SaltWaterCroc

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11/03/04--08:48: A New Century, A New Party (chan 1576707)

If this election proved one thing, it is that the parties in this election are different in many ways than the parties of the last century.  Just as the Republicans no longer resemble the "Party of Lincoln,"  the Democrats no longer resemble the party of FDR, JFK, and LBJ.  I think there is just too much stigma here in the South to even keep a semblance of a Democratic party.  It is too hard to recruit and retain candidates here.

Let's come up with a new party, and make a new start.  Use the grassroots efforts that have proved successful in getting people involved.  Although we want this to work on a national scale, we need to address issues at the local scale.


07/03/05--17:46: Bush: The Internets Are Ours! (chan 1576707)

I'll try to keep this from being too geeky.  I ran across an article and slide show that shows how pervasive the Bush/Rove propaganda machine is.  

For those who don't work in this business, the Internet looks like your average tree, with everything tied back ultimately to what are known as "root servers."  Since the Internet was originally part of DARPA (a network used for research and later expanded to include the government), these root servers have been under the control of the US Department of Commerce (DoC).  The DoC was due to turn over control of these servers in Sept 2006 to the international body that maintains the Internet (ICANN).  
(more below)


08/03/05--11:20: Real Men Drive Compacts (chan 1576707)

There is an interesting mention in Wired today about a new study by Robb Willer at Cornell.  He is the same researcher who wrote on "The Effects of Government-Issued Terror Warnings on Presidential Approval Ratings" (http://www.uiowa.edu/~grpproc/crisp/crisp10_1.pdf).  This time he is writing about those who are a little anxious about their masculinity.  His findings are below the fold:



08/23/05--10:15: Big Dick Is Comin' To Texas For DeLay (chan 1576707)

From today's Houston Chronicle there is a story about Big Dick Cheney coming to Houston for a fundraiser.  He'll be here between 5-7 pm CDT in the Galleria area of Houston, at the Westin Galleria hotel, on September 16th.  Since the purpose of the fundraiser is the show that "DeLay has the support of the administration," I think we locals should also show up to show our feelings about the administration.  It would be a great place to distribute those Yellow Elephant stickers.  Great place for a protest, just around the corner from the local newspaper, lots of traffic, and plenty of free parking.  Hang around the mall until it's time, and no one will be the wiser!  And, if we could pull together a Nick Lampson fundraiser next door, all the better.


04/07/06--10:09: Not as Lame as You Think (chan 1576707)

Amy Sullivan, in Washington Monthly, puts forth a compelling argument that the Democratic Party is not as lame and disjointed as many in the media and some of our favorite blog sites make them out to be.  If you have the time, and want a moment's respite from the daily grind, take the time for this article.  

My personal feelings follow, and I promise to keep them short!


04/28/06--10:48: Blackwell & Ohio - How to Make Identity Theft Easy (chan 1576707)

Why can't identity theft be stopped?  It is because your data is in the hands of idiots.  This is for all those supporting a national database.  Our friend in Ohio, Ken Blackwell, released CDs that may potentially have millions of Ohio voters' social security numbers on them.  More from the Computerworld story below...


08/28/06--12:06: Iraqi Travel Warning (chan 1576707)

There are days when the government is faced with the "left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing" scenario.  Those days are becoming more frequent now.  Since I travel internationally on occasion, I have made it a point to subscribe to State Department's Travel Info e-mail.  Today, I received a warning against travel to Iraq.  Their description contradicts what the Bush Kingdom has said about turning the corner.  For your reading pleasure, the e-mail follows below.


07/14/08--08:50: How Do You Define Security? (chan 1576707)

Are you secure under the current administration?  I have had so many folks in this very red state tell me how much more secure they have been under Republican leadership.  The question is, how do you define security?




08/06/08--08:43: McCain Fundraising Scam Found!!! (chan 1576707)

I receive dozens of these 419 e-mails daily (named after a Nigerian criminal code on fraud), and doing a quick search found an e-mail from Harry Sargeant that may explain all those small time donors he is bundling.  My thanks to smash artist for an excellent post on the questionable fund raising.  Here is the e-mail:




03/11/09--14:26: Madoff - Pick Your Prison! (chan 1576707)

Although it looks like Mr. Madoff will spend the rest of his life behind bars, and justly so, I still found a recent article on CNNMoney.com interesting. While dismissing the whole "Club Fed" concept, the title said quite a bit: "Madoff jail won't be as bad as 'Shawshank.'"   However, eading the article almost made me feel I was reading "The Onion."




06/04/09--13:12: The "Massive Fail" Is Not Fox - It Is Us (chan 1576707)

I have gone on about the misrepresentations that Fox makes of almost all news, as have thousands of others on this site.  However, a recent clip on this site, "Another massive narrative fail from Fox" (here) sent me over the edge - but not because of Fox.  Follow me over the orange cliff for a possibly warped view ...




02/18/10--19:38: Today, I Voted Republican (chan 1576707)

In Texas, it's time for the madhouse, choosing which Republican will cause the least amount of damage.  Perry is incoherent, but the Texas Monthly article that said this term would launch him on a run to the Presidency, which brought back some really bad memories (GWB).  Kay Bailey (KBH to her fans - always use 3 initials) is not that bright, and is oblivious to life her in Texas.  And Debra Medina is Texas' answer to Sarah Palin.  For generations, my family has made it a tradition to vote for the idiot on the opposition to run against the favored Democrat.  How times have changed....