Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Thursday, February 09, 2006
You have just entered...the Mystery Spot (insert dramatic music here)
LOL! That’s hilarious. I’ve actually been to a “Mystery Spot”. Anyone else? I think there’s a few of them around the country. We’ve got one in Michigan, up der in da U.P, ya know.
Posted by Jeremy on from Taiwan 02/09 at 07:18 AMJeremy, isn’t the entire U.P. one strange Mystery Spot?
Good morning All, Still reading and checking all the links (MZ I humbly suggest that you insert the target="new" in the link...your window will stay and links open in new windows - just my 2 cents)
Back to enjoying now, but I’m miffed that I cannot sign the ASPCA petition - they make no accomodation for non US locations.
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/09 at 08:24 AMYesterday: quotes. Today: links.
Here’s my contribution.
Posted by Keir on from The Hague 02/09 at 08:26 AMHello Expendables. Yes, Jeremy I’ve been to the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot...and loved it. Thanks (I think) for the image, Keir. Empress, where do I place the “new” in the link?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/09 at 08:29 AMLike I wasn´t going to click on the Bukowski one. He´s enormously popular here, you can find cheap little paperbacks of him everywhere. When I hear people talk about why they like him it is usually because he is an asshole but an honest one.
Keir, my brother is a bassist so Funkadelic gets regular airing.
Posted by Owen on from Batcelona 02/09 at 08:47 AMMZ:It goes in immediately after your chosen URL address.
>a href="(URL)"target="new">(link text)</a<(I had to show the first and last < thingies backwards in order for this to show up)
Captcha “new”.
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/09 at 08:49 AMChecked all them links finally. Can I say how depressing the first Hugo Chavez link is? Note to Hugo: we will not disarm the empire by arming ourselves, we will simply become the empire. Venezuela is doing some things so right; it’s a shame that former military man Chavez is talking about a million rifles to counteract the effects of a system which thrives on militarism.
Yet more Funkadelic:
If you don’t like the effects, don’t produce the causePosted by Keir on from The Hague 02/09 at 10:28 AMI’m still stuck on quotes, and not adventurous enough to do the embedded link thing again after I broke the coments page the other day.
This one should be a crowd pleaser:
“Humans—who enslave, castrate, experiment on, and fillet other animals—have had an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain. A sharp distinction between humans and ‘animals’ is essential if we are to bend them to our will, wear them, eat them—without any disquieting tinges of guilt or regret.”
---Carl Sagan, astronomer and author (1934-1996) & Ann Druyan, author (1949- ) [Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, 1993]Didn’t Big Country say he was gonna be around more...? Come home, all is forgiven!
Our Austin local-access TV stations (the city supports 3)have had a black eye that the Repulsivecans are using to argue the city should shut the stations down. The former director of the whole group has admitted he stole a disputed amount of money from the till, “to support his elderly and ill parents” as though that makes a whit of difference.
Naturally, since he’s both Hispanic and a Democrat, there is a “move” afoot calling for the whole system to be shut down so no further abuses will be possible “at the hands of those who have no respect for the taxpayers’ money or trust.” Privately these same people are saying, “Can’t trust THEM with the till.”
Bad enough the stations (once there were four, with Austin Music Network) are cable-only. The city won’t srping for a broadcast license, even though there is an open channel (the defunct UPN station). Now they’re looking for reasons to shut down the tiny bit of community-focused media access there is.
Why couldn’t the guy have held up a liquor store? No politician in Texas could object to that, they’ve all done worse.
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/09 at 11:15 AMKeir #3: EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
I don’t want to look at that, okay granted, but to remove it because it’s obscene...? Sex is obscene, dirty and awful, and you better save it all for the one you love most (of the opposite gender only, no exceptions)?I am sooo glad that the USA isn’t the only place afflicted with Conservatism. Takes a wee bit of the stigma off, sorta like finding out head lice are’t linked to poor hygiene or bad morals.
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/09 at 11:31 AMdemocracy now said chavez is taking an interest in things UK.
Blair suggested Chavez had failed to meet the rules of the international community
Chavez reply..
“IN the parliament in London Tony Blair made a call to Venezuela to respect the rules of the international community. Don’t be shameless Mr Blair. Don’t be immoral Mr Blair. You are one of those who have no morals. You Mr Blair, You are not one who has the morality to criticise anyone about respecting the rules of the international community.
[you are a] Pawn attempting to curry favour with President Bush. Go right to hell Mr Blair.
heh heh
Posted by michael on from scotland 02/09 at 11:42 AMFrom the “Superhighway Tolls?” link:
“Will Google, Amazon and the other companies successfully fight the plans of the Bells and cable companies? Ultimately, they are likely to cut a deal because they, too, are interested in monetizing our online activities. After all, as Cisco notes, content companies and network providers will need to ‘cooperate with each other to leverage their value proposition.’ They will be drawn by the ability of cable and phone companies to track ‘content usage…by subscriber,’ and where their online services can be ‘protected from piracy, metered, and appropriately valued.’”
Code for: We can bill the snot out of ‘em. We can keep people from using our network to do things we don’t approve of. We can control everything the little people do or say.
It’s 1984-style Big Brother and no mistake! It bids fair to make your (MZ) kind of journalism nothing more than a mouthpiece for Official Policy. And the Repulsivecans will defend it the way Goldwater did in 1964: “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.”
That one line is why Johnson won in 1964’s Presidential election. Today it would get Goldwater elected. I am chilled.
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/09 at 12:00 PMsorry. same thing again. i checked out what he was saying exactly (if anyone wants for any writing they are doing[mickey or anyone] to check out anything said by UK government people then you check hansard http://www.parliament.uk/hansard/hansard.cfm)
anyway… the cheek of that git…
form prime ministers questions yesterday. take from this what you will…
Colin Burgon (Elmet) (Lab):I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister shares the satisfaction that is felt by many on the Labour Benches about the shift to the left that has taken place in Latin America. To use a phrase, this is bringing Governments into power who will be in the interests of the many and not the few. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that it would be bad news for all concerned if we allowed our policy towards those countries, especially Venezuela, to be shaped by a really right-wing US Republican agenda?
The Prime Minister: Up to a point. It is rather important that the Government of Venezuela realise that if they want to be respected members of the international community, they should abide by the rules of the international community. I say with the greatest respect to the President of Venezuela that when he forms an alliance with Cuba, I would prefer to see Cuba a proper functioning democracy. I entirely understand the point that my hon. Friend is making, and I will obviously reflect on it carefully, but I have to say to him that the most important thing is that countries in south America and north America realise that they have much in common, much to gain from each other and much to gain from each other particularly through the principles of democracy.
Posted by michael on from scotland 02/09 at 12:07 PMWell well, a very kinky image of 3 Bushes ... enough to reduce overpopulation by a small amount, I should imagine, if anyone was feeling jiggy. I do want an image of Tony Blair going down on G W if anyone knows of one.
The Vonnegut article is superb, the only link I’ve followed from the main page as yet but will try the others later. Very happy to know Mr V has another book out - I love his essays.
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, England 02/09 at 12:08 PMThanks for all those mystery links, Mickey - and for the Henry Miller quote and the bouncy guy and ...
And hello to Jeremy, Amelopsis, Keir, Owen, Mudge and Owen - have I forgotten anyone?
‘I am sooo glad that the USA isn’t the only place afflicted with Conservatism. Takes a wee bit of the stigma off, sorta like finding out head lice are’t linked to poor hygiene or bad morals.’ Good point, Mudge. Australia is definitely also afflicted with Conservatism - a more willing member of the ‘coalition of the willing’ than even the UK.
Ciao amici ..Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/09 at 02:27 PMWell, I thought I had forgotten someone - Michael from Scotland! My apologies to Glasgow .. Should refer to ‘expendables’ in the future.
Captcha ‘never’ - I never ..
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/09 at 02:29 PMAustralia has conservatism, Helga? Say it is not so! >wink<
But seriously...is there a country that isn’t afflicted with conservatism? A truly enlightened place where progressive politics are the only politics, and “conservatism” means ecology-first ideology?
Oh yeah...The New Utopian Imperium! Empress, where art thou?? We must establish our dominion!
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/09 at 02:39 PMGreetings All...I read that review of 50AR, Mickey. I liked it. The writer brought up an interesting point...should we try to reclaim patriotism or is patriotism a negative force that we should eliminate? I believe that all patriotism should be eliminated. It is just another form of one-upsmanship.
Thanks for the war crimes link. I hope everybody saw that one.
About the Hugo link and his comment about 100,000 rifles not being enough. My friend, Peter, who is a really smart guy, says that the best way to stop US aggression and preserve world peace would be to give every nation a nuclear weapon. I don’t know if Peter is right, but when is the last time that the US bombed a country that had nukes?
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/09 at 02:54 PM>>>when is the last time that the US bombed a country that had nukes?<<<
This theory has a name...Mutually Assured Destruction, or MAD. It’s mad to think that the way to peace lies through war, and that’s where this idea goes. We’re ready to bomb Iran because a) we don’t like them ragheads and b) they might get themselves a nuke.
Case disproved. The existence of nukes is a big chunk of the problem, in no way a part of any successful solution.
Is patriotism an irredeemable concept? I agree, RMJ, it’s another name for one-upsmanship, and should be discouraged. Can we rid ourselves of it? Gawd, I hope so. Should we try? Yes, unequivocally yes, and starting now. Love your country by loving your fellow travelers on this planet. “God Bless Us, Every One...No Exceptions” as the local Metropolitan Community Church bumper sticker has it.
Speaking of bumber stickers...just saw a dilly! “FOX NEWS CHANNEL...AL-JAZEERA AMERICAN STYLE”
>snerkle<
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/09 at 03:31 PMMudge, you say the existence of nukes is a big chunk of the problem. I agree, but I don’t think that the answer is for the one aggressive nation that has used nukes to be permitted to keep them, while other nations have no defense. What would you say to all of the victims of US aggression? What would you say to the people in Iran, right now?
If little kids keep getting beaten up by the playground bully, someone has to do something to protect them and deal with the aggressive kid.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/09 at 03:46 PMHello All,
I’m chiming in on the nuclear issue to offer my Utopian 2 cents....
Relocate the UN (Chavez has some good ideas about where to) restructure the security council and EMPOWER the greater UN.(after thoroughly vetting all of it’s administrators) It’s far from Utopian, Far from likely, and ironically the one thing that would allow the relative status quo of operations to continue while forcing us all to adhere to some already mutually agreed standards.
In that scenario there would be massive restrictions placed upon the US - the bully in the playground would be somewhat effectively neutered.We need to respect the ideals of Mutual Respect, it’s not rocket “science”.
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/09 at 04:38 PMI don’t think of r an instant that leaving nuclear weapons in anyone’s hands is a good idea. Let’s get ‘em all destroyed, no matter where they are now. And I like Empress’s precis of what to do, via Hugo Chavez. Power in this world should be shared, not hoarded, and never more so than because it’s the right wing of the US political economy’s worst nightmare!
To a hug “extent” anything Conservatives hate is the correct thing to choose. Funny how that goes....
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/09 at 05:25 PMHello Expendables. I’m hopelessly behind here. I feel like there’s a party going on at my house...but I’m not home. I’ll try to read through later and join in.
Btw, today I may have found a gym where I can train more clients. The extra $$$ will be a big help around here whether we rent or buy a new apartment.
More soon…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/09 at 05:30 PMMickey that’s good news about the gym - and don’t worry about the party - we promise not to break the furniture or leave burn marks anywhere
As for sharing power, I love the idea, and it’ll not likely happen before the advent of a MAJOR global catastrophe or full on declared global war. Frankly I don’t think we’re far from either of those occurring. How big will citizens of the US let their deficit grow? It boggles my mind to think that you’ve not managed to impeach him yet - boggles, I tell you!
Mudge as soon as you see an opportunity to grab power - Take it! The NUtI imperatives have no time to waste! And get Hugo on the horn - we have important matters of the UN to discuss!
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/09 at 06:17 PMAmelopsis, I like your ideas but why not just eliminate the Security Council altogether? The UN needs to be democratized. Also, I don’t think that the US will share power as long as it has most of the weapons on the planet. Why would it? The US still has not signed the land mine treaty, joined the world criminal court, etc. The US has not yet acknowledged its war crime of mining the harbors in Nicaragua many years ago. Bullies never retreat on their own.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/09 at 06:39 PMEmpress, Hugo gets to be Prime Minister of the Global Government, for all of me. Whatcha think?
Rosemarie Jackowski gets my nomination for Ministeress of Justice.
MZ should be appointed Minister of Communication (Propaganda Potentate, in other words).
CatLady can be Minister of Feline Extermination Camps. It hurts me to give up my most cherished social program, the elimination of all Felis domesticus, but perhaps a more humane means to the end will quiet public outcry...?
Tub-thumping Michael, how about Minister of Outrage? We can trust him to bring injustices to Our Attention, hm?
More ideas?
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/09 at 06:41 PMThank you, Mudge. I accept the nomination. If elected I will serve the people to the best of my ability and promise that there will be very big changes made.
I just found this on DV by Bageant…
“...Aw common! It ain’t just Dick Cheney and his pet president Sparky doing all this. At least half the country is loving the queer bashing and the bombing and the god rhetoric. We should quit pretending that a very large portion of Americans are not degraded human beings. They are....”Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/09 at 07:08 PMI’ll be the Fresh Prince of Propaganda.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/09 at 07:10 PMMudge, I’m duly flattered, and of course glad to see you back more often. A full day of work with limited web access and diminished patience and energy when I get home has impacted my reading and commenting here… well, we fit about 30 people in here at one point of my housewarming party, so maybe we could use this place as feline relocation/detention center as part of your new world order.
So you might not be surprised that much of my attention is taken up by the Danish cartoon issue, and while I appreciate the sentiments of Keir’s aweseome photo above, I’m not closer to making sense of it all. Typical left response seems to be the refrain of oh if it were Jesus in the cartoons, no one would tolerate it in the name of free speech, and the right wing nuts are all too eager to proclaim “We are all Danes now”, in some iditotic solidarity. For one thing, you’re not Danes now, give it a rest you loser wannabes. Another thing… well, the more I look for an answer as to what should be done *now* to help it all, the more I find more tired rhetoric shoving several other issues into it. Would retracting the stupid cartoons worldwide if possible help anything, and would that be right, yes or no, few people seem interested in addressing.
Well, at least all of my relatives stayed in the Fatherland all this time, no danger for them abroad. Speaking of which, I might be visiting Italy by way of Carroll Gardens this weekend, and oh whatever never mind.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/09 at 07:48 PMAnyone who calls people “right honorable friend” instead of by first name is an asshole. Period.
As luscious as Chavez’s rhetoric may sometimes be, the wonderful things (?) happening in Venezuela are occuring top-down, not bottom up. All the pressure from the US will do to the “Bolivaran revolution” what similar pressure has done to Cuba. At best. I’m saving my embraces for the people of Venezuela, and not their general. Sorry.
I don’t know about Michael and Mickey and Rosemarie running the world, but…
...don’t be surprised if Ali is in the White House
and Reverend Ike, secretary of the treasure
Richard Pryor, minister of education
Stevie Wonder, secretary of fine arts
And Miss Aretha Franklin, the first ladyPosted by Keir on from The Hague 02/09 at 07:53 PMThat’s Parliament (the band, not the assholes) above (#29). Sorry for not quoting.
On the free speech/cartoon issue, I see it pretty simply. Freedom of speech is not an invitation to be a prick and I’d say you’re a prick if you have the nerve to create and publish such (obviously) insensitive material at a goddamn time like this. Not that it justifies the reaction. But. Denmark (I know it’s not the whole country...) might be seen to be a bit more objective if it would cut off all ties---ALL TIES---with the US and UK and associated invading nations in Iraq and Afghanistan. That’s the only stand up thing to do: kick ambassadors out, stop doing business. Full fucking stop.
Short of that, it’s just straight up disgusting to draw a bomb on your enemy’s god and publish it when you know it’s antagonizing. Nasty. I mean, they know it’s antagonization.
And this elementary stuff. For some reason I remember just now that during the first Gulf War---I was 14---I wrote my first piece for the school newspaper, reminding my pubescent readers that the demonization of “the enemy” and associated propoganda we were subject to was nothing new. I had just discovered a recording of a popular song from WWI: Let’s Bury the Hatchet in the Kaiser’s Head.
Anyway, captcha’s “hope” and it’s late.
Posted by Keir on from The Hague 02/09 at 08:11 PMThanks for the awesome and well-rounded analysis, Keir. Too many critics of Denmark/that newspaper/ those asinine cartoons forget to mention that it’s not all of Denmark at this, and no, it does not nearly justify the mid-east protesters’ reaction. Or maybe I’m just more sensitive to Danish embassies being firebombed than most people. What a damn stupid mess… yeah, I’d be so proud to be Danish if they did what you suggested, but I won’t hold my breath for Denmark to expel the US embassador.
Well my dvd of the collected 1st season of the Kingdom just came from half.com, so I’m off…
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/09 at 08:31 PMRelated article: http://tinyurl.com/7odwb. I’m planning to pose a question on the topic tomorrow.
Thanks for a great day of comments. I’ll see everyone tomorrow.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/09 at 09:13 PM
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