tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202427542024-03-23T14:28:40.300-04:00American AthensA Postmodern Boston Tea PartyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-51320819627220019432008-02-22T17:23:00.001-05:002008-02-22T17:23:41.746-05:00Just a reminder.We have moved to <a href="http://www.americanathens.com">americanathens.com.</a>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-34931448983380727202007-03-29T10:24:00.000-04:002007-03-29T10:26:01.651-04:001st Annual Juvenile Justice Awareness Day at Wheelock College in Boston<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.americanathens.com"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.wheelock.edu/news/News_other_death_sentence.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-5167661952902434622007-03-09T15:55:00.000-05:002007-03-09T15:56:55.438-05:00The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "Definitive 200" List is a Bunch of Crap<p>Months after they first announced its inception, the official list of the 200 albums that comprise the <a href="http://www.rockhall.com/pressroom/definitive-200">Definitive 200 list</a> has finally been unleashed on an angry world and boy does it suck. Considered to be 200 albums that every music lover should own, it should be noted that The Definitive 200 is not an attempt to spark a dialogue on the history of pop music, but rather a transparent attempt by the record industry to spark sales in their back catalogue. In addition to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (who inducted their first hip-hop act just this week!!!), the list is co-sponsored by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM), which represents over 7,000 music stores in the U.S.</p> <p>I know these type of lists are supposed to suck, what was I expecting? Well, when I first heard about this list I assumed that it would have <em>some</em> integrity and that I would at least be able to respect the first 10 selections. This however, was not the case. It seems as though the completely out of touch RRHOF decided to have circus animals rank these though osmosis. If this list was unranked I would almost be able to shut up about it, but since the RRHOF decided to rank these albums 1-200, they have left themselves wide open to my insults. I will now rant through (some of) what I see to be glaring omissions and laughable choices at ranking the Definitive 200 albums of all time:</p> <p>1. BEATLES - <em>SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND</em></p> Was this decision made by a team of middle school boys circa 1992?...<br /><br />Read the rest at the <span style="font-style: italic;">new</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.americanathens.com">American Athens</a>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1172713158284754902007-02-28T20:37:00.000-05:002007-03-01T14:49:44.566-05:00The "T" In LGBT: Mass House Bill #1722: An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes<p>During the last couple of months, through both academic work and personal exploration, I have become interested in gender identity discrimination as a human rights and social justice issue. I felt that since the local blogging community and in particular the straight, white, male, liberal blogging community has not yet taken very much interest in the topic that I would use AA as starting point for this much needed dialogue.</p>Right here in the Commonwealth, legislation to outlaw discrimination on the basis of "gender identity or expression" was introduced Jan 10, 2007, by lead sponsors Representative <a href="http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/cms1.htm">Carl Sciortino</a> and Represenative <a href="http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/b_r1.htm">Byron Rushing</a> (This is another of the many issues where Rep. Rushing has been the first of his colleagues to take a stand on. I love this man). <a href="http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht01pdf/ht01722.pdf">House Bill #1722</a>, "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes,” sends a clear message that transgender and gender non-conforming people in our communities should be able to work, go to school, and live without fear. This bill...<br /><br />To view the rest of this post please visit us over at our new location: <a href="http://www.americanathens.com/">Americanathens.com</a>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1172188008742649332007-02-22T18:44:00.000-05:002007-02-22T18:52:04.543-05:00Dennis (D.J.) Johnson 1954-2007, R.I.P.<blockquote>"And there's a steal by Bird, underneath to DJ, he lays it in..." -Johnny Most<br /></blockquote>According to the <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/02/22/former_celtics_great_dennis_johnson_dies_at_52_1172180814/">Boston Globe</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>Dennis Johnson, the star NBA guard who was part of three championship teams, died Thursday after collapsing at the end of practice. He was 52. Johnson, coach of the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League, died at a hospital, D-League spokesman Kent Partridge said.</blockquote><blockquote>Johnson, a five-time All-Star and one of the great defensive guards, played 14 seasons and retired after the 1989-90 season. He played on title teams with the Boston Celtics in 1984 and 1986 and with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979 when he was the NBA finals MVP.</blockquote>Wow, does this one hurt. It is kind of weird to feel sad about the death of someone I have never met, but I suppose that is the testament to the player that he was. The player Bird once referred to as, "the best I've ever played with," Dennis Johnson, or as he was know to Celtic loyal, "DJ," was the best true guard to play for the C's in my lifetime...<br /><br />To view the rest of this post please visit us over at our new location: <a href="http://www.americanathens.com">Americanathens.com</a><br /><p><br /></p>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1171637395855784362007-02-16T09:48:00.000-05:002007-02-16T09:49:55.866-05:00Next Time You Say “Bush Sucks,” Remember Saparmurat NiyazovR.I.P. Saparmurat Niyazov (1940-2006). Niyazov ruled Turkmenistan as the head of state/cult of personality from 1985 until his death in December 2006. The circumstances of Niyazov’s passing has been surrounded by some media speculation, including that Niyazov had been the victim of poisoning. Some Turkmen opposition sources also claim that Niyazov died several days before the officially announced date of December 21st. According to the <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/">Atlantic Monthly:</a><br /><br />To read the rest of this article come visit us over at the new <a href="http://www.americanathens.com">American Athens.</a>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1171378154391917522007-02-13T09:45:00.000-05:002007-02-13T09:49:14.403-05:00Romney, Michigan and the Globe<div style="text-align: justify;">Read the full post at the <span style="font-style: italic;">new and improved</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.americanathens.com">American Athens</a>.<br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Though the timing and location were released earlier, Mitt Romney's choice of Michigan --- and specifically the Henry Ford Museum --- to start his Presidential campaign made some news <a href="http://www.bluemassgroup.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=177044B3443C47C2FCAE4FA813DBF16F?diaryId=6285" title="Romney's campaign kick-off to be held at museum honoring notorious anti-Semite -- BMG" mce_href="http://www.bluemassgroup.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=177044B3443C47C2FCAE4FA813DBF16F?diaryId=6285">yesterday on the internets</a>. This morning, the <i>Globe</i>'s Scott Helman has <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/02/13/romney_to_kick_off_race_in_mich?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News" title="Romney to kick off race in Mich. -- Boston Globe" mce_href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/02/13/romney_to_kick_off_race_in_mich?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News">an article about the announcement</a> and the history of the Romney name in politics.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> Romney had nothing to gain by announcing in Massachusetts, other than grabbing some free New Hampshire media time, so it's understandable that he'd fly the coop on this one. The two logical choices remaining would be Michigan, where his father was governer and his last name carries cachet, or Utah, where he can appeal to that state's Mormon population and remind the country that he "saved" the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.<br /><br /><br />Read the rest at the <span style="font-style: italic;">new</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.americanathens.com">American Athens</a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1168375118475740242007-01-09T15:34:00.000-05:002007-01-09T15:38:38.493-05:00The Dangers of Internet Political Quizzes<div style="text-align: justify;">A few years back, when I was a freshman in college, one of the first friends I made was a libertarian. He wasn't a "libertarian when convenient" like so many of our chirping pundits or Republican congresspeople, but a legitimate libertarian with whom I spent hours arguing about whether or not the government should continue to deliver mail, construct and maintain roads and highways or educate children. I'm not speaking merely of the federal government, but any government. His stubbornness and complete adherence to the (what I consider foolish) principles of extreme libertarianism were in a way admirable and fascinating, especially to someone who was struggling with his own political identity, as I was at the time. ...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The rest is at the NEW AND IMPROVED</span> <a href="http://www.americanathens.com">American Athens</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(which doesn't have to deal with Blogger's seven-hour outages) .</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1168023670856627562007-01-05T13:58:00.000-05:002007-01-05T14:01:10.873-05:00Moved<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Posted at the NEW and IMPROVED </i><a href="http://www.americanathens.com">American Athens</a><i> also. Please join the discussion there.</i><br /><br />We’ll be getting back into the swing of more frequent, yet still infrequent, posting in the coming days. Lee is spending some time in Egypt, hopefully trying to avoid causing an international incident, and will return in a couple weeks. Meanwhile, I’ve moved from frat-row in Allston to the greener pastures of West Roxbury/Roslindale (no one is sure exactly where the house is), which is a most welcome if somewhat sweeping change.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I moved just in time to be represented by State Rep. Mike F. Rush at Tuesday’s ConCon. Rep. Rush voted in favor of the Anti-Marriage Equality Amendment, though he did at least also vote in favor of the Health Care Amendment, so I’m not entirely ashamed to admit who represents me on Beacon Hill.<br /><br />I don’t have much more to add, as I’m several days late on this, save to say that democracies don’t put people’s rights up to a vote. Rights aren’t policy, drafted and compromised upon in dusty rooms and voted upon by legislators or the people, they’re the bedrock on which civil societies are built, and without which there is no principled foundation for the government. Indeed, if we decide that rights may be given and taken at the will of government, or even the people themselves, then we cease to be governed by the rule of law. We are rather governed by the whims of demagogues and the tyranny of the majority. I must believe that such a system was not the intention of the founders of this commonwealth, nor this nation. Yet, Tuesday’s vote calls into question whether or not the self-evident truths upon which this nation was founded are, in fact, all that self-evident. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1166801754288359802006-12-22T10:29:00.000-05:002006-12-22T10:35:54.303-05:00Moving<div style="text-align: justify;">So, all of us at American Athens have taken the holiday season off without telling you. We apologize. Between finals, travels, and the holidays, we've not really had time to blog. All that changes on January 2nd. Also changing will be my address (I'll be a homeowner!) and this blog's address. Please stop by and visit the new site at <a href="http://www.americanathens.com">www.americanathens.com</a>.<br /><br />We'll be posting at both sites for the first few weeks of the year, before finally giving up the ghost here. We hope you'll join us in the new year. And if you want to check out the new site, it's up now and has all our old posts there as well. Leave comments on the design on this post at either place. Thanks for stopping by.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1165005579501636812006-12-01T15:10:00.000-05:002006-12-01T15:39:39.633-05:0014,000<div style="text-align: justify;">That's how many people --- men, women and children --- will be <a href="http://www.unaids.org/en/">infected with HIV/AIDS today</a>, which happens to be World AIDS Day. 25 years ago, AIDS was considered a "gay disease", that would never effect those outside of that community. In the intervening years, we have learned the disastrous consequences of that kind of thinking, and the bigotry and callousness that permitted it. Governments and health organizations took no action as the epidemic spread across the country and the world, infecting millions, all with no chance of survival. AIDS remains, with the exception of a wealthy few, a certain death sentence. 40,000,000 people are currently infected with AIDS, all destined to meet their death at its ruthless hands. AIDS reaches across race, gender, nationality, religion and socio-economic status; it doesn't matter who you are.<br /><br />For the 25 million people who have died from AIDS, and the 40 million currently infected with the virus, not to mention their friends and families, take a moment of slence today. Lives have been taken and irrevokably shattered by HIV/AIDS and its consequences. If you have any money to spare during this holiday season, please think about the lives that have been ruined and families torn apart and consider donating to an HIV/AIDS related cause, either for a cure, education, or support. This epidemic will not, contrary to earlier thinking, go away on its own.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1164913471266428452006-11-30T14:02:00.000-05:002006-11-30T14:19:49.066-05:00Things and Other Stuff.<p>Today, I found myself more angry than usual at both the mass media and society in general. So, I decided to post this collection of random thoughts.</p><p>- <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/29/AR2006112901267.html">George Will still sucks</a>.</p><p>-Are there really people who care <a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/6-1-0&amp;fp=456fe4ef816e538b&ei=2RtvRdXPAa7caYC0pe8M&url=http%3A//movies.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1228040.php/Nicole_Kidman_Biggest_female_earner_in_tinseltown&cid=1111594748&sig2=yeKqkADZ4QFRdC9RoD09LQ">who the highest paid actress in Hollywood is?</a> If you do, please stop hurting America, put down the US magazine and go read your kid a book.<br /><br />- I still can't understand why anyone who doesn't watch it, would care about <a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/6-0-0&fp=456fe4ef816e538b&ei=2RtvRdXPAa7caYC0pe8M&url=http%3A//www.forbes.com/business/services/feeds/ap/2006/11/30/ap3216996.html&cid=1111594609&sig2=6fhg44Qof53qKaGkhlQFow">anything that has do to do with daytime TV.</a><br /></p><p>-I can't believe that it is still news when <a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/6-2-0&fp=456fe4ef816e538b&ei=2RtvRdXPAa7caYC0pe8M&url=http%3A//www.edmontonsun.com/Entertainment/Music/2006/11/30/2560575-sun.html&cid=1111575291&sig2=-CbQ32c1dtWqbR66CH5yjA">Snoop Dogg</a> gets arrested for anything, let alone weapons possession. It's F'n Snoop Dogg for Christ's sake.</p><p>-Why are people still shocked when a 6-ton mammal that lives in a pool and is forced to literally jump through hoops every day of their life, <a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/18-0&fp=456fc604938b31d1&ei=mB5vRdPLHsGaaL_ntL8C&url=http%3A//www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16131783.htm&cid=1111596884&sig2=JKP1S6OpTLm23qE6RWEVkg">attacks one of their trainers</a>? This simply <em>is</em> what you get.<br /><br />-The Pope <a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/7-0&fp=456f5defac269339&ei=1SBvRbi8JsaWaJL9ofUM&url=http%3A//www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601085%26sid%3DaHDRbjwufA_o%26refer%3Deurope&cid=1111014808&npp=11-10_H4_MH15_PL20&sig2=43FON6Al95VhXXj3X0dZ_w">called on European Union to ensure that religious freedom is a criterion for membership</a>. But still thinks sexual and reproductive freedom can suck a big dick. Why does anyone still consider the Catholic church leadership legitimate in anyway?</p><p>-What ass-clown, at a school with a generally intelligent student body, thought they could get away with stealing <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,233364,00.html">10,000 newspapers in an attempt to cover up a report on their frat's hazing violations</a> and not get caught? Another question: Do you think they used the same pledges that were hazed to steal the papers? Answer: You know they did.<br /></p><p>"Dude..."</p><br /><p>"What?"</p><br /><p>"I got it. We just get the pledges to take <em>all</em> of the papers that way no one will ever find out."</p><br /><p>"Duuudddeee..."</p>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1164380726352232962006-11-24T09:51:00.000-05:002006-11-24T12:52:50.196-05:00Looks As Though Someone Had Some Dry Turkey Yesterday.<a href="http://www.marclamonthill.com/mlhblog/?p=1484">No Thanks to Thanksgiving</a><br />By Robert Jensen <br /><blockquote>One indication of moral progress in the United States would be the replacement of Thanksgiving Day and its self-indulgent family feasting with a National Day of Atonement accompanied by a self-reflective collective fasting.<br /><br />In fact, indigenous people have offered such a model; since 1970 they have marked the fourth Thursday of November as a Day of Mourning in a spiritual/political ceremony on Coles Hill overlooking Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, one of the early sites of the European invasion of the Americas.<br /><br />Not only is the thought of such a change in this white-supremacist holiday impossible to imagine, but the very mention of the idea sends most Americans into apoplectic fits — which speaks volumes about our historical hypocrisy and its relation to the contemporary politics of empire in the United States.<br /><br />That the world’s great powers achieved “greatness” through criminal brutality on a grand scale is not news, of course. That those same societies are reluctant to highlight this history of barbarism also is predictable.<br /><br />But in the United States, this reluctance to acknowledge our original sin — the genocide of indigenous people — is of special importance today. It’s now routine — even among conservative commentators — to describe the United States as an empire, so long as everyone understands we are an inherently benevolent one. Because all our history contradicts that claim, history must be twisted and tortured to serve the purposes of the powerful.</blockquote> <br />Wow. While I recognize Thanksgiving has taken on an entirely different meaning for many people, in the same way the non-secular holidays have, i.e. being with and celebrating family and friends, giving thanks for all that we have and are afforded, etc. I also believe that taking time on Thanksgiving to pause and atone for our past sins as a people, is a very important idea to keep with us. After all, a whole lot of genocide put that big deformed turkey (who is unable to naturally reproduce) on our plates yesterday.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1210/2008/1600/578411/cartoon.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1210/2008/400/643435/cartoon.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1164120375830561722006-11-21T09:43:00.000-05:002006-11-21T09:46:15.846-05:00Get Thee To Sco'sTo see <a href="http://point08.blogspot.com/2006/11/picture-of-day.html">the awesome picture he found from Sunday's Homophobia Rally</a>. And, no, the optical illusion isn't that the Governor is actually in Massachusetts, but that's a good first guess.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1164070611978343902006-11-20T19:50:00.000-05:002006-11-20T19:56:52.000-05:00The Department of Energy Takes Their Good Sweet TimeFrom <a href="http://www.wamc.org/comberle.html">WAMC's Peter A. A. Berle</a>:<blockquote>The Bush administration has given the concept of incompetence a whole new dimension. We are reminded almost daily of its biggest blunders, the conduct of the war in Iraq and the response to hurricane Katrina. Those capture the headlines and fester like sores sapping our blood and treasure. But there are less dramatic and less complicated instances in which the nation's business is not getting done. Recently one was addressed by a federal judge in the Southern District of New York who issued a consent decree requiring the Department of Energy to set new efficiency standards for about two dozen commercial and residential appliances as required by law.<br /><br />Since the beginning of the second Reagan administration more than twenty years ago, rules have been on the books requiring appliances to meet specific efficiency standards. The law requires the Department of Energy to set new stricter standards periodically so future generations of air conditioners, furnaces, clothes dryers and similar gadgets use less energy than the old machines they replace. The trouble is the Department of Energy has not done so. As a result the Natural Resources Defense Council a national environmental organization, two low-income consumer groups, the City of New York and 15 States joined in a lawsuit to force the Department of Energy to do what it was supposed to. The litigants pointed out that for one appliance category the new standard was 13 years overdue. The law suit has just concluded with a court order specifying that amended standards covering a host of products from room air conditioners to home furnaces be adopted on a schedule which extends from 2007 to the year 2011.<br /><br />Using less electricity, gas, and fuel oil to maintain our lifestyle seems like such a no-brainer it is hard to fathom why the Department of Energy has not acted. The wars in the Middle East, public health, dependence on foreign oil, air pollution and global warming are all exacerbated by our consumption of fossil fuel generated electricity which has been increasing at a steady pace for decades. The plaintiffs who brought the lawsuit allege that new standards will save enough energy to power 12 million households and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 103 million metric tons a year.<br /><br />Industry response to the Department of Energy's lethargy is noteworthy. The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association and the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute joined with the plaintiffs to get the Department of Energy to set new standards as the law requires. Intervening on the opposite side in defense of DOE's recalcitrance was the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers which has opposed appliance efficiency standards over the years with the same tenacity that the auto manufacturers have opposed fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles. Fortunately at least some industry groups see conservation as a worthwhile strategy. I am sure that market opportunities for selling new model machines that use less fuel and are cheaper to operate influence corporate decision making.<br /><br />Using energy more efficiently has got to be a major component of a national energy policy. The fact that it takes a court order to require the Department of Energy to set appliance standards as required by law reflects how flawed the Bush Administration's approach to energy policy is. In the meantime, wearing damp clothes and living in the dark for the next several years may be something the energy conscious consumer can do. The Court order requires Final Rules covering efficiency standards for clothes dryers and fluorescent lamp ballasts be published on June 30 2011.</blockquote>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1163773851270137132006-11-17T09:22:00.000-05:002006-11-17T13:16:57.993-05:00It Friday! Here's This Week's: "Things I Found on The Internet."If you have yet to hear about this: Tuesday night, a (Muslim) <a href="http://dailybruin.com/news/articles.asp?id=38958">UCLA student was tasered for not having his ID in the library</a>. It seems as though UCLA is planning to continue with their <a href="http://www.today.ucla.edu/2006/060509voice_admissions.html">recent track record</a> on race relations. <br /><br />The video of the actual incident is <a href="http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=14fcr1">here.</a><br /><br />An update on my boys at <a href="http://www.hitch50.com/">Hitch50</a>. They have hitchhiked to 43 state capitals in 39 days!! If you are in any of those other states, give them a call to say what's up.<br /><br /><a href="http://pods.swedesforobama.com/nov06.html#061112_2">Odds on the 2008 election.</a><br /><br />I'm sorry, but if you <a href="http://search.ebay.com/sony-playstation-3_W0QQfromZR40">buy a Sony Playstation 3 on the internet</a> for $2000.00 or more, you are an asshole.<br /><br />Maddox from The Greatest Page in the Universe has <a href="http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=sony_bullshit">some thoughts about Sony</a>.<br /><br />An amazing young artist, <a href="http://www.omen8.com/">Omen8's work</a> is worth checking out. <br /><br />Kim Jong Il is looking for bands to rock out in Pyongyang this coming March. Visit the <a href="http://www.voiceofkorea.org/">Voice of Korea</a> for more details.<br /><br />A review of <a href="http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Rick_Santorum.htm">Rick Santorum's voting record</a>. In all seriousness, I've deceided that Santorum losing last week was the best thing to happen to America in the 5 years since 9/11.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1210/2008/1600/ethics.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1210/2008/320/ethics.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1163692221142167622006-11-16T10:31:00.000-05:002006-11-16T10:50:21.910-05:00House Leadership Set?CNN reported a few minutes ago that Rep. Nancy Pelosi, every conservative's favorite straw-liberal, had indeed been unanimously selected by her caucus to become Speaker of the House. I am quite happy with the news, because despite the Right's attempts to turn her into the Liberal bogey(wo)man of their nightmares, she seems a good choice. Her <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100600056.html">First 100 Hours plan</a> is precisely what the Democrats need to get off on the ground running and to show the American people that they are serious about returning the Congress to responsible and respectable governance:<blockquote>Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."<br /><br />Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.<br /><br />Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.</blockquote>Will all of that get done? Probably not. Will they try? Hopefully. Is trying better than what we've seen in the House for the last six years? Yes. And it's a plan to set this country back on the path of economic and social progress from which we've deviated under the Bush Administration and his Rubber Stamp Congress.<br /><br />Also in House Leadership news, Hotline on Call is reporting that <a href="http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/11/dem_leadership_2.html">Rep. John Murtha has conceded in the race for House Majority Leader</a>, acknowledging that his bid will fall short to Rep. Steny Hoyer's. I'm not a huge fan of Hoyer, and I did enjoy seeing Murtha come out so forcefully and knowledgeably against the Iraq war, but given the campaign the Democrats ran nationally, Murtha would be a foolish choice to ascend to a leadership position. Murtha is known as a master of getting pork to his district and is an earmark specialist. He was also<a href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001993.php"> caught up in the ABSCAM sting of the early eighties</a>, though he was never charged. After running against pork-laden, corrupt Republicans, I think it would have been a bad idea for Democrats to elevate anyone with those taints to a position as high profile as Majority Leader.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1163690707729228962006-11-16T10:04:00.000-05:002006-11-16T10:25:08.250-05:00John Kerry Not Picked To Be Kickball Captain...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1210/2008/1600/botchedjokeuk4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1210/2008/320/botchedjokeuk4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>This came in yesterday from the <a href="http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061115-012201-2794r">UPI</a>:<br /><blockquote>U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer appeared to kick Sen. John Kerry out of a Democratic leadership walk in Washington, a reporter who witnessed the event said.<br /><br />An ABC News reporter said the incident occurred Tuesday outside of the Old Senate Chamber as members of the new Democratic leadership, of which Kerry is not a part, left the chamber en route to the Ohio Clock Corridor to discuss leadership elections, the incoming majority's agenda and Iraq.<br /><br />The ABC reporter said Kerry left the room behind Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.; Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Caucus Secretary Patty Murray, D-Wash.; and Caucus Vice-Chair Schumer, D-N.Y. However, when Schumer noticed Kerry, D-N.Y., walking behind him, he turned and said something to the Massachusetts senator that caused him to stop.<br /><br />Kerry waited for the Democratic leaders to walk ahead and then ducked between two statues. The ABC reporter speculated that Schumer may have told Kerry to stay clear of the leadership shot.</blockquote><br />So, it looks like that "joke" did sink the kite surfer's ship for 08'. I suppose this post could also be called: The Least Surprising Thing Chuck Schumer Has Done Recently. Does this mean anything for Massachusetts? And what are Ted's thoughts on the matter? Aside from, "Damn I look <a href="http://tedkennedy.com/sync/images/222.jpg">good</a>."<br /><br />Also, anyone hear anything else about Obama's supposed shady land deal? I heard <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6495810">this little snippet</a> on NPR this morning and am at a loss to find anyting else. <br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/">Power Line</a> for the image.lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1163520465837509502006-11-14T10:56:00.000-05:002006-11-15T10:04:43.966-05:00Why Do Many Conservatives/Republicans Believe That We Love Terrorists?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1210/2008/1600/content.todayscartoons.uclick.com.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1210/2008/320/content.todayscartoons.uclick.com.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I stumbled by <a href="http://www.lincolnnewsmessenger.com/articles/2006/10/19/opinion/letters/07demise.txt">this opinion letter </a>from the <a href="http://www.lincolnnewsmessenger.com">Lincoln News Messenger</a> out of Lincoln, CA, recently and was once again amazed at the opinion of the Democratic Party/Liberalism in some corners of this country. This is not an isolated letter. This is the opinion of many people in this country, and if we are ever going to bring this country back to where it belongs, we need to work to make these ideas obsolete and bring people back to the table.<br /><br />Here is the full letter with my comments interwoven:<br /><blockquote>It seems all lackeys for the Democratic party have been instructed to pour venom into newspaper Letters to the Editor. I'm not a lackey for anybody. I'm a citizen who deplores what liberal Democrats are doing to destroy America. America is in a moral value free fall.<br /><br />What will you get if you vote Democratic?<br /><br />You'll get higher taxes. You'll pay more income tax, sales tax, estate inheritance tax, property tax, school tax, car license plates and driver's license fees, to name a few. Democrats love high taxes. </blockquote>You're right, we probably will have to raise taxes, not because we like them, as much as we believe in the things they afford. We also have to raise them because of the spend crazy President, his tax cuts for Bill Gates and Shaquille O'Neil and for pork projects like Ted Stevens "Bridge to Nowhere."<br /><br />When did taxes become the end of the world? Do you like schools and roads? I know I do. Well, taxes pay for them. Can you imagine what would happen if we privatized the roads? There would be a beautiful Chanselise in and out of Beacon Hill and the Ho Chi Minh trail in and out of Roxbury.<br /><blockquote>What about terrorism? Liberal Democrats will give away more intelligence secrets to aid and abet our enemies as they have. Watch liberals surrender to "pacifism" as did England's Neville Chamber-lain before World War II. Watch liberals kiss up to USA haters in the world. Liberals will do away with The Patriot Act, prevent tracing bank accounts of terrorist organizations, prevent profiling, prevent listening to terrorists' phone calls and demand prisoners are treated kindly (like terrorists treat Christians and Jews)!</blockquote>This is a big misconception that we as liberals need to fight our way out of. When did we become the ones who like terrorism? That is just crazy. All but one Rep voted in favor of the war in Afghanistan. No one supports anyone who wants to kill them. How many liberals do you know that think we should "give away intelligence secrets?" Do you know anyone who wants us to be attacked? This crap has got to stop and we are the ones who need to stand up to those calling us soft on terror and tell them it is a load of crap. Oh, and for the record, Chamberlain was a conservative.<br /><blockquote>You'll witness a bigger push toward homosexual marriage, more teaching your kids about homosexuality. Forget the ABCs.</blockquote>That's it kids! Screw fractions today! We are going to hear a sermon from Rev. Ted Haggard and watch Madonna videos all afternoon. C'mon.<br /><br /><blockquote>Watch for a dumbing down of students, allowing every kid to graduate with a diploma from high school regardless of their learning skills or desire to study. You'll see less talented teachers hold teaching positions in exchange for union membership and votes for liberal candidates. </blockquote>O.K. first of all, they are getting to the point of graduating without skills because somebody cut school funding. And secondly, why would we blame students for failing schools? Isn't that like blaming ground soldiers for losing a war? Also, that whole thing about less talented teachers holding positions in exchange for liberal votes, is just plan conspiracy theory crazy, maybe we can call in Michael Moore on that one.<br /><br /><blockquote>Think Hollywood is bad now? Just wait until liberal Hollywood produces more violence and garbage on TV and in movies. And watch for filthier magazines. </blockquote>Since when are there conservative Hollywood producers? Aren't we the one's who want to ban violence on TV, and you are the ones who want to ban sex? Also, there are already filthier magazines than you could ever imagine behind those black shields at the 7-11. What we need people to realize is that US magazine is causing way more damage to our society than Hustler and Anal Adventures ever could.<br /><blockquote>Watch the medical profession become subservient to socialized medicine.</blockquote> This too is a big one. To quote <a href="http://news.monstersandcritics.com/health/article_1212296.php/Book_defends_U.S._health_system">Olga Pierce at UPI</a>: "As a nation, the United States spends far more for healthcare than other developed nations. Americans spend an average of $6,102 per person while in Canada -- the nation with the second highest level of spending -- the average spending is $3,165 per person. In the World Health Organization`s ranking of the health systems of its 191 member countries, the United States is ranked 37th, in the neighborhood of countries like Cuba and Slovenia."<br /><blockquote>Observe liberal Democrats socializing wealth, spreading your earnings among those unwilling to earn their own way. Capitalism will become a thing of the past.<br /><br />Think immigration is bad now? Wait until liberals open the floodgates to immigrants in exchange for their votes. Being a citizen of the USA will become meaningless. You'll pay more of your earnings to support illegal and legal immigrants.<br /><br />Think of Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco liberal extremist, as speaker of the House, a liberal Senate, Hillary Clinton and her morally bankrupt husband returning to the White House in 2008.<br /><br />Imagine more lax abortions laws, repeal of partial birth abortion, drug laws knocked down, criminals including pedophiles, receiving sympathy from liberal judges who pity criminals, not their victims.</blockquote><br />I think we get the picture? It just gets too overwhelming---I, as well as most of A-A's readers and contributors could go on-and-on and could easily make our own list about what would happen if the Republicans had won on Nov 7th. This however, is not what America needs right now. I know that I am as much a perpetrator of this type of negative stereotyping against Republicans as anyone, and it has to stop. We need a new game plan. We need to start sending a strong message about what we believe and we need to make it clear. When the other side tries to contort it, we need to make it clear again. We are at a crossroads coming up to 08', and rather than stall Bush's policies for 2 years, we must search out that compromise, that middle ground, and bring people back to that table to make this country better for the Americans who really need it. Any ideas?lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1163430592715047852006-11-13T09:54:00.000-05:002006-11-13T16:17:05.676-05:00Lieberman Reminds World He's No Longer a DemocratThis morning's <i>Globe</i> contains an AP article in which Sen. Joe Lieberman says that he will begin the session caucusing with the Democrats,<a href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/11/13/lieberman_wont_rule_out_gop_caucusing/"> but "won't be ruling out" switching allegiances</a>. He will be "beholden to no political group except the people of Connecticut and, of course, my conscience." With the Senate at 51-49, and Sen. Lieberman playing footsie with both sides of the aisle these days, I'd say that Connecticut will probably come out on top, along with Nebraska (Sen. Ben Nelson), in terms of pork delivered. In an analogy that, quite frankly, works fairly well, Sen. Lieberman is now "the Prettiest Girl in the Senate" <a href="http://dodgyatbest.blogspot.com/2006/11/joe-mentum-prettiest-girl-ln-room.html">or</a>:<blockquote>He is like the #1 high school football recruit, and 2 schools are trying to woo him. Except imagine that there are absolutely no recruting rules or regulations whatsoever. Money, hookers, coke, you name it is on offer. No matter what happens dude is getting some serious power and CT is getting some serious pork. A remarkable change of events for Ol' Joe.</blockquote>Now, I don't actually think money, hookers or coke are up Joe's particular alley, I'm sure some things are and the leadership of both parties is going to find out what those things are. Basically, Joe won't be beholden to anything but his consience but the US Senate will be beholden to Joe.<br /><br />UPDATE: Links fixed (I think), thanks Ryan.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1163277771570551912006-11-11T15:35:00.000-05:002006-11-11T15:42:51.660-05:00Veterans DayI have no eloquence to bring to this day, no long posts remarking on the great sacrifices and great victories wrought from the men and women of our armed forces. Nothing I could write would encompass the immense debt we owe to all those who have served our country. They are heroes not just in the battles they fight, nor the service they render, nor even the victories they have won. They are heroes because they choose the life of their country over their own lives. Our armed forces deserve the utmost in respect and honor, as they do an often thankless job with often the most selfless intentions. Our gratitude cannot be expressed deeply enough. Our support can not be broad enough. And, so, on this day, I simply say, as words escape me: <br /><br />Thank you for serving. God bless you and God bring you home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1163188278226964072006-11-10T14:34:00.000-05:002006-11-10T14:51:18.996-05:00Romney Again Vetoes SpendingOur esteemed executive has taken the opportunity, while spending a few hours actually in the commonwealth he was elected to govern, to ... well ... govern, kind of. In what has become something of a ritual, <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2006/11/romney_circumve.html">Willard has picked up his pen and overruled the Legislature again, freezing state spending</a>. This move comes after the Leg had already over-ridden his vetoes of this same spending months ago. Granted, the money is meant to come from the state's Rainy Day Fund, and that might not be a great idea, but the money would be going to fund health care and education initiatives. <br /><br />I'm of the mind that we're not taxed highly enough in this country or in this state and that our government should be providing more services than it does presently. I realize that this puts me at odds with many people, including many of my friends and most of my family. I don't think the government should be the <i>only</i> provider of those services, but that it should offer some baseline of support for those who need it or choose it. Government spending generally is not the problem, in my mind, but rather the efficiency with which the government spends and what the government is spending its money on. In this case, the government is attempting to fund crucial health care and educational programs, and Romney is blocking those attempts. Basically, the guv wants our commonwealth to be filled with stupid, sick children ... but what does he care, he's not around anyway. How long until Deval Patrick takes office again?<br /><br />And, yes, I'm a big-government, tax-and-spend liberal. I'm not going to apologize.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1163084567159315232006-11-09T09:40:00.000-05:002006-11-09T10:50:21.310-05:00Not So Fast Liberal America...Remember Gay Marriage?While Tuesday was a huge win for Democratic America is was not so much for liberal America. While it may be great that he can't fall off again for a while, humpty did fall off the wall, and putting him back together again is going to be <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> difficult. The Democrats may have taken control of one of the three branches of government, we still have a lot of work to do in bringing this country into the 21st century, and the outlook for that is not too good.<br /><br />Remember gay marriage/rights? I know, you too forgot about it when you were cheering for Pro-Life Bob Casey is his defeat Rick Santorum. The bad news is that one largest civil rights issues of our time just took another large step backward on Tuesday. According to the New York Times:<br /><blockquote>Just because progressives came up with a turnout-driving alternative on the left doesn't mean the gay marriage issue disappeared as an Election Day option on the right. In fact, voters in seven states approved constitutional amendments to bar same-sex marriage. Those states - Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin; bring to 23 the number of states that have written provisions limiting marriage to a union between a man and a woman into their state constitutions, according to the Initiative and Referendum Institute.<br /><br /></blockquote>This is a very telling sign and will be the start of something much larger, if we do not put a stop to homophobia and ignorance at the ground level, starting now. I'm going to assume that you don't tolerate racism and racial slurs in your everyday life? Then why do we let homophobia slide by? Why do we have to tolerate bigotry, if it comes out of someone's religion? If I were to say that interracial marriage was against my religion, you would call me a racist, and you would be right. Then why is it more tolerable to be against marriage on the basis of sex? Bigotry is bigotry no matter how you slice it and it should not be tolerated by anyone, let alone someone who claims to believe in democratic ideals.<br /><br />I can’t stress enough that Democrats from left to right need to take this issue on as a civil rights issue before it’s too late. If these religious ideologues can tell us the sex of the person we can marry, why not the religion? Or the race. It really is time to stop pussy footing around people who are against this issue for any reason and call them out. Civil rights are not just a legal issues, but issues of consciousness, and changing belief and thought is much more difficult than changing law. We need to challenge these backward ideas and we need to start now, in our communities, our schools and our workplaces.<br /><br />The good news is that you can start at today's Constitutional Convention at the Massachusetts State House. According to <a href="http://takemassaction.blogspot.com/2006/11/come-to-state-house-today.html">TakeMassAction: </a><br /><blockquote>Show up at the State House anytime you can but the earlier the better. We expect to be greatly out-numbered by our anti-gay opponents. They are busing people in from all over the state and even from other states. The outcome of today's vote is uncertain. We need everyone who cares about equality to be at the State House. Gay or straight - if you care, be there. We cannot expect to be granted our rights, we need to fight for them. No social justice movement in history has had their rights handed to them. It takes all of us together to make change. You have an opportunity to impact the future of LGBT rights in this country. Do something. Show up. I will see you there.</blockquote><br />I don't even want to get into the fact that the people preaching for states' rights on the abortion issue are the same ones busing people to events in other states to protest...Anyway, here's your chance, I'll be down there on my lunch break, say hi if you see me.lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1162962839638334072006-11-07T23:59:00.000-05:002006-11-08T00:13:59.773-05:00Goodnight and Good LuckTonight was a great night for Massachusetts and the country. We've got a governor who respects his constituents and who has a positive agenda to move the state forward. We've returned a mostly progressive Congressional delegation to Washington. And they'll return to a House of Representatives in which they'll be part of the majority, which hopefully means that we'll begin to see some of the changes the country is clamoring for. The Senate is looking less-likely to fall into Democratic hands. It's 48-48 right now, with Tennessee, Virginia, Missouri and Montana up for grabs. Allen and Webb are in a race tight enough to likely warrant a week's worth of recounts. Harold Ford is behind 60 thousand with 88 percent in. Tester's leading in the early going and seems poised to pull it off in Montana. I don't know which half of Missouri is left at this point, but Claire McCaskill is down six to Jim Talent and it seems unlikely that she'll unseat the incumbent. I'm not giving up hope, but it's feeling like a long shot at this point to take three of those four (a 50-50 just leaves it to Cheney), and that's relying on Lieberman to vote with Democrats, which is certainly not a given. <br /><br />But, hey, this was a good night. We should be proud of what we've accomplished so far, even if the work's only just started. But that's a post for another day. Tonight, let's just be thankful that we can voice differing opinions on every subject and change our government without fear. There may be a lot wrong with this country, but there's certainly more right with it. Tonight, let's concentrate on the latter. Tomorrow we fix what's wrong. Cheers and thanks for stopping by tonight.<br /><br />P.S. In Virginia, Allen leads Webb by 1800 votes out of a total of 2.3 million ballots cast for the election. That's .7% difference with 99% of precincts reporting. If I don't fall asleep in the next ten minutes I might update it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20242754.post-1162957760111197182006-11-07T22:19:00.000-05:002006-11-07T22:51:35.246-05:00And that was the last we ever heard of Kerry Healey...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1210/2008/1600/BM_healey.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1210/2008/400/BM_healey.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />AHHHH!!! Oh sorry, I'm glad I'll never have to get used to seeing that. Bye Bye Kerry Healey. It looks like you are no better at winning the state, then you were at winning the Essex 6th...Goodbye to your administration that pushed our state back 15 years. Goodbye to your lies, your culture of hate and your xenophobic fear mongering. We don't want you in charge of anything anymore and a good chunk of us are glad to see you go. May you go the way of Evelyn Murphy, Teve Torbs and Color Me Badd. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Fast Forward 20 years: </span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Guy #1: </span>Who was that woman we had as Lt. Governor under that Mormon guy who lost in the '08 primary? <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Guy #2: </span>I think her name was Evelyn Healey? Yeah, something like that.lecollyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545469951533393942noreply@blogger.com3