From TechEBlog : A knife block shaped like a human head.
If y'all were wondering what to get me for Christmas...
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
No Crime Writer's Kitchen Should be Without One
From TechEBlog : A knife block shaped like a human head.
If y'all were wondering what to get me for Christmas...
Onion: It Only Tuesday
Tuesday's arrival stunned a nation still recovering from Monday's nightmarish slog, leaving some to wonder if the week was ever going to end.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
More Republican Compassion
If you're an Iraq war vet with PTSD, just make sure you hide out, don't let anyone know, and for God's sake don't get in the papers, because there is no one...NO ONE...these Republican thugs won't attack.
After this story about the troubles of a returned vet and his wife ran in the Washington Post, another big brave blogger who skulks behind the pseudonym "Raven" opined:
How does one decipher whether a person is truly mentally ill, or is exploiting their battle experiences to their fullest advantage?
How do we know if Troy is the person he is because of the battlefield experiences, or if he is choosing to be this person because others are enabling him? Since we’re not hearing from Troy’s pre-war family and friends it is difficult to really know what he was life prior to his tour in Iraq.
I’m very skeptical of Troy’s “problems” and so should others [sic] who read this article.
On what evidence, we might ask? We would be disappointed if we did....
He is capable of rational thought and he is making choices. He choses to swallow pills and watch TV in the dark- to shut himself in…to refuse medical/psych care and, I really wonder- the required services that would make him a better person.
Yes, because the mentally ill so often make good choices when it comes to their treatment, especially considering the stigma the military apparently still gives to this kind of injury.
The truly shameful thing is that "Raven" has a picture at the top of "her" blog of a Marine in dress blues, back turned to the viewer, saluting the flag--right next to the drawing of, one supposes, "Raven", "her" own bad self, dressed like a street hooker. In "her" "personal info" section, we find out why, as "she" proclaims in a banner that "Jarheads Make Me Horny."
Maybe "she" should take the picture of the Marine and the flag down until "she" stops shitting on soldiers who sacrificed their sanity in the name of Bush's Big Mistake.
If you can stand to read it, "Raven's" attempt to defend "her" self in the comments section is particularly hilarious. "She" rages at one critic: You’re [sic] comment adds much to this debate. I write an opinion and that’s all you have to say? Typical leftard…assumptions and name calling and sarcastic remarks= is [sic] how the left works.
Comedy gold.
Of course, like most of these thin-skinned right-wingers, big brave "Raven" shut down comments because people were being (sniff) MEAN to "her":
Thats what they ["leftists"] do. Attack. Accuse. Make assumptions. And nothing else.
This little snit, of course, ignores a well reasoned post above it that pretty conclusively refutes "Raven's" claim that the symptoms of the soldier in the article "don't add up" by quoting from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders on PTSD.
And, of course it ignores the fact that "Raven's" entire post was "attacking, accusing, making assumptions and nothing else."
Jesus, these people suck.
(Note: I put 'her" and "she" in quotes, because "Raven" chooses to hide "her" true identity. For all we know, "she" could be a middle aged closeted guy eating Cheetos in Mom's basement and whacking off between blog posts to a DVD of Full Metal Jacket.
Of course, if I couldn't write any better than this turkey, I'd probably use a pseudonym too.)
After this story about the troubles of a returned vet and his wife ran in the Washington Post, another big brave blogger who skulks behind the pseudonym "Raven" opined:
How does one decipher whether a person is truly mentally ill, or is exploiting their battle experiences to their fullest advantage?
How do we know if Troy is the person he is because of the battlefield experiences, or if he is choosing to be this person because others are enabling him? Since we’re not hearing from Troy’s pre-war family and friends it is difficult to really know what he was life prior to his tour in Iraq.
I’m very skeptical of Troy’s “problems” and so should others [sic] who read this article.
On what evidence, we might ask? We would be disappointed if we did....
He is capable of rational thought and he is making choices. He choses to swallow pills and watch TV in the dark- to shut himself in…to refuse medical/psych care and, I really wonder- the required services that would make him a better person.
Yes, because the mentally ill so often make good choices when it comes to their treatment, especially considering the stigma the military apparently still gives to this kind of injury.
The truly shameful thing is that "Raven" has a picture at the top of "her" blog of a Marine in dress blues, back turned to the viewer, saluting the flag--right next to the drawing of, one supposes, "Raven", "her" own bad self, dressed like a street hooker. In "her" "personal info" section, we find out why, as "she" proclaims in a banner that "Jarheads Make Me Horny."
Maybe "she" should take the picture of the Marine and the flag down until "she" stops shitting on soldiers who sacrificed their sanity in the name of Bush's Big Mistake.
If you can stand to read it, "Raven's" attempt to defend "her" self in the comments section is particularly hilarious. "She" rages at one critic: You’re [sic] comment adds much to this debate. I write an opinion and that’s all you have to say? Typical leftard…assumptions and name calling and sarcastic remarks= is [sic] how the left works.
Comedy gold.
Of course, like most of these thin-skinned right-wingers, big brave "Raven" shut down comments because people were being (sniff) MEAN to "her":
Thats what they ["leftists"] do. Attack. Accuse. Make assumptions. And nothing else.
This little snit, of course, ignores a well reasoned post above it that pretty conclusively refutes "Raven's" claim that the symptoms of the soldier in the article "don't add up" by quoting from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders on PTSD.
And, of course it ignores the fact that "Raven's" entire post was "attacking, accusing, making assumptions and nothing else."
Jesus, these people suck.
(Note: I put 'her" and "she" in quotes, because "Raven" chooses to hide "her" true identity. For all we know, "she" could be a middle aged closeted guy eating Cheetos in Mom's basement and whacking off between blog posts to a DVD of Full Metal Jacket.
Of course, if I couldn't write any better than this turkey, I'd probably use a pseudonym too.)
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Republican Tough Guys Rough Up a 12-Year-Old
Latest Newspaper Column:
A few weeks ago, during the controversy over expanding federal funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (an expansion that had bipartisan support), 12-year-old Graeme Frost delivered the Democratic radio address.
After President Bush went on the air and threatened a veto of the expansion, Graeme told the story of how SCHIP helped him and his family out. Graeme and his sister had been in a severe car accident and had suffered serious injuries from which they still haven't fully recovered.
"We got the help we needed because we had health insurance for us through the SCHIP program," he said. "But there are millions of kids out there who don't have SCHIP, and they wouldn't get the care that my sister and I did if they got hurt. I just hope the president will listen to my story and help other kids to be as lucky as me."
Well, if you try to put a human face on an issue, leave it to right-wing Republicans to try to punch that face, even if it belongs to a child.
Rep. John Boehner huffed that Graeme was being used as a "human shield." Others went even further. Graeme's family, accused the right-wing blog Free Republic, were "not so poor" because the kids went to private school. This conveniently ignored the fact that Graeme gets a scholarship and his sister receives state tuition aid because of the severe brain injuries she received in the accident.
Mark Riehl of the conservative blog "Riehl World View" was "sympathetic" to the children, sort of: "They look more like victims of a couple of mostly spoiled brats who became parents and never felt compelled to take responsibility for themselves when it came to the bottom line on that." Doggone those spoiled, lazy parents! How dare they let their kids get into a horrific car wreck!
Not content with merely smearing the Frosts online, some of these Good Americans took it upon themselves to actually drive to their place of business and interrogate their neighbors.
Michelle Malkin gleefully reported that she had "just returned" from driving by the Frost's house and visiting the building where Mr. Frost's business was located. She admitted that another tenant in the building characterized the Frosts as "struggling," but dismissed said tenant since he was, according to Malkin, "an outspoken advocate for socialized health care and an insistent critic of the Iraq war."
She admitted that "guesstimates" of the value of the Frosts' home at $400,000 were "high" but went on to say that "they had made the choice to invest in property and a business, instead of health insurance." Now normally, investing in property and business would be considered a good thing by Republicans, but apparently that's only if you're on their side.
Mark Steyn of National Review Online was quick to defend attacking children: "If a political party is desperate enough to send a boy to do a man's job," he insisted, "then the boy is fair game. Any time I send my 7-year-old out to argue policy, you're welcome to clobber him, too." Ol' Mark's really pulling out all stops in pursuit of that Father of the Year Award, isn't he?
Like most Republican outrage, this sudden distaste for using children as political symbols is highly situational -- that is, it's only bad if Democrats do it.
Remember Elian Gonzales, whose terrified visage was plastered all over right-wing media as an example of Bill Clinton's "fascism"? Or how about Noah McCullough, the 9-year-old Texas boy who was signed up by a group called Progress For America to be a spokesman for Bush's Social Security "reform" plan?
"What I want to tell people is to not be afraid of the new plan," Noah told The New York Times. "It may be a change, but it's a good change."
Hey, everybody! I've got a great idea! Let's all drive down to Texas and drive by Noah's house! We can harass his neighbors and stalk his family too! After all, he's fair game! National Review says so! Who's with me?
No one, of course. And you know why? Because we're better people than that. Even if we might disagree with using a kid to make a political point, we'd never stoop to attacking the kid and his family.
You want to know why I'm not a Republican, despite actually agreeing with conservatives on some things? It's because if I were, I'd be associated with the type of thugs who think it's cool to smear, stalk, and demonize two injured children and their family, all to intimidate people who dare question the Dear Leader.
Kick this vicious scum to the curb, and maybe we'll talk.
A few weeks ago, during the controversy over expanding federal funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (an expansion that had bipartisan support), 12-year-old Graeme Frost delivered the Democratic radio address.
After President Bush went on the air and threatened a veto of the expansion, Graeme told the story of how SCHIP helped him and his family out. Graeme and his sister had been in a severe car accident and had suffered serious injuries from which they still haven't fully recovered.
"We got the help we needed because we had health insurance for us through the SCHIP program," he said. "But there are millions of kids out there who don't have SCHIP, and they wouldn't get the care that my sister and I did if they got hurt. I just hope the president will listen to my story and help other kids to be as lucky as me."
Well, if you try to put a human face on an issue, leave it to right-wing Republicans to try to punch that face, even if it belongs to a child.
Rep. John Boehner huffed that Graeme was being used as a "human shield." Others went even further. Graeme's family, accused the right-wing blog Free Republic, were "not so poor" because the kids went to private school. This conveniently ignored the fact that Graeme gets a scholarship and his sister receives state tuition aid because of the severe brain injuries she received in the accident.
Mark Riehl of the conservative blog "Riehl World View" was "sympathetic" to the children, sort of: "They look more like victims of a couple of mostly spoiled brats who became parents and never felt compelled to take responsibility for themselves when it came to the bottom line on that." Doggone those spoiled, lazy parents! How dare they let their kids get into a horrific car wreck!
Not content with merely smearing the Frosts online, some of these Good Americans took it upon themselves to actually drive to their place of business and interrogate their neighbors.
Michelle Malkin gleefully reported that she had "just returned" from driving by the Frost's house and visiting the building where Mr. Frost's business was located. She admitted that another tenant in the building characterized the Frosts as "struggling," but dismissed said tenant since he was, according to Malkin, "an outspoken advocate for socialized health care and an insistent critic of the Iraq war."
She admitted that "guesstimates" of the value of the Frosts' home at $400,000 were "high" but went on to say that "they had made the choice to invest in property and a business, instead of health insurance." Now normally, investing in property and business would be considered a good thing by Republicans, but apparently that's only if you're on their side.
Mark Steyn of National Review Online was quick to defend attacking children: "If a political party is desperate enough to send a boy to do a man's job," he insisted, "then the boy is fair game. Any time I send my 7-year-old out to argue policy, you're welcome to clobber him, too." Ol' Mark's really pulling out all stops in pursuit of that Father of the Year Award, isn't he?
Like most Republican outrage, this sudden distaste for using children as political symbols is highly situational -- that is, it's only bad if Democrats do it.
Remember Elian Gonzales, whose terrified visage was plastered all over right-wing media as an example of Bill Clinton's "fascism"? Or how about Noah McCullough, the 9-year-old Texas boy who was signed up by a group called Progress For America to be a spokesman for Bush's Social Security "reform" plan?
"What I want to tell people is to not be afraid of the new plan," Noah told The New York Times. "It may be a change, but it's a good change."
Hey, everybody! I've got a great idea! Let's all drive down to Texas and drive by Noah's house! We can harass his neighbors and stalk his family too! After all, he's fair game! National Review says so! Who's with me?
No one, of course. And you know why? Because we're better people than that. Even if we might disagree with using a kid to make a political point, we'd never stoop to attacking the kid and his family.
You want to know why I'm not a Republican, despite actually agreeing with conservatives on some things? It's because if I were, I'd be associated with the type of thugs who think it's cool to smear, stalk, and demonize two injured children and their family, all to intimidate people who dare question the Dear Leader.
Kick this vicious scum to the curb, and maybe we'll talk.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Great Moments In Badassery, II
From one of the greatest Westerns ever made: The Outlaw Josey Wales.
Now, the "Dyin' ain't much of a livin', boy" line gets all the respect, but I love:
"I had to come back."
"I know."
Now, the "Dyin' ain't much of a livin', boy" line gets all the respect, but I love:
"I had to come back."
"I know."
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
NC Hellions, REPRESENT!
I'll be at the Barnes and Noble at 5400 New Hope Commons in Durham (that's the one near I-40) at 2:00 PM this Saturday, signing copies of SAFE AND SOUND and generally making merry. C'mon by.
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