VinylVenus

2006-08-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

Americans are living in an alternate universe: why we're losing "hearts and minds" in the Middle East--and who is really winning them!

In two weeks, we'll be at Katrina-plus-one. The Bush administration seems to be doing nothing about the devastation to the Gulf Coast (except maybe in Mississippi, which can be explained by the cozy relationship of George and the governor). The cognitive dissonance that is the trademark of our government and their broken promises combine to prevent any real progress in the recovery operations.

But why should we be surprised? This is mirrored in what they have done to Iraq and the Iraqi people. They sytematically destroyed a country and its infrastructure, promised to rebuild it and delivered virtually nothing. Basic services are almost non-existent and any building that the private contractors erected is shoddy (at best) or dangerous (at worst).

Now Israel and Hezbollah are at war. Damage is heavy on both sides. However, southern Lebanon is getting help to rebuild, even while bombs are falling! I received the surprising explanation of this phenonema from Steve Pizzo, at NewsForReal.com and it explains that Bush's "muslim devils" are way ahead of the humnitarian curve. Even Israel should be worried...

2006-07-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Save 1.800.SUICIDE

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD – BEFORE OUR GOVERNMENT SUFFOCATES THE NATION’S LARGEST PRIVATE & COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL HELP SYSTEM.

1-800-SUICIDE is in danger of being shut off or worse falling into the hands of the Federal Government. With teenage suicide being the 3rd leading cause of death between 18 to 24 year olds - our government should not be duplicating prevention efforts but helping fund the many local organizations and non-profits with proven track records on prevention. In addition our government should not be in the business having access to this private and sensitive information!
Despite the fact that almost 2 million callers have reached help and hope over the last 8 years, and a government funded evaluation stating the benefits of 1-800-SUICIDE, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), a division of Health & Human Services, has decided to create their own government run system where they would have direct access to confidential data on individuals in crisis.
To protect the callers to suicide crisis hotlines the management of 1-800-SUICIDE has refused to turn over the control of the National Hopeline Network to the SAMHSA. As a result it is in danger of being completely shut off to the almost 2,000 individuals in crisis who reach out daily because our government has not only ended all funding but also continues to owe $266,000 in overdue bills to the Hopeline from 2 years ago. (This is not new funds – but money that was already allocated!).

2006-07-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

Are you as tired of Robertson, Dobson, Falwell and all the religious loudmouth bigots as I am? Well, I ran across another theologian that speaks common sense in a calm and reassuring manner. I think the above bozos could learn something from this guy (and maybe attract people instead of repelling them). Click here and I think you'll agree.

2006-07-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

We are all grasshoppers, instead of ants!

I trust you remember the fable of the grasshopper and the ant. You don't? Long story short, the grasshopper lived for today with no thought for tomorrow; the ant lived as though tomorrow is just as important as today, probably even more important!

That's our "grasshopper" society--instant gratification, no savings (if we are lucky enough to have anything left over at the end of the month), consuming mass quantities like SNL "Coneheads", filling our landfills with imperishables (like three-year-old computers, last year's cell phone, plastics, glass, etc.) and driving our lives away despite outrageous fuel prices.

But what will our world be like in say, one year? Take that out to 2016. How about when children born this year turn 30? Leave aside the massive debt GWB has run up in our names but without our express permission, what does the future look like?

Well, I received a link from my good friend, Ellen, that makes that point. This piece, and I trust you will read at least the first two paragraphs, makes the point in such a potent way, that I haven't been able to get it out of my head all day. Like a song lyric looping and looping through my brain, I can't forget it. Without referring to the fable anywhere in the piece, it reminds us that we must become ants, because--

...the grasshopper died when summer ended. And our autumn might be nearer than we think...

2006-07-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Black Box Voting: Redux

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the...voting booth again! Now we hear from San Diego County CA that a voter has asked for a hand recount of the ballots from last month's special election to fill "Duke" Cunningham's vacant seat. The beneficiary of the recount? The Winner! For a complete explanation, link above. Read it and come back here for my take on this. Take your time--I'll wait for you...

Done reading? That was fast!

As you remember from the article, a voter named Barbara Gail Jacobson requested the handcount of all ballots. Nowhere does it state whether she is Republican or Democrat. But, what if she's a Democrat? By making the winner the beneficiary of the recount, do the Dems avoid being tagged "sour-grapes sore-losers"? If this is true, isn't it the slickest election tactic you've seen in a long time? Not counting Ken Blackwell and Ohio, of course...

2006-07-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

What's your opinion about "black box" voting? Do you think it was used to contrive the 2004 election in Ohio? Do you think Kerry really won? Is it possible that it was also used in many other states to skew the elections in favor of republicans?

If you do, I offer this link. It was written by Mark Crispin Miller for Salon magazine. When they did a major U-turn on this vital issue, and declined the piece they had commissioned from him, he took it HuffingtonPost. Arriana agreed it needed to be published (it explains all that in the linked piece). He is the author of Fooled Again: How the Right Stole the 2004 Election and Why They'll Steal the Next One Too (Unless We Stop Them). He really knows his stuff...

I've decided that I'm voting ABSENTEE this year...

2006-07-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Two soldiers napping by a large military vehicle. Rifles are visible to the right. Where are their armored vests? How hot IS it in Iraq? Note the tan line visible below the tshirt sleeve. You know that position can't be comfortable for either of them. But if you're exhausted, you can sleep almost anywhere - how well I know it...

As a feminist, I lobbied and argued and supported every effort for including women in the military, and NOT just in support services. As pilots and in combat. As doctors, not just as nurses. As trainers as well as on active duty. And I don't hear any complaints about the caliber of the job they're doing. I'm so damned proud of our brave women soldiers! And that takes NOTHING away from our brave men soldiers. I just see pictures like this one and I am in awe.

But that was before GWB. Before we were lied into a war that should never have been. Damn him and his lies!

I guess it's true: Be careful for what you wish for.

2006-06-30T22:05:00.000-07:00