This evening in Denver, John McCain courted the Denver Petroleum Club for some big energy kickback campaign funds. Not-so patiently awaiting his arrival were some protesters from the AFL-CIO and ProgressNow. I was caught in the mix with my crappy video camera and managed to get some fairly humorous footage. In the following video, I love how the sea parts right in front of me as McCain heads towards the door, nearly running into my lens with his walnut cheeks.
The girl at :20 was not at all happy with the crowd. ☺
On another note, and you can quote me on this, the guy in the suit here was talking about “beating” protesters—apparently because he disagrees with them. I didn’t get him on tape saying that but if you can identify him, let me know because he is a real fascist jerk.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Short End of Consumerism's Big Stick
Howdy Y'all! Ever wonder why we can afford to fill the empty spaces with loads and loads of cheap crap? Well thats easy: sweatshops!
Its no secret (actually its a BIG secret), that cutthroat capitalism has abandoned our historically unionizing workforce and gone to beautiful faraway places like Asia and South America in search of cheap labor to make cheap crap. The whacky laws and trade agreements the US has with various regions enable big businesses to build manufacturing plants that destroy the environment and destroy the people. Without education and action by the US consumer, there is little hope.
For your compassionate consideration, China Blue is an excellent documentary about sweatshops in China. In its entirety:
Here is a handy Sim Sweatshop Game for parents and kids to play so we can all get a little taste of the frustration and injustice in sweatshops.
And remember:
There is no 'I' in teamwork but there is in 'win' which is not in slavery!
(I get a little link-happy sometimes)
:)
Its no secret (actually its a BIG secret), that cutthroat capitalism has abandoned our historically unionizing workforce and gone to beautiful faraway places like Asia and South America in search of cheap labor to make cheap crap. The whacky laws and trade agreements the US has with various regions enable big businesses to build manufacturing plants that destroy the environment and destroy the people. Without education and action by the US consumer, there is little hope.
For your compassionate consideration, China Blue is an excellent documentary about sweatshops in China. In its entirety:
Fun for all!
Here is a handy Sim Sweatshop Game for parents and kids to play so we can all get a little taste of the frustration and injustice in sweatshops.
And remember:
There is no 'I' in teamwork but there is in 'win' which is not in slavery!
(I get a little link-happy sometimes)
:)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Security Theater in Denver
Last night in Downtown Denver an average, middle aged guy with a
haircut wearing clothes was caught on tape trying to steal a woman's
purse. She clings to her purse, refusing to let go. Victory is
hers!!!...sorta.
Let's examine a bit: Here we have a violent crime caught on tape. No real description from the woman or any bystanders (also on tape) but at least its caught on film, right?
PHEW!
...oh no wait a minute. The video affords no assistance in identifying the man.
I know I am likely preaching to the chorus but if the video camera on the corner of 15th and Champa st can’t corroborate the identity of an attacker when it gets the entire incident on tape, then how could I ever rationally champion such surveillance?
And you can see the camera on the fourth floor of the gray building here .
p.s. this is very close to where the DNC is going to be... ba ba ba buummmm!!!
haircut wearing clothes was caught on tape trying to steal a woman's
purse. She clings to her purse, refusing to let go. Victory is
hers!!!...sorta.
Let's examine a bit: Here we have a violent crime caught on tape. No real description from the woman or any bystanders (also on tape) but at least its caught on film, right?
PHEW!
...oh no wait a minute. The video affords no assistance in identifying the man.
I know I am likely preaching to the chorus but if the video camera on the corner of 15th and Champa st can’t corroborate the identity of an attacker when it gets the entire incident on tape, then how could I ever rationally champion such surveillance?
And you can see the camera on the fourth floor of the gray building here .
p.s. this is very close to where the DNC is going to be... ba ba ba buummmm!!!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Unsettling Email from The Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute
On Wed, Mar 12, 2008 at 12:07 PM, Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute wrote:
A few weeks ago I ordered a conservative ladies calendar from The Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute so I could hang it in the BuyBlue office and we could all take turns defacing it. Now I am on the mailing list for The Institute and the half-truth propaganda just oozes from the infection that occasionally contaminates my inbox.
The latest installment is about how an actual real-life Muslim woman who writes books about her loyalty to Israel and the US was the hapless victim of crusties from female Muslim students while she gave a speech about Islamic law that mandates intense violence and subjugation against women. Apparently poor little Darwish was confused by the students' lack of enthusiasm to rally behind a Muslim who makes her living as an advocate of terror and tyranny.
Here is a great example of Ms Darwish's generalizing of Islam.
The email reads as thus:
Indeed I agree, as any thinking human being with two functional hemispheres would, that these atrocities are in the category of psychotic control issues and anyone who perpetrates such things is permanently damaged. I don't know what sort of justice could possibly be done for the victims of such crimes against humanity. That being said, I could understand why she who writes books about supporting Israel and the US policy that feeds it would get nasty looks from Muslim women. For Ms Darwish to selectively preach about human rights violations when she champions two of the biggest human rights abusers in the world is hypocritical and worthy of a lot more than some loathsome facial articulations.
Also from the email:
Here is my response:
"Sharia Islamic law is an elaborate legal system created to guarantee there is no defection from the Berlin Wall of the Muslim State. It subscribes to punishments such as stoning, flogging, and amputation of limbs—cruel and unusual by any human standards."
– Nonie Darwish
A few weeks ago I ordered a conservative ladies calendar from The Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute so I could hang it in the BuyBlue office and we could all take turns defacing it. Now I am on the mailing list for The Institute and the half-truth propaganda just oozes from the infection that occasionally contaminates my inbox.
The latest installment is about how an actual real-life Muslim woman who writes books about her loyalty to Israel and the US was the hapless victim of crusties from female Muslim students while she gave a speech about Islamic law that mandates intense violence and subjugation against women. Apparently poor little Darwish was confused by the students' lack of enthusiasm to rally behind a Muslim who makes her living as an advocate of terror and tyranny.
Here is a great example of Ms Darwish's generalizing of Islam.
The email reads as thus:
Recently I (Darwish) spoke at Wellesley College and a large number of female members of the Muslim Student Association attended. As I described the plight of seven Iranian women awaiting death by stoning for sexual violations, I saw no compassion towards their sisters in Islam. I saw only rigid faces and hardened, unsympathetic hearts. Some even made faces at me as I spoke. These young educated Muslim women live in America under the protection of the U.S. Constitution, far removed from the harsh realities of Sharia law I experienced.
I lived in the Middle East under Family Sharia for 30 years and witnessed its cruel and inhumane treatment of women. When I was a teenager, our maid (who was my age) was pregnant as a result of forced (as opposed to *un*forced???) rapes by her boss at the home where she previously worked. My mother, who did not want to send her back to her family because of the possibility she would be killed, sent her to a government facility. A year later, we learned the young maid was killed by her father and brother to protect the family honor.
I witnessed female genital mutilation (and did nothing about it while you were witnessing it?), a common practice that my mother and almost all her generation were forced to endure. I also witnessed polygamy and its devastating effect on family dynamics, husband-wife relationships, women-to-women relationships, and the upbringing of children ...
Indeed I agree, as any thinking human being with two functional hemispheres would, that these atrocities are in the category of psychotic control issues and anyone who perpetrates such things is permanently damaged. I don't know what sort of justice could possibly be done for the victims of such crimes against humanity. That being said, I could understand why she who writes books about supporting Israel and the US policy that feeds it would get nasty looks from Muslim women. For Ms Darwish to selectively preach about human rights violations when she champions two of the biggest human rights abusers in the world is hypocritical and worthy of a lot more than some loathsome facial articulations.
Also from the email:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nonie Darwish, the daughter of a high-ranking Egyptian army officer, was raised in Cairo and Gaza. She is founder of ArabsforIsrael.com and author of Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror.
The Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute’s mission is to prepare women for effective leadership and to promote leading conservative women. Policy Express is designed to deliver concise, fact-filled policy briefs authored by the best contemporary thinkers on today’s hottest topics and issues.
Here is my response:
Hello,
I am saddened to read about the terrible human rights violations perpetrated in the name of religion and control. I'm so glad that 'America Under God' does not practice such acts against women as depicted in the Old Testament like Deuteronomy. Praise Jesus we pick and choose what to follow in the bible and that we do not stone women for breaking the holy law. Given our high divorce rates, we would certainly have to stone most wives of our righteous Republican leaders both during and after their tenure as conservative kept-companions!
The issue here seems to be that though the Islamic students at Wellesley were "stone" faced during Nonie Darwish's hollow pleas, it was more likely due to the fact that they could smell a rat than it was that they are unsympathetic to oppression. It is Ms Darwish is the real rat. To support Israel's human rights violations funded by its daily welfare check of $6,800,000.00 from American taxpayers ---a check that exceeds the welfare budget of America's own stigmatized and confused people by 5.67 times, is traitorous not only to Islam, but to also to Christ and the compassion he intended to teach to everyone.
Your crusading efforts to plant the seeds of hate and holy war is vile and plainly evident. How dare you pick THIS to get on your soapbox and try to convince your little echo chamber that you care about women. Your own country in the name of your religion murdering, mutilating and shaming women all around the globe with foreign and domestic policies. Maybe if you poked your head out of your isolationist couture tea-parties you would see that the only reason you are as well off as you are is because of the blood that was shed for the profit your care-takers stole. Get your priorities straight or else you look like a hypocrite.
I will help you with your new priorities.
First on the list: large and multinational corporations fueled by their neo-conservative welfare queens in office.
-sufimarie
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IMPENDING DOOM?
Uh oh...
The irradiated and genetically modified chickens have come home to roost.
But fear not! There are some good ideas about how to help them.
The irradiated and genetically modified chickens have come home to roost.
But fear not! There are some good ideas about how to help them.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
EPA Scientists Want Recognition for Their Work
When I was working on BuyBlue I spent a lot of time questioning the validity of the Bush-appointed EPA. I really wanted to incorporate findings from the EPA into the corporate ratings system but I had valid suspicions of whether or not such a high-ranking and highly visible agency of the government really had the teeth to enforce the will of the people and her scientists.
Just because you aren't paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.U R saif
WAPO reports that unions have withdrawn from relations with EPA management because management doesn't, well... listen to sound scientific research. Its no surprise that people that are working hard to accomplish a mission of greater understanding under the pretense that they are toiling to better and protect society at large are miffed that they are being ignored.
My guess is that its a teensy bit disheartening to be neglected when the stakes are so high.
I was talking with my friend Aaron and Ms Heidi Vangenderen, Sr. Advisor on Climate Change & Energy, Office of the Governor, Denver, Colorado this evening about how the "debate" of energy and climate change (aka global warming) is skewed by various factors. Sadly the public perception is that on one "extreme" of the "debate" you have scientists making big scary claims of armagiddeon and on the other side you have lying profiteers that have purchased policy makers and time slots on the msm so as to smear and defame science and fact with "fair and balanced" bullshit claims that there is nothing to worry about.
Its another example of the convenience of having the pervasive public perception of fear-mongering from the hand-wringing liberal media.
In other words, the public thinks that there are two extremes to the "debate" so therefore the truth must be somewhere in the middle.
There is a great documentary about how the White House Council on Environmental Quality chief of staff Philip Cooney has effectively silenced the voice of climate change scientists so that public perception will be confused into submission.
Here is the trailer of Everything's Cool:
The documenting in the documentary combined the reasoning behind the recent action of the union withdrawal from the EPA are more evidence of the lack of integrity of institutions like the Ministry of Love, Environment and Truth to Keep Good Citizens Safe from Terrorists that can haz cheezburgrs n stuff EPA.
The story broke in 2005 when the NYT did a report on how Philip A. Cooney wouldedit demonstrate of his own leisure expertise the conclusive tentative findings of scientist liberal conspiracy whackos with PhDs so as to insert implications patriotic loyalty of doubt truth into the public perception. Of course with the public believing stupid shit like there being a man with a beard in the clouds on a throne in the sky wiretapping everything everyone does all the way down to meiosis ALL OF THE TIME makes us a teensy bit ripe for the power of suggestion.
God Bless America.
Remember:
WAPO reports that unions have withdrawn from relations with EPA management because management doesn't, well... listen to sound scientific research. Its no surprise that people that are working hard to accomplish a mission of greater understanding under the pretense that they are toiling to better and protect society at large are miffed that they are being ignored.
"EPA boasts of the principles of scientific integrity before the Congress and the public as an example of EPA's dedication to using only good science in its decision making, but refuses to agree to an adjudication process for resolving disputes arising from alleged violations," the union leaders wrote.
My guess is that its a teensy bit disheartening to be neglected when the stakes are so high.
I was talking with my friend Aaron and Ms Heidi Vangenderen, Sr. Advisor on Climate Change & Energy, Office of the Governor, Denver, Colorado this evening about how the "debate" of energy and climate change (aka global warming) is skewed by various factors. Sadly the public perception is that on one "extreme" of the "debate" you have scientists making big scary claims of armagiddeon and on the other side you have lying profiteers that have purchased policy makers and time slots on the msm so as to smear and defame science and fact with "fair and balanced" bullshit claims that there is nothing to worry about.
Its another example of the convenience of having the pervasive public perception of fear-mongering from the hand-wringing liberal media.
In other words, the public thinks that there are two extremes to the "debate" so therefore the truth must be somewhere in the middle.
There is a great documentary about how the White House Council on Environmental Quality chief of staff Philip Cooney has effectively silenced the voice of climate change scientists so that public perception will be confused into submission.
Here is the trailer of Everything's Cool:
The documenting in the documentary combined the reasoning behind the recent action of the union withdrawal from the EPA are more evidence of the lack of integrity of institutions like the
The story broke in 2005 when the NYT did a report on how Philip A. Cooney would
God Bless America.
Remember:
Think for Yourself
Question Authority
MORE BEEF WITH MR JOURNALIST BUDDY
I woke up at 3:30 this afternoon.
Reuters is out of it.
They wish me a good morning and then posit insolence: Iraqis Still Ask if US Invasion Was Worth It!!!
the second paragraph of the article:
Gee, Mr Journalist BUDDY, let me think about this while I watch the lead paint on my Hello Kitty assault rifle dry.
Reuters is out of it.
They wish me a good morning and then posit insolence: Iraqis Still Ask if US Invasion Was Worth It!!!
the second paragraph of the article:
The human cost is staggering -- anywhere between 90,000 and 1 million Iraqi civilians killed, according to various estimates; nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers dead; while 4 million Iraqis are displaced.
Gee, Mr Journalist BUDDY, let me think about this while I watch the lead paint on my Hello Kitty assault rifle dry.
Monday, March 10, 2008
UPDATE: New Seven Deadly Sins Apply to Corporate Personhood... or at least they should...
The only constant in the universe is change and The Vatican is no exception to that rule (nor is Barack Obama, for that matter). In their first attempt in..hell if I know, a looooong while, to keep up with the times, The Vatican has gently reinterpreted the ways and means to eternal hell.
From allheadlinenews.com:
Mgr Girotti named the new mortal sins to be
(1) genetic modification
(2) human experimentations
(3) polluting the environment
(4) social injustice
(5) causing poverty
(6) financial gluttony
and
(7) taking drugs.
What I mean by 'gently reinterpreted' is that really, The Vatican needs to effectively call out of some wicked sinners that are violating the new rules. Namely who I mean:
Because really, if the corporations are people debate is a real debate, then they are karmically (if you believe in that sorta thing) accountable in this lifetime and will then go to hell, right?
Aah man, that would be Sweet Caroline:
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Introduction
Hello.
Welcome to sleepingdoglies! For the last nine months I had been working on a project called BuyBlue.org. Sadly, the funding was abruptly pulled but during my tenure I did a lot of research into corporate social responsibility or CSR. The blog on BuyBlue never got around to being created but I still had a lot of ideas about what I wanted to write about. This is the place where all of that brainpower is going to be documented. Thanks for checking it out and please feel free to contribute.
Welcome to sleepingdoglies! For the last nine months I had been working on a project called BuyBlue.org. Sadly, the funding was abruptly pulled but during my tenure I did a lot of research into corporate social responsibility or CSR. The blog on BuyBlue never got around to being created but I still had a lot of ideas about what I wanted to write about. This is the place where all of that brainpower is going to be documented. Thanks for checking it out and please feel free to contribute.
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