We Will Open At 5am On Thursday
Only once a year do you find prices like this at Gear Gab. So get in line early. The first 20 people through the gates will receive free pedicures.
Happy Thanksgiving
Robert Altman
Everyone has their day, it is just too bad that Altman's couldn't have waited a while longer. No one could move a large amount of actors through a movie the way he did. I will always remember the peeing scene from Short Cuts.
Ware for Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving week issue of the New Yorker features four different covers by everyones favorite cartoonist Chris Ware. You can view all four covers, along with an online exclusive, and an audio interview on the New Yorker website.
Spin Art Fun
It has been a while since I have written about toys.
The Lite-Brite FX Flash Art Neon Paint Spinner is our family's favorite new toy. Nothing entertains 5 Six year olds and myself like spin art. For years I have been saving my spin art from the MN State Fair, buy now I can do it at home. How cool is that for $20.
This is an Isabel original. More Spin Art Here.
All I Want For Christmas
The all new Samsung "Gun Sentry Robot". I mean really why even bother with security cameras and cops. This could be the SUX6000. Hell we could even line our borders with these. It would keep the damn Canadians out.
You know the Canadians only come here to get the good health care. You know, the expensive stuff. Not that cheap as crap they have up north.
::::make sure you watch the video::::
Divest Now
Last month, the Bechtel Corp. became the first major U.S. contractor to announce that it was pulling out of Iraq. Bechtel's departure marks yet another significant failure for Bush's economic invasion of Iraq. It does not mark, however, the end of Bechtel's adventures in the Middle East as the company looks to take advantage of the Bush administration's expanding U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Area.
These corporations that have contractors in Iraq must be publicly held companies. Why isn't there a mass movement to protest companies, universities, cities, pension funds, ect.. that are invested in these companies. It worked against the South African racist government why couldn't it work against companies that are supporting an illegal war.
You don't really think that the Democrats are going to bring home the troops, do you?
Good John Hunting
John Edwards was the guest on the Daily Show the other night. During the "Seat of Heat" segment he was asked, "If you were Vice President who would you shoot in the face while hunting"?
There was a brief pause and then he gave the only correct answer, "Dick Cheney".
For the first time ever a politician, in the history of mankind, was asked a direct question and he gave a direct answer. He didn't follow it up with some feel good comment about how he would never do such a thing. We could use more answers like this from politicians.
As for John Edwards, he is really no different from any Republican or Democrat. He goes on and on about his group being responsible for getting the minimum wage raised in a number of states during last weeks elections. Come on! Sit down with a room full of adults who are making minimum wage and look them in the eyes and tell them this. It doesn't mean Jack Shit.
If he really wanted to blow his trumpet then he should go out and get a Living Wage bill passed in some state. Minimum wage gets you a shack (pictured above) and an eviction notice on a weekly basis. You can buy white bread and beans, but most folks would probably get cable tv and malt liquor before food. It numbs the pain.
Minneapolis Expands Its Surveillance System
The Star Tribune details the roll out of new serveillance cameras in the City of Minneapolis. The city already has 40 cameras downtown and is expanding into high crime neighborhoods.
Four more Minneapolis neighborhoods are now under constant police surveillance, but citizens aren't shying away from the cameras. In fact, they requested them.Â
My problem with this system is that it goes after the simple end crime; the prostitute, the drug seller and their customer. It really does nothing to go after the roots of these crimes. Also these people will just move down the road. In the 1980's we bulldozed Block-E to remove crime from downtown and somehow that didn't magically solve the problem.
This is also very reactive. The camera doesn't protect the person who has already been shot or beaten. The victim also is given a false sense of security by having the camera there.Â
Who’s Looking At You, St. Paul?
The City of St. Paul is looking to join the ranks of the surveillance society. Minneapolis already has some 85+ cameras.
more from the Pioneer Press via Indymedia.org
If St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington gets his way, the city will be equipped with surveillance cameras and technology to pinpoint gunshots before the Republican National Convention arrives in 2008.
The War On Journalism
If you are not familiar with Josh Wolf or his legal troubles you should be. Josh is now incarcerated for a second time for failing to turn over video footage to a Federal Grand Jury of an anti-war rally that turned violent. The rally took place on July 8th, 2005.
The footage that Josh shot was shown on several news outlets. Josh all along has claimed that he has a first amendment right to protect his sources. The grand jury is looking for footage that shows a police car being vandalized and Josh says that none of this is even on his video.
Where the real problem comes in is that the news services were small independent outlets like indymedia.org and Guerilla News Network. Large news outlets seem to have enough trouble helping their reporters and photographers. What is some guy who freelances for some small indy outlet supposed to do. The government is running all over these people.
To help Josh and read more on his story go to: joshwolf.net/blog
Police filmed protest
I saw this a while back but finally found a version that could be posted. It is of a 2002 protest in Portland filmed by the police.
Where have you gone Eugene Hasenfus?
Having Robert Gates back in our lives has made me long for the good old days. You know, sending money here, shipping guns there, overthrowing third world leaders.
As a matter of fact last month marked a huge anniversary. It was 20 years ago that American Patriot, Eugene Hasenfus, heroically escaped with his life while delivering goods to Ronnie's 'Freedom Fighters' the Contras. His plane was shot out of the sky and he was able to parachute into the hands of the waiting Sandinistas.
My college roommates and I bought a cat on this very day and choose his now legendary name 'Hasenfus' for our new kitty.
Good old Eugene was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the Nicaraguans only to be pardoned a month later by the great godless Commie monster Daniel Ortega.
Bobby Gates was one of the top dogs at the CIA during all these freewheeling years, so I'm sure he has 100 Eugene Hasenfuses for every 1 that we have heard of. Bobbys reward, run the Pentagon during the most expensive war in our nations history. If I remember correctly he was nominated to head the CIA but had to remove his nomination because of all this money and weapons brew ha ha. Also I believe it was Paul Wellstone who spoke out the loudest in protest of his nomination.
So now we know where Robert Gates is today, but what about our other contestants.
Eugene Hasenfus dropped out of the news for many years only to resurface in his home state of Wisconsin as a pervert. He was arrested three times between 2000 and 2005 for indecent exposure in various stores and parking lots. He has done his time and I'm sure the 'Company' is taking care of this genuine Patriot.
Daniel Ortega, the man who brought communism off the islands and onto the mainland of the western hemisphere. Well, he just got himself re-elected after 16 years in the private sector.
It is just like the movies. Sequels, sequels and more sequels. Round one was Rummy, Cheney and Bush. Round two will be bigger, badder and unbelievable. I'm sure we will see names like Baker, Casey, McFarlane, Negroponte, Poindexter, Secord, and who knows maybe even Ollie North. If only 'Cap' Weinberger were alive to join in the fun.
For further fun reading visit Chapter 16 of the Final Report of the Independant Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters
How Data Mining Works
If you've ever wanted to know how data mining works, this is a great article. It starts with how companies target coupons to specific coustomers and travels all the way to how the government knows you are going to blow up the Wal-Mart in St. Anthony.
Hun Saker won’t admit to fueling Mexican Standoff at HP
The board at HP was basically pointing loaded guns at each other and Hunsaker bought the guns. The guy will go down along with 2 or 3 others at HP. This company was simmering 5 years ago when they bought Compaq and the Hewlett family went crazy. Then they kept turning the heat up and you knew they would eventually boil over.
eat ‘em up, fuckers
"Here," said Frito-Lay CEO Al Carey as he disgustedly tossed a bag of the company's new Flat Earth-brand snack crisps onto the lectern during a meeting with shareholders and members of the press. "Here's some shit that's made from beets."
