January 25, 2010
03:04 pm
How to get a graphic designer drunk
When you see the swoosh, take a drink!
This is the result of a single Google search for "logo" on my lunch hour. I'm flabbergasted.
When you see the swoosh, take a drink!
This is the result of a single Google search for "logo" on my lunch hour. I'm flabbergasted.
posted by Gene Cowan | category The War with the Customer
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10:46 am
Tales of Stupidity
On Thursday night, the warnings blared on my dashboard: Tire Pressure Too Low!
I swung into the gas station to check it out. Crouched in the dark, I checked the pressure, down to about 25psi. Feeding 4 quarters into the air machine got me something like 2 minutes of air, but it didn't seem to really make any difference. I slowly drove the remaining 3 blocks home. Since I was off to LA for the weekend, I figured I'd just obsess about it for the next 3 days and deal with it on Monday.
This morning. Once again, crouched by the side of my car using up all my quarters to inflate the tires. 10 minutes went by. Then 20 minutes. My hand was cramping from holding the air hose and my ankles were buckling. Every time I checked the pressure, no change. In fact, it seemed like the pressure was getting lower. There had to be a leak. This, I thought, is going to be a long, bad day dealing with car dealers and roadside maintenance and the like.
Hmm.
What is this lever on the air hose? I pressed it.
Oh. Air is now flowing into the tire...
For the last 20 minutes I have been holding the air hose to the tire, and bleeding the air out of the tire.
Duh.
On Thursday night, the warnings blared on my dashboard: Tire Pressure Too Low!
I swung into the gas station to check it out. Crouched in the dark, I checked the pressure, down to about 25psi. Feeding 4 quarters into the air machine got me something like 2 minutes of air, but it didn't seem to really make any difference. I slowly drove the remaining 3 blocks home. Since I was off to LA for the weekend, I figured I'd just obsess about it for the next 3 days and deal with it on Monday.
This morning. Once again, crouched by the side of my car using up all my quarters to inflate the tires. 10 minutes went by. Then 20 minutes. My hand was cramping from holding the air hose and my ankles were buckling. Every time I checked the pressure, no change. In fact, it seemed like the pressure was getting lower. There had to be a leak. This, I thought, is going to be a long, bad day dealing with car dealers and roadside maintenance and the like.
Hmm.
What is this lever on the air hose? I pressed it.
Oh. Air is now flowing into the tire...
For the last 20 minutes I have been holding the air hose to the tire, and bleeding the air out of the tire.
Duh.
posted by Gene Cowan | category Life... Don't talk to me about life.
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January 21, 2010
03:50 pm
Scenes from a courtroom
A little excerpt from the Proposition 8 trial currently going on in California, featuring Prop 8 supporter William Tam:
A little excerpt from the Proposition 8 trial currently going on in California, featuring Prop 8 supporter William Tam:
Boies pointed to a position from Prop. 8 supporters that gays were 12 times more likely to molest children, a fact Tam said he believes.
Where'd you learn that? Boies asked. I don't recall, Tam replied.
"I'm asking you what you read?" Boies asked, voice rising, wanting to know how that could be put out to support Prop. 8.
"I don't remember," Tam said. "Was it a book?" Boies kept on. "An article?" he asked. "Who wrote it?"
"I don't know," Tam said.
Boies continued to press on messages from gay marriage opponents that Tam endorsed, including the fact that San Francisco government was "run by homosexuals." How could that be, the mayor isn't homosexual, is he? Boies asked. Tam agreed. Boies asked why he pushed Prop. 8 by saying same-sex marriage would result in legalizing prostitution.
"That didn't have anything to do with Proposition 8, did it sir?" Boies asked.
"Right," Tam said.
... asked whether he considers himself "hostile to gays and lesbians," Tam replied: "No, I don't."
posted by Gene Cowan | category Right = Wrong
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January 09, 2010
08:30 am
Anatomy of an Earthquake
The 4.1 Milpitas earthquake that hit here on Thursday was a small affair — like all quakes, when it first starts you kind of freeze in place and wait to see what happens next. How big will it get? Is there a huge shock coming in a second? How long will it last? Thursday's was a reminder of earthquake reality but not all that exciting. Still, any earthquake is interesting to me and sets me off surfing the USGS website.
About 24 hours later, we had a second quake, a slightly smaller aftershock. It literally hit while I was on the USGS site, looking at aftershock information. I was amazed to see how many aftershocks there had been — and how many foreshocks there had been the days before.
As of this morning, here is a list of the earthquakes that have occurred in the same general spot:
The 4.1 Milpitas earthquake that hit here on Thursday was a small affair — like all quakes, when it first starts you kind of freeze in place and wait to see what happens next. How big will it get? Is there a huge shock coming in a second? How long will it last? Thursday's was a reminder of earthquake reality but not all that exciting. Still, any earthquake is interesting to me and sets me off surfing the USGS website.
About 24 hours later, we had a second quake, a slightly smaller aftershock. It literally hit while I was on the USGS site, looking at aftershock information. I was amazed to see how many aftershocks there had been — and how many foreshocks there had been the days before.
As of this morning, here is a list of the earthquakes that have occurred in the same general spot:
MAG DATE LOCAL-TIME LAT LON DEPTH LOCATION
y/m/d h:m:s deg deg km
2.5 2010/01/09 04:41:11 37.475N 121.793W 7.9 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.0 2010/01/09 03:42:41 37.479N 121.803W 7.9 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.3 2010/01/09 03:34:59 37.476N 121.792W 7.4 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
2.5 2010/01/09 03:24:41 37.476N 121.793W 7.8 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
2.3 2010/01/09 01:11:54 37.473N 121.802W 7.6 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.0 2010/01/08 23:10:44 37.476N 121.793W 8.6 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.5 2010/01/08 19:30:54 37.477N 121.792W 7.1 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.2 2010/01/08 17:31:16 37.481N 121.798W 7.3 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.5 2010/01/08 16:36:09 37.474N 121.794W 8.4 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.9 2010/01/08 15:36:41 37.483N 121.791W 7.5 11 km ( 7 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.3 2010/01/08 15:17:06 37.482N 121.798W 7.2 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.6 2010/01/08 14:31:52 37.480N 121.797W 7.0 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
2.1 2010/01/08 13:58:48 37.477N 121.798W 6.8 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.4 2010/01/08 13:55:55 37.480N 121.790W 7.4 11 km ( 7 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
3.7 2010/01/08 11:48:50 37.482N 121.793W 9.6 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.2 2010/01/08 11:12:28 37.476N 121.792W 8.1 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.7 2010/01/08 08:05:59 37.474N 121.802W 7.9 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.5 2010/01/08 06:07:03 37.474N 121.800W 7.6 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.2 2010/01/08 03:52:25 37.476N 121.796W 6.9 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.9 2010/01/08 03:29:30 37.471N 121.800W 8.0 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.8 2010/01/08 03:25:27 37.471N 121.798W 7.1 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.8 2010/01/08 02:21:15 37.477N 121.793W 8.1 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.0 2010/01/07 23:20:25 37.469N 121.777W 5.5 11 km ( 7 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.1 2010/01/07 21:09:36 37.476N 121.798W 7.6 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.2 2010/01/07 19:53:16 37.475N 121.801W 7.9 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
2.2 2010/01/07 17:22:12 37.476N 121.791W 7.9 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.8 2010/01/07 16:41:56 37.476N 121.802W 8.5 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.4 2010/01/07 16:21:08 37.475N 121.802W 8.2 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.7 2010/01/07 16:00:45 37.476N 121.794W 8.4 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
2.1 2010/01/07 15:52:06 37.476N 121.804W 8.7 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.8 2010/01/07 15:37:59 37.474N 121.801W 7.9 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.8 2010/01/07 15:02:03 37.475N 121.793W 8.6 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.9 2010/01/07 14:31:00 37.477N 121.794W 7.8 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.9 2010/01/07 14:17:40 37.475N 121.795W 8.3 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.5 2010/01/07 13:56:52 37.478N 121.793W 8.3 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.8 2010/01/07 13:46:40 37.475N 121.797W 7.9 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.9 2010/01/07 12:34:55 37.476N 121.797W 8.4 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.6 2010/01/07 12:33:37 37.477N 121.795W 8.1 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.7 2010/01/07 12:21:04 37.474N 121.790W 8.4 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.7 2010/01/07 12:16:10 37.475N 121.794W 8.6 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.0 2010/01/07 12:09:07 37.474N 121.801W 7.9 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.8 2010/01/07 11:39:21 37.477N 121.801W 8.0 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.3 2010/01/07 11:36:38 37.478N 121.800W 8.4 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.3 2010/01/07 11:34:06 37.474N 121.800W 8.0 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.9 2010/01/07 11:05:13 37.475N 121.794W 8.9 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
2.2 2010/01/07 10:54:42 37.476N 121.795W 8.2 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
2.2 2010/01/07 10:36:46 37.475N 121.799W 8.0 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.4 2010/01/07 10:34:48 37.478N 121.798W 7.9 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.5 2010/01/07 10:24:10 37.475N 121.803W 8.2 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.5 2010/01/07 10:22:49 37.473N 121.800W 8.4 9 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.5 2010/01/07 10:19:26 37.476N 121.794W 7.9 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
4.1 2010/01/07 10:09:35 37.481N 121.799W 11.0 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
0.9 2010/01/06 04:55:45 37.476N 121.798W 8.3 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.3 2010/01/06 04:45:31 37.474N 121.798W 8.2 10 km ( 6 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
1.2 2010/01/05 20:01:19 37.462N 121.819W 7.3 7 km ( 5 mi) ENE of Milpitas, CA
posted by Gene Cowan | category Life... Don't talk to me about life.
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January 08, 2010
01:09 pm
Good to know it’s not Lex Luthor this time
Actual headline on MercuryNews.com:
I'm sure it was also organic.
Actual headline on MercuryNews.com:
Thursday's quake: 'Natural' occurrence
I'm sure it was also organic.
posted by Gene Cowan | category General Annoyances
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January 03, 2010
02:39 pm
Bing? Bong.
Seriously?
Bing has never heard of Disneyland?
Wow.
Seriously?
Bing has never heard of Disneyland?
Wow.
posted by Gene Cowan | category The War with the Customer
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December 24, 2009
09:12 am
Ahead of my time
Hey, remember when I was 13 and watching every scrap of Dr. Who I could manage to find? Back in the days when we in America were watching episodes that were already years old by the time they aired on PBS? Or we watched flickery videotapes made by pointing an American video camera at a UK television screen?
Times have certainly changed. Tomorrow's Dr Who special in the UK will air in America the very next day. And for those who don't want to wait, the internet erases time and space.
Not only that, but when BBC America aired the last Dr Who special, it garnered the highest ratings ever for that channel. As a result:
Hey, it only took 46 years, but things are looking up for the erstwhile Doctor.
Hey, remember when I was 13 and watching every scrap of Dr. Who I could manage to find? Back in the days when we in America were watching episodes that were already years old by the time they aired on PBS? Or we watched flickery videotapes made by pointing an American video camera at a UK television screen?
Times have certainly changed. Tomorrow's Dr Who special in the UK will air in America the very next day. And for those who don't want to wait, the internet erases time and space.
Not only that, but when BBC America aired the last Dr Who special, it garnered the highest ratings ever for that channel. As a result:
Following its ratings success with The Waters of Mars, BBC America is broadcasting nothing but Doctor Who for the first 46 hours of 2010. Almost the entire run of David Tennant episodes will be shown starting with the Christmas Invasion at midnight New Years Day and going right through to the End of Time Part Two ending at 10pm on 2nd January.
Hey, it only took 46 years, but things are looking up for the erstwhile Doctor.
December 21, 2009
04:01 pm
That’s why we get our dog food from China
The Senate defeated yet another attempt to allow Americans to import less expensive prescription drugs from other countries. I don't think there is a clearer example of the way big corporations run our government than this.
Problem: prescription drugs are too expensive in the United States when compared to the pricing in other countries.
Solution: let people buy them from other countries?! Huh? Wouldn't you think the solution would be to tell pharmaceutical companies - which are among the most profitable businesses in the world - to lower their prices?
The Senate defeated yet another attempt to allow Americans to import less expensive prescription drugs from other countries. I don't think there is a clearer example of the way big corporations run our government than this.
Problem: prescription drugs are too expensive in the United States when compared to the pricing in other countries.
Solution: let people buy them from other countries?! Huh? Wouldn't you think the solution would be to tell pharmaceutical companies - which are among the most profitable businesses in the world - to lower their prices?
posted by Gene Cowan | category Right = Wrong
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December 16, 2009
01:30 pm
Hair Today
As I sat waiting at Supercuts, I couldn't help noticing the 4 guys in line before me. They all had short hair — one had a crewcut.
Seriously.
There I sat, with flyaway stringy hair about 4 inches too long, an emergency if ever I saw one, and I was behind a bunch of guys who could have waited another month before a trim.
Where's the triage?
Don't you think that they should take people according to need? I mean, I had a serious hair emergency this morning, and I had to wait behind the coiffure equivalent of scrapes and bruises.
Cripes.
As I sat waiting at Supercuts, I couldn't help noticing the 4 guys in line before me. They all had short hair — one had a crewcut.
Seriously.
There I sat, with flyaway stringy hair about 4 inches too long, an emergency if ever I saw one, and I was behind a bunch of guys who could have waited another month before a trim.
Where's the triage?
Don't you think that they should take people according to need? I mean, I had a serious hair emergency this morning, and I had to wait behind the coiffure equivalent of scrapes and bruises.
Cripes.
posted by Gene Cowan | category The War with the Customer
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December 07, 2009
08:19 am
Here’s why newspapers shouldn’t open comments online
Remember the Letter to the Editor? Sure, there were always crackpots, ridiculous rants, and some amusement — but at the very least, an editor read them.
Today we have newspaper websites, where any moron, racist or bigot can post their crap with the click of a mouse.
Example, you say? I say, have you ever READ a newspaper site?
Here ya go: Yesterday in the San Jose Mercury News there was a story about Evan Low, the newly appointed mayor of Campbell, a few miles down the road from me. He's 26, so not the youngest mayor ever... he's Asian, so now he gets a superlative: youngest Asian mayor. Ah, but wait — he's gay, so he's the youngest gay Asian mayor ever.
Not sure I approve of all the stacking of superlatives to make a story, but whatever.
Anyway. You want an example of how discrimination still reigns in this country? Take a look at this bizarre screed posted as a comment after the story:
Where to begin...
First off, a clearly right wing guy - "LibertyOrDeath" - who posts quite a bit. He's full of opinions and wants to make sure everyone has to hear them.
Next — is it just me, but aren't the people on the right always making fun of people on the left being offended? Guess what — you're too easily offended. Whine, whine, whine.
Sentence 3: "nowadays" homosexuality is a preference? So, you're saying that in the past it wasn't? That maybe in the past homosexuals should have had equal civil rights, but nowadays there aren't any real homosexuals, it's just people pretending? Interesting.
Sentence 4: There's always a point in a conservative's screed (and often in leftists' as well) where they suddenly let one little thing slip. At that point, thinking, rational people usually go, "aha! He's a moron." This guy's point is where he mentions "NWO." You know, the New World Order, the shadowy cabal that's really running everything (and is probably made up of reptilian aliens).
And the icing on the cake: he owns "homes". Not one, but plural. Screw him.
Oh, one thing that does set this guy head and shoulders above the anonymous, wimpy scum: he actually gave his full name and address.
[Mercury News]
Remember the Letter to the Editor? Sure, there were always crackpots, ridiculous rants, and some amusement — but at the very least, an editor read them.
Today we have newspaper websites, where any moron, racist or bigot can post their crap with the click of a mouse.
Example, you say? I say, have you ever READ a newspaper site?
Here ya go: Yesterday in the San Jose Mercury News there was a story about Evan Low, the newly appointed mayor of Campbell, a few miles down the road from me. He's 26, so not the youngest mayor ever... he's Asian, so now he gets a superlative: youngest Asian mayor. Ah, but wait — he's gay, so he's the youngest gay Asian mayor ever.
Not sure I approve of all the stacking of superlatives to make a story, but whatever.
Anyway. You want an example of how discrimination still reigns in this country? Take a look at this bizarre screed posted as a comment after the story:
Monday, 12/07/2009 - 12:56 a.m. PST — This is disgusting!
LibertyOrDeath
Joined: Nov 2009
Current Posts: 30
I live in campbell almost 30 years now and I feel offended. Asians are OK, but they pushed him into office bc he's "gay". Homosexuality nowadays is a preference and ground for discrimination. The NWO agenda is to discourage young people being for families and encourage everyone for the homos.
I really think to sell my homes and move out from Campbell. This is sick.
Where to begin...
First off, a clearly right wing guy - "LibertyOrDeath" - who posts quite a bit. He's full of opinions and wants to make sure everyone has to hear them.
Next — is it just me, but aren't the people on the right always making fun of people on the left being offended? Guess what — you're too easily offended. Whine, whine, whine.
Sentence 3: "nowadays" homosexuality is a preference? So, you're saying that in the past it wasn't? That maybe in the past homosexuals should have had equal civil rights, but nowadays there aren't any real homosexuals, it's just people pretending? Interesting.
Sentence 4: There's always a point in a conservative's screed (and often in leftists' as well) where they suddenly let one little thing slip. At that point, thinking, rational people usually go, "aha! He's a moron." This guy's point is where he mentions "NWO." You know, the New World Order, the shadowy cabal that's really running everything (and is probably made up of reptilian aliens).
And the icing on the cake: he owns "homes". Not one, but plural. Screw him.
Oh, one thing that does set this guy head and shoulders above the anonymous, wimpy scum: he actually gave his full name and address.
[Mercury News]
posted by Gene Cowan | category Right = Wrong
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November 17, 2009
08:17 am
In my head: Commute, November 17
Wannabeeeee
It seems that every morning I get stuck behind some poky pickup truck with "CAUTION: STAY BACK" emblazoned across the back. We're not talking about real trucks, mind you, nor even F-150s. These are little Nissan pickups living above their station with caution signs on the back. My first thought when trying to pass this guy is "love how this slowpoke is pretending to be a real vehicle," and my second thought is "I wanna put a big CAUTION sign on the back of my VW sedan."
Bus of Personality
If you are a member of a church which owns a bus, and that bus has the name of the pastor on the sides as large (or larger) than the name of the church, well, you're worshipping a pastor not a savior.
Warm Cheeks
I propose a new metaphorical description for morning car temps:
This was a Seat Warmer Level 3 morning.
Wannabeeeee
It seems that every morning I get stuck behind some poky pickup truck with "CAUTION: STAY BACK" emblazoned across the back. We're not talking about real trucks, mind you, nor even F-150s. These are little Nissan pickups living above their station with caution signs on the back. My first thought when trying to pass this guy is "love how this slowpoke is pretending to be a real vehicle," and my second thought is "I wanna put a big CAUTION sign on the back of my VW sedan."
Bus of Personality
If you are a member of a church which owns a bus, and that bus has the name of the pastor on the sides as large (or larger) than the name of the church, well, you're worshipping a pastor not a savior.
Warm Cheeks
I propose a new metaphorical description for morning car temps:
This was a Seat Warmer Level 3 morning.
posted by Gene Cowan | category General Annoyances
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November 08, 2009
10:55 am
In a mirror, snarkily
You know how you hop on the scale in the morning and you're all happy and excited that the working out is having some effect, and then you dry your hair and it's kind of good looking and then you say, man, I could rock some clothes today and look cute and young and hip... and then you go through the closet and try everything on twice and you look tragic and ridiculous?
You know?
You know how you hop on the scale in the morning and you're all happy and excited that the working out is having some effect, and then you dry your hair and it's kind of good looking and then you say, man, I could rock some clothes today and look cute and young and hip... and then you go through the closet and try everything on twice and you look tragic and ridiculous?
You know?
November 06, 2009
08:17 pm
Bigotry: it’s always with us
When we look at the current bigotry surrounding equal rights for gay people, it's enlightening to look back at backwards, regressive bigots — not in the 1950s, but as recently as the 70s. Seriously, ponder this one:
When we look at the current bigotry surrounding equal rights for gay people, it's enlightening to look back at backwards, regressive bigots — not in the 1950s, but as recently as the 70s. Seriously, ponder this one:
In May 1970, a state commission in Mississippi voted to ban Sesame Street. A member of the commission leaked the vote to the New York Times, stating that "Mississippi was not yet ready" for the show's integrated cast.
November 05, 2009
11:45 am
Like most Republicans, he had his fingers in his ears singing “blah blah blah”
During the last decade we've had spying on citizens, monitoring communications, imprisonment without charge, warrantless searches, disregarding of constitutional rights and freedoms... and Boehner thinks that daring to ensure that everyone has health care is the biggest threat to freedom he's seen? Is he saying that people who love their country don't think that everyone should be able to afford to be healthy?
Whoa.
Boehner: Health Care 'Greatest Threat To Freedom I've Seen In Last 19 Years'
House Minority Leader John Boehner addressed the tea party crowd on Capitol Hill today, telling them that health care reform is "the greatest threat to freedom" he's seen as a congressman.
"This bill is the greatest threat to freedom that I've seen in the 19 years I've been in Washington," he said.
Which freedom?
"The freedom to buy health insurance on your own," and choose your own doctor, he said.
He also called town hall protests this August a "rebellion."
"The town hall rebellion wasn't about one political party or another. It was a simple statement by Americans that they love our country," he said.
[TPM]
During the last decade we've had spying on citizens, monitoring communications, imprisonment without charge, warrantless searches, disregarding of constitutional rights and freedoms... and Boehner thinks that daring to ensure that everyone has health care is the biggest threat to freedom he's seen? Is he saying that people who love their country don't think that everyone should be able to afford to be healthy?
Whoa.
November 04, 2009
08:31 am
No Hope
I dunno — maybe I was, as usual, naive. A year into the Obama era, and the regressives still demand our attention.
VIRGINIA
My home and the state that's been home to some of the most egregious of the conservative lot over the years, brought back a Republican governor after a decade. The GOP won back all the statewide offices with promises that they'd fix the roads without raising taxes — short memories, there. That's what the previous arch conservative Gilmore said. How were those roads at the end of his term? Worse, but you don't remember that anymore, do you?
And the new attorney general is a reactionary right winger who says that it should be legal to deny jobs, housing, and basic human rights to gay people.
Perhaps the funniest line I've heard yet is this gem from former congressman Tom Davis: "The state has moved back toward the center." WOW.
MAINE
Religious zealots everywhere are thanking their bizarrely anti-love, vengeful god this morning after having once again taken away rights from a minority group for which they harbor an irrational hatred. The law allowing same-sex marriage equality in Maine was struck down by a referendum. So, is Maine skewing to the right? Wait a minute: what's this? Maine voters approved medical marijuana. You heard right. A bunch of voters went to the polls and said, "Let people use illegal drugs? Sure! Let them queers get married even though its none of my business? Hell no!" It's like California all over again, where the electorate voted to increase the rights of animals but curtail them for a select group of humans.
WASHINGTON
It's close, but as I write this the results in Washington show a win for domestic partnerships - a referendum there is being held to uphold a law giving same-sex partners the same rights as marriage. The old "we just don't want them using the word marriage" nonsense.
But they aren't the "same" rights — they're separate but equal.
NEW JERSEY
Ugh.
NEW YORK
I love this story. The 23rd district in New York has been represented by a Republican since the Grant presidency. The Republicans put up a very moderate candidate, who was progressive on many issues like same-sex marriage. The Republican base — which, of course, is the lunatic right fringe now thanks to decades of cultivation by the GOP leadership — revolted. They wanted a candidate who was a looney as they were, and brought in the likes of Sarah Palin and Dick Armey (two of the greatest minds on the Right) to help them. The end result? The Republican candidate dropped out of the race, the ultra conservative cackled in glee, and then the Democrat won. That's one more Dem in Congress, doofuses.
THE UPSHOT
Two governors switched from blue to red. Same-sex "marriage" is too much for some freaks, but "domestic partnership" is mainstream enough. And the net result for Congress: the Dems picked up a seat thanks to the continuing implosion of the Republican party. They created a monster base to quickly grab power in the 80s and 90s, and now that same base is demanding monster candidates, pulling the party ever farther to the right and insanity.
I dunno — maybe I was, as usual, naive. A year into the Obama era, and the regressives still demand our attention.
VIRGINIA
My home and the state that's been home to some of the most egregious of the conservative lot over the years, brought back a Republican governor after a decade. The GOP won back all the statewide offices with promises that they'd fix the roads without raising taxes — short memories, there. That's what the previous arch conservative Gilmore said. How were those roads at the end of his term? Worse, but you don't remember that anymore, do you?
And the new attorney general is a reactionary right winger who says that it should be legal to deny jobs, housing, and basic human rights to gay people.
Perhaps the funniest line I've heard yet is this gem from former congressman Tom Davis: "The state has moved back toward the center." WOW.
MAINE
Religious zealots everywhere are thanking their bizarrely anti-love, vengeful god this morning after having once again taken away rights from a minority group for which they harbor an irrational hatred. The law allowing same-sex marriage equality in Maine was struck down by a referendum. So, is Maine skewing to the right? Wait a minute: what's this? Maine voters approved medical marijuana. You heard right. A bunch of voters went to the polls and said, "Let people use illegal drugs? Sure! Let them queers get married even though its none of my business? Hell no!" It's like California all over again, where the electorate voted to increase the rights of animals but curtail them for a select group of humans.
WASHINGTON
It's close, but as I write this the results in Washington show a win for domestic partnerships - a referendum there is being held to uphold a law giving same-sex partners the same rights as marriage. The old "we just don't want them using the word marriage" nonsense.
But they aren't the "same" rights — they're separate but equal.
NEW JERSEY
Ugh.
NEW YORK
I love this story. The 23rd district in New York has been represented by a Republican since the Grant presidency. The Republicans put up a very moderate candidate, who was progressive on many issues like same-sex marriage. The Republican base — which, of course, is the lunatic right fringe now thanks to decades of cultivation by the GOP leadership — revolted. They wanted a candidate who was a looney as they were, and brought in the likes of Sarah Palin and Dick Armey (two of the greatest minds on the Right) to help them. The end result? The Republican candidate dropped out of the race, the ultra conservative cackled in glee, and then the Democrat won. That's one more Dem in Congress, doofuses.
THE UPSHOT
Two governors switched from blue to red. Same-sex "marriage" is too much for some freaks, but "domestic partnership" is mainstream enough. And the net result for Congress: the Dems picked up a seat thanks to the continuing implosion of the Republican party. They created a monster base to quickly grab power in the 80s and 90s, and now that same base is demanding monster candidates, pulling the party ever farther to the right and insanity.
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