Not the Echo Park I Got to Know

Where have Echo Park's lotuses gone?

The lake in Los Angeles used to house the largest, lushest lotus beds in the nation. All that remain are a few sickly leaves. The city is working to revive them, but experts say it may be too late.

A couple of lotus plants float on the surface of the lake. The plants are believed to be direct descendants of the plants imported from China in the 1920s by Aimee McPherson, founder of the Angelus Temple across the street from the park.

Default on Your Student Loans

If we all did it, it would work.

Artist Matt Kresling's latest creation, The Beast That Swallows Its Young, encourages viewers to consider defaulting on their student loans. The song was created using messages from Matt's own student-loan debt collectors.

Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker and tits

“Scratch any cynic, and you’ll find a disappointed idealist.”

Geroge Carlin Dies at 71

Once Again...

... The Demoblicans and the Republicrats win over people's interest. We are living in dangerous times where the government has nothing to do with protecting the interest of the people... but we knew that didn't we?

House Passes Spy Bill; Senate Expected to Follow

The House, in an overwhelming bipartisan vote, yesterday approved a sweeping new surveillance law that extends the government's eavesdropping capability and effectively would shield telecommunications companies from lawsuits for cooperating with the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program.

Once Again... It All Happens After the Damage is Done

There is a reason for calls for regulation. There was Enron, and MCI, and others where once the damage is done, people hurt and ruined, there comes the Government and brings criminal charges. What good that will do? It is proper and strong regulation of these businesses that will provide the adequate protection before the damage is done.

Please... Someone make the Republocrats and the Democlicans understand this simple concept.

Mortgage Fraud Sweep

As many as 70 people are expected to be charged in the Chicago area in a nationwide wave of criminal charges related to the subprime mortgage meltdown. In New York, two former Bear Stearns managers have been arrested.

Guess Who's Going Out of Business

City names restaurant linked to tainted tomatoes

The Chicago Department of Public Health says nine of the 17 salmonella cases involved people who ate at the Adobo Grill's outlets in Old Town and Wicker Park.

Dog Wedding...

Two Chihuahuas wear wedding outfits at a fashion show during the VenusFort family dog fiesta in Tokyo May 17, 2008.

(Getty Images photo / June 18, 2008)

You know your pets really want to get married, right?

My brother has selected a puppy for his family's pet—a Parson Russell terrier pup he'll call Wrigley (he's a Cubs fan)—but even before all the kids play with it I'm wondering how I'll feel the day Wrigley gets married.

Your Assignment... Should you Care to Accept it

The Biggest Election Story Not on Your TV

But what if there were a story about the entire process that flipped the whole thing upside down, radically altering many of the assumptions never mentioned but always assumed in all of the endless "reporting"? And what if, on top of that, this story involved strong evidence of the commission of major crimes and abuses by the highest officials in the land? And what if, on top of that, you could toss in the historic reversal of some of the major gains won by the most dramatic populist movement of civil resistance during the course of the last century? The question, of course, would be: Can we find a way to connect this information to some kinky form of illicit sex so that members of the media can feel responsible about using our airwaves to discuss it?

That, my friends, is your assignment. The raw material you have to work with is contained in the following two articles of impeachment introduced in the House of Representatives last Monday night by Congressman Dennis Kucinich. The model you should seek to emulate is, of course, the classic report named for its author: Kenneth Starr.

The True John McCain

Quotable

The cost of what you buy is going up; the value of what you own is going down; and what you earn is staying the same.

From Mathew Gross's blog

Makes You Wonder...

What sort of creatures are we, us "humans."

"Worst Massacre in Argentine History" Goes to Trial

The basic facts of the case are undisputed by the defendant's lawyers. Before dawn on August 20, 1976, thirty illegally detained and drugged prisoners from the Intendencia were forced into a truck and driven away from Buenos Aires up Route 8 beyond the outskirts of the city. About forty miles from the city, the prisoners were unloaded from the truck, blindfolded with their hands tied, and summarily executed. Each received a shot in the head from about three feet away. To dispose of the bodies, guards piled the dead prisoners over a charge of dynamite near the town of Fatima and blew them up. Body parts were found as far as 60 feet from the explosion.

For over two decades, the suspected perpetrators of the incident were free from prosecution, saved by an amnesty law passed in the wake of democratic transition. But the amnesty was held unconstitutional by the Argentine Supreme Court in 2005, opening the way for prosecutors to indict Lapuyole, Gallone and Timarchi for the massacre. The Fatima case is the sixth to begin since the amnesty was overturned.

I Love This Song...

Decemberists - The Mariner's Revenge Song Lyrics

"Find him, bind him Tie him to a pole and break His fingers to splinters Drag him to a hole until he Wakes up naked Clawing at the ceiling Of his grave."

Good Riddance...

The right wing shill disguised as objective journalist is no more. Things are looking up.

Tim Russert is Dead at 58

Tim Russert was a fixture in American homes on Sunday mornings and election nights since becoming moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press” 17 years ago.

Edit: I have seen other writers on various blogs come under attack for having expressed relief in hearing about Tim Russert's demise. The critics generally opine that it is of poor taste to express delight, if not joy, at seeing a human being, a father, a husband pass away and so in deference to Russert's family and generally to remain in good taste we should refrain from using words such as "good riddance."

I diagree. What Russert and others including O'Really, Limbaud, Coulter, Milken et. al. are doing (and did) is criminal towards the democratic process. Was it not for these individuals (and there are many others) this Administration would not have had such an easy time selling its policies and send thousands of young men and women to die for nothing--among other criminal deeds.

So Russert did not have a swastika emblazoned on his forehead like Charles Manson did. But, his crime as a facilitator and enabler of those who comitted worst criminal activities than Manson cannot be brushed under the rug that easily.

So again, good riddance to a shill of a person who under the cover of journalism sold propaganda, half truths and flat out lies to the public who trusted him for the information they needed upon which to base decisions and judgment... as one has to in a democracy.

Why ask Why?

:)

Why I Will Vote Republican...

... Not!

What Kind of a Democrat is this Creature?

Obama Confronts Lieberman on McCain Advocacy

Lieberman agreed to caucus with the Democrats, who need his vote in the narrowly-divided Senate, in order to maintain power. But the Nutmeg stater is testing the patience of Democratic leaders by endorsing McCain and agreeing to speak at the Republican National Convention in September. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told MSNBC they would "watch very closely" how far Lieberman takes his advocacy.

Impeachment Articles by Kucinich

Will Congressman Conyers kill this one as well? With all the evidence out there supporting the allegations of impeachable offenses committed by the Idiot in Chief, I should call Conyers and ask for my money back. Should have never supported his campaign... Perhaps he will see the light soon. Here is hoping...

Rep. Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a former Democratic presidential contender, said Monday he wants the House to consider a resolution to impeach President Bush.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi consistently has said impeachment was "off the table."

Kucinich, D-Ohio, read his proposed impeachment language in a floor speech. He contended Bush deceived the nation and violated his oath of office in leading the country into the Iraq war.

Kucinich introduced a resolution last year to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney. That resolution was killed, but only after Republicans initially voted in favor of taking up the measure to force a debate.

Kucinich won 50 percent of the vote in a five-way House Democratic primary in March, beating back critics who said he ignored business at home to travel the country in his quest to be president.

A Lot on His Plate

One More Time...

I just love this picture of me...

Quotable

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, I watched helplessly as the Bush administration led America into a strategic blunder of historic proportions. It became painfully obvious that the executive branch of our government did not trust its military. It relied instead on a neoconservative ideology developed by men and women with little, if any, military experience. Some senior military leaders did not challenge civilian decision makers at the appropriate times, and the courageous few who did take a stand were subsequently forced out of the service.

-- General Ricardo Sanchez