mbaty

Matt Baty is an avid blogger who writes fiction on the side. He also has a BA in English literature, officially. He is addicted to the Huffingtonpost.

Recent comments by this user

Karl Rove's Contempt for the Constitution and the Public's Right to Know

Always they agree to talk in private with no record of the conversation. Conspiracy theorists, eat your hearts out. Because what they do know, they don't want you to know. What they have to say, they don't want you to hear--all of this with telecom immunity. How do you hold a shadow government in contempt, or perhaps, a government that only lives in shadows? posted 07/10/2008 at 01:22:58

The Spying Started Before September 11 -- That's The Whole Point

You still have not denied the charge that you work for a telecom. This charge has been raised several times. Are you pleading the fifth? Because 5 follows 4, and if you are so willing to give up the Fourth, why not the Fifth as well? posted 07/06/2008 at 19:02:32

How Dare They Rip The Fourth Amendment?

Granting telecoms immunity will not help the economy, either. Because every single American who uses a phone would get a piece of that legislative reparation pie. It would be the biggest class action lawsuit in history, and it just might help level the playing field for all Americans. Can you imagine the way those awarded checks would stimulate the economy? But it's the same reason Dentists can't admit that metal fillings are poisonous, or why the phamaceutical industry will not be held fully accountable for creating autism with vaccines. And it's the same reason the oil industry will not be held responsible for keeping us all dependant on polluting fossil fuels, and, apparently, oil spills, despite huge earnings in an economic downturn. We've all been duped to a certain degree, and we all deserve to be compensated. But will Congress do that? Probably not. Nevertheless, they could at least put a stop to it. posted 07/05/2008 at 20:25:40

Switching Sides On The Death Penalty

Let's fight violence with violence, right? The energy you put out comes back, though, and when we say we are against the death penalty, it's because murdering someone because they "deserve" it is still murder. These societal abberations must be dealt with at a different level. Does the person killed by the state learn anything by being killed? And what do we learn? An eye for an eye? Where is the evolution in that?
Life in prison is worse anyway. posted 07/06/2008 at 19:22:18

Municipal Wireless, The World and Obama

"Isn't that what taxes are for?" Indeed, is it too socialistic to believe that taxes should be used to make everyone's life better, to build sustainable infrastructures that will support our continued thriving? posted 07/06/2008 at 19:08:54

A Dirty Picture For Patriots Of All Ages

Exactly, it isn't the Earth we will save or destroy, it is the ability of the Earth to support Human life. The Earth will continue with or without Humans. We have to be smart about it, and I think a lot of people realize now that the life we save may be our own. Whatever our motives, or whatever the motives are for companies to clean up their act, in the end the goal must be reached: sustainability for all creatures on the planet, and compassion for all beings, including the conglomerate being, Earth. posted 07/06/2008 at 18:10:58

The Simple Arithmetic of a Fraudulent Surge

With all these people having PTSD, and all the children diagnosed with autism, how much longer can we keep up this economy, this military, or this way of doing business? But they know they can't bring back the draft, or there will be a surge of "hippies" rallying that, finally, enough is enough. Right now, though, it's kind of up to the troops to stand up for themselves, and when they do (as some have already done) it will be up to us to support them. posted 07/04/2008 at 21:53:16

A Just Democracy

We just have to decide what kind of a world we want to create and live in--and then take the existing world there with us, including our political system, which serves an important purpose. Redefine the function of government as an organizing tool of the elecorate. posted 07/03/2008 at 23:09:25

Federal Court Cancels Vaccine-Autism Panel

1. It's the schedule of vaccines, not necessarily the vaccines, but the sheer amount of vaccines given together that cause autism.
2. There is irrefutable proof that many vaccines contain known neurotoxins and heavy metals.
3. Given the weight and size of children, as well as the stages of brain development, it would stand to reason that injecting them with neurotoxins and heavy metals, as well as combining multiple effective and safe vaccines would have an effect on their development.
4. Why is anyone giving the pharmaceutical industry a free pass--remember Vioxx? How about Ambien? How about all of the doctors they have paid to sign on to dubious studies as if they wrote them or had any place in the supposed study? What about the lobbyists? And, finally, what about the ridiculous war on any drug that comes directly from a plant or is not patentable, while endless TV commercials shill drugs for made up illnesses like Restless Leg Syndrom? posted 07/05/2008 at 21:18:11

Iraq: The 2 Key Differences Between Obama and McCain that Must be Emphasized

Obama is a good start to the revolution, but we all have to be involved, because one man can't turn this whole thing around. For instance, neither Bush nor Cheney are truly responsible for this mess, but they did collude with many others to create it. Should they be held responsible? Probably, but we are all in this together. Obama can be a rallying force, but he can't be the ultimate answer. posted 07/04/2008 at 02:46:08

Kylie Minogue Honored By Prince Charles

Wow posted 07/03/2008 at 23:18:57

Panic, Anyone?

Don't panic. We have to restructure the economy, i.e. trying new things and seeing what really works. What we have right now is not working. A consumer based economy is obviously doomed when the consumer can't buy things. Maybe there's another way, and maybe, just maybe Obama will be just what we need during this amazing transition. posted 07/04/2008 at 02:13:41

Artificial Dissemination

I like this.
I think the internet has not quite reached it's full potential, but there is an organizational process going on within the fractionalized echo chambers. This Huffington site is one of them, organizing important stories and context information that relates to the news the Big media is reporting.
In the mathmatics of infinity there is no remainder. The confluence of events cannot be blamed on one person, but neither can total responsibility be ceded. That's why we are on the interwebs, pushing for journalistic integrity, seeking the dots that connect. posted 07/04/2008 at 19:47:07

Bill Gates' Misguided Capitalism

Socialism on it's own fails, as does Capitolism, to adress the needs of every individual. It is only a combination of both that will lead to a structure of true freedom. But we must decide what our moral priorities are--is it ok for anyone to go without food, even if they "deserve" it? Is it ok for people to not have clean drinking water, even if they don't have two dimes to rub together? On planet Earth? But, you see, where is the incentive? I certainly don't want to lay a bunch of pipes for free so someone has water, but I also believe that there's plenty of water for all. This is what government is supposed to do--it's supposed to be an organizing tool for the people to create the conditions necessary to thrive.
One is not wrong and the other right--socialism and capitolism combined can work wonders. posted 07/04/2008 at 21:30:13

Magic Mushrooms: Study Says They Help Some See Their Spiritual Side

Who needs these 'spiritual' experiences? I'll just drink a pint of vodka because then I'm not a 'drug user.' posted 07/02/2008 at 20:29:14

Unintelligent Design

Evolution is true like Newtonian physics is true; it's true to a certain degree. Intelligent design, while being so vague as to not necessarily mean very much, is still true to a certain degree. The arguments on both sides are not real, because both evolution and intelligence are inherent in the design.
You can't have evolution without some intelligence, and you can't have intelligence without implied evolution. Remember the most basic article of faith: this is not all that we are.
Just because religion has been used to control and manipulate a large cross-section of humanity for eons does not mean it's not at all valid, and similarly, just because Science has been hijacked in favor of continuous "research" does not mean that Science can't answer our questions. But quantum physics should at least give you a clue that Science and Spirituality are eventually the same thing. And that this physical sensational dimension is not all there is. posted 07/05/2008 at 21:00:12

Memo to Obama: Moving to the Middle is for Losers

Most 'swing' voters are already on Obama's side, and I would venture to say that anyone claiming to be an Independant is only doing so because of the way the Democrats have handled the Bush presidency the last couple years. They don't want to commit to either side or be labeled as such, but most of them have come to that decision through dissatisfaction with the way things are and the way they seem to want to stay. Obama represents a change that is desperately needed--Independants know that, but they aren't going to sit there and say they will vote for you just because of party affiliation. They want more than us vs. them, and Hopefully, Obama will deliver that. Most of us aren't nearly as polarized as the media would have you believe, but we do want something...else. Another choice. Obama can and should be that other choice. posted 07/05/2008 at 17:49:16

Ice on Mars: Good for the Jews?

Oh Earth! Teeming with endless life of endless varieties, all popping up in their environment, perfectly suited for the place it exists. From the macro to the micro, from the dinosaurs to the smallest bacteria, and, above all, the mystery of it. The sun and moon and Earth perfectly synchronized in orbit so that this planet can support our life. Don't we all long to make sense of it? To know that this is not all there is, and to understand why. The word "God" has been hijacked by mental ideas made up by men who longed to understand--and who thought that they did. I prefer the Jewish "Ein Soph," the undefineable limitless force/source. posted 07/06/2008 at 17:56:26

"Tell All The Drag Queens to Stay Home"

It's just fun, that's all. And so many of us spent so much time being ashamed and hating something intrinsic and unchangeable about ourselves, that when we finally reach past that illusion we are compelled to express pride in what and who we are. And we like to have fun like everyone else, but we no longer need to conform to some robotic gender-identity role of "boys wear this," and "girls do that." It is truly boring to most of us anyway. posted 07/02/2008 at 20:05:45

Since Bad Government Costs the Same as Good, Let's Choose Good

And even though electing Obama isn't going to make all problems into solutions right away, it is indeed a change we can't afford to miss. It's a chance we better take. posted 06/29/2008 at 00:00:11

Moon Over Suburbia

Oh my gods, it's a wardrobe malfunction! Jesus, when will we be done with puritanical standards of being based on fear of the body? When will we finally get our priorities straight? This is a travesty just below the "Don't taze me bro" incident, when a student was shot with electricity for daring to ask a tough political question. This is so ass-backwards. posted 06/29/2008 at 00:29:25

Why McCain's "Drill Here, Drill Now" Proposal Fails the Supply/Demand Reality Check

It is only our modern society that has decided to burn oil in combustion engines--why not another way? Aren't we more inventive than that? Technology needs to be used in ways that make our lives better, and instead all of the innovations have been funnelled through gas production and creation of more and more inefficient vehicles. My 1984 car gets better mileage than many 2008 models--how does that even make any sense given the massive technological revolution that has happened in this country over the last 25 years? And all this talk about "reducing carbon emissions by 2050" is ludicrous. We better be way beyond oil and fossil fuels before 2050--the North Pole is about to become open sea for the first time since our version of history started--this year.
And let's not even think about what purpose the oil actually serves within the planetary body or what the consequences are of draining it all out. posted 06/26/2008 at 23:55:29

FearWatch '08: Keeping an Eye Out for GOP Fear-Mongering

Maybe we should also have a "Doublespeak Watch 08" to look out for misleading titles of bills or slogans, like The Patriot Act, for instance. Things that are clearly deceptively named. posted 06/26/2008 at 00:02:07

John McCain Should Probably Stop Calling Barack Obama "Dr. No"

It's such an obscure reference that I doubt any McCain supporters are nodding their heads in shared allusion--unless they are about as old as McCain and were forced to read the book in school--but it's not a classic I've heard of. It just sounds like a cop-out to me--full of sound and fury and signifying nothing, but thanks for the actual history lesson on the reference. Now it's not only inane it's racist. posted 06/26/2008 at 04:02:31

Is America Ready for Another White Male President?

Amen. No we don't want just another white man president, and I have friends who supported Hillary just because women are generally more emotional and therefore more empathetic (i.e. less likely to wage a 'pre-emptive' war against anyone just for the sake of a grudge and/or profits.) Also, for people in my age bracket, race really isn't an issue. We've grown up with dozens of African-American celebrities and personalities on tv and the radio not to mention in our peer groups. And, similar to the generation born after mine, we know gay people if we aren't one ourselves. That means we can't be afraid of the unknown anymore. And we won't be swayed by straw-men arguments or vile intolerance based on religious ignorance. And we can't dehumanize people anymore while remaining in our denial. So the far rights' hold has been slipping naturally for quite a few years, and until they overhaul their message to be inclusive, they will lose. What we really want is someone who can turn this thing around. We've tried white men. We can't blame all white men either, but we're ready to branch out. posted 06/16/2008 at 00:01:24

The Coming Storm (or, why McCain as Nominee is Great for Democrats)

It's an important question because he hasn't answered and has remained as quiet as possible on the issue, and remember, it's the Republicans that want to control your sex life, even banning birth control in more conservative circles. And after what a huge deal they made over Bill Clinton getting a blow job, the question is relevant. Especially considering how many impeachable offenses George W has racked up. posted 06/16/2008 at 02:28:32

Will High Gas Prices Be A Campaign Issue -- Against Obama and the Democrats?

We will have to take responsibility for the way we get around. It's very clear that anyone making a sh!tload off of high gas prices isn't really going to be concerned about the future or the climate, especially as they claim to still have reasonable doubt. We can't expect them to give up those profits, because if you were making that money you wouldn't want to either. That's why we need some regulations and we need a lot of organized individuals coming up with inventive efficient solutions for transportation infrastructure. And we have several countries that have already tried successful systems. We can use those models and improve on them. But we will have to be the ones taking responsibility, because to these profiteers, money is money right now, and saving the Earth? That falls under "Important but not urgent" to them. posted 06/14/2008 at 02:23:41

Christian Ministry Attacks Obama and Lies About Bibles For Our Troops

It's so obvious that, whether or not their fears are founded, they are doing the exact same things they claim the "Muslims" are doing--trying to convert followers and spread their particular "holy book." Maybe some Muslims are trying to do that, but they probably feel the same way about their "Christian" counterparts. What we need is a hybrid Christian-Muslim child who can unite us and lead the way to peace and reconciliation. A child that can show us the shape of things to come. posted 06/15/2008 at 01:09:42

My Father's Secret

It's sad, but I see a lot of older men who are afraid to "come out" after being raised in an atmosphere of unwritten gender-identity rules and old-tyme religion. I know that for me it was a challenge to face my fears about faith and god and the ways we accept or reject ourselves, but I'm young. It saddens me to see men who've spent their whole life trying to cover-up a compulsive, barely awknowledged, and yet incredibly rich and complex side of themselves. It's not a sin to be left-handed, but it may be a sin to always be writing with the right hand just to keep the "love" of those close to you. It's a sin because that isn't real love; it's fear. Don't betray yourself in order to not betray another. That is the highest betrayal. posted 06/15/2008 at 00:22:05

Court To Record Labels: Your "Rules" About Reselling Promotional CDs Are Bogus

We have to feed our children too! posted 06/14/2008 at 05:40:48

A New World or No World? (Part 1)

First we must vizualize it, emulate it personally. We don't have to fight to bring this new world into view, the new world wants to exist, and there are many who want it to exist. Using the unlimited field of Intelligent Awareness and Quantum Compassion, with focused intent, is where we start building a world beyond divisive polarities. posted 06/12/2008 at 20:09:51

War, Inc: Cusack's Savage Satire Strikes a Chord with Soldiers and Their Families

As I was reading this I could easily imagine people in the future reading it, after War Inc has become an iconic film and we look back at the reincarnation of Jonathan Swift, John Cusack. posted 06/12/2008 at 20:05:02

The Four Things Necessary to Turn this Historic Opportunity into Progressive Realignment

You said it. posted 06/12/2008 at 20:17:13

Sorry, Mr. President, But Your Legacy Is More Awful Than You Think

You are right, the history is being written now, and not necessarily by 'the winners.' Because of the interwebs we won't have to look back on some white-washed absence-heart-fonder History text book re-telling, like with Reagan. All of the facts are linkable right now, including many diverse points of view. posted 06/15/2008 at 04:43:01

8 Signs Your Partner Is Addicted To Porn

This isn't about porn, it's about deception and secrets and a hostile atmosphere to truly expressing feelings with your partner. No matter what they are hiding, this list could apply to them. This is about not feeling comfortable enough with your partner to tell them whatever it is that's being secretly desired. I don't even know how someone could consider watching porn as Adultery, but I know there are women (and men) who believe this way, and that mental position could be a huge communication block if the other partner enjoys porn or sometimes needs time to be with themself. The fear is always, "If I confess, will they still love me?" And that's a big fear for a lot of people about a lot of things, but in an atmosphere where even something as relatively innocent as porn can't be discussed rationally between two people with a long-term agreement, how can the relationship even survive?
Communication is the key. And honesty. posted 06/14/2008 at 02:34:01

The Rapture: You've Been Left Behind - Now What?

I guess this guy couldn't write terrible books about the end-times. But an internet marketing scheme might be a better idea anyway. posted 06/11/2008 at 19:40:07

Honey, I Want to Sleep With Other People

All of those letters are about one thing: expressing honestly your feelings/ desires with your partner. And every serious committed relationship has an agreement--whether that's monogamy or not. I prefer honesty over monogamy. No one can replace me or you, and you love everyone differently. Sex isn't going to ruin that loyalty, as long as there's honesty. Monogamy should be an organic thing that happens out of pure choice, not contracts that restrict and lead to resentment. But everyone has their boundaries, and to each their own. posted 06/11/2008 at 20:48:32

I Was Wrong About The War On Drugs -- It's A Failure

You can't say the "free market" solves problems legitimately, because as many problems as it solves it creates a lot more. And the government does have a role in shaping society--government at best is an organizing tool of the people it governs. It is not a police state or a moral nanny, telling you what you can and can't put into your body (patented pills? Yes. A plant that grows? No.) Government definitely has it's place in any functioning society, but when government tries to interfere with the free will of millions of people, then it will inevitably fail. Remember The Secret? You can't reduce supply until you reduce demand, and that means you have to change peoples' minds. Obviously though, lies won't work. Most of us grew up with some kind of "Drug Resistance" program that was full of disinformation and exaggeration, which only leads to dissilusionment later. Dissilusionment of the propaganda concerning drugs, and by extention, anything else the powers that be say. Fear only works in the short term to change peoples' behavior, but it's costing us a lot to be so addicted to using it. posted 06/15/2008 at 19:24:07

Vetting the Veeps: One Question to Ask

The thing is, the Bush presidency wouldn't have been so disastrous without Cheney pulling any strings, but it's become clear that Bush was only intended as a figurehead. That's why we have to be really careful about who we elect as Vice President. It's not enough to choose the right president. We also have to make sure the Vice President isn't the one who's really getting elected next time. posted 06/15/2008 at 21:39:57

The Anti-Family Planning Movement: Coming to a Bedroom Nearest You

They are just trying to hold on to their fading relevance and power in society. It's not going to work. They are running out of things to rail about, but as always, make it about sex and you're bound to get some reaction. posted 06/08/2008 at 21:23:07

Teenage Wasteland? Only If We Don't React

Even in the gay community condom use has declined, and HIV is seen as something dangerous but not fatal. Since sexuality has been repressed by religious institutions since those institutions began, it's only logical we would have some fallout. And when parents are not comfortable or willing to discuss sexuality with their kids--or allow their kids to discuss it--it does a disservice to all those naive teenagers who are dealing with changing hormones. Some of the abstinence-only supporters also believe that birth control is a "sin," and some of them have so many kids it's unfathomable, so I'm sure they don't worry about teenage pregnancies, but when society is so squeamish about something so basic and inherent as sexuality, we're bound to get less than stellar results. This isn't just about sex ed, it's about the way we approach sexuality. For instance, why are sexually explicit movies rated X or NC17, while movies like SAW1-4 are only rated R? Doesn't this sound a bit backwards to anyone else? A bit insane? posted 06/05/2008 at 20:36:21

"American Idol" Producer: We Didn't Want Bush On "Idol Gives Back"

Later he can write a tell-all about how he privately objected. posted 06/05/2008 at 18:55:31

6 Other Things that Aren't "Change We Can Believe In"

My friends, we are 'winning' in Iraq, and we must stay the course, even if it's for a hundred thousand years, even if we have to take out another credit card, we must not back down my friends. posted 06/05/2008 at 18:34:44

Gay Muslims Make a Familiar Point

Some of the fundamentalists seem to get their sense of power from a polarization effect, one side versus the other. Perhaps they are afraid that without fear they will have no relevance, but in reality if they don't get rid of all the irrational fear--of sex, of women, of a new interpretation--they will be doomed to irrelevance. We've already seen the decline in this country of the so-called religious right's political power. It's just sad to look at other countries and see that, as far as we've come, they have a very long ways to go. Still, we are more connected than ever, and the world is changing fast. But it's very scary to give up beliefs that have formed your identiy most of your life. posted 06/05/2008 at 19:03:35

My Conversation With the Next President

Raise taxes and cut spending may be the sober logical practical thing to do, but do you think Americans want to pay more taxes so that we can fight more ridiculous wars? The government has to do more to prove to the American people that their money will be invested in them--in the people who need aid in New Orleans to the people who were fooled by deceptive mortgages to simply preparing an infrastructure that allows Americans to live well. We have the technology, and we basically know many steps we can take to create a sustainable situation in this country. But until the government becomes financially transparent and accountable and responsible, they cannot justify raising taxes. And most people won't hear of it. posted 06/05/2008 at 03:44:41

Students of Christianity, Yes. Virginity, No.

I'm glad you've come to that conclusion, because what you repress only surfaces elsewhere, manifesting as some kind of perversion, and what you resist persists. The Catholics have had their day of virginity--and it really hasn't worked, now has it? Sexuality is an integral part of a healthy body and energy system. Which is part of the reason the church repressed it--it was powerful and empowering. Being a minister to others goes beyond petty bible interpretations. posted 04/04/2008 at 18:28:33

Jesus for President, a Review for Atheists -- Part 2: God's Story

Is believing in a god when the belief actually hinders your ability to see the light of truth sort of like believing and worshipping "His Divine Shadow?" I used to be a Christian, reading all sorts of zany, X-treme! books like this, all of which are based on 'the bible,' an old Catholic book, that is to say, manipulated and filtered through the Catholic church, chopped up and served exactly as they wanted you to see it. Much of the context is missing, and many subtle details were added. The book is not without it's historical validity, but there are so many great books on Spirituality and even on Jesus that offer so much more insight than constantly poring through the Bible looking for answers that were taken out in the first place. In religion, you always have to find the "mystical" sect if you want the truths behind the truths, the context behind the parables. posted 04/03/2008 at 03:23:57

Why Have A Union?

Do we need an official union to band together? We do have the power, and sometimes it takes us being organized to truly utilize that leverage, but it's not necessary to have an official union. Someday someone who owns a business will realize that a "living wage" not only makes the worker happy but improves production all-around. To say that unions "Strong arm" companies into paying "ridiculous" wages is almost an immoral statement, given the growing discrepancy between the super rich and the just-below-poverty-liners. When Bear Stearns' CEO can walk away after selling his shares and ruining his company, and all the people working there are left to fend for themselves, something is horribly wrong. But we can stand united without a union just as much as with one--imagine if all the soldiers go see "stop loss" this week and then decide to no longer support this Iraq Democracy Oil project/ war...then we wouldn't have to wait for November. posted 03/29/2008 at 20:34:35

Lucy Lawless On "Battlestar Galactica," Goofing With Adam Sandler, And Always Being The Bad Girl

Love this show, and I'm glad they brought her back. Can't wait. posted 03/30/2008 at 19:39:21

Bear's Cayne Takes $900 Million Loss, Seeks Answers in Religion

He had to sell his shares for "just 61 million." Jeez, it's like a travesty, like totally, that sucks dude. Let's hope he can pick himself up and keep going. When life hands you lemons, right? posted 03/30/2008 at 19:26:46

Stop-Loss: This Generation's Deer Hunter

How romantic for a man to go and fight for what he believes, to receive the "red badge of courage!" What valiant heroics! And oh the beautiful grief for those who died!
Isn't it just madness? This movie is especially inspiring because it encourages the troops to think for themselves and to demand the respect they deserve from an army that has refused to treat Veterans with the proper care, that has kicked out valuable translators because of their sexual orientation, that has skimped on necessary protections because it spends too much on privatized, unnacountable defense contracts to Cheney's friends, and then demands that the troops don't get any time off. Have you looked at the suicide rate for returning vets? This is the loss we should stop. posted 03/28/2008 at 17:59:23

Why the Administration Won't Define Success in Iraq

You won't create peace with more violence, no matter how lucrative those defense contracts are. War does not create peace, only a momentary stillness after everyone is dead--or when the place is "ethnically cleansed" --that some can call "peace." posted 03/28/2008 at 17:43:44

It's Time to Reregulate Business

Temper the greed with compassion, cook the books with love, if you realize there is enough, you don't have to hoard all that stuff. We are all in this together. posted 03/28/2008 at 18:15:21

Who is the Iraqi Army?

So we're supporting the Iran-backed militias, while at the same time drumbeating a possible military interaction with Iran? Sounds fishy at best, and we all know how much some profiteers would love another war--no bid contracts anyone? Get out your lizard brains and start shouting, "terrorists!" and "Al Queda!" and "Osama bin bla blah!" Let's trample out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored!
The entire middle-east religious culture is completely misunderstood by most Americans who simply can't relate. I can't tell the difference between a Shia and a Sunni or a Kurd or whatever, and they probably can't tell the difference between a Catholic and a Protestant. posted 03/30/2008 at 22:27:51

Woman Says TSA Forced Piercings Removal

These airport security bastards have gone too far, manipulating a woman into seeing her breasts in the name of "safety." Yeah, got any piercings on any other 'naughty' body parts? Better check my prince albert--you know, for "safety" reasons. But be careful, while you're down there I may just "hair gel" you to death. Let's hope she sues and wins. posted 03/30/2008 at 19:44:42

Don't Give Up Your Day Job, Jackass

It could be sheer brilliance; have the writers write a joke about the deal they got, get the network head to deliver it and bam! Network head looks like an ass. And he does. posted 03/27/2008 at 22:05:05

Taxpayers: Pay Up, Suckers!

Excellent post. We've got to examine the role of government in our lives in 2008. Why have a government at all if that government can't provide basic services and fulfill basic needs to the people? If we didn't already have a government, why would we set one up? The purpose of government is to empower the people governed--and while some say that Military force and "defense" is an important function of government, that certainly doesn't rationalize spending more than all other countries combined. Especially while places like New Orleans aren't even fully rebuilt yet. This isn't a monarchy, this is Us, together, in this same boat. posted 03/27/2008 at 17:54:46

Brother, Can You Spare A Grand?

This is just part of the process of Americans loosening the tether of financial institutions; peer-to-peer lending, bartering, borrowing, sharing, and freeganing...because banks aren't hated for nothing; they're hated because they use deceptive tactics to make money--from those whose money fuels their risky business. And we the people are just taking the power back. After all, if it weren't for friends and family, some of us wouldn't be here. We aren't CEO's after all; we can't expect uncle Sam to bail us out. We have tip jars because we don't get to vote on raising our salaries every year like Congress. Wall Street may be up or down, but I've still got to eat. posted 03/27/2008 at 18:30:41

What I Said On Larry King Live

You are absolutely right; there is a lot more the government can do that the private sector wouldn't really be willing to do--and after all, what is the purpose of government? This isn't a monarchy. posted 03/26/2008 at 18:33:00

Catholic-Bashing

Any organization that continuously tries to dictate how people "should" live while at the same time being caught in an epidemic sexual/power scandal involving non-consenting children is obviously irrelevant. posted 03/22/2008 at 18:44:29

New Housing Crisis, Old Isms

I think Disaster Capitolism just about covers all the other isms, it's like the Sponsoring Ism behind all the rest...it's a military disaster or it's a financial disaster, but no matter what kind of disaster, someone's trying to capitolize on it, using the shock and awe and temporary paralysis to invoke and implement whatever is most profitable to the person capitolizing--and usually they are already very rich and very connected to politicians, many of whom have the power to litigate or earmark the changes desired. By the time our heads have stopped spinning, there's new legislation in place that legitimizes the capitolistic policies that were rushed into place after 'the disaster.' posted 03/22/2008 at 18:25:43

The Most Dramatically Tragic Week

It's interesting that you bring up Trust as an integral part of this whole mess; it is the consumer who has lost trust in the lenders, in the banks and the house of cards that is the economy, and while the books may say, "this much debt," the consumers know that much of that debt was tacked on using fine print technicalities, while the consumer was not informed. When my former bank says that they have to cover so much debt, I know that, in fact, most of that debt was added on in the form of--dare I say, predatory--fees and charges that were added arbitrarily based upon policies that were set down without any thought to my, or any other consumer's' well being. This is not real debt; and as a result, I don't trust them anymore. So while we continue to bail out the big boys, the banks can go on adding fee after charge after interest and continue to dig a hole for the consumers to not be able to crawl out of, while continuing to cry, "bad debt." No, the debt is a debt of trust, and the lenders lost it when they became unabashedly greedy. posted 03/22/2008 at 22:20:31