Did He Really SAY That?

“What the American people have seen is this incredible disparity in which those people who had cars and money got out and those people who were impoverished died.”
— Ted Kennedy on Hurricane Katrina

“Ditto”
— Mary Jo Kopechne

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

ABC news anchor, Bob Woodruff, and his cameraman were seriously injured by an IED last week as they drove through the streets of Iraq. In other non-news, several unnamed and unmentioned American soldiers were either killed or injured last week by IEDs in the same country, Iraq.

I find this interesting because the media is overly concerned about their “own” and will continue to report on the anchor's condition throughout the day and night regardless of any interest (or lack of) conveyed by the viewer.

Americans are often criticized for being self-centered—for not knowing much about the world beyond their borders and for not doing more for the folks beyond those borders suffering for various reasons be it famine, disease, war, economics, etc. Our lack of knowledge dooms others because, I’m supposing, the power we hold as Americans is omnipotent.

I assert that the perpetrators of self-centered-ness are in fact the Media or MSM. They bring us ad nauseam one so-called and so-created scandal after another: the NSA “spying on good Americans” scandal, the Valerie “Jane Blonde” Plame scandal, WMD lies, Iraq/Afghanistan quagmires, etc etc etc.

They go on and on about Bush -–plainly most American (and European for that matter) MSM and many others (actors, writers, playwrights, philosophers, etc) are obsessed with the man. Is there nothing else??? Honestly, I would really like to know the progress or lack of in the Sudan or Sierra Leone or the Congo or Tibet or Indonesia and on and on.

The media supposedly reflects the world around us, clearly they reflect their world—selfish, self-interested and just plain ugly.

BUSY-BODY ALERT!

Tata too much time on her hands... I fear for her safety if residents do "withdrawal" from caffeine.

(I-Newswire) - City of Shaker Heights, OHIO - ( Jan 17, 2006) Following a health trend that appears to be brewing up all over the nation, Mayor Judith Rawson has signed a proclamation for the City of Shaker Heights that addresses the issues regarding caffeine intoxication and dependency.

In the proclamation the Mayor is "calling upon all Shaker Heights citizens, public and private institutions, business and schools to increase awareness and understanding of the consequences of caffeine consumption."

The proclamation also spells out many dangers of caffeine abuse such as heart disease, pancreas and bladder cancer, hypoglycemia, and central nervous system disorders. By getting the word out about the serious dangers of caffeine, Mayor Rawson hopes to prevent a substance that can "pose a significant hazard to health and longevity."

City of Shaker Heights is one of several cities across the country recognizing this annual event. This will be the third year for this event which is sponsored by the Caffeine Awareness Alliance, a non-profit organization. Marina Kushner, founder, states, "Each year more and more people are waking up to the real truth about the dangers of this ubiquitous drug. We are delighted that the mayor has recognized that this is not a laughing matter." Prior years have seen ways of celebrating this event ranging from educational events in school to even picketing outside coffee houses.

"During this month, we hope to reach out to educate business and consumers about the risk associated with caffeine dependency and to raise awareness about the impact it has on our society" says Kushner.

Kushner is an authority on the subject. She delves into both the physical and psychological dangers that caffeine can cause in her new book called "The Truth About Caffeine". In addition to the book, she has developed a line of caffeine-free coffee replacements called Soyfee, made from 100% organic soybeans. Soy has been shown to help lower cholesterol, fight heart disease and promote strong bones. For further information on the popular product please visit www.soycoffee.com.

But how does it jive with this:
Coffee: The New Health Food? Plenty of health benefits are brewing in America's beloved beverage.

I suspect someone wants to sell books and make money off aggitating.

More Tyranny from the Busy-Bodies and Looking to Get Rich on the Way

Forget parents, it's the job of the busybody to patrol what kids eat--what parents do or don't allow their children to consume is not the problem, it's companies that manufacture & market their wares--evil evil companies:

An advocacy group wants companies to stop marketing junk food to children. They're targeting two titans in a multi-million dollar lawsuit. They're going after the companies behind Tony the Tiger and Spongebob Squarepants: Kellogg foods and Viacom, owner of Nickelodeon TV.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest says junk food is making American kids unhealthy, and is threatening to sue for a billion dollars if they won't tone down ads aimed at kids.

Hire that Publicist!

That's what a good part of the African continent needs-- a publicity campaign like the masterful ones created by the Arab countries on behalf of the so-called Palestenians in Israel. Then, maybe the killings in Darfur, Congo and the apartheid in Zimbabwe (this time, whites are victimized), Somalia and Ethopia (religous and economic segregation and victimization) could get some world attention and much-needed intervention.

But the problem is, a good (i.e. effective) publicity campaign requires not just non-stop concentrated efforts and initiatives from a variety of disciplines (the media in all forms, NGOs, gov'ts, leaders, entertainers), but big BIG money. The Arab Oilers had it and spent it and continue to put their money where their mouth is, or rather, their interest is-- the annihilation of Israel and the Jews therein and for the obedient, the establishment of a Caliphate.

Africa needs to hire that publicist and NOW!

If I Seem a Little Cranky...

It's because I am.

I watched some of the MLK parade today that meandered through the streets of Crenshaw and thought "this is the best they can do? THIS is how they celebrate a great man who gave so much, sacrificing his very life for his ideals and the well-being of others?"

It was like watching a day at the Santa Monica boardwalk. People, in no order or organization, sometimes together with groups, sometimes alone, some with signs-- all walking down the street with no purpose really. Where's the pomp? The circumstance?

And the video, though playing the "best of" and trying to promote the positive aspect of the parade, sadly makes my point. http://ktla.trb.com/

The Tyranny of Busy-Bodies

New Jersey's Smoking ban is now official: http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2006/01/16/daily2.html?jst=b_ln_hl
And Washington's ban is official:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/251121_smoking07.html
No smoking in pubs & restaurants in NYC. No smoking on the beach in Santa Monica. In Michigan, a company called Weyco is testing employees for smoke and terminates them if they're caught smoking.

What's next--testing for high fat content foods? Smoking bans are just one of a littany of personal liberties and happiness pursuits that continue to be chipped away by the so-called do-gooders, those that think they are looking out for the "common good". Oh what new tyrannies await us around thy corner and under thy bed?

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny 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 our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
- C. S. Lewis

Brokeback Mountain A Winner? REALLY?? For Whom?

I think gay folks are just folks... people...human beings. Instead of having an inkling for the opposite sex, they have one for the same sex. I believe that a homosexual is born a homosexual, just like if you're heterosexual you're born heterosexual and that gay folks can no more turn off their attraction to the same sex as heterosexuals can turn off their attraction to the opposite sex. They're folks, like you, like me.

But to award a movie and actors for portraying people who are supposed to be not oddities, but like everyone else, is well, beyond me. Hollowood and gay advocacy groups say gays are just like everyone else and should be afforded the same "rights" (they are), dignities and place in society as "straight" folks (amen) and then Hollowood turns around and treats them as something out of a carnival or sci-fi movie (humanizing the creature), something is really really wrong with this picture.

I can not recall the last time a leading man in a dramatic love story has been noted for his acting ability. Can't think of one (Phoenix in Walk the Line played Johny Cash). But since the story of Brokeback Mountain is about a gay relationship, then this is really ACTING? What is the acting part? That Heath Ledger could ACT like he loves a man? This is DEEP... NOT. Crimeny.

If the point of awarding Brokeback Mountain the Golden Globe is to say that gay folks are like everyone else, then quit treating them like they're different, tell a good story and stop diminishing their humanity by pointing out how "normal" they really are and how acting like a gay is really ACTING.