Thursday, December 20, 2007

A Cyber Menagerie

Posted by Mickey Z on 12/20 at 05:10 AM
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  1. happy holidays to all. ho ho ho

    Posted by michael conner from rockland  on  12/20  at  06:32 AM

  2. Mickey, RMJ, anyone else… did you see the Nader movie last night? Did you think it was thorough enough?

    Now any thoughts about who will run next year? is Ralph running again? If not, is anyone else? So far it looks like no one… this is still kind of confusing so far: http://www.gp.org/index.php

    Posted by James from Hell's Kitchen  on  12/20  at  10:51 AM

  3. Good morning everyone...Mickey...I’m sure you heard of this ‘new’ u.s. submarine sonar or whatever it’s called...the shock waves from the frequencies...400 dead Dolphins off the coast of Africa. They stated did not know the cause but they new u.s. subs were having operations in the area...the is one of many incidents from this new destructology by u.s. military

    Posted by joe of maine from   on  12/20  at  11:58 AM

  4. The elk story brings to mind Edward Abbey’s stellar essay “Polemic: Industrial Tourism and the National Parks” (here abridged http://tinyurl.com/2kqfew )

    An Unreasonable Man: a fair accounting of Nader’s career could fill 5 or 6 hours, so it was tough to do it in two. Aside from that handicap, the film was well done. For those not as familiar with his life in the 60’s and 70’s, it filled in a lot of gaps, as did the behind-the-scenes discussion that preceded his ‘96 and ‘00 presidential runs. The section on the 2000 campaign was bittersweet, mixing the last time I had any political hope with the travesty of the debates and election and aftermath (watching that MA state trooper threaten him outside UMass Boston, only underscored that things will not/cannot change by asking nicely).

    The most telling part of the film paralleled the rise and political stagnation of Baby Boomers; once a vital part of Nader’s efforts, to watch former colleagues gripe about Ralph’s priorities, when it was they who were clearly turning careerist/ambitious/greedy was just awful. But that’s the story of a (liberal) nation: six figures and a wakeup at a white shoe NGO.

    As for the ‘08 election, James, I have to hit the Boomer gong once more (thanks to Chuck Berris). I don’t see change happening until that demographic bulge, and the values that attend it, are gone. This is the single aspect that Obama has to offer.

    That’s enough good news for one day. Joe, I move we keep submarines in the sandwich shops where they belong.

    Posted by Zen Prole from Urth  on  12/20  at  12:46 PM

  5. Hello Expendables...from sunny chilly Astoria. I’d have to agree with Zen’s appraisal of the film and I must admit that I hit the sack before it ended last night...thus sparing myself the dreaded retelling of 2004.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  12/20  at  12:55 PM

  6. Joe, you reminded that anytime someone has mentioned reincarnation (and no I am not a believer), I play along and opt to come back as a dolphin. I have rarely felt as much joy as when diving through ocean waves with delusions of cetaceous grace.

    I think that the incidents you describe also occured closer to home in the Gulf of Mexico, though I can’t recall the details now.

    James...I saw most of it.
    I was most angry when the Mass Trooper took that step forward toward Ralph outside the debate hall.
    Also, Alterman from The Nation was hard to stomach.

    Posted by Tommy from I live by the River  on  12/20  at  12:59 PM

  7. Hi Michael, James, joe, Mickey, Zen, Tommy, and all… Just taking a break from the ditch. I am cold and wet but there is no wind so that is a good thing.
    Tommy, my reaction to Alterman was the same as yours.
    James, I thought that it should have been more thorough and more positive. I had the feeling that the film producers were struggling to take a middle of the road approach to Nader. I was disappointed that Nader was not portrayed with all of his virtue clearly shown.
    Zen, I agree. There is no reason for optimism. Did the Senate just pass the bill giving all of the funding for the war???
    I just caught a glimpse of the rioting going on in New Orleans now. The rest of the country should rise up in solidarity with the protesters. Arrest the police!@!!*%#

    Posted by RMJ from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts  on  12/20  at  02:25 PM

  8. RMJ..everyone...was the Nader documentary on PBS, better known as the Ariel Sharon Broadcasting Network.

    Posted by joe of maine from   on  12/20  at  02:39 PM

  9. joe...do you you mean PBS, the Petroleum Broadcasting Service?

    Posted by RMJ from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts  on  12/20  at  03:11 PM

  10. Public Bull Shit?

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  12/20  at  03:18 PM

  11. Tommy, I had completely blocked out Eric Alterman’s liberal nonsense. Time could have been saved by a one minute short of him licking the DNC chair’s boots. “Hard to stomach” gets my vote for understatement of the week.

    RMJ, is that police riot from today? N.O. Indymedia has some good stuff on the ongoing demolitions (4 public housing areas! FOUR!), but nothing later than Dec 13.

    Posted by Zen Prole from Urth  on  12/20  at  03:22 PM

  12. #10....good one Mickey.

    Zen...Yes, that was happening today. It looked like the police were using excessive force to me. There was some good film of it but the story is being ignored by most news outlets. I believe Bill Quigley was testifying before the officials. He is one of the lawyers who came to my assistance when it looked like the State was going to retry me. He has been a leading force in N.O. working for justice. Proves that there is at least one good lawyer in the world!

    Posted by RMJ from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts  on  12/20  at  05:20 PM

  13. Check this out. See the photos.

    http://tinyurl.com/36puuf

    Posted by RMJ from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts  on  12/20  at  05:25 PM

  14. Off topic...today’s news about the crash tests and bumpers reminds me of the Vance Packard books of the 1950’s. Anybody remember him? Planned obsolescence, media manipulation, the hidden persuaders, the waste makers..... He said it first - well maybe not first - but he said it 50 years ago.
    Yesterday I saw my friend, Bob. He told me that he was parked in the K-mart lot for a few minutes. When he came back to his car, he saw that it was damaged. Hit and run in the middle of the day. Not a lot of damage. He took the car to the repair shop. $8000 for repairs.

    Posted by RMJ from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts  on  12/20  at  06:02 PM

  15. About Bill Quigley and NOLA.

    http://tinyurl.com/36ye8d

    Posted by RMJ from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts  on  12/20  at  06:10 PM

  16. On visualizing human extinction:
    Here is todays front page of our town free daily newspaper:

    “Festival fireworks begin in Falluja.
    Children hold toy weapons as they celebrate the first full day of Eid-al-adha in Iraq while riding in a cart in Falluja.”

    Eid-al-adha is “The Fesival of Sacrifice”

    What a bummer.

    Posted by Frances from bc  on  12/20  at  08:19 PM

  17. Heres some good news:

    Cynthia McKinney, a former six-term Congresswoman and an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, today officially launched her campaign as a Green Party candidate for President.

    In a video news release, McKinney says “the Republicans have deceived us; the Democrats have failed us. It is time for a new beginning: A time for hope to rise from the ashes of despair.”

    Posted by Frances from bc  on  12/20  at  08:38 PM

  18. Hi Frances. I once spoke at an event in Santa Cruz with Cynthia McKinney. We stayed at the same B&B with Bill Blum, Michael Parenti, Greg Elich, and others. As you might imagine, it was a great experience.

    I really like Cynthia as a person and agree with many of her views. All things considered, I would vote for her in 2008 (and I typically don’t vote).

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  12/20  at  09:01 PM

  19. Hi Mickey.  If I was entitled to vote in the good ole US of A thats where I would place my bet as well.

    Cheers!

    Posted by Frances from bc  on  12/20  at  09:59 PM

  20. James from yesterday...hello and how are you, by the way...that would be interesting to see what they would do with The Road.  As always…I would hope for the best and be prepared for disappointment.

    I would vote for Cynthia.  I think I would vote for Obama...it would be interesting to see what kind of effect a black president would have on racism in the united states today.

    Posted by JOS from OP  on  12/20  at  11:18 PM

  21. ...who am I kidding.  I’m voting the Zezima/Jackowski ticket.

    Good night, all.

    Posted by JOS from OP  on  12/20  at  11:21 PM

  22. JOS 20...don’t worry about it. We’ve all read the stories...Obama’s not really black, or is it not black enough, or is he too black for some.
    My head is spinning now.
    Actually he and Dick are distant relatives.
    I think that is the latest poop.
    While they’re at it, someone can tell the wingnuts Romney and Huckabee that they are related to Obama as well.

    There are people in the US that believe Obama is a Muslim.

    Amy Goodman has been covering the NO events. Hopefully she’ll have more on it tomorrow.

    Posted by Tommy from I live by the River  on  12/20  at  11:41 PM

  23. Z or McKinney?  Now, I’m torn! 

    I’ll vote for My Urban Sherpa-- that is a really catchy name!

    I love New York!  So many great things-- but one....

    I wish I could get seed money to found a Handel’s Gourmet Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich franchise.

    “We love Handel’s!”

    Posted by Robert B. Livingston from San Francisco, California  on  12/20  at  11:46 PM

  24. Oh! I forgot! An animal story....

    There once was a sweet little old lady who had a dog named Noel. 

    Noel was a mutt mutt… he looked like he was born for the circus-- he almost always had a smile. 

    Most of the time, he liked to sleep and lie at the little old lady’s feet-- except for when company called-- then maybe he would crook one eye open… just in case something exciting might happen.

    And it always would.

    Sometime during the evening, the lady would ask, “Noel. Is that your friend Brown Dog calling?”

    Then, suddenly, Noel turned into fireworks. Barking and bounding, he would run one big crazy circle around the living room and then zigzag back and forth in front of the large picture window… no doubt searching for Brown Dog in the garden beyond.  Woof woof woof woof Woof!

    Finally, the lady would screw her face in embarrassed exasperation and set aside her drink. Lifting herself from her chair, she silenced the dog by saying, “O.K. Noel.  Let’s go have a look.”

    With its chest out and head high, the dog trotted after her into the kichen and to the back screen door which led to the garden. One could hear the door open, and after a long suspenseful pause, the lady would invariably exclaim, “Noel!  There is no Brown Dog!”

    One would then hear the screen door slam, and the little old lady would return back to her chair-- Noel, sheepishly following behind-- to finally take back his own comfortable place.

    Picking up her glass, the little old lady would glance at her guests and then at her dog. “Noel,” she chided, “I’m beginning to think that you are completely imagining your friend!”

    Posted by Robert B. Livingston from San Francisco, California  on  12/21  at  01:00 AM

  25. Hello all. Great story, Robert.

    As for Obama, he’s a professional politician who happens to be half-black. I’d no sooner vote for him than Condi.

    FYI: New post going up in a minute or two.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  12/21  at  05:14 AM

  26. I’m agree with you.

    Posted by premium cosmetic from USA, Houston  on  04/21  at  11:48 AM

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