Can I get a “Well…duh!”? Chicago Tribune | Former CIA official says Bush misled country to war WASHINGTON — The former CIA official charged with managing the U.S. government’s secret intelligence assessments on Iraq says the Bush administration chose war first and then misleadingly used raw data to assemble a public case for its decision to invade. Paul Pillar, who was the CIA’s national intelligence officer for the Middle East and South Asia from 2000 to 2005, said the Bush administration also played on the nation’s fears in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks, falsely linking Al Qaeda to…
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Oops! – Bush Unaware Mikes Were Still On – Yahoo! News When reporters left, Bush spoke about the National Security Agency program that he authorized four years ago and which has drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike. However, the microphones stayed on for a few minutes. That allowed journalists back at the White House to eavesdrop on Bush’s defense of the eavesdropping. His private statements were basically no different from what he’s said in public. “I want to share some thoughts with you before I answer your questions,” Bush began. “First of all, I expect this conversation we’re about…
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I’ve been tagging del.icio.us links with this phrase today: RhetoricOfFailure. In fact, I bundled it together with a lot of other terms, like “CorruptRepublicans” and “SmirkingBastards” and “anti-truth.” Because every time I read a news item about something that didn’t go so well lately for the current Administration, I tag it and add it to the growing linkslist of failures. . I’ll be adding a new tag to the bundle: “Disengaged.” I just ran across this article from Boing Boing, and began sobbing helplessly at the needless loss of life and property because a bunch of elected and appointed officials…
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It’s Alive! It’s Alive! It’s… not quite dead, but it’s feeling better. Call your Congressdrone: Error may snag $39 billion spending-cut bill – Yahoo! News WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A typographical error in a $39 billion U.S. domestic spending-cut bill signed into law by President George W. Bush on Wednesday could mean another vote on the measure that passed only after Vice President Dick Cheney intervened with a tie-breaking vote. The law, which sparked fury among Democrats and strong opposition from some Republicans in an election year, cuts funds for health care, student loan and other programs. This time, MAYBE, we…
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Salt Lake Tribune – Salt Lake Tribune Home Page Women’s ‘pill bill’ dies again Contraception: Planned Parenthood director tells lawmakers to provide ‘health care that eliminates the need for abortion’ Insurance and business leaders gave the all-male (emphasis Blogula Rasa’s) Senate Health and Human Services Committee the reasons they were looking for to kill the so-called “pill bill” for the eighth year in a row Wednesday – complaints about unfunded mandates, health care costs and meddling in the marketplace. Sen. Scott McCoy, a Salt Lake City Democrat, argued SB42 would simply put in law what most Utah insurance companies already…
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Salt Lake Tribune – Salt Lake Tribune: Evolution bill survives by a vote A proposal targeting evolution survived its toughest challenge Wednesday when it eked out of a House committee by one vote. SB96, which requires teachers to say the state doesn’t endorse any theory involving the “origins of species,” needs only the support of the full House to pass the Legislature after gaining approval by the House Education Committee 7-6. The bill is the brainchild of Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, who is disgusted that some educators teach that humans have a common ancestor with chimpanzees. Please don’t make…
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Indonesia’s mountains unveil a ‘Lost World’ | IndyStar.com Oh, man! I love me some golden-mantled tree kangaroos! I want one for Christmas! JAKARTA, Indonesia — Soon after scientists landed by helicopter in the mist-shrouded mountains of a remote Indonesian province, they stumbled on a primitive egg-laying mammal that allowed itself to be picked up and brought to their field camp. Among the things discovered by scientists in Indonesia’s remote Foja mountain range: Long-beaked Echidna: The largest species of the egg-laying group of primitive mammals called the Monotremes, seen three times during the monthlong expedition. The enigmatic creature has never reproduced…
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The Grammys are tomorrow night – probably won’t watch. But we’re pulling for some people: Category 69 – Best Hawaiian Music Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) * Slack Key Dreams Of The Ponomoe Kapono Beamer [Kapono Beamer Enterprises, Ltd] * Sweet & Lovely Raiatea Helm [Raiatea Helm Records] * Kiho’alu – Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Ledward Ka’apana * Slack Key Guitar: The Artistry Of Sonny Lim Sonny Lim [Palm Records] * Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar – Vol. 1 WINNER! Various Artists Daniel Ho, Paul Konwiser & Wayne Wong, producers [Daniel Ho Creations] Okay, this is getting pretty obscure: FIELD…
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A couple of years ago, right after we got the TiVo, I was in the habit of watching Adult Swim cartoons. One of them was this stylish, eye-catching Japanese anime import called Cowboy Bebop. I’ve always been interested in anime, but found most of the few imports I ran across to be too coldly Mr. Roboto-Gundam-Warrior for my taste. And no, never could get the whole idea of why winsome girl “heroines” all have to be dressed like pervo dreamgirlz. But Bebop was different. It had incredible music, eye-popping visuals, evocative direction and editing, and fascinating characters. It sucked you…
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As the publication date of Gus Openshaw’s Whale-Killing Journal gets nearer, I’m looking forward to receiving my copy. In a weird sort of way, I was involved in the development of this book from a wacky serial published in a blog to an actual hardback with paper and everything. You might say I was vicariously picaresque at the time the whale-killing journal was being posted. Of course, Mrs. Blubridge was really the instigator, I was just along for the ride. Don’t tell her this, but between you and me, she’s pretty… wacky, but she means well. Currently, Gus is a…