Clipmarks | papananook's clips

Cartoon Hero Will Save the Day

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:42:32 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: “In the past three months, average consumer spending on energy came to $663 billion, or 6.5 percent of total consumer spending. A year ago, it represented 5.8 percent.” In simple terms: “If gasoline breaks through $4 a gallon by Memorial Day, that would mean spending on gasoline would have risen by $100 billion since the beginning of the year, or roughly the size of the tax rebate checks going out.”
According to Monday’s Providence Journal, “The United States, with the lowest fuel efficient vehicles and longest average commutes in the world, is the only major industrialized country to witness a surge in oil consumption since the severe oil shortages of the 1970s and the 1980s.”

While European nations have taxed fuel to pay for other more efficient forms of transportation, the U.S. has taken an Underdog approach to the problem; swooping in with borrowed cash to pay the ransom oil companies demand on our transportation and heating needs.

Next week President Underdog will begin mai

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

“There’s no need to fear, Underdog is here!”- Wally Cox, the voice of NBC’s Underdog

That’s what the 20th century cartoon hero said every time his girlfriend, journalist cartoon character, Sweet Polly Purebred needed him.

The part of Underdog for the duration of this column — and now that I’ve pictured it in my mind, possibly forever — will be played by our own President George W. Bush.

And as of Monday night, the part of Purebred will be played by the distressed CBS Evening News anchor, Katie Couric. Couric, in a style reminiscent of the troubled Purebred, summoned the celluloid hero to my mind’s eye as she read a news story about the United States economic stimulus package.

Couric reported a substantial rise in the price of fuel since Congress approved the president’s plan. And as oil prices soared this week, it turns out that the average $600 bonus that today’s Americans will be borrowing from their grandchildren won’t cover the cost of this year’s newly inflated gas prices.

Longshore Workers Plan Walkout To Protest Wars

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:37:46 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: Anybody else? read the comments--apparently the one day walkout is growing support. A general strike is overdue

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

West Coast dockworkers plan to walk off the job Thursday to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, even though the action doesn’t have the formal support of their employers or the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

“There are lots of members who are expressing their personal views and committing to this voluntary action,” said Craig Merrilees, an ILWU spokesman.

ILWU executives had initially given their blessing to an eight-hour work stoppage during the busy day shift, which was suggested two months ago during a union caucus held in San Francisco.

A clause in the union’s current contract allows workers to hold monthly “stop-work” meetings during the evening shift, when cargo activity is considered to be lighter.

Immigration rights groups also plan to hold a series of marches and rallies in Los Angeles and cities across the country on Thursday to call for reforms in immigration policies.

any work stoppage held Thursday will be initiated by the union’s rank-and-file members

Rev. Wright speks truth--Obama quibbles

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:49:14 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: But as for saying "God damn America" — he wasn't calling on the deity to zap us. What he was saying was that should be our frustrated attitude when our government does horrible things.

Think about it; I have known military officers totally dedicated to the service who, confronted by its absurdities, say things like "God damn this army." I know a man who loves Wayne State who, thanks to its bureaucracy, regularly says, "Fuck Wayne State."

So then, what about a guy who says: "America is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today. [This nation] was founded on genocide and a nation that is founded on genocide is destructive."

Guess what. I can answer that one. We turn him into a saint, and make him a national hero. By the way, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright didn't say those words. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. did.

Clip Source: www.smirkingchimp.com

I went to see the Rev. Jeremiah Wright — now known from sea to shining sea as the Rev. "God Damn America" Wright — speak the other night to the NAACP Freedom Fund dinner in Cobo Hall.

Like all loyal Americans who have been subjected to constant bombardment of the famous YouTube video snippets of his sermons, I expected nasty and thuggish ranting, and sullen hatred of America.

Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but this isn't: After a lifetime of watching media distortions, I was still surprised at the contrast between the real Jeremiah Wright and the cartoon.

Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. is a living, breathing, and very distinguished human being who has been folded, spindled and mutilated by the national media. He has every right — actually, I would think a duty — to take a stab at defining himself.

We have a duty to ourselves to listen, and try to understand this complex mix that is America. The real Jeremiah Wright puts the patriotism of most politicians to shame.

Why can't the Preznut be arrested for treason and torture?

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:27:26 GMT

clipped by: papananook

Clip Source: www.smirkingchimp.com

Bush Confesses to Waterboarding. Call D.C. Cops!

"Why are we talking about this in the White House?" John Ashcroft nervously asked his fellow members of the National Security Council's Principals Committee. (The Principals were Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell, CIA Director George Tenet and Attorney General Ashcroft.)

"History will not judge this kindly," Ashcroft predicted.

"This" is torture. Against innocent people. Conducted by CIA agents and American soldiers and marines. Sanctioned by legal opinions issued by Ashcroft's Justice Department. Directly ordered by George W. Bush.

The Justice Department complied by issuing a classified 2002 memo, the so-called "Golden Shield," authored by Office of Legal Counsel Jay Bybee. "Enhanced interrogation techniques"--i.e., torture--were legal, Bybee assured the CIA.

Bush knew.

Not only did he know, he personally approved it. He likes torture.

Lone Rangers of the Sea

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:55:44 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: great site if ya like dolphins, etc.

Clip Source: www.marineconnection.org

The Marine Connection launches a new report which examines the phenomenon of the solitary cetacean – the 'Lone Rangers' of the sea, in detail.

It examines some of the theories behind their existence, considers the process of habituation and the threats to both the cetacean and humans. By reviewing all known cases to date and the current protective legislation the report makes recommendations for their protection in both the short and long term.

Solitary cetaceans may be considered the lone rangers of the sea, apparently choosing a solitary existence they may roam from town to town, or conversely they may take up residence in one specific location.

We do not as yet fully understand their solitary lifestyle, whether it is by choice or through a variety of environmental or man-made pressures. Yet we do know that whether temporary or permanent there have been over 90 cases to date, worldwide.

Shut down in Tuna trading

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:18:21 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: some sanity for once

Clip Source: weblog.greenpeace.org

“Ladies and Gentlemen your attention please: the Dong Won, Mitsubishi, Moon Marine, Azzopardi and Ricardo Fuentes stalls are now closed.” And they were. It felt great knowing that the ever so slightly familiar voices coming airport style over the audio soundsystem were speaking the truth. We did it. Shut down the stalls of 5 companies – including the world’s biggest tuna supplier (Mitsubishi) - driving the global tuna crisis.

[Video]

So it was business closed for these tuna suppliers. Not just that but the ensuing chaos – including overwhelmed police blocking the way meant entire halls stopped trading for much of the day.

I remember an oceans campaigner telling me once about the Expo “It’s unbelievable, these guys are literally selling ocean destruction, neatly packaged in arty displays.” It didn’t take long to walk around to confirm this. 1800 stalls over a massive exhibition centre - fish, fish, fish everywhere.

= stopping an environmental crime from being committed.

Stopping the tuna