You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2010.
Behaving as media should.
Whistle-blowers usually take great risks to get out information to the public. I suspect that it was not WikiLeaks fault that this individual has been arrested, but rather a reverse engineering by the US military of who had access to what and where.
“The army intelligence specialist charged with leaking U.S. military secrets to the WikiLeaks website has been moved from Kuwait to a military jail in Virginia.
In a statement issued Friday, the U.S. army said Pte. Bradley Manning was flown Thursday to Quantico Marine Base, where he will be held while awaiting trial for leaking top-secret military intelligence to WikiLeaks, a site devoted to publishing leaked government and other sensitive documents.”
Mr. Manning, allegedly, has been a very naughty and very busy bee, apparently he is also responsible for the video from the gun cameras of attack helicopters shooting up civilians in Iraq along with the thousands of documents made available on WikiLeaks.
“White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the leak of tens of thousands of secret military documents already has jeopardized the lives of Afghans working with the U.S. and its war allies.”
If our media had actually been doing its job and reporting about what was happening in Afghanistan and Iraq, we would not have had the need for this particular leak. Instead through our journalistic mandarins continue to go meekly through their routines of obedience toward elite power. Journalism is not performing its original function any more, that is bringing the news to the people. Battered by calls for “objectivity” and “balance” what we get is a tendentious smear of propaganda; this vile pap masquarading as “news” for consumption by the public.
A side note, Mr.Manning will probably be publicly drawn and quartered for his heroic actions Al Jazeera opines in their article about the WikiLeaks source:
“In a statement, the defence department said Manning was transfered to the US “due to a potentially lengthy pre-trail confinement because of the complexity of the charges and an ongoing investigation.”
Our correspondent said that the US military wants to use Manning to send a message to future whistleblowers.
“If you violate the trust of security clearance, you will be prosecuted,” she said.”
A rational decision by the US military, but I do not think it will really help their security situation much in the long run. Too much malfeasance, for too long involving so many individuals, one will always have the temerity to challenge the system. This may not have happened if our media was less complacent when it came to analyzing and presenting facts about the current military imbroglios. There is some hope though.
The media is being slowly replaced, people can see the inherent bias in the system and now are cross checking and consulting many sources for a better view of what is happening in the world. So when I hear the newspapers bleating about their costs going up and advertisers leaving them I have no sympathy. If they did their job, people would buy their product. As is, who needs to see elite opinion reiterated for the nth time only in a different medium?
Allan! Allan!
Sometimes it is nice to see a news story unfolding. This is not one of those times. On our way back from British Columbia we the crash site and wrecked cars as we were heading home. The CBC reports:
Very hard to make it on time after this.
“Three people have died and two others are in hospital in critical condition after a crash on the Trans-Canada Highway in southeastern B.C.”
Impatient people most likely. Hard to save time when you are dead.
“RCMP Cpl. Rod Wiebe said the collision, which involved a car and an SUV, happened on Friday afternoon about 50 kilometres east of Revelstoke. Wiebe said a preliminary investigation suggests the car crossed the centre line and clipped an eastbound pickup truck. The truck managed to gain control and safely stop but the car crashed head-on with the SUV.”
I was driving on that stretch of road. It is a curvy highway with poor sight lines and not many opportunities to pass. Driving conservatively brought me home safely, and I recommend it as a driving rule in general. Plus it is usually less stressful and if you have budgeted your time properly, a much more pleasant way to drive.
Prescriptively speaking, one needs to exercise extreme patience and caution when using that particular stretch of road. And as always, let the conditions dictate the speed and style of your driving. Wet roads, not overdriving your headlights, time of day etc. are all factors that should be inputed into your safe driving equation.
I am going to use the discussion points found on RichardDawkins.net as the basis of this feature.
Calilasseia is the author of the post and deserves many rich accolades for assembling so much useful information in one spot. This constitutes an open thread of sorts, please leave your opinions and observations in the comment section.
Enjoy!
[8] Real world observational phenomena, and the theories erected to explain them, are two different entities.
Again, the mere fact that I have to state this explicitly testifies to the scientific ignorance of many of the individuals who come here, purporting to be in a position to tell us that the world’s most educated scientists have all got it wrong, and that 3,000 year old mythology has somehow got it right (or 1,400 year old mythology, depending upon your particular religious ideological background).
With respect to evolution, populations of real living organisms have been observed evolving in real time. This is what is meant when the critical thinkers here state that evolution is an observed fact. Real populations of real living organisms have been observed changing over time, and have been documented doing so in the peer reviewed scientific literature. The theory of evolution consists of the postulates erected, and the testable mechanisms arising from those postulates, to explain those observed phenomena. Learn this distinction, or once again, prepare to face much contempt from the critical thinkers here.
As it is a short entry this week I have added a fine video from Thunderfoot about why people laugh at Creationists (part 32) to complete your Sunday Smack Down.
Pharyngula is one of my favourite places to go as P.Z Myers is always finding interesting bits of science and rationality to education, entertain and amuse me.
The thread on Pharyngula that I’m referring to is about how the gap between the rich and poor in the US is continuing to widen. One of the commenters left a response that deserves a second viewing as someone who is having a tough time making it in a country saddled with supply-side economics and plutocratic values. I quote “JustALurker” in her entirety. (Please note that strong language is prevalent in the body of this quoted material)
“Ahm. As one of these lazy ass people in the absolutely poor demographic in the U.S I think I could help by throwing in my 2 cents here. Obviously, this is just from what I know and see so anecdotal and small study set at best. However, I think hearing from one of the people being discussed might help those that are privileged and ignorant to the actual situation and just like to spout ideological bullshit.
Firstly, yes I am a single mom and have been struggling on my own since I was 16. I did go to college for 2 years, received 2 associate degrees while doing my prereqs for Nursing. Due to this small and short education and 2 years experience I do get better paying customer service jobs than most people I know but it is still not enough to pay the bills. I worked two jobs, got out of the shelters and into my own place and was still receiving help for daycare since it would have taken up almost half of my income otherwise.
Everything was dandy until I lost both jobs (because I didn’t get hired on, was only temp and seasonal), couldn’t get a new one soon enough even though I applied online for over 100 jobs, and went through 4 temp agencies. Well, then the cascade began, phone got shut off, daycare help ceased since I wasn’t working, and now I have a 5 day notice to get out and the electricity will be shut off before then. I have been calling shelters for the past month but everything is booked including the nightly shelters and the shortest wait list I’m on is 4 to 6 weeks. Whoop dee do.
Now I’m screwed worst than before and can’t get any fucking help. Now I’m scared to death that I will not receive a miracle (haha) and have somewhere to go but will end up on the streets and have to give up my child to CPS since I cannot have her on the streets. Her welfare is more important than the fact that I love her and don’t want to lose her or the fact that I will most likely not get her back. What a lovely system we have here.
So fuck off sideways to everyone that says I’m stuck here because I’m lazy or that its my own fault. That is far from the truth. I will work fucking 3 jobs if that’s what it takes to take care of my baby. I didn’t end up here just because I was knocked up young. I got the crap shoot when it came to parents, one a crackhead and the other an abusive alcoholic. I’m so desperate I even tracked them down and asked for help. One can’t and one won’t. I had a bad start but I took control of my life and my actions. However, simply working hard and “excellence” will not get me out of this situation.
This is the fucked up system we have here. This is what the Republican pro-lifers want. This is there America, and I am only a lazy welfare queen stuck in it. If I am lucky enough to find a place, I will jump though several hoops, not only to get in but to stay. Most places only give you 2 weeks to find a job and have a mission statement that includes saving your soul (shudder). And that isn’t half of what your stuck with doing. I have lived with roaches and rats in shelters. I have heard fights, domestic violence and have been robbed. Yet right now I am hoping to find a spot in one of these places so I can work my way up to a better future for us. There are people that are stuck in this cycle, in this life but I am dedicated to not being one of them. I just need an opportunity.
So again to you privileged whinny ideological fuck heads go shove it up your ass sideways. Come live in my world, the real world for a bit and see how long you last. I bet you won’t be spouting your bullshit for long, if you were here. If you survive.”
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Border agents say a New York man tried to explain away the ankle monitor he was wearing while returning from Canada by claiming it was a show of support for actress Lindsay Lohan.
Customs and Border Protection officers say they found the bracelet around Eugene Todie’s ankle July 9 after he tried to re-enter the United States using someone else’s passport. They say he’s on probation and not supposed to leave the country.
Full marks for being creative.
No so full marks for breaking your parole and lying to the border control people, asshat.
Bringing white hot death to an official enemy hopefully far away from you.
Our Federal Government is really the bomb-shit. I mean they stopped the Liberal nationalized daycare program in its tracks when they assisted Paul Martin and the Libs self destruct in 2006.
“The Liberals were in the midst of delivering on a $5-billion national child-care program before they were thrown out of power in the 2006 election. When Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives came to office, that program was abandoned, in favour of the $100-a-month cheques to Canadian parents known as the Universal Child Care Benefit.”
The Universal Child Care Benefit is laughably ineffective, as reasonable day care costs are well above $100 dollars per month. Hats off to conservative thinking and the choice that the 100 dollars per month provides (none). Way to go, nanny state kept in check.
The fiscal restraint though goes *poof* when we are talking about shiny new fighter jets! The new F-35 is so new and amazing you do not even see the 9 billion dollar price tag through all of this incredible awesomeness!
“The Canadian government said Friday it plans to spend $9 billion to purchase a new generation of fighter jets, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
The contract, one of the biggest military equipment purchases in Canadian history, is worth $9 billion, but the full cost could rise to as much $18 billion once the government signs a maintenance contract.”
I’m amused that we need the best and the brightest new technology for our Air Force. What exactly are we going to do with these new jets other than spend a horrendous amount to train to fly and maintain them. Put quite simply, Canada does not need these jets. The F-35 is purely an offensive weapon that has no place in a Canada that is once was dedicated to peacekeeping and resolving issues without the slaughter of war.
For the fiscally conservatives who also occasionally read DWR here is another little interesting snippet.
“The new jets would replace an aging fleet of CF-18s that recently underwent a $2.6-billion upgrade”
Huh, we are retrofitting old jets, AND buying new ones. The money for the military seems to be connected to a high pressure fire hose. Consider that 2.6 billion is already one half of the necessary money for universal childcare in Canada. Oh yah, but we need defence! The terrorists are at our door just waiting for our Jet Technology to become obsolete.
I’m thinking we need to up the *facepalm* ante here just for the inept twerpitude of our military planning/spending.
9 billion for *shiny* jets? Can I get a 'Hell Ya'!
Here is what the Official opposition is saying:
“But the government is fending off criticism that it is making one of the biggest military purchases in Canadian history without a single competing bid. The Liberals say the massive purchase of 65 jets should have been subjected to competitive bids.
I think Canadians are amazed that the largest procurement deal in the history of the country is a single-sourced — so, it’s not a competitive — deal,” Ignatieff told reporters.”
You know what I am amazed at Iggy? Your enormous capacity to miss the blatantly obvious point. We should not be making this purchase in the first place. You want to show Canadians you have a platform and spine of your own? Then make a stand against this vacuous prestidigitation, try for once to make a principled stand you might like it.
The planes we are purchasing are used to rain death down on people who do not have planes of their own to shoot back with. Has the mighty Harper decided that Canada needs its own imperial air-force to lay the smack down on some poor schmo(s) on the ground armed with an AK-47 and faith on the brain? The ludicrous stupid burns nova hot on this one. You would think as the principled opposition of Canada you might point out that we do not frakking need
Childrens Welfare vs. Bombing other children? Wow, unpopular position if I ever heard of one.
any more fighter planes for the defense of our country and maybe the money could be used elsewhere to benefit the children and families of Canada.
Do you know why according to Military Analysts that we need these pricey Edsel?
“Military analyst Mercedes Stephenson told CBC News that the purchase is “absolutely necessary.”She added: “We have to have fighter jets. Canada is a massive country, and when you think purely about response times, there is nothing else that can get across the country as fast as a fighter jet.”Also, when you are dealing with the Arctic, there is very little that has the kind of survivability of a fighter jet in the air under those kinds of harsh conditions. She added that the purchase is also important for Canada to meet obligations to its international allies.”
Shorter: We need fast planes because Canada is big and cold! Oh, and sometimes our friends need us to bomb people.
Are you kidding? Are we that stupid?
What really fries my biscut is what the NDP has to say about this:
“But the NDP argues even if Canada needs fighter jets, it’s not clear it needs these particular ones.
“The issue for the Canadian defence department is, is the F-35 what we want?” said NDP MP Malcolm Allen.”
Holy Plastic-Jebus on a pogo-stick! Is this the best we can do for spirited opposition? It is okay to say that this is waste of Canadian money, and that this is a particularly bad idea coming from Stephen I wanna be a Neo-Con Harper’s private circle-jerk cabinet. This deal needs to be scrapped immediately, put the money toward combating child poverty and do some good for once.
What I fear is that no one from any of the opposition benches has the spine to take a stand against this fiscally and morally boneheaded move on behalf of the Canadian Government.
bleatmop
Mystro
The Arbourist
Dead Wild Roses 
Your opinions…