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Okay, was just totally in a mood where I couldn't stand to watch anything that made me feel embarrassed for people on TV. So I got to flip between NCIS, Gilmore Girls and the House rerun very frequently:P:P And then just couldn't take watching Blind Justice since this was one of the painful make sure he knows he's blind episodes. So instead I ended up watching the end of one of BBC's reality shows on PBS---dont' know the name exactly, I assume it was somemthing like "can you be a spy". Basically the set up was the contestants had to complete assignments of following targets (who were hired/acting). Was actually pretty interesting and not entirely like most of the american reality shows (which generally started british, I know) where people are actually competeing against each other and trying to make the others lose you know. Instead it was much more teamwork oriented, but whoever did the poorest got sent home. Very interesting though I almost feel sorry for the winner -- I mean really, how can you go and try to be a spy in RL when your face has been plastered on worldwide TV?? Ouch.
Jun. 1st, 2005
Okay, she didn't list her birthdate on her user info, but she just outed herself in a post...and since I'm in a different time zone, I get to say it early:):)
Happy Birthday![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
inlovewithnight!!!
Any fic requests? Besides the Camouflage b-itch that continues to kick my ass that is!
Happy Birthday
inlovewithnight!!!Any fic requests? Besides the Camouflage b-itch that continues to kick my ass that is!
Really, in high school I found the entire political arena to be completely ridiculous. Then it was my opinion that it wasn't too much to ask that a lot of elected officials over the age of 30 behave rationally and generally in the public good. Since then, I've given up and become a complete cynic.
So, the round up of what has me bitching today:
1) According to Matt Miller (Nyties editorial), "Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, military pensions, civil service pensions, defense and interest on the debt" make up 75% of the entire federal budget. However, that is not substantially more than the 20-22% of the GDP that the last 4 administrations have spent on budgets. The reason for our incredible logarithmic (my exagerration, not his) increases in our deficit the last 6 years? Simple, Bush's tax cuts that have decreased revenues from 20% of the GDP to under 17%. Yet Bush and congress keep pushing for more spending (as well as wars, notice their stances on Iran and North Korea) and more tax cuts...the only place they want to cut back is social security and Medicare. How bout this, Mr. President? I'll support your cuts to social security and Medicare when you have ONE relative recieving the majority of their income and health coverage from those 2 programs. Sound fair?
2) Can't we all just get along? So apparently Bush has gotten tired of hearing Dobson's wailing and hystronics since he lost the filibuster issue. So now he wants to take a stand on John R. Bolton's confirmation. He is describing the honest and critical debate that is occuring in the Senate as "stalling" by Senate Democrats. News flash: there are moderate republicans (yes, I know, a truly endagered species) who are concerned about this man's fitness as well. But more than offering criticism, Bush has "indicated that he would not grant them access to intelligence documents they have demanded to see before allowing the confirmation to go ahead." Fortunately Democrats aren't backing down yet, but so far this drama is playing out incredibly similarly to the judge debate. Somehow I suspect thatDobson Bush wants to push all the buttons he can in order to cause the Nuclear Option for the Filibuster to occur before he starts nominating supreme court justices. Seriously, did they not teach how to compromise and negotiate in Yale when he went to school?
Oh, and the extreme irony of the situation -- these comments were made :"on the day the White House and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice marked the second anniversary of the White House program to slow nuclear proliferation, in which Mr. Bolton was a key player. The targets of the program include North Korea, Iran and Syria." (quotes taken from Richard W. Stevenson's linked article).
3) Planned Parenthood of Indiana has to show state investigators the medical records of some of its youngest patients, a judge ruled on Tuesday. "Since March, Attorney General Steve Carter has been seeking the records of more than 80 patients younger than 14, saying his Medicaid fraud unit is trying to determine whether children have been neglected because molesting incidents were not reported to the authorities as required. Under Indiana law, anyone under 14 who is sexually active is considered a victim of sexual abuse, and health providers are required to report such cases to the state authorities.
The Judge's 23 page decision comes down to: "The great public interest in the reporting, investigation and prosecution of child abuse trumps even the patient's interest in privileged communication with her physician, because in the end, both the patient and the state are benefited by the disclosure,"
Guess Judge Johnson didn't spend anytime watching Soap Operas during the 1980s when almost every show featuring a pregnant teenager ended with a public service announcement imploring sexually active youths to go to planned parenthood for contraception as well as health exams. I hope he and the Attorney General are ready to accept the responsibility when the teen pregnancy and HIV infection stats begin to raise in their home states as a response. Now I'm all for treating sexual abuse victims and prosecuting the offenders, but this isn't the way. And I'm sure that the employees of Planned Parenthood attempt to look for those patients that are under 14 and frequenting them as well as trying to advocate they get help if they need it. (quotes from linked article by Monica Davey).
Bloody fascists. That's all I have to say.
ETA...and thought I should mention this. As always, feel free to discuss in the comments. These are my reactions only, but I'm totally willing to talk more in depth if anyone wants.
So, the round up of what has me bitching today:
1) According to Matt Miller (Nyties editorial), "Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, military pensions, civil service pensions, defense and interest on the debt" make up 75% of the entire federal budget. However, that is not substantially more than the 20-22% of the GDP that the last 4 administrations have spent on budgets. The reason for our incredible logarithmic (my exagerration, not his) increases in our deficit the last 6 years? Simple, Bush's tax cuts that have decreased revenues from 20% of the GDP to under 17%. Yet Bush and congress keep pushing for more spending (as well as wars, notice their stances on Iran and North Korea) and more tax cuts...the only place they want to cut back is social security and Medicare. How bout this, Mr. President? I'll support your cuts to social security and Medicare when you have ONE relative recieving the majority of their income and health coverage from those 2 programs. Sound fair?
2) Can't we all just get along? So apparently Bush has gotten tired of hearing Dobson's wailing and hystronics since he lost the filibuster issue. So now he wants to take a stand on John R. Bolton's confirmation. He is describing the honest and critical debate that is occuring in the Senate as "stalling" by Senate Democrats. News flash: there are moderate republicans (yes, I know, a truly endagered species) who are concerned about this man's fitness as well. But more than offering criticism, Bush has "indicated that he would not grant them access to intelligence documents they have demanded to see before allowing the confirmation to go ahead." Fortunately Democrats aren't backing down yet, but so far this drama is playing out incredibly similarly to the judge debate. Somehow I suspect that
Oh, and the extreme irony of the situation -- these comments were made :"on the day the White House and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice marked the second anniversary of the White House program to slow nuclear proliferation, in which Mr. Bolton was a key player. The targets of the program include North Korea, Iran and Syria." (quotes taken from Richard W. Stevenson's linked article).
3) Planned Parenthood of Indiana has to show state investigators the medical records of some of its youngest patients, a judge ruled on Tuesday. "Since March, Attorney General Steve Carter has been seeking the records of more than 80 patients younger than 14, saying his Medicaid fraud unit is trying to determine whether children have been neglected because molesting incidents were not reported to the authorities as required. Under Indiana law, anyone under 14 who is sexually active is considered a victim of sexual abuse, and health providers are required to report such cases to the state authorities.
The Judge's 23 page decision comes down to: "The great public interest in the reporting, investigation and prosecution of child abuse trumps even the patient's interest in privileged communication with her physician, because in the end, both the patient and the state are benefited by the disclosure,"
Guess Judge Johnson didn't spend anytime watching Soap Operas during the 1980s when almost every show featuring a pregnant teenager ended with a public service announcement imploring sexually active youths to go to planned parenthood for contraception as well as health exams. I hope he and the Attorney General are ready to accept the responsibility when the teen pregnancy and HIV infection stats begin to raise in their home states as a response. Now I'm all for treating sexual abuse victims and prosecuting the offenders, but this isn't the way. And I'm sure that the employees of Planned Parenthood attempt to look for those patients that are under 14 and frequenting them as well as trying to advocate they get help if they need it. (quotes from linked article by Monica Davey).
Bloody fascists. That's all I have to say.
ETA...and thought I should mention this. As always, feel free to discuss in the comments. These are my reactions only, but I'm totally willing to talk more in depth if anyone wants.
Had to share this from www.dailykos.com
Jun. 1st, 2005 11:09 amCheers and Jeers: Wednesday
by Bill in Portland Maine
Wed Jun 1st, 2005 at 06:24:35 PDT
From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE...
(An oldie but a goodie) You know you're a Republican when...
...Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.
...trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
...A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.
...Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.
...the best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
...providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.
...global warming is junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
...being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.
It's June and I'm still a reality-based Democrat, thank you. Cheers and Jeers starts in There's Moreville... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
by Bill in Portland Maine
Wed Jun 1st, 2005 at 06:24:35 PDT
From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE...
(An oldie but a goodie) You know you're a Republican when...
...Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.
...trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
...A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.
...Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.
...the best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
...providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.
...global warming is junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
...being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.
It's June and I'm still a reality-based Democrat, thank you. Cheers and Jeers starts in There's Moreville... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
(no subject)
Jun. 1st, 2005 10:20 pmAkimbo -- TV's future? (NYtimes article)
This is an interesting article on something I hadn't heard of. Apparently this service Akimbo is offering "downloads" of TV shows etc that have opted to be included in their library. The service includes a set top box for downloading up to 200 hrs of media and hooks up to your tv for playing. interesting modification of the current torrent options (that are disappearing as we speak). Sadly not many networks or producers are opting in yet.
This is an interesting article on something I hadn't heard of. Apparently this service Akimbo is offering "downloads" of TV shows etc that have opted to be included in their library. The service includes a set top box for downloading up to 200 hrs of media and hooks up to your tv for playing. interesting modification of the current torrent options (that are disappearing as we speak). Sadly not many networks or producers are opting in yet.