the 941

It’s Monday morning, bad weather is looming on the horizon, so let’s get right to the bad news:

• Is being intelligent a political liability in America?

• The bloom is off the rose at the Beijing Games.

• Heartless cop lets man’s dog die during traffic stop.

• Economic collapse approaches.How does double-digit inflation sound?

• The average U.K citizen is filmed by 3,000 government cameras every day. The United States is pissed off that we’re so far behind and is working to catch up.

• Federal court rules that the state has more important things to worry about that voters’ rights.

• If you go to the Democratic National Convention you may end up at “Gitmo on the Platte.”

•  The protests at both conventions are expected to be huge.

• Why does the mainstream media give John McCain pass after pass?

• The return of debtor’s prison?

• What is U.S. prison labor making for you? You’ll be surprised.

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Chapter 11 — Tough cookies for Mrs. Fields.

Julia Child, secret agent chef.

30 Seconds sued for 30 million for failing to deliver the “goods.” (Shouldn’t Jordan Catalano and co. get a bonus for NOT making “music”?)

Where were you when Phelps landed his eighth (and his seventh the night prior)?

That means none of us were at the movies, and the numbers prove it.

August anniversary, part 1: E.P.’s death.

August anniversary, part 2: Madge’s birth.

Trump’s latest role: McMahon’s landlord.

(more…)

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“Congressman in Court” commercial looks at Buchanan’s history of legal woes

Christine Jennings for U.S. Congress launched a new television ad that began airing Friday across the 13th Congressional District. The ad, entitled “Our Congressman in Court,” points out that Vern Buchanan and his businesses have been sued more than 180 times, including recent lawsuits involving former employees who are alleging systematic consumer fraud, along with significant violations of campaign finance law.

“Incredibly, Vern Buchanan and his companies have been sued more than 180 times, from former franchisees of the American Speedy printing company that went bankrupt to whistleblowers at his car dealerships who lost their jobs,” said Jennings spokesperson Melissa Smith. “Voters need to know about this longstanding pattern of Buchanan and the way he has done business.  It’s earned him the title of “Our Congressman in Court.” Florida’s 13th District deserves a representative who will protect consumers and set an example of integrity and leadership. Buchanan should be accountable and provide clear responses to these allegations.”

For more, go to www.ourcongressmanincourt.com.

The script of the ad follows:

Christine Jennings: I’m Christine Jennings and I approve this ad.

Announcer: This is the defendant – Congressman Vern Buchanan. He and his companies have been sued over 180 times. And now Vern Buchanan’s being taken to court by former employees who say they were forced to give to his congressional campaign. These people are not actors. These are actual litigants who have sued Vern Buchanan and his companies when they’ve thought he’s taken the law for granted.  To find out more about the “Courtroom Congressman,” stay tuned to “OurCongressmaninCourt.com.”

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According to the Spanish newspaper ABC, Vladimir Nabokov’s unfinished novel, The Original of Laura, will be published September of next year. Nabokov had asked that the book be burned after his death. The decision was left in the hands of his son Dmitri.

Slate’s Ron Rosenbaum, who once called for the book to be published, now regrets his decision. He refers to “a few troubling paragraphs” in the manuscript he read. Hmm.

Personally, I don’t think it should have been published. But haven’t made up my mind on whether I’ll read it. Rosebaum suggested a good compromise: stow the manuscript in a restricted archive rather than publish it as a novel.

What do you think?

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 They don’t hate us because we’re free. They hate us because they were taught to hate us:

• It’s official; Saudi Arabia won’t be held responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

• The Transportation Security Agency won’t tell you that you’re on a “no-fly” list, but it also won’t tell you if you are on one. It’s starting to make the Stasi look like a bunch of first-graders playing ring around rosy.

• A look inside the jail where protestors will be spending their time at the Democratic National Convention. Seen on sign: “Warning, stun guns will be used in this facility.”

• Thought crimes legislation already being implemented.

• Two of the government’s favorite words: plausible deniability.

• The truth is rising:

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Wind energy may have a nominal carbon footprint, but the proliferation of windmills has its own problems. That the giant turbines have been killing loads of birds is well-documented, but just appearing in the radar screen are the hazards to human health.

• Do we want a dangerous and unstable person in charge during stressful foreign relations events like last week’s invasion of Georgia by Russia? I don’t think so.

• Where are the WMD? Of course, if we can’t find them, we’ll have to plant them. As every cop will tell you, you have to have a throwaway.

• Martial law expands in Arkansas.

• New robot has biological brain. Have we learned nothing from science fiction movies?

•  Get ready for the flu pandemic lockdown.

• Again, best listened to loud:

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P. Hilton sued for shutting the flip up. Isn’t that a sign of the apocalypse? All of that?

P. Diddy should be sued for not shutting the flip up.

Aw, we heart you, comeback Britz: You can take the country out of the girl, but…

Elvis and Priscilla Barbie dolls. They’re right about the plastic Priscilla thing, just waaaaay early. (Now where’s our matching Graceland Barbie Dreamhouse?)

Uncle Joey finally talks about that song. You oughta know what we’re talking about.

The Chupacabra does exist, and this proves it. Really?

Bigfoot, too, though alive? Not so much.

Another broken record for Phelps, another broken ratings record for NBC.

“John Edwards in a onesie.” Gadzooks.

(more…)

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First, Time Out New York explained “Why the hipster must die.”

Then, Adbusters ran “Hipster: The Dead End of Western Civilization.”

Mod, hippie, punk, emo, hipster. Has yet another subgroup fallen in the evolution of counterculture? When do we get to the guy who walks upright and leads us into a golden age of perpetual coolness?

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Goal: Put conservative-leaning people into what are supposed to be non-partisan jobs at the Justice Department, and, if possible, get away with it scot-free.  Centrist and liberal candidates are quietly turned aside for several years as conservatives flow into what was supposed to be a neutral department. Time passes; the attorney general resigns and his minions who were directly responsible for the hiring fiasco move on to cushy jobs at right-wing think tanks. Story comes into open. Politicians talk it to death. New AG eventually decides that no one will be punished. To quote Michael Mukasey, “… not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime.” I wonder if we can try that one out they next time one of us breaks the law. Result: Justice Department is now loaded with partisan hacks, none of whom will lose their jobs and those responsible for the illegal hiring won’t get a black mark on their permanent record. It’s pathetic.

• Another day, another death, another human rights violation by the U.S. justice system.

• Who killed Private LaVena Lynn Johnson?

• Strict anti-cucumber laws hit Iraq.

• Return of Fairness Doctrine is a really bad idea.

• Hackers get pwned by one of their own.

• According to the U.S. military’s own newspaper, Stars and Stripes, U.S. forces are still in the middle of the Russia-Georgia conflict.

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This image, taken of a certain sports fan and Olympics attendee, kinda says it all, doncha think?

“ASU! ASU! ASU!”

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