thepetecom.blogspot.com: August 2006

Thursday, August 31, 2006

THE 5 MINUTE SHOW EPISODE 33!

Hey, sorry this is so late. This is the August 21 episode and it's late for a reason--all of us on the show have been busy! However, that's what this episode is all about--us being busy! Watch and find out what we've been up to and see why this episode is so late. ENJOY!

t5ms20060821.mp4

This week's ep is only 16.4 MB!! Go fig...

Orignal From: THE 5 MINUTE SHOW EPISODE 33!

DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

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Positive Experience/Entertaining? It's KUBRICK, OF COURSE it was entertaining!!
Technically any good? I've seen this film close to a dozen times and I have never found anything to stick out as something I would have done differently. I think there's one scene where I didn't get a real sense of where Sterling Hayden was in relation to attacking soldiers. This film is about as perfect as they come folks and if you like to laugh at the absurdity of war and the military this is the movie for you.
How did it leave me feeling? More jarred than usual. This was the first time I'd seen this movie since the US invaded Iraq in 2003. I found this movie disturbingly topical. The thing is, instead of Sterling Hayden being a colonel in charge of a base in the movie, in the real world he's in the White House... shudder...
Final Rating? GSN - Go See (or Rent) Now!! This movie will entertain you--I GUARANTEE IT!! Click the poster image above to buy the double DVD set from Amazon!

Orignal From: DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

THE 5 MINUTE SHOW EPISODE 33!

t5ms20060821.mp4

This week's ep is only 16.4 MB!! Go fig...

Orignal From: THE 5 MINUTE SHOW EPISODE 33!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

RUMSFELD: TERRORISTS ARE FASCISTS

Wow, I've got to thank Rummy for clearing up this confusion. In a recent addressy-type thing, Rumsfeld explained that we're facing a new type of fascism. Here are some clips from [http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=139806|an August 29, 2006 article] at TurkishPress.Com that reports on what the USSoD said:

SALT LAKE CITY - The United States is fighting "a new type of facism," US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told a veterans' group here Tuesday. "We face similar challenges in efforts to confront the rising of a new type of fascism," he said. "And that is important in this 'long war' where any kind of moral and intellectual confusion about who and what is right or wrong can weaken the ability of free societies to persevere," he said, taking aim at detractors of the US "war on terror".

Do you believe that?? First, he describes a "new type of fascism" where, I'm guessing, a few thousand extremists with little-to-no budget (compared to ours) some how force their will upon the rest of the world. Hm... sounds like someone we already know--only those guys have the biggest budget on planet Earth. That's what strikes me as so funny--Rumsfeld, Bush, Cheney and the others keep going on and on about this threat--now they're using the word "fascism" as if it hasn't already been defined as something that really only [http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=fascism|a country's government can practice]. Terrorist organizations cannot practice fascism because they simply don't have the means. But Rummy sez this is a "new type of fascism." Right, uh-huh... Second, he warns us that "any kind of moral and intellectual confusion about who and what is right or wrong can weaken the ability of free societies to persevere." YA GOT THAT RIGHT, FUCK FACE. What is morally and intellectually right is that we DON'T dress prisoners up in women's underwear, attach electrodes to their genitals or find them dead in their cells. What's morally and intellectually right is to avoid BLATANT, BIG BROTHERY, DOUBLESPEAK that obviously endorses a practice while simultaneously inferring disapproval of a practice. That's like when Bush, Rice, Rumsfeld and friends say that we are not torturing people when we have and probable still are. That's like when Bush, Rice, Rumsfeld and friends assure us that the Geneva Conventions are being adhered to even when they are being completely ignored. They think they can get around accusations of lying by simply letting other countries handle the torturing while they watch, or that the Geneva Conventions only refer to enemy military (men in uniform who are part of a hierarchy) and civilians and NOT to so-called "enemy combatants." Did the phrase "enemy combatants" even exist before 911? These people running our country are blathering on about how we are all facing a grave threat--[http://www.newshounds.us/2006/08/24/republican_guest_suggests_implementing_universal_service_to_put_us_on_a_war_footing.php|one former USSoD has even suggested] that the USG implement a "universal service" system that forces all American citizens to help in the War Against Terror. Here's exactly what former US Sec. of Defense under Bill Clinton, William Cohen, said during a recent appearance on Fox & Friends:

"I'm not sure there'll be a draft. I think there should be a commitment to universal service. I think that only a few people are really committed to this war against terrorism and called. I think the American people have to be - understand - that we're all in this together. We ought to have a real call to national service to commit ourselves to some form of public service ...."

So, now, Rummy's telling us about this "new type of fascism." That's funny, because there's an old type of fascism that is sweeping America and he's one of the people holding the broom. That broom will sweep away all of our rights and replace them with duties to God and country! And under no circumstances are we to question either! Rumsfeld warned us that "any kind of moral and intellectual confusion about who and what is right or wrong" is dangerous and can weaken us--but who defines who and what are right and wrong in America? Is it the individual, the community or the government? Seems like Rumsfeld wants it to be the Bush Administration. Another thing that Rumsfeld makes clear in that quote: Don't think for yourself--just trust us. Yeah, because trusting you guys has worked out really well, so far.

Orignal From: RUMSFELD: TERRORISTS ARE FASCISTS

Israel's Invasion of Lebanon an Environmental Crime, Too.

So, Israel invades Lebanon because Lebanon nabbed a couple of Israeli soldiers in the hopes of a prisoner swap. Think the worst of it is 1000 Lebanese dead and 100 Israeli dead? Nope. The worst of it is one-half those dead people and one-half the worst environmental disaster the area has ever seen. Yup, in an Israeli attack on a power station, an oil pipeline was ruptured spewing 10-15 thousand tons of heavy oil into the Mediterranean Sea. I've been to the Mediterranean--I've seen it up close and personal. It's gorgeous. Or at least, it was. Now check out this screengrab I snagged from [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0828-01.htm|an August 28, 2006 article] found originally at SFGate.com but now available at CommonDreams.Org:

That caption came with the original pic on CommonDreams.Org. Now, I haven't had the time to check out the mainstream news, so I've no idea if they're covering this story but if I were a betting man, I'd wager that they haven't bothered to spend a minute on this story.

Orignal From: Israel's Invasion of Lebanon an Environmental Crime, Too.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

BABEL (2006)

Positive Experience/Entertaining? It looks great. Like a Syriana.
Technically any good? The movie follows three stories in three different parts of the world and the title suggests that the stories parallel, in some way, the story of the tower of Babel. That's where mankind was one giant civilization that got punished by God for thinking they could reach heaven without God's help, via this tower, so he smashed the tower and split everyone up to different corners of the world and made it so they couldn't understand each other. The trailer makes the film look tightly edited, well acted and very intense.
How did it leave me feeling? Excited to see it. I love smart movies that deal with culture and politics in a realistic manner. Hopefully, people won't be too scared of that subject matter and will actually see the film.
Final Rating? SOON - See On Opening Night BABEL Opens in limited release in the US on October 27, 2006 and you check out the trailer for yourself [http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount_vantage/babel/|here].

Orignal From: BABEL (2006)

SCIENCE OF SLEEP (2006)

Positive Experience/Entertaining? From the same director as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (which I didn't care for), this film looks like it captures the same kind of magic and fun that Eternal had, so I'm looking forward to this film.
Technically any good? Acting-wise, it looks well done. The trailer shows off some good actors but how they are directed I couldn't tell. FX-wise, the movie looks incredible. A mix between stop-motion and CG with incredible sets and costumes for the dream sequences. While it's not my cup of tea subject-matter-wise, I do hope I can get myself to the theater to see this film--it looks like something you shouldn't miss on the big screen.
How did it leave me feeling? Fascinated and somewhat interested in seeing the movie. Again, not my cup of tea, but it looks like a lot of thought-provoking fun.
Final Rating? RTV - just being honest. If there's nothing else out that I want to see on the big screen, I'll probably check this movie out, but, I know myself. Odds are, this kind of movie will fall behind the Babels and The Last King of Scotlands. THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP opens September 22, 2006, is directed by Michel Gondry and stars Gael García Bernal. You can check the trailer out [http://www.apple.com/trailers/warner_independent_pictures/thescienceofsleep/hd/|here].

Orignal From: SCIENCE OF SLEEP (2006)

BABEL (2006)

Orignal From: BABEL (2006)

LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (2006)

Positive Experience/Entertaining? Wow, does this movie look good. I always get so excited when I see a trailer for a movie that deals with politics, culture AND historical events!! It's a smart movie-goer's paradise film!!
Technically any good? Based on the life of Idi Amin's personal physician, it follows the doctor's introduction to Amin and his eventual genocidal acts in Uganda. The film is shot in digital (I think) so it looks very grainy and "real". Like a documentary film. Now it co-stars Gillian Anderson (Scully from The X-Files) and she's really good. I am mad for the acting skillz of Forest Whitaker who I believe is incredible in just about everything I've ever seen him in--he plays Amin. SWEET.
How did it leave me feeling? Giddy like a schoolboy. I can't wait another 24 days to see this film!! SMART MOVIES! WAHOO!!! THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND opens on September 27, 2006 and you can check out the trailer for yourself [http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/thelastkingofscotland/hd/|here].

Orignal From: LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (2006)

DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

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Orignal From: DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

LOLITA (1962)

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Positive Experience/Entertaining? Are you kidding? It's KUBRICK! Of COURSE it was entertaining!
Technically any good? As with Dr. Strangelove, this is one of those rare films I have seen many times but still never get bored of it. Nor can I find much (if anything) I'd have done differently. Acting is spot-on and Shelley Winters is remarkably good at making us feel bad for her while simultaneously hating her. And of course, any heterosexual male who doesn't want to have sex with Sue Lyon isn't being honest with himself.
How did it leave me feeling? Depressed, but very entertained, as usual. This film is a great mirror to just about any time period where humans are involved because it's all about men being weasels and being moral and "proper" until it comes to their own behavior. If you like laughing at what's wrong with our society, this is a movie for you.
Final Rating? SIYL - See If You Like--this is not a movie for the faint of heart. While not as sexually graphic as the remake (directed poorly by Adrian Lynne) it's still got some pretty heavy and morally questionable material. It's a dark comedy for thinking adults.

Orignal From: LOLITA (1962)

BABEL (2006)

Orignal From: BABEL (2006)

DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

[asin: B0002XNSY0]

Orignal From: DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

ROADHOUSE (1989)

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Positive Experience/Entertaining? Uhhhh, SURE! There was actual nudity in this movie! Can you believe it? To be honest, I'm not sure why this movie has any kind of cult following at all. It's cheesie and very 80s, but it sorta meanders.
Technically any good? Well, you don't look to movies like this for good acting. However, there were one or two things Swayze did, acting-wise, that I thought were actually kind of cool. The script does meander and you're never quite sure where the climax is going to show up until it does.
How did it leave me feeling? Generally happy--I was very happy to see the nudity of both genders in the film. Sexuality is something today's filmmakers are just too scared to show us for some reason. Killing left and right is fine, but naked boobies and man-asses are just too contravercial for even adults to see... I mean, I guess...
Final Rating? OAAF - On At A Friend's--believe me, like Snakes on a Plane this is the kind of movie you want to see with rowdy, very vocal friends. On a side note, TheWife and I watched this with Michael Nelson's commentary which you can download from Rifftrax.com for just $1.99!! It's like Mystery Science Theater 3000 without the 'bots and the host segments. Check it out!!

Orignal From: ROADHOUSE (1989)

ILLUSIONIST (2006)

Positive Experience/Entertaining? Definitely! It's rare to see a movie this smart and entertaining without it coming across a bit on the preachy side.
Technically any good? I had a few issues with how they established Eisenheim as a magician (whether he was really magic or really an illusionist) and I felt that there was a general aloofness to the direction, but generally speaking I enjoyed this movie. The acting was solid, but I just didn't feel for the characters at all. I don't blame the actors for this since I felt it was more that the film just didn't show us what we needed to see to feel something for the characters. That said, I give the film points for taking us to a place and time we're not familiar with and showing us things that are very interesting.
How did it leave me feeling? Entertained, but not thrilled. If I hadn't spent $25.50 on 2 tickets I might have enjoyed the film more, but I don't think the price had anything to do with my technical issues regarding the film. Oh and Paul Giamatti was astounding as always. I had no flashbacks to Lady in the Water or Paycheck or even any of Giamatti's good films. ;)
Final Rating? RTV - Rent the Video--it's good, but not worth a $10 ticket, in my humble opinion.

Orignal From: ILLUSIONIST (2006)

WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? (2006)

Positive Experience/Entertaining? Definitely a positive experience because I learned a few things. Alas, it was far from a perfect documentary.
Technically any good? Informative, but a bit slow. I think 20-30 minutes could have been cut and the film wouldn't have made much less of its point. As it is, there are a few good places to get up to go to the bathroom, unfortunately. The film does manage to be very enlightening and does point out some very important things about electric cars and the people who would see them erased from existence.
How did it leave me feeling? Definitely better informed and definitely that there was a concerted effort by various parties to shoot down the very concept of the electric car. One thing the movie didn't mention as a suspect in the murder of the electric car was the [wiki: petrodollar]. If you don't know what that is, look it up!
Final Rating? GSN - Go See Now--even though it's a bit slow and too long, it's one of the most important documentaries and we should all be aware of how various forces are manipulating what is available to us.

Orignal From: WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? (2006)

Saturday, August 26, 2006

FED HEAD TALKS GLOBALISM, BUT WHAT'S THAT?

I'm a busy guy--as I'm sure we all are these days. Multi-tasking is the way of things for most of us. As a result, we don't have time to take the time to learn about the eco-political movements that control the world we live in. [wiki: Globalism] is a movement that, in my mind, is what is making the world go right now. In [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/26/business/worldbusiness/26fed.html?ref=business|an August 26, 2006 article] NYTimes.com reports that the guy who runs the Federal Reserve, Ben S. Bernanke, gave a little talk about how Globalism is taking hold much faster than it has in decades and even centuries past. That's right, Globalism has been around for centuries--even millennia. However, it hasn't always been called that. The basic gist of Globalism is this: One Giant Free Market. It's sort of the ultimate capitalist model. You take your ideas from one part of the planet, your raw materials from another, you manufacture in another part and output your product to yet another part. The money, also comes from another part of the Earth. These various parts are largely determined on the basis of cost. Who ever can provide for the cheapest gets the gig. The problem is, that with so much expansion, many people in many industries will get lost in the shuffle. For instance, when all the factory jobs went over seas, millions lost their jobs in America. So, as the economies of the world slowly bleed together there will be things some areas will do cheaper than others. Think of it like one corporation merging with another. There are going to be redundant workers that get let go. The thing is with Globalism is that these aren't just a few workers, but entire chunks of a given economy. Rich, white men in power seem to take the angle that Globalism is good--in order to make and omlette you need to break some eggs, right? But what if I don't want to eat an omlette? What if I don't want to eat eggs at all because the guy who sells eggs is a prick? What if I just want to eat a hamburger or something else? Sorry, you don't have a voice in this. The power to control Globalism rests, these days, in the hands of three international bodies that have no allegiences to particular countries. They are: 1) The World Bank 2) The International Monetary Fund 3) The World Trade Organization The reason these guys are more powerful than any country's government is so simple. It's because they do deals with countries in exchange for help. A country like the US benefits from dealing with them because they will secure billions of dollars in investment from 3rd world countries. 3rd world countries "benefit" because they get huge loans from the IMF to help build infrastructure. Examples: Bolivia needed it's economy bailed out. It was going bankrupt and the IMF said "No worries, here's the deal! You privatize all of your resources, let foreign corporations come in and manage them and we'll bail your economy out." So, that's what happened. Foreign companies came in and managed everything--including the water. They lobbied the local government to change the laws that made it illegal to gather rain water. This way, the new company managing the water resources could be assured a future. This is just one example. Essentially, Globalism extorts countries into playing the game. Think of the triad mentioned above as parents who loan their kids money but with strings attached. Basically, this isn't a very free system. Sure, there's PR BS from Globalists that will tell you otherwise. But when you have no choice but to participate, I fail to see where the freedom is. Man, I could go on about this for a while. But I've don't have the time. :) If you do, have a look around. It'll only take a few minutes to get at least a bit more information than I have presented here. It's only the planet you live on and it's only the life you are being forced to lead--even if you want to lead this life--it's not like you have much choice.

Orignal From: FED HEAD TALKS GLOBALISM, BUT WHAT'S THAT?

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

BUSH NOT A COMPLETE MORON AFTER ALL

So, I'm glancing at the headlines today and I spot a headline at Bloomberg.com. It read: [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a4.Paky6Hjss&refer=us|Bush Says Gulf Coast Still Needs Help After Katrina] You know, I take it all back. Bush ISN'T a moron after all. I was such a fool! Clearly, our [http://thepete.com/bush-scared-by-cloud/|fearless leader] has eyes and can use them. He took one look at the area of Louisianna ravaged by Katrina a year ago and made the supremely insightfull observation that Katrina victims still need help. WOW! Which hour (of the four) of Spike Lee's new docu did it take to persuade Bush to say such a thing, do you think? Or might he have actually GONE to New Orleans to witness the devastation his own incompetence wrought? Kudos to the folks at Bloomberg for thinking this is news, too. Come on, folks, surely the JonBenet Ramsey case hasn't gotten old (again) already! Man, I'm just DRIPPING with sarcasm tonight!

Orignal From: BUSH NOT A COMPLETE MORON AFTER ALL

BUSH IS DEFINITELY MISSING SOMETHING

The following is a headline from [http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/21/bush/index.html|an August 21, 2006 article] at Edition.CNN.Com (the international version of CNN.com): Bush: Leaving Iraq now would be a 'disaster' Hey, Bush... WHAT DO YOU THINK WE HAVE OVER THERE RIGHT NOW???

How Bush looks at anti-war-types.

Could it be much worse to stop meddling in Iraqi affairs and just let the Iraqi people sort things out for themselves? I doubt it. Let's take a closer look at some of the things that CNN article quotes Bush as saying:

"If we ever give up the desire to help people who want to live in a free society, we will have lost our soul as a nation," Bush said.

Hoe-lee-kee-ryste, you've got to be KIDDING ME!! So, now we went into Iraq out of the KINDESS OF OUR OWN HEARTS??? He's basically admitting that Saddam was never a threat and that he never had WMD. /facepalm... Bush also spoke of domestic spying:

"Those who heralded the decision not to give law enforcement the tools necessary to protect the American people just simply don't see the world the way we do," Bush said.

Yeah, that's right, Bush--WE SEE THE WORLD IN COLOR. You see the world as though it were shot with high-contrast film--just the solid blacks and the solid whites. For or against, good or evil, us or them, as opposed to the much more varied world we actually live in. Anyone with a brain can see how dangerous a black-and-white viewpoint is when you're a world leader. People might not want to trust you with nukes.

"They see maybe these kind of isolated incidents. These aren't isolated incidents; they're tied together. There is a global war going on," he said.

Isn't it neat how he sees what he wants to see and not what's really there? Why does ANY AMERICAN still trust this idiot? He tells us Saddam is a threat and that he's got WMD. We invade, he's got no WMD, therefore he was never a threat to anyone and guess what: SADDAM TOLD US SO BEFORE WE INVADED! So, now Bush is saying that we're in a global war. Suuuure we are, Bush. SURE... Just shut up and keep killing people, George.

"These are challenging times and they're difficult times. And they're straining the psyche of our country."

Well, you've got a point there, but if you stopped meddling in other countries' business terrorists would no longer have a reason to hate us. That might relax the psyche of our country. Do you even know what "psyche" means? Here's a bit from the article:

But defeat in Iraq is unacceptable, Bush said, because of the physical and psychological boosts it would give to terrorists.

It's funny, but the article makes it sound like America hasn't already met defeat in Iraq. Do we have what we want 3.5 years on? Nope. Two words: De Feet! Another quote from Bush:

"A failed Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will provide safe haven for terrorists and extremists."

OH YEAH, because Iraq was WAY worse before, what with no Al Qeada living there and it being a generally peaceful place with only the odd rape and torture every so often, as opposed to the daily dismemberments when roadside or car bombs explode (not to mention the white phospherous and the clusterbombs the US uses on "insurgents").

"In this case, it would give the terrorists and extremists an additional tool besides safe haven, and that is revenues from oil sales," the president said.

!!! So, now AQ will begin selling oil? What are they now? Girl Scouts? Couldn't we just stop buying our oil from Iraq if Iraq started funnelling money to AQ or other terrorists in Iraq? Oh, right, sorry--I can't believe I suggested we stop buying oil from someone (ANYone)... I could go on with more quotes from that article but I won't. It's obvious enough that the man in the White House is batshit crazy.

Orignal From: BUSH IS DEFINITELY MISSING SOMETHING

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

JOHN DEAN ON DEMOCRACY NOW

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You may recall [http://thepete.com/conservative-tells-the-truth/|my post from August 1, 2006] featuring a clip of Watergate figure John Dean on the Daily Show. He was on to talk about his new book Conservatives Without a Conscience. In his book he delves into the idea that fascism could happen in the United States. Now, back on August 15, 2006, Dean was on Democracy Now also, to plug his new book, but he was able to go into a bit more detail with DN! host Amy Goodman. Check out the clip:

John_Dean_DN20060815.mp4 (13m 25.2MB)

One thing that Dean said in this interview puzzled me. He said "Are we on the road to fascism? No. The problem is, we are very close to that." I'm not sure I see the difference. Am I just losing my mind or are more and more conservatives saying things like "The sky isn't blue, it's a color somewhere in between green and indigo." Of course, the real thing to be concerned with here is how Dean has uncovered scientific evidence that we have fascists running things in the United States Government. In the clip above he explains that with the Bush Administration we have "an imperial presidency on steroids." He goes on to explain how the White House is unchecked by Congress. Huh... neat.

Orignal From: JOHN DEAN ON DEMOCRACY NOW

Monday, August 21, 2006

SNAKES ON A PLANE (2006)

Positive Experience/Entertaining? OH MAN, this was the most fun I've had in a movie theater in AGES. It's a terrible movie, but was so much fun that I couldn't help but be entertained. Of course, the rowdy and very vocal crowd definitely made this movie enjoyable.
Technically any good? Wow, the script was predictable. I think there was one honest surprise in the film and it's so memorable that I can't recall it. Sam Jackson is awesome as always, but acting-wise, he's the only remarkable person in the movie. The actor playing the lead witness character was about as bad as bad gets. The FX were strong, but it was fairly easy to pick out the fakes on a plane over the actual snakes.
How did it leave me feeling? The film itself didn't leave me entertained. It's thorough badness and the movie theater audience's thorough embracing of it's badness was what left me completely (and thoroughly) entertained. What ever you do don't see this movie alone. Go with the rowdiest people you know or rent it but invite all of your friends over and make sure they're ready to slam this movie because it is not good. But sometimes not good can be a whole lot of fun.
Final Rating? SIYL (See If You Like this kind of movie--rated R, a bit of nudity and a LOT of people dying on camera--more people dying than I've seen in a while.)

Orignal From: SNAKES ON A PLANE (2006)

Sunday, August 20, 2006

BUSH LIES/SPEAKS FALSELY/WHATEVER

I meant to blog on this last week, but I wanted to make sure I had a video clip to back this up. Check out what Bush said regarding the Israelebanon ceasefire:

"[http://video.lisarein.com/thepete/stuff/Cine_Del_Arbusto/dn20060815bush_hezbo_comment.mp4|Hezbollah attacked Israel], Hezbollah started the crisis and Hezbollah suffered a defeat in this crisis," said President Bush.

That was a quote from [http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-08-14-voa40.cfm|an August 14, 2006 article] at VOANews.com and is accurate--click on the quote above to check out a video clip from Democracy Now to see that's exactly what Bush said. Now, I added the bold there for a reason. Back on July 22, [http://thepete.com/israel-invades-lebanon-but-why/|I blogged on the whole Israelebanon thing]. I quoted from [http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/22/mideast/index.html|a July 22, 2006 article] at NYTimes.Com (that's the New York Times website, mind you) that explained the conflict began when Hezbo kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. Here's the exact quote again:

Hezbollah guerrillas fired barrages of more than 100 rockets from southern Lebanon into Israel on Saturday, continuing the conflict that began with militants capturing two Israeli soldiers.

This is the same explanation I've been hearing/reading since the conflict began. Yet, Bush seems to think that kidnapping two Israeli soldiers equates to "an attack." He is deliberately lying to make us think Hezbo did something much worse than they really did. When are we going to stop this? When are the Democrats going to grow spines and start going after the Republican/Neo-Con liars? Just curious...

Orignal From: BUSH LIES/SPEAKS FALSELY/WHATEVER

THE WORLD THREATENED BY WEATHER, WATER, NOT TERROR

Everyone is going on and on about how terrorists "threaten" us. This is just absurd. Anyone who says terror is a real threat to us has the mind of a child. Yes, it would be bad if they attacked again. Yes, it would be bad if they got a nuke... But what's worse is that our world is changing around us and it's moving to change us or even kill us. Yes, I mean our world our ACTUAL WORLD. See, whether or not you believe in Global Warming is irrelevent. Mother Nature doesn't care if you are Democrat or Republican or Christian or Muslim. Mother Nature just does what she's going to do. And if you want to see that her actions are connected to the excess amount of greenhouse gasses in the air, great! If not, doesn't matter. The world is changing regardless. My proof? Well, check out a clip from [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0817-06.htm|an August 17, 2006 article] from www.AFP.org available over at CommonDreams.Org:

The first mass exodus of people fleeing the disastrous effects of climate change is not happening in low-lying Pacific islands but in the world's richest country, a US study said. "The first massive movement of climate refugees has been that of people away from the Gulf Coast of the United States," said the Earth Policy Institute, which has warned for years that climate change demands action now.

Katrina pretty much proved what scientists had basically been predicting for years. Climate Change is happening and the weather has been the first indicator of it. The Gulf Coast got pounded last year and as a result a whole mess of people moved away. How many storms did we have in 2005? Too many, clearly. The USG handled them all quite poorly, to boot. The next evidence I'd like to cite in my thesis that the world is moving against us is the concern for drinking water. There was a TV miniseries that aired in Canada a couple years ago called [http://imdb.com/title/tt0410055/|H20]. It was a brilliant 2-part miniseries that asked the question "What if America realized it was running out of money and Canada anticipated their interest in Candian water?"

[asin: B00092ZSYM]

This miniseries was made back in 2004 but it was based on real concerns that America's aquifers (the giant underground resevoirs we get our drinking water from) are slowly running low. The thing is, they really are. The bigger thing is, drinking water is running low around the world. This isn't just a third-world issue, mismanagement of water resources seems to be a problem around the globe. Check out this clip from [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0816-04.htm|an August 16, 2006 article] from Reuters.com available over at CommonDreams.Org:

A third of the world is facing water shortages because of poor management of water resources and soaring water usage, driven mainly by agriculture, the International Water Management Institute said on Wednesday. Water scarcity around the world was increasing faster than expected, with agriculture accounting for 80 percent of global water consumption, the world authority on fresh water management told a development conference in Canberra. Globally, water usage had increased by six times in the past 100 years and would double again by 2050, driven mainly by irrigation and demands by agriculture, said Frank Rijsberman, the institute's director-general. Billions of people in Asia and Africa already faced water shortages because of poor water management, he said.

I also found [http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P102152.asp|an article] from MoneyCentral.MSN.com that talks about investing in companies that will do well during the coming global water shortage. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4796909.stm|An August 16, 2006 article] from http://News.BBC.co.uk reports:

Rich countries face increasing water shortages, a report by conservation organisation WWF warns. A combination of climate change and poor resource management is leading to water shortages in even the most developed countries, it says. It urges water conservation on a global scale and asks rich states to set an example by repairing ageing water infrastructure and tackling pollution.

Good luck--the royalty that is America is a little busy being distracted by flies in the ointment. We'd rather deal with things that will probably never effect most of the Earth instead of dealing with things that have the potential to kill a whole mess of us--even in rich countries. There's plenty to read about regarding water shortages around the world. You just have to dig for it. No one is really talking about the water issue and the climate issues facing our well-being are being discussed, but not seriously. We Americans still seem to think the War Against Terror and Iraq are more important.

Orignal From: THE WORLD THREATENED BY WEATHER, WATER, NOT TERROR

BUSH LIES/SPEAKS FALSELY/WHATEVER

I meant to blog on this last week, but I wanted to make sure I had a video clip to back this up. Check out what Bush said regarding the Israelebanon ceasefire:

"Hezbollah attacked Israel, Hezbollah started the crisis and Hezbollah suffered a defeat in this crisis," said President Bush.

Hezbollah guerrillas fired barrages of more than 100 rockets from southern Lebanon into Israel on Saturday, continuing the conflict that began with militants capturing two Israeli soldiers.

Orignal From: BUSH LIES/SPEAKS FALSELY/WHATEVER

Israel Apologists, Please Step Up

Yep, big surprise, Israel violated the cease fire this weekend by raiding a Hezbo base. Here's a clip from [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/8/19/worldupdates/2006-08-19T193822Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-264175-1&sec=Worldupdates|an August 19, 2006 article] from Reuters.Com available at http://TheStar.Com.my that supplies the deets:

Helicopter-borne Israeli commandos raided a Hizbollah bastion on Saturday in what Lebanon called a "naked violation" of the U.N.-backed truce that halted Israel's 34-day war with the Shi'ite Muslim group. Israel said the operation in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley aimed to disrupt weapons supplies to Hizbollah from Syria and Iran. Both countries deny arming the group. Lebanese security sources said three Hizbollah guerrillas were killed in a dawn firefight with the Israeli commandos. The Israeli army said it had suffered one dead and two wounded.

Huzah! Hezbollah gets more sympathy from people around the world because Israel couldn't keep it's pants zipped and it's wick dry! You know, if I had balls as big as Israel's I'd have trouble keeping my pants zipped, too. Showing a great deal of maturity (well, more than Israel, anyway), Lebanon is responding with hulluva restraint. According to [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5268418.stm|an August 20, 2006 article] at http://News.BBC.co.uk:

Lebanon's defence minister says anyone firing rockets at Israel from the south will be considered a traitor and be firmly dealt with by the army. Elias Murr's remarks are being seen as a warning to militias, but he also expressed confidence Hezbollah was committed to the UN-brokered truce.

This warning to Hezbo came after the LebGov warned Israel and the UN that any more of this shit from Israel and no Lebanese troops would be showing up at the southern border--in other words, pull any more shit, and the cease-fire is off, bitches! Why so many swear words in this post? Well, I heard Bush swear, so, I figure if he does it...

Orignal From: Israel Apologists, Please Step Up

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Web Surf Anonymously...

Just as a public service, I thought I'd point out one way to avoid being tracked on the 'net. See, every time you connect your computer to the 'net, it is assigned an IP address. Like your street address, it allows people to find you easily. That's the problem. The thing with a real street address, you can go into a red light district and go to strip clubs or hang out with drug dealers and no one can trace you back to your home. Not so, with the web. Every web site you visit can (and most do) take note of your IP address. Even I do this at my site. Don't worry, I promise to never do anything with that info and usually delete my server logs (logs of IP addresses) every couple of months. So, how do you get around this? By using a proxy server. This is a server someplace out there on the 'net that has a different IP address from yours and actually masks yours from any place you might visit. Think of it as an envelope you keep your driver's license in. There's an address on the outside of the envelope, but it hides your the street address on your driver's license from anyone else. Where can you find a proxy server? Well, there's a new website for a proxy service called relakks.com that I found via [http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/15/pirate-party-lights-up-relakks-first-commercial-darknet/|a post at Engadget.com]. They charge 5 euros a month (about 6 or 7 US dollars after you pay your bank the international transaction fee) and they promise to keep all of your surfing anonymous. So if you're growing as paranoid as I am, you might want to think about using Relakks. I'm not using them because I hardly surf anywhere these days. One word of warning, their service is being overwhelmed with new customers as I type this so your connection through them might be slow. Give them time to expand and hopefully they'll be back up to speed soon. These days I can't help but wonder how much the USGov is following us around the 'net. First financial tracking, then phone tracking, it's obvious what's next.

Orignal From: Web Surf Anonymously...

Got Our Mother Fuckin' SNAKES ON A PLANE Tickets!

WAHOOOO!!

Orignal From: Got Our Mother Fuckin' SNAKES ON A PLANE Tickets!

Friday, August 18, 2006

DICK MOUNTJOY FOR SENATE...you're kidding, right?

So, TheMorgan IMs me a link to a pro-Bush article at conservative news site NewsMax.com the other day and I spot this ad for a Republican running against California senator Diane Feinstein this fall in the 2006 election. The thing is, his name... check out the grab of the ad:

Yep--you read it right. The dude's name reads like a poorly translated Japanese sex manual. Does this guy really think the largely-liberal state of California will elect a guy with a name like that? Hell, we're so stupid in this state, I imagine most of us (who bother to vote) will be too busy snickering at the dude's name to actually be able to color in the proper circle in the scantron-like ballot. I know it's childish to even mention it, but REALLY: DICK MOUNTJOY???

Orignal From: DICK MOUNTJOY FOR SENATE...you're kidding, right?

FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS NSA PROGRAM ILLEGAL BUSH DISAGREES

There's a new post at ThePete.Com

It's called "FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS NSA PROGRAM ILLEGAL BUSH DISAGREES"
I wish this plugin could do more than just post a link to my site... click the title above to check out the post!

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

UNLAWFUL SEARCHES NOW LAWFUL!

There's a new post at ThePete.Com

It's called "UNLAWFUL SEARCHES NOW LAWFUL!"
I wish this plugin could do more than just post a link to my site... click the title above to check out the post!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

MEN ARRESTED FOR BUYING TOO MANY CELL PHONES

There's a new post at ThePete.Com

It's called "MEN ARRESTED FOR BUYING TOO MANY CELL PHONES"
I wish this plugin could do more than just post a link to my site... click the title above to check out the post!

Thursday, August 10, 2006

HOLY SHIT, TERRORISTS ALMOST KILLED YOU!

There's a new post at ThePete.Com

It's called "HOLY SHIT, TERRORISTS ALMOST KILLED YOU!"
I wish this plugin could do more than just post a link to my site... click the title above to check out the post!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

The 5 Minute Show Episode 31!

There's a new post at ThePete.Com

It's called "The 5 Minute Show Episode 31!"
I wish this plugin could do more than just post a link to my site... click the title above to check out the post!

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Monday, August 21, 2006

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Friday, August 18, 2006

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Monday, August 07, 2006

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Tuesday, August 01, 2006