Need help: Hearing aids
I just found out that my mother is going to need hearing aids as her hearing is deterriorating in both ears. She had local vendor in Eugene, Oregon quote her a price of $2995 for digital hearing aids (lifetime warranty and adjustments as her hearing worsens over time). Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of hearings aids: makes, styles, reasonable prices, anything else I should know? George A ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Scouted: Pesticide Ban Benefits Newborns
At 08:01 PM 3/29/2004, you wrote: Decreasing prenatal exposure to pesticides reduces the number of underweight and SGA [small for gestational age] neonates. http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/84/98156.htm?printing=true ...Whyatt's team collected data from 316 pregnant African-American and Dominican women living in northern Manhattan and the South Bronx. They found that during their pregnancies, the women often were exposed pesticides. It's those darn hospital gowns. By 2001, after exposures had been reduced due to U.S. EPA regulatory action, almost none of the newborns had these higher exposure levels and the association between cord plasma chlorpyrifos levels and birth weight and length was no longer significant, Whyatt and colleagues write. Where's the usual tag line, that since the Bushcokkk presidency exposure levels have been on the rise? I guess it's inferred from the date. However, these pesticides continue to be used for agricultural use on many food crops. Pregnant farm workers may be at particular risk, the authors note... Debbi I know I'll contact my congressman about those northern Manhattan and South Bronx factory farms. They are putting pregnant women at risk! Kevin T. - VRWLC No harm intended. Why am I awake? Insomnia and the Yankees start in 90 minutes. Do I go into work 2 hours early for the whole game or stay at home and miss the last few innings? Where's the preseason baseball post by G.M. about the best players ever playing for the best teams ever at the best stadiums ever in the best cities ever in the greatest country in world (plus Canada and PR)? ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The Vatican sticks its nose in our elections
Robert J. Chassell wrote: This is different from what I understood as a child to be a traditional South American policy, whereby after a coup, a deposed president was permitted to go into exile, regardless of what he had done. Yes, but this was a practice adopted by most dictatorships, in a kind of self-preservation of the dictators: the deposers of today may be the deposed of next year. What is the current law in Brazil, and what would you expect would be the current practice? AFAIK, there's no such law. But we usually grant the right of exile for deposed presidents of _other_ countries. For example, what would be done if your current president were found to be a paid agent of the US CIA and acting for the US against Brazilian interests? Would he be encouraged to flee to the US, or would an effort be made to impeach him? I think br law would require a trial for treason, but realpolitiks probably would allow an exile. The weirdest case happened in 1945: the fascist dictator, Getulio Vargas, had send the Military to fight the fascists in Europe, and when the Military returned, they deposed him. But he was _only_ deposed, and in the next elections he was allowed to become candidate to the Senate. And he _was_ elected Senator for _many_ States at the same time! [and he was elected President in 1950 or so] Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Scouted: Pesticide Ban Benefits Newborns
Deborah Harrell wrote: Decreasing prenatal exposure to pesticides reduces the number of underweight and SGA [small for gestational age] neonates. In Portuguese, the terms are Pequeno [=Small para [=for] a [=the] Idade [=age] Gestacional, and Grande [=Big] para a Idade Gestacional, which make the great TLAs PIG and GIG :-) Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Need help: Hearing aids
On Tue, Mar 30, 2004 at 06:11:14PM +0900, G. D. Akin wrote: I just found out that my mother is going to need hearing aids as her hearing is deterriorating in both ears. She had local vendor in Eugene, Oregon quote her a price of $2995 for digital hearing aids (lifetime warranty and adjustments as her hearing worsens over time). Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of hearings aids: makes, styles, reasonable prices, anything else I should know? I'd suggest subscribing to Consumer Reports On Health journal on the web. They had a long article about hearing loss and hearing aids that I just skimmed (excerpts below, but there is more on their site) http://consumerreportsonhealth.org/ *** http://tinyurl.com/3dyjt excerpt from Time to deal with hearing loss? Consumer Reports On Health May 2002 EVALUATING HEARING LOSS Hearing aids are appropriate for the majority of people with sensorineural hearing loss, but selecting the device should not be your first consideration. More crucial is finding a dispenser..an audiologist or licensed hearing-instrument specialist..qualified to evaluate your hearing loss, recommend appropriate devices, provide an aid that fits your ear canal and hearing needs, and offer strong follow-up. The best-trained expert in those tasks is an audiologist, a nonphysician specialist with a graduate degree in the measurement and management of hearing impairment. Audiologists can also dispense hearing aids, though in half of the states, they need a license to do so. If there.s no audiologist nearby, look for a licensed hearing-instrument specialist. Those practitioners have less formal education in the field than audiologists, and they generally use more-basic diagnostic equipment. But they may have a great deal of practical experience and can be qualified to fit hearing aids. Referrals from doctors can point you to dispensers who are up-to-date on the latest technology and standards. Friends with hearing aids can be a good source of referrals, too. You.ll want someone who will take the time to evaluate your problem (at least an hour for an initial consultation), and who welcomes questions and return visits. Don.t hesitate to contact several dispensers before choosing one (see Shopping dos and don'ts). In your first visit, expect to recount situations where you.ve found hearing difficult. The dispenser will use that case history to help diagnose the type of hearing loss. To determine the specifics, you should ideally be tested in a soundproof or quiet room. The results are included in a graph called an audiogram. The dispenser should walk you through the audiogram and explain its meaning. Are both ears affected, or are you among the minority with mainly one-sided hearing loss? (That may suggest a need for medical or surgical treatment.) Expect, too, to get a rundown of the choices of hearing aids. All types contain a microphone, an amplifier, a receiver to deliver the sound to the ear, and a battery. There are three basic technologies: * Basic analog. In this traditional format, the circuitry amplifies * speech and may block background noise to some extent. The * dispenser tells the manufacturer what frequency and amplification * settings to install; if there.s a volume control, you can adjust * it yourself. Properly cared for, the typical analog aid will last * three to five years. Expect to pay $400 to $1,500 each, depending * on the built-in features you order. * Programmable analog. These aids include advanced circuitry that * permits a variety of settings for different noise levels. The * dispenser programs the settings, but you may be able to change * them yourself. These aids generally last as long as basic analog * aids but cost a little more: $900 to $1,600 each. They can be * reprogrammed if your hearing changes. * Digital aids. These devices contain more-advanced circuitry that * converts sound into digital signals, analyzes the sound, and * creates a signal that.s more finely tuned to your hearing loss. * This technology is the most expensive.from $1,200 to $3,000 per * aid.but it.s so flexible that the dispenser can easily adjust it * if your hearing loss changes. Most audiologists we interviewed praised the flexibility of digital aids. They can provide more-precise fitting to individual hearing losses, help people adapt to different environments, and limit whistling feedback. A recent survey in The Hearing Journal suggested that people with programmable or digital units may be more satisfied with their devices than those with conventional aids. But depending on your lifestyle, a digital device may be costly overkill. .They do better in noise, but if you don.t go to noisy places very often, you might not need them,. notes Laurie Hanin, director of audiology at the League for the Hard of Hearing, in New York City. And some researchers are skeptical of their benefits. Mark
Rating the Presidents Re: Bush's brand new enemy is the truth
At 06:55 PM 3/29/2004 -0500 Keith Henson wrote: Bush is considered to be (and might be) the worst president in US history. By whom?Under the usual standards that Presidents rate such things, I expect that he will be placed near or at the top of one-term Presidents if he loses re-election. (If he wins re-election, it is obviously too soon to tell, with less than half his Presidency elapsed so far.) JDG ___ John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity. - George W. Bush 1/29/03 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rating the Presidents Re: Bush's brand new enemy is the truth
JDG said: By whom?Under the usual standards that Presidents rate such things, I expect that he will be placed near or at the top of one-term Presidents if he loses re-election. Regardless of Bush Jr's merits, he surely doesn't compare favourably with Bush Sr, who skillfully managed the crisis in the global order caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union and even fought a war against Iraq with the backing of most of the rest of the world (and even with French troops!). Rich ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Belief (was: (no subject))
Deborah Harrell wrote: smile I can't remember the thread, but there was a discussion on this question not too terribly long ago...perhaps last summer? I'll try to find it (maybe someone else can recall the thread?), but it might be a while (a lot's going on). But the short answer is 'a sense of the numinous' (not my words - Doug's? Bob's? Robert's? - but I liked them enough to appropriate them). Running a quick search through last year's posts revealed a plethora of posts (23) using the word numinous. Seemed to be up to 7 different threads over a period of about 5 weeks. The first instance was actually (and surprisingly) in one of my posts! Regards, Ray. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rating the Presidents Re: Bush's brand new enemy is the truth
At 05:44 AM 3/30/2004 -0800 Richard Baker wrote: JDG said: By whom?Under the usual standards that Presidents rate such things, I expect that he will be placed near or at the top of one-term Presidents if he loses re-election. Regardless of Bush Jr's merits, he surely doesn't compare favourably with Bush Sr, who skillfully managed the crisis in the global order caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union and even fought a war against Iraq with the backing of most of the rest of the world (and even with French troops!). But that last point is not one of the criteria on which Presidents are usually judged. That is, we usually do not judge our Presidents by the popularity of their policies in France and Syria. (both part of the first Gulf War coalition) At any rate, a similar case for George W. Bush's first term would be: skillfully managed the crisis caused by September 11th, led a spectacularly successful War in Afghanistan (it is worth remembering how much doubt surrounded the Afghan campaign in mid-September of 2001), and fought a war in Iraq to completion with the support of the vast majority of the world's industrialized democracies. This surely compares quite favorably in the eyes of history to George H. W. Bush's term. In addition, George H. W. Bush will certainly be remembered for presiding over the mildest recession in modern US history, despite taking office following the popping of an asset bubble, and maintaining high levels of overall employment, GDP growth, and productivity growth during that time.(Bush will also benefit in these ratings because budget deficits tend not to be considered as very important in these ratings. For example, Franklin Roosevelt rates extremely highly by historians, despite creating Social Security.) Thus, I wonder, by whom would George W. Bush be rated one of the worst in history?Is it by someone (i.e. a historian) who has expertise in rating such things? Or is it some partisan hack? Again, under the usual standards, winning re-election is rated very highly, so to this point we could only compare George W. Bush to other one-term Presidents based on an assumption of a loss in Novemeber, since that is the only extent to which we have data available. JDG ___ John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity. - George W. Bush 1/29/03 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rating the Presidents Re: Bush's brand new enemy is the truth
At 08:32 AM 30/03/04 -0500, you wrote: At 06:55 PM 3/29/2004 -0500 Keith Henson wrote: Bush is considered to be (and might be) the worst president in US history. By whom? Google Results 1 - 10 of about 1,080 for worst president in US history Bush. (0.22 seconds) to be fair, Google Results 1 - 10 of about 820 for worst president in US history Clinton. (0.45 seconds) Of course to get names you would really have to read into the links. Under the usual standards that Presidents rate such things, I expect that he will be placed near or at the top of one-term Presidents if he loses re-election. (If he wins re-election, it is obviously too soon to tell, with less than half his Presidency elapsed so far.) In a lot of ways the social trends such as Enron type corruption and US income distribution becoming like 3rd world countries was a trend long before Bush came to office. The lost of civil rights, putting the US much deeper into debt, and whatever long lasting effects come from the Iraq adventure can be ascribed to Bush. Of course, protection of civil rights in the US was not doing well before Bush came to office. Stick my name in Google if you want to see how the scientology cult corrupted the DA's office and the courts to get me convicted of interfering with a religion. Keith Henson ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: O'Lielly Brings Out His Inner Bigot
On 30 Mar 2004, at 6:25 am, Julia Thompson wrote: It bugs the heck out of me when someone makes a blanket statement about Hispanics because chances are, it's going to be flat-out wrong for more than half the people that could be classified that way for whatever reason. (I could probably come up with a few examples that wouldn't be wrong for so many, but they're not the sort of thing people usually talk about when they're saying something about Hispanics.) 70% are Catholic? -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ Those who study history are doomed to repeat it. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Belief (was: (no subject))
At 08:02 AM 3/30/04, Ray Ludenia wrote: Deborah Harrell wrote: smile I can't remember the thread, but there was a discussion on this question not too terribly long ago...perhaps last summer? I'll try to find it (maybe someone else can recall the thread?), but it might be a while (a lot's going on). But the short answer is 'a sense of the numinous' (not my words - Doug's? Bob's? Robert's? - but I liked them enough to appropriate them). Running a quick search through last year's posts revealed a plethora of posts (23) using the word numinous. Would you say that they were numerous? -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Belief (was: (no subject)) (Subject to one's belief)
In a message dated 3/30/2004 7:04:06 AM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: But the short answer is 'a sense of the numinous' (not my words - Doug's? Bob's? Robert's? - but I liked them enough to appropriate them). Running a quick search through last year's posts revealed a plethora of posts (23) using the word numinous. Seemed to be up to 7 different threads over a period of about 5 weeks. The first instance was actually (and surprisingly) in one of my posts! Numinous: 4. Alternate usage, slang. The tendency towards the too often repition of joke told by Robin Williams as a robot in Bicentennial Man. Which starts with: Doctor, May I numb your breasts? William Taylor ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: O'Lielly Brings Out His Inner Bigot
William T Goodall wrote: On 30 Mar 2004, at 6:25 am, Julia Thompson wrote: It bugs the heck out of me when someone makes a blanket statement about Hispanics because chances are, it's going to be flat-out wrong for more than half the people that could be classified that way for whatever reason. (I could probably come up with a few examples that wouldn't be wrong for so many, but they're not the sort of thing people usually talk about when they're saying something about Hispanics.) 70% are Catholic? There's a good one. Thank you. Maybe I shouldn't post when I'm brain-fried. Then again, that would probably limit my posting to maybe 1 post a week. :) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Rating the Presidents Re: Bush's brand new enemy is the truth
--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], Erik Reuter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: led a spectacularly successful War in Afghanistan spectacularly successful? It's not over yet by a longshot, much too soon to call it a success. At best, it is a work in progress. Again, it depends on your criteria. As noted previously, I am using the criteria as I feel that they have generally been applied by historians to the rating of Presidents. If Bush wins a second term and succeeds in building a liberal democracy in Afghanistan, he may likely go down as one of the Top 5 Presidents of all time. Nevertheless, following September 11th he was Commander-in-Chief during a war of stunning brevity that overthrew The Taliban and denied Al Qaeda their primary base of operations, all with a minimum of allied casualties. Given the doom-and-gloom warnings at the time of how Afghanistan had brought down both the British and Soviet empires, the war qua war was spectacularly successful. The elements that are still in progress, are elements that in the judgement of history would merely be icing on the cake beyond the goals which the war has already accomplished. JDG ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
At last it can be told
Not that this was a big secret... but the announcement is now official: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040330/sftu012_2.html LOS GATOS, Calif., March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LiveWorld, Inc. (Pinksheets: LVWD.PK - News) a leading provider of online communities to Fortune 1000 companies, today announced that it has acquired Senti-Metrics(TM) and its innovative Advanced Conversation Analysis(TM) service. Senti-Metrics principles Nick Arnett and David Land have joined the LiveWorld team as directors of the Advanced Conversation Analysis product line. [snip] The only real impact this could have on Brin-L is that a conflict of interest *could* arise if we end up with a client that has a competing community of some sort. I doubt if that'll happen, but if it does, we'll find a way to deal with it, I'm sure. Nick -- Nick Arnett Director, Business Intelligence Services LiveWorld Inc. Phone/fax: (408) 551-0427 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rating the Presidents Re: Bush's brand new enemy is the truth
On Tue, Mar 30, 2004 at 06:30:42PM -, iaamoac wrote: The elements that are still in progress, are elements that in the judgement of history would merely be icing on the cake beyond the goals which the war has already accomplished. If Taliban and al-Qaeda are icing, that must be some awful cake! The Taliban is regrouping and al-Qaeda is still present inside the country and the tribal areas along the border with Pakistan. -- Erik Reuter http://www.erikreuter.net/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Deep South Con 42 Report
I got back from Deep South Con/Mid South Con in Memphis Sunday night. It was scheduled with David Brin as the Guest of Honor, and Todd Lockwood, who I've never heard of because he seems to do mostly fantasy illustration, as the Artist Guest of Honor. Kevin Lenagh of _Contacting Aliens_ fame, and C.J. Cherryh were listed as guests. The bad news: David Brin couldn't attend the con in person, because he got sick shortly before it started. The doctor wouldn't let him on the plane, because he was afraid everyone on board would catch whatever flu bug he had. So, he attended the con panels via speakerphone. He said he'd only missed two cons in the last 23 years, and both of them were in Tennessee. The good news: I spent a good bit of time talking to Kevin Lenagh during the course of the con, and everything else was fun. The schedule: My Dad and I left Hartselle, Alabama at around noon on Friday, and we started driving to Memphis. We arrived in town, checked into the nearby motel he'd set up reservations with a few days before, and found out it was right next door to the con, so we walked over. By a little before 5 PM, we were standing in a very slow line to get registered, which wasn't too bad, because we got to talk to some of the folks in line. About an hour and a half later, we got close enough to the registration desk to read a sign there: David Brin will not be appearing in person. He will attend panels by speakerphone. About half an hour after that, we were finally registered, but the printer that would have printed our badges ran out of ink right before they got to us. So, the lady in charge made temporary hand-written badges for us, and the people behind us in line were allowed to use their registration cards stamped Paid as temporary badges. So, we were the only ones with handwritten badges, which probably looked kinda suspicious. We eventually got real badges Saturday night, and I'm thankful to the people who worked so hard to deal with a *much* larger flood of people than they expected. When we were done, I took a stack of about ten of the flyers I'd made up, advertising my shirts, and put it on the handouts table. I went back to check every now and then during the run of the con, but as far as I could tell, no one ever took one. By the time we got registered, we'd missed the opening ceremony, but we were fortunately in time to go to Kevin Lenagh's slide show of his _Contacting Aliens_ illustrations -- which was basically a web page he'd put together, including icons he'd designed, written to a CD-ROM. He also showed some concept art that never made it into the book. When he forgot some of the names of Uplift stuff, I reminded him, and he noted that he liked my Streaker shirt, but I didn't officially introduce myself then. I was too shy to go up to talk to him, so I came up with some rationalization to put it off, like I tend to do. After that, we attended a NASA Update slide show, hosted by Les Johnson, the leader of the In-Space Propulsion Program at Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, who I'd met a few years ago at Con-Stellation. He discussed NASA's new direction, and talked about his recent work on solar sails. We left after midnight, and since the con was in a pretty rough-looking neighborhood, we nervously walked back to our motel. The next morning, we *drove* to the con's hotel, and ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant. They had a breakfast buffet with lousy selection and service, okay food, and high prices. When we got done, we attended a panel on teaching the Foundation books in the Classroom. It was pretty interesting, and David called in on speaker phone about halfway through. He made a lot of interesting points, but when someone is speaking over speakerphone, I never know where to look! ;-) We sat through another interesting education panel, about whether media SF is hurting education, and again, he called in about halfway through. We ended up talking to Les Johnson a good bit during lunch at the Con Suite. A little later, we went to Les' panel about Space Exploration and Environmentalism, with a good bit of discussion from the audience. After that, we spent a great deal of time in the Dealer's Room, where my Dad looked for rare old SF books on his list, while I mostly just looked around for anything interesting, mostly just window shopping. We also went to the art show, and made paper bids on three pieces. He bid on a proof showing a nice view of a planet's rings from inside its clouds. I bid on two Babylon 5 lithograph prints: one with portraits of the whole cast, with the station in the background, and one with portraits of G'Kar and Londo with Shadow ships. They also had originals of some of Kevin's _Contacting Aliens_ sketches, which were unfortunately out of my current budget range, or I almost certainly would have bought one. We went to the official autograph guest signings a little later that afternoon. We were a little early, so we didn't see Kevin there, or I would
Re: Brin: Conference on Inverse Surveillance
--- Julia,Hi! Yeah this conf is run and pushed by Steve Mann, a prof at U Toronto who is big in wearable computers and who coined Sousveillance. I naturally approve in theoryu... though I find some of the indignation and noise a bit tedious. Thrive all. ANd please do not ket John foist any of that The Saudis are really cooperating garbage. Yes and love is hate and up is down. Dig it, the Wahhabis have been using the oil riches that WE send them, because of lack of conservation, and been bribing their way into control of most of the mosques on the planet, including those in the US. Inside those mosques, the Wahhabi line is total Jihad against our civilization, subjugation of women, destruction of Israel and conversion (eventually by the sword) of all heretics. This is not even secret. Nor is it secret that the personall slaves of the Saudi princes -- both Bushes, Cheney, Rumsfeld -- stopped Gen Schwarzkopf in 91 in order to prevent the arrival of a democratic, Shiite-led state in Iraq. The orders came from Riyadh and Bush SR said yes, effendi! The day after 9/11 the TOP priority was whisking Saudis out of the US before they could be questioned. Independent agents have said that 'cooperation' has been nil. The Saudis have killed a few of their maniacs woul would not patiently follow the game plan. That is all. Thompson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Info at http://www.eyetap.org/iwis/ = . . * Please note. My email address of many years is changing FROM [EMAIL PROTECTED] TO [EMAIL PROTECTED] ... (Or else use [EMAIL PROTECTED]) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Meanwile in the Dark Heart of RednecKlan Sugar-Daddy Moon land...
Moon Declares himself to be the Messiah before Congressmen in the Dirksen Senate Office Building: http://www.unification.net/2004/20040323_1.html Some of the Scummy Congressional followers of Moon: http://www.familyfed.org/usa/photo2004/20040323b_3.jpg -- Stalin and Hitler posthumously Endorse Moon: http://www.familyfed.org/board/uboard.asp?id=ffwpu_newsskin=board_urim_ simplecolor= The five great saints and many other leaders in the spirit world, including even Communist leaders such as Marx and Lenin, who committed all manner of barbarity and murders on earth, and dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, have found strength in my teachings, mended their ways and been reborn as new persons. Emperors, kings and presidents who enjoyed opulence and power on earth, and even journalists who had worldwide fame, have now placed themselves at the forefront of the column of the true love revolution. Together they have sent to earth a resolution expressing their determination in the light of my teaching of the true family ideal. They have declared to all Heaven and Earth that Reverend Sun Myung Moon is none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent. This resolution has been announced on every corner of the globe. -- Moon: homo marriage is driving me out of America until 2012 http://www.gorenfeld.net/blog//2004_03_01_barchive.html#1080585824795635 48 The last time Moon said he was giving up on America, taking his ball, and going home was 1992. That was when the the defeat of Bush Sr. soured his feelings for a country he henceforth denounced as Satan's harvest. This weekend, he's announced he's jetting -- while rolling back the date of completion for his Taliban-esque Fatherland to a Blade Runner-ish 2012. Is he envisioning a two-term John Kerry presidency as a long time out for Moonie access to the White House? From a Mar. 24 appearance of conservative media mogul Sun Myung Moon (as read on his Unification Church listserv), the following disjointed ideas. True Father spent 34 years here in America to guide this country in the right way. Yesterday was the turning point. Now I'm going back to Korea.[...] Thirty years ago, Christianity agreed with Father how to save the world. Now it's right I received the crown...[...] The reality is, if America doesn't follow heavenly ideals, it will perish. Homo marriage abuses blood lineage. In a speech tinged with Liebermen-esque bitterness, he concluded with one of his cryptic recent references to helicopters, as well as a shout-out to United Press International chairman Chung Kwak. Tomorrow I'm going back to NY for a helicopter deal. Welcome Rev. Kwak as president of UPI in your heart. He's also been talking about Jews and the importance of taking down the Christian cross. -- As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities. - Voltaire ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Ease the pain but don't stop offshoring
Bethlehem steel is the biggest one I know; they didn't fund their retirement plans properly, they declared bankruptcy and the gov is left holding the bag. I agree that business that work the system this way are despicable. One more reason for workers not to trust a corporation to take care of them. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Bush's brand new enemy is the truth
Huh? Have you ever read how to books on job transitions? He was just following quitting 101 when he did that. You never write nasty stuff in a resignation letter. Especially to the president. You may have your say verbally before you resign, but once you decide to go, you keep it as pleasant as possible. That's not the time to burn bridges. Obviously, after reflection, he decided to burn bridges, but the books state that, even if you think you will do that eventually, you still accentuate the positive in the resignation letter. This isn't about quitting a job because you had a personality conflict with your boss. This is serious business. This is more like quitting Enron over the fraud, and in your resignation letter congratulating Ken Lay on his integrity and business ethics. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Winning the War on Terror
What religion is based on killing unbelievers, subjugating all women, (and a other things). I hope you don't need a hint on these questions skippy. Almost All of them. At least the major ones anyway. Christianity is a pale shadow of its former ferocious self. If Islam wants to survive, it better morph into a similar pussycat. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Winning the War on Terror
OTOH what religion does dance in the streets when innocents are killed? None. The only ones who were dancing belonged to the minority of Muslem fundamentalists; the moderates are as disgusted as you and I are when innocent people are killed. This Islamic Moderate, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny walk into a bar... This meme must die, the idea that UBL is as fringe in Islamic culture as Tim McVeigh is in Christian culture. UBL is revered in Islamic culture like George Washington is in America. There were a lot more than a few nuts dancing in the streets after 9-11. I remember reading an account from an American who happened to be in Egypt, watching the ensuing Mardi Gras from his hotel and staying out of sight for several days to avoid getting lynched. What religion has no moderate voices; or at least none that can be heard over the bloodthirsty masses? Can't think of any religion whose moderate voices can't be heard. If you can't hear them, you're just not listening. If they speak up they put out a death warrant on them. If you leave the religion, chances are good they'll hunt you down and kill you for it. Why do the few moderates who publish on the Internet hide their identities? None that I know of, although Christianity has quite a track record when it comes to killing unbelievers. If you believe that Islam is based on killing unbelievers, then you really ought to read the Koran and talk to moderate Muslems. The all unbelievers must be killed etcetera is only the interpretation of the fundamentalist minority. Right, the moderate mainstream believes in killing unbelievers only if they resist subjugation and/or conversion. And Christianity hasn't done jack in the killing unbelievers area in several centuries. The mainstream of Islam is fundamentalist. It's plain stupid to assert otherwise. Or dangerous. Go to a mosque and start arguing that the Koran shouldn't be taken literally, and that Mohammed was a nice guy, but not really in communication with God. Mike Lee Islamic Moderate ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Winning the War on Terror
Do you only hate Muslims, or does your hatred extend to other religions as well? I don't much like most religions period. Muslims are way ahead on my S-list at the moment. Let's say a group of Christian fanatics (to put it in perspective: the kind that would make JDG look like a moderate) would believe that the US Government isn't doing enough to force Christian values on everyone. To show their dissatisfaction, they set off bombs at the White House, the Capitol and a few other places in Washington, killing 2,000 people in the process. Would you then propose nuking the Vatican? If the Vatican was giving speeches every damn day about how cool that was and encouraging people to go do it some more, yes, I would. And that's what's happening in Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and every other Islamic hellhole country. Mainstream imams and government tv and billboards and newspapers all egging it on. I must say that your ideas on how to deal with Islamic terrorism scare the hell out of me. What have Muslims done to you that warrants such blind hatred? Some Islamic kid once stole your lunch money when you were in Elementary School? They murdered 3000 Americans a couple years ago. I can hear the echoes of people like you from the 30's: What have Nazis ever done to you that warrants such blind hatred? Mike Lee Islamic Moderate ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Winning the War on Terror
The truth is that sufficient violence ends violence. That is true enough. But that only works when you can seal the outlines of the geographical area and flood the same with your troops. It also works if you are violent enough to convince the rest of them they need to knock if off or they're next. Remember, we don't want to occupy and control these countries. And the violence we've already visited on them has made a few of them blink (like Qaddafi Duck). I prefer to give them a memory of a mushroom cloud over Medina that will make them remember that they shouldn't fuck with the adults. If you think that is the how they would react to it, then you need to take another look at the cultures of the places where Muslims live in significant numbers. I am looking at their culture. They are and always have presented for the right alpha dog. So, let's get serious here: If Islam does another 9/11, the likelihood is genocide. Why do you equate OBL and his fanatics with a billion muslims? And just how are you going to kill a billion muslims? First, I do equate UBL and a billion Muslims. The majority of Muslims around the world think UBL is a jolly good fellow. We are at war against mainstream Islam, which is a fanatical, racist, violent, neanderthal sad excuse for a religion. The worst of our backwoods Baptist bigots is far more moderate and enlightened with respect to human rights, attitude toward democracy and tolerance of unbelievers than are the majority of mainstream Muslims in your neighborhood. They just don't tell you how much they despise you to your face. They are privately dedicated to the overthrow of democracy, the enslavement of your daughters, and to generally making everybody stop having fun. Nonetheless, I misspoke--I shouldn't have said genocide. The likelihood is vaporization of several of their capital cities. I'd think 5 million dead Muslims is a low estimate of what happens if they throw another punch like that. Let's imagine that some US president is actually silly enough to nuke Medina. What do you think would happen? Do you *really* imagine the rest of the muslims would cower in their homes, emerging only to lick America's boots? Yeah, pretty much. Especially if make it clear that we'll up the ante even more next time any one of 'em so much as shoots us a dirty look. Look, let's get real here: The difference between us and them is, if they had our capabilities, they'd *right now* nuke us back into the Muslim Age. We, on the other hand, have the capability to kill all billion of them, but we really don't want to. Yet. So why should we be afraid of them? Even if they do get a few nukes, it will be the end of them, not us, if they use them. But we're still afraid because we're not willing to do something really horrendous to them until after they do something horrendous first. We're waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's like being stalked. It makes you really jumpy. And it doesn't take much for sudden violence to happen after you've been jumpy for a while. If Islam (and, yes, I'm saying Islam, not Islamofascists or Islamists or any of the other cute ways that we tolerant Westerners try to make nicey-nice distinctions within their intolerant faith) makes another 9-11 level attack on the United States, my prediction, not my wish, is that the response will be so savage that it will surprise even us. And that will pretty much settle it, unless they're really stupid, in which case, yes, it will be genocide. They have nukes, y'know, and the national identity of the country is based on Islam. Would you nuke Pakistan? What about India? More muslims than Pakistan, after allThen China, I guess... Whatever it takes. We didn't ask for this fight, but we can damn well finish it. As for Pakistan's nukes, so what? They only have enough to annoy us (kill millions) and then we'll annihilate them. Given how incompetently Muslim cultures do everything else, I would expect a high percentage of Pakistani duds anyway. Same goes for toys they buy from the Nkoreans. Russian stuff, I'm a little more worried about, but at least it's had a lot of time to rust. And I think we can count on the Chinese and Indian governments to patrol their own backyards. (That brings up another issue--what will we do if they try to detonate a suitcase bomb, and all it does is blow up their mini van? If they try to do something nuclear in an American city, I think that's more likely to be the outcome than the bomb actually working. If Kerry's president, I bet nothing. If Bush is president, I bet he treats it just like it had actually worked. So hold your noses and vote Republican this November!) Do you think that the rest of the world would sit and silently watch you bomb one country after another, hoping that the next mass-murder would finally make you feel safe? Yeah, actually, I do. Like they watched Bosnia. And Iraq. And Africa. And If the French or
Re: Winning the War on Terror
Mike Lee wrote: (That brings up another issue--what will we do if they try to detonate a suitcase bomb, and all it does is blow up their mini van? If they try to do something nuclear in an American city, I think that's more likely to be the outcome than the bomb actually working. If Kerry's president, I bet nothing. If Bush is president, I bet he treats it just like it had actually worked. So hold your noses and vote Republican this November!) The FBI spy... oops... representative in Brazil has been saying that the islamic terrorists had a dirty bomb prepared to be used in Washington. The sort of think that you cause some millions of deaths in the course of the next 100 years. Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Scouted: Pesticide Ban Benefits Newborns
Kevin Tarr [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I wrote: Decreasing prenatal exposure to pesticides reduces the number of underweight and SGA [small for gestational age] neonates. http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/84/98156.htm?printing=true snip By 2001, after exposures had been reduced due to US EPA regulatory action, almost none of the newborns had these higher exposure levels and the association between cord plasma chlorpyrifos levels and birth weight and length was no longer significant, Whyatt and colleagues write. Where's the usual tag line, that since the Bushcokkk presidency exposure levels have been on the rise? I guess it's inferred from the date. snip I have no idea what pesticide levels have done since the onset of Bush -- my point was that reducing toxin exposure has measurable benefits, at least to newborns. Debbi A Healthy Environment Promotes Human Health Maru __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Belief (was: (no subject))
Ray Ludenia [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Deborah Harrell wrote: But the short answer is 'a sense of the numinous' (not my words - Doug's? Bob's? Robert's? - but I liked them enough to appropriate them). Running a quick search through last year's posts revealed a plethora of posts (23) using the word numinous. Seemed to be up to 7 different threads over a period of about 5 weeks. The first instance was actually (and surprisingly) in one of my posts! Did it perchance have to do with Ayer's Rock (sorry, don't recall the native name)? For some reason, that image came to mind with the 'numinous;' didn't mean to slight your contribution! :} Debbi Dawn Over The Grand Canyon Maru __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
The Physics of High Heels
Not a joke! At least, not intentionally... http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/84/98130.htm?printing=true ...Researchers claim that the formula spelled out below can tell the maximum heel height a person can handle without toppling over or suffering excessively. h = Q(12+3s/8) The variables are: h: Maximum height of the heel (in centimeters) Q: A sociological factor with a value between 0 and 1 (see below) S: Shoe size (in UK ladies' sizes) Although at first glance our formula looks scary, says formula creator Paul Stevenson of the University of Surrey, in a news release, it's actually pretty simple as it's based on the science you learnt at school and which you never thought you would use in real life. By applying this formula, a person can determine just how high the heel of the foot can be lifted above the ground with out falling over. But the hard part was working out the elusive Q factor. That's the sociological part of the equation not based on the mere mechanics of the shoes. Essentially this part of the formula explains what women have always known -- that you don't buy shoes just because they are comfortable, you can afford them, and they look good -- many other variables come into play, says Stevenson. Researchers defined Q as: p(y+9)L Q = -- (t+1)(A+1)(y+10)(L+£20) Within that equation, the variables are as follows: p: The probability that wearing the shoes will help you attract a mate, or pull in Brit-speak (in a range from 0 to 1, where 1 is a sure draw and 0 is no chance) y: The number of years of experience the wearer has in wearing high heels. More experienced wearers can handle a higher heel, but beginners should take it easy. L: The cost of the shoes, in British pounds. The more expensive, the more likely women will put up with a higher heel. t: The time since the shoe was the height of fashion, in months (0 = it's red hot right now). If the shoes are terribly fashionable, wearers should be prepared to put up with a little pain. A: Units of alcohol consumed. The more alcohol that's consumed, the more risky wearing high heels becomes, no matter how well the martini glass goes with the shoes... The article goes on to report Carrie Bradshaw's 'safe heel height' when sober or drunk... Debbi Whaddaya Mean My Riding Boot Heels Don't Count?! Maru __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Lynne Cheney's [Mrs. VP] Lesbian Romance Novel in performance...
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/171998p-150026c.html Lynne Cheney's still-remembered 1981 lesbian romance novel, Sisters, was feted Monday night in a special performance by the Lynne Cheney Players - to the delight of an audience of liberal East Village types. The performance at the New York Theatre Workshop was part of a celebration of left-leaning radio personality Laura Flanders' new book, Bushwomen: Tale of a Cynical Species. Yesterday, Flanders told Lowdown that Cheney's novel is a breathy, gothic romance, horribly written. It's celebrating lesbian love and promotes the value of preventative devices, condoms, to women who want to remain free. It features a woman who has unmarried sex with the widow of her sister - all this by Lynne Cheney, the culture warrior of the right. Monday's crowd of 200 - which included actress Janeane Garofalo - laughed throughout the satirical staging. Choice scenes adapted from Sisters included one in which two female characters write to each other: Let us go away together, away from the anger and the imperatives of men. We shall find ourselves a secluded bower where they dare not venture. There will be only the two of us, and we shall linger through long afternoons of sweet retirement. One of Cheney's characters swoons to a Sapphic love letter: How well her words describe our love - or the way it would be if we could remove all impediments, leave this place, and join together ... Then our union would be complete. Our lives would flow together, twin streams merging into a single river. Vice President Cheney's wife has been silent on the hot-button issue of gay marriage, although their 34-year-old daughter, Mary Cheney, is openly gay. President Bush has come out in a support of a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. Here's a whole book where she gloried in lesbian love affairs, Flanders said. The hypocrisy is rank. Lynne Cheney's spokeswoman didn't respond to Lowdown's request for comment. - I can't imagine that I'm going to be attacked for telling the truth. Why would I be attacked for telling the truth? Paul O'Neill, 60 Minutes ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: RednecKKKlans stalk and assault gay web-poster
It may be that this is an urban legend in the making. Following your link now gets this: A political hate crime Saturday, March 27, 2004 [I have decided to delete this post for now. The story cannot be confirmed, and I have no desire to be disseminating false information. I'm leaving its position here so the discussion about it can continue. I spoke today to Sgt. Connie Locke, the Atlanta Police Department's liaison to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. She says she monitors cases like this closely and would -- or should -- have been immediately notified in an assault case like this, and was not. Moreover, she says she personally walked the case down to APD's database center and searched for an assault case like this one and came up empty. There is still the possibility that the case simply hasn't been directed her way yet, or that it is actually being investigated by another authority, such as Fulton County. In the meantime, the alleged victim's friends are hoping to provide some kind of substantiation, but it has not been forthcoming. I'm giving this case another week or so to settle out, since it is still possible that tangled wires have kept it from surfacing. I'm being restrained for now because of this possibility. But I'll post some more thoughts on this later, when the matter is definitively settled. For now, I'll simply apologize to my readers for abrogating my own standards for ascertaining the veracity of material sent to me in the process of getting this story up on the Web.] 4:17 PM -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of The Fool Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 12:10 PM To: xBrin-L Subject: RednecKKKlans stalk and assault gay web-poster http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_03_21_dneiwert_archive.htm l#1080433045 07322450 A political hate crime Saturday, March 27, 2004 Now comes a fairly clear-cut case of a politically inspired assault by right-wingers on a gay man in Atlanta -- in fact, it appears they drove all the way from at least Kansas to commit the crime. The assault -- which included raping the man with a sawed-off broomstick and holding a knife up to his scrotum and threatening to cut it off -- was in apparent retaliation for a LiveJournal post in which the victim, an Atlanta artist, depicted (through the wonders of Photoshop) George W. Bush as a Grand Dragon at a Klan rally. Using information they gathered from the Web, they stalked him and brutalized him into unconsiousness, leaving him for dead in an alley. A fellow named spatula at morons.org pieces together most of the details from the victim's continuing LiveJournal posts: So they stalked him using information they gathered from LiveJournal, attacked him outside an Atlanta restaurant, cut his hand so as to inflict nerve damage (apparently to prevent him creating any more art their found offensive), sexually assaulted him with a sawed-off broom handle and left him naked and bloody in an alley. All this because they were so weak and pathetic that they just couldn't cope with a Photoshopped jpeg image. And they had a gang of them against one small guy, hitting him over the head first so he couldn't fight back. From what he could remember, authorities were able to locate a van that had been stolen from a used car lot in Topeka, Kansas in which [the victim's] blood was found. If Topeka sounds familiar to you, it may be because that's where Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church who bring us GodHatesFags.com are located. It's far too early to say whether Phelps and his clan had anything to do with this assault, but detectives have found [the victim's] name posted on several sites of similar ilk. A few points: -- There's no reason to connect Phelps' gang to this other than the locale. Topeka may have simply been a way station. It's significant, moreover, that the main motivation for this assault appears to be the victim's Photoshop post. That suggests a pro-Bush political motivation -- and Phelps is decidedly not pro-Bush. -- At the same time, the case has the classic appearance of a gay-bashing hate crime: The overkill violence, the stalking, the intentional selection, the clear bias motivation. Even if there proves to be a political motive involved here, that factor should not preclude an anti-gay bias motivation. Unfortunately, that will not make a lot of difference in this case. Georgia is one of 23 states that do not include sexual orientation as a bias category in any hate-crime statute. (Kansas, as it happens, is one of the 27 that do.) This is the kind of case where a federal hate-crimes bill would make a real difference. It clearly involves the interstate commission of a crime, but unfortunately, those kinds of cases are typically only enforced under the bias-crime provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which
RE: The color of truth (L3) (part 1)
What color is the truth in your world? This color: TRUTH CONSEQUENCES The Bush Administration and September 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pre-9/11: White House Received Warnings.2 Pre-9/11: Administration Reduces Counter-Terrorism3 Pre-9/11: Strengthening Saudi Relations Despite Terror Ties..4 After 9/11: Maintaining Strong Saudi Ties, Despite 9/11 Connection..5 After 9/11: Refusing to Protect the Homeland6 Really, Doug, all this Monday morning quarterbacking is going nowhere. Next you'll be complaining because Tom Clancy warned us about crashing a plane into the capitol building. Spin every little thing you can all day long, but everybody knows the truth: nobody took these jackasses as seriously as we wish we had before 9-11. I'm just glad Bush was there instead of Gore when the wake-up call came. Mike Lee Islamic Moderate ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: The color of truth (part 3)
Oh, and one more thing The indispensible Mark Steyn, once again giving in to his habit of saying it better than anyone: http://opinion.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/03/28/do 2804.xml ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Stem cell therapy for ID diabetes in the works
Research has been in mice thus far, but looks promising[ID=insulin dependent, or Type I]: http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/84/98078.htm?printing=true ...Type 1 diabetes develops when the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed. Insulin is a hormone that moves glucose (a sugar) from the blood into the body's cells, where it can be used for energy or stored for later use. In this study, stem cells were chemically coaxed in the laboratory to become insulin-producing cells. The new insulin-producing cells were transplanted into mice that had type 1 diabetes. The cells readily adapted to their environment and were able to produce insulin and other hormones necessary for normal blood sugar levels. We have shown that the manipulation of bone marrow cells toward being capable of secreting insulin may be accomplished with relative ease, writes lead researcher Seh-Hoon Oh, PhD, with the University of Florida in Gainesville. A stem cell can become an insulin-producing cell in just 10 days, she adds, thus providing an accessible cell source and a simple method for the cellular treatment of diabetes. I suspect it could also be used for some Type IIs, but prevention is more logical (i.e. lifestyle changes like increased exercise and decreased caloric intake). Debbi So That Nursery Rhyme Was About *Diabetic* Mice? Maru __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rating the Presidents Re: Bush's brand new enemy is the truth
On Mar 30, 2004, at 9:04 AM, John D. Giorgis wrote: At 05:44 AM 3/30/2004 -0800 Richard Baker wrote: JDG said: By whom?Under the usual standards that Presidents rate such things, I expect that he will be placed near or at the top of one-term Presidents if he loses re-election. Regardless of Bush Jr's merits, he surely doesn't compare favourably with Bush Sr, who skillfully managed the crisis in the global order caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union and even fought a war against Iraq with the backing of most of the rest of the world (and even with French troops!). But that last point is not one of the criteria on which Presidents are usually judged. That is, we usually do not judge our Presidents by the popularity of their policies in France and Syria. (both part of the first Gulf War coalition) At any rate, a similar case for George W. Bush's first term would be: skillfully managed the crisis caused by September 11th, led a spectacularly successful War in Afghanistan (it is worth remembering how much doubt surrounded the Afghan campaign in mid-September of 2001), and fought a war in Iraq to completion with the support of the vast majority of the world's industrialized democracies. This surely compares quite favorably in the eyes of history to George H. W. Bush's term. In addition, George H. W. Bush will certainly be remembered for presiding over the mildest recession in modern US history, despite taking office following the popping of an asset bubble, and maintaining high levels of overall employment, GDP growth, and productivity growth during that time.(Bush will also benefit in these ratings because budget deficits tend not to be considered as very important in these ratings. For example, Franklin Roosevelt rates extremely highly by historians, despite creating Social Security.) snipped Successfully leading the coalition that defeated the Axis Powers during World War 2 has a great deal to do with FDR's high rating. john ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The color of truth (L3) (part 1)
Mike wrote: Really, Doug, all this Monday morning quarterbacking is going nowhere. Next you'll be complaining because Tom Clancy warned us about crashing a plane into the capitol building. Spin every little thing you can all day long, but everybody knows the truth: nobody took these jackasses as seriously as we wish we had before 9-11. But the evidence points to the fact that Clinton/Gore took them _more_ seriously than Bush did. The evidence shows that Bush deemphisized counter-terrorism leading up to 9/11 and Bush's own words - that he didn't feel a sense of urgency concerning terrorism - are proof of the neglegence exhibited by his administration. Do you care to refute the evidence or do you think your empty rhetoric will convince us to ignore the facts? I'm just glad Bush was there instead of Gore when the wake-up call came. I'm convinced by the evidence that 9/11 is less likely to have happened under Gore. What exactly is it that convinces you otherwise? -- Doug GSV Saudi Lap Dogs? ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RIP
Peter Ustinov and Alistair Cooke have passed on. Ustinov's greatest performance (among many) was probably as Capt Vere in his film adaptation of Billy Budd, while Aistair Cooke was just too cool. they will be missed john ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: RIP
In a message dated 3/30/2004 7:35:30 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Ustinov's greatest performance (among many) was probably as Capt Vere in his film adaptation of Billy Budd, And best speaking role was in Grendel, Grendel, Grendel ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The color of truth (L3) (part 1)
At 06:32 PM 3/30/2004 -0800 Doug Pensinger wrote: But the evidence points to the fact that Clinton/Gore took them _more_ seriously than Bush did. What evidence is this? I'm convinced by the evidence that 9/11 is less likely to have happened under Gore. What exactly is it that convinces you otherwise? A shocking conclusion I have seen nowhere else. Why do you believe this? JDG ___ John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity. - George W. Bush 1/29/03 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: RIP
On Mar 30, 2004, at 9:37 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 3/30/2004 7:35:30 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Ustinov's greatest performance (among many) was probably as Capt Vere in his film adaptation of Billy Budd, And best speaking role was in Grendel, Grendel, Grendel ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l IIRC he got a Grammy for that. john (anyone else ever see 'Romanoff and Juliet'?) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The color of truth (L3) (part 1)
- Original Message - From: John D. Giorgis [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Killer Bs Discussion [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 8:38 PM Subject: Re: The color of truth (L3) (part 1) At 06:32 PM 3/30/2004 -0800 Doug Pensinger wrote: But the evidence points to the fact that Clinton/Gore took them _more_ seriously than Bush did. What evidence is this? I'm convinced by the evidence that 9/11 is less likely to have happened under Gore. What exactly is it that convinces you otherwise? A shocking conclusion I have seen nowhere else. Why do you believe this? JDG Personally, I don't think the chances would have been much less likely, but it seems that Bush downplaying AQ before 9-11 is fairly well established. From http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-benjamin30mar30,1,2404456.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions quote Even if one dismisses Sheridan's remarks as those of a political appointee, the same cannot be done for Don Kerrick. A three-star general, Kerrick had served at the end of the Clinton administration as deputy national security advisor, and he spent the final four months of his military career in the Bush White House. He sent a memo to the NSC's new leadership on things you need to pay attention to. He wrote about Al Qaeda: We are going to be struck again. But he never heard back. I don't think it was above the waterline. They were gambling nothing would happen, he said. The most damaging remarks came from Gen. Henry H. Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until Oct. 1, 2001. Shelton told us that in the Bush administration terrorism had moved farther to the back burner. He also recounted how the Joint Chiefs of Staff, frustrated at the lack of progress in dealing with Al Qaeda, had begun a disinformation program in the last year of the Clinton administration to create dissent within the Taliban. But Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz shut it down. Counterterrorism, the new leadership felt, was not a military mission. Shelton added, The squeaky wheel was Dick Clarke, but he wasn't at the top of their priority list, so the lights went out for a few months. Shelton summed up Rumsfeld's attitude as being this terrorism thing was out there, but it didn't happen today, so maybe it belonged lower on the list. end quote Dan M. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The color of truth (L3) (part 1)
On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 21:38:48 -0500, John D. Giorgis [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 06:32 PM 3/30/2004 -0800 Doug Pensinger wrote: But the evidence points to the fact that Clinton/Gore took them _more_ seriously than Bush did. What evidence is this? http://tinyurl.com/38ecs http://tinyurl.com/36k6u http://tinyurl.com/26pwx -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: RIP
In a message dated 3/30/2004 7:52:56 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: And best speaking role was in Grendel, Grendel, Grendel ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l IIRC he got a Grammy for that. john (anyone else ever see 'Romanoff and Juliet'?) Actually, I thought he was more remembered for The Grand Prix of Gibralter. I have that record somewhere in the vast six feet I have of now seldom played comedy records. Back before the franchise became the joke that it has become, when the original Alan Dean Foster--er, excuse me, George Lucas novel came out, I thought that Peter Ustnov would have been the perfect out of touch with reality Emperor. William--kicked off of AOL 5 times tonight-Taylor ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Fwd: Photos
some pictures of David and Sheldon Brown presenting the exorarium concept at a recent CONTACT Conference: http://www.driveonmars.com/events/contact2004/day2/page_02.htm = . . * Please note. My email address of many years is changing FROM [EMAIL PROTECTED] TO [EMAIL PROTECTED] ... (Or else use [EMAIL PROTECTED]) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The color of truth (L3) (part 1)
On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 21:12:03 -0600, Dan Minette [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Personally, I don't think the chances would have been much less likely, but it seems that Bush downplaying AQ before 9-11 is fairly well established. I've said it before here; I'm convinced that heightened airport security would have thwarted the attacks. We know that Ashcroft quit flying commercial because of a threat assessment. If it was enough of a threat to keep Ashcroft off the planes, why wasn't it enough to increase security? We also know that while under Reno, anti-terrorism was a tier one priority while under Ashcroft, it didn't make the top seven. It doesn't seem to far fetched to me to assume that a field agent throwing up flags about suspected terrorists taking flying lessons and asking about airport security would have been taken more seriously by an administration that had made anti-terrorism a priority. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
4thReichKlans Making a Move: Fascist Censorship Spreads to FEC
It's Twilight Time as The 4thReichKlan Browncoats seek to further strangle free speech and democracy: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/3/30/233550/681 Just recieved from Move On - another case of administration overreach without regard for consequences. Thought I'd pass it on in case anyone here isn't already a Move On member. They're doing good work and need our support. Are you involved in a local or national non-profit or public interest organization? As a leader or board director or member? Please read this message carefully, because your organization could be facing a serious threat. The Republican National Committee is pressing the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to issue new rules that would cripple groups that dare to communicate with the public in any way critical of President Bush or members of Congress. Incredibly, the FEC has just issued -- for public comment -- proposed rules that would do just that. Any kind of non-profit -- conservative, progressive, labor, religious, secular, social service, charitable, educational, civic participation, issue-oriented, large, and small -- could be affected by these rules. By the way, one thing FEC's proposed rules do not affect is the donations you may have made in the past or may make now to MoveOn.org or to the MoveOn.org Voter Fund. They are aimed at activist non-profit groups, not donors. Operatives in Washington are displaying a terrifying disregard for the values of free speech and openness which underlie our democracy. Essentially, they are willing to pay any price to stop criticism of Bush administration policy. We've attached materials below to help you make a public comment to the FEC before the comment period ends on APRIL 9th. Your comment could be very important, because normally the FEC doesn't get much public feedback. Public comments to the FEC are encouraged by email at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Comments should be addressed to Ms. Mai T. Dinh, Acting Assistant General Counsel, and must include the full name, electronic mail address, and postal service address of the commenter. More details can be found at: http://www.fec.gov/press/press2004/20040312rulemaking.html We'd love to see a copy of your public comment. Please email us a copy at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Whether or not you're with a non-profit, we also suggest you ask your representatives to write a letter to the FEC opposing the rule change. Some key points: Campaign finance reform was not meant to gag public interest organizations. Political operatives are trying to silence opposition to Bush policy. The Federal Election Commission has no legal right to treat non-profit interest groups as political committees. Congress and the courts have specifically considered and rejected such regulation. You can reach your representatives at: ... Please let us know you're calling, at: http://www.moveon.org/callmade.html?id=2541-2819104-81UY9YmT7ZiuB.nX7IAEqA In a non-election year, this kind of administrative overreach would never find support. It goes far beyond any existing law or precedent. It is a serious threat to the fundamental checks and balances in our system. But because of an unholy alliance between a few campaign reform groups and GOP partisans, this rule change could actually happen if we don't act now. I've attached more details below, prepared by our attorneys and by the FEC Working Group -- a group of more than 500 respected non-profit organizations. If you run a non-profit, don't assume this change doesn't apply to you. First check out the EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC CONSEQUENCES FOR NONPROFIT GROUPS section below. It's outrageous. Thanks for all you do, Sincerely, --Wes Boyd MoveOn.org March 30th, 2004 __ EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC CONSEQUENCES FOR NONPROFIT GROUPS Under the proposed rules, nonprofit organizations that advocate for cancer research, gun and abortion restrictions or rights, fiscal discipline, tax reform, poverty issues, immigration reform, the environment, or civil rights or liberties - all these organizations could be transformed into political committees if they criticize or commend members of Congress or the President based on their official actions or policy positions. Such changes would cripple the ability of groups to raise and spend funds in pursuit of their mission and could be so ruinous that organizations would be forced to back away from meaningful conversations about public policies that affect millions of Americans. If the proposed rules were adopted, the following organizations would be treated as federal political committees and therefore could not receive grants from any corporation, even an incorporated nonprofit foundation, from any union, or from any individual in excess of $5,000 per year: A 501(c)(4) gun rights organization that spends $50,000 on ads at any time during this election year criticizing any legislator, who also happens to be a federal candidate, for his or her position on gun control
RE: The color of truth (L3) (part 1)
I've said it before here; I'm convinced that heightened airport security would have thwarted the attacks. Oh, for Christ's sake. I didn't even think you'd come up with something as lame as that. I fly quite a bit. I'll give you this: increased airport security is a complete waste of time by the Bush administration, and it's only being done to make the flying public see the visible face of Homeland Security. Might as well give us all happyface not-a-terrorist stickers on our foreheads for all the good it does. I'm so sick of taking my shoes off and pulling out my laptop. They don't even make me turn on my cell phone and pager anymore like they used to. I travel with a dead laptop battery from watching too much porn in the terminal, since they never make me turn that on either anymore. Since I learned the proper ways to genuflect and walk around in my socks, it's been months since they pulled me out of line. And my bags always have so much suspicious electronics that they should be surrounding me with machine guns. Once I got my attitude right, no problems. Too bad about that poor geezer in the wheelchair crying over there in the corner because they're stripsearching him to make quota. Trust me, if I wanted to blow up a plane, it would get blown up. If I wanted to take one over, it would get taken over. It does a lot more good to tell commercial pilots that if they wander out of where they're supposed to be, and don't answer the phone, they're going to die, than it does to pretend to seach me. Here, you want to prevent terrorism on planes? Put a little card in the seat pocket along with the how to put your oxygen mask on before you help your baby card that says, If this plane is hijacked, you have about 5 minutes to take care of the problem before the Air Force does. Don't be a pussy if you want to live. By the way, can you quote me the Gore speech where he said he would beef up airport security if elected to prevent terrorist attacks? We know that Ashcroft quit flying commercial because of a threat assessment. If it was enough of a threat to keep Ashcroft off the planes, why wasn't it enough to increase security? I love it when people say, We know... The best cable shows about UFOs say We know... a lot. Maybe they kept Ashcroft off because they knew that Americans would hijack the plane just to get the porcine bastard killed. Hell, it would tempt me. I don't love the Bushies. But they get it right on the only issue that matters right now, so screw the gays, screw pornographers, casino owners and people who have been stupid enough to get within shouting distance of a terrorist cell. We'll make it up to you after we deal with Islam. Trust me. You're better off being denied a marriage license than being blown up on the BART. We also know that while under Reno, anti-terrorism was a tier one priority Yeah, too bad she thought it was all going in in Waco and Ruby Ridge. All I can say is what an incompetent Frankenstein-looking junkyard refrigerator if it was her #1 priority and she didn't do a damn thing to help. What exactly did her making it a #1 priority make turn out better, pray tell? while under Ashcroft, it didn't make the top seven. You know, despite my personal distaste for Ashcroft, I'll bet he gets more done with #7 on his task list than Reno did with #1. It doesn't seem to far fetched to me to assume that a field agent throwing up flags about suspected terrorists taking flying lessons and asking about airport security would have been taken more seriously by an administration that had made anti-terrorism a priority. You've never worked for a large corporation, have you? Or if you have, you're one of those people that everyone shakes their heads about. Of course, you don't know about the head shaking, do you? Or you wouldn't be so enamored of Janet Reno's Powerpoint slides with terrorism as #1. Let me leave you with this: Condi Rice versus Janet Reno. Pick your venue. Thunderdome. Celebrity Death Match. One two three four I declare a thumb war. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Oh, whatever. I guess the John Birch Society had to be reincarnated somewhere, and the left this year is a huge petri dish anyway. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: 4thReichKlans Making a Move: Fascist Censorship Spreads to FEC
The Republican National Committee is pressing the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to issue new rules that would cripple groups that dare to communicate with the public in any way critical of President Bush or members of Congress. Incredibly, the FEC has just issued -- for public comment -- proposed rules that would do just that. Any kind of non-profit -- conservative, progressive, labor, religious, secular, social service, charitable, educational, civic participation, issue-oriented, large, and small -- could be affected by these rules. You've got a hell of a nerve, as a leftist liberal, whining about restrictions on free speech after all the years of trying to make rules and shut down advocacy around elections. If somebody sticks a sock in John McCain's mouth and wraps duct tape around it, that will be no less than he deserves. Here's a libertarian point you should have been paying more attention to: when you give government a gun, there's no telling who will get control of it a few years later and turn it on you. I hope every non-profit, progressive, labor, secular, social service, charitable, educational, civic participation, issue-oriented, small group gets slammed this year. Teach their stupid asses a well-deserved lesson. In other news, did you hear that some white guy in Tennessee or somewhere got a white congressman interested in investigating whether his wymmyns studies or whatever the hell class it was was creating a hostile environment for white homophobic males. My head says, defend the idiot teacher who precipitated this, but my heart hopes they nail her up like Jesus. If there's one thing the left/feminazis/derridistas have proven in the last 20 years is they're just like the religious right in that they only believe in free speech when they're not in power. Operatives in Washington are displaying a terrifying disregard for the values of free speech and openness which underlie our democracy. Wah. Wah. Dork. Campaign finance reform was not meant to gag public interest organizations. Christ. I mean, really, Jesus H. Christ. My ox, right or wrong. The Federal Election Commission has no legal right to treat non-profit interest groups as political committees. Congress and the courts have specifically considered and rejected such regulation. Please let us know you're calling, at: http://www.moveon.org/callmade.html?id=2541-2819104-81UY9YmT7Z iuB.nX7IAEqA Tempts me to register bowelmoveon.org. Years ago, I ran for Congress. I was shocked, just shocked, at the crap they put me through. I'm so happy you might get to eat it with a spoon too. You made this, now enjoy your shit sandwich. -Mike Lee Islamic Moderate ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: 4thReichKlans Making a Move: Fascist Censorship Spreads to FEC
From: Mike Lee [EMAIL PROTECTED] Years ago, I ran for Congress. I was shocked, just shocked, at the crap they put me through. I'm so happy you might get to eat it with a spoon too. You made this, now enjoy your shit sandwich. I'm sure that after strapping on your jack-boots, when you look in the mirror you see Hitler looking back at you. He was fond of genocide also. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: 4thReichKlans Making a Move: Fascist Censorship Spreads to FEC
I'm sure that after strapping on your jack-boots, when you look in the mirror you see Hitler looking back at you. He was fond of genocide also. Well, yes. I wear the mustache and a pink tutu too. It just seems like the right way to celebrate the imminent defeat of John Kerry. By the way, want some ketchup with that sandwich? ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
