since the election. I wanted to wait and make

this as meaningful as possible and not have it be more normal ranting. But I know I will fail and I just deal with it.

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I'll be the first to admit I've bashed Bush Jr. more than once. I was bashing him before it came into style. I never voted for him in either election, supported any of his policies or wars.

Let me also say that I have a bit of bias with thinking about a legacy for The Chimp in Charge. I never voted for him. Never like his policy.

So with that uttered I present to you my thoughts on his legacy:

• He helped Obama to get elected. I'm not saying Obama would not have been elected were it not for Bush, but the force behind him would not have been as loud and strong
• No Child Left Behind: More like "Lower standards and teach for tests" act. Seriously public school was shit when I was in it, and it's only gotten worse.
• Housing Market: Yeah, deregulation and lack of oversight works wonders.
• Social Security: See above, thankfully never passed.
• Tax Cuts: Would have worked if the money they saved were put into banks/under mattress. With neither, set us up for the bomb recession we have now (yes that is a Zero Wing Reference :P)
• Faith-Based Initiatives: Separation of Church and State, 'nuff said.
• Stem Cell Research: The more we find out about what stem cells can do, the more is yanking of the financial chain on this one infuriates me.
• Global Warming: Kyoto Protocol. Would have been nice to see it work nearly globally. Would have being the operative words.
• Hurricane Katrina/Rita: Watching the Earth heat up like an oven became so much fun he forgot to look when a hurricane done blowed up Nola good! Heck of a job Brownie (and Bushie for that matter).
• Habeas Corpus: Body of Law. Basically the ability to yell "Wait a fucking minutes I don't even know why I'm in prison" and be granted and answer.
  
• Torture Morality: He has none, apparently.
• Guantanamo: Death place of liberty, habeas corpus, and showcase of torture morality.
• Wiretaps: So, not happy with taking supposed terrorist rights away you decide to come in and listen to see how the rest of the nation thinks? Hope you got an ear full, bitch.
• War On Terror: Watch your methods and motives, lest you become the thing that you hate. 2 bullshit wars later, we have a strained military and a war weary populous. Read the above 3 items to see the results.
  
• September 11th: Started the shit that drove much of Bush's domestic and foreign policies, pretty much in that order.

So that's it... that is his Legacy. Yes yes yes I'll get complaints (maybe) for something good I've missed. But.... for what its worth (not much) history will not look kindly on Bush or cohorts in the war on terror. My only hope is that Obama, and his successors will be able to sort out the mess he's left after he has left.

In Recession... for a year?

So... it takes us over a year to figure out that we've been having a shrinking economy. $4/gal. gas, high unemployment, and its taken 12 fucking months to figure out exactly when the sucking started. Way to be on the ball... or were you expecting another peak?

My take on the RIAA and DRM-Free Music

So on other forums a person asked "Why is the music industry STILL taking its sweet time about this [moving away from DRM laden music]?"

I present to you below my full answer, which also includes my own view on the background to the current stance the RIAA (and MPAA for that matter, whom I affectionately refer to the Music and Film Industry Association of America, or the MAFIAA) takes to the digital medium.

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I consider the old experiment of putting a frog in boiling water vs cold then slowing boiling them to death. The idea is the frog gets use to latter and won't jump out even when it's near death.

The RIAA, on the other hand, reacted like the former when presented with Napster. It existed, almost literally, under their noses. They had no "warming up" period to the idea of digitally available music. Because of the initial knee-jerk reaction they whole of the association is still reeling from the notion that anyone could rip them off in a few clicks. The slowness is due to the hard coding of the idea, in executive heads, that the control of the physical media the music is listened to on is paramount. Given that you can rip tracks from a CD or convert files from one format to another and from one device to another, this isn't possible. Draconian is my usual word for mentality because of this. They missed the boat for the digital age and are slowly dying at an industry because of it. A very slow death, but a death nonetheless.

You lose some, you win some: Ted Stevens defeated in U.S. Senate re-election

So in saving face by keeping Lieberman (I keep hearing this "Team of Rivals" shtick and bit my lip not wanting to scream. More on that in another post) they Dem do have something on thier side that keeps me for completly hating them. Or rather, they don't have Ted "Serires of Tubes" Stevens to bother with since he has officially lost his Senate bid to rival democrat Mark Begich. And by lost I mean was eeked out by 3700 or so votes. 

So not only does Stevens have to face the 7 felony counts he's been convicted of, he now goes out on a sour note as having lost a seat he's held since 1968 (he is the longest GOP, and 4th longest of any party in the Senate) and be up for possible jail time. Some people *sigh* no breaks for them :P

F-u-u-u-u-u-u.... Lieberman keeps chairmanship

Oh for the love of all that is good and holy... why? Why Dems? Why do you turn around after giving possibly the greatest political victory I will ever see turn around and side with this... asshole?

We hand enough sense to let Benedict Arnold go during the revolutionary war we had, 232 years go. Have we learned shit since then guys?

When you have a disloyal member of your group, that member is the first to go. I know I know, Magic 60 'n all. But for the love, the man campaigned against your party's nominee after he said he wanted a democrat in the white house. Gimmie a fucking break. Give you a break from this guy, I don't care how he votes. You know those RINOs (Republican in name only) the GOP hates? This guys a WISC (Wolf in Sheep's Clothing) and will do you no good to continuing your relationship with him.

I'm tingling....

It may be a projection... but reports are in that McCain has conceded. (edit: watching McCain conceding speech now)

And it's not Negro Modelo doing this, though I've had a few in celebration. This is, when I do have children (ha, someday ~_^) that I will be able to tell my children.

• I saw the fall of the Soviet Union
• I saw the fall of the Berlin Wall
• I truly saw the birth of the Internet, something that by the time I have children will be ubiquitous
• I... not saw... I helped elect our first black president. 

I helped elect him. I voted. If you compain, show me your sticker. I plan on laminating mine. Someone things I don't have a right to bitch, I'll show them my motherfucking 'right-to-bitch' card.

With Bated breath

Listening to a gentlemen named Bishop Jakes on MSNBC. Here's a rough quote

"Hope springs eternal"

It was right for Shawshank, its right for now!

I imagine we'll be having a lot of these today. I haven't gotten to the polls in my area yet. I'll be off at 4 to do so. May the Force be with Obama, always.