Thursday, June 29, 2006

Summer On The Creek

This is looking north from the wood bridge, showing the 80' tree that fell a few months back. The tree has been cut into chunks (but left in place to naturally decompose) so the water can flow freely. You can see the pool that was created behind the tree when it fell.

This is the view looking south, downstream to where the creek flows into the river. It has been in the 90's the past few days and the creek is refreshingly cold. About 4pm the afternoon breeze comes in. Lovely summer afternoons on the deck, overlooking the creek, watching the brazen hussy squirrels and the jays battle for turf in the creek.

The woodpeckers and chickadees have claimed the front yard and its birdfeeder. The jays will eat seed that drops to the ground and the birdfeeder is genuinely squirrel-proof. No more squirrels climbing on my window screen trying to get to the feeder.

Haven't seen mama deer and her babies for a while. Thankfully, the skunks seem to have moved on. Salmon on the grill tonight. Hope I find a peaceful place like this in Oregon.

Yesterday was my oldest daughter's 29th birthday. My youngest turns 18 this December. The years go by so fast, yet time seems to slow up here in my little cabin on the creek.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Quasi- Grandkids

These are my quasi-step-grandkids. My oldest daughter's partner's two daughters, aged almost 10 and 7.

They are down from Alaska for 6 weeks visit with their dad. I took Token, who was remarkably tolerant of being draped in a pink fur cape.

Very cute, well-behaved girls. I can see why my daughter is so taken with them.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Frontline Update

Frontline now has The Dark Side up for viewing on their website. They have broken the show up into 6 viewing segments, helpful for those of us on dialup. There are also extended interviews, charts, and even a discussion group regarding the show on that site.

Cheney and Rumsfeld are linked going back to the 50's and shown to be the Cold War throw-backs they are. The show starts with Cheney's decision immediately after 9/11 to put into action his and Rumsfeld's desire to invade Iraq. It connects all the dots: the choice NOT to caputure Bin Laden at ToraBora, the tossing out of of legitimate intelligence in favor of intelligence operations run by the Office of the Vice President that showed what Cheney needed to go to war, the destruction of the CIA, the outing of a CIA agent, it is all there for those searching for the truth about our country.

Cheney and Rumsfeld and their political operatives have co-opted our government for their own use.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Dick Cheney's War With The CIA


The problem with our current administration is they do politics not government.

I'm going to watch Frontline tonight, The Dark Side. The Dark Side profiles the actions of Dick Cheney in leading us into the Occupation of Iraq.

Per Frontline's Press Release:

Amid daily revelations about prewar intelligence and a growing scandal surrounding the indictment of the vice president's chief of staff and presidential adviser, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, FRONTLINE goes behind the headlines to investigate the internal war that was waged between the intelligence community and Richard Bruce Cheney, the most powerful vice president in the nation's history.

"A lot of what needs to be done here will have to be done quietly, without any discussion, using sources and methods that are available to our intelligence agencies," Cheney told Americans just after 9/11. He warned the public that the government would have to operate on the "dark side."


Cheney is not going to happy about this. He demands secrecy in all that he does. How much you want to bet that the budget ax comes after PBS again?

Monday, June 19, 2006

The Betrayal of Our Soldiers By Our Military

"The world's most powerful military failed to provide the armor that would have saved scores of American lives. One father would like to know why".

So begins a long article at the Washington Post entitled "Fatal Inaction" that should be mandatory reading by all. The above quote is also shown below the picture at left, which is from the article. It ran on Sunday, Father's Day.

It is the story of one of the 2,500 fathers who have had to bury a child as a result of the Bush Administrations' inaptitude at doing their job. It is the story of, as Rumsfeld so ineloquently put it, "going to war with the army you have". It is the story of plywood being used on unarmored vehicles by the boots on the ground to try to stop the preventable deaths. It is the story of soldiers passing out from lack of MRE's and water. Of being issued winter weight camo and arriving in 115 degree heat It is the story of grief. It is the story of the betrayal of our soldiers fighting in Iraq by our military and Congress, which is ruled by the Rubber Stamp Republicans.

It should be the top story on every cable and network news channel. However, since the media appear to be merely lapdogs of Bush, I'm surprised it made the Washington Post. Of course, this wasn't covered by the newsdesk at the Washington Post. It was written by reporters for their Sunday Magazine.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Zero Is Also A Number


Photo courtesy of Bobby G from the comments section at FireDogLake. If you are like me, you will have to put on your glasses to read the Zero statements at the bottom of the photo.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

2500 War Dead Is Just "A Number"?

That's right. According to this AP article, "It's a number," White House press secretary Tony Snow told reporters at the White House." in response to a question about our war dead reaching that sad milestone.

2,500 American men and women dead is more than a number. Each was a beloved son, daughter, wife, husband, father, mother, or partner who's death forever changed the life of those who loved them.

Meteor Blades at TheNextHurrah has a sobering post up that lists the names, ages, and rank of all 2,500 of the soldiers who have died by month of death in response to Tony Snow's declaration that 2,500 war dead is "a number".

Remember, the 2,500 "official death count" does not include non-service related deaths by our military, nor does it include the deaths of journalists covering the War or the number of Iraqi civilians or non-military American deaths in Iraq.

I will not forget that long list of names after reading Meteor Blades' post.

I will not forget Tony Snow's words either. They show just how little our soldiers mean to this administration.

Monday, June 12, 2006

The War on Women By the FDA

I am so friggin pissed. The man pictured to the left is Dr. David Hager, Bush's man at the FDA and was profiled on 60 Minutes last night.

Their report was about the FDA and Plan B, which is the common name for the "morning after pill". Didn't get to see it all but saw enough to piss me off and cause me to do some surfing later in the evening.

I found John's post at Crooks and Liars where he connected the dots for me. From John's post, I found links to other articles and the one that really got my dander up is this one from The Nation, entitled Dr. Hager's Family Values.

First, go read what CBS has to say, including this:
Did the Bush White House pressure the Food and Drug Administration to block the "Morning After Pill," known as Plan B, from being sold over-the-counter at your local drug store? That question is the focus of a hearing in federal court on June 13, where birth control advocates have sued the FDA to make the drug available without a prescription.
(emphasis mine)

Even though the drug is considered totally safe, the FDA has repeatedly postponed a decision, forcing the Federal hearing this Tuesday (as in tomorrow).

Then check out what C&L said regarding:
Here's the next drug they have targeted and guess what?...
Then go read the Nation. Take your blood pressure pills before ya do because THIS IS BUSH'S MAN on the FDA Advisory committee. A Fine Upstanding Christian Doctor. The rage started building for me on page two and was full-tilt by the last page. I've been trying to stay calm since.

From The Nation (2005):
Now that the Food and Drug Administration has again delayed over-the-counter sale of the morning-after pill Plan B, new lobbying efforts are underway to make the drug widely available. This report, published in May 30, provides useful background on how the personal ideology of Bush appointees is adversely affecting the health and welfare of women.

(snip)

And because of his warm relationship with the Bush Administration, Hager has had the opportunity to see his ideas influence federal policy. In December 2003 the FDA advisory committee of which he is a member was asked to consider whether emergency contraception, known as Plan B, should be made available over the counter. Over Hager's dissent, the committee voted overwhelmingly to approve the change. But the FDA rejected its recommendation, a highly unusual and controversial decision in which Hager, The Nation has learned, played a key role. Hager's reappointment to the committee, which does not require Congressional approval, is expected this June...
(again, emphasis mine)

Go Read. Come back. Now, take several deep breaths and calm down. Don't say I didn't warn ya.

Now that we have a taste for this man and his personal ideology (no, its not a pleasant taste), we have the answer to the question posed next.

How anyone could fight against a vaccination against a CANCER that will kills thousands of women every year?

That man will.

He's got a proven track record of success with his actions regarding Plan B. Given his personal ideology, I have grave concerns.

He is Bush's man, approved by the White House, trusted by the White House because he is a good upstanding Christian man.

Do I trust this man with women's health issues? Do I trust this man with any issue involving women?

No. Fucking. Way

YKos Without Me, A Summary of a Left Behind Progressive

I'm finished moping about not being able to hang out with all the cool kids in Vegas at YKos this past weekend. The convention has come to an end and I've been captivated by the live blogging, CSPAN coverage, and general buzz around blogtopia * this weekend. Some media coverage by the usual suspects, but some nice stuff too, including an article on the AP News wire and one from Britian. More to come, hopefully all good, after Markos appeared on Meet the Press yesterday. I have my fingers and toes crossed but I am generally not known for being optimistic. As my profile says, I'm double Irish. I'm well acquainted with my cousin, Murphy (him and that blankity-blank law of his).

I'm taking a wait and see attitude. Been busy in between hitting the refresh page button by doing some more packing and cleaning, getting my cabin by the creek ready for sale. If a private sale does not materialize by the end of next week, I'm signing the paperwork to put it on the market.

Still hanging out on various Oregon sites, trying to narrow down where I'm headed - I'm thinking along the coast between Nehalem Bay and Newport.

(yes, Skippy coined that phrase)

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Snuff Art Courtesy of President Bush

Displaying a photograph of enemy dead is against the Geneva Convention.

Hat tip to watertiger for pointing out it IS snuff art.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Honest, I'm Not

Really. It was not in the plans to get a headache Saturday that turned into a migraine Sunday. Especially since I had promised to make a slow cooked pork roast, very slow cooked so that the meat fell apart with the slightest pressure..

Dinner turned out yummy with fresh steamed asparagus and rice. I later made a fruit cocktail upside-down cake, which proves my point.

Now I get to start my Monday off with that loud blower. The yard really needs it and now that Bman has finished priming next door, I have no more reason to delay.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Chores

Actually, I haven't been blogging much this week (duh - nothing since Monday) because of doing chores. Been getting the house ready to sell and getting things in some semblance of order. Am starting to go through things and tossing that which needs to be tossed.

Am sorting stuff as I go, toss, put away or donate to Mountain Thrift.

The compound has its annual dumpster up at the clubhouse. Have an old desk and bookcase and other junk that's headed that way. The dumpster is only here for a couple of weeks and is getting full (no not just from me).

Tomorrow - power tools! Out comes the blower and the outside is getting a good setting straight. It's been in the 70's and low 80's up here all week - perfect yard work weather. The nights have been staying in the mid to high 50's - perfect sleeping weather. I have both windows in my bedroom wide open and fall asleep listening to the creek below and awake to the birds chirping. Where ever I end up, I will have trees, birds, and water.

Couldn't resist this Maxine!