Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Sirians, Plaiedians Battle Over Water Rights


Sirius Gathers Water From Thirsty and Weirded-Out Earth

SIRIUS--Things are looking pretty grim here in Sirius, as the Plaiedians are utilizing the fact that they have 7 stars over Sirius' mere 2. The whole thing, Peter, is that it is all so cosmic, at least from the perspective of a merely planetary being. The problem, it seems, is that a Sirian comet was sold to "the Plaiedes Islands" (as they prefer to call their home [which we should respect -editor]) but the check never cleared, and in the meantime the comet got away, and dropped a good bit of its payload on Earth...which, as you may recall, Peter, was how we got here in the first place. And so they are fighting over who will come to earth to recollect the water, and then on to the Islands, the check will be released, bla, bla, bla.
This little skirmish, which I am now dodging and witnessing, intermittently, is really nothing more than a venting of tensions, I suspect, and normalized relations will probably return in only a few short millennia.
Lastly, I would like to apologize for throwing in those subliminal sexual innuendoes. In defense, I will only say that I could have used a stronger word than peter. And editor! I told you it wasn't supposed to be capitalized!!

Cola Addicts Seek Retribution

YOGURTS,IA--The millions of cola addicts around the world now have a way to vent their frustrations, and maybe make a few bucks in the process. And the tobacco company executives are to thank.
It seems the "line of liars" show that they put on before congress created such interest in addictive products, and their unfair advantage over the consumer, that all of the addictive products and services are now coming under the microscope. Colas, coffee, alcoholic beverages, nasal sprays, and other products that have addictive substances added to them are currently under fire, and much money is due to change hands.
It is not too late to become addicted to a product, and thus qualify for a portion of the class action settlement. For more information on how to become an addict, please call us and we will send you a current pusher list.

Bullets May Cause Lead Poisoning

BRUGES, BELGIUM-- Belgian scientists have discovered that gunshot wounds are one of the leading caused of lead poisoning, and that lead poisoning is the reason most people die from fatal gunshot wounds. The findings have lead some scientists to ponder the possibility of making bullets out of vitamins, nuts, minerals or other substances which have less deleterious effects on lifeforms.
"One day we might see doctors with guns, healing patients over great distances...with the help of vitabombs, vitabullets, and so on. There is talk about a grenade launched herbal salad as well as an Intercontinental Ballistic "Hot Bar." At any rate there is a lot of excitement going on at the place where guns meet medicine. Some day guns may be able to conquer death completely. Look at how effectively they cure life! It is but a few short steps from life to death, and now guns are making the distance even shorter. Guns Longa, Vita Brevis!

Bull Flatulence Causes Vertigo

Thursday's Child Has "Fartigo"
But Food Animals are Happier!

Pooterville, GA.--With the recent, and most unfortunate, rash of exploding cow barns, scientists have been discovering that cow farts are largely constructed of the highly flammable and explosive Methane gas, which is why the barns explode, even with the simplest of static sparks. Imagine! A simple poot doing that! Now they are discovering that the gas causes vertigo if exposure is excessive.
One amusing footnote is that the child upon whom the study was performed was born on a Thursday, which prompted the cute but precocious boy to name the condition..."fartigo", which brought guffaws, chortles, gasps, and various other forms of proto-language. So now when people say that "Thursday's Child has far to go", it just might help you to remember the bravery of this young child of Thursday who, almost single-handedly, brought proper ventilation to America's fine slaughterhouses...who have not had a very good year due to bad karma.

Monday, February 27, 2006

Dubai Ports World: It's a Snow job


All actions of the Bush Administration are geared toward fattening the wallets of one or more of their inner circle...usually at the expense of everyone else. Bush is selling short our security in order to please Treasury Secretary John Snow, who stands to rake in millions.

Not in the inner circle? Feeling no tangible benefits from the Bush years?

Quit voting for the crooks!

"Genius" behind Bush's Amazing Residency on 2008 Selection



The Fox That Cried Wolf

Karl Roverer, the so-called "genius" behind the so-called "successful" Bush residency, is still with the use of the hindbrain, from which he now predicts a stunning Republican victory in 2008, according to infamous catamite to the Reich, Matt Drudge, and slick Fox-fed opportunist, Bill Sammon -- neither of whom bear the least resemblance to Nostrodamus.

Mr. Sammon is hawking his new book, which is running with the title, "Strategery", which, for all we know, is but a vain attempt to legitimate one of Bush's copious blunders, in much the same way that Bush's whipping boys keep repeating "nucular" -- a move which only moves the speaker down into the sub-cerebral bushosphere.

Drudge, Rove & Sammons. Foxes that cry wolf. On cue. Pavlov's foxes. Ring the bell and turds as words begin to flow into a sort of cloaca of consciousness, or unconsciousness, the aggregate of which we refer to collectively as simply BushWorld.

BushWorld! Where the Tao fears to tread, and Nature knows no Reason.
BushWorld! The darkening of the Light.
BushWorld! Where the world is an oyster for the Topnazis to molest with their mouths, and spit up on the poor.

It's a stratragedy. Written by a shakespoon.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

"An Army of Davids": Ed Cone interviews Glenn Reynolds



The other morning I woke up from a dream where I was sitting, chatting with Ed Cone. It was a very pleasant conversation, although I forget what we discussed. Perhaps we discussed why Michelangelo named his sculpture "David" instead of "Dave". Not sure. Probably blogging stuff.

This has nothing to do with anything, except, perhaps, the way bloggers intermingle on the psychic plane. I did hear someone last night say that the Internet was God, and that it was God as the Internet, which saved this woman's life. I wish I had paid more attention to the discussion.

But back to the coming Edwardian Age, when all things Edward rise to the top, just as all things George step down. Happens all the time.

But along with the Army of Edwards comes "An Army of Davids", which, if you haven't heard, is a new book by blogfather, Glenn Reynolds, who most know as Instapundit. Somehow I think that if he would have chosen the name, "Blogtivedanta" or "Anonymoses", he wouldn't have become nearly so popular. But he is not a stupid fellow, and now this unstupid fellow has penned a collection of words for the paper world. And Edward Cone has reviewed it.
He also interviewed Mr. Reynolds, which can also be read at the same post.

As a David and a blogger, I must say that I feel compelled to buy the book, although there are other bloggers' books in front of him. Perhaps I shall open a bookstore that carries only books by bloggers. Think I'll let it ripen a bit first though.

Have you ever felt unfocused? Do you ever get the sense that your host is scintillant with unfocusizationality? Well, if you do, I want to join your camp, for we can win this one. Sometimes, in fact, I feel like Mister Shandy himself, with my life but one series of absurd digressions.

And so it is with great struggle that I force my fingers to stray back to the topic of "An Army of Davids"...which now, upon tertiary mentation, strikes me as a tad too militant for my tastes. I mean...why "Army"? Why not Peace Corps or Coast Guard? I guess "A Coast Guard of Davids" would sound a little Bunuelian for ricecake America. And yet that might be preferred to "A Coast Guard of Osamas"...which is how many are portraying the Fox/Chickenport Vulnerability Act, or whatever they are calling it -- which, from a systemic POV, would seem to weaken the boundary subsystem, and thus threaten the whole in question.

What no one is saying though is that America would not have to entertain such options had we not squandered and plundered the treasury. But now that the Norquistians of the world have succeeded in drowning America in their evil little bathtub, corporations are having to slough off pensions, and America is having to hand over our largest points of vulnerability to those who could do us harm.

As someone who tries to be universally xenophiliacal, I think it would be foolhardy to summarily discount the notions brought forth by the Bush Administration that it would be fine to hand over ports to the UAE, who, in the main, have been friendly. My own, albeit limited, experience with citizens of Dubai have been cordial and even delightful. These are not animals. These are industrious human beings, but, for what it's worth, quite devout in their religion.

But could these people harm us? Sure! I suppose, if they wanted to. I am not naive enough to think that they would spare us just because a few of their citizens had nice dinner conversations with some Americans back in the 70s.
Nor am I naive enough to think that they are all as polite and pacifistic as the ones I met. But having met them, and having had a pleasant concurrence, I would tend to say that we could give them a chance...and probably also have checks and balances just to prevent temptation from bribes or other untoward activities.

So I stay out of the debate. And digress once again.

"The Army of Davids" apparently has little if anything to do with real armies, but rather speaks to the issue of individual empowerment as witnessed by the rise of blogs, which though often singularly wrought, commands audiences as vast as what could once only be garnered by Goliaths of Industry.

'Bout damn time!

But this new paradigm is not about Davids replacing Goliaths, but rather a world flattened such that both are on more equal footing.

I really do need to shut up and eat something...

Friday, February 24, 2006

Samara and Samara and Samara

The lucky west gets their civil war.

Here's a post I did on Feb, 2004...

Sparks fly between Sunnites and Shiites

Insurgents Attempting to Ferment 'Civil War' in Iraq Sought Al Qaeda Help (washingtonpost.com)Terrorists spark fear of civil war in Iraq as 50 die in car bomb

See Gurdjieff quote on psychic hatred and organic hatred...

"These two schools of the Mohammedan religion are called there the "Sunnite" and the "Shiite".It is very interesting to note that the psychic hatred of each other formed in the psyche of the beings who belong to these two independent schools of one and the same religion has, on account of their frequent clashes, now been transformed completely into an organic hate.

Beings of certain European communities have during recent centuries greatly contributed to their incitement to the rise of this particular transformation on that strange being-function.

And they have employed and continue to employ this incitement in order that the animosity between the beings who follow these two independent schools of one and the same religion, should increase and that they should never unite, since if that were to happen, there might soon be an end there for those European communities.

...And hence it is that accidentally arisen "newly baked" communities always rub their hands and rejoice when sparks fly between these Sunnites and Shiites, because they then count on a long and secure existence for themselves."
-G. Gurdjieff, "Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson" circa 1950





Wednesday, February 22, 2006

King Crimson Slips Silently into Queen City


King Crimson

You'd think that when a King came to the Queen City, there would be trumpets and sackbuts ablare. But fanfare, courtesy and honoring sustained achievement are not what nouveau-riche Charlotte is much good at. In its stead we see American Idols who bodies of work lie before them, and we cheer them on, in hopes that they too may become Clay Aiken, and bring fifteen more minutes to this fame-starved metropolis.

The new is seldom good, as it has yet to to be time-whittled. And so, like Goodwill itself, much dreck has to be touched before a diamond emerges.

Like today. The King is coming, with decades of gold in his crown, and the Queen is still sifting for Clay.

Nothing wrong with Clay. A very nice boy. Used to cut my grass. But Robert Fripp never cut my grass, and I would be very hesitant to ask him. Perhaps I could convince him that it was part of "the work".



Maybe not. At any rate, if you are interested in seeing a musical legend in an intimate setting, you could do worse than appear at tonight's concurrence.

Concert Tonight!
8PM
Neighborhood Theater
511 E. 36th St.Charlotte, NC 28205
704-358-9298


I have a long history with the King, and have enjoyed his music and philosophy since the first album, and his prior work with Giles. Over the decades, I have had a number of favorites. Starless, Lizard, Poseidon, and Heavenly Music Corporation jump out from the early days. For some reason, I thought that I could woo women by reciting "In the Wake of Poseidon". It had a modicum of success I suppose. Certainly better than "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" or "D.O.A.".

King Crimson and I share birthdays with Gurdjieff, with whom Fripp had a protracted involvement, and about which I'd like to inquire, should we have a moment.

I realize I will have to miss American Idol's showcase of the men, but somehow I think I will survive. One can take only so much devolution.

BACK TO ANONYMOSES' HOMEPAGE

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Thangs overheard in Charlotte, North Carolina


Charlotte

Inspired by the New York version, I have set out to collect thangs overheard around cheer. Thangs such as:

"Assum serium scrotage you got air bugs." (That's some serious scrotage you got there bud.)

"Suck my cat" (Something like that.)

What da hao yaw goan du nao? (What the hell are you all going to do now?)

"Shiiite" (Expletive deleted)

"I eat me some taters but got the squirts." (I ate some potatoes but got the squitters.)

"I had me dis gurl wunst who node how to cook corn pone proper." (I had a girl once who knew how to cook corn pone properly.)

"Yeaite" (Yes, all right.)

"It it'n what you do dat matters. It's who ya do." (It isn't what you do that matters. It's who you do.)

"That dut'n make any scents." (That doesn't make any sense.)

"Tuaabi robi samich." (Two Arby's roast beef sandwiches.)

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Rush Limbaugh Admits Bush & Cheney are Uninterested in WMDs

Wantwit and hakenkreuz pickthank, Rush Limbaugh, admitted on his fool's parade today that his proreptious, pseudopresidential paracoitae are indeed unconcerned about finding WMDs. Shocking!
Rush is such a pussy. A bigger wuss has never darkened the airwaves. Shame on him for dissing the White House! When he dies he will go to Hell. Swear! Find him in the ring of opportunism.

Cheneyquiddick: Hunting Monica

Poor Dick Cheney. First he pulls a trigger, then he pulls a Chappaquiddick, and now we hear he may have also pulled a Monica.

Pull!

But where's the blue dress? A google search only shows Pamela Willeford in a red and white dress. And everyone knows...where there is red and white, there is also blue.

But where is she hiding it? In her butt? (Just kidding! Don't look.)

A dick will do what a dick will do.
I feel sorry for secretive Dick, and his secretions.

Give him a pass on this one, and beseech that he never do it again.

How Bush Raped freedom And democracy


The Height of Roodness

Using Altrustic Concepts for Selfish Ends

Look out Iran! Bush is coming and he's toting Freedom® and Democracy®. And while the American People cherish these concepts, we also cherish them in their highest sense, and not as a convenient lie in order to perform a bait-and-switch slight-of-hand whereby freedom and democracy become merely Freedom and Democracy, which are products designed to separate you, our enemy, from your life.

So now we see Condoleeza Rice asking for a 75 million dollar down-payment for spreading Democracy® over the humanity-strewn sands of Iran -- now that we've done such a killer job of it in Iraq and Palestine. Makes me think of an advertisement idea.

WAR: It's a killer job

or maybe

WAR: The Killer Job

But alas, it is probably already taken. At least I am consoled by Woody Allen, who once almost said: "I used to be an Ahmadinijad addict, now I'm a Bush addict."

As long as we can find new customers for our addicting products -- and slough off those pesky pensions -- the Economy® will do just fine.

The 2005 Koufax Awards: Best Writing

This category seeks to recognize the best overall writing by a lefty blogger. In some cases, nominations were specific for a particular blogger on a group blog. In other cases, the entire blog, whether a singular or group effort, was nominated. I attempted to follow the intent of the nominator.

Mary Beth Williams, the editor, says that "voting will open soon, hopefully next week. For now, get familiar with the best political writing in the blogosphere."

Adventus: Robert Jeffers - Alas, A Blog: Ampersand - Alicublog: Roy Edroso - All Facts and Opinions: Natalie Davis - AmericaBlog: John Aravosis - Anonymoses - Attytood: Will Bunch - Baghdad Burning: Riverbend - Bitch Ph.D. - Blood & Treasure: Jamie Kenny - Bob Harris - Body and Soul: Jeanne d'Arc - Booman Tribune: SusanHu - Booman Tribune: Blksista - Booman/European Tribune: Oui - Bootstrap Analysis: Nuthatch - Bouphonia - Bradblog - Busy, Busy, Busy - By Neddie Jingo - The Cassandra Pages -

Casual Asides: DJ Waletzky - The Carpetbagger Report - Cool Beans: Bean - The Countess: Trish Wilson - Courting Destiny - Creek Running North: Chris Clarke - Daily Kos: Hunter - Daily Kos: Armando - Daily Kos: Devilstower - Daily Kos: Georgia10 - Daily Kos: Grand Moff Texan - DC Media Girl - The Democracy Cell Project: Casey Morris - Driftglass -
Echnide of the Snakes - Effwit - Enemy of the State - Eschaton: Atrios - European Tribune: Jerome a Paris - Ezra Klein - The Fat Lady Sings - Feministe: Jill - Feministe: Lauren - Firedoglake: ReddHedd - First Draft: Athenae - Frogs and Ravens - From Pine View Farm: Frank - From the Rooftops - Girl Scientist - The Green Knight - The Heretik - How to Save the World - Hullabaloo: Digby - Hullabaloo: Tristero - I Blame the Patriarchy: Twisty Faster - Informed Comment: Juan Cole - James Wolcott - Jeremy Blachman - Kid Oakland - King of Zembla: Simbaud - Lance Mannion - Legal Fiction: Publius - Lawyers, Guns and Money: Scott Lemieux - The Left Coaster: Paradox - Left I on the News: Eli Stephens - Liberal Street Fighter: Madman in the Marketplace - The (liberal) Girl Next Door - Liberty Street - Looking for Someone to Lie To Me: Michael Roston - Mad As Hell - Mahablog: Barbara O'Brien - Majikthise: Lindsay Beyerstein - Making Light: Jim Macdonald - Making Light: Teresa Nielsen Hayden - The Marj Memoirs - Matt Yglesias - Michael Bérubé Online - The Moquol - MyKeru - My Left Wing: Gottlieb - My Left Wing: Shanikka - My Left Wing: Maryscott O'Connor - My Left Wing: Caliberal - My Left Wing: Weeping for Brunnhilde - Neil Shakespeare - The Next Hurrah: Meteor Blades - Norbizness - Obsidian Wings: Hilzoy - Old Fashioned Patriot - Once Upon a Time: Arthur Silber - One Good Thing - The Opinion Mill - Orcinus: David Neiwert - Pandagon: Amanda Marcotte - PastPeak - The Poor Man: The Editors - Random Thoughts: Unfair and Unbalanced: Susan Nunes - Red Tory - Respectful Insolence - The Reaction: Michael J.W. Stickings - Rigorous Intuition - Rittenhouse Review: Jim Capazzola - Rox Populi - The Rude Pundit - Sadly, No!: - Saint Nate's Blog - Set Free - Shakespeare's Sister: Melissa McEwan - Suburban Guerrilla: Susie Madrak - Sufficient Scruples - Sisyphus Shrugged: Julia - Talking Points Memo: Josh Marshall - The Tattered Coat - Timothy Burke - Thou Shall Not Suck: Unholy Moses - TomDispatch - Washington Note: Steve Clemons - Unclaimed Territory: Glenn Greenwald - Unqualified Offerings: Jim Henley - Washington Monthly/Political Animal: Kevin Drum - WhirledView: Patricia Lee Sharpe - Whiskey Bar: Billmon - Winding Road in Urban Area: Jaye Ramsey Sutter - Working for Change: David Sirota - Yep,Another Goddamn Blog: Jurassic Pork

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

The Importance of the Importance of the Importance of Living


Great-grandmother

Strange the things we discover while looking for other things. Today, while searching the net for certain concepts contained within the perennial classic guide to living -- "The Importance of Living", by nobel Laureate, Lin Yutang -- I was led to a column called "The Importance of The Importance of Living", by Linda Nicholls, who, among other things, is a great-great-grandmother. I'm not sure of the recency of the photo, but lordy, if it is recent, I would have to proclaim the importance of The Importance of The Importance of Living, at least to the degree to which it may have contributed to the remarkable preservative by-products. For, as Ashley Montagu discovered, evolution is the degree to which we retain youthful characteristics and flexibility. Apes suck at this. We are different. And so in differing degrees.

Frankly, I think Yutang's classic should be read along with Tzu's "Art of War" and Clauswitz' "On War", by those who would choose war as a "viable" option. The "Tao te Ching" and the poems of Rumi would also be useful reads before hurling your citizens into a death and more death situation. Instead of yanking from the top shelf, too many leaders these days pull from much lower shelves. Even the bottom shelf.

Mister Yutang reminds us of the worth of non-soldiers, who are at least as worthy as soldiers and soldier-type folk, for whom taking (or giving) orders is a way of life. But this is but a small part of large life, and one that is to be looked at as unfortunate. Civilization, as Erich Fromm noted, began as an act of disobedience...but may end in an act of obedience.

Fascism feasts when all are of one mind. But who are the enemies of multiculturalism?
Yutang shares Whitman's love for the cosmic and free individual. Groupthink can go to Hell.

Yutang, more importantly, celebrates the importance of humor, particularly as regards political ideologies. When he wrote the book, in the late 30s, Germany was the big offender. Ultra-conservatives East and West are the big offenders today.

The world needs to lighten up. Let the sunshine in!

While the world, buying their philosophy from the bookwall at Wal-Mart, becomes ever purpose-driven, Yutang helps us understand the meaninglessness of such inventions.
While the true purpose of life, which relates to the laws of Heptaparaparshinokh, gets buried among the plethora of infantile fantasies.

A wise man won't be busy, and a busy man can't be wise.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

The heavens weep...


for Aunt Betty Lou

Peace of the Orchard

I finally sat down to watch Cider House Rules last night (which, by the way, is a great story and movie) when onto the screen strutted my little sister. Well, someone who looked a whole lot like my little sister, only many years ago. She was sticking out her tongue at Tobey McGuire. (The actress, not my sister.)

As I watched, and thought about my dear sister, I began to think about my father's sister, whose light is sadly fading. And I remembered how tenderly she and father discussed the deaths of shared friends. I fear such tenderness is a dying art, as the world spirals into increasing meanness and war. I will miss basking in the light of these exemplars of our greatest generation.
After watching "Cider House", I did some research on the actress who so resembled my own sister, and soon found her name: Paz de la Huerta..."Peace of the Orchard".
May there indeed be peace in the orchard of the world, sisters. And may the light in which we have long basked, shine through us, the next generation.


Paz de la Huerta

My grandmother, shown here, looks astonishingly like my sister.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Surprise! The billions in Drug Ad Sales works! But too well?


Ever see a Lunesta ad?
Ever spend an hour on TV where you didn't see a Lunesta ad?
The gentle butterfly will lull you to sleep...just as long as you ignore the small print.
The large print giveth, the small print taketh away...
(Any sleep medicine carries the risk of addiction.)

Now we see that there is a rash of sleeping pill addiction.

Oops Lunestacalypse!

Monday, February 06, 2006

Remnants of a Sunday Afternoon

On Sundays, we like to explore things unrelated to the mondial, quotidian, workaday world. But sometimes, midnight chimes with scores of screens gathering in huddle at the bottom of my browser. Rather than flushing them down the memory hole, today I will transfer them onto the blog for future reference. I shall let alt+tab determine the order...

"Clint Hall" CLINT, in the parish of Ripley, upper-division of Claro, liberty of Knaresborough; 2 miles from Ripley, 7 from Knaresborough, 8 from Ripon.--Pop. 412.This was anciently the seat of Sir William Beckwith, of Clint, Knight; part of the old house is yet remaining, called Clint-Hall, a very ancient stone building, with an arched portal, situated on a lofty eminence, commanding an extensive prospect. Some remains of the moat, that once surrounded this ancient mansion, are still discernible.
The Aldbrough Sundial
"Thorp Perrow"

"Thorp Perrow" images
"Millichope Park"
MASHAM:
Geographical and Historical information from the year 1890.
Aldbrough Manor and estate, including Greens and Nutwith Cote, is the property of John Timothy D'Arcy Hutton, Esq., Marske Hall, The monks of Fountains possessed lands and had a grange at Aldbrough, which were seized by Henry VIII. at the Reformation. About the end of the 16th century, Aldbrough was sold to Sir Roger Beckwith, and it was purchased from this family by an ancestor of the present owner soon after 1743. The hall, situated on the banks of the Yore, about two miles from Masham, is a handsome stone building, consisting of a centre and two wings, refronted about 20 years ago. (Note: We think there is a difference between Aldbrough and Aldborough. Here we think it should be Aldborough, which is more westerly.)
Nutwith Cote, the residence of Mr. Thomas Phillips (see: Kenneth Phillips), is an ancient house, and has evidently once been the abode of some person of consequence. The walls of one room were hung with Spanish leather, bearing embossed devices and figures of angels, bacchanalians, grapes, &c., in gold, but a portion of this has been removed, and the remainder is hidden beneath coats of paint and paper. The house belonged to the Beckwiths, and was at one time the residence of Sir Patrick Mackie, a lieut.-colonel in the Scotch army, who died here in 1647. There was formerly a comb manufactory here; and upon the common is the site of a Roman camp.
The earliest provision for educational purposes was the bequest of Isabel Beckwith, of Well, who, by will dated 14th June, 1735, left the sum of £100 for the benefit of a Free School at Masham for teaching five poor boys, preference being given to such as bear the name of Beckwith.
"Duncombe Park" (Note the Palladian architecture, and its similitude wih Tayloe's Mt. Airy in Virginia. They also have Alcibiades' Dogs.
Duncombe Park images
Newby Hall from the River Ure
"Newby Hall" images
Basildon Park (note the dogs)

alcibiades dog
The Barberini Venus, Newby Hall
Sculpture Gallery, Newby Hall
Sterne's Coxwold - Shandy Hall (See "Tristram Shandy" by Laurence Sterne...soon to be released as a movie.)


The Borthwick Institute of Historical Research at the University of York.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

"Sunrise" over Super Bowl

If you're not planning on watching the Super Bowl, Turner Classic Movies has a wonderful option. Watch FW Murnau's "Sunrise".

"One would hesitate to call any film the finest of its era," wrote William K. Everson in his influential book American Silent Film, "though as a climax to the art of silent film, one could certainly defend that statement if it were applied to Sunrise."

As a rare gem, Sunrise also lends itself well to taping for your archives. Great film, great director.

Tarheel Tavern #50 - The Ogre Edition - is up!

...and you can dive in by clicking right about HERE.

and don't miss his excellent front page.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

How to make Alec Baldwin out of Claude Akins and Roy Blunt



Women always ask me: "How can I make Alec Baldwin"? Usually I have no response, and throw up my hands...which is a lot better than throwing up on your hands. But today, I have discovered the answer: Morph trucking actor Claude Akins and Congressman Roy Blunt. (Some people claim they are the same person, so you may want to morph pictures of the two, rather than morphing their actual bodies, which may indeed be the same one.

Above is what happens when you morph their pictures...

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Democrats let Republicans Seize Alternative Energy, Innovation

Republicans Seize the Future, but is it a Snake Oil Symphony?

What could have been a winning formula for Democrats was usurped last night, and the result is that The Republican Party will now be synonymous with alternative energy, innovation, creativity. Yet another miracle is born in our topsy-turvy BushWorld.

You snooze, you lose. Poor Democrats. Poor Paddy Dignam.

Now, if the Democrats can hold Bush to his word, they too might be able to ride the coattails and be seen as at least marginally important in the development of alternative energy, innovation and creativity, as well as the future -- four categories that were once strongly identified with the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, Democrats are busy becoming Republicans by embracing God, Guns and Goofiness.

For his part, Governor Tim Kaine gave a very good response with more substance and authenticity than Mister Bush, thus propelling this talented Democrat favorably into the national spotlight.

SOTU: Confident? Prepare to be challenged.

In his State of the Union Address, Bush vows to create an agenda that competes with confidence.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

A beautiful tribute to Coretta Scott King by Iddybud

Jude Nagurney-Camwell on Coretta Scott King

BULLETIN! Bush/Abramoff Photos discovered by Anonymoses


Remember...I don't know you.

(See: "in the Biblical sense")

"I did not have verbal relations with that man." - GW Bush

BUSH’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TO BE SIMULCAST IN ENGLISH

President Hopes to Reach Broader Audience, Aides Say

For the first time since he was elected President of the United States, George W. Bush’s State of the Union address tonight will be simulcast in English, the White House confirmed.

With the president’s approval ratings sagging, the decision to simulcast the speech in English was widely seen as an attempt by the president to make an appeal to a broader audience.


More on this breaking news from the Borowitz Report

(hat tip to Rah Bourbon)

George W. (Phat) Robertson


Pat Your Bush

The REAL State of the Union


The America We Believe In
John Edwards

Mrs. Martin Luther King has died


Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King's Accomplishments Included a Syndicated Column
NEW YORK Coretta Scott King, who died overnight at age 78, lived a memorable life. But one thing many people may not remember is that she wrote a weekly column for the New York Times Syndicate during the mid-1980s.

Monday, January 30, 2006

Dark Dubya


Bush morphing into dark double

"Ah-mad-in-e-jad. Not to be comfused with I'm mad and in a jam."

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Yale finally comes clean

Infamous university finally discovers the wonders of soap
"I think it's great that people have soap."

After centuries of unclean living, Yale University has now decided to change its stripes, and join the ranks of Harvard, Haverford and Chapel Hill -- centers of higher cleanliness. We predict, however, that the change will have a detrimental effect on their sports teams, since it was usually the smell which facilitated any victory that might happen along. Here's to clean learning!

Music for a Sunday Midwinter Night



Sunday is a time for reflection. Or maybe it was refraction. I'll have to get back on that. Anyway, Sunday is good for something, I just can't remember. Oh yeah. Jesus. How could I forget? Music! Music for God's sake!

Or maybe it was for God's snake. The mad cow. Denny Crane!

Since you are not privy to my library, let me offer you a reasonable alternative.
It's called Echoes. And was probably named after the Floyd song with the same name.
And no, not Cramer. And not the barber. Except on T-shirts.

In Charlotte, it is on FM 90.7, WFAE. The station that caters to the ejikated classes.

Here are highlights from Echoes' playlist for tonight:
(Ignore that it says it's from Wednesday. They must replay it at night or something.)

-Thomas Newman (composer of the soundtracks for The Player, Jarhead, and American Beauty, among others.)
- Tinh
- R Carlos Nakai and Keola Beamer
- Dean De Benedictis
- Peppino D'Agostino and Stef Burns
- Takashi Kohgo
- Blue Stone
- Anja Lechner and Vasillis Tsabropoulos
- Bombay Dub Orchestra
- Bochum Welt
- Dungen
- Sophie Barker
- Richard Bone
- Harp 46
- Archetribe

Granted, not the most memorable of names. But soul-revivifying music, in the main.


Covering Morrocone at the moment...

Movies for a Sunday Afternoon

"Roman Holiday" and "It Happened One Night", two of the best movies of all time, will be on today at 2pm and 4pm. If you're not busy, you ought to watch them. They will make you a better person. Swear! You can catch them on the great Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

"Roman Holiday" stars Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, as well as a young Eddie Albert, and features the famous scene of Peck putting his hand into to mouth in the wall, shocking Ms. Hepburn when he removes his arm...handless. My own father used to do this to us kids, and people say he looked a lot like Mr. Peck.

"It Happened One Night" stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in surely their funniest roles. The movie won more academy awards than any since its own win in the late 1930s. It is said that the sale of T-shirts plummeted after this movie came out. (Clark strips at one point, and he is not wearing upper undergarments.)

Both movies are entirely 5-star affairs, and will surely become one of your own favorites. All four of the principals are sublime.

If you can...tape it. You'll want to share, just as I do...

ABC's Woodruff, cameraman injured in Iraq

BREAKING NEWS


Bob Woodruff Injured in Iraq IED explosion

NEW YORK - ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and a cameraman were seriously injured Sunday in an explosion while reporting from Iraq, the network said Sunday.
Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt were hit by an improvised explosive device near Taji, Iraq, and were in serious condition at a U.S. military hospital, ABC News President David Westin said.


The last time I saw Mr. Woodruff on Friday night, I remember him to have an apprehensive look on his face as he said he was going to be reporting from Iraq.

Was he prescient, or are things even worse than they are being portrayed, and Bob knew it?

Our prayers are with these brave gentlemen. May they have a speedy recovery.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

CONNECTING THE DOTS: News as Clues

Friday, January 27, 2006

Intellectual Freedom: The Democrats' Secret Ingredient


Intellectual Freedom and Honesty, NOT Dogma, Secrecy and Spin


No one is asking you to say "ditto". We want you to think with your own head. We are Democrats.

If you are tired of all the dogma, secrecy and spin...consider joining the great Democratic Party. The party of the future. The party to go to.

Are you able to think your own thoughts without fear, coercion or social pressure?

Widen your world. Be a Democrat.

And think!

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

LA Times on pseudopatriotistic pacifists and other wussies.

Joel Stein:
Warriors and wusses

I DON'T SUPPORT our troops. This is a particularly difficult opinion to have, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to put bumper stickers on his car. Supporting the troops is a position that even Calvin is unwilling to urinate on.
...
But I'm not for the war. And being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever taken — and they're wussy by definition.
MORE

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Post-Post-911: Moving from Fear to Love


Before 9/11, Americans were not consumed by fear. But then 9/11 changed everything. America became consumed by fear. And when you are fearful, you make bad decisions.
In this sense, Karl Rove was right. Democrats are pre-911...at least in the sense of not being consumed by fear. But what about those who ARE consumed by fear? Can we help those folks get over their fear? Can we help them to become post-post-911?

Decades are funny things. Oftentimes the first half is radically different than the last half. Look at the 60s...which didn't really get going until the latter part of the decade.

The same can be said for the decade we are in.

The first half of this decade has been dominated by post-911 fear. The latter half will be dominated by post-post-911 love. Wait and see. Better yet...join in!

Monday, January 23, 2006

Wake Politics: Raleigh News & Observer does blogging

Ryan Teague Beckwith maintains this excellent blog which tracks local government in Wake County.

From the blog:

"Check here for the latest on your local elected officials, community activism and upcoming political events of all stripes.

Some links on WakePol will take you to other sites covering local politics, including individual blogs, government Web sites, partisan interest groups and other news media. WakePol does not endorse any opinions expressed on those sites and cannot guarantee their accuracy.

This blog is maintained by Wake County reporter Ryan Teague Beckwith and Western Wake reporter Toby Coleman. "

Skating with Blogebrities



Winer and Wonkette
Arianna and Atrios
Kos and Kaus (in a very special performance)
Corn and Wheaton
Malik and Malkin
Barber and Cutler
Cone and Coen


WHO WILL TAKE HOME THE 1978 FORD PINTO?

Today's Anonymoses brought to you by...





Burger President
Impeachably Delicious!

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Tarheel Tavern: Iddybud Edition


Get it while it's HOT!

Is George Jack's Monica?



TIME: When George Met Jack

Sure the boys wear funny hats...

Jack Abramoff must be sweating, now that we are discovering his shady associations. And now, with George...it just may be too much to bear.

Will Jack freak out now that we see that Mister Bush was one of his lackeys?

AND

Broke banks mounting?
What going on with the stock market?

The Middle Class on the Precipice



Rising financial risks for American families
by Elizabeth Warren

Saturday, January 21, 2006

The old home place


Old Sleningford Hall, Ripon


Silksworth House


Thurcroft Hall


Featherstone Castle

Here's to downward mobility.

LONDON: Prince of Whales OR Trojan Whale?

British team attempts London whale rescue
...but will they find the whale filled with Iraqis, Iranis or Irishis?

These things and more...

John Murtha and the Murthanaries

Murtha smear recalls attacks on Sen. Kerry
By Jim Rassmann

Watching the assault on Kerry's military record by partisan operatives armed with falsehoods was a shock. Perhaps I was naive. Watching those same tactics used against another decorated Vietnam veteran, Rep. Jack Murtha, who, like Senator Kerry, dared to speak his mind, has been a reminder of not just why I felt compelled to get involved, but why I must remain involved.

As a veteran of Vietnam, I can't in good conscience remain silent in the face of the "Swift Boating" of Jack Murtha.


READ more about John Murtha and the Murthanaries who would silence him.

Remarkable Women: Nnenna Freelon


"The camera loves this woman. "

1 - 2

Thanks to PBS for bringing this amazing talent to my attention.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Is captured journalist, Jill Carroll, a descendant of Mohammed?


Christian Science reporter, Jill Carroll

A year or so ago, I was reading about descendants of Muhammed, and noted how some descendants were among the Spanish nobility, who had intermarried with French and English nobles, and that some of their offspring were among the founding families in Virginia and Maryland, if not other states.

Carroll is an old Maryland family -- one of the founding families. There is a county in Maryland named Carroll County. I'm not sure, but I seem to remember that name being in the Mohammed descendancy, along with Corbin, Sanchez, Navarre and others. Granted, it has been a while, and I may be jumbling names in the wind. If so, I apologize.

I would think that Miss Carroll's captors would think twice about putting a descendant or relative of their spiritual leader, Mohammed, to death.

If there are any knowledgeable genealogists here, who happen to know more about Mohammed's genealogy, I would appreciate your input.

Today is the day Miss Carroll is supposed to either be released or killed. The thought of her dying is too painful to entertain. Maybe by showing how connected we all are, minds and hearts might be changed, and Jill Carroll will be spared and released.

This is my prayer.


- anonyMoses

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Good clean Christian yogurt found to fight HIV

United Press International - NewsTrack - Yogurt bacteria may soon fight HIV

PurpleStars: What Happen to MainStream Radio?

PurpleStars: daily adventures of a techy girl - What Happen to MainStream Radio?

I was readng PurpleStars' disconsolation with mainstream radio, and responded, only to find comments were disabled. Here is my response:

I share your lamentation.

I tend to default to NPR, which is, bar none, the highest quality station on the radio. No one else even comes close, except, perhaps Air America Radio. But when it comes to music...a different matter.

Charlotte has 95.7 "The Ride", which played somewhat obscure works now and again, and will play the long versions of songs. In the mountains, there is a decent station coming out of the Isothermal Community College, strangely. Chapel Hill has some good stations, but are hard to get outside the area.

The mainstream is polluted.

The best thing to do is this:
Shut off noise and listen to your inner voice. It will make you unique, since everyone else if filling their heads with other people's thoughts. Even music competes with your thoughts. Think of driving as a time to reflect and enjoy the gift of your own mnd.

All the best,
Dave



Now...go fix your blog. Don't show a comment link if you really can't comment, as it wastes people's time.
My hope is that you enable comments, rather than remove them. Without them blogging is mere dictation.

Looking for a unique, free online Valentine?



Valentine's Day is approaching, and soon you will be looking for that unique Valentine to send to your loved ones. Well look no further! My dear and talented friend, Tom Priest, has created the only card you'll need this Valentines. It is fun, sweet, and sexy...in a subtle way.

Hope you enjoy it! And if you do...pop Tom a note and tell him so. He is soon to hit the big time, so you can say you knew him when...

Here is the link. (Have your sound up!)

How Fascistic are YOU?

How many of these errors do you make?

14 characteristics of fascism:
-Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
-Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
-Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
-Supremacy of the Military
-Rampant Sexism
-Controlled Mass Media
-Obsession with National Security
-Religion and Government are Intertwined
-Corporate Power is Protected
-Labor Power is Suppressed
-Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
-Obsession with Crime and Punishment
-Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
-Fraudulent Elections

Monday, January 16, 2006

The Wuss Awards



Nominations for the Wuss Awards' coveted "W" are being accepted.

Who do you think was the biggest wuss of 2005?

We at Anonymoses have pondered this issue, and are in the process of narrowing down. So far, it seems Rush Limbaugh is leading the pack.

For those of you who do not know Mr. Limbaugh, let me just say that he is an entirely biased college dropout from the backwater of Missouri who is paid massive sums of money to say whatever is necessary to keep the ignorant from the truth, and to basically keep them angry. And although he claims to have a talk show, most of the talking is done by Rush himself, although he occasionally takes a caller, who invariably must wait and wait and wait for him to shut his nervous trap and allow someone else to speak.

Most of those who do get through are what are called "dittoheads" or "dittoholes" or "the uneducated". All they are there to do is to high-five Rush, and further pump up his already full-blown adolescent ego.

Should a dissenting voice make their way through the gatekeeper, Rush hyperventilates, yawps, and talks over them...then hangs up on them. Then he goes on and on about how the previous caller was a liberal this or that, and then goes on to argue with someone who is no longer even able to respond.

Like many. if not most, conservative bloggers, dictation is the rule. Comments are disabled. And their wussiness is complete.

But unlike their fearful leader, Rush and the Reichblog, do not actually kill and maim others...while sitting comfortably behind a desk or a Rove. This is perhaps the height of wussiness.

The Media deserve their own category of wussiness though, since they helped shoehorn the Wuss-in-Chief into office, and have shilled for his corporations ever since.

So many wussies, so little time...

Poll at Daily Kos

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Doctor King

I Have Seen the Promised Land...

Southern Places: Branch House, Richmond, Va


Branch House, Monument Avenue, Richmond, Va.

Jealous Socialists Hate Wal-Mart: A Discussion

Join in the discussion over at Ogre's place...

Carolina History Talks blog is born

For all you history buffs out there, let me share with you a new blog which I'm sure will become an essential source in the study of the history of North and South Carolina. It is run by a gentleman who has one foot in South, and one in North, Carolina...and his mind in both, simultaneously. (Well, South Carolina runs a little behind.) Darryl Parker has long published on matters of history and genealogy, and brings a great store of skill, knowledge and pedigree with him as he comes to this endeavor.

Please help me welcome Carolina History Talks.