Archive for Truths & Lies

T-Mobile G1 Pricing: LIES!

Okay, what’s the deal with T-Mobile’s pricing for the new “Android” phone, the G1? Word is out that it will go for $179. Sweet!, I thought.

I immediately went online to my MyTmobile account to snatch up a pre-order. But what happens when I get to the page where I get to pick which color I want? Both the brown and the black models are NOT $179, but $299! What the HECK???

T-Mobile-G1-pricing.J7ZH5cM6RKQe.jpg

Is the $179 for NEW T-Mobile customers only? I mean, I’ve been a loyal T-Mobile customer for EIGHT years, and THIS is the thanks I get???

BOGUS!!!

House fails to override Bush’s veto of CHIPS

Americans are spending billions upon billions of dollars to kill Iraqis and fuck up that whole country. But we can’t spend a goddamn cent more on the health of American children???? What the FUCK???

Of course the prez is all for it. But the newly-elected, Democrat-led House of Representatives can’t do a thing  about it? I know these fuckers aren’t representing me!

The prez and lame-duck Republicans say that this bill would allow too many children to have healthcare!!!

And the worse thing about the whole fiasco? The politicians are more concerned about their “careers” than they are about our children. 

Here’s an excerpt from the New York Times article:

“This isn’t the last fight we’re going to have where Democrats will try to put forth legislation that is populist or will tug at the heart strings,” said Tony Fratto, the deputy White House press secretary. [yeah, we wouldn't anybody's feelings about children to influence their decision to deny them healthcare.]

Mr. Fratto added, “Is it a good day? No. A good day will be the day that we pass legislation that the president can sign. But it is gratifying to know that we’ve got Republicans with sufficient backbone who are willing to stand tall and fight on principle in order to get the policy right.” [yeah, some "principle" or other is much more important than the health of our children.]

But some Republicans, like Representative Thomas M. Davis III of Virginia, who was chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee when Mr. Bush ran for election in 2000, were furious with Mr. Bush for putting them in such a difficult spot on children’s health.

“He’s not going to get his way on this,” said Mr. Davis, who voted to override the veto and predicted that Mr. Bush would ultimately be forced to sign a measure similar to the one he rejected.

“And he’s jeopardizing people’s careers,” added Mr. Davis, who is contemplating a race for the Senate. [yeah, the careers of career-politician is much more important than the health of our children.]

On the House floor, Democrats told Republicans they would pay a political price for their opposition.

Representative Charles B. Rangel, Democrat of New York, who is chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said that “President Bush is going to be there at his ranch in Texas” at the time of the next election.

“He will not be with you at the polls,” Mr. Rangel said. “By that time, the truth will have caught up with the message that the president and you are using to sustain his veto.” [yeah, Rangel, hit 'em where it hurts: their careers! Forget about simply doing the right thing.]

Democrats are seeking ways to revise the bill to answer criticism from Republicans who said it did not focus enough on low-income children. Critics say the bill would allow coverage of children from middle- and upper-income families and of adults and some illegal immigrants. [Oh, come on! When nobody can afford healthcare, how can you argue about how poor you have to be to qualify for any healthcare???]

Mr. Bush has named three senior administration officials to negotiate with Congress. But Democratic leaders would prefer to deal directly with the president.

“We intend to sit down with the president any time he is ready,” Ms. Pelosi said. “We hope that will be soon.” [yeah, you tell 'em, Nancy. After all, it is the "principle" of the thing that matters.]

Chances for a quick compromise with the White House looked slim.

Representative John B. Larson of Connecticut, a member of the House Democratic leadership, said, “We have a president frozen in the ice of his own indifference toward the children of this country.” [Unfortunately, very true, Mr. Larson.]

Ms. Pelosi said she had no interest in an idea promoted by some Republicans in Congress: providing tax credits to middle-income families to help them buy private insurance for their children. [When he can think at all, he can only think in terms of tax cuts.]

Tempers flared when House Democrats compared Mr. Bush’s veto of the child health bill with his support for the war in Iraq.

Representative Pete Stark, the California Democrat who is chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, told Republicans: “You don’t have money to fund the war or children. But you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.” [right ON, dude!!! Now that's calling it like it is!!!]

The Parameters of Debate

Doonesbury-2006-08-06
Today’s Doonesbury just hit a resonant tone with me: “the parameters of debate.” In the strip, the White House press corps is questioning Bush’s choices, or rather the choices he gives himself. While I’m glad the press has brought up this question, I think it has been brought up neither frequently enough nor with enough fervor (see my post “Who Frames the Parameters of the Debate?” from December 9th, 2005.)
Which is why i’m happy for the Blogosphere. The advent of personal blogs can only be good for democracy and the free exchange of (perhaps wild) ideas.

Talent Stolen from the Drug Companies

Rush Limbaugh. What a loser. Does anybody even listen to him anymore? Didn’t he go to jail for drugs?

Well, not quite. His drug use has been in criminal investigation for two-and-a-half years, poor guy (I mean, how inconvenient!). Now, apparently, he’s been let off the hook because he’s been seeing a therapist since the whole thing blew up in his drug-frenzied face (“Limbaugh cuts deal in drug probe,” Reuter’s, April 28, 2006). Hm. I’m sure that therapist is no Karl Jung. No, more like Karl Rove:

“It’s ok son, we all know you’ve done nothing wrong. This isn’t your fault, after all. It’s your mother’s. She raised you on Quaaludes. Sure it’s the only way she could live with herself knowing the kind of son she’d raised. The emotional abuse. The spewing of lies and hate. But it’s not your fault your actions drove her to OD. You were way too strong for her bleeding heart. Did ya see Ken Lay got off?”

Yeah, so Limbaugh’s getting off with a hand slap (had to pay $30,000 in investigation fees), just like all those rich sons of bitches who get away with murder and buy their way out.

But really, this thing is wrong in so many ways: he spews hate for anybody who does drugs (especially if they’re black “welfare mothers”) all the while using his (probably illegal alien) housekeeper to get him prescription drugs. (What’s his stance on immigration?) What a hypocrite! Throw the loser in JAIL!!! That’s what he’d recommend if a black person was doing what he himself was doing!

So do you think he might have learned a lesson here? Do you think he might have grown a bit through this whole thing? Would you think he might have a little more compassion now for people who have addictions? Do you think he might have– *gasp!*– opened his mind a little, or– *horror!*– become a bit more– *gasp!*– LIBERAL?????

Well, EVIL OF EVILS!!! Rush’s “talent”– previously on loan from the Old Man in the Big Chair Upstairs (no, not George Jr., stupid– GOD!!!)– has now been co-opted by the Liberal Media!

Nope. I’m sure he’ll go right on spewing his brand of hate and lies into the steaming hot concoction called the “Conservative Media” which he and all his peers and pundits have been brewing for the past couple decades. And mindless, gullible, and fearful people will continue to cry “ditto!” from the recesses of their darkened souls.

Pity. Not that I’m perfect, by any means. Anybody who knows me knows. But at least I don’t spew hate and lies to millions of people every day. Unless everybody really IS reading my blog and just being shy about it.

That’s what we should do to Rush. Just let him be. Another media has-been. I bet he’s not that bad a guy when he’s not all hyped up on meds. Yeah. Just let him live out his life on his own. I’ll forgive him if you do.

Defending Jay Benning. Again. And Well.

In his article "Keeping Kids Stupid: The Intellectual Lynching of Jay Bennish," Michael I. Niman defends Social Studies teacher Jay Bennish's teaching methodology. Definitely worth checking out.

The Fourth Reich: Avoided for Now?

Admittedly, I am not very good at keeping up with the latest news. I mean, I just found this today (from March 11th), about Colorado High School Social Studies teacher Jay Benning being reinstated in his job after originally being placed on leave for comparing certain of PrezBush's Jan 06 State of the Union address to certain sayings of Adolf Hitler. I am happy that Benning is back at work, although, like most news articles, I am not satisfied with the (lack of) depth of explanations. What did the school board determine, exactly?

Well, they did say that Henning must present the opposing argument right then, rather than waiting 'til next week.

God, teachers have it tough. I mean, who determines the polar extents of any particular debate? Is Benning's question simply that Bush is Hitler or is NOT Hitler? And since he's a social studies teacher, here are examples of both arguments?

Well, what if the argument for one side is logically unsound, like the arguments for Intelligent Design? I guess the teacher is supposed to present that argument anyway, as is, and let the students decide.

That's why it's extremely important that students learn how to think critically first. They must have the tools to determine what is a sound argument and what is NOT a sound argument.

Anyway, here's that Post article:

(from Washington Post website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/10/AR2006031002330.html?nav=rss_print/asection"

Colo. Teacher Accused Of Bias Is Reinstated

He Had Likened Bush's Speech to Hitler's

Associated Press
Saturday, March 11, 2006; Page A06

DENVER, March 10 — A high school teacher who was placed on leave after comparing President Bush's State of the Union address to speeches by Adolf Hitler has been reinstated, his attorney and school officials said Friday.

Officials declined to say whether social studies instructor Jay Bennish faced disciplinary action. His attorney, David Lane, said Bennish would be back in the classroom Monday "with full pay."

Bennish had been on paid leave from Overland High School in suburban Aurora since March 1 while Cherry Creek School District determined whether he violated a district rule that teachers present balancing viewpoints in the classroom.

Superintendent Monte Moses declined to offer specifics of the investigation or its findings, but said administrators and Bennish now "have a good understanding."

During a Feb. 1 lecture in a geography class, Bennish said some of Bush's State of the Union address the night before "sounds a lot like the things that Adolf Hitler used to say."

Bennish later said the lecture was intended to stimulate his students to think critically. He also said he presents balancing viewpoints in class but not always at the same time. Lane acknowledged that was a mistake.

"Jay's teaching style will perhaps be, as some would say, a little more fair and balanced on a minute-to-minute basis," Lane said. "When you put out one side, put out the other then and there."

Bennish said he would continue to try to improve as a teacher and to encourage students to think critically.

"I will be back in the classroom on Monday, and I am excited to continue to teach," he said.

One of Bennish's students recorded part of the lecture and provided the tape to a Denver radio station. Cherry Creek administrators said the student's father gave a copy to them.

On Friday, the state Senate rejected a proposal authorizing schools to fire teachers who routinely present one-sided views in the classroom and instead agreed to a measure saying teachers who violate school policies can be dismissed.

the Fourth Reich

Why is nobody pointing out that this is what the Third Reich would have done?

More power to Jay Bennish!!!


(from the CNN.com website:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/03/08/teacher.bush.ap/index.html)

Teacher who compared Bush and Hitler put on leave

Wednesday, March 8, 2006; Posted: 10:17 a.m. EST (15:17 GMT)
DENVER (AP) — A high school social studies teacher who was put on leave after comparing President Bush's State of the Union address to speeches made by Adolf Hitler defended his lecture on Tuesday, saying he was trying to encourage students to think.
“My job as a teacher is to challenge students to think critically about issues that are affecting our world and our society,” Jay Bennish said on NBC's “Today Show.”
Bennish is on paid leave from Overland High School in suburban Aurora while Cherry Creek School District investigates whether his Feb. 1 lecture violated a policy requiring that balancing viewpoints be presented in classes.
A student recorded at least part of the lecture in Bennish's world geography class and took it to a Denver radio station, which played parts of it on a talk show.
Bennish told “Today” the excerpts broadcast weren't representative of the full lecture.
”This is 20 minutes out of a 50-minute class. The rest of the class provides the balance,” he said.
On the recording, Bennish told the students that some of Bush's speech “sounds a lot like the things that Adolf Hitler used to say. We're the only ones who are right, everyone else is backwards and our job is to conquer the world and make sure that they all live just like we want them to.”
Later in the recording, Bennish said he was not claiming Bush and Hitler were the same, “but there are some eerie similarities to the tones that they use.”
Bennish said no parents — including the family of the student who recorded the lecture — have complained to him. He said all the students' parents had seen his syllabus and that school officials had approved it.
”My job as a social studies teacher is to argue alternative perspectives and viewpoints so that students are aware of those point of views. They do not necessarily reflect my own views. They are simply thrown out there to encourage critical thought,” he told “Today.”

Worried about Alito

Why do i not trust Samuel Alito during his Senate confirmation hearings these past couple days? I mean, from what i’ve heard on NPR, he actually sounds like he’d be a fair and impartial Supreme Court Justice…

So what’s wrong? Why do i not feel like i should believe him?

I think i know why: because George Bush Jr nominated him. And knowing who Jr’s appointed to all his other posts, i just cannot trust that Alito would be anything other than cruel, mean, conceited, self-centered, self-righteous, self-serving, lying, cheating, stealing, and murdering.

And that makes me feel bad. Makes me feel disoriented. My head spins with confusion. Because when you’ve been lied to so much, it sucks to hear good words from what seems to be a sincere person. You want to trust him, but you just can’t bring yourself to be open to the lies yet again.

Sucks…

I mean, words are so powerful! Everything is just a story– even science, that most hard-nosed, impersonal, practical and objective of human pursuits, is just a bunch of stories that scientists make up to explain the results of their experiments. And if science is wishy washy, surely every other human pursuit is even moreso.

That is why it’s so important that we be “impeccable with our word.” We must do our best to speak our most ultimate truths all the time, to lift ourselves and each other UP!

Without the most literal, clear, and just meanings of our words, there is NO meaning.

Who Frames the Parameters of the Debate?

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OK, you know what pisses me off about the Bush administration and people (like this guy Gary Schmitt of the Dallas Morning News, whose article here appears on the Project for a New American Century website) who think our war on Iraq was justified even though we went there based on lies? What pisses me off THE MOST (out of ALOT that pisses me off) about these guys is that they have successfully framed the issue in irrelevant terms. That is, the argument these days is “should we pull out our troops now or later?” when the REAL question is how can we have peace on earth? How can we “all just get along?”

On 9/11, i was as shocked as anybody. Perhaps moreso than most. But my shock led me to question WHY. Why did these people want to do such a thing? So i did a little research. You know, BASIC RESEARCH: hopped on Google, looked up “Osama bin Laden.” Watched alot of TV news (and there was a LOT of it going on at that time).

It didn’t take me long to realize that bin Laden’s main complaint about the USA was that we were meddling in the affairs of his nation (or his nationS) and of the Islamic leadership of those nations.

Ok then, why don’t we try some basic DIPLOMACY??? Send our ambassadors over there to find out how the people feel about us. Ask the PEOPLE. “Let’s talk…” What could we do that might help mend resentment among the people there? LET’S BE FRIENDS!!!

But NO! On the very evening of 9/11, what does our President– the most powerful man in the world, a self-proclaimed “Texan,” the “man of integrity” who during his campaign called himself “the great uniter”– DO??? HE THREATENS EVERYONE!!! “Either you’re with us or you’re against us.” Um, let’s see… we’ve just been attacked by fundamentalists who think that if we’re not friends, we’re enemies. And then we tell them, what? We tell them that if we’re not friends, we’re enemies.

Is this not supremely irrational? I mean, are we not giving bin Laden exactly what he wants? Lending him credence, legitimacy?

George Bush had the perfect opportunity to heal some major wounds for humanity. What if he had said, on that infamous evening of September 11, 2001:

Wow. You have really given us a wakeup call. We had no idea you were in so much pain. The United States takes a vow to make our world a better place, to listen to your concerns, to reach out and LIFT YOU UP, to empower EVERYONE to become the best person they can be, and this wonderful, beautiful, rich and delicate world of ours to be a warm and healthy place for humanity to prosper for millenia to come.

Imagine what our world would be like now, four years later. Ask yourself, Gary Schmitt of the Dallas Morning News, “would the world be safer for having reached out to the poor and the disenfranchised?”