The Dimpled Chad

An Inconvenient Truth - Trailer - Showtimes - Cast - Movies - New York Times

A collection of TIME's recent coverage of global warming and the environment - Sponsored by The Discovery Channel - TIME.com

... Also please see and take the Time Quick Vote poll that asks:
"Are you willing to make a change in your lifestyle to lessen the effects of Global Warming?”
We don't think you will be surprised at the answers but it’s good to know how most feel about this urgent issue.

Global warming should definitely be an urgent action-item for all Americans whether the White House wants to face it or not. REMINDER: It is our constitutional right and within our power to make them address American voter issues.

See more: Up In smoke | Sponsored by The Discovery Channel - TIME.com

"In the Bush era, the timing and quality of "arrests" and "warnings" have a suspicious ring..."
Read on here - TIME.com: Toying With Terror Alerts?

EWeek Article by: By Larry Dignan. May 22, 2006

How scary is this?
The Department of Veterans Affairs said the personal information of up to 26.5 million veterans was swiped from an employee's home! So we add this on to provide additional information- however disturbing.

See this and the posts below on security gone wild. Click to EWeek for scores of information... you an also post comments and add opinions there too!

ta.

U.S. Navy: Data Breach Affects 28,000

It seems that the government is one of the least secure... this is just one of many breaches that affect US citizens and our armed forces alike. The breaches have happened at many different levels and affect banks, service providers such as phone co's, credit card companies, ISP's, as well as several branches of the armed services. This is really out of control and it will get a lot worse before it gets better - especially if we do not demand that the government do much better at security.
This does not mean however, that we should allow the gov't to charge for the internet, censor it, or tax it. Security does not require the taxes and fees they are talking about - it requires good qualified professionals running things, due diligence and proper oversight and follow thru - qualities our present administration seem oddly without at this point. Don’t let them bully us into paying or paying more. And do not allow this to become a fear driven initiative.
That could very well be why there are suddenly breaches in key sectors or that we are just now hearing so much about it. They will feel less guilty about making us pay for the internet if we have security concerns or fears.
Get the facts please...

Prices rise for drugs used by elderly: studies - Yahoo! News

Well we may feel helpless... but only because we are too (American) idle to get up, go out and protest!
Which, if I recall - is the (latest) reason we also spend billions of dollars in Iraq - so they can get up, go out and protest - one of the key privileges of democracy. Even if the war really was a run at the oil over there - that strategy apparently did not work out either - yikes!

Now it seems we just outsource democracy... as wars in other countries.
The French riot in the streets when job benefits change, yet here we enjoy struggling things and just complaining... sounds pathetic and kind of puny coming from a "super power" like America. We may have lost our Mojo but be reminded it is OUR hard earned money that’s being spent abroad with little left over to cure or soothe America's issues. Sadder still, we spread democracy so selectively - there are other nations that have far worse conditions such as Africa - the need there is endless as we well know, or should know - what have you done for Africa lately?

I guess it is what it is. I am saddened because it seems we have lost our power and sense of outrage as human beings and Americans - now days we just sit down. It feels we can't or won't stand up for issues that are in our faces every day and affect our futures and those of our children and families, and the earth as a whole. (I'm folding my soapbox up now).

So Happy Trails...
{Roy Rodgers said that - but he rode a horse}
For your next road trip or commute ($$ out of your paycheck), here's what it looks like for car travel in the land of opportunity: Clicking for gas... how unfortunate for US.

CLICK HERE ---> Gas Prices - MSN Autos

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Multibillion-dollar hurricane recovery efforts on the U.S. Gulf Coast are plagued by bloated costs and waste with too many contractors getting a piece of the action, lawmakers said at a hearing on Monday. (4-10-06)

Louisiana legislators frustrated by the slow pace of recovery accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Army Corps of Engineers of spearheading a flawed rebuilding process with little transparency and contractor oversight.

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican and chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, held the field hearing as part of efforts to avoid the mistakes made after Hurricane Katrina in future crises.

Read on: Politics-Reuters.com
We didn't need a psychic for that one. It was pretty easy to predict. Most of the folks that I know saw that just days after the crisis. Pray tell: what have those officials been working on for the last 6 months?
I dunno...

ABC News: From Cash to Yachts: Congressman's Bribe Menu

An excerpt:

These are the men
That fleeced the tribes
That paid the money
That made the bribes
That purchased the Congress that
Jack built.

(Well.. what more can we say?) - read further - click below.
Jack's House - New York Times

Criminy, there's so much pimp stuff around right now. Here's some more... I think.
En homage to the Oscar winning song, It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp, at RadioBlogger wannabe listeners were invited to submit their own lyrics for a chance at the Crosley Solo = yes, that's an honor of sorts.

- Preview- check this quatrain:
It's Hard out Here for a Lobbyist- Lyrics by, John Crayton

[Abramoff: singing/rappin']
In my eyes I done seen some crazy thangs on K-Street
Gotta couple of House members workin for me now
But I gotta keep my game tight like Cheney on huntin' night
Like takin' from a House member don't know no better, I know that ain't right

- See more: Radio Blogger

Baghdad Burning

Testing....
uhm - hold on - we'll get this #@!#$%^&*$#@! machine to work.