Quote of the day

"“If you can look at a crime where everything points to one answer and not see it, you’re a dumbass. And if you can look at the deficit and not see that the problem is that the rich stopped paying taxes, you’re a Republican.” --Bill Maher, Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO

Don't look for good things to come out of Pakistan anytime soon

First we--the US--dropped the little "information bomb" that we're pulling $800 million of aid to Pakistan and then, in the last 24 hours, we dropped a bunch of drones in on them and killed a reported 45 "militants". Look for things to get extremely unfriendly to the point of hot over there, in time to come, for sure. Put this with the information that, next door, in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai's brother was just killed and, I'll tell you, this corner of the world doesn't look promising at all. At all. Links: http://news.yahoo.com/us-drones-strikes-pakistan-aid-cut-051600543.html; http://news.yahoo.com/pakistans-ex-president-criticizes-loss-us-aid-011124876.html; http://news.yahoo.com/younger-brother-afghan-president-killed-074921005.html

Budget negotiations in Washington devolving

President Obama warns today that failure to get these budget negotiations done and agreed on will keep Seniors in the country from getting their Social Security checks in August. Ouch. In the meantime, Senate Minority Leader Mitch "I'm in it for me" McConnell and House Majority Leader John "I don't have enough time to tan" Boehner are increasing their criticisms of the President. We should have seen this coming. Representative Boehner, however said the dumbest and most untrue thing of all, however, when he said the specter of the nation's credit default is "his problem", meaning President Obama's. To which I'd like to remind him that it absolutely is not. These clowns need to stop playing "chicken" or Russian roulette or whatever game they think they're playing with the nation--all of us out here---and our credit standing, the buffoons. Fortunately, there's this: "U.S. business leaders pressed Obama and congressional leaders to act swiftly to raise the $14.3 trillion U.S. debt ceiling -- which caps how much the United States can borrow -- or risk derailing a sputtering economic recovery and endangering the global financial system." I think this may likely mean that President Obama has them by their sensitive parts on this. Here's hoping. Links: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-lawmakers-fall-short-debt-deal-045247357.html; http://news.yahoo.com/mcconnell-boehner-increase-criticism-obama-162345932.html

Guess what city is NOT on Forbes "Next Big Boom Towns" list

Out today, Forbes Magazines list of "The Next Big Boom Towns" list and guess what city--heck, cities--is NOT on the list. Hint: one calls itself a "Barbecue Capital of the World" and another has a giant arch in its downtown in a desperate attempt for tourism. Still no clue? Here's another hint: none of the 9 are in the MINK states (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska or Kansas). Link: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/113083/next-big-boom-towns-forbes

2011 KC Aviation Expo coming up

 

The United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt along with an explosive pyrotechnic display will headline the 2011 Kansas City Air Show August 20-21 at the Kansas City Wheeler Downtown Airport. If you’re looking for a fun-filled event that promises to be a great time for virtually anyone, check out the 2012 Kansas City Aviation Expo Air Show on August 20th and 21st at the Kansas City Wheeler Downtown Airport. This year’s show has a star-studded lineup of The United States Air Force A-10 ThunderBolt, Jacquie B, U.S. Air Force Academy Gliders and much more. The 2011 air show will no doubt be an unforgettable experience for all who attend with many opportunities to see some of the best aviation acts in the country. For more information on event attractions and featured performers, ticket prices, directions, or any other questions you may have, go to http://www.kcairshow.com/ and check it out for yourself! For now, put it on your calendar and plan to attend.

"Country" singers who just really aren't "country"

Granted, I don't listen to much country (country western?) music but I hear some, anyway, and have to say, the conclusion has to be made that some of these singers--some of the biggest moneymakers, too--just absolutely aren't "country". They're about as country as I am. The ones that come to mind are, first and foremost, Taylor Swift. Puh-leeze. She MAYBE put out a song that was country some time ago, at the beginning of her career---and I like her music and voice, don't get me wrong--but this very successful kid is just all pop, that's all there is to it. Keith Urban is number two on the list. Again, strictly pop. Who are we kidding here? Next up? Darius Rucker. Absolutely. These people are as "country" as Michael Buble'. Sure, we should have seen this coming, what with country music going mainstream but my point is, let's just call these people what they are and that is "pop singers," based on the "pop music" they put out. The pretending just kills me.

Financial good news/bad news today

The bad news first: Italy may be going to hell in a debt handbasket right now, it's feared, so the EU is scrambling and people are freaking out a bit so naturally the 2nd wave--the double whammy, if you will--is that the markets are all down. The Dow is pretty close to 200 points down today at present. The good news? It wrecks the price of oil, fortunately and predictably. We can't support that high price of oil if not enough are buying. Links: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stocks-sink-on-fresh-fears-apf-3537054013.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=; http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Oil-drops-below-95-per-apf-3522845891.html;_ylt=AjawuDjIoyQ8mNdId8DG4cK7YWsA;_ylu=X3oDMTE1bzE5czZiBHBvcwM2BHNlYwN0b3BTdG9yaWVzBHNsawNvaWxkcm9wc3RvYmU-?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=3&asset=&ccode=

What's wrong with politicians, Washington and the country

The people in Washington--and the statehouses--don't, by and large, give a damn about running the country right or about doing what's for the best of the nation and its people, at all, clearly. One of the only things Americans agree on is that we're sick to death of Washington not working. It's all "my party" and "me" and "mine" and "whatever may be good for the corporation or group that's buying me off." It's political insanity, the American people are fed up with it and it's gone on far too long. It is what fostered the Tea Party and Libertarians before them, I believe. It's across the board, too. Too many Americans see their representatives in government taking care of themselves, first, with "political contributions" and their own free health care and pensions from us, the voters and citizens of the country, then they take care of the goals of their own political party, second, and it stops there. We're witnessing it right now with the budget and negotiations. No one--with the possible exception of Bernie Sanders (Sen., Ind., Vt.), in my opinion--is putting the country first when considering legislation or actions they can and should be taking. We need statesmen and -women and principled leaders in our government and we're not getting them. It's selfish. It's stupid. It's short-sighted and too frequently even mean-spirited, as we've seen. It has become, I believe, dangerous for the country and it ought to stop. It doesn't look as though it will but it needs to stop. And it needs to stop very, very soon. It won't, apparently, but it should. Here's hoping.

Not much sympathy for Muslims

There is a law proposed in Australia at present that is reputedly the toughest in the world on Muslim women regarding the burqa: 'World's toughest burqa laws' draw fire. A new Australian bill targeting Muslim women is slammed for being 'culturally insensitive.' CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Muslim women would have to remove veils and show their faces to police on request or risk a prison sentence under proposed new laws in Australia's most populous state that have drawn criticism as culturally insensitive. On the one hand, most of the world is all about freedom of expression and tolerance, sure. The flip side to this is that too many Muslims around the world have strapped bombs on themselves and killed and maimed many thousands of people over time. We don't even understand their religion, let alone this burqa need--which I am not here mocking, so I'm clear--while they certainly don't understand a) our concerns and b) our distrust of and for them, their religion and the ability to commit suicide AND kill and maim people simultaneously. Easy prediction? I don't look for this to go well. Link: http://news.yahoo.com/australian-law-muslims-lift-veils-050625536.html

KC Chiefs: It sucks to be you?

Surprising, at least, news out this weekend for our Chiefs football team: NFL player quits for surprising reason. "Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowl titles with the Patriots, was expected to start for the Chiefs this fall. Vrabel's retirement won't come as a surprise to anyone with an eye on the buzz out of Columbus last week. Still, it might seem rather abrupt to his current employers, the Kansas City Chiefs, who (as of Sunday morning) still list him as a starter at outside linebacker and apparently expected him to return for his 15th NFL season this fall — you know, if there is an NFL season this fall. Vrabel has spent the past two years in K.C. after eight wildly successful seasons in New England, where he was one of the cornerstones of the Patriot teams that took three Super Bowl titles in four years from 2001-04 and delivered the most dominant campaign in league history in 2007 prior to being upset by the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. " Will it kill us? Doubtful but no one likes surprises. Link: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Mike-Vrabel-hangs-up-NFL-cleats-for-gig-at-his-o?urn=ncaaf-wp3448

Quick, someone tell the Eastern mass transit pain-in-the-neck

Heads up, kids, there was a report on NPR today that pointed out two things about traffic and transportation in cities. First, "The study looked at the largest metropolitan cities in the U.S. and found that widening and building more roads actually creates more traffic." And then, the second that pretty much kills the idea of building mass transit: "Turner's study took into account public transportation, but a city's amount of public transportation didn't make a dent in congestion problems. 'As you increased a city's stock of light rail or bus cars, that there's no impact on the amount of driving,' Turner says. Although that may sound surprising, he says, it's a logically consistent with the study's data on driving. 'As you add roads to a city those roads get filled up. There are people waiting to use that capacity. The result on transit is almost exactly the opposite of that.' Ultimately, Turner's research has shown that the only way to deal with congestion is to follow the lead of countries such as London, Singapore and Stockholm, which have incorporated congestion pricing into their city infrastructures. Turner says Stockholm, specifically, has seen a 50 percent reduction in travel time at peak times because of tolls. So someone please notify that chucklehead back East (I don't want to give him any more attention here or anywhere else) and let him know we absolutely don't need or want his "assistance" any further, thanks very much.

Quote of the day

"...could the full force of a depression be delayed with a combination of yet more debt and spending? Governments around the world are betting that it can. But they are also hedging their bets by preparing and implementing austerity measures as it must be obvious, even to them, that the historically unprecedented expansion of state spending and debt cannot go on for ever if capitalism is to survive. Keynes himself famously ignored this problem. 'In the long run, we’re all dead,' he said. Over the next decade, we’ll discover what happens in the ‘long run’. The probability is that previously taken-for-granted entitlements (to education, jobs, retirement, health care, an income during periods of illness, joblessness or disability, and so on) and standards of living will end. There will be continuing struggles both within the capitalist class and between the capitalist and working classes over who is to bear the brunt of the losses. The hegemony of the United States may be challenged in the not too distant future, with potentially catastrophic consequences: bear in mind that it took a world war to completely end the last truly major depression. And the depression, if not rescued by a major war, could be deeply exacerbated by the falling off of cheap and easy oil and energy supplies and the possibility of ecological catastrophe." --Stuart Wilkins; Link: http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/jul11/is_the_crisis_over.html#top

America flaunts international law, more, again, still

First, President George W. Bush and Dick Cheney trounced international law by pre-emptively and unilaterally attacking Iraq for their 2nd Iraq War, against both popular opinion and, far worse, international law. We've been paying for that with soldiers lives, American prestige and money and materiel ever since. Next, there were "reports that the Obama administration had flown a Somali man accused of ties to terrorism to New York to face prosecution after holding and interrogating him at sea for more than two months." Yeehaw. At least we're consistent, huh? Now, finally today, anyway we find that Governor Rick Perry and the State of Texas "has executed a Mexican national for the kidnapping and rape of a 16-year-old San Antonio girl. Humberto Leal Garcia, 38, was put to death less than two hours after the U.S. Supreme Court, by a 5-to-4 vote, rejected pleas from the Obama administration for a delay to avoid what it called serious international repercussions." Here's where the problems come in regarding international law: "Texas authorities failed to inform him of his right to speak with officers from the Mexican consulate and failed to inform the consulate that a Mexican national had been arrested. Both of those failures violated a 1963 treaty signed by the U.S. Indeed, the consular access provision was added to the treaty at the insistence of the United States." But now, here's the tricky part, at least for the US--while we repeatedly trounce international law as shown by these 3 instances and more, regarding this last one, the US actually likes to use this treaty for its own citizens. Background: "The U.S. relies on the treaty to secure legal help and often to win release of Americans imprisoned abroad, some in countries such as Iran, Libya and Syria. Last year alone the U.S. invoked the treaty for 3,500 Americans imprisoned in other countries." So we like to invoke this law for our own citizens but for people of other countries and their governments, we figure "screw you guys, we're going our own way on this." If we were in school, the US would get a checkmark in the "Doesn't get along with others" column, at least. Can you say "blatant hypocrisy"? Trouble is, executing this Mexican National last evening was good for Texas Governor Rick Perry's presidential run that isn't even official yet. So one Humberto Leal Garcia died last night so Rick Perry could be shown as tough on crime and help his popularity. Yahoo, huh? Isn't that just terrific? I wonder what international laws we'll disregard next. And some people wonder why we have a not-so-great-name and reputation in some parts of the world. Links: http://www.representativepress.org/ViolatingInternationalLaw.html; http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/cra0868.htm; http://ccrjustice.org/newsroom/press-releases/u.s.-may-have-violated-domestic-and-international-law-capturing-and-holding-somali-months-sea; http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/texas-executes-mexican-national-after-supr; http://news.yahoo.com/texas-executes-mexican-court-stay-rejected-233305430.html; http://news.yahoo.com/un-official-us-execution-leal-broke-intl-law-160400028.html

Hell to pay for Republican leaders in Washington

If there isn't a budget agreement in Washington from Congress and we don't raise the debt limit and nationally default on our debt, let's be clear here, it will have been the Republican leadership's fault in Washington and theirs alone. I don't think it will happen but if it does, all damage to the country, the nation's economy and the world economies will lie at their feet, singularly and solely. Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/us/05deficit.html

Mark Funkhouser?? Leading a "think tank"??

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Now THAT'S funny. He was quoted as saying “Healthy, vibrant communities are the result of governments and citizens working together.” That's rich, coming from the guy who was Mr. "It's My Way or the Highway" and Mr. "I Don't Get Along with Anyone." Add to it that he was the guy that lost so much money for the city he was supposed to be leading, just because of the lawsuits against that same city because of either his mouth or his wife's. That is some think tank, you think? How would you like to rely on THEM for good, valuable information? Link: http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/07/07/funkhouser-leads-governing-institute.html

At what point, Catholics?

To all Catholics in the St. Joseph-Kansas City Diocese, I ask you, at what point are you going to all truly stand up, speak out and say "Enough!" Word out this week that there is yet a third computer with pictures on it of young children, apparently taken and owned by Father Shawn Ratigan. The first was in St. Joseph, the 2nd here in Kansas City and this last one is in Independence. Then, two days ago comes word that another, different priest was removed from his post (there's a shocker, they're taking action) because of alleged sexual abuse back in the 70's, up in St. Joseph. Really, at what point are you Catholics going to truly and absolutely going to follow SNAP's lead (Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests) and hold these people accountable? Publicly declare that this is no longer acceptable--not that it ever should have been--and withhold your weekly donation to the church and do all you can so your children are protected first instead of the clergy hierarchy. Enough, already! Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/05/2996533/inquiry-of-priest-yields-more.html; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/05/2996391/priest-removed-from-duties-over.html; www.snapnetwork.org/

Countdown to Trader Joe's

As a reminder, Trader Joe's opens here in town July 15. As a help, I thought I'd post this link I saw today on "The Best and Worst Products at Trader Joe's". Can you tell I'm eager and looking forward to this? Link: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/the-best-and-worst-products-at-trader-joes-2504125/

A Right Wing Conservative on the Republican Party

"...the Republican Party may no longer be a normal party. Over the past few years, it has been infected by a faction that is more of a psychological protest than a practical, governing alternative. The members of this movement do not accept the logic of compromise, no matter how sweet the terms. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch in order to cut government by a foot, they will say no. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch to cut government by a yard, they will still say no. The members of this movement do not accept the legitimacy of scholars and intellectual authorities. A thousand impartial experts may tell them that a default on the debt would have calamitous effects, far worse than raising tax revenues a bit. But the members of this movement refuse to believe it. The members of this movement have no sense of moral decency. A nation makes a sacred pledge to pay the money back when it borrows money. But the members of this movement talk blandly of default and are willing to stain their nation’s honor." --David Brooks, Columnist, Writer, etc., The New York Times. Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/opinion/05brooks.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

Quote of the day

"Washington is 67 square miles, about as high as the Washington monument, and surrounded on all sides by reality." --the late San Francisco humor writer Arthur Hoppe

3 "Age old truths"

From Joe Scarborough: "The first of these truths is that Washington always wins. Always. The federal government always gets bigger. The second time-tested truth of Washington is that policymakers skew the rules to ensure Wall Street always wins. ... Wall Street stands stronger than ever, three years after bringing America to the brink of financial collapse. The third ugly truth is that the city’s political gears are always greased for war. The most recent Republican administration showed an unnerving propensity for war, and the current Democratic White House has expanded troop levels, increased the Pentagon budget and made larger the percentage of the U.S. economy being spent on weapons systems and hot wars." Link: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/get_out_of_afghanistan_20110630/

Them that has, gets

 

With thanks and a hat tip to Radioman.

Quote of the day

"If..." President Obama's..."troop to al Qaeda militant ratio in Afghanistan had been employed during World War II in fighting Germany and Japan, the United States would have deployed 3.5 billion military personnel abroad..." --Bruce Fein, Author, 'American Empire: Before the Fall". Links: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-fein/president-obamas-politica_b_889539.html

KC Masterpiece rated one of best BBQ sauces

Yes, you read correctly. KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce is rated one of the best sauces in the nation for taste by Consumer Reports magazine (http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/635/the-best-bbq-sauces/). Apparently they couldn't get across town to Bryant's.

Why Libertarianism will never work

There is an article out last week by John Stossel over at reason.com (that name cracks me up) titled "How libertarianism can fix what's wrong with America." In it, he writes on a new book out by Reason magazine Editor Matt Welch and Reason.tv Editor in Chief Nick Gillespie: The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong With America. Sorry to rain on anyone's parade but this just isn't going to ever happen. Ever. The reason why Libertarianism can't "fix what's wrong with America" is because Libertarians can't decide and agree on--and never will--how small "small government" is supposed to be. Some will say no government at all. Others will say "only this much." Still others will say, "Well, we've got to add this." Get, say, a dozen Libertarians in a room and ask them how much government we should have. They'll never agree. Then, imagine thousands of them, collectively, at, say, a national convention. Fights would soon break out, I feel certain. They can never be a cohesive group because they'll never be able to decide the size of government and what its functions are to be. It'll never happen. Stossel writes "The big change they see stems from independents' refusal to be absorbed by any party." This "refusal to be absorbed" is more an indication of our own national fracturing and splintering, not evidence that we're coming together--or going to--to fix our problems. I say again, the way to "fix America" is to get the wealthy people's and corporation's money out of our government. We have to get them to stop legally buying our representatives and so, our legislation and government. If we can't or don't do that, nothing will change and we are doomed to failure, as a nation. And trust me, usually I'm an optimist. Links: http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/30/a-new-day-in-politics; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1586489380/reasonmagazineA/

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

 

Things going on this holiday weekend

Two pretty big items this weekend (with links below): Now it's Exxon-Mobil, ruining Yellowstone National Park, after BP screwed up the Gulf and second, we, the US, now have American soldiers on the ground in Somalia (that's HOW MANY wars?) and we're sending in drones. Happy 4th, everyone. Links: http://news.yahoo.com/teams-gauge-exxon-oil-spill-damage-mont-river-152649789.html; http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/world/africa/02somalia.html; http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Aud023eNfdsgxjNUTY1vg1ybvZx4?p=somalia+drones&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-701; http://news.yahoo.com/american-boots-hit-ground-somalia-drone-attacks-170751348.html

A good example and precedent for Bishop Finn

News out yesterday is that one Bishop Daniel Walsh, of California, resigned his post after being embroiled in two Catholic Church sex abuse cases, according to the Vatican: Calif. bishop quits amid abuse cases. With any luck, hopefully Bishop Finn will take this as an example of what he ought to do for this diocese---and himself, for that matter. Link: http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-01/news/29726954_1_abuse-cases-bishop-daniel-walsh-resignation

Does anything in America work any more?

The NFL is fighting between the owners and the players over who can keep a bigger piece of the football pie. The NBA is about to shut down, it appears, and quite possibly for the entire season. Now Minnesota's government has shut down, for the Independence Day holiday, at least. The Republican leadership in Congress is coming close to shutting down the country--and putting the world's economy in a tailspin--by not raising the debt ceiling for the country just so they can continue to hand out tax cuts for the wealthiest of us and tax subsidies for "Big Oil", etc., etc. It just leads you to ask: does anything work in this country any more? Are we all just greedheads? Can we not all work together? Can we not compromise? Are we not all, in the end, just Americans? Can we not work together for a greater good for the country? It surely doesn't look that way. Links: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wojnarowski_nba_lockout_players_063011; http://news.yahoo.com/noticeable-casualties-minn-shutdown-074321209.html; http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/F490YD/UU8SCS/X0GXOU/WYW5VQ/Y9LD3/50/h; http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-minnesota-shutdown-the-nba-and-the-death-of-compromise/2011/07/01/AGeV6ntH_blog.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics

Happy Independence Day weekend, y'all

 

The annual, ugly, very unpatriotic Independence Day screwing

Well, good morning and welcome to the annual, very unpatriotic Independence Day screwing we always get from Corporate Amerika and the gas stations, coast to coast. As I went to work today, I noticed gasoline jumped at least approximately 15 cents--from $3.27 per gallon yesterday (when I filled up, thank goodness) to today's cost (on the East side of town, anyway) of $3.42 a gallon. Thank you, Quik Trip, et. al and happy 4th of July to you, too. Doesn't it seem as though some representative in government should propose a law making this annual holiday gouging illegal? And not just on our national patriotic holiday but Thanksgiving, Christmas, all of them? Does it seem right they can get away with this? It sure doesn't to me. And it particularly doesn't on the day we celebrate the country's birth, the opportunistic, exploitative bastards. (To borrow a phrase from another local blogger, "You kids get off my lawn!").