Revelations

Thought I'd do a recap of the last few weeks if I can remember the high points.
Tenet drops a dime on Bush and Cheney unfortunately not being a slick spin doctor fails to boost his image.
Sex scandal abounds in D.C. with the first Republican resigning. Gee Ma it was only a massage...yea right.
Monica plead the fifth Goodling is caught instructing others to delete emails to put a happy face on the US attorney firings.
Alberto I have no use for human rights Gonzales gets caught lying again to Congress. Sorry Gonzo should have bought a bigger electronic eraser.
Rick Renzi (R- Az) A two tier investigation one involving fedreal bribery charges and the other an illegal or at least unethical land swap.
The "Surge" is going swimmingly well with 215 dead in one day, bombs going off in the green zone and the same day 33 people die at Virginia Tech. Think we need to put more money into mental health now?
Bush tries to show he can dance. He's got nooo moves.
Condisleeza Rice proves she has no understanding of the Russian Federation.

I know there's much more but I'll leave it for now.
I'm sorry about the cat up there but I'm still learning ze graphics no

Long Week

This is about how I feel today.
It seems that the weeks are running together as work has continued 24/7 on the project I've been trying to finish.
And it seems that the news is not much better or maybe not. I see we have a new sex scandal in DC. Hummm sex, drugs, money, power. Nothing seems to change. Another cronie is investigated. Another hearing another trial another prison sentence and Bush Inc. is falling apart at the seams. A thought comes to mind " you shall know them by their deeds" I'll let you fill in your own blank there. As for me, I think I'll lay down. Kitty has the right idea.

Earth Day

Was just wondering what I could contribute to Earth Day. I've installed the low flow devices on the faucets lowered the hot water tank level even replaced to a new energy efficient one. Changed to CFL lights and all the other things you can do to save energy many many years ago thanks in part to a wise older sister. There isn't much more I can do energy or water wise to honor our Mother Earth.
So I give you a chemical. A chemical so powerful it can kill weeds and moss in 24 hours. A chemical that can power through grime and clean most countertops, windows and mirrors. And yet this chemical is safe enough to use around food surfaces, pets and children. A chemical that's very inexpensive and available everywhere. Totally natural. Totally environmentally friendly and so safe you could eat it with no ill effects. Have you guess what it is?
If you guessed white vinegar you'd be right.
I use it to clean my coffee maker save the used part to spray on weeds and moss. Works great for an upset stomach or muscle cramps. Also if we're working with caustic chemicals at work and run short of neutralizes we use white vinegar.

Update: After I posted this it hit me that I've removed and thus kept from the environment hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic materials over the many years I've worked at this. Nothing like working so much that you can't think straight. What's the expression? "Can't see the forest for the trees".

Virginia Tech

I didn't have time to comment about this earlier this week due to a hectic work week. I've been listening to the talk shows tout gun control and more laws to try and prevent future events of this nature. I believe that the focus of this is all wrong. This is not a gun issue, but a mental health issue. Some time back in the mid 80's Reagan cut funding for social programs. By doing so he created an onslaught of homeless people 30% of whom had mental health issues. Additionally Reagan made cuts in mental health. By doing so he effectively eliminated most of the public mental health hospitals which created a surge of private hospitals. Patients with no insurance or money to pay for private care were left untreated or marginally treated through some of the C.A.P. programs that were available at the time, but even the C.A.P. programs were eliminated.
The following article gives a complete summary of what occured. It is a bit long, but worth the read.
Compassionate Conservatives?

Time warp

Looks like my work schedule is making me loose track of time working 7 days a week for a few weeks. Thought I had posted yesterday only to realize that was Monday. Eeek and I had a few great posts but they will have to wait. Catch you later folks.

Faded memory?

Gonzo the non exec

Seems our attorney general has no recollections of the meetings that took place just last year. That would make him one of the worst executives in the United States or he is simply lying. Let's see, most people in management use some type of day planner or have an assistant or secretary who sets a schedule and keeps a record of the activities of the boss. I even keep a log of what I do in the event of a pay screw up. This guy expects us to believe he has no memory of the discussions leading up to terminations of 8 U.S attorneys. I don't buy it. In his initial interviews he conterdicted himself no less than three times. Just hope the subpoenas for all the emails comes soon and they can recall Gonzales at a later date.

Beaver Shots

Hey Py I found beaver shots.

Hot Beaver Shots

And now for something completely different

To borrow a Monty Python phrase I give you the Great Turtle Race. Yes they're going to attach GPS devices to turtles and trac them from space.
via AssPress
So go root for your favorite. I don't make this up, I just pass it on.

Failure

Think I've said this several times before that the Republicans need to start listening to the American public or they risk loosing their seats in the next election. My question is why are they clinging to a failed lame duck president who will provide no benefit to their reelections. Over 60% of America is against this war and yet the stuborn Republicans continue to stand behind Bush and his veto threat.
Iraq
What people seem to forget is that should all funding for this war be cut off totally it won't mean that our troops will be sitting there with no bullets or food or any other item necessary for thier protection. They would merely pack it up and come home or be redeployed elsewhere.
The Rebublicans stubornly dig their heels in against the wishes of America. Why? What do they expect to gain?
When you buy a used car and you later discover that there is something seriously wrong with the engine do you keep the car and continue to pump thousands of dollars into it or do you get rid of it? It's time to dump this lemon.

More on R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

With all the hoopla about Imus and all of the conversation about hate radio and the like I think it's important to change the tone of the American culture. Some time ago Dick Cheney blurted out a rather nasty comment to a congressman. I believe that one comment set the stage for a total lack of decorum and civility that has become prevelent today. For those of you out there who use such slurs even as some type of term of endearment I say Stop it. It does no good by setting a bad tone a bad president and quite simply it changes any sense of etiquette. I say this not to be politically correct but it eliminates any degree of respect. You may not like someone or something, but if that someone or something has done nothing to you then treat them/it with respect.

More Info One More Time

Pygalgia gives a link to Juan Cole. While there I came upon this link that summarises the situation nicely.
Insurgents
Yes and I do realize that the situation is more complex than just Sunnis against Shias. And the U.S. has not made this situation better. And in addition to the above article there is one other factor that is basic and has been totally overlooked. A factor more important than oil, money, clothing, housing, food and even water. That factor would be respect. Without it people will do anything to attain it including forgoing food and water. I think that was proven when Pelosi went to Syria and actually was able to accomplish something. Respect and diplomacy really do work.

One More Time

Just read where the U.S. is accusing Iran of training the insurgents in Iraq. This could not be further from the truth than anything I've read. Why you ask? Quite simplely Iran has a population made up of 90% Shia 8% Sunni. As we all know the insurgents are Sunni or at least most of them. I'm sure the government of Iran is made up of 100% Shia and has no desire to support the Sunni minority. Some years back I saw listed in the Iranian budget monies for revolutionary spending. This was when Sadam was in power so you know the money was going to support the Shia.
My guess is that the U.S. is trying to spread these rumors in an effort to take the attention off the recently announced "surge' from Al Sadar and to try and gin up the case for war with Iran not to mention the administrative disasters in the Justice Department. So it's all smoke, mirrors and more diversions all for oil money. If you can't get the oil from Iraq then keep the fear mongering going to keep the prices high and the profits higher thus making your friends richer.

Doesn't anybody listen?

Iraq
America
AP and Reuters photos via yahoo

Gag Orders

I see several attempts to quash people's right to free speech both here and abroad. What those in power don't realize is that by doing this they only put themselves in a position of greater embarrassment. Most secrets do not remain secrets forever as someone somewhere is always willing to talk to a reporter, a friend, or co-worker. This administration thinks it can do as it pleases and silence critics and detractors in the process. Not so. It should be interesting to see the real story behind Hicks. He was the Austrailian held at Gitmo for 5 years and only recently was represented by legal council. As part of his sentence he can not talk about his treatment at Gitmo. The only problem is that the laws in other countries are a bit different. Australian law permits convicts to talk about their crimes as long as they don't profit from it. It will also be interesting to see exactly when his story gets out. He's still has some prison time left and won't get out until January 2008.

Easter

Thought I'd do some Easter eggs to add some color.

The British Captives

A thought had occured to me while watching some of the comments about the British troops who were recently released. There you had a British officer ranting about how the conduct of the troops was a discrace to the uniform yada yada yada. Then it dawned on me that what they had done was exactly right for the situation. They are alive and physically well and back home and more importantly able to fight another day. Imagine Mr. Military Man if you had been there ranting taunting and raving about how tough and superior you are when you know the end result would be the loss of limb or worse being sent home in a body bag. Or maybe you'd like to be signed up for one of those suicide missions I've just heard about. (Need to find that link)

More trouble for Gonzales

Thought I'd throw this one at you before hittin the sack. Seems there was some ugly trouble for jailed youths down in Texas and nobody would do anything about it including the Justice Department.
Wake up Gonzo
If you want to catch more on this go to the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040402400.html

Don't know why these links don't work for me, but the address is above thanks to the Young Turks for the tip.

System problem update

I was still having problems posting as of late yesterday and work is crazy. Hopefully I'll be back in full snark by the weekend. Until then keep the coffee hot and the pressure on. Remember I'm pulling for you we're all in this together.

System problems

Looks like the tech guys are trying to work out some problems here today. I guess April 1 is comming late this year. Thanks for the comments and stoping by, I think I'll wait until the bugs are ironed out to post some snarky goodness. Anyone know of a good site for royalty free photos? I'd like to post more but fear a stampede of copyright lawyers even though I see many other sites steal (I mean borrow) photos.

Puget Sound Submarine Racing

Mystery of the pyramids solved?

interesting?