Today Boston Dirt Dogs has a hilarious film about Roger Clemens, and George Steinbrenner, and the New York Yankees in 2057.
Talk about the twilight of a career. Don't be eating or drinking while you watch this film. Funny stuff.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Clemens in 2057
Today Boston Dirt Dogs has a hilarious film about Roger Clemens, and George Steinbrenner, and the New York Yankees in 2057.
Talk about the twilight of a career. Don't be eating or drinking while you watch this film. Funny stuff.
Barroid's Coming to Town
I hope someone with tickets comes up with a sign as good as the Philly fan ode to Barry Bonds, Barroid the Juicer:
"Ruth did it on hot dogs & Beer / Aaron did it with class / How did YOU do it?"
"Ruth did it on hot dogs & Beer / Aaron did it with class / How did YOU do it?"
That's Some Big Baby!
Worcester Telegram: Video of the eagle banding
Update: Another video, this one from WBZ, who had a camera on the guy who climbed the tree, so you can see the eaglet sitting in the nest.
Worcester Telegram: Bands all here for the eagles
It’s always risky to drop in unannounced on a new family.
Pushing the envelope is when about 25 people converge on a small submarine-shaped island to view the only offspring of the first pair of eagles to have successfully nested at Wachusett Reservoir. Wednesday was the coming out party for the 4-week-plus-old eaglet who was removed from its nest and fitted with two metal leg bands that give it unique identifiers that will help track it the rest of its life.
The adult eagles took the whole affair in stride. They circled the island from time to time, but kept a distant and silent vigil. Left to deal with the humans on his own, junior proved to be a really good sport. For those of us on the island, there was more than a little drama, a dose of education and a rare chance to share a moment of pride with the state agency personnel that have helped restore the bald eagle population in Massachusetts.
Resembling a mini beaver hut, the eagle’s nest was cradled near the end of a bend formed by new growth at the top of a 60-foot white pine tree. The whole configuration leaned into the 15-mile-an-hour northeast blow churning up the reservoir on Wednesday morning.
Pitched Battle in the War on Moisture
A former Secret Service agent carrying a toddler and a sippy cup filled with water are heroically foiled by vigilant TSA agents. You've got to read this story to believe it. This mom was "detained, harassed, [and] threatened with arrest", all while trying to keep a 19-month-old calm, all over a few ounces of water in a sippy cup.
How long before our long national nightmare of ridiculous security procedures that don't keep anybody safe are over?
nowpublic: Nightmare at Reagan National Airport: A Security Story to End all Security Stories
hat tip to Boing Boing
Just Say No to Funding Abstinence Programs
Politics is the art of compromise. But there are compromises and there are compromises. The Democrats in Congress are poised to vote to increase funding for abstinence programs, a multi-million dollar racket that takes federal money and puts it into the hands of religious crackpots. All the research into these abstinence programs -- into which the Bush Administration has poured more than 1 billion dollars -- shows that they don't work. So, in essence Congress enriches the Religious Right to fund their pet boondoggle. Talk about a waste of money. We need sex education, not abstinence education. Kids are going to have sex no matter what. They need to be educated to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, not have their minds filled with religious dogma. The bill is still being crafted; we can let Congress know how STUPID this is. The ACLU says the vote on the bill will come next week so there is still time.
Take action:
You can call your Congresscritter by calling the Congressional switchboard (202) 225-3121, and give them your Representative's name, or your zip code.
Use the ACLU form to send an email: Halt Funding Increase for Abstinence-Only "Education"
Use the Action Network's Population Connection form email Obey, Pelosi, and Hoyer: The Democrats did WHAT?!
Or use the Advocate for Youth form to send an email to your Representative. ('Tell the Democratic Leadership to end Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding!' is the first issue on the Take Action list.)
The National Family and Reproductive Health Association has a form that allows you to fax your member of Congress: Urge Congress to Put "Prevention First"
NARAL has a page that lets you email your Senators and Rep: Urge Congress to Make Sex Ed a Priority
Michael Reynolds, The Nation: The Abstinence Gluttons Learn all about the crackpots we are enriching with taxpayer dollars.
Laura Flanders, The Nation (via Common Dreams): Idiot Liberals Strike Again The inspiration for this post. She says "Idiot liberals" because that's what Appropriations Committee Chair David Obey (D-WI) called a military mom who went to his Congressional office to ask him to end the war. Idiot.
The Hill: Harkin to tie stem cell research to spending bill The fight isn't over yet:
Supporters of stem cell research refuse to give up on getting their legislation signed into law this year.
As President Bush prepares to veto the measure Congress sent him last week, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is planning to attach the pro-research legislation to the spending bill being crafted by his Appropriations labor subcommittee.
That raises the stakes on the so-called “Labor-H” spending bill. House Appropriations Chairman Dave Obey (D-Wis.) has been trying to build a veto-proof majority for the bill, adding sweeteners to the bill such as an increase in abstinence-only education.
Bush already has threatened to veto spending bills that exceed his spending thresholds. Including legislation that repeals Bush’s 2001 stem cell research compromise could give him further incentive to nix the bill.
MSNBC: Abstinence students still having sex
Study tracked 2,057 young people in government-funded programs No kidding.
Campus Progress: Bad Science, Silly Gender Stereotypes, Dangerous Misinformation : Why Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Education Isn't Working
New Humanist: Unbuckling the bible belt (Nov 01, 03)
Orlando Radice on Bush’s virgins A Brit's take on our "value-laden pedagogy".
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Huge Victory for Civil Rights in Massachusetts
Mary Marra of Haverhill, a supporter of same-sex marriage, blew bubbles as she and hundreds of others demonstrated before the vote on putting the gay marriage amendment on the ballot.
(Globe Staff Photo / John Tlumacki)
Huge victory for civil rights in Massachusetts today, where the proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage was defeated. The vote was 151 to 45; the opponents of gay marriage needed 50 votes to have the question placed on the November ballot. So we will not vote on the civil rights of our fellow citizens. The decision of the Supreme Judicial Court stands:
MARSHALL, C.J. Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. For those who choose to marry, and for their children, marriage provides an abundance of legal, financial, and social benefits. In return it imposes weighty legal, financial, and social obligations. The question before us is whether, consistent with the Massachusetts Constitution, the Commonwealth may deny the protections, benefits, and obligations conferred by civil marriage to two individuals of the same sex who wish to marry. We conclude that it may not. The Massachusetts Constitution affirms the dignity and equality of all individuals. It forbids the creation of second-class citizens. In reaching our conclusion we have given full deference to the arguments made by the Commonwealth. But it has failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason for denying civil marriage to same-sex couples.
Boston Globe: Legislators vote to defeat same-sex marriage ban
The Herald's view: Lawmakers vote to kill anti-gay marriage question
Job Well Done, Mass Equality
Mass Equality, the group that lead the fight to keep gay marriage the law in Massachusetts, produced some very effective ads that I saw several times on television in the last few weeks. The first one was my favorite. (For some reason the Youtube versions of the ads all end about 10 seconds before the final tag lines, but you get the essence.)
Call the Wingnut Wahhhhhmbulance
'Cause Scooter Libby's going to jail. Directly to jail, (well, as direct as it ever gets for a rich white-collar defendant, six to eight weeks), no hanging out watching the roots of the aspens entwine while his appeal drags on. Awwww.
Firedoglake: Libby Loses Liberty
WaPo: Judge Won't Delay Libby Prison Term
Fun Fact
If you leave a comment on a Robert Novak column in the Washington Post calling him a traitor, it will be deleted. See here; note that the first commenter states: "Can we once discuss the merit of the article without all that pointless name-calling, however justified it may be?"; this is in reference to several traitor comments which the Post removed.
However, if you leave a comment calling President Bush Chimpy McFlightsuit, that comment is OK. See here, 6th comment down.
I thought you would want to know.
Blogtopia* RoundUp, Thursday, June 14, 2007
Happy Flag Day!
The Solicitor General will not fight for defrauded investors -- even though dozens of state attorneys general have -- on direct order from Herr Bush. There go defrauded investors rights and probably the pensions of the Enron workers. Robert Borosage, commonsense.com: Bank Shot: Bush Shafts Enron's Victims, via The Left Coaster
Speaking of lawsuits, (the good) Roger Ailes skewers Robert Bork delightfully.
At HuffPo, comedian Kate Clinton riffs on the gay bomb. You heard that right, the Air Force requested $7.5 million to develop a bomb to turn our enemies gay.
I'm surprised this request for millions for the gay bomb wasn't approved, as the New York Times reports today that the Justice Department has been take over by theocrats enforcing nonexistent religious discrimination. Or, as one clever blogger put it: Crusading Crackpots Taking over the DOJ
Speaking of DOJ, the multiple investigations have gotten into the White House. Former White House Counsel and exclamation point lover Harriet Miers and former White House political director Sara Taylor have both been subpoenaed to appear before Congress. Taylor's US Attorney email messages, and those of her deputy, Scott Jennings, were both sent on their Republican National Committee email accounts. Subpoena duces tecum, anyone?
Eagles Return to Wachusett Reservoir
(Mark Wilson / Globe Staff Photo)
The resurgence of the bald eagle population in the northeast continues. Today's Boston Globe has a photo gallery showing the nest built by the first pair ever to nest along the Wachusett Reservoir in Central Massachusetts.
They banded a baby eaglet from the nest so it can be tracked.
(Mark Wilson / Globe Staff Photo)
Today's Hearing on Hans von Vote Suppressor
I didn't get to see the Rules Committee hearing on von Spakovsky's nomination to the Federal Election Commission today, so here is a round-up of reactions.
McClatchy wins both the headline and reporting award with this story:
McClatchy: U.S. ATTORNEYS
Ex-Justice Dept. lawyer can't recall his role in controversial policies
WASHINGTON - Another former Justice Department lawyer went before Congress on Wednesday with few answers for his Democratic interrogators and a spotty memory.
Hans von Spakovsky, who's seeking a full six-year term on the Federal Election Commission, deflected questions about whether he undermined voting rights laws, saying, "I was not the decision maker in the front office of the Civil Rights Division."
Time and again during his confirmation hearing, he cited either the attorney-client privilege or a cloudy memory for his purported role in restricting minorities' voting rights.
Von Spakovsky couldn't remember blocking an investigation into complaints that a Minnesota Republican official was discriminating against Native American voters before the 2004 election.
Under oath, he also said he didn't recall seeing data from the state of Georgia that would have undercut a push by senior officials within the Civil Rights Division to approve the state's tough new law requiring photo IDs of all voters. The data showed that 300,000 Georgia voters lacked driver's licenses. A federal judge later threw out the law as unconstitutional.
John Lewis, who spilled his blood for voting rights, and other Georgia Democrats have opposed von Spakovsky's nomination, 'saying his appointment "could potentially turn back the clock on 50 years of progress" in voting rights.'
salon.com: The grilling of von Spakovsky
NYTimes Editorial: Another Sorry Ascension
[] President Bush gave him a recess appointment to the commission last year. The new Democratic-controlled Senate now has the opportunity to strike a blow against electoral skullduggery with a blunt rejection of Mr. Spakovsky’s nomination for a full six-year term.
Slate: Implausible Deniability
The Internet foils fudging by three "voter fraud" warriors.
Senator Dick Durbin questions von Spakovsky:
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
We Have a Winner
Earlier today I posted a picture of the destroyed golden minarets of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, Iraq, and asked this question:
How soon before some Bush Administration flack tells us that this increased violence means thesurgeescalation is working?
And Bushco Press Secretary Tony Snowjob may have already taken the cake, minutes before I posted, when he was asked to comment about today's bombing of the Golden Mosque:
It does fit a pattern that we see throughout the region, which is that when you see things moving towards success, or when you see signs of success, that there are acts of violence.
War is peace! Freedom is slavery! Ignorance is strength! It's not 2007. It's 1984. It's always 1984 in Bushworld.
Photo of the Day
Black presidential seal socks. That's what the war president wears. He got the Crocs shoes from the Chairman of Crocs, Inc., who presided over a fundraiser in May that raised $630,000 for the Virginia Republican party.
I won't feel guilty when I buy a pair of mock Crocs. No money for Rethugs.
Photo via Manolo's Shoe Blog: Impeach Him!
Groundhog Day
(Getty Images)
June 13, 2007
How soon before some Bush Administration flack tells us that this increased violence means the
LATimes: Blasts topple part of Shiite shrine in Samarra
The attack on the Golden Mosque, where an assault a year ago triggered widespread bloodshed, brings new fears of violence.
Another for the "He has no scruples, does he?" Mittwit File
Romney refused to grant any pardons during his four years as Massachusetts absentee governor. Even to Anthony Circosta, a decorated Iraq war veteran who wanted to expunge a conviction from when he was age 13 for shooting another boy in the arm with a BB gun. (Hey, I think all the boys I grew up with were criminals!) Nope, the Mittwit couldn't grant that pardon, even though it would have allowed Circosta to become a police officer. And now as he shamelessly panders to the rabid Republican base, he advocates a pardon for poor, poor Scooter Libby, convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice.
So think about this. A 13-year-old boy makes a dumb mistake. He shoots his friend in the arm with a BB gun (doesn't even break the skin). Goes on to join the Army National Guard and distinguish himself leading a platoon in the Sunni Triangle. His shooting a BB gun accidentally at age 13 cannot be pardoned by the Mittwit. But Scooter Libby, the assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney? Reveals the name of a covert CIA agent to reporters for political purposes, then lies about it repeatedly to a federal grand jury investigating the outing. Remember, he is a 54-year-old attorney. Those four criminal convictions, decided by a jury? Throw them out and set him free, proclaims the Man of the Most Convenient Answer. That's what he says now. Wait a month, he may have a difference answer. Varmint.
Or as Barney Frank said of the Mittwit, two days ago on New England Cable News:
"The real Romney is clearly an extraordinarily ambitious man with no perceivable political principle whatsover. He is the most intellectually dishonest human being in the history of politics."
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
He Never Was From Massachusetts
There's a song playing in the background of this short video (turn up your volume to hear it). Mitt Romney doesn't know the song, because he never was 'from' Massachusetts; the man lived and lives in Utah. He lied to get his job in the Commonwealth, and now Multiple Choice Mitt, the man with a million answers to every question, is lying to become President.
And what is that mysterious song the Mittwit from Utah can't identify? Let's let the Red Sox Monster explain:
Here's the Youtube of the Standells performing "Dirty Water" (lyrics here):
hat tip to Drudgico, aka Politico
And what is that mysterious song the Mittwit from Utah can't identify? Let's let the Red Sox Monster explain:
The song? "Dirty Water" by the Standells, an anthem for Red Sox fans that is played at every home game at least once, and also appears in the gaggeriffic Sox film, "Fever Pitch."
Here's the Youtube of the Standells performing "Dirty Water" (lyrics here):
hat tip to Drudgico, aka Politico
The Mittwit: No Comment Needed
I love a good photo op.
hat tip to Scutiny Hooligans, who got it from Rachel Maddow, who got it from somebody who probably got it from somebody.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Bombard Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker: Set Genarlow Wilson Free
Judge Thomas H. Wilson ruled today that Genarlow Wilson's sentence be set aside and he be released for his time served (27 months).
The judge's ruling Monday threw out Wilson's 10-year sentence and amended it to misdemeanor aggravated child molestation with a 12-month term, plus credit for time served, and he would not be required to register as a sex offender.
"The fact that Genarlow Wilson has spent two years in prison for what is now classified as a misdemeanor, and without assistance from this court, will spend eight more years in prison, is a grave miscarriage of justice," wrote Judge Thomas H. Wilson, who is no relation to Genarlow Wilson.
"If this court or any court cannot recognize the injustice of what has occurred here, then our court system has lost sight of the goal our judicial system has always strived to accomplish ... justice being served in a fair and equal manner," the judge wrote.
The Georgia Attorney General immediately announced that he would appeal the ruling. Thurbert Baker (that's him in the picture) is a Democrat, but he was originally appointed by Zell Miller, so he's no progressive. And this is just idiotic. Under current law, Genarlow Wilson could only get a maximum penalty of six months. He's served 27. What end does it serve for him to rot in jail? The appeal of this ruling is just idiotic. So let's protest, again. As my brother said in an email today, "Bombard these idiots until they get it right!" Here are the telephone and fax numbers of the AGs; below is a link to a contact form that lets you email Georgia governor Sonny Purdue and ask him to remove AG Baker.
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF GEORGIA
THURBERT E. BAKER
40 CAPITOL SQUARE, SW
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30334
Phone: 404-656-3300
FAX: 404-657-8733
Thurbert E. Baker
Attorney General
Phone: 404-656-3300
FAX: 404-657-8733
Jeff L. Milsteen
Chief Deputy Attorney General
Phone: 404-656-3347
FAX: 404-657-8733
Mary Beth Westmoreland
Deputy Attorney General
Criminal Justice Division
Phone: 404-656-3349
FAX: 404-651-6459
Daryl A. Robinson
Counsel to the Attorney General
Phone: 404-651-6194
FAX: 404-651-7676
Russ Willard
Director of Communications
Phone: 404-463-7540
FAX: 404-651-7676
David S. McLaughlin
Special Prosecutions
Phone: 404-651-5805
FAX: 404-651-7676
Trey Ellis, Huffington Post: Save Genarlow Wilson, Remove Attorney General Thurbert Baker
Click here to sent [AG Baker] a message.
When the form asks what is your message choose "other" (the last category) and then type in the box below it "Genarlow Wilson."
To Do List: Be An Activist
De-Authorize the War Now. Sign Bill Richardson's petition to Congress to de-authorize the war before the summer break.
Save the free and open internet. Use the button on the right to send your story to the FCC. The comment period ends June 15th, so don't delay.
Write to Al Gore, if you want him to run for President. Or if you don't. The address of his Nashville office is 2100 W End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203. Sign the petition to draft Al. Check out pictures of the solar panels on the roof of his house here (he had to petition to change the zoning laws to install them!)
Use the Sudan Divestment Task Force's Screening Tool to learn if any of your investments are in the Sudan.
Stop Big Media. Use the links on the right to contact the FCC to protect local media, promote diversity, and stop Rupert Murdoch from taking over the information delivery highway.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Art, or Crap? You Decide
Wikipedia: Fountain by Marcel Duchamp, 1917, photograph by Alfred Stieglitz.
Is it Art, or is it just Plain, Old Crap?
Do you know your Dada from your Moma? Try the quiz and see.
Everyone has got their opinions, but they won't help you here!
For the purposes of this quiz, "art" is something that has been exhibited as such by an artist.
Hat tip to Josie Goes to Pot
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Dummy
I'm not concerned for the tender sensibilities of Joey Ratz or the Catholic church, but shouldn't we expect the President to have some sense of decorum? Shrub gets pretty ticked off if people don't genuflect to him.
News24: Bush in holy gaffe
Vatican City - US President George W Bush drew gasps at the Vatican on Saturday by referring to Pope Benedict XVI as "sir" instead of the expected "His Holiness", pool reporters said.
They could clearly hear the US leader say "Yes, sir" when the pope asked him if he was going to meet with officials of the lay Catholic Sant'Egidio community at the US embassy later during his visit.
A handful of pool reporters were on hand as Benedict greeted Bush at the door of his private library ahead of a private audience of about half an hour.
On his way to see the 80-year-old pontiff, the US leader apparently recognised someone he knew, and could be heard greeting the person with a casual "How ya doin'?"
The pool reporters also noted Bush's relaxed posture, crossing his legs "Texan style" while facing the pope across his desk in the private study of the apostolic palace.
Hypocrites-R-Us
Blue Mass. Group: Tort Reform Zealot Robert Bork Sues the Yale Club for $1M
We all remember Robert Bork, right? Reagan nominated him to the Supreme Court but we liberals kept him off. (Whoo, liberals, whoo!) Ted Kennedy described Bork and his philosophy in these immortal words (which helped sink his nomination), ""Robert Bork's America is a land in which women would be forced into back-alley abortions, blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens' doors in midnight raids, schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution, writers and artists could be censored at the whim of government." Bork is also a long-time proponent of tort reform (or as we lawyers call it, tort deform) which would severely curtail access to the courts for individuals.
Mr roll-back-the-clock Borkie wants compensatory and punitive damages because he fell down and got a boo-boo. He was climbing onto a dais and fell off. Apparently he was the only person at the event who couldn't make the step up.
He seeks actual damages which he claims are in excess of $1,000,000, punitive damages, interest, and attorney's fees.
One of his tort reform buddies at the American Enterprise Institute called the suit "embarrassingly silly." I must concur.
Wildlife on Hidden Camera
Today's Boston Herald has an article trashing the MBTA for raising the rails of trains so that wildlife can cross unimpeded. Typical right wing complaining about public spending.
I liked the cool gallery of images of wildlife caught on hidden camera that accompanied the article.
Friday, June 08, 2007
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Footie News
AP
The US men's national team eked out a 1-0 win against Guatemala in the Gold Cup last night. Not carried on English-speaking TV, but I watched it on Telemundo. The good news: Great goal by Clint Dempsey (video here), with assists from Taylor Twellman and DaMarcus Beasley. Bad news: Despite being played in California, the crowd was 90% Guatamelan. More bad news: Oguchi Onyewu got sent off with a second yellow red card. He really lost his cool with the flopping of Guatemalan ace Carlos Ruiz. The other good news is that I didn't have to listen to Dave O'Brien, who was doing the MLS game on ESPN2. I tuned in after the USMNT game to hear O'Brien intone "It's a final, US 1, Guatemala 0, and Clint Dempsey responsible for that score." What an idiot. Dempsey scored a goal; he isn't responsible for the score of the whole game. Listening to O'Brien talk about soccer reminds me of reading a badly translated menu in a Chinese restaurant. (ESPN so does not get soccer. One of their graphics for a player last night said, "Played in England for two years". So -- was he playing pickup in Holland Park, or in the Premier League? It was probably somewhere in between, but ESPN doesn't think American soccer fans would know the difference between the Premier League and League Two.)
This week US Soccer dedicated Field 1 at the Home Depot Center to Glenn "Mooch" Myernick. Soccer fan Drew Carey donated $160,000 to the Mooch Myernich Memorial Fund.
The fund was established to help increase the number of children playing the sport in metropolitan communities nationwide, and to assist soccer clubs and organizations in urban areas to create and sustain soccer opportunities for local underserved children. Prior to Tuesday’s event, the Foundation had already raised more than $100,000 from individual and corporate donors in Myernick’s honor to help support the growth of soccer in major metropolitan areas across the country. An assistant coach for the USA in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup, Myernick was universally admired, respected and loved by all those whose lives he touched. He passed away in October of 2006 at the age of 51.
David Beckham lead England to a 3-0 win over Estonia in their crucial Euro 2008 qualifier. He set up goals with beautiful crosses in to Peter Crouch and Michael Owen. Watch the video of the goals here; Joe Cole's goal was even better. It reminded me of Maxi Rodriguez's goal in the World Cup. The English press isn't finished with Beckham; today's alarming news story puts Becks at high risk for deep vein thrombosis if he tries to travel to England games from LA.
I've discovered a new women's soccer blog, USA Women's Soccer. Filled with news, but I can't figure out how to link to individual posts. This one's about halfway down the May archive:
This one slipped under the radar, but the National Soccer Hall of Fame revamped its election rules at its April 28 board meeting. Instead of the top two vote getters (provided they get over 50% of the vote) getting elected plus the possibility of a third player getting elected if he/she received over 80% of the vote, the new rule states that any candidate that receives over 75% of the vote will be elected to the Hall of Fame. While each Hall of Fame has a different election process, this is the same percentage required as the final round of voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Basketball Hall of Fame, while the Football Hall of Fame requires 80% of the vote. And in case you're curious, if the new rules were in place for the 2007 election, Joy Fawcett still would not have been elected as she only received 67.25% of the vote.
So Appropriate on "Paris Hilton Goes Back to Court" Day
I just turned on the TV to check the weather report and cable news channels have gone Paris Hilton mad. Why didn't I think of dropping my law day job, getting a little plastic surgery, and going on TV? I could be on MSNBCNNBCSBC right now fawning breathlessly over this non-story. Will Paris get to court on time? Will she get sent back to -- horrors -- jail? Meanwhile, the G-8 Summit addressing global warming and the fate of the planet is being ignored. The Iraq Clusterfuck is being ignored; how could this be, what happened to journalism?
Paul Krugman's column today is essentially the obituary for journalism. You know what I say: Journalism is dead; long live the corporate media. The corporate infotainment, bread-and-circus media is the cockroach that will survive us all.
NYTimes: Paul Krugman, Lies, Sighs and Politics (TimesSelect wall; also here and here.)
In Tuesday’s Republican presidential debate, Mitt Romney completely misrepresented how we ended up in Iraq. Later, Mike Huckabee mistakenly claimed that it was Ronald Reagan’s birthday.
Guess which remark The Washington Post identified as the “gaffe of the night”?
Folks, this is serious. If early campaign reporting is any guide, the bad media habits that helped install the worst president ever in the White House haven’t changed a bit.
You may not remember the presidential debate of Oct. 3, 2000, or how it was covered, but you should. It was one of the worst moments in an election marked by news media failure as serious, in its way, as the later failure to question Bush administration claims about Iraq.
Throughout that debate, George W. Bush made blatantly misleading statements, including some outright lies — for example, when he declared of his tax cut that “the vast majority of the help goes to the people at the bottom end of the economic ladder.” That should have told us, right then and there, that he was not a man to be trusted.
But few news reports pointed out the lie. Instead, many news analysts chose to critique the candidates’ acting skills. Al Gore was declared the loser because he sighed and rolled his eyes — failing to conceal his justified disgust at Mr. Bush’s dishonesty. And that’s how Mr. Bush got within chad-and-butterfly range of the presidency.
Updates
Credit: John Steiner (Smithsonian Institution)
flickr
News on some stories we've covered previously:
The Washington Post has an article on racist vote-suppressor Hans A. von Spakovsky and his nomination to the Federal Elections Commission; did you know that half the career lawyers in the Voting Rights Section of the Justice Department left during his tenure there? He is a very bad man and must be stopped. Call your Senators; or call these Senators, on the Rules Committee.
Connecticut substitute teacher Julie Amero has been granted a new trial. Now that I think about it, I may not have covered this previously, but I should have; she was convicted for being in an elementary school classroom with a computer running Windows 98 that was filled with porn popups. If that was a crime, half of America would be in jail. If anyone should go to jail, it's Bill Gates or some other Microsoft honcho. Vive la Firefox. Or Safari. Anything but Windows.
Boston College has hired assistant Katie King (three-time Olympic medal winner) to replace sexual harasser Tom Mutch. From the Boston Globe article: "Two-thirds of the Division 1 head coaches in women's hockey are men and only three of Hockey East's are female."
Looks like Joe Scarborough "I-don't-know-nothing-about-that-dead-intern-in-my-office" is leading the pack to replace Don Imus. He's certainly qualified; why just this week, he said this about Fred Thompson's wife Jeri:
Scarborough asks Crawford, "Have you seen Fred Thompson's wife?" Crawford: "Oh yeah." Scarborough: "You think she works the pole?"
I can't believe he'd say such a thing about the shy, retiring Mrs. Thompson:
Bush on a Toot
NYTimes: Bush Skips Some Sessions at Group of 8 Due to Illness
U.S. President George Bush enjoys a cold drink in historic Heiligendamm, Germany, Thursday, June 7, 2007. The leaders of the G8 nations are holding their annual summit in the sea resort on June 6-8, 2007. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
U.S. President George Bush laughs while enjoying drinks with colleagues in historic Heiligendamm, Germany, Thursday, June 7, 2007. The leaders of the G8 nations are holding their annual summit in the Baltic sea resort on June 6-8, 2007. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
U.S. President George Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, enjoy a cold drink in historic Heiligendamm, Germany, Thursday, June 7, 2007. The leaders of the G8 nations are holding their annual summit in the sea resort on June 6-8, 2007. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
ABCNews: Illness Sidelines President Bush at G-8 Summit; Doctor Is Monitoring His Health
U.S. President George W. Bush enjoys a non-alcoholic beer before an official dinner in Heiligendamm June 7, 2007. Leaders from the world's major industrialised nations meet in the Baltic resort of Heiligendamm on June 6-8 for a Group of Eight (G8) summit. (Philippe Wojazer / Reuters)
Non-alcoholic beer, my ass. Number one, there ain't no such creature. All non-alcoholic beer contains some small percentage of alcohol. Recovering alcoholics don't drink non-alcoholic beer. Number two, look at that man. That is not a non-alcoholic beer, and he doesn't have a stomach bug. Here in reality-land, that's called a hangover.
HEILIGENDAMM, Germany, June 8—President Bush became ill with a mild stomach ailment Friday morning, forcing him to skip some working sessions and the so-called “family photo” of leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies, but is now “back on schedule,” a top aide said.
ABCNews: Illness Sidelines President Bush at G-8 Summit; Doctor Is Monitoring His Health
Non-alcoholic beer, my ass. Number one, there ain't no such creature. All non-alcoholic beer contains some small percentage of alcohol. Recovering alcoholics don't drink non-alcoholic beer. Number two, look at that man. That is not a non-alcoholic beer, and he doesn't have a stomach bug. Here in reality-land, that's called a hangover.
Paris Hilton Free; Genarlow Wilson STILL Rots in Jail
Never thought I'd mention Paris Hilton on this blog, but here goes. OK, tell me race and class don't matter anymore in America. Paris Hilton gets released after 3 days of a 45 day sentence; Genarlow Wilson gets a 10-year sentence for conduct that is now a misdemeanor punishable by six months, and he still rots in jail two years later.
DailyKos: Paris Hilton VS Genarlow Wilson
For those of you unfamiliar, here's a CNN report on Genarlow Wilson's case:
Even though the prosecutor in the CNN piece says he'd be in favor of releasing Wilson, the prosecutor's office opposed the latest appeal by his lawyers, which will be decided Monday.
WaPo: Court Hears Appeal in Teen Oral Sex Case
DailyKos: Paris Hilton VS Genarlow Wilson
For those of you unfamiliar, here's a CNN report on Genarlow Wilson's case:
Even though the prosecutor in the CNN piece says he'd be in favor of releasing Wilson, the prosecutor's office opposed the latest appeal by his lawyers, which will be decided Monday.
WaPo: Court Hears Appeal in Teen Oral Sex Case
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Owl Delays Euro 2008 Qualifier
Yesterday, a Euro 2008 qualifier between Belgium and Finland was delayed by an owl on the field; it was a beautiful Eurasian Eagle Owl, and had a great time flying around. Finland eventually won 2-0.
hat tip to Towle Road (& Coach Mom)
hat tip to Towle Road (& Coach Mom)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
RIP Robert F. Kennedy
Hard to believe that it has been 39 years since Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Robert F. Kennedy's Speech on Martin Luther King's death:
Ted Kennedy eulogy for Robert F. Kennedy:
Robert F. Kennedy's Speech on Martin Luther King's death:
Ted Kennedy eulogy for Robert F. Kennedy:
US 4, China 1
Highlights of the US's 4-1 win over China this weekend, with goals by Beasley, Feilhaber, Dempsey and Onyewu:
hat tip to Who Ate All The Pies?
hat tip to Who Ate All The Pies?
Go Fill Your Gas Tank
40% of the world's exported oil travels through the Strait of Hormuz, and the biggest cyclone since recordkeeping started in 1945 is barreling towards the Strait. Gas prices will go up.
DailyKos: Cyclone Gonu Shuts Strait of Hormuz - Fill Your Tanks
WaPo: Thousands Evacuated Ahead of Cyclone
DailyKos: Cyclone Gonu Shuts Strait of Hormuz - Fill Your Tanks
Anyone who has visited the Gulf states knows that they build to the coastline on sandy land that is mere inches above sea level. The mountain ranges behind the flat plains are marked with wadis - dry river beds - that are ideal conduits for flash floods. The picture below is the Qalhat LNG terminal, with cities being just bigger spreads of such construction.
Now imagine massive rain, 100 mph winds and tidal surges of 1-2m inundating and pounding those plains simultaneously. As of yesterday the official line being spun from the Gulf was not to worry, that the oil would keep flowing. As of this morning, I find that line impossible to believe.
WaPo: Thousands Evacuated Ahead of Cyclone
MUSCAT, Oman -- Oman evacuated tens of thousands of people Wednesday, suspended oil exports, and closed the major port of Sohar as a weakening Cyclone Gonu roared toward the Strait of Hormuz _ the world's major transport artery for Persian Gulf oil.
Oil prices rose amid forecasts that the storm _ a rarity in the region _ was barreling toward Iran.
Devotion
My friend Mary Peck makes the papers!
Lip service
Canandaigua Elementary teacher Mary Peck kisses the floor of her classroom every time all her students get their homework in on time. For her retirement year, the class hopes to have 50 days of perfect homework records. Thursday was 44, and they have 13 days left for the final six.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Scooter, Go To Jail. (Pardon Pool Starting)
Scooter Libby was sentenced today to 30 months in jail and a $250,000 fine. How soon before Bush pardons him? I've got January 19, 2009: The last day possible. A little "fuck you" to the justice system as Chimpy crawls back to Crawford.
Of note, the letters in support of Scooter were released by the court. One of the pleaders for mercy for poor, pitiful Scooter? James Carville. He should hand in his Democratic Party membership right now and join his wife's party.
And The Leading Republican Is....
Leslie (he calls himself Wolf) Blitzer? He dominated tonight's debate.
hat tip to Atrios; graphic from the Chris Dodd blog.
hat tip to Atrios; graphic from the Chris Dodd blog.
There's a Shock
Kiplinger.com: Roberts Court Proves Good for Business
Business has a lot to cheer about as the Supreme Court term enters its final month.
Business boasts seven wins and only two losses after the June 4 ruling in Safeco Insurance Co. of America v. Burr decided together with GEICO General Insurance Co. v. Edo, which limited the ability of consumers to sue under a credit-reporting law and came just a week after the court's 5-4 decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Inc. In that case, the justices reversed decades of practice that allowed people to file complaints years after the initial event by insisting on a tight, 180-day timeframe for filing pay discrimination complaints under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which covers employment decisions based on gender, race, religion, national origin, etc. The decision is likely to make it harder to press pay discrimination suits because employees often don't know for several years that other workers are being paid more.
Call Your Senators
And tell them to say NO to Leslie Southwick's lifetime appointment to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The guy thinks it's OK to call someone a "good ol' nigger" in the workplace. He thinks it's OK for homosexuals to lose custody of their children. He's wrong for America in 2007. Use the link below to write to your Senator. Then call him/her tomorrow. The Senate Judiciary Committee votes on his nomination tomorrow.
Congressional Switchboard: Senate (202) 224-3121
Alliance for Justice: Say NO to Southwick
Nan Aron, HuffPo: One of These Things is A Lot Like The Other
Only one senator has expressed opposition to Judge Southwick: Barack Obama (D-IL).
RIP Steve Gilliard, A Fighting Liberal
Steve Gilliard, leftie blogger who ran The News Blog, died on Saturday morning. He was only 42 years old. I was incredibly sad to hear of his death even though I'd never met him. Steve was the first "big" blogger ever to run a post of mine; we exchanged two emails which was the sum total of our interaction; but he was the second blog I read every day (after Big Blue).
What made him special: His powerful voice. He knew more about military history than anyone on the 'net. He hated Rudy Giuliani and knew why Al Sharpton gets respect. He was the only soccer fan among the major bloggers. He loved New York. And even though I disagreed with him part of the time, I respected his point of view all of the time. He will be missed, terrbly.
The News Blog has a Paypal button for anyone wanting to contribute to help his family with funeral expenses.
Jon Swift has a roundup of blog tributes to Steve.
My all-time favorite Steve Gilliard post/manifesto:
You know, I've studied history, I've read about America and you know something, if it weren't for liberals, we'd be living in a dark, evil country, far worse than anything Bush could conjure up. A world where children were told to piss on the side of the road because they weren't fit to pee in a white outhouse, where women had to get back alley abortions and where rape was a joke, unless the alleged criminal was black, whereupon he was hung from a tree and castrated.
What has conservatism given America? A stable social order? A peaceful homelife? Respect for law and order? No. Hell, no. It hasn't given us anything we didn't have and it wants to take away our freedoms.
The Founding Fathers, as flawed as they were, slaveowners and pornographers, smugglers and terrorists, understood one thing, a man's path to God needed no help from the state. Is the religion of these conservatives so fragile that they need the state to prop it up, to tell us how to pray and think? Is that what they stand for? Is that their America?
Conservatism plays on fear and thrives on lies and dishonesty. I grew up with honest, decent conservatives and those people have been replaced by the party of greed. It is one thing to want less government interference and smaller, fiscally responsible government. It is another thing entirely to be a corporate whore, selling out to the highest bidder because the CEO fattens your campaign chest. They are building an America which cannot be sustained. One based on the benefit of the few at the cost of the many. The indifferent boss who hires too few people and works them to death or until they break down sick. Cheap labor capitalism has replaced common sense. "Globalism" which is really guise for exploitation, replaced fair trade, which is nothing like fair for the trapped semi-slaves of the maquliadoras. In the Texas border towns, hundreds of these women have been used as sex slaves and then apparently killed,the FBI powerless to do anything as the criminals sit in Mexico untouched by law.
For the better part of a decade, the conservatives made liberal a dirty word. Well, it isn't. It represents the best and most noble nature of what America stands for: equitable government services, old age pensions, health care, education, fair trials and humane imprisonment. It is the heart and soul of what made American different and better than other countries. Not only an escape from oppression, but the opportunity to thrive in land free of tradition and the repression that can bring. We offered a democracy which didn't enshrine the rich and made them feel they had an obligation to their workers.
Bush and the people around him disdain that. They think, by accident of birth and circumstance, they were meant to rule the world and those who did not agree would suffer.
Liberal does not and has not meant weak until the conservatives said it did. Was Martin Luther King weak? Bobby Kennedy? Gene McCarthy? It was the liberals who remade this country and ended legal segregation and legal sexism. Not the conservatives, who wanted to hold on to the old ways.
It's time to regain the sprit of FDR and Truman and the people around them. People who believed in the public good over private gain. It is time to stop apologizing for being a liberal and be proud to fight for your beliefs. No more shying away or being defined by other people. Liberals believe in a strong defense and punishment for crime. But not preemption and pointless jail sentences. We believe no American should be turned away from a hospital because they are too poor or lack a proper legal defense. We believe that people should make enough from one job to live on, to spend time on raising their family. We believe that individuals and not the state should dictate who gets married and why. The best way to defend marriage is to expand, not restrict it.
It was the liberals who opposed the Nazis while the conservatives were plotting to get their brown shirts or fund Hitler. It was the liberals who warned about Spain and fought there, who joined the RAF to fight the Germans, who brought democracy to Germany and Japan. Let us not forget it was the conservatives who opposed defending America until the Germans sank our ships. They would have done nothing as Britain came under Nazi control. It was they who supported Joe McCarthy and his baseless, drink fueled claims.
Without liberals, there would be no modern America, just a Nazi sattlelite state. Liberals weak on defense? Liberals created America's defense. The conservatives only need vets at election time.
It is time to stop looking for an accomodation with the right. They want none for us. They want to win, at any price. So, you have a choice: be a fighting liberal or sit quietly. I know what I am, what are you?
Update: Steve made the NYTimes, in death if not in life.
NYTimes: Steven Gilliard Jr., 42, Dies; Founder of Liberal Political Blog
Sawx Fans Mawk A-Rawd
A-Rod getting caught with a stripper (not his wife) by the tabloids brought out the blonde ambitious at Fenway for their three-game series this weekend. A-Rod had the last laugh when he hit a home run off Papelbon to win the third game Sunday night, but the Yankees are still 12 1/2 games back and going nowhere.
NYPost:
A-ROD'S A YANKEE DOODLE RANDY
HITS A STRIP JOINT WITH TORONTO BABE
For more photos of the blonde bombshells at Fenway, check out this Boston.com photo gallery.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Word of the Day
Kakistocracy
Kakistocracy, rule by the least-able or least-principled of citizens, is a form of government in which the people least qualified to control the government are the people who control the government.
The origin of this word is Greek, derived from the superlative of the Greek adjective kakos (bad), the superlative form being kakistos (worst).
Hat tip to this dailykos diary.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Obama's Approach to the Game
Senator Barack Obama, left, and friends at their annual competition last Christmas in Hawaii.
Yes, I am a sports geek, but you do learn a lot about someone from how they play the game.
NYTimes: Barack Obama's Basketball Family (video)
NYTimes: One Place Where Obama and Elbows Still Meet
Good Reads
flickr
I'm on the road today, so here's a sampling of online reads:
Boston Globe: Doctor blogs about his own malpractice trial; opposing lawyer finds out, case settles. Arrogant dummy.
New York Times: Greywater Guerrillas in California reusing household water with Rube Goldberg contraptions. My favorite part of the article is on page two: "Two years later, as the Guerrilla Greywater Girls (at the time, Cleo Woelfle-Erskine was a woman) they published a “Guide to Water,” a crude sheaf of photocopies...." So California.
The guy Rachel Paulose replaced as USAttorney for the District of Minnesota, Tom Heffelfinger? The LATimes reports that he was ousted because he was too vigilant in protecting the right of Native Americans to vote.
Digby on the latest suicide at Guantanamo: It's a terrorist attack! Asymetrical PR!
From McClatchy, Joe Lieberman gets a message from the troops he visited in Iraq: "We don't feel like we're making any progress." Joe Lieberman responded "La la la, I can't hear you." Well, not really, but he may as well: "I think it's important we don't lose our will," he said. "To pull out would be a disaster."
From the Consumerist, a comparison of fast food salads v. fast food burgers. Go ahead, have the burger, it's healthier.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
If You Lived In Iowa or New Hampshire: Bill Richardson
These are the ads Bill Richardson is running in Iowa and New Hampshire; he's been rising in the polls on their strength.
hat tip to MyDD
hat tip to MyDD
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Stop Voter Fraud
Photo Credit: By Charlotte B. Teagle -- Atlanta Journal-constitution
Stop the Republicans from putting one of their number one vote-challenging whores on the Federal Election Commision. Hans von Spakovsky is the guy who masterminded the 2000 Florida "felon" purge that prevented tens of thousands of legitimate, mostly African-American Florida voters from casting their ballots for Al Gore. He has been nominated to a four-year term on the Federal Elections Commision by the Chimperor, and there is a hearing on the nomination on June 13, 2007 by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Please call your senator if they are on the list below; if he makes it through committee, all senators must be contacted.
dailykos: Keep Yer Vote Thievin' Hans Off (the FEC): Action Alert!
Hans Von Spakovsky will appear before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration on June 13, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. for his confirmation hearing. []
Democrats
Dianne Feinstein (CA) - (202) 224-3841
Robert Byrd (WV) - (202) 224-3954
Daniel Inouye (HI) - (202) 224-3934
Christopher Dodd (CT) - (202) 224-2823
Charles Schumer (NY) - (202) 224-6542
Richard Durbin (IL) - (202) 224-2152
Ben Nelson (NE) - (202) 224-6551
Harry Reid (NV) - (202) 224-3542
Patty Murray (WA) - (202) 224-2621
Mark Pryor (AR) - (202) 224-2353
Republicans
Robert Bennett (UT) - (202) 224-5444
Mitch McConnell (KY) - (202) 224-2541
Thad Cochran (MS) - (202) 224-5054
Trent Lott (MS) - (202) 224-6253
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) - (202) 224-5922
Saxby Chambliss (GA) - (202) 224-3521
Chuck Hagel (NE) - (202) 224-4224
Lamar Alexander (TN) - (202) 224-4944
McClatchy: Efforts to stop `voter fraud' may have curbed legitimate voting
WASHINGTON - During four years as a Justice Department civil rights lawyer, Hans von Spakovsky went so far in a crusade against voter fraud as to warn of its dangers under a pseudonym in a law journal article.
Writing as "Publius," von Spakovsky contended that every voter should be required to produce a photo-identification card and that there was "no evidence" that such restrictions burden minority voters disproportionately.
Now, amid a scandal over politicization of the Justice Department, Congress is beginning to examine allegations that von Spakovsky was a key player in a Republican campaign to hang onto power in Washington by suppressing the votes of minority voters.
"Mr. von Spakovsky was central to the administration's pursuit of strategies that had the effect of suppressing the minority vote," charged Joseph Rich, a former Justice Department voting rights chief who worked under him.
He and other former career department lawyers say that von Spakovsky steered the agency toward voting rights policies not seen before, pushing to curb minor instances of election fraud by imposing sweeping restrictions that would make it harder, not easier, for Democratic-leaning poor and minority voters to cast ballots.
WaPo: Official's Article on Voting Law Spurs Outcry
Scalito Court Limits Employment Law
WaPo: Supreme Court Limits Pay Discrimination Suits
Justices Back 180-Day Deadline for Claims
Today the Supreme Court said a worker can be discriminated against for years, and if they sue for back pay, they can only get it for the preceding 180 days before they file suit. This is a massive change in prior precedent, and gives employers an incentive not to tell employees how much their co-workers are paid. How do you know you're being discriminated against if you don't know what everyone else makes? So most employers make a big point of telling employees not to tell each other what they make.
This decision ignores the practical realities of the workplace. Many workers are still on probation for the first 180 days. They're supposed to be figuring out they're being discriminated against, and hiring a lawyer, while they're trying to hold on to a new job? Ridiculous.
''This short deadline reflects Congress's strong preference for the prompt resolution of employment discrimination allegations through voluntary conciliation and cooperation,'' Alito said.
The decision was written by Strip Search Sammy Alito, and we have these weasel Democrats to thank for his presence on the court, because they voted for cloture and let Alito through:
Akaka (HI), Baucus (MT), Bingaman (NM), Byrd (WV), Cantwell (WA), Carper (DE), Conrad (ND), Dorgan (ND), Inouye (HI), Johnson (SD), Kohl (WI), Landrieu (LA), Lieberman (CT), Lincoln (AR), Nelson (FL), Nelson (NE), Pryor (AR), Rockefeller (WV), Salazar (CO)
In dissent, Ruth Bader Ginsburg calls on Congress to pass legislation overturning this cramped view of discrimination law; let's hope the Democrats in Congress can find a little courage on this one.
Are You Going to San Francisco?
(Robert Durell / LAT)
It's not like it used to be. I lived in San Francisco briefly in 1980 and Haight Ashbury was a scary drug-infested place then, too.
LATimes: There's not a lot of love in the Haight
Gutter punks roam where, 40 years ago, flower children protested the war in Vietnam.
The song: San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)
As performed by Scott McKenzie and the Mamas and the Papas, 1967:
Andrew Card Honorary Degree Booed Lustily
From the YouTube poster:
On May 25, 2007 Andrew Card faced hundreds of boos and catcalls as he was given an honorary degree during the graduate school commencement at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Before the commencement, about 200 protesters staged a rally and press conference outside the Mullins Center on the UMass campus. Hundreds more students and faculty who opposed the honorary degree would later protest inside the hall.
Card, former Bush Administration Chief of Staff and chief salesman for the invasion of Iraq as head of the White House Iraq Group, faced signs calling him a war criminal. People are now calling on UMass to rescind the honorary degree.
The protests followed weeks of growing opposition. 400 protested on May 15 (see the rally and march on YouTube at TraprockPeaceTV) and on May 22 protesters marched from the campus to the Amherst common.
After the commencement, activists gathered at the Jones Library for a celebration and speakout. Video of both the pre-commencement rally and post-commencement speakout are coming to TraprockPeaceTV.
Video recorded and edited by Charles Jenks; © 2007 Traprock Peace Center. Websites may embed the video for non-profit use, with attribution. Please let us know if you use the video; email charles@traprockpeace.org
The protest was organized by a large coalition of campus and community organizations, too numerous to list. Traprock was one of many community groups that supported the tremendous efforts by the UMass community of students, faculty and staff, and UMass organizations.
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