Escaping Chaos

Saif, featured in a series of "Hometown Baghdad" clips has finally made it out of Baghdad and into the loving arms of his family already in Amman. Glad to hear he made it out, yet still sad for the millions that remain.

Cindy Sheehan, You Will Be Missed

Cindy Sheehan became an icon of the peace movement after her son Casey was killed in Iraq. Almost immediately she was attacked by Republicans as being a fringe lunatic that was in it for publicity. She was also accused as being a tool for the Democratic party. However as she went on her quest for peace, the large following became too much for one grieving woman. The fractured and divisive peace movement beat on her spirit even as they cheered her on.

Then she spoke out against Democrats for failing to do their part on the war and for that she was shunned by both sides on the left-right spectrum. She increasingly became marginalized as people spewed partisan hatred at this poor woman. Of course not everyone did this, but the damage was enough to put peace far out of our reach. She spoke truth about Democratic leaders and was proven right as we saw many of them cave to the Bush Administration last week. So Cindy decided today to call it quits and go back to a more private life.

From her GBCW (GoodBye Cruel World) diary:

I have come to some heartbreaking conclusions this Memorial Day Morning. These are not spur of the moment reflections, but things I have been meditating on for about a year now. The conclusions that I have slowly and very reluctantly come to are very heartbreaking to me.

The first conclusion is that I was the darling of the so-called left as long as I limited my protests to George Bush and the Republican Party. Of course, I was slandered and libeled by the right as a “tool” of the Democratic Party. This label was to marginalize me and my message. How could a woman have an original thought, or be working outside of our “two-party” system?

However, when I started to hold the Democratic Party to the same standards that I held the Republican Party, support for my cause started to erode and the “left” started labeling me with the same slurs that the right used. I guess no one paid attention to me when I said that the issue of peace and people dying for no reason is not a matter of “right or left”, but “right and wrong.”

Her sentiments are right on, this is a moral issue and unfortunately the politics of the matter have kept us in this war despite one woman's efforts. She is a true patriot and devoted mother in her mission to not have her son die in vain. It is a shame that all of that hard work has done next to nothing in accomplishing what we need to have done, bring peace to our country.

Sure the national conversation has changed, people are against the war now so that is something. Yet our soldiers keep dying (4 a day so far this month) and even more civilians are slaughtered in the cities and towns of Iraq. This has to be remedied and soon, though it does not look like Cindy will be able to see it through. That amazing soul of her needs to rest after the beating it has taken. Godspeed Cindy!

Teletubbies On The Attack Again

Jerry Falwell isn't able to keep up the struggle against those happy and cuddly creatures anymore. But an official in the Poland government picked up the cause today in his stead. The teletubby controversy was thought to have died along with the good Reverend, though that does not seem to be the case anymore.

From MSNBC:

In comments reminiscent of criticism by the late U.S. evangelist Jerry Falwell, she was quoted as saying: "I noticed (Tinky Winky) has a lady's purse, but I didn't realize he's a boy."

"At first I thought the purse would be a burden for this Teletubby ... Later I learned that this may have a homosexual undertone."

Poland's rightist government has upset human rights groups and drawn criticism within the European Union by apparent discrimination against homosexuals.

So this incident is not the first instance of anti-gay rhetoric out of Poland. It is interesting that a right leaning government would echo the sentiments of our own right leaning Administration and its backers in the religious right community. Other Polish officials in the Education ministry have promoted ideas of sacking teachers who "promote" the homosexual lifestyle. Or in more realistic and blunt terms, those educators that condone students being who they are without repressing their feelings.

The Speaker of the Parliament did speak out against Ewa Sowinska, warning that she may make her department a laughing stock. However, if the government allows anti-gay rhetoric in other areas, his statements may just be a case of trying not to have the agenda appear foolish. Regardless of his motives, a true consideration for sexual equality would start with cleaning up the government of anything that might seem to castigate the gay community.

Bill Maher Goes After Jimmy Carter's Haters

With his usual wit and sarcasm, Bill Maher breaks down how Republicans viciously attack those that speak the truth about George Bush's abysmal Presidency:

BioFuel Comes To Brooklyn

The industrial area of Brooklyn does look a bit nasty when you drive through it, but there is something coming that is going to make New York and the surrounding a whole lot greener. The Mayor and Metro Fuel Oil Corporation are planning on opening a huge bio-fuel plant in the Greenpoint area in the upcoming year. As petroleum prices skyrocket, the large increase in the nation's bio-fuel production will be coming from this industrial area.

From The New York Times:

The Greenpoint plant and a smaller proposed plant in Red Hook, Brooklyn, both scheduled to open next year, would be the first biodiesel refineries in the city, hitching onto an industry that has been concentrated in the Midwest and the South.

The growth and eastward expansion of the industry are being driven by high petroleum prices and government programs aimed at reducing pollution and demand for foreign oil. But these changes are also creating concerns that the push for alternative fuels, if not managed carefully, could have unintended consequences like deforestation and higher food prices in the race to convert more land for fuel crop production.

“We have to pick the right policies and the best technologies,” said Ron Pernick, co-founder of Clean Edge, a Portland, Ore., research and consulting company. “But when done right, the move to biofuels addresses a number of issues, from the volatile prices of fossil fuels, to reliance on foreign supplies, to climate change, to job creation.”

The market is ripe for these fuels and there is plenty of vegetable oil out there to create the green energy. Oil is becoming increasingly expensive and our reliance on it continues to harm the planet. This idea is a no-brainer and I'm glad to see the production of bio-fuel here in New York. There are enough renewable, clean alternatives to oil out there in the world and we need to utilize more of them. In addition to bio-fuels, wind, solar and water power are abundant wherever you go. With adequate government funding, the world would not need to rely on the oil that we are addicted to today.

Cheney Cheers For War Crimes

Being a war criminal isn't easy, but Dick Cheney had no problem throwing his support behind torture and denouncing the Geneva Conventions. He did this at the well-publicized graduation ceremony at West Point Military Academy this weekend. According to Dick, the War on Terror_TM isn't exactly a war where you can apply any rules.

From RawStory:

Vice President Dick Cheney criticized the notion of applying the Geneva Conventions to individuals captured in the course of the war on terrorism in a Saturday commencement address at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.

"Capture one of these killers, and he'll be quick to demand the protections of the Geneva Convention and the Constitution of the United States," the Vice President said in the Saturday morning speech. "Yet when they wage attacks or take captives, their delicate sensibilities seem to fall away."

Cheney delivered the remarks in the context of moral and ethical lessons that the graduating cadets at West Point had learned in the course of their study.

"You have lived by a code of honor, and internalized that code as West Point men and women always do," he said. "As Army officers on duty in the war on terror, you will now face enemies who oppose and despise everything you know to be right, every notion of upright conduct and character, and every belief you consider worth fighting for and living for."

So despite officers who train cadets to have morals and try to be better than their enemies, Cheney is telling them to disobey those orders and sink to the level of their opposition. America is supposed to be looked up to in the world, but Dick would rather get down and dirty in the mud. Now that may sound cool for a wrestling match, but in real life that isn't what a civilized nation should be engaging in. It is because of animals like our Vice-President that we continue to lose standing and credibility in the world every single god-damned day.

Our Energy Crisis

The Center for American Progress put this little clip together, highlighting the problems of high gasoline prices, the oil industry's soaring profit margin and what Americans think of our energy policies:

Going To Work Green To Pollute The Environment

Every little bit counts when it comes to saving the environment, but this story is a little ironic. Oil companies in Houston are encouraging their employees to commute by bicycle while keeping the gears of the refineries going. The program helps save gas, reduces the budgets of the workers and gives a nice little PR piece for the oil industry.

From The Houston Chronicle:

Some of the world's biggest gas peddlers are encouraging their workers to pump the pedal.

Exxon Mobil, BP and ConocoPhillips are among the Houston-area employers trying to make it easier for employees to bike to work.

Workers already have enough excuses: potholes, impatient drivers and the Houston heat.

But some businesses are easing the commute for those who decide the exercise and reduced emissions make biking worthwhile. They're giving them locker rooms, shower areas and safe places to park their bikes.

The program itself is great and I believe more companies should offer programs like this. However these companies like BP and Exxon are among the world's biggest polluters, helping to contribute billions of tons of carbon monoxide in the air every year. They should also focus on helping society wean itself of their oil...but profits tend to get in the way of such things. So while biking to work is great, the price gouging and continuation of the oil addicted society far outweigh any good that comes from this little stunt.

Giuliani Drama

Graduation day for Caroline Giuliani was a bittersweet event for all the parties involved. The best part was that his daughter was moving on to start at Harvard in the fall and she had gotten her diploma at the prestigious Trinity School. They got Senator Schumer to speak at their graduation ceremony. Talk about high society. Well anyway, the drama was all around Giuliani, his ex-wife and estranged kids.

From The NY Post:

May 26, 2007 -- The big chill between Rudy Giuliani and ex-wife Donna Hanover was on full display yesterday when both attended their daughter Caroline's high school graduation - but sat as far apart as possible and never spoke.

When the commencement speaker, Sen. Charles Schumer, noted Giuliani's presence and the audience broke into applause, Hanover and her son, Andrew Giuliani, sat stone-faced and didn't clap.

But Hanover and Andrew jumped up and cheered when the Harvard-bound 17-year-old Caroline received her diploma from the tony Trinity School, while Giuliani and his wife, Judith, didn't even crack a smile.

This story is more than a sad reflection of a broken family. It is indicative of the way Rudy relates to people. If there has to be drama on that magnitude in order to be in the same building, there is something seriously wrong.

I know it isn't about family that matters when you run the free world, it is a person's leadership ability and having the skill to comprehend what is going on around you. Well in addition to not talking to his kids or his ex-wife, Rudy can't comprehend much besides the phrase "9/11."

Top Ten Videos Of The Week

"Burn Their Idols In The Fire" -Deut 7:5-6

First of all, for those of the Christian faith, I know Jesus is not a symbol of idolatry. I'm not saying that, so don't take it to be offensive. Though I think building a 22 foot statue of him is a bit much. If a church in Golden, Colorado wants to erect it on their property by the side of Interstate 70, that is their business. Still, I cannot help but laugh (and breath a sigh of relief that no one was hurt) to see a bolt of lightening take off the statue's arm from a passing storm this afternoon.

From The Denver Post:

The lightning bolt broke off one of Jesus' arms and a hand and damaged one of his feet, sending marble plummeting to the ground during a Saturday afternoon storm.

"There were pilgrims up there on the hill," Sister Ilaria said. "The biggest miracle is no one got hit with the falling debris."

The statue of Jesus, which had one hand pointing to his "sacred heart" and the other outstretched, sits atop a mountain near the shrine in the foothills of Golden. Drivers on Interstate 70 can see the statue in the hills, and at night, light illuminates the white marble.

Jesus, wearing a robe and glancing down, is 22 feet tall with an 11-foot base.

Now the nuns are considering the costs of repairing the marble edifice, who rely solely on contributions. Perhaps using those donations to help those less fortunate, the ones Jesus and other biblical figures supposedly command us to give comfort and aid would benefit more than a marble statue repairman.

Whats News Depends On Where You Are Watching It

Cable news networks and particularly Fox News is known to focus on sensational stories over 'hard news' in order to boost their ratings and advertising dollars. Plenty of figures have been posted in the past on how many stories and time is devoted to missing white women, Michael Jackson and Paris Hilton. The latest study from the first quarter of 2007 shows that not much has changed. Fox still talks about crap and avoids real news while CNN and MSNBC are better but still lacking.

From Media Bistro:

According to PEJ's first quarter News Coverage Index, "MSNBC and CNN were much more consumed with the war in Iraq than was Fox." (See the chart to the right.)

In daytime, FNC devoted 6 percent of its time to Iraq, and 17 percent of its time to Anna Nicole. For CNN, the mix was 20 percent Iraq, 5 percent Anna; for MSNBC, the mix was 18 percent Iraq, 10 percent Anna.

"Fox also stood out for its lack of coverage on the firings of the U.S. attorneys, compared with the other channels. The story, which gained real momentum in mid March, consumed a mere 2% of Fox’s total airtime. CNN devoted twice that percent (4%) and MSNBC four times (8%)," the report says...

Fox still garners the largest share of cable news viewers which really isn't that surprising. Fox gets it that most people really do not want to hear what is going on in the country. Ignorance is bliss for many cable-owning Americans. It is a sad reality that so many people choose to be deluded with 'riveting' nonstop coverage on who Anna Nicole Smith's baby's daddy is rather than be informed on how Republicans keep flushing our country down the drain.