Living History

Yesterday, as the Preppy Roomie and I buzzed around the kitchen in our growing excitement over Election Day, we compared notes on how different this experience was from elections we'd seen/voted in before (she's only voted in one other one, the baby. I've voted in TWO!). She told me that she'd talked about the election with one of her first-year tutoring students -- she tutors for the student athletes organization at Boston College. Both she and her student, a young black kid from Florida, were voting for Obama; the two of them discussed the other candidates running for office in his Florida general election. It was his first election.

What makes me grin so wide about this is that this is a young African-American man, working on what may well be the first college degree his family has seen, casting his vote in the first election to see a major-party black candidate take the presidency. I don't know the student very well and I don't presume to make assumptions about his life, but I don't know if he would have voted in another election. And the fact that his ballot is winging its way to Florida where it might actually make a difference fills me with...

...yes, I'll say it.


Hope.

The Stalward Left of the Right-Hand Side

I just meandered across this blog, West Virginia Blue, which features political bulletins from the Eastern Panhandle. Of course I found it via Hillbilly Savants, which I love more and more. I wish they would publish a book.

Anyway, if you have a moment watch the Charles video. It warmed the cockles of my heart absolutely. I'm so ready for November 4th it's ridiculous. I've already been repeating my stock election-year threat: If they win (they being the obvious They, the Bad Guys, The GOP), I'm leaving the country.

Only this year, I really will. Vive la France.

How the E.P.A. Doesn't Even Deserve Its Title Anymore

VS.!


Do you have a preference?

Sliding into home base as it is, the Bush administration has decided to give a few final plumps to its various friends in energy-resource (and anti-environmental) industry. In this case they're pushing through the de-regulation of stream and water-resource protection, the one that keeps those streams and wetlands that still exist in the Appalachian region from turning into slurries. While the E.P.A. will technically have to sign off on this "revision", they already turned a blind eye to an earlier tweak that removed regulations for dumping waste directly into the flow of streams and rivers. The repeal of the buffer-zone will allow companies to contaminate not only the water sources themselves but the space all around the water source, enabling them to dig access roads and tracks right down to the water, completely destroying not only the mountains but the ecosystems in the valleys as well.

Now, I'm not terribly skilled at deconstructing legal documents, even super-reductive ones such as this fact sheet detailing information on the Stream Buffer Zone rule, but it seems to me that the language at the bottom of page two is a bit faint-hearted (so basically people shouldn't disturb the wildlife, but dumping mining waste is different so that's...okay? I'm confused) and does not actually speak to the heading of the section WHATSOEVER (header being: How is OSM proposing to change SBZ). And without any concrete answer, what's the point of the fact sheet? And in re: the very last statement: I don't want to see anything about "explanations of why that alternative is not possible". That's the loophole, and it's not even a subtle one. They must really think we're all idiots, and maybe we are. Industry, and the corrupt governmental offices it panders to, will just keep getting away with this until we say something.

Coal River Mountain Watch has the talking points. They're better at this than I.

I Love Mountains has the petition. I strongly encourage everyone to visit and sign.

And finally, Hillbilly Savants are everything I want to be. Only they don't have the shoes like I do. And that's your yearly free-pass on redneck and hillbilly jokes right there, except that I still have all my teeth.

Your Tax Dollars Paying For Army Arcades

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

You have to sit through a five-second advertisement, but the news clip is short...and pointed. If you want to know where part of that MASSIVE military budget goes, watch this. You're paying for video games at the state fair. You're also paying for the army to recruit kids under 18 (legal age of enlistment), for data collection and doubtless for the advertisements and circulars they send to your house. As a tax payer, less of your tax dollars go to helping pay for prosthesis and physical therapy for disabled veterans than go to funding for new computers and electronic equipment for the Pentagon and other military bureaus nationwide.

Now, can I convince you to send me some money for a Wii? I want to try that boxing game. You know, to better understand how well trained boxers are.

Palin Rally in St. Clairsville, OH

I would ask all of my friends in the OhVa to please go out and prove that Northern Ohio, the northern Panhandle of WV, and Western Pennsylvania are not all small-minded, frightened bigots. I don't care who you vote for, but vote and know that when you're voting you're not voting because of some rumor or voting against anyone on a personal level. Vote because you have even just ONE cause that you've researched, one thing you feel is important. That's what your education is supposed to do for you.

The Daily Kos had a really good read on this. Plus, the author is from outside St. C.

Sarah Palin has a hard time with words.

It seems that she's not entirely familiar with the textbook definition of "vindicated". And since you all know (or I'm telling you) how much I love Orwell, and words, I thought that this article was just the most toothsome piece of journalism...No, Sarah, you're not vindicated by the report. Time for you to return to college #7.

We don't all belong to the NRA.

This story from the Daily Kos (a few dailies ago, though) really cheered me up. It's the kind of scenario I think of when I think of the cantankerous, independent spirit of West Virginians. Granted, there is a deep-currented and complicated discourse about the mine owners and operators, about the union and loyalties, about individualism, voting, and citizens of the state running through this story, but nevertheless as a sketch of spirit and independence it warms my heart. Bear in mind, West Virginia mines are territory where less than a hundred years ago miners could be shot for this kind of dissent.*




*Please Note: Wikipedia's article calls the WV Mine Wars of 1920-21 the "Redneck Wars". I have never heard this struggle so labeled and I (of course) disagree vehemently with the term. For one thing, it's really hard to get a red-neck when you work underground your whole life (if anyone is confused by the origin of the term "Redneck", let me know. I can set you straight).

Palin Charges Rape Victims for their Own Justice

While Mayor, Sarah Palin Charged Rape Victims for their Own Justice - Feministing

The argument regarding the abortion issue is particularly pithy. Also, the contrast between Palin's "fierce mother hen" persona and the purely commercial act of charging victims for their own rape kits is a pretty sickening kind of hypocrisy. In light of recent, disturbing conversations regarding rape and date rape (see Helen Mirren's comments in a British GQ article), to potentially be putting someone with these ideas into any kind of executive position (especially where you have some -- albeit ceremonial -- involvement in the legislative branch) I think is dangerous. It's much too much a step backward for women in particular and society in general.

I mean, doesn't it just assume that men have no control over their sexual impulses, and that women who cross certain physical boundaries (threshold to a hotel room, for example) are no longer allowed control over their own bodies? 'Cuz that's what Mirren's comments mean to me.


Soooooo disappointing, Helen Mirren.

Votes For Women, Obvs

Hi-effing-larious. It's been photoshopped (probably), but you still do wonder about anyone who compares herself with a pit bull. And I'm assuming she means mistreated, bad-attitude pit bulls. Not just any pit bull.

Thanks, Bossip!

Is your citizenship questionable? [update]

So I've been taking these Citizenship tests through Facebook and one that my mother sent to me (I feel that the status of my citizenship is due almost entirely to she and my father, so why do I have to take the quiz??) and realized that apart from the first five amendments on the Bill of Rights, the Prohibition Act, the Repealing of the Prohibition Act, and the Suffrage Amendment...I really have no idea what's in our constitution as of right now. As a result I went and dug up a list, and have placed it on this blog in case anyone else gets a little worried about GWB maybe meddling in the Presidential term-limit laws...Amendment 22, people. Protect our Constitution: don't let that man near it.

The United States Constitution - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net (link is same as above.)

**In case you were wondering, I got a 26 out of 30 on the official citizenship test. Things I did not know were:

1. How many proposed amendments were never ratified (6).
2. Which amendment is current and valid (Prohibiting import of liquor into states where liquor is illegal...we can still buy it and drink it, but we can't carry it across certain state lines. Um. Oops).
3. What is the official language of the United States (there IS no official language. Take that, all you honkies who say "This is America. We speak English here." Well, yessss...and no).
4. How many presidents were impeached (2. I thought it was 1, but I forgot that Andrew Jackson was also impeached. Both he and Clinton were afterward acquitted, which means that Congress is kind of wishy-washy).
   

Voting.

Vote, Fools!

Magic Eye Picture: find the irony, and you'll find the joke

From my friend Mimi.

Jesus says, "Whoa!"

I don't even get this comic. I'm not sure who's supposed to be the bad guys, the good guys, if it's in the future, if that's how this person sees the world right now, or WHAT. It reminds me of some of the most classic novels ever published at a fine upstanding traditional publisher in Frederick, Maryland.

Tempezt iz teh Teapot!

Someone on Facebook has inexplicably created the "LOLCats" application. Those of you who have Facebook will recognize this as one of a thousand new applications that are nothing but a useless and highly diverting waste of time (I draw the line at "compare people!" because I don't want no drama). However, one girl made one minor request that resulted in a huge outcry, one that I of course fully support because I am, as has been noted before, a raging feminist/humanist/proponent of civil rights and liberties. The exchanges that have followed this young woman have been anything but civil. She's been assaulted with some pretty vile language on this thread -- which she's assuredly reading -- in ways that make even me cringe.

And the most cringe-worthy aspect is the fact that many of the (predominantly) men posting are in high school. I liked to pretend that I was exaggerating the state of high school kids these days. I liked thinking that I was all curmudgeonly and that kids are just being kids because that's what they do. But here they are, in open territory, attacking each other in sexist and racist ways that are demoralizing. And yes, feel free to tell me that kids have always used bad language and been mean to one another. I know that quite well. The problem is that suddenly they have an entire parallel universe in which to go wild, a place where no teacher is going to catch them scratching the F word into a desk or a parent overhear a phone conversation. Online they're accountable to exactly no one, and are therefore develop an attitude that translates into everyday life. Don't believe me? Think I'm being alarmist? Take a day and substitute-teach in the suburbs (cause inner city kids usually get the chance to waste hours on the internet beefing with one another). You'll see that attitude staring at you from the front row. It's obnoxious, and frightening.

Free Haleh Esfandiari

Haleh Esfandiari is stuck in an Iranian prison.

You'd think we'd be all over this, considering the woman is an American citizen, the mother of American children and indeed, even a grandmother of American children. You would think this would be the perfect bargaining chip for those who would wish to strike up in outraged voices saying, "how dare they detain this woman!" You'd think it'd be the perfect time for a reprise of Iran Contra, how we're going to do it right this time, how we're not going to let that sort of thing happen again, how wrong it all is and shouldn't that nation be ashamed of itself?

Celebitchy vs. Madonna

Celebitchy just published a neat little note regarding the Live Earth concert. I liked what she had to say, and I like the direction the site is moving in in general. It's getting a good deal more intelligent, which makes me happy.

One thing that doesn't get covered all that often is the carbon-credit exchange, and how useless it is in terms of making corporations alter their approach. In ten years' time, it's not going to matter whether or not your corporation has purchased enough credits to pollute freely. Because corporations shouldn't be allowed to pollute at all. The mindset has to change.


I'm back at work, so I imagine these rants are going to get more boring and soapbox-y rather than being exciting details of my trip to Ireland. I'll still be listing some of the super cool fun stuff I did, but I'll be back to my usual tricks of being astoundingly boring on the political and social consciousness front.

Elizabeth Edwards vs. Ann Coulter or The South Shall Rise Again!

I certainly liked and respected the woman before this (one son dead, a disappointing presidential campaign, and then breast cancer like a cherry-on-top), but I have even more respect for Elizabeth Edwards after this. I think my mom would do something like this in the same situation. I think even conservatives could agree that Coulter's shallow ad hominem attacks don't do a whole lot to advance the dignity and dialogue of the right.

And she's ugly. And probably anorexic. And a mean person.

The Vagaries of Our Government, and Why I Hate The Globe

Unless you're one of the fortunate bloggers currently sitting in the courtroom in our nations capital, gleefully tapping away for all you're worth during the Libby trial (which I think is disgusting: my blogging friends, we have our way with words but we do NOT belong in the courtroom), you're probably having a difficult and rather impatient time following the whole thing. Just a quick reminder: Libby is NOT on trial for having revealed the identity of a security-protected CIA agent (Valerie Plame) to the media as retribution for Plame's diplomat-husband Joe Wilson's op-ed (OP-ED, PEOPLE -- AS IN, OPINION EDITORIAL) which questioned, back in 2004 I think?, the legitimacy of the Bush Administration's claim that Hussein was buying yellowcake uranium from Nigeria. No, no. Libby is on trial for supposedly LYING about having revealed her identity.

Now, I have a number of different rants to go on here but I'll try to keep them all short and sweet.

1) I'm a fulltime administrative assistant AND a graduate student. If there's anyone who knows anything about forgetting things, that someone would be me. I have perfected it to an art, right down to the concerned-and-slightly-panicked look to wear when your boss reminds you that you've forgotten to do X, Y and Z. The thing is, once you've recognized that a) you have a bad memory and b) you are in a position where this could be a potentially disasterous character flaw, you start to develop tactics which will ensure your continued health and happiness in a disaster-free (or at least disaster-minimized) way. I do this by writing things down on every free surface I can find. This seems to work. Now, in Libby's case I do understand that there are security-sensetive topics that would render a paper-trail to be that very disaster, but even mentally one comes up with a checklist of things to do and how to carry out those tasks. And if Libby has spoken to as many people as he apparently did, considering how many people have been called to the stand, then he is either surely lying, or else he is TOO DUMB TO BE IN HIS POSITION.

2) this segues nicely to my second point: Libby was found out. He spoke to the wrong people, or to too many people, or both. You can argue the moral side of things (i.e., he shouldn't have been talking about this at all) but this is politcs and morals are invalid here. When you are the Vice President's assistant, and you are privy to all sorts of sensetive information, you had better be smart as a whip in order to carry out your solemnly sworn duty to the best of your ability and in the country's/VP'tial office's best interests. Ipso facto: Libby is dumb as a box of rocks. Now, if Libby is that dumb and has that high-ranking a position let's argue that he is a pretty decent representation of the level of expectation in that particular office. Hey, I'm not even arguing that it's the whole administration (er, "My husband -- I mean, the president"...oh wait, sorry), but maybe just Cheney's office. On the other hand, considering everyone knows that Dick Cheney is smarter than George Bush, who IS the president, and if we argue that said fact skews the intelligence quotient percentage in the Oval Office...

...I shudder to think. Well, actually, I don't. This administration killed my shuddering muscles ages ago.

3) Rant numer three deviates from the politcal vein, and brings us back to one of my fave. topics: the MEDIA, that juggernaut of brainwashing spin. And one of my even more favorite subtopics within that grouping is: The Boston Globe, and How Much It Sucks. Please note: The Boston Globe's chipper take on the Scooter Libby trial. I was raised on NPR, the Washington Post and the New York Times (I read the Wall Street Journal for a littel while before its viewpoints gave me hives). I am accustomed to NEWS, not the posturings of some hack journalist who's only just graduated from BU and wants to make a name for himself as the next Tony Kornheiser-turned-Bob Woodward. I don't want to read that shit. And yet the Globe wants to be taken seriously as a news source? They need to start with the news, and then develop their distinct voice. This has all the voice styling and finesse of a T-driver buying scratch tickets. And I like those guys WAY better.


In case you wanted some REAL news about the trial, go here.

PS: ♥Happy Valentine's Day!!!!♥

Like we didn't see THAT one coming.

Saudi Arabia sez, "Fuck All Y'all."

Seriously, if this isn't *exactly* what any man woman and child thought would happen once Israel started swinging its balls (I can talk like this because my little brother is at the beach right now and I don't think he reads my old blogs anyway), I will stand corrected. But the minute Israel began bombing the south of Lebanon, a sovreign nation, in return for what a "rogue" militaristic force has done by way of kidnapping and border skirmishes, it was clear that there would be Big Trouble.

It's hard to come down on one side of the issue or the other -- I have not been a big fan of Israel's ever since Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. Despite my sympathy for the precarious position of being the lone Jewish state in a sea of Islamic countries, the somewhat egocentric logic of duking it out with everyone to prove that you're here to stay and you're not taking any bullshit has been proven unsuccessful time and time again. One of the biggest inherent flaws here is Israel's reliance upon the US as a staunch ally and heavy-hitter in the Middle East. Whether or not that was one of the first strengths to be taken into account, they have nevertheless ignored or underestimated the drastic loss of US credibility in the Middle East. It's only going to get worse, too. US is unremittingly supporting Israel's onslaught (incredible enough position that it is) by not calling for an immediate ceasefire. WTF, Mate?

The problem is, Israel's link to the US has turned into a double-edged sword. Seeing Israel as Little Brother, Islamic extremist sentiments are being multiplied and reinforced across the region and across the world at large. Support for Palestine, already strong, is going to get stronger -- there will be no peace in Israel for ages because they've targeted themselves. And when Saudi Arabia, a typically canny and subtle country who's in bed with everyone and therefore usually doesn't say too terribly much that isn't entirely cloaked in diplomatic language, comes out to tell the leaders of the Western world that there will be a war in the Middle East...well, bitches bettah be scared.

As usual this post is unnecessarily inflammatory, has very little solid evidence to back it up, and is more or less the product of my fevered and highly aggressive brain (this week, anyway). Someday I'll get better at citing sources, people, I promise. It's just easier to ignore formalities and veracity in the summer time because...

...I'm gonna be on the Outer Banks in approximately 24 hours, and I'm going to be gone for a hot week and a half. I believe I will simply not check my email, or MySpace, or whatever, for that entire time. Do you think I can do it? Will you give me a dollar if I do? I'll think of you guys, as I lounge in the surf, splashing, bike-riding, shopping, eating gratuitous amounts of ice cream, drinking beers and generally enjoying all that North Carolina can throw at me in one week.

Yeah, baby.

A spot of fury for your Sunday morning...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4497006.stm

How can the government expect its European Allies to trust it when its own citizens won't?