Futurama

Ah, the never ending prognostication of what the future will be. Most will be wrong, but a few will be right. Needle in a hay-stack, but finding the 'right' seems like it should be advantageous.

Here's a look at some visions of the future.

Plausible:

America Won the Cold War But Now Is Turning Into the USSR, Gerald Celente Says: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance:

"A rotten political system: He compares politicians (Democrats and Republicans alike) to 'Mafioso' and says campaign contributions are really thinly disguised 'bribes and payoffs.'

Crony capitalism: Like in the USSR of old, Celente laments that so much of America's wealth (93%) is controlled by such a small group small portion of its population (10%). Owing to that concentration of wealth, the government makes policies designed to reward 'the bigs' at the expense of average citizens (see: Bailouts, banks).

Military-industrial complex: The USSR went bankrupt fighting the cold war and Celente fears the U.S. is 'squandering its greater but still finite resources on a gargantuan defense budget, fighting unwinnable hot wars and feeding an insatiable military stationed on hundreds of bases worldwide.'"

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Back to the old city-states. I'm down.

Beyond City Limits - By Parag Khanna | Foreign Policy:

"The 21st century will not be dominated by America or China, Brazil or India, but by the city. In an age that appears increasingly unmanageable, cities rather than states are becoming the islands of governance on which the future world order will be built. This new world is not -- and will not be -- one global village, so much as a network of different ones.

Time, technology, and population growth have massively accelerated the advent of this new urbanized era. Already, more than half the world lives in cities, and the percentage is growing rapidly. But just 100 cities account for 30 percent of the world's economy, and almost all its innovation. Many are world capitals that have evolved and adapted through centuries of dominance: London, New York, Paris. New York City's economy alone is larger than 46 of sub-Saharan Africa's economies combined. Hong Kong receives more tourists annually than all of India. These cities are the engines of globalization, and their enduring vibrancy lies in money, knowledge, and stability. They are today's true Global Cities."

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I'm greatly depressed by the Democrats, but that's not what this article is about:

Economic forecaster: ‘Greatest Depression’ coming | Raw Story

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Bullshit. The more they try to control it, the more the geeks work end-arounds. Go Geeks!

The Web Is Dead. Long Live the Internet | Magazine:

"You wake up and check your email on your bedside iPad — that’s one app. During breakfast you browse Facebook, Twitter, and The New York Times — three more apps. On the way to the office, you listen to a podcast on your smartphone. Another app. At work, you scroll through RSS feeds in a reader and have Skype and IM conversations. More apps. At the end of the day, you come home, make dinner while listening to Pandora, play some games on Xbox Live, and watch a movie on Netflix’s streaming service.

You’ve spent the day on the Internet — but not on the Web. And you are not alone."

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Change that CAN NOT be believed in.

I love how his bold quote below is so very Teabagger/Republican.

Your 'order' is by nature 'restrictive', dude.

Chile's Miniskirt Ban Cut Short After Protests:

"SANTIAGO, Chile — A ban on miniskirts didn't last long in Chile, where a governor faced protests by women who otherwise share his conservative views.

Coquimbo region Gov. Sergio Gahona had banned public employees from wearing miniskirts or exposing their shoulders. He says he was merely trying to 'put things in order' and didn't mean to restrict anyone."

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The Future is NOW!

Heavy Drinkers Outlive Nondrinkers, Study Finds - TIME:

"But a new paper in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that — for reasons that aren't entirely clear — abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one's risk of dying even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers' mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers."

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And, some meta. Funny, but she should really try snarking on links. So much easier than 'writing'.

And Chuck Todd sucks at his 'job'.

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Death of the Middle Class

I feel like-wise.

Daily Kos: The Words I Never Thought I'd Write Here (UPDATED):

"What I do know is that it has all added up. Not prosecuting torture. Not protecting privacy rights. Trading away any negotiating room on health care by refusing to acknowledge single-payer. Less-than-fierce advocacy for LGBT rights. Demonizing the left. Drill baby drill.

All of those things tarnished the dream. Those things, and many others.

But there were two things that finally did it in for me. Two small things, really, compared to the big picture and compared to some of the core issues listed above.

One, understandably, was education. Understandably, because I am a teacher. My horror at the Obama education policy has only been growing stronger since the beginning of this adminstration. Recent articles and comments have pushed me to the tipping point on that issue.

But the final straw, the one that broke the camel's back, was his response to the Simpson outrage, in combination with his own remarks in the weekly address. What I realized in reading about this issue and about Obama's history is that in the guise of 'saving Social Security,' protecting us against it being dismantled, he is going to allow a reduction in SS benefits, in service to the ideal of 'cutting the deficit.' Maybe I'm reading the signs wrong, but I doubt it."

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Nothing 'free' about the 'free market'.

I doubt theirs a Neo to save us, though.

Free market has turned us into 'Matrix' drones - Business News, Business - The Independent:

"A leading economist has likened the nation's acceptance of free-market capitalism to that of the brainwashed characters in the film The Matrix, unwitting pawns in a fake reality. In a controversial new book, the Cambridge economist Ha-Joon Chang debunks received wisdom on everything from the importance of the internet to the idea that people in the United States enjoy the highest standard of living in the world; an iconoclastic attitude that has won him fans such as Bob Geldof and Noam Chomsky."

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We don't do 'accountable' and it will be our down-fall.

'Inside Job' A Must See Film for Every American:

"The Economy Won’t Recover Until We Prosecute

So there was a little fraud, no big deal, right? Wouldn’t looking backwards at fraudulent conduct be distracting for the people, the government, and the economy? Shouldn’t we look forward so we can recover? No. Specifically, the Wharton School of Business has written an essay stating that restoring trust is the key to recovery, and that trust cannot be restored until wrongdoers are held accountable. The Wharton paper states:

The public will need to 'hold the perpetrators of the economic disaster responsible and take what actions they can to prevent them from harming the economy again.' In addition, the public will have to see proof that government and business leaders can behave responsibly before they will trust them again. For more on the importance of trust in the economy, see this. The stakes are high. As Pam Martens, who worked on Wall Street for 21 years, writes:"

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What Tiabbi says... pretty much always.

Wall Street's Big Win | Rolling Stone Politics:

"But Dodd-Frank was neither an FDR-style, paradigm-shifting reform, nor a historic assault on free enterprise. What it was, ultimately, was a cop-out, a Band-Aid on a severed artery. If it marks the end of anything at all, it represents the end of the best opportunity we had to do something real about the criminal hijacking of America's financial-services industry. During the yearlong legislative battle that forged this bill, Congress took a long, hard look at the shape of the modern American economy – and then decided that it didn't have the stones to wipe out our country's one �dependably thriving profit center: theft."

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Arianna Huffington: Memo to America's Middle Class: Obama Is Just Not That Into You:

"Those in the 'disappointed' camp maintain that Obama presented himself one way to gain their support during the campaign and then, once he had it, ended up governing another way, turning his energies to winning over Republicans instead of changing the game in Washington. As Paul Krugman puts it, 'Why does the Obama administration keep looking for love in all the wrong places? Why does it go out of its way to alienate its friends, while wooing people who will never waver in their hatred?'"

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Capitalism, not 'job-ism'.

Wash Post business writer hits on the biggest problem in American economy:

"It is only in the world of Chamber of Commerce propaganda that businesses exist to create jobs. In the real world, businesses exist to create profits for shareholders, not jobs for workers. That's why they call it capitalism, not job-ism. There's no reason to beat up on business owners and executives simply because they're doing what the system encourages them to do."

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Death of the Middle Class:

And then he kicked the chair out from underneath his feet.:

"For all the faceless statistics we read every day - I wanted to add a face. A man who loved his sons. A man who got up and went to work everyday. A man society kicked to the curb. And, in turn, a man who felt his best option was to kick the chair out from underneath his feet."

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5 years of Ass Whuppin

Five years and still blogging. Still living in as much of a paradise as main land U.S. has to offer. Still standing. Still at it.

2,332 posts.

This blog has been about a lot of things, but two primaries make up the bulk.

Politics:

This is the year where my admiration for an initially inspirational new President turned into sickening disdain for a man and administration that turned out to be the palest of a shadow of what was advertised. A man and administration that doesn't have the conviction to do the right thing ever with a penchant for shitting on the date that brought 'em to the dance. The health care reform that turned into health insurance bail-out was a harbinger of horrible leadership and a complete selling out of principles of things to come.

Really, at my age I should always stick with the well earned jadedness I've acquired through-out my years, but sometimes we slip and put our faith in an individual. Won't happen again, I promise. But it does make me sad that so many first time voting young people had their 'brutal-reality' cherry popped by OA and will turn away from the polls in droves in the coming decades. Heckuva job, Obama.

America won't change and anybody that steps into the White House as a resident will make damn sure the status quo remains.

Only one thing to do. Keep fighting. Keep making sorry-ass Democrats' lives as miserable as possible. Only vote for those who support your convictions. Never vote for someone because the other person is worse. If the terrible people are elected, we'll survive it.

That's my political rant.

Yet, while one past hero crashes and burns a group of my real heroes, though blood, sweat and tear, continued their ascension as one of the most important Rock bands ever. I mean that. Ever.

I couldn't be more proud of Drive-By Truckers and I couldn't be in any more awe of the role I'm allowed to play in the organization.

Thank you, DBT. Thank you DBT family. You are the only thing anchoring me to my homeland. Otherwise, my ass would be on a speck of sand teaching English to brown people.

So, here's our year in review starting with the past 4 AAW b-day posts:

Alabama Ass Whuppin': 4 Years of Ass Whuppin

Alabama Ass Whuppin': AAW Year in Review - 3 Year Blog-a-versary

Alabama Ass Whuppin': 2 Years of Ass Whuppin

Alabama Ass Whuppin': 12 Months of Ass Whuppin'

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Hardly Strictly festival in GG park, SF this last year was incredible. Met Booker T. Jones. Met and hung out with Peter Grumbine and we both were stalked by Robert Plant. Sat on stage while Billy Joe Shaver played his set. Hung out with good friends with beautiful weather and a great line-up. Nothing beats a stoned beer buzz noon on a Sunday in Golden Gate Park

Alabama Ass Whuppin': Hardly Strictly Over the Fun

Hardly Strictly - 2009 - Billy Joe Shaver (2).jpg (image)

Facebook | Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival - Booker T and DBT

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Caught up with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Uncle Josh. Excellent performance in a beautiful venue. Videos below

Isbell Show at Great American Music Hall:

Alabama Ass Whuppin': DBT Week in Review - 11/13/09

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Bama returned to dominance. Roll Tide!

Tide wins SEC - Tebow Wept:

Alabama Ass Whuppin': Name for the Winners in the World

National Champs:

Alabama Ass Whuppin': Long Time Coming - Roll Tide Roll

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Booker T. with DBT win Grammy!

Alabama Ass Whuppin': Booker T Jones with Drive-By Truckers - Grammy Winner

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Took a trip to Athens, GA for my first 3 night DBT run at the 40 watt.

Alabama Ass Whuppin': The Big To-Do and 40 Watt Pictures

Facebook | 40 Watt 2010

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DBT released The Big To-Do and boy-howdy has it ever been one.

Alabama Ass Whuppin': The Big To-Do Week in Review - 3/19/2010

Big To-Do 1st week charts:

Alabama Ass Whuppin': DBT Week in Review - 3/26/10

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Started to tweet a bit:

JPW (alabamaasswhupn) on Twitter

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We lost a lot of good people this year, but the loss of Chester tops the list. RIP Chester:

Alabama Ass Whuppin': 18 Wheels Of Love - Chester Adams RIP (April 26, 1945 - May 27, 2010)

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Brent Best solo album project!

Alabama Ass Whuppin': Help Fund Brent Best's (Slobberbone) Solo Project!

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DBT sells out the Fillmore then rocks Tahoe.

Facebook | Fillmore 5/8/2010

Facebook | Tahoe - Crystal Bay Casino - 5/9/2010

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Had the pleasure of being a publisher for dear friend "Lurleen"'s great interview with Patterson:

Alabama Ass Whuppin': An Interview with Patterson Hood

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Some video I shot in the past year:

DBT's 'I Use to be a Cop'. To, hopefully appear on Go-Go Boots:

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Bloodkin at the 40 Watt run:

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Camp Amped Band with DBT - Stones Cover:

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Camp Amped Band

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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Great American Music Hall

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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Great American Music Hall

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Chuck Prophet - Great American Music Hall

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Hardly Strictly - Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings, Emmlou Harris:

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Hardly Strictly - DBT and Booker T.

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Hardly Strictly - DBT and Booker T.

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Thanks for dropping by. Stick around to see if I make it another year.

JPW

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Bubbles

Yesterday's post was a lead in for what I had planned to post today, but Google/Blogger/Bastards deleted my post because their product sucks ass.

So, I'm phoning it in today.

Back when 'sick days' were part of my existence, sometimes, when I took one b/c I was sick of work, I'd go hang out at Stinson Beach in Marin where this video of giant bubbles was filmed.

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U.S.A.! We're No..... wait. Dammit!

CBC News - Technology & Science - Cannabis electric car being made in Alberta:

"An electric car made of hemp is being developed by a company in Alberta."

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Good for Barry.

Barry Cooper fights the law, wins: Odessa drops all ‘KopBusters’ charges | Raw Story

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Alcohol is a hell of a drug.

Man shot in head, but notices only 5 years later:

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Stupid British Hurricanes.

Alcohol is helluva....

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Fuck You Google/Blogger

Shitty fucking product keeps deleting my posts.

FUCK YOU GOOGLE/BLOGGER. Evil bastards.

"I really hate your ass right now".

Lord Ain't Willing

Slow motion travesty of the highest order. I can't believe anyone would believe that anything is the Gulf is edible.

Activist: Gulf fishermen being held responsible for toxic seafood | Raw Story:

But an admission from the federal government that it hasn't been testing Gulf seafood for toxic heavy metals, and news that fishermen are being forced to sign waivers making them liable for toxins in their catch, suggest not everyone is convinced of the safety of Gulf seafood.

Louisiana fishermen's activist Kindra Arnesen says dock owners are asking fishermen to sign waivers that put the full responsibility for toxins found in the catch on the fishermen themselves."

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Nothing to see here, folks. I guess BP will spin this as the fish are now easier to catch.

Thousands of dead fish surface at mouth of Mississippi River:

"He said crabs, sting rays, eel, drum, speckled trout and red fish were among the species that turned up dead.

Taffaro said there was some recoverable oil in the area, and officials from the state's wildlife and fisheries division were sampling the water."

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Watch:

Daily Kos: Gulf Coast Locals, BP Workers, Speaking Out

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No shit.

Major study proves oil plume that's not going away - Yahoo! News

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Selective rage and bigotry.

Muslims Pray Daily 80 Feet From Pentagon's 9/11 Crash Site:

"WASHINGTON — While Americans are bitterly debating the proposed building of a mosque near New York's ground zero, Muslims have been praying for years less than 80 feet from where another hijacked jetliner struck."

Pentagon officials say that no one in the military or the families of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has ever protested.

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Told ya.

US combat brigades still in Iraq: report

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In AND Out? You are being fucked.

Orwell in charge? Kucinich compares Iraq ‘exit’ to Bush’s ‘Mission Accomplished’

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I love it when a plan comes together:

Halle Berry plans a full-time move to San Francisco : SFGate: Daily Dish

And on a related note (only 6?!):

6 Reasons to Have Casual Sex | Sex & Relationships | AlterNet

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Cheap Labor Republicans

Time to rough up the nutjobs and give the pussies a break for a day.

Too easy to bash Republicans, but it must be done.

Alan Grayson: True American Patriot.

Grayson slams mosque ‘distraction’: Talk about admin that ‘let’ 9/11 happen instead | Raw Story:

"“If we are going to talk about 9/11, why don’t we talk about how not so much the people who died on 9/11 were disgraced by the possibility of an Islamic athletic center several blocks away; how about the fact that they were disgraced by a president who let it happen?' he asked. 'Who went on vacation for the entire month of August after he was warned in writing that Osama bin Laden was actually finding targets in NYC and learning how to take these planes and do terrible things with them? The thing itself said ‘hijacking’ and they did nothing about it.'"

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For that poor dear and brutal victim of the liberal media that made her say n*gger repeatedly on national radio, Dr. (not really) Laura:



Dr. Laura to end radio show, blames ‘Media Matters’ | Raw Story

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Good read and spot on. Cheap Labor Republicans.

Defeat the Right in Three Minutes | Conceptual Guerilla:

"'Cheap labor'. That's their whole philosophy in a nutshell – which gives you a short and pithy 'catch phrase' that describes them perfectly. You've heard of 'big-government liberals'. Well they're 'cheap-labor conservatives'.

'Cheap-labor conservative' is a moniker they will never shake, and never live down. Because it's exactly what they are. You see, cheap-labor conservatives are defenders of corporate America – whose fortunes depend on labor. The larger the labor supply, the cheaper it is. The more desperately you need a job, the cheaper you'll work, and the more power those 'corporate lords' have over you. If you are a wealthy elite – or a 'wannabe' like most dittoheads – your wealth, power and privilege is enhanced by a labor pool, forced to work cheap."

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Tweetie finds a nut.

Matthews: Birthers trying to ‘assassinate’ Obama with lies | Raw Story:

'Are they, no matter how much they claim to be patriotic, really the most un-American of people because they really do want to destroy this president, not because of what he does but because of who he is? Not because of where he was born, but because what his race was when he was born?'

'Or this the big lie they dare not to admit? They know full well he's an American. That they're simply out to destroy him personally. Yes, assassinate him with their lies,' Matthews concluded."

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That is mighty fair and balanced.

News Corp Donates $1 MILLION To Republican Governors Association

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They have to cheat at everything. Everything!

Massive Censorship Of Digg Uncovered � OOO:

"A group of influential conservative members of the behemoth social media site Digg.com have just been caught red-handed in a widespread campaign of censorship, having multiple accounts, upvote padding, and deliberately trying to ban progressives. An undercover investigation has exposed this effort, which has been in action for more than one year."

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Funny how reasonable the get once they get booted from the party.

Confessions of a Tea Party Casualty | Mother Jones

And, again:

Reagan insider: GOP destroyed economy Paul B. Farrell - MarketWatch

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Strict Constitutionalists... oh, wait...

The Washington Monthly:

"By my count, Republican leaders, including George W. Bush, endorsed six different new amendments to the Constitution over the last decade: (1) prohibiting flag burning; (2) victims' rights; (3) banning abortion; (4) requiring a balanced budget; (5) prohibiting same-sex marriage; and (6) allowing state-endorsed prayer in public schools. Jon Chait runs a similar list today, and notes a few I missed, including amendments to require legislative supermajorities to raise taxes, a 'parental rights' amendment, a term-limits amendment, and in one instance, an amendment to give Washington, D.C., a single voting representative."

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Yup

Dan Maes, Colorado Gubernatorial Candidate, Warns Of U.N. Plot To Destroy America With Bike-Sharing Programs

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Obama should recess, but won't.... sorry. Suppose to stick to the Repukes today. But, still....

Republicans block Bay Area judicial nominees:

"Senate Republicans have blocked confirmation votes on two Bay Area judicial nominees, Goodwin Liu and Edward Chen, and returned the nominations to President Obama, who must decide whether to resubmit them when Congress returns from recess next month."

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Fucking scary. Kudos for the 100 that didn't attend.

Troops: Refusing to attend Christian concert got us into trouble | Raw Story

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The horror!

The Daily Mash - OUTRAGE OVER PLANS TO BUILD LIBRARY NEXT TO SARAH PALIN

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Cee Lo - F*ck You

Genius and deserving of its own post:

DBT Weeks in Review - 8/20/10

DBT!

Drive-By Truckers at The National in Richmond, VA October 29-30, 2010 - Rock 'N' Raffle - Benefiting Nuci's Space

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Had to be done:

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Shonna Tucker | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

La Comunidad � Rock Your Soul � Drive-By Truckers de Sos al cielo. 8 agosto 2010

Drive-By Truckers ofrece en Zaragoza su �nico concierto en Europa - RTVE.es

Video: Drive By Truckers Live at Lollapalooza � WXRT

Lollapalooza 2010 In Photos: Drive-By Truckers | The Dead Hub

opening lyrics #1, "Women Without Whiskey" by Drive By Truckers | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Lollapalooza 2010: Drive-By Truckers

Live Collection: Drive-By Truckers | Cover Me

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Gregory Dean Smalley in The Chant

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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Come to the West Side, dammit!

First Ever Paste Tour Ready to Knock Yer Socks Off :: Music :: News:

"Here at Paste HQ, we’re super stoked to announce our very first Paste Tour showcasing the musical brilliance of four distinct acts. Joining us on the inaugural trek is Southern rocker and former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell, folky soulman Langhorne Slim, psychedelic alt-country kids Jesse Sykes and Phil Wandscher, and West Coast softies Mimicking Birds"

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Slobberbone







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Glossaryish

Facebook | Videos Posted by Seth Newell: Joey Kneiser & Kelly Kneiser - The Big Ocean [HD]

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Hold Steady

Nice interview with Craig though you'll want to kill the radio interviewer.

100805_Craig_Finn_1281059242_25911.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

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Music

The 50 hottest women in music | 49. Sia | Photo 3/50 | Metromix New York

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One of the sorriest son of a bitches on the face of the planet.

Ted Nugent pleads no contest to deer baiting in CA:

"California Department of Fish and Game spokesman Patrick Foy says game wardens saw Nugent kill an immature buck on a February episode of his Outdoor Channel TV show 'Spirit of the Wild.'

Investigators found that the deer had been eating bait called 'C'mere Deer.' Baiting wildlife is illegal in California.

Nugent originally faced 11 charges, including killing a deer too young to be hunted. In a deal with Yuba County prosecutors, Nugent's attorney on Friday entered no contest pleas to the two misdemeanors."

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That is one impressive receipt.

Iron Maiden Loves Slippery Nipples | Dlisted:

"Iron Maiden partied at a bar in Norway the other night and their $3275 bar tab receipt has made its way onto the internet."

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John Lennon's letter to British singer arrives 34 years late - Yahoo! News

THE TREASURE ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS - OCTOBER 16 & 17, 2010

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2010 (10th Anniversary!)

Concert venues are hurting all over, except in Philadelphia | Philadelphia Daily News | 08/09/2010

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Dean is Wrong

Howard Dean is my write-in for Prez in 2012.

Dean suggests ‘compromise’ on Park 51: No point doing ‘something good’ if met with ‘enormous resistance.’

He's dead wrong on this issue and his logic is so twisted, it makes me think the Dems are trying to be too cute by half in dealing with this non-issue.

Either we have religious freedom or we don't. Islam did not attack us on 9/11.

Also, if you don't live in NYC, shut the fuck up.

And Jon Oliver on the Daily show said it best when he stated that by the anti-muslim community center folks (it isn't a Mosque, btw) logic, we should ban all Catholic Churches from being built anywhere near a elementary school.

Also, by this logic, we in San Francisco can ban all Mormon Cult buildings due to their financial support against granting gays equal rights.

You are dead wrong, Dean, and your comment that liberals need to be flexible is pretty fucking stupid. I think we've been flexible way too much.

"Of course, if progressive movements throughout history had followed Dean’s advice, there’d be very little progress. During the health care debate, Howard Dean boldly said, “I’m going to fight for a public option until we get one. It really is that simple. … We will not stop because Democrats in Washington say it’s done. We will not wait 20 years — 10 years — we will not wait a single year — because we will not stop until every American has the option to voluntarily buy into a program like Medicare.” It appears that running into the “enormous resistance” of the U.S. Senate and political opposition from the insurance, drug, and medical-industrial industries did not stop Dean from fighting for a public option. One has to wonder why he feels like it would be enough to sacrifice the rights of American Muslims to peacefully worship where they please."

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Though, he did get this right:

Dean: Individual Mandate Will Be Removed From Health Care Reform By 2014:

"On Friday, the former DNC chair took his skepticism with the individual mandate to a different, more provocative level. Appearing on MSNBC, Dean predicted that the policy will be removed from the legislation by the time much of the reform is implemented in 2014."

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For people who ask why I'm so pissed at OA. Here's a partial list.

Daily Kos: Olbermann said it. Rude Pundit said it better.

And to Obama's defenders, from the professional flacks like Gibbs to the amateur hero worshippers people around here, howzabout answering the criticisms for once, instead of attacking the messenger or changing the subject with a list of exaggerated achievements. Go ahead:
*Justify giving torturers and war profiteers a pass
*Justify prosecuting whistleblowers
*Justify ordering assassinations
*Justify claiming the right to imprison people FOREVER without trial
*Justify 30,000 more troops in Afghanistan at a cost of 30 billion dollars a year
*Justify appointing Ken Salazar
*Justify not firing Ken Salazar for his incompetent oversight of MMS
*Justify letting BP try to cover up the size of the spill through the massive use of dispersants
*Justify the formation of a Cat Food Commission on Social Security stacked with people who are on the record in favor of slashing it
*Justify campaigning for Blanche Lincoln after she threatened to filibuster health care insurance reform if it had the public option
*Justify candidate Obama's 180 on FISA and subsequent lying about safeguards that the bill did not contain
*Justify appointing two of the architects of the biggest rip-off in human history, Geithner and Bernanke, to his economic team
*Justify having a prominent, homophobic backer of Proposition H8 give the invocation at the inaugural. Out of all the clergymen in the world
*Justify caving in to the right-wing noise machine instead of confronting it on ACORN, Van Jones and Shirley Sherrod
*Justify record defense budgets
*Justify the lack of a strong stand on net neutrality

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Add this to the list.

'No Precedent' For Proposed Cuts To Food Stamp Benefits

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Has my full support and coin. We need more Atheist in the mix in a bad way.

Daily Kos: An Atheist Running for Congress:

"Doubt and skepticism are part of human nature. Many people who consider themselves religious admit to having occasional doubts about their beliefs. The politically expedient solution to this problem would be to admit that we have had doubts but finally conclude that we believe. What if, however, after looking at the entire picture we are more comfortable with the doubts than the belief? If it is acceptable to have doubts, is it not then acceptable to be a nonbeliever?

Many of the founding fathers of this country came here for religious freedom, but they were escaping countries where rulers told them how to worship not countries that were ruled by nonbelievers. Although many of the founding fathers were Christians, others were skeptics and Deists. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, extolled 'a wall of separation between church and state'. James Madison, principal author of the Constitution, wrote, 'Religion flourishes in greater purity without than with the aid of government.'"

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Bring it on.

Reverse-Engineering of Human Brain Likely by 2030, Expert Predicts | Gadget Lab | Wired.com:

"“The singular criticism of the singularity is that brain is too complicated, too magical and there’s something about its properties we can’t emulate,” Kurzweil told attendees at the Singularity Summit over the weekend. “But the exponential growth in technology is being applied to reverse-engineer the brain, arguably the most important project in history.”

For nearly a decade, neuroscientists, computer engineers and psychologists have been working to simulate the human brain so they can ultimately create a computing architecture based on how the mind works."

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