Pain Killers: Have You Gotten Your Dose Today?

Prescriptions painkillers are on the rise: killing pain through out the country. One painkiller to kill the pain; another to kill the pain of the side affects; another pill for something else, and now you can't sleep at night, so you are up way late and have the luxury of watching advertisements for Lunesta. Well, that will solve all your problems!

The amount of five major painkillers sold at retail establishments rose 90 percent between 1997 and 2005, according to an Associated Press analysis of statistics from the Drug Enforcement Administration. More than 200,000 pounds of codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and meperidine were purchased at retail stores during 2005. This is about enough to give every person in this country some pain killers. Approximately 300 milligrams of tasty pain killing sweetness.
Much of this increase can be blamed on the pharmaceutical companies' major increase inadvertising and marketing.
"Spending on drug marketing has gone from $11 billion in 1997 to nearly $30 billion in 2005, congressional investigators found. Profit margins among the leading companies routinely have been three and four times higher than in other Fortune 500 industries." -AP. With the prices of these prescriptions, everyone involved must be making some money off of them. The pharmaceutical companies profit from making them, and the pay representatives to market them to their doctors, who give out free samples, or prescribe them, and the patient is happy. Who wouldn't be happy with a daily dose of 'hillbilly heroin'?
Along with the increase in drug use, drug abuse increases right along side. According to the government, emergency room visits due to drug overdose has increased over 160% since 1995. People are addicted, but people are in pain also.
There is a pain killer, however, that is not addictive, and should be free, and available, and will cure many other ailments, along with providing nutrients and renewable resources. This, my friends, is marijuana. Marijuana helps with chronic pain, insomnia, some eating disorders or lack of appetite, and the seeds provide more protein than soybeans. So why can't we just have the plant, instead of wasting resources and pouring them into making countless poisons to 'zombify' the masses (although this would be called 'curing' the sick), and make billions of dollars doing it?
Because- BUSH wouldn't be where he is today, if not for the monetary backing of the pharmaceutical company's-that's why!

Press Release.

The 9/11 Strike is Finally Here

Before the Government takes away our rights and many uses of the Internet, an unconfirmed source has set forth a viral effort through the many pathways of the Internet to spread the word about a General Strike scheduled for September 11, 2007, the sixth anniversary of the 9/11/2001 attacks on New York City and Arlington, Virginia.

Wikipedia defines viral efforts on the Internet as:

An object (or an idea) is viral when it has the ability to spread copies of itself or change other similar objects to become more like (it) when those objects are simply exposed to the viral object.
General strikes, more common in Europe, are events that shut down the normal operations of a city, state, or nation for a period of time.

This is a general strike, and not for any one, or even three specific issues, but for all the issues which broke ground that disastrous day September 11, 2001. These issues include, but are not limited to: the 9/11 cover-up, surveillance, torture, environmental issues (asbestos in the Towers' debris?), and corporate media.

This strike is neither a protest, such as anti-war, fraud, or civil rights protest. This is simply a general strike.
A National Call to Action: Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
No school. No work. Buy nothing. Hit the streets
On June 27, 2007, the United States Social Forum, a convention of various social justice groups, passed a resolution that called for both the reopening of the 911 investigation and the impeachment of Bush and Cheney.
On July 4, 2007, the Philadelphia Emergency Anti War Convention convened in Pennsylvania.
Cindy Sheehan pointed out that her audiences have been filled with 911 Truth members who deserved answers to their questions. The convention produced a strong set of demands known as The Act Independent United Front Program. The program calls for impeachment of Bush, Cheney and associates; an end to all wars; restoration of Constitutional Rights; an end to “Bush police-state dictatorship;” a government by and for the people; and 9/11 truth – reopening the investigation and full release of all 9/11 documentation.
Only Four Weeks Left Until Sept. 11, 2007

Make your own fliers, or print fliers like the one above by clicking on the image! If you don't have time or resources to strike, make time! No Work, No School, Buy Nothing. NOTHING! This is what will work. Everyone who has any concern involving the administration's manipulating of the Constitution, the Crimes, the Fraud, the War, Homeland Security, The War on Drugs, or other crimes against the United People of America, UNITE! And show them we ARE the PEOPLE! And WE can make a difference, and restore this country to the beliefs of our forefathers: LET FREEDOM RING!

Source: Michael Collins: Originally Published in “Scoop” Independent Media

Today is THE DAY!

Today, August 18, 2007, there has been a potentially record-breaking commitment to right the wrongs we have endured throughout the Bush administration's law-breaking and invasions of our human rights. There are videos and other media which explain the impeachable actions of President George W. Bush, and you, as a citizen of the United States of America, have the power to voice your opinions, and come together and join the movement. Write your congressmen TODAY and tell them you want George and Dick removed from office!

There are pre-written letters, if you would like to join this movement but have no idea what to really say, unless you are like me-you know what to say, but it isn't really appropriate, and you can't actually string together an appropriate message in regards to good ol' George W.

"Keep in mind that impeachment does not refer to the punishment, impeachment refers to the trial and investigation in order to determine if a crime was committed and there is absolutely nothing wrong with an investigation regardless of which side of the political opinion you currently reside."

This is a wonderful opportunity to make your voice heard! We can not lose any more lives in Iraq because Bush wants to push HIS views onto them. There are other options! Read more in earlier posts, such as They Want Us Out. You can read about resources we are wasting, resources which are working towards sending apocalyptic messages (and video games!) to our troops in Iraq- shoving even more propaganda their way, combining Church and State with the Defense Department's attempt to convert everyone to Christianity. It is time to show the government that they are For the People, BY the People, and not ABOVE the People. Take a stand,;take 10 minutes out of your day to show future administrations that they can NOT break laws, or the People will take action. Show them that their offices can NOT hide them from their responsibilities to the Constitution on which this great nation was founded. Change the course of history, and write your government officials TODAY!

Freedom Train....? Ticket Pleas...

Well this my friends is a 1975 commemorative of the Freedom Train in the red, white, and blue glass ashtray style, because nothing says freedom better than a tray of butts or pull beer tabs! If you folks don't know about the train here is where you go learn your propaganda history folks. freedomtrain.org ( this link is a must read in greeting card USA history)this is a taste,, Mmmmm freedom taste great donut it!

WHY A FREEDOM TRAIN ? (yeah why not a big pink freedom rocket or sky blue freedom jet blimp)
-"The 1947 - 1949 Freedom Train was conceived as an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of American citizenship at a time when the nation was finding a new and central role in world affairs. Americans had experienced a decade of pre-war economic Depression. They made sacrifices in foreign lands throughout World War II. They were entering an age of post-war prosperity with opportunities unknown in all of human history. And they were unsure of the reassurances at the sudden dawn of the nuclear age and Soviet expansion into countries just liberated from fascist oppression in Europe and Asia."
-"With President Harry Truman in the lead, some in the national government believed Americans should pause and reflect, to experience a "rededication" to the principles that founded their country.
-"President Truman loved trains, and his use of the "whistle stop" campaign train still epitomizes this icon of the electoral process. Attorney General Tom Clark and his staff proposed a train that would travel to communities in every state of the nation, taking with it dozens of "documents of liberty." "
-"The result, they hoped, would enable Americans to rediscover for themselves just how hard-won their freedoms were. Clearly, they hoped to enable personal reconciliations with the still-fresh sacrifices and human costs of war, and to impart a sense of meaning and worth to those sacrifices. "
Text by Mr. Larry Wines.

Hmmm Wait it had a second tour of duty there is WAY MORE this is the little engine that could and did! Please tell us more Mr. Wines.....

-"In the early 1970s, Ross Rowland Jr., a New York commodities broker and occasional steam locomotive engineer, had the idea to celebrate the Bicentennial of the American Revolution with a raveling exhibition of unique and representative artifacts from the 200 year history of the nation. "
-"It had been the most remarkable two centuries in human history. "

-"Even as the ancient ways of Native inhabitants were lost - often savagely, and in contradiction with the American creed of individual rights and self-determination, America was building a beacon of hope for the tired, the poor, the huddled masses upon other shores who were yearning to breathe free. An industrial capacity would grow from American dreams and determination to create the capacity that would win two World Wars,
Text by Mr. Larry Wines.

OK well we all know what Truman had his eye on he loved trains and bombs! I think this guy was part gypsy ,carny, drunk, I don't know but can get a train with a bomb on it and a wet bar ?I'm Harry Truman Dammit I said build it then blow it up!

How did this guy sleep at night?,oh yea passed out most likely. Ross Rowland Jr. must of liked trains a bit himself to get involved in the 1970's his daddy was a mason. What masons like trains right? Who knows ,but politicians right now are planning a new freedom train and it includes things like GPS, hot and cold running sunshine and skittles latte for the sugar-ffene fix you just can't get anywheres else in all your basic interactive, retro, trianee goodness that your going to just expect from the freedom train of the future! I-stuff jacks? Well maybe if your good it will even have health care FREE on board for all who ride it!!!! or maybe Food with food in it and not just fast edible food flavored things! I know that this train sounds pricey doesn't it? O'well I guess we can afford it we have to keep up the effort too " halt conquerors bent on global domination, and spread the dream of freedom to the world. " won't a "freedom train" have room for all? not the conquerors bent on domination...no not even a couple? Damn how many people can get on this freedom train then? Well what do you mean I have got to have my shots, and I have to shovel the coal to power it ,and dig the coal out of the hills, causing even more global warming? WOW this freedom train sounds like a lot of work!

History is just a gaggle of words scribbled down by a drunk pirate or town jester or last American Indian to breath air. We humans love to glorify the evil we do with awarding it with ribbons and trains. I just wish people would read both sides of the lies before you "get your facts straight then distort them any way you like" just like Mark Twain said! I can't wait to see the awards the Republicans come up with for this war,or the next election, or any private space left in the corner of my soul.

MrKnightdark

yes the new freedom train will have unisex bath rooms because we all stink in the end.

NYPD says cafes, bookstores breed terrorists

A 90-page report, titled 'Radicalization in the West and the Homegrown Threat', by the NYPD intelligence division "identifies mosques, bookstores, cafes, prisons and flop houses as what it calls "radicalization incubators" that provide 'extremist fodder or fuel for radicalization.' " according to ABC. And what would they classify as radicalization? Reading a book or report that challenges U.S. foreign policy? This is a blatant and outright gross stereotyping of people who go to these places to learn and converse with each other.

Additionally, "The New Jersey Intelligence Assessment identified prisons, the Internet, universities and religious/cultural institutions as the places where "radicalization in New Jersey appears to occur." Bush must be ecstatic. The NYPD's full report

They Want Us Out

In an article from Think Progress, Satyam writes an overview of the the British Parliamant’s Select Committee on Foreign Affairs report of 36 recommendations for changes that must be made in the Middle East. They urge the British government to consider the political implications of joining forces with the US and their 'surge' in Iraq.

Many worry that the war has only magnified judgments, international racsism, and hatred. In the same affect, British citizens are led by the propaganda surrounding the 'war on terror' and the 'oversimplifications' of the terms used to describe the war and the people.

"216. We conclude that the use by Ministers of phrases such as 'war on terror' and 'arc of extremism' is unhelpful and that such oversimplifications may lead to dangerous policy implications. We agree with the Minister for the Middle East that these phrases cause unnecessary resentment. We recommend that the Government should not use this or similar language in future. "

"We are concerned that the damage done to the Government's reputation in the Arab and Islamic world may affect its ability to influence the political situation in the Middle East. We recommend that, in its response to this Report, the Government set out what action it is taking to improve its influence and reputation in the Arab and Islamic world. "

Hopefully, the British government will begin to make changes and withdrawal from Iraq and show effort for 'political reconciliations'. This just might jump start US withdrawal. If the Brits get out of there, I doubt there will be any Bush supporters left. The British can admit that the 'war on terror' is failing miserably, why can't Bush?

The policies adopted by Tony Blair have proved to be more detrimental to the UK than before. Bush is not winning his propoganda war, and we have little homeland security. Approval rates are low, and people are getting anxious, for something to change because the current path is crumbling fast along with America's infrastructure.

The Hidden, Hired Villians

Most Americans know that there are over 150,000 military troops in Iraq and Afghanistan at the moment. What most don't know is that there are tens of thousands of mercenaries there bought and paid for by the United States Government. Our own politicians allot hundreds of millions of dollars yearly to pay companies like Blackwater ( www.blackwaterusa.com ) to send mercenaries to war zones. Those hired soldiers make far more money than true military soldiers. They have equal if not better equipment. And, by far the most absurd and frightening part of the situation, they only answer to the corporation.

So far around sixty U.S. soldiers have been court martialed for violent action against Iraqis. However, due to an act by the United States Government and the temporary Iraqi government set up during the first year of the occupation, those mercenaries can't be tried for crimes by the new Iraqi regime. There are documented cases of these hired security forces firing on civilians, and even American troops, that come too close to the convoys they guard and nothing is done to them. They can't even be touched by the military rules of conduct.

I've ranted many times about the use of mercenaries by the government. Most of the time, however, I've ranted about the fact that death tolls don't take them into account. Who can really say how many of these hired guns have died in Iraq and Afghanistan; especially since the U.S. military doesn't even have control over where these soldiers are positioned, only the company does. But, when hired thugs are allowed to run rampant in a war zone I feel I need to stop ranting for those that have died on their side of the guns and start advocating some damn law and order applied to civilians that are compensated for killing.

Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CONTRACTOR_SHOOT
INGS?SITE=NCKIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Subpoenas for Medical Records

In Portland, Oregon Chief U.S. District Judge Robert H. Whaley is working on a ruling of whether or not to throw out the DEA requests for medical records of 17 medical marijuana patients. According to OregonLive's News Flash,the subpoenas were served on the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, which issues permits to patients and their authorized growers.
They also sent a subpoena to The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation, a Portland clinic where doctors determine whether a patient's condition would be eased by marijuana.

There are 11 other states that currently allow marijuana for medical use, although they also have lists of conditions for which the medical marijuana is appropriate. Section 3, (a) through Section 3 (c) of the 1998 Oregon Medical Marijuana Act describes the approved conditions as:

(a) Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or treatment for these conditions;
(b) A medical condition or treatment for a medical condition that produces, for a specific patient, one or more of the following:
(i) Cachexia;
(ii) Severe pain;
(iii) Severe nausea;
(iv) Seizures, including but not limited to seizures caused by epilepsy; or
(v) Persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to spasms caused by multiple sclerosis; or
(c) Any other medical condition or treatment for a medical condition adopted by the division by rule or approved by the division pursuant to a petition submitted pursuant to section 14 of this Act.

However, these 11 states, as well as the two other states considering making medical marijuana legal, are going through some rough legal battles between the feds and those involved with the medical marijuana use and dispensing. The federal government only recognizes marijuana as a schedule 1 drug that should be outlawed, has no medical uses, and anyone involved in medicinal marijuana use, cultivation, or prescribing is giving money to terrorists; according to current drug czar, John P. Walters - read his 'description' on this link to the White House Office of National Drug Control policy. You should notice how is details none of the current threats to landlords in California who rent to Medical Marijuana dispensaries. Nor does it explain how the Drug Czar sees fit to abandon the constitution side by side with good ol' George W. and pry into citizens' personal medical histories.

Other drugs labeled schedule 1 include heroin, Lysergic acid diethylamide, peyote, and Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).

Many of California's medical marijuana users and growers are being sent to jail, prosecuted and fined for providing or receiving LIFE SAVING treatments.

Kris Hermes, a spokesman for the advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, said the subpoenas suggest the DEA is looking beyond prosecuting dealers.
"It sends a message to the other states and their programs that they're vulnerable to federal interference," he said. "It doesn't take a brick to hit you over the head to know that the federal government is trying to undermine California's medical marijuana law, given all the raids and threats to landlords.
"This is one step further that shows the federal government is very serious about going after patients."

I can not see how any citizen of this country, founded on freedom, is ok willing to let patients suffer because the federal government believes they have the right to bring extinction upon a plant that has survived on this earth longer than us. A plant that has helped the human race for hundreds of generations. Who has the right to allow consumption of poisons which only, deteriorate the human body, and criminalize the consumption of a plant that helps to cure ailments, and create shelter for the human race. And, I'm not only talking about the over 400,000 different 'scripts out there. I am talking about the MSG and other poisons in foods sold nationally, globally, the lead, the asbestos cover-ups, 'black lung' and many, many more.

We must remember, too, that the federal government DOES in fact grow marijuana. They issue the federally grown marijuana to 13 lucky medical marijuana patients. This marijuana helps these people cope with the specific conditions and help to allow them to live productive, 'normal' lives which they would otherwise be incapable of doing.

It is time, America, to take a stand and not let the government bully these people around anymore. We have rights, we have privacy rights, and, unless each government official will let us in on their medical histories, background checks, and wiretapping, then I suggest to them they 'BACK OFF!'

No Rest for the Wicked

A non-denominational church, High Point Church in Arlington, Texas, was scheduled to host a memorial service for a Navy war veteran. However, the veteran, Cecil Howard Sinclair, was discovered to be gay by the church. This discovery was made by members of the church who were putting together his tribute video, which revealed pictures of men “engaging in clear affection, kissing and embracing”; according to an MSNBC report this morning.

The church’s pastor, the Rev. Gary Simons said that the church believes homosexuality is a sin, and it would have appeared to endorse that lifestyle if the service had been held there. I say, isn't everyone a sinner? Or does this church only hold funeral or memorial services for Jesus Christ? Yes. I do believe that in the Christian faith, everyone is a sinner, which is why Jesus was sent here in the first place. Now sins are being labeled that are not recognized by the Ten Commandments, but are worse.

Being gay is not mentioned in any one of the commandments, but love thy neighbor as thyself is. I hope Rev. Simons doesn't know about the gay Lutheran pastors. In a related MSNBC article, it has been reported that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is now allowing gay relationship to continue with their clergymen without punishment. If the High Point Church in Arlington can't hold a memorial service for a veteran, who will the hold memorial services for? It would most likely be easy to find such things out, and to write about what kind of sinners they have helped remember in the past, or what lifestyles they have condoned, or what kind of lifestyles some of their members live, but I believe that would be wrong!

It does not matter what 'lifestyle' this person led, because no one else could be much better, although being gay is not even a sin. The Lutherans don't believe so, isn't that enough? I believe the church officials who made this decision are the 'sinners', would it be fair for me to decline them their rights to a peaceful memorial service in honor and memory of their lives, contributions to society, and for their families? I believe not.

What Do You Think About When You Pay Taxes?

In a recently published commentary, a patriotic citizen discusses his logic in What Do Citizens Owe the Government? In this commentary, he explains why our taxes should be evaluated, and we should be receiving receipts from the governments. (Well, he doesn't actually talk about receipts, but that what it made me think of.)

James Bovard, a policy advisor to The Future of Freedom Foundation, published this commentary this morning. It was an inspiration to read. He goes over topics like public schools, public roads, speed limits, police protection and military, and how our taxes compare to the cost of these so-called services, and what is actually provided.

It is a very interesting commentary, and brings up interesting issues. One excerpt: "Nor can people owe obedience to government for any activity that the people could have done better themselves."

Beautiful. When I read that, so many things came to mind. Medicine. That really came first. There are so many harmful drugs that only deteriorate our bodies and poison us so that we need even more pharmaceuticals to counter those affects. Instead of these, there are many natural cures, or at least treatments to counter those affects-such as medical marijuana. Chemotherapy- not pretty. Cancer patients undergoing this treatment can suffer many side-affects, including nausea, loss of appetite and others. But, the use of medical marijuana has been proven to counter those affects, but it is illegal. People who pay taxes shouldn't be paying them if those taxes will buy the criminalization of medicine that heals many ailments.
And when he began about public roads, and the fact that most speed limits posted are actually 15 mph under the. James Board reports that Federal Highway Administration traffic-safety engineers Samuel Tignor and Davey Warren concluded in a 1990 study that most speed zones were “posted 15 m.p.h. below the maximum safe speed; that, on average, speed limits are set too low to be accepted as reasonable by most drivers, and that the posted speeds make violators out of motorists who drive reasonably and safely.”

Now I understand why I feel the need to speed so much. Not terribly much past the speed limit, I usually maintain a speed between 65-70 mph, because that is where I feel comfortable. And, from what I've noticed, the people who seem to feel most comfortable going 52 mph on the highway, they usually drive as if the should never have passed their driver's test, or at least need to take a new one!

An intriguing piece of artwork posted on Deviant.com , entitled Death and Taxes diagrams the Federal Discretionary Budget of 2004. Take a look yourself at the Federal Office of Budget and Management's website. It details US budget information including requests, and distributions for 2006 and 2007.

I think that taxes should be a lot more localized than they are currently to allow for more efficient spending. I should also have the right to refuse to pay taxes if I don't believe they are being spent on, well for starters, on things I know about! We should all be informed about why are money is going towards certain things, and the exact expenses incurred from these happenings. I mean, if we were given the right to not pay taxes, I understand a lot of people would not pay taxes without having just cause. Perhaps the legal system can be put into use for citizens. To help the general population be a bigger part of the checks and balance system that is only in place within the 3 main branches of the government. Perhaps, We should be considered the 4th branch?

California's Deadliest Earthquake

According to a story from The Raw Story, an apocalyptic earthquake is long overdue for the great state of California. A government scientist states that earthquakes of this magnitude usually hit California every 150 years, however it has been 300 years since the last one, making it long overdue. Its waiting, and building up. Several thousand are expected to die, and billions of dollars worth of damage is expected to be incurred by the monstrous quake.
They believe it will be a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that will shake through the San Andreas Fault. Torrance and Palm Springs have been deemed as the two 'case study cities' because they carry the weight of being the most potentially harmed during a quake of such magnitude.

The researchers would like to also study more in cities without the landscape destruction and more the economical and political chaos such an earthquake would cause. Aside from property damages, lives lost and other environmental changes, the economical influence could be devastating as well, especially in cities where the earthquake did not reach.

Nick Juliano, of The Raw Story, reports; "Scientists consider a quake along the San Andreas Fault in the Coachella Valley "a near inevitability," the Palm Springs Desert Sun reports, noting that such a quake could be the "most destructive natural disaster in U.S. history."

The Nation: Personal stories of Iraq war combat veterans

Recently published in The Nation is an exhaustive and extensive journey into the soldiers minds who witnessed the immoralities being carried out in Iraq. Beginning in July 2006, The Nation interviewed forty soldiers, eight marines and two sailors for seven months. - the resulting piece is entitled The Other War: Iraq Vets Bear Witness.

From The Nation: "American troops in Iraq lacked the training and support to communicate with or even understand Iraqi civilians, according to nineteen interviewees. Few spoke or read Arabic. They were offered little or no cultural or historical education about the country they controlled. Translators were either in short supply or unqualified. Any stereotypes about Islam and Arabs that soldiers and marines arrived with tended to solidify rapidly in the close confines of the military and the risky streets of Iraqi cities into a crude racism."

Above: Michael Harmon (Army Medic) recalls U.S. troops "using derogatory terms for Iraqis."

Broken Promises and the Military Industrial Complex

A commentary by Clarence Page ran in my local paper today. The piece begins with the story of a marine who returned from Iraq in 2004 and committed suicide a few months later. His family is suing the Department of Veterans Affairs for denying him medical treatment:

The parents, who joined the antiwar group Military Families Speak Out after their son's death, do not seek money damages. They only hope their lawsuit will force the Bush administration to take swift action to overhaul the VA, they say."

The case of Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Lucey is tragic, but hardly surprising. The same conservatives who call liberals "unpatriotic" for questioning the invasion of Iraq, and accuse us of "not supporting the troops," and claim that Democrats have "invested in failure" have been consistently underfunding the troops to a degree that can only be described as criminal. According to a related broadcast of Democracy Now:

"[In July] two major lawsuits were filed that could put the [Bush] administration's treatment of veterans on trial. A class-action suit on behalf of hundreds of thousands of soldiers accuses the Department of Veterans Affairs of ignoring veterans' mental health care needs and overzealously denying medical care and benefits. The plaintiffs are two veterans groups. Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth say returning soldiers are denied care through outright rejection or the long waiting process in a backlog of some 600,000 pending claims."

It's an injustice in the military-industrial complex that isn't discussed very often: The million-dollar ad campaigns that encourage young people to enlist in the military with promises of money for college, career training, and a way out of poverty. Taxpayer money is being thrown at advertising agencies and media markets - not to mention defense contractors - but when veterans need medical treatment there's no money to be found.

Up to 800,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are said to suffer or risk developing post-traumatic stress disorder - and the administration that promised them better lives and to make them "Army Strong" has nothing to offer them but empty words and yellow ribbon stickers.

Defense Department and the Evangelical Crusades

The OSU (Operation Straight Up) is an evangelical entertainment group whose goal is to entertain active duty soldiers with their beliefs. They are planning, according to AlterNet, "to mail copies of the controversial apocalyptic video game, Left Behind: Eternal Forces to soldiers serving in Iraq. OSU is also scheduled to embark on a Military Crusade in Iraq in the near future."

"We feel the forces of heaven have encouraged us to perform multiple crusades that will sweep through this war torn region," OSU declares on its website about its planned trip to Iraq. "We'll hold the only religious crusade of its size in the dangerous land of Iraq."

Now, OSU is an official affiliate of Defense Department's 'America Supports You' program. I, as many others, ask what kind of separation of church and state is this? To send apocalyptic messages to the brave U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Isn't Iraq in such a state because of people's beliefs being forced on others? "The constitution has been assaulted and brutalized," Mikey Weinstein, former Reagan Administration White House counsel, ex-Air Force judge advocate (JAG), and founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, told me, [Max Blumenthal, TheNation.com]. "Thanks to the influence of extreme Christian fundamentalism, the wall separating church and state is nothing but smoke and debris. And OSU is the IED that exploded the wall separating church and state in the Pentagon and throughout our military." Weinstein continued: "The fact that they would even consider taking their crusade to a Muslim country shows the threat to our national security and to the constitution and everyone that loves it."

A good thing coming from the OSU is the fact that the are sending Freedom Packages to the soldiers in Iraq. In these packages there are socks, and baby wipes, and Left Behind: Eternal Forces the video game! WOW! According to Max Blumenthal of The Nation, "The game is inspired by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins' bestselling pulp fiction series about a blood-soaked Battle of Armageddon pitting born-again Christians against anybody who does not adhere to their particular theology. In LaHaye's and Jenkins' books, the non-believers are ultimately condemned to "everlasting punishment" while the evangelicals are "raptured" up to heaven."

I would assume that the soldiers in Iraq would love to play a video game that requires them to kill people of unlike faith, kind of a reflection of the Iraqi's, is it not?

Monkey Smuggles

We've been led to believe that there is a thing called homeland security. Well, apparently there is. With security measures that include harassing senior citizens and the shoe elves the average business traveler carries with them (in their shoes, naturally), but monkeys can now get onto planes, wearing nothing but a hat!

MSNBC reports that on Tuesday, a monkey had traveled from Lima, Peru all the way to LaGuardia NY airport. According to Spirit Airlines spokeswoman Alison Russell, passengers on the flight had noticed the little monkey emerging from the man's hat and asked him if he knew he had a monkey on him. "The monkey spent the remainder of the flight in the man’s seat and behaved well, said Russell, who didn’t know how it skirted customs and security."

Naturally, police were waiting for them man when he arrived in LaGuardia, confiscated the little marmoset and took it for questioning. The monkey rather. No-the monkeys didn't take the police for questioning, the police took the man for questioning, and threw the little monkey in quarantine. Charges have yet to be filed.

U.S. troops in Iraq reach record high, still having a hell of a time

With around 162,000 U.S. troops in Iraq now, this is the most ever since the beginning of the war. Will even the most troops we ever had there, partly due to the 30,000 surge, have any impact. The answer is no. It wouldn't even matter if there were double that. It's just going to be more American soldiers who die from a disgusting guerrilla war and the incompetence of out leaders who have destroyed and let Iraq go to shit.

And even with this new record high, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said, "There is no change to the level of effort and the combat power that we are projecting into Iraq." So what now there are people just sitting around doing nothing? Reuters

Schwarzenegger Offered One Billion Dollars

Currently, the state of California has a budget crisis. To try and balance the budget out, legislators are bickering over which social services should be cut. This isn't fair. It isn't even right. People need those social services. There is a hero in this story, however. Well, heroes is more like it. Many, many heroes! They call themselves Let Us Pay Taxes.

The Let Us Pay Taxes group has offered Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger one billion dollars to be put toward the budget crisis. The thing is; this money will be coming from a coalition of California marijuana growers and dealers. Whats the Terminator to do? Terminate the crisis with taxes that taxpayers would actually be willing to pay!

David Guard of StopTheDrugWar.org writes that regulation and taxation of marijuana could produce up to six billion dollars in additional tax revenue, according to economic studies linked from their web site LetUsPayTaxes.com. In addition, it could save up to ten billion dollars in enforcement costs. “That is a conservative estimate,” said Schaffer, spokesman for Let Us Pay Taxes. “By other estimates, the revenues could be five times that. The economists are with us all the way on this one. Marijuana prohibition is an economic disaster.”

So, what's the problem? The problem began with Reefer Madness and marijuana tax stamps in the earlier part of last century. The Drug Czar John Walters continually states that money from marijuana transaction goes into the hands of terrorists and criminals. Is this guy for real? Of course it is! I mean, in terms of anyone who touches marijuana is a criminal! (ok, that may have been a small exaggeration). But, the prohibition Walters is supporting creates the monetary flow from good, hard working citizens who just want to relax, or escape disease-related pain to black market criminals who, in a lot of cases, will do anything to make a buck.

I believe this is where the belief that marijuana is a gateway drug comes from. I mean, where marijuana is outlawed, good people must look toward the streets for relief, because they know that marijuana is not bad. But, a lot of these street dealers are only capitalizing on these people, and introducing them to their other 'wares', so they make more money!

I truly think that if people were able to grow their own cannabis, or buy it from regulated dealers, they would be extremely happy! And, the possibility of the marijuana being 'laced' with other potentially hazardous substances, such as cocaine, would be slim to none. AND the country would have much more coming in from taxes to be applied to other things. Well, maybe we should wait until after Bush is out of office, then it would go toward causes for the people, of the people, and by the people.

Let Us Pay Taxes calls upon all US citizens to sign their petition at their web site LetUsPayTaxes.com and press the issue with their lawmakers. “Take the money, please,” said Schaffer. “These people want to contribute. Now it is up to our politicians to tell us why they want to send those billions to foreign criminal gangs rather than to their own voters." Press Release

Presidential Candidates and LGBT Issues

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has released a comprehensive analysis (pdf) of the top 19 candidates for the 2008 presidency and their positions on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues.

The good news is, all the prominent Democratic candidates are supportive of the majority of LGBT issues analyzed. All of them are in support of some kind of partnership recognition rights (such as civil unions) - though only two Democratic candidates support completely equal marriage rights (Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich). Kucinich is the only 2008 presidential candidate who has publicly supported all eight LGBT issues. All of the other candidates, including my favorites, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, are 7/8 - except Gravel, whose positions on three issues, including LGBT adoption, are unknown.

The Executive Director of the Task Force, Matt Foreman had this to say:

"The differences between the Democratic and Republican fields of candidates on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues are shockingly stark and profoundly depressing. Over time, the majority of Americans have moved to support basic fairness for LGBT Americans, including nondiscrimination and hate crimes laws, repeal of 'Don't Ask Don't' Tell,' and protections for our families. Sadly, the Republican field has gone in the opposite direction, still clearly pandering to the venom of the so-called 'religious right...' The public statements and voting records of the Democratic candidates show that they are clearly light years ahead of the Republicans on almost every issue important to the LGBT community. Nevertheless, the lack of courage on marriage equality is disturbing on both political and moral grounds..."

Ah, yes, I'd almost forgotten about the Republicans...

"Across the board, Republican candidates were in opposition to the majority of LGBT issues, with most publicly opposing lifting the military's ban on openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. Ten of 11 Republican candidates also oppose any partnership recognition for same-sex couples, whether it be marriage equality, civil unions or domestic partnerships..."

If you were curious, there was one candidate who has publicly opposed all eight LGBT issues: Mitt Romney, who receives my award for Right-Wing Ass-Hat of the Week. Congratulations, douchebag.

Who Guessed Weapons Would Come Up Missing?

Weapons missing? Yep-that's right! According to a report by the Washington Post today, the Pentagon has lost track of about 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, according to a new government report. Honestly, I really can't even begin to be surprised. Oh, yes, the report goes on, to say that there are fears now that these weapons might possibly be in the dangerous, destructive hands of the very same insurgents that the US troops are fighting!

How dare those Iraqi insurgents! Every good American knows that you aren't supposed to actually USE the weapons a country gives you, especially not towards them. And, ESPECIALLY not when you are at war with them! And, every good Iraqi knows that YOU DON'T GIVE WEAPONS TO COUNTRIES YOU ARE AT WAR WITH! Especially when you are in their country, meddling in their business!

Although, all this is just speculation. No one can really say for sure where almost 190,000 AK-47 rifles and pistols went off to, they are just missing, according to the Government Accountability Office (we have one of those?). What else does the GAO have to say? Well, they need to put the blame on someone. According to the GAO, weapons distribution was haphazard and rushed and failed to follow established procedures, particularly from 2004 to 2005, when security training was led by Gen. David H. Petraeus, who now commands all U.S. forces in Iraq.

If I were over in Iraq, I think I would have some kind of problem letting Gen. Petraeus run things. If he was in charge of security training, why are almost 190,000 weapons MIA? Oh, and that is up from only 14,000 last year.

Controls have been tightened since 2005, because of previous errors and unaccountability, but it seems serial numbers are too much for the Pentagon to handle. Without tracking which serial numbers were given to whom, it is nearly impossible for the US military to know whether it is battling an enemy equipped by American taxpayers.

I can only guess what kinds of unaccountability's, inconsistencies, errors, miscalculations and other misc. happenings are going on with the security back in the homeland. On second thought, I'll just leave it to Bush.

Examining "Pro-Life" Propaganda

Planned Parenthood is opening a new full service health center in Aurora, Illinois. Joseph Scheidler, the head of a group called the Pro-Life Action League, sent out this truly disturbing fundraising letter, which outlines their crusade against the Aurora clinic.

In the letter, Scheidler refers to Planned Parenthood as an "abortion mill" and a "killing chamber." He makes no mention of the numerous other health services that Planned Parenthood provides to women and girls. He describes plans to try to convince contractors not to work on the building. He brags about his son taking photos of the contractors' vehicles. He writes about hiring lawyers to try to find a zoning ordinance or other flimsy excuse to keep the clinic from opening. He also writes about his other expenses:

"Bills from my printer alone are staggering. We have to print literally tons of leaflets, brochures and pamhlets to get the word out about abortion. Of course, it's all worth it, because we're saving babies with those pieces of paper."

But is "saving babies" really the PLAL's goal? Or is their goal to terrorize women, threaten healthcare providers, and enforce their personal views on morality?

The next section of Scheidler's letter mentions "sidewalk counseling" - in other words, protesting. Screaming at and threatening clinic personnel and customers. Waving gruesome banners and trying to frighten women with threats of eternal damnation and sometimes, physical violence. He even has a name for volunteers who try to protect these women from their "counseling": deathscorts.

This is what the "pro-life" movement is. Threats. Intimidation. Manipulation. Moral superiority. They offer no practical solutions for preventing abortions, only ways to make it harder for women in a desperate situation to receive the medical care that they need.

Planned Parenthood is doing more to prevent abortions than any so-called "pro-life" group. Planned Parenthood educates the public about sexuality and pregnancy and STI prevention. Planned Parenthood distributes birth control. Planned Parenthood prevents unwanted pregnancies. Fewer unwanted pregnancies means fewer abortions. Yes, they provide abortions, but they are first and foremost an organization dedicated to the prevention of unwanted pregnancies.

People genuinely interested in preventing abortion should be interested in preventing the causes of abortion. But most prominent "pro-life" organizations are actually opposed to comprehensive sex education and birth control. I've been reading How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America: Freedom, Politics, and the War on Sex by Christina Page, which has shocking details about this phenomenon. I think it's one of the most important books you could ever read, no matter how you personally feel about abortion.

To help Planned Parenthood continue to fight for reproductive choice and women's autonomy, you can donate locally or nationally. Scheidler can probably get a lot of donations by claiming that he's trying to "save babies." Planned Parenthood has the truth on their side, but unfortunately, the truth isn't always what makes people get out their checkbooks.

When is Murder Not Murder?

Murder. Think about that word, and what it means to you. To me, it means to kill someone. Now, obviously, there are a lot of different killings going on. A big one, the war in Iraq, the recent crumbling of the bridge, people killing people out of rage, revenge, all sorts of different circumstances. The question is, is one better than the other?

I'm looking at the Huffington Post's article about Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III, who received 15 years in prison, was dishonorably discharged, reduced in rank to private, and also given a written reprimand this last Thursday in Camp Pendleton, Cal. The jury sentenced Hutchins Friday for the murder of an Iraqi civilian during a search for an insurgent.

Hutchins says he was only carrying out what he thought his superiors wanted. And I ask, how would one not be confused? Reflecting on the story about suspected terrorist activities in a junk-submarine (sorry to the men who made it), and the recent stories about suspected 'dry-terrorist runs' in the airport, where 65 year old woman are being asked if they know Osama bin Laden, I mean, are supposed to think the terrorists are everywhere?

My next question is, Hutchins and the rest of the brave soldiers in Iraq, are they not sent there to kill? What makes one right and the other wrong? Is the only difference that President Bush didn't say to kill 'that guy'? If I were Christian, I would think that the 6th commandment "Thou shall not KILL", would mean that thou shall not kill. Apparently, however, the bible, along with our constitution, is up for interpretation by the Bush administration.

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said, "If there is a perception that our soldiers can commit these crimes and only get a slap on the wrist, that's not going to send a very good message." But going into Iraq, meddling in their business, getting our soldiers killed, and killing other people, this is a better message? Interesting.

Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies, The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for own goodwill torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C.S. Lewis

River Rat Terrorists?

Yesterday, police officers saw a suspicious submarine in the East River in NY, dangerously close to the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship. Suspecting terrorism, the brave NY officers arrested the 3 men-only to find out there was no threat of terrorism, not even a threat at all! (Sound familiar?). It turned out the three men had created this sub in an attempt to replicate an earlier version of a submarine. According to WNBC, the police are saying this was 'marine mischief'. No charges yet, but it is possible, if 'marine mischief' can be considered a charge, especially if there was no 'actual evidence of mischief of any kind!'

My question is, what kind of society are we living in now? I mean, a floating submarine can't possibly be a priority for the brave, tough officers of Long Island, can it? And, I mean, to them, a terrorist (or so we think) attack is hi-jacked planes crashing into the tallest towers in the world, blowing them up and leaving horrible scenes, death, destruction and asbestos.

They know that the terrorists were obviously smart enough to high-jack 2 planes, so do they think they would plan an attack in a not-so-good-looking home made submarine and kind of just float around a cruise ship? Or, is this just the adminsitration's attack on good old American innovation, creativity and integrity? I don't know. You tell me!

FBI Spyware: Is It In You?

A ruling this month by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is allowing the FBI to search your computer-without any type of warrant. And it goes beyond free music downloads or porn. It goes through everything.
In an affidavit seeking a search warrant to use the software FBI agent Norman Sanders describes the software as a "computer and internet protocol address verifier," or CIPAV.

Oh yes. The FBI is now able to (and has been for some time) enter your virtual property, and physical property at the same time, with or without warrants! And what does this CIPAV do? It hides in your computer, like a trojan virus and records everything. Sanders wrote that the spyware program gathers a wide range of information, including the computer's IP address; MAC address; open ports; a list of running programs; the operating system type, version and serial number; preferred internet browser and version; the computer's registered owner and registered company name; the current logged-in user name and the last-visited URL.

WOW.

And what are they looking for? The source of e-mailed bomb threats against a Washington high school which took place last month. Kevin Poulsen, of Wired reports that "the code [virus] led the FBI to 15-year-old Josh Glazebrook, a student at the school, who on Monday pleaded guilty to making bomb threats, identity theft and felony harassment".

This technology has been in use by the FBI since 1999, and has only improved since then. when will they start putting cameras in the monitors to watch what you are doing? Or turn on your webcams or microphones and listen to you and watch you without your knowing? Where should we draw the line? I say, draw it at the front door.

Ask.com Actually Values Complete Privacy of Users

I'd like to give a very big THANK YOU to Ask.com for taking action to bring a major easy-to-use privacy feature on their search engine by the end of this year. Some of you may have heard, the feature will be called 'AskEraser' and it will enable users to turn storage of their search history on and off.

As Ask.com CEO Jim Lanzone says: "Anonymous user data can be very useful to enhance search products for all users, and we're committed to being open and transparent about how such information is used. But we also understand that there are some who are interested in new tools that will help protect their privacy further, and we will give them that control on Ask.com."

Currently all of your search history data is stored for 18 months, similar to Google's privacy policy, but not when you have AskEraser turned on. Choice is important, and even more important is making those choices user-friendly. Hopefully Google, Yahoo, and MSN will follow suit otherwise, I'll be using Ask.com a little more often along with many others who value their privacy. Press release

The Constancy of Shamelessness

I frequent political message boards. They used to be places where intelligent people could discuss political issues. Politics itself used to value discussion. We all like to believe we live in a world, and a country, where tolerance and acceptance have become common and wanted. But more and more we're forced to see bigotry creeping in like a reigniting torch on a lawn that for a time was only smoldering. I can't scroll down the craigslist.org political forum without seeing several anti-Islam, anti-Judaism, anti-lib, anti-con, and anti-everyone posts. But, the strangest thing I've recently noticed is the barrage of anti-feminism comments.

I see posts that actually say women shouldn't work, that they need men to take care of them, and that they are trying to destroy America. Obviously posts like that come from people will their own problems and issues. But ideas like that come from a place that can only be taught. And I'm forced to wonder, what does our ability to educate complete strangers through dialog and rational conversation say about the fact that foolish, sexist ideas perpetuated only by the ignorant still exist?

Some more paranoid Liberals I've heard say it's part of a plot by the right to galvanize their white male base; especially in the coming fight against Hillary Clinton. Given the things I've seen politically inclined people do in my lifetime I wouldn't put it past anyone to manipulate hatred for their own goals. But I see the facts as being far more simplistic.

Opportunism is the most prevalent thing the world. (Think about that statement, it makes sense.) And that leads to the worst things we all do. The Internet opens men who already have biases against women to moronic websites like savethemales.ca. And the exceptionally well-scripted --for the purpose of playing on fear and anger-- text inspires the fools to action. It's sad.

I can't say either side of the isle is above playing on people's emotions. I can't even say I've never done it. I can't provide reasons for hate or bias. And I can't say I'm not exceptionally offended by these sexist posters because of my own personal attitudes even beyond what offense any logical being would feel. But I can end a post like this with an urge to all intelligent, reasonable people to call these deluded souls on how insipid they are. I suppose support like that is the best I can hope for.