Gttim is missing!

I have been taking a break from blogging. Work has been busy, and life hectic. Blogging here will probably be light from here on out. I will now be concentrating efforts at Conservatives Gone Wild! I seem to enjoy exposing the unconservative, hypocritical, and just stupid behavior of conservatives, so that is where I will spend most of my time.

I am switching to blogger because it is easier to blog from remote locations, and Radio just takes up a huge amount of system resources of my home computer.  Seems to be a poor design by Radio.

If I am not around here too much, come visit!

      

I think the title pretty much sums it all up.

The New York Press: Cleaning the pool- the White House press corps politely grabs its ankles.

Just go have a look.

      

Ignorant Conservatives!

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World Net Daily: Stay at home Mom takes on celebrity pundits.

Lori Bardsley, a stay-at-home mother, has decided to take on celebrity pundits. She thinks they should not use their celebrity to "interfere" with the "defense of the country." Let's listen to this "intelligent" mother talk.

"I remember cheering in front of the television as I watched Gloria Steinem and her Hollywood friends march in D.C. for choice. It would be many years later that I would have three abortions in place of birth control and end up with complicated pregnancies as a result of my choice," she said.

Can you believe such a complete idiot could get any airtime? By the conservative press? Yes, I could. Abortion is not birth control. As Bill Clinton said best, abortion should be legal, safe and "rare." You would have thought that this idiot Lori Bardsley would have learned something about birth control after the first abortion. She must not be the brightest. I guess she got pregnant three times without making the connection that sex without birth control causes babies. Probably easier to blame others than to look into a mirror and accept the responsibility for her own actions.

Why do I get the feeling that not only is this woman against abortion, but she is probably against sex education, as most anti-abortionists are. Instead of protesting celebrity pundits, who might actually understand the difference between abortion and birth control, and who might understand the nuances of foreign policy, maybe Lori should be reading What's Happening to my Body.

Tbogg, at whose blog I first read about this story, may have said it best:

Let me get this straight. Lori the Braniac, who used abortion as "birth control" three times, wants to provide Americans with advice on who to listen to? Hell, if I were a judgmental, Pro-Life Christian, I'd would point out that this woman is about two kids short of being Andrea Yates.

But then, I'm not a judgmental, Pro-Life Christian.....so I won't.

BTW, celebrity pundits have just as much right to protest as any other citizen. And will somebody please explain why Rush Limbaugh has the right to be a celebrity pundit and Hollywood actors don't? As he himself states, he is only an entertainer.

      

More Republican family values.

The Salt Lake Tribune: Cited in prostitution ring, Cache lawmaker resigns.

Republican state Rep. Brent Parker of Wellsville abruptly resigned his seat Friday after Salt Lake City police cited him earlier this week for trying to solicit sex from an undercover officer posing as a male prostitute.

Then my favorite paragraph.

Rep. Craig Buttars, R-Lewiston, said: "We don't know enough right now to make a judgment. I hope that Parker knows we are with him and his family during this difficult time."

Well if Parker's thoughts had been with his family earlier.......

Do whatever you want sexually, as long as consenting adults are involved. But with Ashcroft, Bush and the GOP trying to invade our bedrooms and legislate our sexually behavior, I always find it funny when these GOPers get caught with their pants down, so to speak.

Probably Clinton's fault this happened, I am sure.

      

GOP and Bush open up a can of "Whoop Ass" on old lady.

BuzzFlash: Nothing makes a Republican feel better than beating up on an 82-year-old woman.

"Helen Thomas is a legend. She's known and covered every president since JFK. In a candid moment, Ms. Thomas spoke a powerful truth. "George W. Bush is the worst president in all of American history." Given how Mr. Bush has squandered the surplus, trashed the economy and is now hurdling toward a war that is unpopular, unjust, unwise and unwarranted, I think I see Helen's point. Now, the GOP has moved into smear mode. The RNC is urging it's faithful to, "call her out," which apparently means harassing Helen by e-mail, and phone, and fax. I guess nothing makes a Republican feel better than beating up on an 82-year-old woman."

--Paul Begala, Crossfire, 02/24/03

Well I guess it is okay since they can't get Osama. Helen doesn't move as fast as she used to. They might actually be able to take her.

      

Georgia GOP lies in debate over abortion waiting period.

AJC: Anti-abortion bill an insult.

This Republican quack, er,.... doctor testifying before the state Senate is an insult.

At times, it's an utter creep show watching male legislators debate women's reproductive lives. The most offensive moment of this week's debate came when Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton), a family physician, asserted that rape victims don't get pregnant because the "vaginal secretions are not prepared in rape."

"Relying on my personal experience in my home county of 90,000 people, we don't have rape cases resulting in pregnancy," he said.

Not only is this bill a crock, but so are the speeches driving it.

      

Even the AJC prints editorial questioning the GOP pundits attempt to supress right of protest.

AJC: Radio talk of treason threatens free speech.

Like many others, I had the interesting experience Wednesday morning -- soon after dropping off my kids at school and turning on the car radio -- of hearing a famous voice use the word "traitor." He was talking about some opponents of the Bush administration's policy toward Iraq.

.....

But, like other right-wing talk show talkers, he [Neal Boortz] has been pushing hard lately -- and in solemn terms -- for exactly the war the administration wants. And he has been painting the administration's critics and questioners as defenders of Saddam Hussein, and as unwilling to defend their country and their civilization.

On Wednesday, he used the word "traitor" several times. His show, as usual, was having a ball trashing Bush's critics. Amid floods of radio invective against a wide assortment of alleged appeasers, cowards, fools, anti-Americans and Iraqi sympathizers, Boortz's talk of traitors sounded like more of the same.

.....

It needs to be remembered that the administration's Iraq policies, its timing, its treatment of allies, its difficulties in making the case for immediate war -- and more -- have inspired many Americans to voice objections. Bush's critics, in facts, have included senior aides to the first President Bush, as well as retired military officers like Gen. Wesley Clark.

Will ordinary citizens dare to speak out in a radio environment of relentless vituperation and talk of treason? We're entering dangerous domestic territory.

Imagine the conservative editors of the AJC allowing such words to be printed. Traitorous, I tell you.

      

Final list of teams for Tour de Georgia.

Cycling News: Teams finalised for Tour de Georgia.

A total of 18 teams have been signed up to ride the inaugural Tour de Georgia, which takes place from April 22-27. Sidermec, Flanders IteamNova and Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave are the most recent additions to the list, which includes Rabobank and a Dutch national team, as well as the main U.S. and Canadian teams. The full team list is as follows:

7UP/Nutra Fig
Colavita-Bolla
Flanders IteamNova
Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave
Jelly Belly/Carlsbad Clothing
Jittery Joe's Coffee
Navigators
Netherlands national team
Ofoto/Lombardi Sports
Prime Alliance
Rabobank
Saturn
Schroeder Iron
Sierra Nevada/Cannondale
Sidermec
Team West Virginia
U.S. Postal Service presented by Berry Floor
Webcor/Alto Velo

The name of the race still seems stupid. How about "Ya'll's Tour of Gawga."

      

Again, conservative GOPers try to prevent Americans from their right to protest.

AJC: Disagree at your own risk.

I wasn't sure how much good I could do or how much power one person has but I wanted to do it. When I took my place on the sidewalk across the street from my church, I was struck with this Norman Rockwell picture of America. Families with their balloons, flags and signs made it feel like the Fourth of July. I was thrilled by all the patriotism and was proud to be part of this community that cares enough to turn out to greet the most powerful politician in our land.

But when I unrolled my sign, all that changed, and I may never be able to look at my community the same way again.

I never chanted, raised my voice, confronted anyone or was disrespectful to those around me. I simply held my sign and stood my ground. The abuse came first from a small group of homemakers standing near me, their small children dressed in red, white and blue.

"Go home! You don't belong here," they said.

All around me folks began to speak up, and it wasn't long before a large group of people crossed the street with banners and flags and began aggressively yelling "Go USA!" Bob, a young man with a ball cap and a sign reading "Drop Bush, Not Bombs" came and stood with me for support.

The really frightening stuff began when a television cameraman stopped and asked me why I was there. As soon as the crowd saw the camera pointed at me, they went wild. I was trying to express myself and they screamed at me and over my voice. A man stood behind me making obscene gestures as I spoke.

The reporter tried three times, unsuccessfully, to get a picture without obscenity. One woman spat in my hair. The journalist gave up and moved on. The mob did not. Men and women violently screamed in my face and Bob's.

It stopped just long enough for the president's motorcade to pass by and then erupted again. We were told to " Get the f--- out of the country," had obscene gestures pushed in our faces. An elderly man told me to "Go to hell!"

And the main point.

I was in a state of shock. Here I was, a 42-year-old mother of four, born and raised in Cobb County, holding a peace sign, standing on the sidewalk across the street from my church, and I was frightened that my neighbors were going to hurt me because I dared to express my opinion. This could not be happening. Not in America, right?

Wouldn't Jesus would be proud of these suburban Atlantan conservative Christians and Republicans? Especially spitting on people in front of the community church?

This is what the GOP, Bush, and Ashcroft are doing to America. No longer are you allowed to protest or express your views. The say that if you don't support them, you are un-American. Our First Amendment means nothing to these people. The GOP is trying to turn our country into communist Russia, preventing free speech, the exchange of ideas, and meaningful debate. I could never vote Republican again after the crap they have done. From Election 2000 to now, all they have done is to try and squelch the voice of America.

Republicans suck!

      

Bush lies caught and listed!

House.org: Caught on film.

A really nice web page listing Bush's photo ops, his rhetoric, amd then what he actually does. Gives graphic demonstration of Bush's credibility gap. Just click here, and take a scroll.

      

Name the fetish!

Omaha World-Herald: Ticket costs election chief his post.

Douglas County Election Commissioner Pat McPherson resigned Tuesday, a day after being ticketed on suspicion of fondling a 17-year-old girl who was dressed as a restaurant mascot.

.....

The mascot at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers alleged that McPherson fondled her and that City Council President Chuck Sigerson exposed her undergarments Feb. 7 in the restaurant.

There has got to be a name for this. And why is it that it is always the party of family values that gets all these really weird guys. Getting a hummer is one thing, but fondling mascots?

I am picturing McPherson getting off, no pun intended, on a technicality and leaving the courthouse with his friends:

Reporter asks, "What are you going to do now Pat McPherson?"

Pat looks into the camera, "I'm going to Disney World!"

      

Another case of the employees knowing more than management.

MSNBC: E-mails foretold Columbia's doom.

The space agency released e-mails Wednesday also showing it was sufficiently concerned about possible damage to Columbia's insulating tiles that it asked the Defense Department, then abruptly changed its mind, to take pictures of the shuttle in orbit more than one week before its breakup.

The dozens of pages of e-mails described a many-sided internal debate about the seriousness of potential damage to Columbia from a liftoff collision with foam debris, a debate that was far broader than previously acknowledged. They even considered instructing the crew to bail out.

Engineers in Texas and Virginia fretted about the shuttle's safety during its final three days in orbit, with one wondering whether officials were "just relegated to crossing their fingers" and another questioning why such dire issues had been raised so late.

There need to be some lines of communications opened. Maybe a big suggestion box with the sign: "If you believe something of NASA's is going to go boom, gladly leave a suggestion. Suggestions do not have to be signed and may be annonymous."

      

Racist dogs?

Slate: Can a dog be a racist?

Interesting article on dog behavior.

A lone incident would have been dismissed, but Percy targeted my then-boyfriend—also Hispanic—for similar treatment. And he was prone to lashing out at black men, too. Teased for taking in a racist dog, my friends—who are white—initially objected. He was a good dog, a sweet dog, people are already biased against pit bulls, don't call him a racist. Not all men of color were targeted, they pointed out. And indeed, the odds seemed to increase if the man was carrying bags or luggage, or if his clothes were particularly baggy. But as Percy now resided just off a main shopping district, and in the heart of hip-hopping Fort Greene, these distinctions provided little solace.

My bigger dog hates men wearing brown uniforms who drive big brown trucks. I think it has something to do with a UPS driver who used to deliver to me up in North Georgia. I used to wonder how he got the package to my door, when my dog ran the front and rear yard on an invisible fence. The dog isn't too fond of FedEx guys either. Pretty much any guy in a uniform is not well accepted at my house by the dogs.

I am still trying to figure out where the dog's fierce hatred of golf carts came from. If a UPS man ever drives a golf cart down my street, the dog may actually go ballistic.

      

Keeps running through my mind.

The Atlantic: Caring for your introvert.

I was read this article yesterday, after being pointed its way by detache.org. A good article, and one on which I saw some tendencies of mine. Two gags keep running through my head.

#1 Picture: Guy sitting in a room full of folding chairs, and maybe a half dozen people scattered about the room. Sign on wall reads "Introverts Annonymous." Caption: "My name is George and I am an introvert and I hate coming to these damn meetings."

#2 Picture: Two guys sitting in a room full of empty folding chairs. Caption: "I can't understand why our Introverts Annonymous Meetings aren't getting bigger crowds."

Callahan I'm not.

      

Senator John Kerry on Estrada.

I received an email from Senator John Kerry, mass email I am quite sure, in response to emails I sent out regarding the fillibuster. I received responses from other Senators, but this is on the specific topic I wrote about, and states a very good position. I will share it.

Thank you for contacting me regarding the nomination of Miguel Estrada to the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. I appreciate hearing from you.

Under the "advise and consent" clause of the Constitution, the Senate is responsible for confirming judicial candidates nominated by the President. All nominations are referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and, if approved, are sent to the full Senate for consideration. Given the importance of filling vacant seats on the federal courts, it is imperative that nominees be given fair and expeditious consideration. At the same time, the Senate has a responsibility to diligently review a nominee's record, qualifications and views on legal issues before confirming him or her for a lifetime appointment to the federal judiciary.

As you know, the President has nominated former Assistant Solicitor General Miguel Estrada for a seat on the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Mr. Estrada=s nomination was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a single vote and is now being debated by the full Senate. Unfortunately, Mr. Estrada refused to divulge his views on important constitutional and judicial matters during the hearing process and the Bush Administration has refused to release his record as Assistant Solicitor General. That has dramatically undermined the nominating process by making it impossible for the Senate to discern what kind of temperament he would bring to the federal bench. The administration has been asked to work with the Senate in resolving this matter but has so far declined. In addition, Mr. Estrada is a member of several organizations that espouse views far outside the mainstream of legal precedent and has been criticized for failing to objectively interpret the law. Given these concerns, I cannot support his nomination.

Thank you for sharing your views with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again on this or any other issue.

Please write your Senator about sticking with the filibuster. The Democrats are starting to show a little spine, and we need to support them. Contact info for Senators is here.

      

Something different.

The Sunday Mail : A cheeky skirt?

      

The best email service on the web!

Washington Post: Faster, Mightier Web Mail -- For a Price.

PC Magazine: Oddpost Makes Webmail Real.

A California company is betting that people will pay for Web e-mail if it's faster and more powerful than today's clunky free Web-mail services. The new e-mail offering from Oddpost looks and works like Microsoft Outlook and similar desktop programs, with the same simple drag-and-drop transfer of messages to folders -- but it runs entirely in a Web browser's window.

I signed up for Oddpost a while back- should be about time I get a renewel email. This is by far the best web based email I have ever seen. Elegant, easy to use, and now with killer spam filtering. It is $30 a year, but you get what you pay for. My hotmail account used to get hundreds of emails a day. I get none, NONE, on my Oddpost. I have features that I am used to from using Outlook. These guys seem to be pretty funny also. Go check out their website and maybe try out a demo.

      

Voting machine manufacturers produce "paper trail" to make a sake.

Mercury News: Suddenly a paper trail is possible.

In a major turn of events, all three voting machine makers competing for Santa Clara County's contract have told election officials that they're prepared to offer paper copies of touch-screen ballots for voters to inspect. Better yet, they'll include this feature at no cost to the county.

The vendors' concession is a big victory for computer scientists who've been clamoring for a voter-verifiable paper audit. It's also an offer supervisors have no reason to refuse.

Everybody in Georgia should now contact Cathy Cox, maybe by email. Demand she adds a paper trail so that Georgia's voting can be audited. We need faith in our voting system.

      

Tit for tat?

AJC: Man shoots girl for throwing snowballs.

A man whose daughter was hit with a snowball by a group of girls returned to the scene and opened fire with a gun, critically wounding a 10-year-old youngster, police said.

Guess we have to be glad it wasn't a water ballon fight. Who knows what he would have done then.

      

Why is our right to protest being questioned?

AJC: Player's snubbing of U.S. flag enrages veteran.

One of the most important rights we posses as Americans, is our right to protest, even if we are protesting against our government. Americans have protested loudly throughout history. From the Boston Tea Party to Kent State, our county's history is filled with protests. I think my personal favorite is the image of two American track and field athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, raising gloved fists in the air during an award ceremony. It is so important that the 1st Amendment is about our right to free speech. This is fundamental stuff.

While I appreciate the all that veterans have done for this country, and hold them in great esteem, I think this one in New York has forgotten the freedoms he protected. Toni Smith, Manhattanville High School's senior forward on the girls basketball team, has refused to face the flag during the national anthem this year. She is protesting not only the war drive, but other inequities in our county. Her protest is protected by the Constitution. Veteran Jerry Kiley does not have to like it, but he does have to allow it, and should respect it. An interesting story, and a brave young lady.