Run, Karl, run! Faster! Faster!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080731/ap_on_go_ot/congress_contempt

US judge: White House aides can be subpoenaed

But that's the free market, right?

Or, in other words, the bad guys (keep Exxon Valdez victims in court until they die) get richer. And richer. With very little regulation.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/31/news/companies/exxon_profits/index.htm?eref=rss_topstories

Exxon posts new profit record
That profit works out to $1,485.55 a second.

I think I see a women's health care pattern here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25940818/

Does Bush proposal threaten access to the pill?

Blake's gallery opening

Not that this makes you owe me. :~)

Opening reception for new photographic works by Zack Smith and Blake Haney.
Inaugural show for The CANARY Gallery.

For the inaugural opening of the Canary Collective Gallery, local photographer Zack Smith has selected from a series of portraits from ongoing projects and assignments. One image, "Preservation Hall - from Holy Cross to St. Peter, 2008" is a multi-exposed Holga photograph from a recent shoot for Preservation Hall Jazz Band staged at the levee near the Holy Cross neighborhood in the 9th Ward. From the ongoing series "People I Know" series, "Candy Store Grilla, 2008" is a portrait of writer Patrick Strange at a candy store, in a gorilla suit, flanked by two lovely women and a lot of candy. Come see the rest.

Blake Haney’s work stems from his work in New Orleans and New York from 2005 to 2007 using his Holga Camera. All works are digital C-Prints with Plexi Mount Frames. Each image is the first in limited series of 10. The works presented will be Preservation 13, Don’t Walk 11 to 12 and Light 11 through 14.

When: Saturday, August 2nd, White Linen Night. 6-10pm.
Where: The CANARY Gallery. 329 Julia Street, corner of Commerce and Julia.

About CANARY: A collaborative multimedia studio and event space, CANARY was founded with the intention of bringing all forms of creative expression to the Arts District. Part working studio, part gallery, part event space, 329 Julia will mine the local community and collaborate with various organizations in the New Orleans community dedicated to different facets of the arts and media.

In case you needed a little push...

...in order to get motivated to contact Nancy Pelosi. H/T to Left in Alabama:

http://thejournal.epluribusmedia.net/index.php/state-news/ohio-news/34-ohio-news/127-rove-threat-to-blackmail-gop-it-mastermind-triggers-immunity-request-to-ohio-ag-by-election-lawyers

Rove Threat to Blackmail GOP IT Mastermind Triggers Immunity Request to Ohio AG by Election Lawyers

Let's make more people homeless

I saw on Fox 8 at 9 PM last night (not on the website, yet) that Vitty is up on his high horse again, wanting drug testing for welfare recipients. Come on Vitter, you are the last person that should be judging other people's lives! Get off of it! According to channel 8, the only state that currently does this is MI, and it has been a failure. And according to homeless advocates, the only thing a bill like this does is put children out on the street. Maybe that's what Vitty wants (as long as they're young and nubile, perhaps).

Contact Nancy and help her "decide"

Nancy Pelosi said that she is "deciding" whether she wants to try to send Karl Rove to jail for leaving the country, rather than answer his subpoena to show up and testify before congress. Please take less than 5 minutes to help Nancy "decide":

http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

Note: Please use this address if you are not a constituent in CA. She will not open your email at the CA office if you do not vote in CA.

Get out of jail free (or how to not to get there in the first place)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080730/ap_on_go_co/lame_duck_oversight

House panel votes to cite Rove for contempt

Mind expanding

I'm reading Critical Path by Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller. Wow. Proof positive that the country has been going to Hell in a hand basket for a long time. He also wrote about global warming in this book, published in 1980. It sounds like a rather depressing read, but actually, it makes one want to continue to fight.

This should not be happening in this country

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/93077/

Suicide Spreads as One Solution to the Debt Crisis

Mistaken Identity

This is what happens when people make sweeping generalizations about a particular faith. The Unitarians were the people MOST likely to help the shooter, who was unemployed and about to lose his food stamps. This church had a long track record of helping feed the homeless. So the shooter went in with a rifle and started shooting people because they were "too liberal."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_us/church_shooting

Police: Man shot churchgoers over liberal views

New nastygram to Vitter

H/T to Greg.

http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/92227/?ses=d2a0a2908623c694d0ccf73c93f8024d

New Legislation Threatens American-Indian Women's Reproductive Health.
An amendment to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act tethers crucial health programs to an anti-abortion agenda.

My nastygram to Vitter:

Thank goodness you're OUR senator, because you wouldn't have a job in any other CIVILIZED country! Citizens of European countries wouldn't put up with this partisan exploitation of health bills designed to help the poorest (and most marginalized) people in the country. How you, someone whose homelife is less-than-exemplary, feels they have the right to judge other people's sex lives, is beyond me. And you certainly should not have a say in ANY funding for women's health programs. Actually you SHOULD be the biggest advocate for women's health programs, since you have derived so much comfort from it.

Not cost effective

http://www.alternet.org/environment/92937/even_the_government%27s_nuclear_agency_thinks_an_atomic_renaissance_is_a_bad_idea/?page=1

Even the Government's Nuclear Agency Thinks an Atomic Renaissance Is a Bad Idea

Run, Karl, run!

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/25/headlines#9

100,000 Sign Petition for Rove Jailing
Meanwhile, an online movement for the imprisonment of former White House deputy Karl Rove is gathering steam. Organizers of SendRovetoJail.com say they’ve collected more than 100,000 signatures backing Rove’s jailing for contempt of Congress. Rove has ignored a Judiciary Committee subpoena for his testimony on the prosecution of former Alabama Democratic Governor Don Siegelman.

This is classic

America has BAD taste

Prior to his election, the man to the left (not part of the left) had been successful at nothing, other than executing people. Then America elected him (?!) leader of the free world.

America kicked Will off So You Think You Can Dance. Will, a protege of Debbie Allen, was clearly the best male dancer on the show. Send my boy, Twitch, back to Montgomery next week, and you be messin' with some trouble!

Bush photo from whitehouse.gov. Will photo from fox.com.

Get your headset out, if you haven't already

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25821899/

Cancer center director warns of cell phone risks
Memo based on early, unpublished data; other studies show no danger

We can't sue the Corpse of Engineers, so...

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/23/headlines#2

FEMA Demands Immunity from Trailer-Contamination Suit
Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is seeking immunity from lawsuits accusing it of exposing Hurricane Katrina victims to toxic fumes in government-issued trailers. Earlier this month, a government study found cheap materials and poor oversight exposed thousands of evacuees to toxic levels of formaldehyde in government-issued trailers following Hurricane Katrina. Researchers found toxic levels at between four to eleven times higher than those in average US homes. At least one death has been linked to toxic exposure in the Katrina evacuee trailers. More than 11,000 health complaints were filed over the trailers, leading government officials to move more than 4,000 families. FEMA says it should be immune from the suits, because it bought the trailers from private contractors. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say FEMA routinely ignored early-stage warnings of the trailers’ toxicity.

Must read

A very important speech by Al Gore. I'm so glad we elected him president!

http://www.alternet.org/story/92260/speech_of_the_week_-_gore%27s_energy_challenge%3A_%27the_future_of_human_civilization_is_at_stake%27/

Speech of the Week - Gore's Energy Challenge: 'The Future of Human Civilization Is at Stake'

We needed this

H/T to Gerry

Legal torture

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/22/headlines#11

Police Taser Death in Louisiana Ruled a Homicide
In Louisiana, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging the District Attorney of Winn Parish to investigate the tasing death of a twenty-one-year-old African American man in the town of Winnfield. Baron Pikes died on January 17 from electrocution after a white police officer shot him nine times with a taser. At the time, Pikes was already in handcuffs. Last month, Pikes’ death was ruled a homicide.

You already know the story, but here's Siegelman 101

http://www.alternet.org/democracy/92158/

Scary Politics in Alabama: How the GOP Framed Gov. Don Siegelman

Once a popular governor of Alabama, Siegelman was framed in a crooked trial and sent to prison by the corrupt Bush administration.

The whole country can be "Jindalized"

My gut feeling is that Jindal is the pick for VP.

http://www.wdsu.com/news/16948626/detail.html

McCain To Meet With Jindal

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/21/1213247.aspx

THE SHORT LIST:Bob Novak reports, citing sources close to the McCain camp, that the Arizona senator may pick his running mate this week while Obama is overseas.

Much needed, and I forgot to post it yesterday

I wish

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/21/headlines#6

Sen. McCain Suggests Obama Might Be a Socialist

Time to get realistic

We cannot sustain this huge population.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25735103/

Record number of babies born last year
More than 4 million births in 2007, but don't call it a baby boom, say experts

Send the bastard to jail

Thank goodness

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/07/last_residents_moved_from_home.html

Last 'residents' moved from homeless encampment at Claiborne Avenue and Canal Street

The Pontchartrain is my favorite hotel

Although we'll never be able to stay in the hotel again (unless I become a rich retiree - something that'll never happen unless that Powerball ticket comes in), we'll be able to go to the Bayou Bar again. I spent every Wednesday night of my first year in New Orleans at the Bayou Bar. They had a fabulous Ladies Night, until September 11th - their wine list was very nice, along with a scrumptious buffet. It was a wonderful way to spend the evening very inexpensively.

I also was able to stay at the Pontchartrain, courtesy of my parents, several times. The last time was on the way to Los Angeles in December, 1981. I stayed at the Pontchartrain by myself for one night and caught the train the next morning. I'll never forget how wonderful the staff was to me and the luxurious touches, like the Neutrogena soap they had in the bathroom. Definitely a bygone era.

http://blog.nola.com/updates/2008/07/the_ponchartrain_hotel_to_retu.html
The Ponchartrain Hotel to return to its roots

Sign me up

Can't embed the video, but check this out. Great solar powered car!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_lSxhTatUU

How to answer questions if you're Dubya's Attorney General

H/T to Left in Alabama.

This is what you're getting if you vote for McCain - more of the same

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/14/headlines#11

McCain Distances Himself from Sen. Phil Gramm
John McCain’s campaign is trying to distance itself from former Senator Phil Gramm, who has been one of McCain’s top economic advisers. Last week, Gramm said the country was filled with “whiners” and that the United States is only in a “mental recession.” Over the weekend, two key McCain advisers said Gramm no longer speaks on behalf of McCain.

This man is supposed to be one of the stewards of the Earth and its people

It looks like he's hell bent on destroying us all before January.

http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/news/ny-wobush155764016jul15,0,1161113.story

Bush lifts executive ban on offshore oil drilling

Are the folks at the New Yorker like 12?!

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/91355/

The Bad Frame: Why Are the New Yorker, Salon and Other Liberal Media Doing the Right's Dirty Work?

This week's New Yorker cover image of the Obamas is shocking in the racism and gross stereotyping that is built into its supposed satire.

Video for a Monday morning - state your peace tonight

I told you it was going to be bad

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/francis/archive/2008/07/13/179268.aspx

Indymac: here come bank failures
There have already been a number of bank failures that have gone unreported by the American media. Washington just moves in to protect depositors, forces a "merger", then quietly moves onto the next one.

Not funny - just a joke

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/11/headlines#9

Admin to Ignore Ruling on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Washington Post is reporting the White House has decided it won’t take any action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions before President Bush leaves office. The Environmental Protection Agency is set to announce today it will continue to seek public comment on whether global warming poses a health risk rather than issue regulations. The decision essentially ignores a Supreme Court ruling ordering the EPA to determine whether greenhouse gases endanger the environment. Last month, it was revealed the White House refused to accept the EPA’s official response to the ruling by simply ignoring the email containing it. The ruling called greenhouse gases pollutants that should be regulated and controlled. EPA officials say the White House informed them the email containing the ruling would not be opened. Earlier this week, a government whistleblower revealed Vice President Dick Cheney’s office blocked discussion on the health threats of global warming by censoring testimony from the US Centers for Disease Control.

Bush: “Goodbye, from the World’s Biggest Polluter”
The news comes as President Bush has been overheard defiantly joking about his environmental record. As he was preparing to leave the G8 summit in Japan Thursday, Bush told fellow world leaders: “Goodbye, from the world’s biggest polluter.” Bush was widely criticized for refusing to accept global emissions targets at his final G8 summit as president.

Run, Karl, Run!

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/91181/

Karl Rove Flees the Country

Bush's Brain flouts subpoena, leaves US without telling Congress.

Before you buy that Toyota

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25607064/

Officials say Japanese man died of overwork
Toyota car engineer regularly worked 80 hours of overtime per month

That's why traffic is so bad!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25618740/

New Orleans is fastest-growing city in U.S.
But population is still about half what it was before Katrina, census reports

Us vs. them - proof positive

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/9/as_global_food_crisis_tops_g8

As Global Food Crisis Tops G8 Summit Agenda, World Leaders Enjoy Lavish 18-Course Banquet

Democrats and Republicans share blame for the mess we're in

Granted, most of this free market free-for-all can be placed squarely on the shoulders of the Republicans, and of course, the bombastic, trickle-down, war-oriented, us vs. them posture of the United States was started by Saint Ronnie Rayguns, but is there a Democrat in this country who has a spine? Obama was voted the most liberal Senator last year (only because Dennis Kucinich is a Congressman) - where did he go?!

Looks like the pilot is a go

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1215667974145860.xml&coll=1

HBO plans TV drama about N.O. musicians
'The Wire' creator to shoot pilot this year for possible cable series

Malik Rahim running for Senate

Malik Rahim, of Common Ground, is a Green Party candidate for the Senate seat that Bill Jefferson now occupies! When I find out where to send contributions, I will post that info.

Cute Prius driven by a redhead

Taking a page out of Dubya's book

It seems that Jindal has taken a page out of Dubya's book by adding an amendment to a bill yesterday in the legislature, which was passed without any review by our legislators, at the last minute. According to WDSU (which has not posted this story yet on its website) this bill makes our state government more transparent, with the exception of the governor's office. This means Jindal can do basically whatever the Hell he wants, and does not have to turn over any documentation or paperwork to anyone who may ask for it. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? By the way, Louisiana ranks 50th in government transparency; Alabama ranks number one.

Does anyone still have those recall papers?

Before self service and Dubya

It's time

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/90666/?ses=12c2b72a5d9e547b08f1e642b89e4661

New Health Care Campaign To Pour $40 Million into Push for Universal Coverage

It's time to replace our fragmented, wasteful health care system with one that provides quality, affordable care for every American.

Why do we all have to be "normal?"

Bravo to George for standing his ground and telling it like it is.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25576239/

Why Clooney says no to marriage and kids

And in more good news

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/7/headlines#8

World Bank: Biofuels Caused Food Prices to Soar 75%
The Guardian newspaper has obtained an unpublished World Bank report that found biofuels have caused world food prices to increase by 75 percent. The World Bank report was finished in April but reportedly not published in order to avoid embarrassing the US government, which has claimed plant-derived fuels have pushed up prices by only three percent. The report found that biofuels has distorted food markets by diverting grain away from food for fuel, encouraging farmers to set aside land for its production, and sparked financial speculation on grains.

Google Ordered to Hand Over YouTube User Info
A federal judge has ordered Google to turn over information about every user who has ever watched a video on YouTube. The ruling came as part of a lawsuit brought by Viacom over the posting of copyrighted material on YouTube. Google is resisting the request, saying it would allow Viacom to “likely be able to determine the viewing and video uploading habits of YouTube’s users.” The Electronic Frontier Foundation called the judgment “a set-back to privacy rights.”

"At this rate, by 2050 the world will be cooked and the G-8 leaders will be long forgotten"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080708/ap_on_re_as/bush_g8

Bush, G-8 leaders make progress on climate change

Can you keep Nay Nay on the farm once he's on ET?

Unfortunately, he only made it onto the TV show, not the website.

http://blog.nola.com/mollyreid/2008/07/essence_opens.html

Tyler Perry gets the city's love at Essence's first empowerment seminar

Your Monday morning Jimmy Page fix

Babies having babies

Amen

http://www.alternet.org/election08/90465/?page=1

Memo to Obama: Moving to the Middle Is for Losers

Just remember when you're going postal, it would be illegal to use that gun at work

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/23124814.html

Jindal signs gun bill

Plan B

http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB3/80by2020.htm

Time for Plan B: Cutting Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2020

This video is appalling

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/2/headlines#8

Unattended NY Psychiatric Patient Dies in Emergency Room
Back in the United States, the treatment of psychiatric patients is coming under new scrutiny following the release of surveillance video showing a mentally ill woman dying in a psychiatric emergency room after being left unattended. The woman, Esmin Green, is shown toppling to her knees before collapsing on her face. A full hour passes before she is attended to by passing hospital employees and found to have died. Kings County Hospital officials have also been accused of altering Green’s medical records to downplay her death. Beth Haroules of the New York Civil Liberties Union criticized the hospital.

Beth Haroules: “We were absolutely appalled to receive medical documentation, kept in accordance with New York state law, that is completely contradicted byvideo surveillance feeds.”

Proof of the last two posts and...

...that the spin from large corporations can make us race, ever more blindly, to our end.

http://blog.nola.com/updates/2008/07/poll_shows_more_favor_conserva.html
Poll shows more favor exploration over conservation

America, land of the free (corporation, that is)

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/1/headlines#10

Report: McCain Tax Cuts to Save Corporations $175 Billion/Year
In campaign news, a new report is estimating Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s proposed tax plan will produce a windfall for corporate America. The Center For American Progress estimates McCain’s plan would save corporations $175 billion per year. The country’s largest 200 corporations alone would save $45 billion.

I was asking this question yesterday after the poll came out that said we're getting happier

http://www.alternet.org/democracy/90161/?page=1

Ignorant America: Just How Stupid Are We?
Millions of Americans are embarrassingly ill-informed and they do not care that they are.

Things you should know about your credit information

Recently, I took advantage of the offer to apply to each of the three credit reporting agencies and receive a free copy of my credit report (by the way, you have to pay extra if you actually want to see what your credit rating is). Since Katrina, I wanted to make sure that all the information was mine and that some flooded document had not ended up in the wrong hands. Fortunately, that was the case, BUT one of the credit reports also listed who had made inquiries into my credit. This is another way we're getting screwed. Supposedly these inquiries don't affect your credit rating, but numerous companies had made inquiries into my credit, without my knowledge or prompting, including BMW, Chase Manhattan, and Spiegel! I guarantee I've not been shopping for a BMW anytime recently (although they're fine automobiles)! So these corporations are accessing your information anytime during the year (in come cases, multiple times) when they want, without your permission.

It gets better - I found out that you can turn this off at: http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html BUT you have to pay each credit reporting company $10.00 so that the corporations cannot access your personal information without your knowledge and then $8.00 each time you want this service turned off temporarily so that you can buy something that you actually want. Doesn't seem right, does it? Another way that the average consumer is getting screwed. So corporations can access your personal info without your knowledge unless you pay to have their access (without your permission) turned off and then you have to pay to access it yourself. Ka-ching!!!!

Next, we can be horse killers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25465974/

Feds consider euthanizing wild horses in West
Population in holding pens jumps in Nevada, elsewhere as adoptions dip

Defining "Mission Accomplished"

Everyone had a good laugh over Dubya standing on the deck of the aircraft carrier some years ago and declaring "Mission Accomplished." People thought he was speaking of the war in Iraq, but actually, he was talking about the complete *ucking of the American people that he was perpetrating. In that effort, he has succeeded.

1) He got revenge for Daddy-O and removed Saddam from power, although we're now we're participating in an endless war which could bankrupt our country. But don't worry, all his cronies, such as defense contractors, are cashing in, big time, while non-profits that help people stand in line for free giveaways of basics, like pens and paper. Ka-ching!

2) And in a by-product of the war in Iraq, he has successfully driven prices of gas into the stratosphere. Needless to say, all other products go up because they have to be transported to their destination. It hurts you and me, but Bush's cronies never even notice, as evidenced by the number 2 selling Lexus SUV still selling like hotcakes. So there's more pie for Bush's cronies and less for you and me. Ka-ching!

3) I left the best part for last! People are so busy running on the treadmill to keep working and making money so that they can pay their house payment and feed their families that they don't even notice that Dubya's totally dismantled their civil liberties. Now we can legally be *ucked (see Don Siegelman) and there's no Justice Department!

Mission Accomplished!

But no moratorium on drilling, of course

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/6/30/headlines#2

Moratorium Placed On New Solar Energy Projects on Fed Land
Solar energy companies have been dealt a major setback. The New York Times reports the Bush administration has placed a nearly two-year moratorium on the construction of new solar energy projects on public land. The Bureau of Land Management says it needs until the spring of 2010 to study the environmental impact the solar projects will have on land in Arizona, Nevada, California and other western states. Critics of the moratorium say it could paralyze the solar energy industry. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said: “This] is the wrong signal to send to solar power developers, and to Nevadans and Westerners who need and want clean, affordable sun-powered electricity soon.” Some environmental groups have praised the government for assessing the implications of large-scale solar development. Meanwhile the amount of oil drilling and gas drilling on public land has reached a new high. The Wilderness Society recently reported that more than 44 million acres of public lands are leased for oil and gas development. Last year the Bush administration approved over 7100 drilling permits, a new record.