Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Let's win the “war on terror”
Hey everyone, Happy Year of the Rat from Shanghai!!!!
Now I must go to the shop and try not to be hit by fireworks on the street.
Wish me luck.
Xin Nian Kuai Le!
Andy
Posted by Andy on from Shanghai 02/06 at 11:44 AMThanks, Andy. I was born in the Year of the Rat...so I feel connected to the much-maligned rodents.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/06 at 11:49 AMMe too, in ‘72.
The original story of the 12 animal zodiac has them racing to meet the Yellow Emporer. The Rat is 1st in the Zodiac after he wins by using his brain to conquer stronger, bigger animals.
I’ll take that.
BTW, don’t mean to hijack the thread.
For an amazing source of similar stats and great articles, I recommend globalissues.org as further reading for everyone.
Posted by andy on from Shanghai 02/06 at 11:59 AMThanks again, Andy. We rats have to stick together…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/06 at 12:04 PMHi Andy.
Nice front page today, as usual, Mickey. Where and when did the myth of U$A superiority start? It is amazing that anyone still believes that big, old lie. But then again, it is taught in all of our schools. The brain washing starts very early. Military parades, war monuments, deceptive text books… We continue to worship the wealthy because we are taught that anyone can achieve riches. All it takes is a little work. That’s what they teach us. Now we have candidates for prez who campaign on the promise to “prosecute” those without health insurance. Where’s the outcry?
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 02/06 at 12:04 PMHello Andy, Mickey, RMJ..defending america is like standing guard at the dumpster....For the FIRST time lasting evening, I watched a short blurp about the race to become the new CEO of War Inc., LLC. 30 seconds was entirely too long to spend on these critters. I can hear it now...Big Bad John McCain of the west fighting for freedom and the american way, which is to say he’s fighting for the rights of the very wealthy, who don’t object to the slaughter of Palestinians, Iraqi’s, Afghans, Africans, Philippines, South Americans, Central Americans, Pluto and on… Armed with his six shooter and his anti-alzheimer medications, Big Bad John will always do what’s right.
Posted by joe of maine on from 02/06 at 12:49 PMAt the risk of stating the obvious… Prosecute John McCain. Right after Obama, after having read the zmag link that Helga put up a few days ago.
Wait-- McCain killed Pluto? What? The Disney character?
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/06 at 01:02 PMMZ post, RMJ #5: I haven’t yet seen evidence that surpasses the Puritanical roots of the America’s alleged superiority. How entrenched other nations’ nationalist bent is (or why), I can’t say, but there aren’t many that were formed from the violent, fundamentalist rejects of a continent not known for its moral underpinnings. Expendables will recognize this old saw, but I remain appalled at how often this rubbish appears, like Tom Brokaw on a talk show discussing the shabby state of affairs that the new president will face, then hurriedly adding “but it’s still a great country, no question about that.” That’s the Tom who chanted “War! War!” on 9/11.
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey, but I’m evolving.
Craig Ferguson’s citizenship test, worth a chuckle: http://tinyurl.com/22lclh The ceremony, not so much. From years ago, I recall the oath being to protect and defend the Constitution, and to render national service if called upon. Now it’s “the Constitution and laws” (unconstitutional laws???) and “will bear arms” (though there are variations on this, including noncombatant and civilian). Here’s my take on it: http://tinyurl.com/2em3ae
The Horny Stormtrooper needs an in-depth bio.
Posted by Zen Prole on from Urth 02/06 at 01:53 PMDo you think he knows this guy?
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/06 at 02:09 PMSorry, meant to tinyurl that so it wouldn’t take up so much space… and the caption should read “I had friends on that Death Star...”
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/06 at 02:18 PMGood questions, Mickey! One wishes more Americans would ask them, but then maybe a majority of Americans has already reached that point .. On the other hand, it is true that the US still hold considerable attraction for many, many people all over the world. Don’t ask me why but there is something about America ..
And a Happy Year of the Rat to you, Andy - and to you, Rosemarie, Joe of Maine, James, Zen Prole and to the Cool Observer. We had some much-needed rain in Daylesford yesterday - at long last. That was a good start to the Year.
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/06 at 06:25 PMHelga,11, You see Helga, there are other people in this world who know americans appreciate the important things in life, such as, 65 inch plasma TV’s, atomic egg beaters, giant cars that consume the road, gas and oil, various kinds of electronics to stick into our ears and brain, a medical system that kills people for profit, poisoned food, toxin water, a failure education system...these are just a few examples why people from around the world appreciate the u.s. I could list more but I’m already contemplating a rope and a tall tree to accomodate my height.
Posted by joe of maine on from 02/07 at 01:10 PMSearing analysis of the presidential nominee landscape: http://tinyurl.com/33eq8l
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/07 at 01:14 PMHellos to Mickey, joe, Zen, James, Helga, andy, and all yet to arrive…
It is cold, gray, and snowing. Some of us have a little bit of mud season in our basements. Mud season lasts from February to July. Then there is a day or two of summer.
Things continue to get worse. The hospital has announced cuts and lay-offs of nurses, cuts in the ER, etc. The front page article never mentioned the excessive salary of the hospital CEO. (I like the line “CUTS IN THE ER”. The newspaper did not use it. I wish sometimes that I could write their headlines.) The hopital was already so understaffed that last time I removed my own stitches. I have no medical training but I guess that we becoming a do-it-yourself nation. Every man for himself - survival of the fittest and all of that.Be strong, joe. I share your feelings.
Monsanto and me
http://tinyurl.com/38xqu8Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 02/07 at 02:02 PMTry this. Sorry that the last link did not work.
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 02/07 at 02:05 PMRMJ...survival of the fittest...what a falsehood that many legitimize somehow...hospitals are understaffed because there’s so much money is the aisles to wade through, there’s no room to walk....but...Big John McCain, ruler of the West will change this...he will encourage euthanasia to anyone requiring more than aspirin.
Posted by joe of maine on from 02/07 at 03:42 PMJoe of Maine #12, I see where you are comming from but still ... there MUST be certain things which appeal to people outside the US. How else to explain all those academics and actors who choose to live in the US - of course most of them make enough money to live quite comfortably. Apart from that, it is true of course that there is more social mobility in Europe and other parts of the world than in the USA, to give but one example.
Don’t normally watch Oprah Winfrey’s show but watched yesterday as she had Michael Moore on and a representative of health insurers - interesting discussion but could not believe what the (female) rep said on behalf of health insurers - of course she did not agree with those insurers who only covered certain procedures, but what I got from her warblings was that ultimately the American system only needed some minor ‘corrections’ (like those tens of millions Americans without any health insurance) but was A-ok apart from that.
Well, I never ..
It is quite cool here (a mere 70f today) although this is the last month of summer. Brrr .. have even got the little tangy heater on to warm up.
Be safe!
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/07 at 05:33 PMHappy Chinese New Year!
Words of wisdom from Confucious:
子曰：“篤信好學，守死善道。危邦不入，亂邦不居。天下有道則見，無道則隱。邦有道，貧且賤焉，恥也；邦無道，富且貴焉，恥也。
Translation tomorrow!
Here is a great film for RMJ especially:
Another great link:
Best wishes to all!
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco, California 02/07 at 08:01 PM
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