Category Archives: Life, etc.

Karen Benker for Mayor

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(from http://www.timescall.com/Local-Story.asp?ID=2654 ) Karen Benker - Longmont’s Next Mayor

Benker to run for mayor

By Douglas Crowl The Daily Times-Call LONGMONT — City Councilwoman Karen Benker announced Friday she’s running for mayor, a seat being vacated by the term-limited Julia Pirnack. Small-business owner Ariel Steele also announced Friday that she will run for an at-large City Council seat. Continue reading →

Purposeful Misinterpretation

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Was looking into Muslim history and found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Muslim_history So the hatred between the sects has existed for literally *centuries* – I seriously doubt we’ll be the ones to end it. It reminds me very much of the difference between Quakers and White Supremists, both overt followers of Jesus’ teachings, yet with wildly-different aims. Continue reading →

Minuteman and His Money

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From PFAW: Jim Campbell, someone who clearly does not understand immigration control, did something really stupid: he gave $100,000 to Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (ie he basically threw the money up in the air and yelled Whoopee!!) with the expectation that they’d use it to build an ‘Israeli-style’ barrier across someone else’s private land. Well, suffice to say, what was built was basically cattle fencing that a six-year-old could get over – ie Mr. Campbell got punkd. It’s endlessly amusing to me how people with more money than sense rush out to shower money on wingnut whackjobs, but won’t raise a finger to do the right thing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, money does not equal class or brains. A lot of well-to-do folks I’ve met in my life got that way by being vicious, unprincipled, ruthless and heartless. Every time I see one of these rednecked stoneheads getting spanked publicly it gives me a little hope that we’re evolving as a species.

Vivisection

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This is just sick. Watch the video, read about the atrocity. We can’t stop #$^@# Gitmo, but we sure as shit can stop this kind of torture. When I worked at the Univ of PA I saw cats routinely tortured for brain research. When I asked the techs about it they seemed bored at best, callous at worst. This is a symptom of sociopathy. Please write and call. Today.

A Single Voice

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Saw this comment on Slashdot: If the gunman had pulled his psycho bullshit in a crowded Virginia mall, the shooter’s life may have ended a lot quicker, but that does not mean that fewer people would be dead. If someone started shooting back, there would have been more bullets flying around, and with more bullets flying around, there’s a lot higher chance that people will get hit, especially if this is taking place in a mall with a lot of people. The problem with Col. Cooper’s statement is that killing people is seen as a bad thing, and is something that should be avoided. That is why soldiers and/or cops have to be authorized to use lethal force. A rifle is a tool, but it’s purpose is, basically, to kill. So, while a rifle may have no moral stature, it is a tool whose purpose it is to effect a morally wrong action. Because, even if evil men can be “corrected” by men with rifles, those men with rifles have done something that we as a society frown upon. As for your assertion that gun-free zones are in effect “unarmed victim zones,” think about the fact that in our legal system there is a difference between manslaughter and murder; in order for murder to be committed, malice and forethought must be proved. If you piss someone with a gun off, they could very easily kill you, even if they weren’t justified in their action. Without guns, it is a whole lot harder, involved, and personal to kill someone, and that means that fewer people will die. It is very true that people kill people, and as long as that is the case, people will continue to kill people, no matter what weapons we outlaw. However, removing weapons from the market makes it much harder, and that means that fewer people die; hence, why some people place their personal safety in front of their right to bear arms, and call for tighter gun control. From the hellmouth that is the Internet comes a still, small voice of reason. As much as the Religious ‘right’ likes to bash the intertubes, there’s a lot of sane, clear-headed folks out there. Gives me hope.

Nuclear Accidents

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http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/List_of_military_nuclear_accidents

List of military nuclear accidents

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia – Cite This Source This article lists notable military accidents involving nuclear material. Civilian accidents are listed at List of civilian nuclear accidents. For a general discussion of both civilian and military accidents, see nuclear and radiation accidents.

Scope of this article

In listing military nuclear accidents, the following criteria have been followed:
  1. There must be well-attested and substantial health damage, property damage or contamination.
  2. The damage must be related directly to radioactive material, not merely (for example) at a nuclear power plant.
  3. To qualify as “military”, the nuclear operation/material must be principally for military purposes.

Squimmy

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Squimmy on the Porch Squimmy 1989-2007 Beloved of Rebecca and David, departed this 20th day of January. Adopted as an orphan and cared for as family. I knew this sweet girl and mourn her passing. Bon voyage mon petite. I offer the following for her owners:
Do not stand at my grave and weep Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die. Mary Frye

Going Out of Business

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http://blog.wired.com/cultofmac/2007/01/apple_makes_a_b.html Apple’s first-quarter 2007 results are the best ever. Thanks to selling an unbelievable 21.1 million iPods over the holidays, Apple reported record-breaking revenues for the December quarter of more than $7 billion. $1 billion of that is pure profit. — Not bad for a company that’s (supposedly) been going out of business since 1984. I think it’s time for Apple’s detractors to wake up and smell the burning silicon.

UnSpoken Things

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My buddy Shane Schieffer has been working on an independent film project ‘Unspoken Things’ for four years now – I’ve seen early releases of it and it’s superb! The price of the ticket is well worth it – give it a shot and help support a budding filmmaker! From my pal Shane Schieffer: Hello, My film, Unspoken Things, has been almost 4-years in the making, by February it will be completed, and on January 22nd (two Mondays from now) I will be holding a “sneak peek” and fundraising event at the Oriental Theater in Denver. I hope you will come and please invite friends and family! Continue reading →

Stunning Revelations

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Reposted From In These Times http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2894/ November 13, 2006 Stunning Revelations The untold story of Taser-related deaths By Silja J.A. Talvi TASER International Inc. maintains that its stun-guns are “changing the world and saving lives everyday.” There is no question that they changed Jack Wilson’s life. On Aug. 4, in Lafayette, Colo., policemen on a stakeout approached Jack’s son Ryan as he entered a field of a dozen young marijuana plants. When Ryan took off running, officer John Harris pursued the 22-year-old for a half-mile and then shot him once with an X-26 Taser. Ryan fell to the ground and began to convulse. The officer attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but Ryan died. Continue reading →

Charlie’s OK

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My dear friend Charles was struck down by a sudden attack of blood clots – agonizingly painful and completely dibilitating. Had us all worried there for a while. He’s doing much better now, thank heavens! Update Last report indicates he’s still feeling pretty bad – this was a ‘near-death’ experience. Apparently the clots went the ‘right’ way – otherwise he’d have died of a heart attack or a stroke. Update 2 Marilyn and I visited recently and took him a home-cooked meal. He’s looking much better! WHOO HOO!!