Impious since 2006
Mar 30, 2013
Time Is Gay
Gay for hot kissing on their cover... "'One of Time's two new cover photos declaring 'gay marriage already won' looks like a wedding kiss. The other looks more like a makeout session'."
Wonder which one will outsell the other? The over/under is too dirty for print.
PS - In case you have no idea how the SCOTUS works, the case before them is a tax issue, not a gay rights issue first. It happens to 'become' a gay rights issue just because of the nature of the tax issue.
The only real way to listen to the proceedings is to download the transcript and listen to the audio feed. Don't let someone else interpret it for you.
Wonder which one will outsell the other? The over/under is too dirty for print.
PS - In case you have no idea how the SCOTUS works, the case before them is a tax issue, not a gay rights issue first. It happens to 'become' a gay rights issue just because of the nature of the tax issue.
The only real way to listen to the proceedings is to download the transcript and listen to the audio feed. Don't let someone else interpret it for you.
Mar 29, 2013
Cyprus? Humph, I've Got FDIC...
The good folks in Cyprus - which I'm finding out is the Cayman Islands of Europe and specifically Russian Gangsters (Well that's what I heard) - thought they had insurance on their deposits as well. Like those folks in the US.
Guess what? Not as much as they thought. Now they're being "taxed" on those deposits, as part of the bail out once someone noticed that George Bailey lent all the money out to Greece (ooops) ... And they let out so much money, that it was disproportionate to their GDP. Kind of like a magnifying glass on the ant.
Or, if that isn't clear - Let's try this: You have 10 bucks. You borrow another 290, and use it the 300 to purchase securities. Oops. The market collapsed, and you're down 4%, or you owe 12 bucks.
Exactly how the 1929 market crash happened to take out the entire economy - because folks were buying stock on credit.
That's happening right now, in Cyprus. And the savers and good people there are getting hosed. No, sorry, it's being corrected by a "Tax." And to prevent bank runs, security has been tightened and strict limits are set on transactions, to 300 Euros.
"It's been contained," said Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades. As if it were the Swine Flu.
But it can't happen in the US, right? Right??
Well let's just take a gander at a little graph I found on the internet...
Hey, look over there! Mad Men is on Sunday! Let's all look at that handsome man drinking and smoking!
Guess what? Not as much as they thought. Now they're being "taxed" on those deposits, as part of the bail out once someone noticed that George Bailey lent all the money out to Greece (ooops) ... And they let out so much money, that it was disproportionate to their GDP. Kind of like a magnifying glass on the ant.
Or, if that isn't clear - Let's try this: You have 10 bucks. You borrow another 290, and use it the 300 to purchase securities. Oops. The market collapsed, and you're down 4%, or you owe 12 bucks.
Exactly how the 1929 market crash happened to take out the entire economy - because folks were buying stock on credit.
That's happening right now, in Cyprus. And the savers and good people there are getting hosed. No, sorry, it's being corrected by a "Tax." And to prevent bank runs, security has been tightened and strict limits are set on transactions, to 300 Euros.
"It's been contained," said Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades. As if it were the Swine Flu.
But it can't happen in the US, right? Right??
Well let's just take a gander at a little graph I found on the internet...
Uh, nope. No way that can happen in the US.
Hey, look over there! Mad Men is on Sunday! Let's all look at that handsome man drinking and smoking!
Mar 28, 2013
North Korea, North Korea, How I Love You...
Ever since Iran bit-torrented Adobe Photoshop CS2, North Korea has been hard at work catching up with that state of the art graphic design technology.
However, it seems that Best Korea's pixels were showing, and it's shopping techniques are still not on par with the guy who makes fake want-ads on lamp posts. You know, the one with Lionel Richie that simply says "Hello"?
Like their missile program, it blew up in their face.
Looks like they don't really have 8 hovercrafts, in real life. I wonder if they have any hovercrafts? GI Joe had a hovercraft, but it was really kind of crappy when you started playing with it, and a lot of the parts kind of fell off if it hit the carpet. Like the depth charges... that wasn't good, because you just depth charged the carpet, dude. Anyhow...
Now, there might be six real ones... but why not just go all out? Why not put, I don't know, 20 hovercrafts in the picture? And, how about a Mecha Godzilla too? That sure would scare the hell out of the Japanese. Hell, that could start a whole Mecha arms race!
Read more ....
So even with all that excitement going on the US has been planning for Failed Korea.
Crippling sanctions, starving soldiers, and an antiquated, rickety military collectively push the idea of a concerted North Korean strike to the fringes of credibility.
Planners in Washington envision a more insidious threat: the untimely collapse of Kim Jong-un's government.
Paul McLeary of Defense News posted today about a classified military wargame that played out the sudden collapse of North Korea and the immediate actions of the U.S. Military.
McLeary writes:
The Unified Quest war game conducted this year by Army planners posited the collapse of a nuclear-armed, xenophobic, criminal family regime that had lorded over a closed society and inconveniently lost control over its nukes as it fell.
Read more ....
When Best Korea falls apart, it's not going to be like East Germany with a nice video feed moment for the evening news, with people on the DMZ digging out landmines with a pickaxe...
The South Koreans aren't ready to reunify with the North - mostly due to the cost. And then there's the clean up of the WMD's. And that's when the American tax payer will be asked to pony up.
And that's why no one has invaded or done anything but placate Best Korea.
Final thought, funny that there's a white paper on what to do with a collapsed North Korea, but there wasn't one on Iraq or Afghanistan? Maybe there was, but no one read it?
 |
| "...You can tell by the pixels" |
Like their missile program, it blew up in their face.
Looks like they don't really have 8 hovercrafts, in real life. I wonder if they have any hovercrafts? GI Joe had a hovercraft, but it was really kind of crappy when you started playing with it, and a lot of the parts kind of fell off if it hit the carpet. Like the depth charges... that wasn't good, because you just depth charged the carpet, dude. Anyhow...
Now, there might be six real ones... but why not just go all out? Why not put, I don't know, 20 hovercrafts in the picture? And, how about a Mecha Godzilla too? That sure would scare the hell out of the Japanese. Hell, that could start a whole Mecha arms race!
Read more ....
So even with all that excitement going on the US has been planning for Failed Korea.
Crippling sanctions, starving soldiers, and an antiquated, rickety military collectively push the idea of a concerted North Korean strike to the fringes of credibility.
 |
| "That's right, clap at the Photoshop, you!" |
Planners in Washington envision a more insidious threat: the untimely collapse of Kim Jong-un's government.
Paul McLeary of Defense News posted today about a classified military wargame that played out the sudden collapse of North Korea and the immediate actions of the U.S. Military.
McLeary writes:
The Unified Quest war game conducted this year by Army planners posited the collapse of a nuclear-armed, xenophobic, criminal family regime that had lorded over a closed society and inconveniently lost control over its nukes as it fell.
Read more ....
When Best Korea falls apart, it's not going to be like East Germany with a nice video feed moment for the evening news, with people on the DMZ digging out landmines with a pickaxe...
The South Koreans aren't ready to reunify with the North - mostly due to the cost. And then there's the clean up of the WMD's. And that's when the American tax payer will be asked to pony up.
And that's why no one has invaded or done anything but placate Best Korea.
Final thought, funny that there's a white paper on what to do with a collapsed North Korea, but there wasn't one on Iraq or Afghanistan? Maybe there was, but no one read it?
Mar 26, 2013
Nanny Bloomberg: Drunk on Power
Bloomberg: ‘I do think there are certain times we should infringe on your freedom’Mayor Bloomberg says surveillance drones are inevitable in NYC: 'get used to it'
Mayor Bloomberg Says Cops Should Go On Strike Until Americans Give Up Their Guns
Mayor Bloomberg says he will spend millions more to defeat the National Rifle Association and pro-gun pols
In New York City there has been a 600 percent increase in stop-and-frisk policing
Mar 24, 2013
Mar 23, 2013
Mar 18, 2013
UN Small Arms Treaty Discussed
UN To Debate Global Arms Treaty Diplomats from around the world are to gather at the United Nations for talks on an international arms trade treaty, in an effort to stop the sale of illegal conventional arms.
Similar talks held last July failed, mainly due to the objections of the United States and Russia, the world's two largest arms exporters.
The talks will kick off at the UN headquarters on Monday and will last two weeks.
Read more ....
I'll stop yawning about the time the UN puts out a strongly worded letter to gunrunners.
That's about right
MSNBC also spends by far the least producing its news: some $240 million in 2012, according to an estimate by SNL Kagan. CNN spent $682 million, while Fox led the pack with an outlay of $820 million.
Mar 15, 2013
Venture Bros Season 5 Sneak Peak
A reckoning is coming!
Venture Brothers returns to Adult Swim May 19 at Midnight. Watch episodes here
Mar 12, 2013
What's New in the News?
Things that I've been reading and haven't had time to make full posts on...
Bank of America wrongfully foreclosed a couple, who sued and won a judgement for $2500 in Legal expenses. When BOA didn't pay the couple showed up at the bank with a moving company, a deputy, and a writ allowing them to start seizing furniture and cash. Yep, that's one for Us, and 312,912,103 for the Bankers.
Former Detroit mayor Kilpatrick (and co.) found guilty on nearly all corruption charges. Did you wonder why, exactly, they took away Democracy from Detroit?
After vehemently denying he would be a lackey of big business during his Senate run against Elizabeth Warren, Scott Brown now joins a law firm that lobbies on behalf of big banks
The NYT recently reported on the fire sale of America's historic post offices. The NYT doesn’t note a crucial fact that perhaps explains why the sale process is not transparent: the head of CBRE is private equity billionaire Richard C. Blum, Senator Dianne Feinstein’s husband. Transparency? Nepotism? We only care about those things when the OTHER guys aren't doing it.
1.6 Billion Rounds Of Ammo For Homeland Security? It's Time For A National Conversation (Forbes) This is from FORBES, not some wacko-nut job living in a bunker - er, that's me... - but this is FORBES. Well, a Forbes contributor anyway... And what does Mrs. Napolitano need with 1.6 billion rounds for, precisely? I mean, Homeland is spending to become more like the DoD? Trying to be noticed by the big boys? Fat contracts no questions has made quite a few people quite a lot of money. And it might even support a few middle class jobs out there too. But besides that - why are we militarizing our police force?
NASA Rover Finds Conditions Once Suited for Ancient Life on Mars Well, I can only hope that they find oil or gold on Mars soon so we can go there and set up a Starbucks and some US military bases.
And you can drink a Super Diabetes Gulp(TM) again in NYC. Twinkies due on shelves by the summer.
Bank of America wrongfully foreclosed a couple, who sued and won a judgement for $2500 in Legal expenses. When BOA didn't pay the couple showed up at the bank with a moving company, a deputy, and a writ allowing them to start seizing furniture and cash. Yep, that's one for Us, and 312,912,103 for the Bankers.
Former Detroit mayor Kilpatrick (and co.) found guilty on nearly all corruption charges. Did you wonder why, exactly, they took away Democracy from Detroit?
After vehemently denying he would be a lackey of big business during his Senate run against Elizabeth Warren, Scott Brown now joins a law firm that lobbies on behalf of big banks
The NYT recently reported on the fire sale of America's historic post offices. The NYT doesn’t note a crucial fact that perhaps explains why the sale process is not transparent: the head of CBRE is private equity billionaire Richard C. Blum, Senator Dianne Feinstein’s husband. Transparency? Nepotism? We only care about those things when the OTHER guys aren't doing it.
1.6 Billion Rounds Of Ammo For Homeland Security? It's Time For A National Conversation (Forbes) This is from FORBES, not some wacko-nut job living in a bunker - er, that's me... - but this is FORBES. Well, a Forbes contributor anyway... And what does Mrs. Napolitano need with 1.6 billion rounds for, precisely? I mean, Homeland is spending to become more like the DoD? Trying to be noticed by the big boys? Fat contracts no questions has made quite a few people quite a lot of money. And it might even support a few middle class jobs out there too. But besides that - why are we militarizing our police force?
NASA Rover Finds Conditions Once Suited for Ancient Life on Mars Well, I can only hope that they find oil or gold on Mars soon so we can go there and set up a Starbucks and some US military bases.
And you can drink a Super Diabetes Gulp(TM) again in NYC. Twinkies due on shelves by the summer.
Mar 11, 2013
It's My First Day
A news conference between Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Afghan President Hamid Karzai was canceled Sunday on the heels of the Afghan leader's accusation that the Taliban and the U.S. are working together to convince Afghans that violence in the country will worsen if foreign troops leave as planned by the end of next year.U.S. officials say the news conference was canceled due to a security threat, but the two men plan to meet privately.
According to the Associated Press, the cancellation comes a day after a suicide bomber on a bicycle struck outside the Afghan Defense Ministry, killing nine Afghan civilians and wounding 14 others.
Read more ....
My comment? Did someone miss a payment due to "Sequestration"? "Hey, you guys are short this month! What up?"
Mar 7, 2013
Mr. Paul Speaks in Washington
Rand Paul filibuster ends after more than 12 hours
"We need to have a debate about this" ~ Dick Durbin
"If you need to debate this you shouldn't be in congress." ~ repmack
Resolved that it is in the sense of the Senate that:
1 The use of drones to execute, or to target, American citizens on American soil who pose no imminent threat clearly violates the Constitutional due process rights of citizens
2 The American people deserve a clear, concise, and unequivocal public statement from the President of the United States that contains detailed legal reasoning, including but not limited to the balance between national security and due process, Limits of executive power and distinction between treatment of citizens and non-citizens within and outside the boarders of the United States, the use of lethal force against American citizens, and the use of drones in the application of lethal force within the United States territory.
Since the Senators could not sign the piece of paper before you, Mr. Rand decided to pull an old fashioned Frank Capra-esque passioned filibuster to, not fight the nomination of John Brennan, but to call out the Obama Administration's cavaler remarks that they could bomb Americans indiscriminately on American soil... er, hypothetically, of course. You know, to stop 9/11 or Pearl Harbor?
Pause for a moment and noodle on the idea that the nomination of a man who condones drone strikes on American citizens has to be filibustered rather than laughed away.
Of the many things Mr. Paul said, ""No president has the right to say he is judge, jury and executioner."
Others joined in, to Stand with Rand - such as Marco Rubio (a top prospect for seeking higher GOP office) "It's not a Republican question. It's not a conservative question, it's a Constitutional question."
The filibuster ended not when both parties came to their senses and told Mr. Brennan and the Obama Administration to read the Constitution - but when Mr. Paul had to use the facilities.
The bombings will continue.
(It is good to see that someone is reading my column though!)
1 The use of drones to execute, or to target, American citizens on American soil who pose no imminent threat clearly violates the Constitutional due process rights of citizens
2 The American people deserve a clear, concise, and unequivocal public statement from the President of the United States that contains detailed legal reasoning, including but not limited to the balance between national security and due process, Limits of executive power and distinction between treatment of citizens and non-citizens within and outside the boarders of the United States, the use of lethal force against American citizens, and the use of drones in the application of lethal force within the United States territory.
Since the Senators could not sign the piece of paper before you, Mr. Rand decided to pull an old fashioned Frank Capra-esque passioned filibuster to, not fight the nomination of John Brennan, but to call out the Obama Administration's cavaler remarks that they could bomb Americans indiscriminately on American soil... er, hypothetically, of course. You know, to stop 9/11 or Pearl Harbor?
Pause for a moment and noodle on the idea that the nomination of a man who condones drone strikes on American citizens has to be filibustered rather than laughed away.
Of the many things Mr. Paul said, ""No president has the right to say he is judge, jury and executioner."
Others joined in, to Stand with Rand - such as Marco Rubio (a top prospect for seeking higher GOP office) "It's not a Republican question. It's not a conservative question, it's a Constitutional question."
The filibuster ended not when both parties came to their senses and told Mr. Brennan and the Obama Administration to read the Constitution - but when Mr. Paul had to use the facilities.
The bombings will continue.
(It is good to see that someone is reading my column though!)
Mar 6, 2013
Holder Okays Drone Strikes in the US
 |
| Drones over New Jack City? |
Holder Does Not Rule Out Drone Strike Scenario In U.S.
Attorney General Eric "Fast and Furious is a Great Idea" Holder is not entirely ruling out a scenario under which a drone strike would be ordered against Americans on U.S. soil, but says it has never been done previously and he could only see it being considered in an extraordinary circumstance.
Sure.
His comments were prompted by questions raised over the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA. Specifically, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee sought the Obama administration's legal rationale for its use of drones to kill terror suspects overseas.
But Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who has said he would do what he could to hold up Brennan's nomination until he got a full answer to his query, wanted to know whether the administration considered that policy applicable domestically.
Read more ....
Checks? Balances? Posse Comitatus Act? Constitution? Who's got time for all that nonsense? Just so we're clear, these guys are the same people who said that waterboarding known terrorists is illegal, but bombing American citizens without due process is a-okay?
Mar 5, 2013
Hugone
Hugo Chavez has officially abandoned his office.
Venezuelan Vice President Says Chavez Was Infected With Cancer By Foes
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was infected with cancer by "imperialist" enemies, his No. 2 alleged on Tuesday, adding that the socialist leader was suffering his hardest moments of a two-year battle against the disease.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro's accusations and somber prognosis came during a televised meeting of political and military leaders at the presidential palace amid speculation of an imminent end to Chavez's 14-year rule. (PS, Hugone)
"We have no doubt that commander Chavez was attacked with this illness," Maduro said, repeating a charge first made by Chavez himself that the cancer was an attack by "imperialist" foes in the United States in league with domestic enemies.
Read more ....
Paranoid much? PS - if the US government is going to take you out, they don't let you linger for 2 years. That's just not their style.
Mar 4, 2013
The State Takes Detroit
 |
| Photo Credit: Zach Fein |
In Benton Harbor, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder placed Emergency Managers in power, in essence neutering the democratically elected government in 2010. [Link to Blasphemes article "Broke Ass Benton Harbor]
And, as predicted then, he's done it again - but this time on to Detroit.
 |
| From zfein.com - Decaying homes in Detroit |
To put it simply, Detroit faces $14 billion in long-term debt and an annual deficit of $327 million. Many of its 700,000 residents, which is less than half of its peak population six decades ago, are having trouble paying their taxes amid widespread poverty.
Despite the powers given to the new manager - they're going to have to kill UNION contracts, cut benefits, city pay, bus schedules, and cut the power to all those street lamps. This is what collapse looks like. Don't worry, they'll still have mayoral elections. They have to keep the facade up as long as possible. It's a load bearing facade.
Of course they plan to sue, you know, as an empty gesture - like being humped by your neighbor's neutered house pet.
But what are the larger implications of the collapse of a major US metropolitan city? Does it matter that the all three of cities (Pontiac, Benton Harbor and now Detroit) that were captured by the State predominately African American?
 |
| Book Tower, the 9th tallest building in Detroit, is completely abandoned. zfein.com |
Yes, there will be cuts to all the collective bargaining agreements, the Unions will be crushed - firemen and police might be combined... it's almost a financial martial law, if you will.
Expect privatization of everything from EMT to corrections. Omni Consumer Products will probably be a prominent bidder.
But that's the short term.
Longer term issue here is that as millions of people are standing in line for hours in the hot Kenyan sun to cast a ballot - the people of Metropolitan Detroit have just lost their democratic rights.
It seems that Benton Harbor and Pontiac were the warm up to Detroit. Now that Detroit is in the hands of the State, is this merely a blueprint on how to successfully absorb and nullify a failed city? The City of Bell, California will probably be taking notes.
How about a failed State? How soon until an Emergency Manager selected by the President takes over a bankrupted State - like, say, Michigan itself? Or Illinois? California? How about the other 32 states that are insolvent?
Imported from Detroit, indeed.
Mar 1, 2013
Jedi Mind Meld?
The White House's digital team is spending their Friday trying hard to spin Mr. Obama's pop-sci-fi nukular-gaff during a press conference earlier in the day.
Haven't you heard? Obama said during the conference that he can't perform a "Jedi mind meld" to get Republicans to agree to a sequester deal.
Darth Vader is Kirk's Father? These aren't the Klingons you're looking for...
Hey, you know what? In this JJ Abrams world, where JJ gets the helm for Star Trek action adventure series reboot, and the new Star Wars movies after the Disney deal - maybe Mr. Obama is just hipper than all the dorks raging about it on Twitter and Reddit right now?
Or, or,... he's not nearly as smart as we were all lead to believe. Looks like the Romulan Ale is wearing off. Better call Lando for some of that Colt 45!
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