Woodward: Bush concealing level of Iraq violence

Bob Woodward's new book is being widely reported on today. The Washington Post's headline ( Woodward: Bush concealing level of Iraq violence ) talkes about the level of violence in Iraq being concealed by the administration. It's hard to imagine that it can be worse there than I imagine. But the part I found truly staggering is that yet another old Nixon insider, everyone's favorite Nobel Peace Price winner, Trilateral Commission member and War Criminal (a fact, look it up), Henry Kissinger is being consulted regularly. Here's a quote:

Woodward said Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney often met with Henry Kissinger as an adviser. Kissinger was President Richard Nixon's national security adviser and then secretary of state during the Vietnam War.

These people have a disregard for human life (at leat non-American human life) that I still find shocking. All of it supported onnly by obviously failing idealogies. I'm reminded on Mao, who seems to be an embarassment even to China these days. Maybe Iraq isn't even the New Vietnam. Maybe it's just the same old Vietnam all over again.

You can’t have fries with that…

How stupid is this? NYC wants to ban partially hydrogenated oils and trans-fats in restaurant food. Not add a warning label, ban it. But it’s perfectly ok to buy alcohol and cigarettes. Maybe if you eat huge quantities of this stuff like a lab rat then maybe it’s bad for you, but having the government ban it is ridiculous. The motive is to improve people’s health. If you’re eating at McD’s and other fast food places regularly, then not having trans-fats isn’t going to dramatically improve your health. And it’s only for NYC. You could go to McD’s in Westchester and get all the trans-fats you want. Make mine a super-size.

World Play Day

Go play with your kids on Saturday. It's Worldwide Play Day!!!!!

Quandary for the PC crowd

The Berlin opera was considering a performance that included a scene with severed heads of Poseidon, Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad. But, considering the expected reaction by Muslims, the opera decided against the show. I think they’re wrong for making the decision they did, but the art crowd have really got their panties in a bunch. Always being the ones who believe in freedom of expression (as long as you agree with them that elephant dung on a painting of Mary is art for example), they’re really beside themselves now that one of their own is suffering the pain of political correctness. Maybe now they’ll start to realize that tolerating intolerance isn’t the way to go.

Sick but Insured? Think Again

Something everyone should read. You may think you and your family are insured because you pay premiums every month to an insurance company. I had a personal experience with this last year. It is somewhat complicated and also personal, and I'm still not sure exactly what happened here. But our long-time insurer suddenly dropped us, and (here's the interesting part) refunded our premiums retroactively.

So all this time I only thought I had health insurance, when I was really making a no-interest loan to a big insurance company. The core issue involves a crooked medical entity who was overcharging my insurance company and making certain false statements. Even though we were in no way involved, and there were other ways to remedy the situation, the insurance company dropped us. We fought it, and even considered getting a lawyer, but getting new insurance seemed cheaper and easier, at least in the short run (although now we have a blot on our insurance record and our premiums went up 2x).

I thought we just had some bad luck, and moved on. But I see 1,500 people a month in California alone have similar experiences. Here is a LA Times article that you ought to give a look, at least if you really think you have health insurance. It may in fact by largely mythical.

Sick but Insured? Think Again

Paul Krugman had a similar piece in the NYT on Sept 22, 2006, but it is not avialable for free.

Chávez boosts Chomsky sales

I found the whole Chomsky / Chavez thing a hoot. Chávez boosts Chomsky sales Chomsky's 3 year-old book at least briefly shot from number 20,000 to #1 on Amazon.com beating out heavyweights like John Grisham. And all because of a plug from Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

U2, Green Day are coming to the Superdome

Funny, I just ran across this. Almost makes it worth attending a Saints game. I hear tickets are going for over $200 on the street: U2, Green Day are coming to the Superdome.

Broken China

I've always like James Grant's skeptical take on business and the economy. But his article Broken China spells out what is really going on in China today. I had occasion to do some business there recently, and I was surprised to find out that corruption and outright theft is endemic. The general rule seems to be that 10% of a deal should go to bribe the appropriate officials. I've also heard the Chinese banking system is a mess, but I did not realize how so. Their numbers would make a 1980s S&L president blush. Now I know where they are getting the 'money' they are loaning the US. Be careful when this one unwinds.

Gasoline, oil prices continue to tumble

Oil prices, and gasoilne in particular, are described as being 'in free fall' ( Gasoline, oil prices continue to tumble ). All this just after widespread predictions of $100 a barrel crude. And this is with winter approaching and the situation in the Mideast no better than it was a few weeks ago. There are rumblings about this being politically motivated, with the election season heating up. I was wondering about the ties between the Republican party and the enegry business, and heard that 85% of their donations go to Republicans. I couldn't document this, but ran into this interesting list doing a Google (circa 2001):

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1336960.stm :
Biggest industry donators to Bush campaign
Enron $1.8m
Exxon $1.2m
Koch Industries $970,000
Southern $900,000
BP Amoco $800,000
El Paso Energy $787,000
Chevron Oil Corp $780,000
Reliant Energy $642,000
Texas Utilities $635,000

I had to look up Koch Industries. Yep, another energy company, but they also 'serve consumers’ needs for beef, fuels, fertilizer and plastics'.

Katrina Recovery - Interesting Press Releases

I was looking up the date for Mardi Gras next year (Feb 20th, BTW) and found these interesting press releases from the NOLA Tourism Marketing Folks that relay some interesting information ( albeit the "official" and possibly biased (?) city's version) of Katrina recovery. Since these guys are trying to use the stats to entice increased tourism, my gut is that the numbers are probably fairly accurate - nothing would stop tourism quicker than if the information was bogus. I haven't read them yet but will shortly; however, I know the sharp minds comprising this fine Institute will certainly glean tidbits of interest and comment accordingly.

Thurston

Penis transplant and subsequent lunacy

Dude gets a new rod, then has it removed. Read it and cringe.

Country music star cited for marijuana in Louisiana

Sorry for all ths posts today, but lots of amusing stuff in the news. Here's another one with a Louisiana connection:

Country music star cited for marijuana in Louisiana

Who would have figured they would find pot on Willie Nelson's tour bus? On a related note, 2005 was a record year for pot busts, with over 42% of the drug busts for marijuana: 2005: Record High Marijuana Arrests This carries a total enforcement cost of over $10 billion per year.

Military Aerial Support

Some weenies in this area are complaining about a flyover of Marine F-18 jets at a local college football game. And I got to wondering: how does one go about getting such a flyover? Suppose I want one for, say, my kid's birthday?

Turns out all you need is form DD2535, Request for Military Aerial Support. Just be careful not to check the 'airstrike requested' box.

Shiver Me Timbers!

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day again. But I'm sure you mateys knew that ....

Airport Security

A music fan who missed her filght to get to the Austin SXSW music festival somehow got past security, got on a plane and hid in the bathroom. This would be a funny story, except she easily got past several levels of airport security, supposedly on an impulse and without a plan.

SXSW Stowaway Sentenced

Time to Move the Mississippi, Experts Say

Time to Move the Mississippi, Experts Say

Pope says he 'deeply sorry' for Muslim outrage

Pope says he 'deeply sorry' for Muslim outrage. Who could have imagined any controversy occurring from quoting this medieval text on the holy wars:

Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached," Pope Benedict quoted.

I hope the pontiff doesn't take up drawing cartoons.

On a related note: Keith Ellison may be first Muslim in U.S. Congress

He can't dance either

Tucker Carlson - right-wing talk show hack - shows that the Right Wing has 2 Left Feet. He completely sucked on Dancing with the Stars - a show I can't endorse highly enough. The professional women ballroom dancers move in ways that make a man weak in the knees.

Journalism 101, Who needs it?

Here is a news story about a crazy gunman in Canada which would be unremarkable except for the way it is written. Two paragraphs in particular caught my attention. The first:

“Delorme said some officers were at the school on an unrelated matter when the shooting erupted. He said reinforcements rushed to the scene and took part in the shooting.”

That makes it sound like it was a shooting party for the cops. Imagine the radio call “Get here quick and get a shot in before we kill him.”

The next paragraph explains how he dies:
“Eventually, Barone said, the gunman went down in a hail of gunfire.”
Did he really say that? Maybe he did, but earlier in the story there’s a bit about a website created by the gunman and he describes how he wants to die “… in a hail of gunfire.” Coincidence, I don’t think so. Also strange is the fact that the statement attributed to Barone isn’t in quotes, so we’re led to believe it’s paraphrased. Or maybe the writer isn’t aware of this journalistic practice.

Just wondering who’s teaching and graduating from journalism school these days.

The Rude Pundit Attends 9/11 Ceremony in NYC

I found this to be (so far) the best thing I've read or heard about the 9/11 anniversary. It is honest and even occasionally funny: Reporting From Ground Zero on the Fifth Anniversary of the Last Good Day

Earl Long Quote

I read a great quote from Earl Long last night:

Some day Louisiana is going to get good government. And they ain't gonna like it.

Michael Moore Does Healthcare

This ought to be interesting. I think it is safe to say that the US healthcare system is sick. Thurston, your comments?

Healthcare Reform and Big Business

It was mentioned to me last week that one thing that could save US businesses like GM and Ford is health care reform. Imagine if there was some national healthcare plan similar to those in Europe or Canada. US workers would suddenly become more competitive, corporate profits would soar and companies like Ford and GM could rebuild. Why aren't these companies pushing to reduce these costs? Are these corporate leaders concerned with the long term and at the impact on the rest of the country? (Ha! Just kidding!). Really: why doesn't big business in the US lobby to reduce one of their largest and out of control costs? Is it just that they are too uncomfortable agreeing with union leaders, Hillary Clinton and Europeans? Help me out here my business / medical brethren.

New New Orleans Sport

Vince Marinello arrested for killing his wife. Remember him guys? He was the Buddy D substitute.

Popular Mechanics Debunks the 9/11 Conspiracy

The site also includes handy plans to build your own smoker - very useful with fall approaching.

Anonymous Lawyer

This pretty much is standard for big law firm attitudes:

Monday, September 04, 2006
I'm pretty broken up about the death of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. I was planning on calling him to help us make the Snakes at the Firm event a reality. In all seriousness, I think his death will rightfully make our associates even more appreciative of the lifestyle we allow them at the firm. There are no wild animals here. There is almost no danger of death from animal bite, sting, or venomous attack. Even if a partner bites you, it's almost certain not to kill you, and the probability is higher than not that he won't even infect you with anything. We did have that scandal when the partner with hepatitis started biting his underlings, but there were almost no casualties and the press really blew that out of proportion. I wasn't terribly thrilled with a lot of what the Crocodile Hunter stood for in life. By making crocodiles and alligators and other wild animals seem less dangerous, he made law firm partners, and the law firm lifestyle, seem more dangerous in comparison. There are only a few careers we can confidently say we compare favorably to, in terms of lifestyle: (1) amusement park beta ride testers, pre-seatbelt stage, (2) assistant to a literary agent, (3) live-in housekeeper, (4) crash test dummy, and (5) person who sticks his hand into the mouths of wild animals. Steve Irwin made that last of those seem safer than we'd like it to seem, and made us seem worse by comparison. I'm sad to hear about his accident, but I do hope it teaches people that we're not such a bad alternative. It wouldn't hurt to have aspiring crocodile tamers come work at the firm anyway. Associates and paralegals need to be treated like wild animals sometimes, tamed, beaten down, stripped of their natural instincts to fight back against oppression, to sleep, to eat, to fight. They need to learn to obey, and they need to learn to listen to their masters. The summer associate program is all about conditioning them, and priming them to listen to us when they return in the fall, to strip them of their defenses, to make them let down their guard, and be open to influence. To turn them into clay we can mold in the image of our founders. To help them become adults. Responsible, legitimate, boring, overworked, exhausted adults. With health care, 401K plans, and no time for their kids. Just like their parents. I did a survey of our associates a few months ago and many of them come from broken homes. It makes sense. They look to me and my colleagues for the conditional love that they're used to. Maybe if they behave, Mommy and Daddy won't fight anymore. Maybe if they do what they're told, no one will yell at them. But they soon learn it doesn't matter. Mommy and Daddy are always going to fight, and there will never be peace. Yet they still hold on to that hope. It's how a firm like this one survives. Associates clinging to the hope that if they work hard enough, long enough, well enough, things will get better. They won't. One day they will get bitten. They will all get bitten. The strong will survive, but they will be different, weakened, lacking in spirit. Just the way we like it. I may not be the crocodile hunter, but I'm the law student hunter, me and all of my colleagues. We find them, we tame them, and then we exploit them for commercial gain. I ate crocodile once. It tasted like clients.
# posted by Anonymous @ 3:05 PM

What's next? Blinky the 3-eyed fish?

Nothing weird about she-male fish, right?

The Iranian Huey Long

I enjoy Fareed Zakaria's articles and TV show. His recent article on Iran was a breath of level-headed fresh air. But best of all he calls Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "the Iranian Huey Long". But Huey Long wasn't trying to build nukes. Of course, that was the 1930s. Things might have been different if Huey had lived longer ...

U.S. moves to debunk 'alternative theories' on Sept. 11 attacks

Perhaps this is 'blowback' from the cranking up of the fear / paranoia level in the US by the government and the media. I find it is interesting that:

A nationwide poll taken earlier this summer by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University found that more than a third of those surveyed said the federal government either took part in the attacks or allowed them to happen. And 16 percent said the destruction of the trade center was aided by explosives hidden in the buildings.

This is from the International Herald Tribune article: U.S. moves to debunk 'alternative theories' on Sept. 11 attacks The official rebuttal is from the State Department "Counter-Misinformation Team". I wonder if there is a Conter-Counter-Misinformation Team?