Looks like the Obama Administration has come up with a scheme to keep troop levels static in Afghanistan. They’re replacing support units with “contractors,” and adding 14,000 “trigger pullers.” Well, I’m sure LBJ BHO knows what he’s doing. I mean, Afghanistan is in Central – not Southeast – Asia; so what could go wrong?
Speaking of contractors, the Bush Obama Administration has renewed Blackwater’s (or Xe or whatever they are these days) contract in Iraq. Didn’t the Iraqi government revoke their license to operate over there? Not that we give a crap what the Iraqi government thinks (though it’s kinda cute when they pretend they have the right to rule themselves). We love our murderous Christian Crusaders for profit, and apparently so does our Islamic Kenyan President.
Steny Hoyer appears to have had a look at the national polls, and realized that, yes, the majority of Americans actually want the option of a government health insurance plan. Welcome the reality-based community, Steny. A shame that the members of the failed Obama Administration (I honestly thought that – no matter what else you may think about them – they were at least a smart bunch of people; boy, was I wrong) won’t be joining us.
On health care, Obama’s willingness to forgo the public option is sure to anger his party’s liberal base. But some administration officials welcome a showdown with liberal lawmakers if they argue they would rather have no health care law than an incremental one. The confrontation would allow Obama to show he is willing to stare down his own party to get things done.
“We have been saying all along that the most important part of this debate is not the public option, but rather ensuring choice and competition,†an aide said. “There are lots of different ways to get there.â€
That’s right, they’ll teach those goddamn dirty liberals a lesson they won’t soon forget! Wait, I thought they were the goddamn dirty liberals? I mean, that’s who I voted for, isn’t it?
Meanwhile, petulant Republicans in the Senate are threatening a “revolution” if Democrats use budget reconciliation to bypass a potential filibuster over health care reform.
Silly Republicans. Do you really think these spineless, corrupt Democrats can get 51 votes even if wimpy Harry Reid actually somehow finds the balls to try? NFW.
All this “debate” over health care is tiresome, and I’m getting sick of it (actually, it’s sickening, and I’m getting tired of it). We can’t make sure everyone has health care in this country. Just can’t be done. Every other wealthy country (and some of the poor ones, too) can do it, but not us. There just isn’t enough profit in it. So, screw it, let’s just admit it aint gonna happen, and get back to our regularly scheduled episode of American Idol.
I got mine, so the hell with everybody else. And if I lose my job or they say I’m not covered for something because I checked the wrong box 20 years ago, well, then the hell with me, too. Go ahead and take everything I have, for all the good it’ll do ya. I got a nice refrigerator box all picked out.
The only thing that saddens me is the thought of the backlash of the voters in 2010, ‘cuz the Democrats seem to be doing everything in their power to hand control of the Senate back to the Republicans (and look for a big turnover of seats in the House, too). Not that Democrats don’t deserve it, but I just hate the thought of hearing the Fux News talking heads and rightwing meatheads like Limbaugh crowing about it. Not to mention Romney-Palin in 2012.
Finally, doctors may be baffled by this, but all they need to do is watch “True Blood,” and it’ll explain everything.
School starts next week and with it comes the sharing of germs and viruses. Last year, as the flu felled hundreds of kids and their teachers, I kept all the kiddies at arms length and washed my hands until they were so dry I couldn’t turn pages.
Schools are wonderful incubators for illness. Everyone is in close proximity to everyone else and the children never wash their hands, seldom cover their little faces when they cough or sneeze and can’t resist sharing cups and straws. One would think that the school system might institute a hygiene course but that might take away from test prep.
Many years ago I taught reading to adults as AIDS was becoming an issue. We decided to include AIDS education as part of the curriculum. I wasn’t too surprised at the amount of misinformation that was part of “common knowledge” but I was floored when I learned that the majority of my students believed that illness was retribution from God. They also believed AIDS was a CIA plot to kill black people. And, after all the many discussions of how AIDS was transmitted, the guys continued to believe that they didn’t need condoms because they could tell when someone had the disease.
OK, this is pretty icky. Here’s a hint:
Here’s more icky stuff.
The guards at our embassy in Kabul have been cavorting and abusing those they supervise, leaving the embassy open to attack and demoralizing the staff. The guards are contractors from ArmorGroup International.
They do seem to have an unusual idea of fun, to wit:
The report said supervisors held near-weekly parties in which they urinated on themselves and others, drank vodka poured off each other’s exposed buttocks, fondled and kissed one another and gallivanted around virtually nude.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/01/AR2009090102690.html
:yuck: school incubators for illness
:yuck: #2
:yuck: Afghanistan
It’s a shame the Prez hung his hat on Afghanistan. Guess he felt he needed to show those rethugs that he was not afraid of war. Sure hope he has a come to Jezus moment soon and realizes that real men can indeed pull out early.
on the bright side of life, I was told yesterday that I passed the section of the bar exam I took for the okie bar. I hadn’t sat for an exam in years and was concerned they’d look at my answers and not only fail me, but take away the one state bar I do have. I evidently did quite well, tho. And before there are any snide comments about the ease of an okie bar, please know it was a multi-state exam!
Congrats on passing! From what I’ve seen, those things are nasty exams that I’m glad I won’t ever have to take.
Speaking of OK bars, is Oklahoma one of those states where you have to buy booze in those little tiny bottles?
Thanks!
On no, we can buy big bottles here. Have to buy it in licensed liquor stores though, no grocery store purchases allowed. You know how republicans like to keep those competitive free markets regulated.
Oh, I meant in bars. We have to buy booze in liquor stores, too. They’ve been trying to allow wine sales in grocery stores, but that’s run into very stiff opposition. On the bright side, they’re allowed to be open on Sundays, now.
Oh, you can buy BIG bottles in the bars. Guns, Booze, Church – it’s all BIG doins down here! We have to be the state with the most McChurches. I mean these suckers are huge with big satellite dishes out front, gianormous crosses, the whole deal.
I can’t imagine a Trader Joe’s w/out wine.
Hope this works somehow
WTF w/Marc Maron the podcast
First episode of podcast now up
This is episode one of WTF w/Marc Maron. I talk about stealing–things from places. I also talk to Jeff Ross about comedy.
Host:Marc Maron
Location:iTunes or link below
http://wtfpod.libsyn.com/
More new Maron
Standup – Marc Maron
by Troy Conrad
Comedian Marc Maron live at Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles.
“You know when you make popcorn there are always those fluffy white kernels that are good to eat, and there are also those burnt, black kernels that don’t pop. You know why they don’t pop? That’s because they have integrity.”
Recorded live on August 15, 2009.
Marc Maron’s website: marcmaron.com
Shot on the Canon XHA1 and Canon HFS 100.
OKat, congratulations on passing the Okie bar.
Birds, more than any other group of animals, are a celebration of color. They have evolved to every extreme of the spectrum, from the hot pink of flamingos to the shimmering blue of a peacock’s neck. Yet, for decades, paleontologists who study extinct birds have had to use their imaginations to see the colors in the fossils. Several feather fossils have been unearthed over the years, but they have always been assumed to be colorless vestiges.
Now a team of scientists has discovered color-producing molecules that have survived for 47 million years in the fossil of a feather. By analyzing those molecules, the researchers have shown that they would have given a bird the kind of dark, iridescent sheen found on starlings and other living birds.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/science/01feath.html?_r=1&ref=science
And now one guy thinks he can turn chickens into dinosaurs.
More than a year ago I watched a program on PBS or Nova or the like about as guy who altered the genes of developing chicken embryos at specific points in their development and produced tooth buds and added several tail vertebrae. Very interesting. Whether this indicates that chickens are descendants of dinosaurs is not crystal clear.
Frog, toad, or disgusting blob?
#17 — :omg: One more EXCELLENT reason to avoid “soft” drinks that are already loaded with shit that will make you fat (diet & non-diet both make you FAT because of the toxins) and put your kidneys & liver into overdrive!
Although, on the “up” side, the frog addition does offer protein which the original recipe lacks. Dunno as that would compensate for all poison in the original recipe.
ewwwwww :sammy: :billcat: :ear: :yuck: :barf: :omg: