Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™'s topics - tribe.net

anyone quit or getting ready to smoking in here?

2008-02-01T04:14:22Z

im quitting again myself next week.

this is kind of off subject and kind of not. quitting is never just about quitting and its kinda good to have other progressive and radical quitters around you if that's what you are and what you're doing....

so

i wanted to tell anyone on the quit smoking continuum about this board im on thats a great place to go for quitting but doesn't focus soley on quitting. has a variety of folks in there talking about all kinds of stuff. there's a room that's specifically for social/political kinds of things...

check it out
http://p207.ezboard.com/btheemptyroom

to post you have to join ezboard which is free and not hard. you don't get the kind of profile you get in here but its easy to post pictures and stuff in the threads and there's chat too.

anyway, not to detract from the stuff in here....

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 9 replies

A Season In Hell #7

2007-05-31T21:36:25Z

It's that time once again my friends. I give to you all A Season In Hell #7: The Art of Getting Jumped.

There's a lot packed into this show:
Presidential Speeches
Presidential Singing
Jim Fourniadis doing his best Keith Moon impersonation
Public Enemy soaking up the whipped cream
and a lesson or two to boot.

As usual, if you're not already checking out the show through iTunes, you can go to my homepage here:
http://johnhell.podomatic.com

Or subscribe through iTunes here:
http://johnhell.podOmatic.com/rss2.xml

On my homepage please click the "Send to friends" link and email my show to everyone you know, even grandma likes this stuff.

Thanks so much for supporting my fanatical devotion/obsession to music and the strong desire I horde sharing it with.

Email me at mrjohnhell@yahoo.com
http://www.myspace.com/mrjohnhell

Read my blog here:
http://freeradio.com/blog/22

Support live music in your neighborhood.

Enjoy.

jh

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

A Season In Hell #6

2007-05-24T22:25:46Z

Howdy "radio" fans.

A Season In Hell, Episode 6 is up and ready for your
enjoyment.

Thanks for listening. It's not radio, but at least I
get to feed my jones a little bit. I really appreciate
Podomatic. They make it incredibly easy.

See the website here:
http://johnhell.podomatic.com

Subscribe to it through iTunes here:
http://johnhell.podOmatic.com/rss2.xml

Tell your friends that Hell is here to stay.

jh

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Can 'We The People' Impeach?

2006-06-29T07:07:01Z

PLEASE REPOST Can 'We The People' Impeach? Repost
Category: News and Politics

PLEASE REPOST

NEWS RELEASE
June 26, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

CONTACT: Abraham Kneisley, info@constitutionsummer.org, 510.816.0563

Berkeley Considers First Ballot Initiative to Call for Presidential Impeachment

BERKELEY, CA The Berkeley City Council will vote tomorrow on whether to include an initiative advocating the impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney on the Berkeley municipal ballot in November. If passed, the initiative will be the first of its kind and will allow Berkeley's 74,836 registered voters to decide if there is sufficient cause for the impeachment and removal of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Several resolutions calling for impeachment have passed in cities around the country, but a ballot initiative allowing voters to weigh in on the issue would be unique. Constitution Summer, a coalition of student activists from more than a dozen universities, believes that Congress' reluctance to investigate the merits of impeachment justifies taking the question to the people. True to the roots of the Free Speech Movement that still informs the culture of Berkeley, the group feels it is simply exercising its constitutional right to redress of grievances under the First Amendment.

Geoffrey King, a Democrat and President of Constitution Summer, sees impeachment as a non-partisan concern. According to King, it is not a question of whether the President should be impeached, but why he hasn't been. "President Bush has arrogated unto himself powers that in some cases went out of fashion in 1215, and in any event, in 1776. He has shown a wish and a willingness to corrupt our representative system of government by tracking the calls of and wiretapping Americans despite a federal statute that makes doing so a felony; by normalizing torture; and by revoking the right of Americans not to be disappeared and held indefinitely without charge or trial. These abuses fit perfectly with what the Framers intended the impeachment power to address. It is time to use it."

Saba Sahouria, a Republican and Treasurer of Constitution Summer, added, "The President says we must give up essential liberty to defeat al Qaeda, and yet, we are inexplicably embroiled in an unnecessary war that diverted CIA agents, Special Forces commandos, money, and ground troops from crushing the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan in order to invade Iraq, which had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and which had no operational links to al Qaeda. By invading Iraq, the President has undermined our long-term security. There is no other way to describe the President's actions but as a radical, extreme, and legally baseless power grab, because they make little sense in any other context."

The current proposed ballot initiative was introduced by Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates. Citing the High Crimes listed above, the ballot initiative calls on the City of Berkeley to petition all members of the United States House of Representatives and all members of the California State Legislature to bring articles of impeachment against the President and Vice President. State legislatures may send articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives via Rule 603 of Thomas Jefferson's Rules of Parliamentary Procedure.

Critics of the impeachment movement, such as Rush Limbaugh, have said that it would be a gift to Republicans to push for impeachment because it would drive the Republican base to the polls and affect the mid-term elections in November. Others have noted that the Republican base includes many people mindful of liberty under law, and that a level-headed and realistic campaign to impeach would drive independents, progressives, liberals and libertarians to cast their votes as well.

In any case, King is unapologetic. "Our country is in a constitutional crisis. The President and Vice President are making claims to power that would have terrible implications for the American ideal of liberty if left unchecked."

"They have tricked, threatened, and spied on all of us. They have tried to pit Americans against each other by politicizing security, all while making us less safe by invading Iraq."

"In doing these things, they have forced Americans to choose between loyalty to them and loyalty to the country. They do not understand the character of the American people. It is coming time to remind them."

PLEASE REPOST

Currently reading:
Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush
By Center for Constitutional Rights
Release date: By 01 March, 2006

Sign up at www.constitutionsummer.org
And add us to your friends list on tribe & myspace www.myspace.com/consum

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

watch this mural happen from where you sit

2005-08-28T17:33:35Z

so far, people are really grooving on the fact
that i am blogging with pictures and stuff
each step of the way as i make this mural.

seems like some of you might be interested in checking it out

http://p207.ezboard.com/ftheemptyroomfrm33.showMessage?topicID=17.topic

because of the timeline its not a fully participatory community mural in the traditional sense. but as i go around asking for help, this mural's community gets larger and larger.

also fascinating is this idea that the internet could be used to broaden a mural's community. i hadn't thought of that before.

anyway, enjoy!

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Hilary Clinton, choke on this..

2005-07-26T22:01:19Z

grand theft auto is not the most politically, socially or economically offensive game on the market. it is star wars: revenge of the sith for playstation 2.

let me start with kent state. college protesters died by accident from national guard rifles. why is hilary clinton now against sex?

it's a sign of the times people. hilary clinton is a damn fascist egotist.

in star wars: revenge of the sith you play the movie in its sequence. i don't mean to ruin it for anyone, but anakin becomes the character of ultimate evil in this billion dollar series, darth vader. i hope i'm not upsetting anyone. actually i am, because that would be pretty funny. if anakin became an ewok, that would be even more funny.

so anakin goes from a amicable, formidable young jedi (jedi are like samurai in code and trust) to an evil sith lord in one movie and game. the sith in the series are pretty much a selfish bunch who manipulate through socioeconomic, politic and militiary power to achieve a common selfish goal. sort of like hitler, napoleon and the bush family but in a cute but deadly universe of hypothetical duckfaced idiots saying "mee-sa like this" and warriors living by a code to protect order and justice. sorta like today with some people on tribe.net and those who join tribe.net to read what these people have to say.

so offensive material is sex. there's a level in the star wars game i mentioned, after being betrayed by both sides of a war (obi wan), that you get to fight the fleeting deferation which funds the war.. but as a character who wants to drive them into the ground and make an empire over BOTH sides.

saddam hussein? he would only hope.

if americans had any sense they would ban THIS game. but we choose to ban sex.

politicians should not only stay away from sex, but cease from reproducing.

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Outsourcing

2005-07-14T18:34:29Z

I wrote this for a blog, thought I'd post it here.

Hmmm....where to flipping begin.

I want to apologize up front, but I am posting this entry from a Convergys callcenter and I am in a foul mood.

Convergys is outsourcing my job. At the end of Oct-2004 my job will be gone, kaput, forgotten about. I will be another campaign statistic expressed in a 5-second soundbite. My life will be effectively upended just so Convergys can claim a plus on it's balance sheet.

Even though I'm voting for Kerry, I don't have any faith in his campaign promise to stop outsourcing. Outsourcing is a far bigger problem than the President of the United States. Kerry can't stop it, Congress can't stop it, the Courts can't stop it. It is another manifestation of out-of-control corporate greed. In todays uber-competitive world it is not enough to just earn a healthy profit, but you have to exceed expectations, you have to destroy your competition, you have to kick ass. Anything less is abject failure.

You can probably guess where this is going. The out-of-control rush to inordinate profit is driving the out-sourcing gold rush. These huge, faceless, corporations are not answerable to anyone but their shareholders, and what do the shareholders want? Profits, profits, ever increasing profits.

I personally think America is a country gone haywire. It is not enough to earn a decent living, have a decent house, have a decent car, raise a decent family. You now need a gas-guzzling SUV that gets 14mpg. You need a swimming pool, even though your part of the world is in the midst of a 10 year drought. You need more than 1200SF of home for just 2 people. It's not enough. You compete with your neighbors for the nicest lawn, even though the weed-killer is bad for the environment. The list goes on and on, and it comes back to one basic modern American trait, greed.

Greed drives the whole process from top to bottom. We all want these things. I envy that jerk in his BMW, that ass with the pool, that smuck with the pretty yard. How do I get those signs of success? What tools do I have to have? What if you don't have them?

But what if you're just an average Joe. A high school graduate with a bit of secondary school, but knows he's not quite smart enough to get a fullblown degree, or maybe he's trapped in a situation between feeding his family and going to school. But our Average Joe is lucky and manages to find work that pays a decent wage. He can now feed his family, afford a reliable car, live in a respectable home. Now what?

He wants more, as is only natural. He wants a large TV and surround sound. He wants a computer. He wants that fancy dinette set he say on TV. But his decent wage is not paying enough to support these extras. He then has to leverage his future. He has to leverage his children's future. Things begin to get tight.

Wal-mart becomes attractive. Great prices! But most of the products are not made in America. The employees barely make minimum wage and they have to work overtime to afford what Average Joe has. They mortgage their lives to their job, just so they can have.

The Wal-Mart profits go overseas to Wal-Mart's suppliers and to a few honchos at the top of the Wal-Mart food chain. They may return some of the profits back to their shareholders, if they are feeling generous. Either way, if "goals" are met the CEO, CIO, CFO, and many other CxO's at the top of the heap get bonuses. The average Wal-Mart employee is happy to survive another week without getting fired. She doesn't get a bonus.

But I digress, back to Average Joe. He does a respectable job at work. He's committed to his company because they have done right by him! His kids are fed and clothed. He has a surrround sound stereo system. His car gets him to and from work and looks nice. But there are clouds on the horizon.

While browsing through the business section of his local newspaper is a small one paragraph item:
"Two and half years after opening a massive call center in Federal Way, credit card issuer Capital One Financial Corp. has decided to close the center and cut 117 people from its payroll." His brows knit together. "Jeez, I work in a call center. Those poor guys. I'd hate that to happen to me".

Months go by. The rumors start to flow. "Did you hear....they sent Bill to India to train....the callcenter in Maine is closing....we may be closing." Naturally this makes Average Joe nervous. What about his house? His car? His kids underfunded college fund?

Average Joe is not prepared when the news finally comes. It's either find another job outside the company or find another job with the company, but either way you have to take a pay cut. Average Joe's town is not a great job market, and jobs paying as well as his current job are hard to find, unless you have those special qualifications that Average Joe just never did get.

Average Joe is now facing a precipice, and none of his choices are easy. Move? Stay? Study? Sell the house? Cutout HBO? What to do?

Joe is stuck, well and truly. He feels betrayed. He feels abandoned. Average Joe is scared. If he is lucky he will find a job that pays almost what he makes now. If he's really lucky he'll walk into a goldmine. Joe is scared. His company has set things up so he can't get unemployment because they offered him a sucker position at a loss of pay. Joe is scared.

Joe has lost to forces completely outside of his control by people who don't care about his position. Joe has lost to the bean counters. Joes $20k a year position is being replaced by an unknown person in India making $5k a year with no benefits besides transportation to/from work.

What about the Joe's company? The one that shed him like a dirty suit of clothes? They have saved over $20k a year on just Joe alone. What about the 100s of other Joes? Net savings to Joe's company is measured in the millions!

Who gets those millions? Where does the money go? Is it returned to the stockholders? Hmmm...productivity bonus for the CEO? Who is impressed with these savings?

Who benefits? Average Joe? The shareholders? Joe's mortgage company? Local gas station?

I've seen claims that this savings to the company is somehow good for the economy. But I don't see it. The money that was once paid to Average Joe is now taken out of general circulation in the American economy. That means all the little things that Joe used to spend money on, like his utilities, the local grocery store, his comic book retailer. That money is gone. Instead it's in the hands of nameless institutions and ceo's.

Joe is screwed, wealth has become more concentrated, and the local economy is deprived.

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 9 replies

an art & left politics forum is born

2005-07-11T00:41:44Z

hi. im birthing this forum that focuses mostly on art and left politics.

its all fresh and new and waiting for instigator types to help shape the place. hardly anyone in there right now but it has a lot of potential. who ever gets involved at this point would be key in developing the character of the place.

you can put pictures and stuff in each post.

im still adding a forum or two more and working on the design of the place.

i would be honored by your presence. come check it out: http://p207.ezboard.com/btheemptyroom

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Public Broadcasting Names New (Republican) President

2005-06-24T06:50:31Z

Public Broadcasting Names New President
June 23, 2005 3:00 PM EDT
WASHINGTON - The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, whose chairman is under fire for complaining about what he considered liberal bias at PBS, chose a former Republican Party co-chairman Thursday as its president and chief executive.

Patricia S. Harrison, the assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, was selected after three days of closed meetings by the corporation's board of directors. She was co-chair of the Republican National Committee from 1997 to 2001.

The announcement came as the House considered a 25 percent cut to the corporation's budget for next year, to $300 million.

In tapping Harrison, the CPB board said she was devoted to public broadcasting and its mission.

Liberal public interest groups criticized the decision, saying Harrison has no experience in public broadcasting.

"It sets the wrong tone for dealing with some of the challenges that are facing the CPB right now," said Chellie Pingree, president and chief executive of Common Cause. "She has all the wrong experience and comes across as too partisan of a player for this particular job."

Democratic lawmakers also sounded alarm.

"This is a fatal blow to the historic political neutrality of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. The senator planned to call for hearings in the Senate Commerce Committee, which has oversight of the broadcast industry.

Lautenberg and fellow senators Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. and Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., sent a letter to corporation chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson last week urging the CPB to put off choosing a new president. The senators expressed concern about political interference in public broadcasting by Tomlinson. They also questioned Harrison's partisan background.

The corporation, which Congress set up in 1967 to shield public broadcasting from political influence, funnels federal dollars to PBS, National Public Radio and hundreds of public radio and television stations.

Tomlinson, a Republican, has been critical of PBS public affairs programming, alleging that it's too liberal and doesn't give conservative views equal treatment. PBS denies that.

In a statement, PBS said it has concerns about the appointment of a former political party chair to head the CPB. It added: "It is our hope and expectation that Ms. Harrison will execute her responsibilities with nonpartisan integrity."

---

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Thinking of buying a home? THINK AGAIN

2005-06-24T04:34:23Z

Supreme Court Rules Cities May Seize Homes

June 23, 2005 7:01 PM EDT

WASHINGTON - Cities may bulldoze people's homes to make way for shopping malls or other private development, a divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday, giving local governments broad power to seize private property to generate tax revenue.

In a scathing dissent, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said the decision bowed to the rich and powerful at the expense of middle-class Americans.

The 5-4 decision means that homeowners will have more limited rights. Still, legal experts said they didn't expect a rush to claim homes.

"The message of the case to cities is yes, you can use eminent domain, but you better be careful and conduct hearings," said Thomas Merrill, a Columbia law professor specializing in property rights.

The closely watched case involving New London, Conn., homeowners was one of six decisions issued Thursday as the court neared the end of its term. The justices are scheduled to release their final six rulings, including one on the constitutionality of Ten Commandments displays on public property, on Monday.

Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for the majority, said New London could pursue private development under the Fifth Amendment, which allows governments to take private property if the land is for public use, since the project the city has in mind promises to bring more jobs and revenue.

"Promoting economic development is a traditional and long accepted function of government," Stevens wrote, adding that local officials are better positioned than federal judges to decide what's best for a community.

He was joined in his opinion by other members of the court's liberal wing - David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer, as well as Reagan appointee Justice Anthony Kennedy, in noting that states are free to pass additional protections if they see fit.

The four-member liberal bloc typically has favored greater deference to cities, which historically have used the takings power for urban renewal projects.

At least eight states - Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, South Carolina and Washington - forbid the use of eminent domain for economic development unless it is to eliminate blight. Other states either expressly allow a taking for private economic purposes or have not spoken clearly to the question.

In dissent, O'Connor criticized the majority for abandoning the conservative principle of individual property rights and handing "disproportionate influence and power" to the well-heeled.

"The specter of condemnation hangs over all property," O'Connor wrote. "Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory."

Connecticut resident Susette Kelo and others in the lawsuit pledged to continue their fight. Nationwide, more than 10,000 properties were threatened or condemned in recent years, according to the Institute for Justice, a Washington public interest law firm representing the New London homeowners.

"It's a little shocking to believe you can lose your home in this country," said resident Bill Von Winkle, who said he would keep fighting the bulldozers in his working-class neighborhood. "I won't be going anywhere. Not my house. This is definitely not the last word."

But Connecticut state Rep. Ernest Hewett, who as a city council member approved the development, said, "I am charged with doing what's best for the 26,000 people that live in New London. That to me was enacting the eminent domain process designed to revitalize a city ... with nowhere to go."

New London once was a center for the whaling industry and later became a manufacturing hub. More recently the city has suffered the kind of economic woes afflicting urban areas across the country, with losses of residents and jobs.

City officials envision a commercial development including a riverfront hotel, health club and offices that would attract tourists to the Thames riverfront, complementing an adjoining Pfizer Corp. research center and a proposed Coast Guard museum.

New London was backed in its appeal by the National League of Cities, which argued that a city's eminent domain power was critical to spurring urban renewal with development projects such Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Kansas City's Kansas Speedway.

Under the ruling, residents still will be entitled to "just compensation" for their homes as provided under the Fifth Amendment. However, Kelo and the other homeowners had refused to move at any price, calling it an unjustified taking of their property.

The case is Kelo et al v. City of New London, 04-108.

---

Associated Press writers Matt Apuzzo in New London, Conn. and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Conn. contributed to this report.

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Help Stop The Patriot Act!

2005-06-09T17:34:13Z

From the ACLU website:

Thousands of people across America will be calling Congress this week to speak out against the expansion of the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act imposes restrictions on freedom that no democracy should ever tolerate. We need you to speak out as a concerned citizen to stop the government from stripping away your rights.

Even if you've taken action on the Patriot Act before, your call this week will make a difference. Please call your Members of Congress today and oppose the Patriot Act's expansion.

You can look up your Representative's and Senators' direct numbers by clicking here or you can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

Some possible talking points:
People across the country have made clear their opposition to the Patriot Act. Hundreds of communities -- and seven states -- have passed resolutions against the Patriot Act and held town hall meetings to discuss its impact on their residents and our Constitution. Congress has a duty to listen to its constituents.

There are significant flaws in the Patriot Act, flaws that threaten your fundamental freedoms by giving the government the power to access to your medical records, tax records, information about the books you buy or borrow, all without probable cause. It also gives the government the power to obtain a special “sneak and peek” search warrant to break into your home and conduct secret searches without telling you for weeks, months or indefinitely. The Patriot Act needs to be reformed, not expanded.

Some of the extreme provisions in the Patriot Act are attacks on fundamental American values. The Constitution and its Bill of Rights emphasize the need for checks and balances on government agents and limits to their power. The Patriot Act rolled back key judicial oversight and gave law enforcement significant new powers that go beyond the war on terrorism.

Visit http://action.aclu.org/patriotactcalls and tell us how your calls went.

Why call Congress today?

We're launching a nation-wide effort to ensure Congress hears the widespread opposition to the Patriot Act. Civil libertarians, conservatives, free speech advocates and others from across the political spectrum are urging Congress to reform the Patriot Act, not expand it. Add your voice to this chorus of people calling for proper checks and balances on government power.

In the coming weeks, we have the opportunity to prevent the expansion of government secret surveillance. Together we're working to ensure that some of the most infamous provisions of the Patriot Act -- including one that expands secret surveillance -- expire at the end of this year or are reformed.

Last week thousands of people wrote to their members of Congress. Please help ensure that your members of Congress do not support expansion of the Patriot Act. Call them today and defend your rights:

You can look up your Representative's and Senators' direct numbers by clicking here or you can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

http://action.aclu.org/patriotactcalls

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

U.S. Senate passes bill creating a national electronic ID card

2005-06-08T10:08:19Z

News Story by Linda Rosencrance

MAY 11, 2005 (COMPUTERWORLD) - The U.S. Senate yesterday passed a bill that would create an electronic ID card designed to stop illegal immigrants from getting driver's licenses. The U.S. House of Representatives already passed the bill, which was tacked onto an Iraq military spending measure, earlier this year.
The legislation, which President George W. Bush is expected to sign, requires states to issue federally approved electronic ID cards, including driver's licenses. Anyone without such a card would not be able to board an airplane, an Amtrak train, open a bank account or enter a federal building.

Called the Real ID Act, the bill mandates that driver's licenses and other ID cards include a digital photo, features designed to thwart counterfeiting and a "common machine-readable technology" that could include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The technology must meet requirements set out by the Department of Homeland Security.

The mandates take effect in May 2008.

"The Real ID is vital to preventing foreign terrorists from hiding in plain sight while conducting their operations and planning attacks," House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) said in a statement. "By targeting terrorist travel, the Real ID will assist in our War on Terror efforts to disrupt terrorist operations and help secure our borders."

But critics, including the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union, said the bill would bring the U.S. a giant step closer to creating a national ID system, which would be a tempting target for identity thieves.

"The Real ID Act would establish a vast national database of ID holders, where even a small percentage of errors would cause major social disruption," according to a statement by the EFF. "The ID would essentially be an internal passport that would be shown before accessing planes, trains, national parks and court houses -- an irresistible target for forgers and identity thieves."

The EFF also said that by calling for the use of "common machine-readable technology," the REAL ID Act will pave the way for the federal government to force every state to put RFID chips into the ID cards.

"The federalization of driver's licenses, and the culling of all information into massive databases, creates a system ripe for identity theft," said Timothy Sparapani, an ACLU legislative counsel, in a statement. "New standards could place our most private information -- including photographs, address and Social Security numbers -- into the hands of identity thieves."

The ACLU also said that the measure, if signed into law, would make it harder for legal immigrants to get driver's licenses. And it denounced the way the law won passage in the House by being added to a funding bill for the military.

"The Real ID Act was sold as an illegal-immigration fix bill, when in fact it reduces every American's freedom," Sparapani said. "The provisions of this bill could not have passed on their own. Sadly, their inclusion in a 'must pass' bill means that immigrants and citizens alike will face an unnecessary loss of freedom and privacy."

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 4 replies

Fantasy, or prophecy?

2005-05-12T16:19:41Z

you be the judge

http://oak.psych.gatech.edu/~epic/ols-master.swf

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 6 replies

True Majority

2005-05-06T17:17:04Z

I've been a True Majority member for over a year and they are a great organization. I just got this from them today and thought some of you tribesters might enjoy it: http://www.truemajorityaction.org/bensbbs

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

PRINT YOUR DISSENT @ Agirprops.org

2005-04-01T17:04:57Z

BECOME the Media. Get the truth out.

The purpose of Agitprops.org is to provide fact-based posters on issues poorly covered by the mainstream media for people to print and post in neighborhoods across America.

http://www.agitprops.org/

Just click on a thumbnail to go to a page-sized jpeg of the poster that you can download and insert into a Word doc (set with narrow margins) for printing. While most look fine in black & white, I encourage folks to print as many as they can at work if they have access to a color printer (or to forward links to friends who do).

There are LOTS of posters about Jeff Gannon (the male prostitute in the White House), and the ever-reptilian “Hot Tub Tom” DeLay.

Please forward this link to every politically active person you know – especially anybody in Red States or GOP enclaves in exurbs and rural areas.

Coordinate with your friends – you may be able to print a lot more that you can post, so make packets for your pals to post. Or you may not be able to print any, but you like the posters enough to send the link to a friend who can crank out a few copies for you to distribute.

Post them on grocery store bulletin boards, on magazine racks at check-out lines, on cars in big-box store parking lots – post them in malls and public places, leave them surreptitiously around the office.

If we each take responsibility for spreading the truth in our own communities, we can take back America one Wal-Mart parking lot at a time!

PRINT YOUR DISSENT!
http://agitprops.org

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

Bush's Budget--419 BILLION

2005-03-28T23:43:12Z

Bush—Big Budget Will Stop Terrorist Attack

March 28, 2005--5:30pm—TRT 2:00

*Based on an article in The Star Ledger--Feb. 17, 2005--Page 4

In a report from the White House yesterday--TOP—intelligence--and MILITARY officials for President Bush claim a terrorist attack is imminent as terrorists are regrouping now. They further admit to having NO specific information now. So why are they mentioning this now??--Because Bush needs Congress to pass his MILITARY and anti-terror budget of 419 BILLION dollars--NOW.

Then--we will be able to predict attacks. The budget will finance and utilize three things—ALL of which are impossible, non-existent, or abstract. ONE—terrorism itself, TWO—weapons of mass destruction, and three—in the exact, descriptive, picturesque words of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld—other means.

Remember--he controls Halliburton--his NOW international contractor being paid big money every single day of any American involvement abroad. Three big-ticket items in the budget worth mentioning are nearly 6 BILLION for the U-S partners in the war on terror—over 1 billion for prior commitments to international organizations and 658 million dollars for a new American Embassy Compound in Baghdad—is that unbelievable--about 20 times the cost of Bill Gates’ mansion—I don’t think we plan on going anytime soon—do you? No one gives up a place that expensive.

Vice Admiral of the Defense Intelligence Agency—Lowell Jacoby--blames terrorism on Iran—Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice blames terrorism on Syria, F-B-I Director Robert Mueller blames it on unidentifiable sleeper operatives already in the U-S—and the new C-I-A Director--Porter Goss blames it on the Iraq war itself.

The truth is folks—and you have to be practical about these things--the reality of it is--that terrorism can not be predicted nor foreseen—therefore it can not be prevented. That’s the definition of terrorism. If you could predict it—it wouldn’t be called terrorism.

(You can lock up a criminal or end an illegal organization if you have the correct resources. Over a long enough period of time--you can eventually identify people and activities. But that’s not true with a terrorist.)

Any person can just change metamorphically into a terrorist as a result of their external environment—the part of your life you can’t control. When someone’s life turns into such a living hell—when they believe that not even death can be worse than life—when stories from Hell actually sound like an improvement over earth--congratulations—you just created--a TERRORIST—A MOTIVE--for someone who never had one.

The solution to stop terrorist attacks from being focused on Americans is to end their MOTIVE—OUR uninvited occupation. The answer is not the BUDGET--to use money, technology and war for problems that involve human beings and their feelings and their future. Without a future--a human being is a ticking time bomb.

We should prevent what starts the ticking. It is easier than the impossible task of diffusion once that fuse is lit. So--do you believe Bush--or do you know that he’s using fear to manipulate your feelings and trick you into giving up 419 BILLION dollars to prevent future imminent attacks?

love ya

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

Now I've seen it all in the Ivory Tower...

2005-03-28T00:37:48Z

Florida House Bill Attacks 'Leftist' Professors, Allows Students to Sue over Beliefs
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032405G.shtml

...and I have to say that as someone who's taught in the UC system and has been accused of so-called leftist platforming, I do somewhat agree with this. The reason being that I don't think that the classroom is somewhere we should be airing our political views (leave that to the material we choose). I also think it's important and healthy for us to present issues that represent our polar opposite positions. But this also smacks of a witch-hunt...

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Social Security

2005-03-26T23:03:29Z

Social Security—Your On Your Own

Not only does your government NOT want to provide Social Security for people, they don’t want to provide medical benefits either. Bush’s Social Security plan is comparable to--NO PLAN AT ALL. His theory is that every American should be allowed to invest today’s paycheck in stocks and bonds to pay for tomorrow’s retirement.

According to Bush, the future value of such investments will be enough to allow the government to reduce and eventually cut-off medical benefits to retirees. Well--AREN’T WE ALREADY ALLOWED TO DO THAT--if we choose? Invest in whatever we want? Of course! In fact, those that can afford to--DO just that--they have the abundant resources needed to pay for both today and tomorrow.

Those that CAN afford to live two lives with one check…usually do not have the extra resources to invest in tomorrow. That’s supposed to be the function and purpose of our government’s Social Security--to keep retirees safe and secure—now they’re left out in the cold.

And then there are those who can only afford to invest a minimal amount for retirement. Well if the INTEREST on your principal amounts to less than 800 dollars a month—you better hope you never need shelter, a doctor or a script—only a mortician.

Your government’s bailing out on you America—Wake up!—It’s every man, woman and child for themselves. Good luck!

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 2 replies

E-Mail Options

2005-03-22T05:56:51Z

FOR THOSE FRUSTRATED WITH THEIR E-MAIL ACCTS--YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY ADDRESS YOU WANT (both BEFORE and AFTER the @ sign) AT THE FOLLOWING 2 SITES!!

www.Seeqmail.com has cool servers and thousands of names to choose from to personally pick the name/word that appears AFTER the @ sign in ur e-mail + you'll have more E-mail choices if your 1st preference has already been taken by somebody else

You can also type in www.WebSite.ws and choose from other choices provided you dont mind the .ws after your address.

have fun tribers...
love ya

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

Burying CO2 Underground

2005-03-16T22:50:40Z

I worry that this is another way to poison our Mother earth.

http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/coughlin0031105.html

Researchers Try Novel Global Warming Fix: Channel Emissions Underground
BY KEVIN COUGHLIN
c.2005 Newhouse News Service
WEYBURN, Saskatchewan -- Oil-pump jacks bob like dime-store dipping birds as a chilly wind ripples across the Canadian prairie.

The horizon yawns so far in all directions that locals joke a basketball could roll clear to Calgary, a time zone away. Listen at night, and you swear a harmonica is wailing somewhere under the spiky Northern Lights.

Yet this remote expanse of hay bales in an oil field may hold the cure for global warming. "This," says Michael Monea of the Petroleum Research Technology Centre, "is one of the most-studied 8 square kilometers in the world."

Weyburn is a proving ground for a process called "carbon sequestration."

Lessons learned here, Monea says, will show the world how to safely store millions of tons of carbon dioxide. Other commercial ventures have used CO2 to coax every last drop of crude oil from wells. Weyburn has added the environmental goal of burying the greenhouse gas.

Why bury it? The future of energy, and perhaps the future of mankind.

Make no mistake, CO2, an odorless and invisible gas, is absolutely essential for life on Earth. We just have way too much of it. The fossil fuels that drive modern life, the good life, are belching billions of extra tons of CO2 and other gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.

Scientists are pretty sure this spells big trouble. Already, glaciers are melting and sea levels are inching up. With every turn of the ignition switch and every bump of the thermostat, we are "poking the angry beast," says Princeton University's Robert Socolow. Our atmosphere is becoming an oven that eventually could roast us to death.

Thirty-five industrial nations (though not the United States) have agreed to modest cuts in their greenhouse emissions. Yet governments everywhere still are counting on oil, gas and coal to supply more than 85 percent of the world's energy through 2025.

No other energy source can swoop to the rescue. China and India will burn mountains of cheap coal as they too chase the good life. "It's very hard to provide the energy people want without fossil fuels, at a reasonable price," says Howard Herzog, a research engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

So the trick -- for now, anyway -- may be to find slick ways of capturing and stashing the surplus CO2. Inject it into the Earth or the ocean, like adding extra fizz to your soda. Just make very sure it doesn't fizz over -- hundreds died in 1986 when CO2 came bubbling out of an African lake.

* * *

Every day, enough CO2 to fill almost 1,500 Olympic swimming pools whooshes through a 1-foot-wide pipe to Weyburn from a synthetic fuels production plant 200 miles away in North Dakota.

The CO2 gets compressed from a gas to a "supercritical" state that acts like a liquid. This fluid form is more compact and simpler to pump into Weyburn's oil wells, nearly a mile deep.

Monea's research center in the provincial capital of Regina has coordinated the $42 million U.S.-Canadian experiment since 2000.

As the bizarre-sounding research moves forward, some environmental groups worry that projects like this only stall what they see as the inevitable switch to renewable energies such as solar and wind power. "It is seen as the panacea for the fossil fuel industry," says Kert Davies, a spokesman for Greenpeace. "It's the only way out, sequestration, the only way for coal. The oil boys know as well they can't continue to be vendors of oil ad infinitum unless they figure a way to take the carbon out."

Others would prefer spending billions of federal dollars for breakthrough technologies such as nuclear fusion, the power source of the sun. But President Bush and his administration back sequestration for now, and it is gaining momentum around the world. It doesn't hurt that the United States sits on as much as 250 years worth of coal reserves, enough for generations of energy independence.

At least 40 sequestration projects are under way worldwide, says Arthur Lee, an environmental policy adviser to ChevronTexaco.

(Click the link for the rest of the story--there's more)

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Non-Govt News Mediums

2005-03-08T02:13:42Z

IF U KNOW OF MORE...PLEASE REPLY & POST HERE IF U CHOOSE

**NON-GOVERNMENT PRINT MEDIUM

REAL PERSON'S VIEW--fromthewilderness.com
GUERILLA NEWS--guerillanews.com
From the Horse's Mouth--livejournal.com
UNCENSORED REPORTING--fair.org
PUBLIC ACCURACY--accuracy.org
ALTERNET.org--alternet.org
INDEPENDENT REPORTING--remixingamerica.com

**NON-GOVERNMENT RADIO MEDIUM
Non-Governmental Information Radio--hiddenradio.net
Radical Radio--radicalradio.com
Free Speech News--freespeechnews.com
National Public Radio--npr.com

ALL on www.Josephmalloy.bravehost.com

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

Bush Lies & Putin Knows

2005-03-07T16:09:12Z

Can Bush Fool You?—w/Putin

Can Bush fool you? Let’s see…Publicly Bush says he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are friends and trustworthy allies…that he has a sense for his soul. Yet Bush disagrees with Putin’s behavior and actions--forcing on a smile as he complains to—his friend—to his face—about…

ONE…Putin’s idea of a free press…
TWO…his move from “direct popular voting” in top elections toward the American equivalent of an Electoral College…
THREE…the fact that Putin has no viable opposition…
FOUR…Putin’s attempt to consolidate power by oppressing opposition…
FIVE…Putin’s laws’ inability to protect minorities…
SIX…his support of Iran’s nuclear policy and supply of material to fuel it’s reactor…
SEVEN…his mass production of shoulder-fired missiles which he sells to customers around the world…
EIGHT…his suspected sale of these missiles to Syria…now Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Russian Defense Minister just signed an agreement to control the sale and possession of such type weapons…only the agreement DOESN”T cover the specific type that Russia makes and sells…and...
NINE…even Russia’s customs and Culture.—AND THIS IS HIS FRIEND!

When Putin fires back at Bush he shows no shame nor guilt over his few, but sturdy convictions…
ONE…Bush violating the rights of journalists and his constraints on the American Press…
TWO…the fact that America’s Presidential elections are decided on by an Electoral College and not “direct popular voting”…and…the most important…
THREE…the fact that democracy isn’t practiced in America—it’s only a theory.

Bush tried his best to keep that smile on his face while Putin appeared unabashedly tense. While they were both accused of trying to showcase cooperation, Bush will tell you they are trustworthy allies…and…FRIENDS!

Now if you had these things to say about someone…what would you consider them?—Your FRIEND? or something other? Putin will tell you the truth—they are wary of each other. Bush doesn’t fool Putin.

Can Bush fool you? You’ll see…or worse…you won’t.

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Businessmen and men

2005-03-06T03:02:55Z

Businessmen and men...(3/5/05)

Because a man will stop at nothing, lie, cheat, steal, kill, rape, pillage, live dual-lives and have no shame in saying absolutely anything and everything and nothing after he has determined and tells himself he is going out to take your money. (or piece of ass)

Metamorphically he changes and becomes a completely different person. He, along with this change has the ability to mask his true motive for years and for decades in lieu of him getting what he wants.

So I tell you--Beware of the businessman--and the man.

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

Creating a terrorist

2005-03-03T01:45:17Z

A stupid American president (Bush) is worse than a terrorist. The damage we cause fosters hate and revenge in the eyes of the world.

Why shouldn't they avenge the deaths of their families--you would.

When life and the living conditions we are responsible for, makes people want to die, rather than live life alone without their loved ones----->>You just created a unidentifiable terrorist!

A generic man amongst the heard and there's no way of knowing who until its too late. Who will be sorry then?

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Hotel Rwanda--Film recommendation

2005-02-21T22:06:02Z

Yesterday, I saw "Hotel Rwanda." It's a very powerful film. I recommend it to everyone as very valuable history lesson. The following is a review I found in amazon.com which I think pretty well says it:

Terry George's "Hotel Rwanda" is one of those movies that is almost beyond criticism. The story of Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a Rwandan hotel manager who strove to save as many of his neighbors as possible from genocidal government troops, requires no embellishment to make it powerful, and George gives it none: he tells it as straightforwardly as possible, with a minimum of trickery and just enough gore to get the point across. (The relative lack of gore has caused some critics to turn thumbs-down on the movie; if George were really true to the story, they said, it should have been a bloodbath on the level of "Saving Private Ryan." I find myself in agreement with George, however; he said that by toning down the gore and getting a PG-13 rather than R rating, he could reach the young people who really need to know what happened in Rwanda.) The story here is as old as history, and as new as today's evening news: the endless ability of a mob of people to find pretexts to hate and kill, and the vitally important message that one person CAN make a difference, even in the midst of murderous chaos. The film is superbly acted down to the smallest bit part, but special mention must be made of Cheadle, who gives a performance of heartbreaking intensity and purity as Rusesabagina, and Sophie Okonedo, who is deeply moving as Rusesabagina's wife Tatiana. This powerful film is a stern rebuke to us comfortable Westerners, who--as one character in the film points out--watched the horrors in Rwanda unfold on the evening news, said, "How horrible," and went on eating our dinners.

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

right NOW on Sundance Channel (Feb. 17, 2005, 5:30 pm)

2005-02-17T22:37:52Z

05:30 PM

Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties Nonny de la Pena Documentary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Producer Robert Greenwald (UNCOVERED; OUTFOXED) and filmmaker Nonny de la Peña present a devastating account of the erosion of ...more

SUNDANCE CHANNEL

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2005 all times Eastern

http://www.sundancechannel.com/schedule/?PHPSESSID=fad551e8e139fccc7bd3d5a9ea5af94b

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Valentines Day

2005-02-15T22:48:58Z

Like just any other holiday the Govt adds to YOUR calendar to keep u busy and your mind off what happening in this country!!

EVERY day is Valentines day if you love someone. Not just February 14th...

...or if you hate someone, NO day is Valentines day!!!

it's up to you America---not your government who indirectly profits through the sale of bullshit, fall-apart items, that act more as a commodity and less like the fuckin' thing they're supposed to represent.

WAKE THE FUCK UP AMERICA--this is what I'm talking about!

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

I'm in class

2005-02-15T01:31:39Z

Im in class now n im sneaking on the net....gotta go...sorry

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

PASS URINE TEST!!

2005-02-11T17:47:43Z

Guaranteed Legal Government Pharmaceuticals is the best option--ask ur doctor for "Urised"--it breaks down EVERY metabolite in ur bladder and is prescribed for infections in the ureters, kidneys, bladder and urethra!--They couldn't even detect sugar if ur a diabetic!!

You can go take your test half in a drug-induced coma and PASS!

I personally use it, guarantee it and i have it for emergencies if ur ever in NY/NJ area. 973-489-5754

You can also try ACMEwhse.com I believe they are located in Arizona or Utah?? (I dont guarantee them but their product "Solar Eclipse" has worked for me in the past) and ask them for discreet products. their link is on my website: www.Josephmalloy.bravehost.com

Good luck brother and hope Big Brother isn't watching u!!

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Saving Social Responsibility

2005-02-11T16:38:52Z

In the spirit of realizing that in working toward a better social reality we can learn from analyzing the glaring power structure of the present, I have been troubled by this whole "saving" Social Security mantra of the GW Bush administration.

Bill Clinton spoke to us from the standpoint that we could all band together for mutual benefit (even if the gain was not always equitable). GW Bush, however, seems to be all about dividing us against ourselves for the benefit of those in position to exploit us.

In the case of Bush's grand gesture to save Social Security, there is no need to "fix" Social Security in order to continue the level of payouts that recipients have grown to expect. The problem here is not in the program, but in the demographics. Of much more concern should be the lack of labor force in comparison to retirees, leaving too few people to take up the work that will need to be done (especially with such a large retired community in need of services), and thus also lowering the tax base. As many people are indeed more able to work for longer years, the rationale for raising the retirement age would be to keep more people in the workforce doing the work. However, this could also be accomplished by immigration policy to bring in more younger workers. In light of the oversupply of unemployed young adults in much of the world, such a policy could also work to the advantage of the U.S. in international relations and other foreign policy concerns.

My big peeve about the Social Security system is the cap on income eligible for payroll taxation. If we took the tax all the way to the last dollar, there would be plenty available to seriously lower the percentage of taxation, taking more of the burden off of the lower paid workers. I am sure that there are other positive changes that could be made to improve the system and better serve the social function of taking care of our old and infirm in a manner that honors their social contributions and affords them respect.

The Bush doctrine on Social Security is not at all about serving such laudable social goals. It is about pitting the haves and hope to haves against the already burdened. It is about inciting our insecurity, rather than inspiring our creative spirit.

Peace,
libramoon

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 4 replies

What say you:

2005-02-07T19:05:10Z

We (humans) should not try to save (as in were destroying it because of industry, smog, pollution, ect) the world (earth, the planet) because it will end (cosmic entity will hit us and destroy us, ect) some day anyways. Correct? ?? If so why, if not why.

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 17 replies

Hotel party in PA 2/2-3/05

2005-02-02T18:18:01Z

WED + THURS Feb 2-3 have a ball in my hotel room. call 973-489-5754 (I'll have the exact address Tues Feb 1 sometime).

*/*Oh man--u just gotta be there*/* Make the Gotti's in Miami look like alter boys

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

Biometrics card 2 come

2005-02-02T09:01:51Z

Holy Shit!!

Un-fuckin-believeable the control taken from u by the government through the utilization of fear.

The Am govt scares the shit out of u making u think that by voluntarily relinquishing ur freedoms, the country/world will be a better, safer place. BULLSHIT!

If u have a cell phone they can pinpoint ur location within a fuckin inch using GPS technology 24/7 and uu wont even know ur under watch--cause a warrant is not needed (the police/law enforcement is in bed with phone companies.)

Your "Biometrics card will include all of thge following + more that I have left out and/or don't know yet...

*Name
*Past and present Addresses
*maiden names
*Date and place of birth
*Social Security #
*Fingerprints
*All Driver's License Information
*Identifying Facial features and characteristics
*tattoo identification
*Your DNA Blueprint
*All Vehicle ID information=Registration
*Insurance (Past & Present)
*PID (Personal Identification #)--special note HOLY SHIT!! *Mortgage/Bank Account information
*Internet Activity--Websites and E-Mail Accounts and passwords!
*ALL Contact with Police including traffic stops--even if no summons/subpoena is issued

And not a single thing will stop a terrorist--hence the word--That's why they call it terrorism--because it can NOT be predicted, identified, nor prevented--that's the definition of terrorism...

**AND probably the color of the shit u took this morning?!?!?!

What the fuck is this country coming to???

For a land that is, in theory, supposed to protect ur privacy, the camera on the end of the catheter is probing deeper into ur rectum!

Beware my tribers--the stage is being set for a totalitarian govt for our children and for future generations...

We're supposed to stand for something...I still don't know what it is...can anyone tell me???---Or better yet--DON'T!! I'm scared enough as it is...not of a foreign-bred terrorist, but of a Natural Born American Government. STOP IT YOU FUCKIN ASSHOLES!!

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

diary of a soldier

2005-02-02T08:56:46Z

http://www.livejournal.com/users/breedingxcancer

a person i know...so dont be a dick.
just read and reflect

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 19 replies

Ltr from Robert Redford--Arctic National Wildlife Refuge under attack

2005-01-23T19:45:52Z

Dear Friend,
>
No one voted on Election Day to destroy the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But President Bush is now claiming a mandate to do exactly that.
>
Congressional leaders are pushing for a quick vote that would turn America's greatest sanctuary for Arctic wildlife into a vast,
polluted oil field.
>
Even worse, they are planning to avoid public debate on this devastating measure by hiding it in a must-pass budget bill.
>
Please go to http://www.savebiogems.org/arctic/takeaction.asp right now and send a message telling your U.S. senators and representative to reject this sneak attack on the Arctic Refuge.
>
And please forward my message to your friends, family and colleagues. We must mobilize millions of Americans in opposition as quickly as possible.
>
Don't believe for a second that the president is targeting the Arctic Refuge for the sake of America's energy security or to lower gas prices at the pump.
>
President Bush knows full well that oil drilled in the Arctic Refuge would take ten years to get to market and would never equal more than a paltry one or two percent of our nation's daily consumption. Simply put, sacrificing the crown jewel of our wildlife heritage would do nothing to reduce gas prices or break our addiction to Persian Gulf oil.
>
But if the raid on the Arctic Refuge isn't really about gas prices or energy security, then what is it about?
>
It's the symbolism.
>
The Arctic Refuge represents everything spectacular and everything endangered about America's natural heritage. It embodies a million years of ecological serenity . . . a vast stretch of pristine wilderness . . . an irreplaceable birthing ground for polar bears, caribou and white wolves.
>
It is the greatest living reminder that conserving nature in its wild state is a core American value. It stands for every remnant of wilderness that we, as a people, have wisely chosen to protect from the relentless march of bulldozers, chain saws and oil rigs.
>
And that's why the Bush administration is dead set on destroying it.
>
By unlocking the Arctic Refuge, they hope to open the door for oil, gas and coal giants to invade our last and best wild places: our
western canyonlands, our ancient forests, our coastal waters, even our national monuments.
>
This is the real agenda behind the raid on the Arctic Refuge and the entire Bush-Cheney energy plan: to transfer our public estate into corporate hands so it can be liquidated for a quick buck.
>
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) admitted as much when he said this battle over the Arctic Refuge is really a fight over whether energy exploration will be allowed in similarly sensitive areas in the future. "It's about precedent," Rep. DeLay said.
>
I take him at his word. If we let the president and Congress plunder the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for the sake of oil company profits, then no piece of our natural heritage will be safe from wholesale destruction.
>
Please go to http://www.savebiogems.org/arctic/takeaction.asp and tell your senators and representative they have no mandate to destroy the Arctic Refuge. Then please be sure to forward this message to as many people as you can.
>
And thank you for speaking out at this critical time.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Robert Redford
> Board of Trustees
> Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
>
> . . .
>
> BioGems: Saving Endangered Wild Places
> A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
> http://www.savebiogems.org

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

About Protest Jan 20

2005-01-22T16:33:15Z

Ha! A lot to report. A great time. ANSWER Coalition did a great job securing their permit area that the govt. recinded at the last minute. This is fair treatment in America?!? Or is this jerking off and deceiving

Anyway, through their perseverance, they fought like dogs and kept their permit for bleachers, a sound stage, n system.

A very large turnout of all good americans packed the ANSWER Coalition's Anti-war/racism protest area, and they were strong, sturdy, and unwaivaible--A real sturdy click that banded together for the better good, everyone acted as one and nobody was a dick and there to be in it for themselves.

So what does your newly elected? crooked president do? As the motorcade passes in front of our section, a large blacked-out, black Suburban 1500 passes in front of the presidential limo to block the view between him and us.--That's America folks.

In response--many threw smowballs and rotten fruit at the President and his limo. Is that worse than tossing bombs and poison gasses on the innocent people of the world? Yu be the judge.

Police Response: They never knew who, if anyone, did what. The only thing they could do was join us in our permitted area. Over a dozen big mother fuckin cops suited up in mad special forces equiptment joined us in our line of protest. You know they had no proof of anything, so after a minute or two they got bored 'cause there was no one they could reason to club with theit 3 foot short bow's. They got bored n left.

SECURITY: Was a fuckin' joke. I could have packed myself full of C4 and blew up the entire block--no, i'd never personally do that--but someone else with the determination to hurt America can easily think of that. Hell, I did (and I'm not a saboteur.)

No metal detectors and no patting down below the waist. I could have strapped a dozen pipe bombs to my legs and killed a lot of people. But the only pipe I had was the one you use to smoke marijuana. Again, I'm no saboteur but I can think of that.

WHY: Why were the "security tents" and "checkpoints" ever put in place? I'll tell you why--because the government is a master magician in the illusion of security. If people have to go through checkpoints, they know they will be safe--BULLSHIT!! I just proved I could have fucked up the place royally.

AND: I was one who was kicked out after I made it through the checkpoint by some dick cop. I left, went around the block, and back through the checkpoint a second time (this time I wasn't even barely patted down and I was wearing 6 shirts to stay warm--i could have had on only 1 shirt and a chest full of semtex--but who gives a fuck!?!?) The ILLUSION of security was in place and people "thought" they were safe so that's all that matters.--Just like a good government should--provide illusions, not practicality.--Just like they always have. And nothing willl ever change...
love ya

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

What is a Native American to do?

2005-01-22T03:13:33Z

I escaped the south after being beaten by the KKK and returned to Iowa City where I thought I would bve free of them..but alas...they must have a data base.
I have had problems here as well.
I wish That they would do things that one could prove..but they are sneaky.
So I will move again:(

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

Make a Difference (Free!)

2005-01-15T15:37:59Z

u can make a difference by joining www.drugpolicy.org

and www.norml.org

u cann join through my site www.Josephmalloy.bravehost.com

it costs u nothing 2 type ur e-mail address in and click 2 sign a form letter these orgs already have drawn up 4 u (u can donate if u want.) They send them 2 ur congressmen 4 u and u get a letter back in the mail from ur politician acknowledging ur letter.

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Deepak Chopra on the Tsunami

2005-01-15T00:46:56Z

A spiritual perspective on the tsunami

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deepak Chopra interview on Larry King Live regarding God and the Tsunami
1/7/05

KING: Deepak Chopra, how can you have faith when you see something like this?

DEEKAPK CHOPRA, AUTHOR: Hi, Larry. In fact, your faith increases, Larry.
Because faith is trusting that God is all the forces, the forces of creation, the forces of protection and the forces of destruction. This is an opportunity for us to transcend our religious differences, our ethnic boundaries, and create a new humanity which is based on love, sharing, compassion, giving.

And we are seeing that. The militaries of the world are getting together to bring relief. People are losing their differences in Sri Lanka. The Buddhists and the Hindus and the Muslims are getting together. This is our opportunity.

You know in historical traditions, in religious traditions, God rained on the earth for 40 days. And from that came Noah's Ark and the creation of a new humanity. Can we create a new humanity that is not based on militarism ethnocentrism, racism, bigotry, hatred, and prejudice?

KING: Deepak, if he loves us why does he bring us such pain that could be prevented?

CHOPRA: I think, Larry, one of the problems right now is we keep referring to God as him and his. We have a very sexist, male identity that we've given to God. I agree with Michael Lerner, that our idea of God, our concept of God, our experience of God, changes as we evolve. I think the idea of sin and punishment is very, very primitive. And we have to ask ourselves right now, are we going to choose between sin and compassion? Compassion is the way to go right now.

And you know, there's lots of evidence, even scientific, that the earth is a living organism. The gaia (ph) hypothesis. Is it possible that our consciousness and the turbulence in our consciousness has anything to do with the turbulence in nature? Michael Lerner just referred to that. One of the very interesting things that happened with the tsunami was, no animal died. The elephants. The hares. The rabbits. The birds. They were so tuned in to the forces of nature that they escaped. They ran. Some of the elephants broke their chains and ran to the high level mountainous area where the tidal waves could not reach. We have lost that connection. Is there a way that we can collectively transcend to a level of consciousness where we see that the turbulence in our collective mind, possibly, is inseparable from the turbulence in nature? Because we are part of nature.

KING: Is it hard, Deepak Chopra, to stay up? In other words, is it hard to ground that feeling of good will when you see a tragedy like this?

CHOPRA: No, it in fact helps you ground that feeling of good will, Larry. You have to remember, as again, Rabbi Lerner said something very profound. The actual figure is 40,000 children are dying every day of preventable causes. 23 million people have died since World War I due to war and related violence. Right now there are 35 wars going on in our world. This is an opportunity for us to say, the cataclysmic events in nature are so big, but the inhumanity of man to man is even bigger. And can we learn from this, that at least there are certain things that we can do to make this a better world? What can we do? This is our opportunity to go beyond our religious differences because of what's happening. It brings out the essential goodness of man.

CALLER: The question is, do you have any advice as to the masses, exactly how to keep this a little more balanced?

KING: Good question.

CHOPRA: It's a very good question. You know, the idea here is that if we quiet the turbulence in our collective mind and heal the rift in our collective soul, could that have an effect on nature's mind, if nature has a mind? The gaia hypothesis says nature does have a mind, that the globe is conscious. So a critical mass of people praying or a critical mass of people collectively engaging in meditation could conceivably, even from modern physics point of view, through non-local interactions, actually simmer down the turbulence in nature. And there are precedents for this in all the religions. That when you pray, that you quieten your mind, that you go into deep silence, you change the way nature behaves. That it's not a cause/effect relationship; it's the inseparability of one consciousness that manifests itself in the diversity of creation.

KING: Deepak, do you doubt?

CHOPRA: No, Larry, I don't doubt. But I do feel sorry sometimes that we have allowed God to be hijacked by religious dogma. For example, right now on the show there aren't any women. You know, why is that? Every time we do a show on God, religion, it's always us males representing these different traditions. We need to realize that when we share our suffering, out of that comes compassion. And out of compassion comes love and understanding. And from that comes healing. As long as we stick to "my" version of God, we're going to have problems. I say that right on the show.

(As an aside, Chopra's comment about the absence of women led King to ask the other participants whether he was right and if there was a religious show on television the next night, would they expect to see a woman. The responses led King to suggest a program just on that issue.)

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

Jan 20-Go Washington

2005-01-13T00:52:56Z

Who's not gonna be there?

If you're from NJ/NY area--car leaving from Northern NJ Tues night-Wed Jan 18-19, 2005--heading down to the abyss.

Anyone in need of transportation is welcome. Reply to post and/or contact me at the above tribe information. Try to think about covering gas/toll if u can.

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

Chronically Shy

2005-01-10T17:39:15Z

Don't be shy--no shame in horticulture

if u have the chronic in NY/NJ and u have the professional's price--holla back n post

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Want to get angry?

2005-01-07T01:33:06Z

http://www.guerrillanews.com/articles/article.php?id=1047

This is a link to an article about Bush admin. plans to possibly withdraw from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. Hoorah for the US making Nukes un-checked. The Treaty meeting is 5/1/05 and why haven't you heard a thing about it yet? Hmmmmm...

Peaces
Joshua

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

9/11 anyone

2005-01-06T19:33:37Z

9/11 ANYONE? (copied from my website Josephmalloy.bravehost.com)

That's all you see nowadays, 9/11 this, 9/11 that. I'm getting really fucking tired of seeing all these ribbons everywhere, on cars, on houses, and people are even wearing this shit right along with the flag on their fuckin' clothes for christ sake. Like this makes them a "good" American citizen. With their hand on your neck and their head in their ass they'll George Bush you to death.

"9/11" is used as a term to instill fear and terror in the mind of the citizens. Ever since that day, your open and honest government already has a bill written up called...yep Patriot Act II. This act of congress will allow your government/police to search your body and property with a warrant. They will also be allowed to collect that infamous urine sample 24/7, just knock on your house door and you better piss for Uncle Sam or you'll be taken to jail. Like that anything to do with anything. This shit is already written down. We're just lying in wait for the 109th congress to ratify this one while we're all sleeping this year. When you wake up I don't want to hear complaints that we're in 1930's Germany.

The government is just using "9/11" as a fear tactic to push legislation quickly through congress with less emphasis on our constitutional rights and more emphasis on "Could this action possibly prevent another "9/11?"" (Hey there's that tactical term again.) Sure, any action could...but, so will turning the country into martial law. That could prevent a lot of sabotage. Let's all give up our rights and freedoms for the illusion of safety at our own detriment.

Where does the line get drawn? If it hasn't beeen drawn already, when will we say hey, you can't do that!? This is America! We need to start a foundation for a boundary-line to protect us from our own government taking back what was promised us 230 years sgo. Nevermind a terrorist. I love watching Americans piss in the wind while I watch and I write my book.

And I don't mind a major terrorist attack once a decade or a minor one every couple years. It's the cheapest and best form of entertainment we can ask for. Noone more than Europeans and Americans love to kill people as history proves. We're the first people on our feet with our hand on our heart and our fist in the air shouting "Hang 'em"..."Hang 'em High." Any and all people too. I just sit back, relax, and let the show begin. American government directly and indirectly kills more people than that every year as a result of their policies and laws.

So sit back, light that thing, and enjoy the show...

love ya

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

THE RULER'S BACK!

2005-01-06T03:41:05Z

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year tribe, tribers, triber, tribing

OK, So what's new and what has revealed itself in the midst of America over our holiday obsessed culture, put-your-head-in-your-ass traditional sociological knowledge-seeking behaviors.

We've learned (or learned again) that Christmas is denoted and identified as being the birthday of Jesus Christ. So what the fuck does this have to do with a fat-bearded white man in a red suit who lives at the North Pole? It must have taken a lot of imagination to go from one man's birthday to a lonely, slovenous, and gluttenous bastard? (LSD anyone??)

The reindeer with their sleigh, their noses, their notes and their names, and their anecdotal stories keep you oblivious to reality.

And what a great idea for the children. But grown adults with no children need a reality check. You may celebrate your religion or beliefs if you want--it's only natural, but get off of this Santa shit and giving mad money to insensitive corporate moguls who prey on your beliefs and begin setting you up three months in advance like you're the poster boy for Affluenza.

You wanna help out?--give something to a child who is needy--not a company that raises it's prices, slaves it's labor, and rapes the accounting books for false prospectus. And the justified reasoning is "it's the holiday season, we need to push this retail" I say "Fuck you," drive up to the loading dock, and help an employee load up the trunk. So what comes first? Adjusted accounting, or the need for it?

So we dance aound on one leg and remind everyone in the world that America is the world's power, and hence "savior," for the future. That keeps them busy for a while while we

...nominate crooked policemen for politicial positions,

...set up then steal Tsunami relief money, secretly draw up bills like the Patriot Act II so it's lying in wait for a quick sign through legislation before any opposition musters the strength to lobby congressmen when they're back in session (after 200 consecutive vacation days)

...we tell the world we're the keepers of peace and the protectors of freedoms; life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. And yet we've killed more people in the name of "America" than any other country on earth.

...we depleat our own countries natural resources and ecosystems

...we imprison our own citizens in the name of morality

...we widen the gap in income between the richest and poorest

...we outsourse jobs to foreign nations that will soon, someday have the potential to wipe us out

...we increase the unemployment figures just a little bit more

...we deny life-sustaining medical attention to those that don't have the cash to pay a 5-didgit hospital bill

...we lie to our own citizens about the status of our country as viewed by thge rest of the world

...we control freedom of the press and, by censoring truthful information, and stuffing the mainstream channels with anti-brown people propogandist shit, keep it's citizens ill-informed

...we bust into another country that waved no gun at us and stirred up the entire world for generations

...we cover-up the Abu-Garib prison scandal making it the world's most well-known prison since Alcatraz. (that's some feat)

...we adjust and amend our laws and legislation to inconspicuously tilt in favor of the land owner. Justice?

...and most importantly, we're right!

So come on over and join us and we will promise you the moon...and deliver to you, the earth

love ya

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

What really keeps me going is the constant belief that it could all disappear tomorrow...

2004-12-18T13:01:09Z

"Observance of customs and laws can very easily be a cloak for a lie so subtle that our fellow human beings are unable to detect it. It may help us to escape all criticism, we may even be able to deceive ourselves in the belief of our obvious righteousness. But deep down, below the surface of the average man's conscience, he hears a voice whispering, "There is something not right," no matter how much his rightness is supported by public opinion or by the moral code."
» Carl G. Jung

Saturday Dec. 18, 2004
New Hidden Radio Playlist

USE THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW & STREAM THE ENTIRE TRACK LIST:
http://www.hiddenradio.net/site/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=79

Happy Holidays,
The LoadPuller Crew º|º
Hear your favorite tune on Hidden Radio... Suggest a song! ;)
http://www.hiddenradio.net/site/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=21

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 1 reply

KERICK

2004-12-18T03:17:15Z

I hope the unethical, immoral, and illegal actions of the #1 Policeman in New York doesn't surprise anyone. If he weren't crooked and in Guilliani's pocket he wouldn't even have his position in the first place.

It's kinda par for the course in this country.

I'd be surprised if anyone nominated for National Security Advisor weren't working for someone else's cause. Just another crock of shit position to disillusion the American public into thinking they're safe

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 2 replies

Wake up

2004-11-11T07:27:19Z

Persons Unknown

This is a message to persons unknown
Persons in hiding. Persons unknown
Survival in silence
Isn't good enough no more
Keeping your mouth shut head in the sand
Terrorists and saboteurs
Each and every one of us
Hiding in shadows persons unknown

Hey there Mr. Average
You don't exist you never did
Hiding in shadows persons unknown
Habits of hiding
Soon will be the death of us
Dying in secret from poisons unknown
This is a message to persons unknown
Strangers and passers-by
Persons unknown
Turning a blind eye
Hope to go unrecognized
Keeping your secrets persons unknown

Housewives and prostitutes
Plumbers in boiler suits
Truants in coffee bars
Who think you're alone
Big men on building sites
Sick men in dressing gowns
Agents in motor cars
Who never go home
Women in factories
One parent families
Women in purdah
Persons unknown

Wild girls and criminals
Rotting in prison cells
Patients in corridors
Persons unknown
Statistics on balance sheets
Numbered and rubberstamped
Blind and invisible
You're lost in your homes
Liggers and layabouts
Lovers on roundabouts
Wake up in the morning
Persons unknown

Accountants in nylon shirts
Feminists in floral skirts
Nurses for when it hurts
Persons unknown
Astronauts and celibates
Deejays and hypocrites
Liars and lunatics
Persons unknown
Hopefuls on football pools
Teachers in empty schools
Kids into heroin not yet full grown
Typists and usherettes
Black men who can't forget
The lonely who long for
Persons unknown

Closet idealists
Baldheaded realists
Rastas and bikers
The voice on the phone
Pimps and economists
Royalty and communists
Rioters and pacifists
Persons unknown

Visionaries with coloured hair
Leather boys who just don't care
Garter girls with time to spare
Persons unknown
Judges with prejudice
Dissidents and anarchists
Policemen deal dirty tricks
To persons unknown
Strikers and pickets
Collectors of tickets
Radical architects
The queen on her throne
Soldiers in uniform
Sailors and stevedores
Beggars and bankers
Persons unknown

Football crowd hooligans
Bunking off school again
Workers down tools again
United's at home
Smokers with heart disease
Cleaners of lavatories
The old with their memories
Persons unknown

Flesh and blood is who we are
Flesh and blood are what we are
Flesh and blood is who we are
Our cover is blown...

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Un-Concession Speech

2004-11-10T17:03:36Z

Cross-post from Santa Barbara Tribe- expresses how I feel, perfectly!

Published on Monday, November 8, 2004 by Common Dreams.org
The (Un)Concession Speech That Could Have Been
by Megan Tady

In typical Kerry fashion, his concession speech on November 3 was disappointing. Although it ’s being touted as moving and forthright —perhaps because we don ’t have much else to praise —I found it predictable, mind numbing and insulting.

A few minutes before his speech, a friend turned to me and sighed, “I hope he doesn ’t tell us to come together. ”

He did, and I turned off my radio.

“Just, for once, ”my friend said, “I want a leader to get up and tell us this is all bullshit. ”

The last thing we needed was someone telling us —before all the votes had even been counted —to unite with people who voted for an entire set of values that is contradictory from our own: corporate greed, racism, pre-emptive war and hatred.

We needed, instead, very desperately, a denouncement of the foul play in this election, of the media and of Bush, as well as an unmistakable call to action from Kerry.

Here ’s what Kerry could have said that morning:

“Fellow Americans, the Bush Administration is saying they ’ve won Ohio, and that therefore they ’ve won the election. Republicans across the country are beginning victory parties. The media is running headlines that say Bush has been elected as your president for a second term.

Don ’t believe them.

This is, in fact, all bullshit.

At this time, it is still unclear who won the election. What is clear, however, is the evidence of voter fraud and disenfranchisement all across the country. Exit polls do not match election results. Thousands of provisional ballots haven ’t been counted. Punch cards ballots, with hanging chads, are once again being pushed into a closet and swept under the rug. Absentee ballots from our soldiers overseas are still coming in. Polls were closed with people still waiting in line. Computers spat out results that did not correlate with voters ’intentions. Registered voters were turned away from the polls on, and before, Election Day. The list goes on.

I repeat, do not believe the hype.

Do not accept Bush or anyone as your president until every vote has been counted. This was my pledge to you, and I will stand by it.

I will not lie to you. This is a catastrophe. The future of our country lies in the balance. For this reason, I need your continued support, and I need your help. This is my call to action:

Get in the streets. Leave your houses and get in the streets. Stand up. Start marching and don ’t stop.

Don ’t go to work. Strike. Bring business as usual to a halt. Shut down the airports, the seaports, the subways, the toll booths, the banks, the factories, the super centers and the drive-thrus. Don ’t give in.

Stop buying. Spend money only on necessities: food, water, shelter. Do not go to the mall. Do not use your credit cards. Do not buy gas. Boycott.

Don ’t watch the news. Turn your TVs off. Instead, go to the television and radio stations. Bang on the doors. Gather there and demand their accountability as journalists and gatekeepers.

Gather again at polling places. Demand a recount. Do not leave until every vote is counted.

Keep marching.

Write poetry. Write songs. Write letters. Don't stop.

Sing. Scream. Chant. Dance. Make Noise. The Whole World is Watching.

Keep marching.

Converge in Washington, DC. Gather at the White House. Spill onto the sidewalks, fill every city block. Do not let the inauguration happen. Do not let Bush come home. Disrupt the administration ’s plans for a smooth transition to a second term. Make nothing easy.

Do not be a mandate. Do not be “political capital. ”Do not roll over and wait for four more years to pass.

Do not stop until we have the answers, until we know the truth. You are the superpower, and you can demand a just and fair election. But you are also a citizen of the United States of America, and you deserve a just and fair election.

Some may say I ’m calling for anarchy, for chaos. I disagree. I am calling for something much more potent and dangerous: unbridled democracy.

They've taken the country without firing a shot. Take it back the same way. ”

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 0 replies

Impeachment anyone?

2004-11-07T12:45:47Z

What do you think folks? Should we call for it? Pressure the Dems to call for it? I mean, I think lying about why we went to Iraq is much more impeach-worthy than screwing someone in the oval office.

If we put enough pressure on our elected officials, could we do it?

posted in Social/Culture/ Political Issues &Stuff™ - 6 replies