What We Forgot

The recent debt ceiling debate shows just how partisan and uncivil we Americans have become. Town hall meetings are all but impossible because hecklers are planted at each event, and you might even get shot in the head. Welcome to Mother America, the land of the brazen, overweight Tea Party Patriots who drone on about the Constitution, while having no concept of true democracy.

See, the whole democracy thing is about having a rational discourse, listening to your opponent, and then achieving compromise. The recent debacle in Washington was more like watching rabid clowns perform in a low-budget remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

As for the Obama Haters, come on, and give it a break — seeing your worldly self emerge from your Christian facade has gotten old. I've never seen so many people hate on one poor guy, a guy who has the most rotten job in America. And, to my shock, one day people are going to their country club churches to learn about "love," and the next day they are telling the most vile and hateful jokes about the U.S. president. Oh, yeah, there is an exemption in the Bible for hating on the president -- you can read about it in one of those obscure books in the back of the Old Testament. Honest.

I have to blame it all on gerrymandering, but fully realize that the typical American doesn't know what that is (they are more concerned about the Biggest Loser getting voted off the island). But it's this gerrymandering thing that creates Left and Right congressional districts, and the moderates are all but lost. It's a nasty game.

No, No, No!

As far as political maneuvering goes, it looks like the Republican Party and their Tea Party militia wing are doing everything in their power to sabotage the presidency of the president. So what if they keep us in a recession and millions out of work. The point is that them NASCAR god-fearing folks want the White House back.

Oh, and as far as the debt ceiling goes ... those Tea Party Patriots have no problem with taking little Johnny's subsidized school lunch away, but when it comes to corporate tax breaks and runaway military spending, they appear totally indifferent. After all, it's Obama who invaded Iraq and bailed out the banks, and had an affair with Monica. At least that's how the Texas Board of Education will spin it, and since history and facts are just another illusion to the Tea Partiers, it really doesn't matter anyway.

A Demo What?

My point is that to create a sustainable world, we must have a healthy, productive democracy. This means gathering input from all sides and creating a workable solution. And better yet, a solution that is sensitive to the long-term. This does NOT mean letting a vocal, raunchy, fringe group ramming a hard line position down every one else's throats. Where is the love? Where is the idea that we are all Americans?

It's okay to be a conservative, moderate, or liberal. Each side should respect the other, and "respect" is something we've totally lost in this country. Let's be civil, open-minded, and caring. Let's LISTEN to what the other side has to say. Let's vote in the best interest of our children and future, rather than bowing to the puppet masters.

It's not our political system that is broken. It is WE who are broken. I've seen too many people who have lost their rationalism and decency as human beings. Our country is becoming Road Warrior Nation, a land that is controlled by roaming brutes.

Show some love, baby. Show some compassion. And remember what democracy really is, and not who you are trying to impress. Throw your tea in the bay and join the rest of America. And let us become one again.

Amen, saith the Goose

"We" Instead of "I"

Love one another, and remember that America is superior, and that everyone else in the world is corrupt and basically sucks. And don't worry about those uninsured U.S. citizens, yada yada.


I just saw the movie "Sicko" by Michael Moore. I don't understand why so many people hate him — I love the guy. The one thing that sticks in my mind is his comment, "It should be about 'we' and not 'I.'"

That's a theme I try to always push, but people don't get it. I was at a leadership conference recently and somehow got into a discussion with this guy about "working together as a team" and that the United States was arrogant. He said he was totally against the U.S. working through the United Nations or working with other countries because he did not want to support "corrupt dictators."

First, what "corrupt dictator" is he talking about? Or is he just parroting Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, like most people do around here.

Secondly, earlier, the guy was talking about being a Christian, church guy type. Wouldn't Jesus want us to "work together" to address the world's problems. No, I guess not.

I'm not sure where this "I" American attitude comes from, but I'm totally sick of it. We are an extremely selfish people, and at the same time we talk about "family values." Yeah, this is the nation where the dumb masses don't want public health care — we just want to keep the insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms filthy rich. You know, the ones that have purchased Congress. And where is the Christianity in all that? What about helping the downtrodden and poor?

Basically, I'm sick and disgusted with this entire country, and the level of hypocrisy I see is mind-boggling. Most in the U.S. have selective smelling — they can't smell their own shit.

One thing I'm sure of and that is our "great" nation will fall, and fall hard and soon. Hopefully, more humble nations will rise to assume world leadership.

President Obama has been one of the few bright spots I've seen lately. And the hate I've seen aimed against him is unparalleled. To have vision and an actual concern for the poor, well, damn, that is SO UNAMERICAN. And as for President Bush, he sold out the American people many times, and most unforgettably, he sold us out with the prescription benefit plan — a nice gift for the giant companies that own America. In fact, so many industries own America (pharmaceutical, defense, banking) that I'm sure our Congress is totally schizophrenic.

And one thing is for sure, and that is BEING AMERICAN means your head will be full of stupid lies, like CUBA IS BAD, FRANCE IS BAD, CAPITALISM IS ALWAYS GOOD, etc.... No one in this country seems to have the ability to question all the lies — probably because they are living so many lies themselves. After all, most Americans are delusional and believe that some guy in the clouds is watching over them. Maybe not. Maybe it's time we all work to help each other rather than putting so much trust in our imaginary God-man, our imaginary good government, and those beloved corporations. Americans, you are totally duped. WAKE UP.

Madmen, To the Death

It's 6:43 a.m. in the morning, and I'm sitting here confused, and thinking that life is a total trip.

First of all, homo superstitious is a real disappointment as a species. During this health care debate I've seen what a pathetic, ignorant, and stupid lot that Americans really are. Democracy is a beautiful thing, but before it can work the citizens must be civil and educated, and must be able to participate in enlightened debate. But what we have now is a bunch of talking heads on TV who fan the flames of partisanship for the sake of higher ratings .... and dumbed down America absorbs their crap like a sponge and then they attend town hall meetings where they disrespect their elected leaders and regurgitate the mindless crap of the Fox News hatemongers. Albeit, the political left has their share of hatemongers as well.

So, whatever happened to teamwork? Whatever happened to working together to solve a huge national problem, like finding a way to provide health care for millions of uninsured citizens? I have seen so much greed, hate, and ignorance in the last few weeks that I am totally disgusted. As Rodney King said, "Why can't we just get along?"

Now, I'm pretty sure that if we can't even solve important social problems without all the partisan rancor, how can we ever solve our massive environmental and geo-political problems? We can't, and we are screwed. We are a pathetic and disgusting species, yet every time I say that I run into some wonderful individual who reminds me that humanity is worth saving. We are the good and bad, all rolled into one.

Most offensive of all to me are the under-endowed pricks who are carrying guns to the health care meetings and rallies. Does that gun really make you feel like a man, maybe for the first time in your life? Doesn't anyone see a paradox between health care and guns? America the beautiful is actually a dysfunctional, gun-crazed society that talks about Christianity and love, but is full of violence and hate. Once the cheap energy runs out and our economy continues to deteriorate, more of these gun-toting yahoos will start cracking under the pressure and using their guns. If you don't believe me, pick up the daily newspaper — it's already happening all over the nation and we simply accept it, as the NRA works vigorously to pump more bullets and weapons into our demented society.

So, wrap yourself in your American flag, wave your gun and Bible, and scream about Hitler and Nazis and death panels all you want. Because YOU, the average Jane and John Doe American, are the source of all your angst. You have created this sick, narcissistic, double-standard society that is now consuming you and crushing you. You are the hypocrites, the Bible-thumping madmen, and the beer guzzling dittoheads. You and ONLY YOU are bringing this nation down into the abyss that it so rightfully deserves.

Goose

Progressives, Liberals, and Conservatives

I am a big admirer of progressives like Teddy Roosevelt and Barry Goldwater. But what, exactly, is a progressive? My friend and colleague David provides a great definition below.

The point being is that I've found liberals who are just as dogmatic, righteous, and close-minded as conservatives. I would never buy into any pre-packaged dogma from either political party. Regardless of someone's political persuasion, if they can make a good case for something, I'll accept it. Both the Democrats and Republicans have things I like and dislike. But what I really like is the American two-party system — it is a beautiful thing. And though I define myself as a "Democratic sympathizer" and typically vote Democrat, there are a lot of things I admire about traditional Republican ideals. What I dislike most about the Republicans is that they've sold their soul to the corporations and religious zealots, who have formed a perverted alliance. What I do like is a good ol' moderate Republican, particularly one who is a social liberal and fiscal conservative.

Okay, my rule is to tie every post into the theme of this blog. So, the theme here is that both sides of the political spectrum need to have an open mind and be respectful of the other side. I've just run into some pious liberals recently, and believe me, they are as annoying as pious right-wingers.

Let's all just chill out, have a little thicker skin, and keep an open perspective. And please, leave your righteousness at the door. I'm SICK of all the self-righteousness that I've been seeing lately.

From my friend David:

Todd,

Ten years ago I would have explained it this way. A Liberal is someone who fully embraces programs and ideas from the Kennedy and Johnson years, with lots of government mandated or regulated programs, and who is a full supporter of the philosophy of New Deal concepts. Over the years, the folks on the right have demonized what a Liberal is, and have made it a four letter word. I also would have said that a Progressive is someone sympathetic to the objectives of those on the left (social justice, sustainable business, an end to lots of -isms, etc), but who disagrees with Liberals about the methods for achieving those ends. A Progressive is more likely to embrace market solutions to problems, consider the possibilities of school vouchers, and endorse local economic solutions before government programs.

I used to think the terms were different, but Liberals - in an effort to escape the negative associations that the right put on their politics - began calling themselves Progressives. From what I can tell of the national conversations these days, the terms are interchangeable, and mean more of what Liberal used to mean, and only a smattering of what I used to think Progressive meant.

That's my two cents.

David

Lessons Learned from a Dying Mother

As Mother America begins her collapse I hope some good will come out of this ordeal. My hope is that through the social breakdown, chaos, violence, and hunger that somewhere along the way we will regain our sense of community. This is something we Americans lost. We stopped being good neighbors not only in our subdivisions, but also on a global scale. We became so self-absorbed with the immediate gratifications of ourselves and family, that we forgot about everyone else. And what you see now is the result.

In the New Society that rises from the ashes, I hope that people will slow down, become more loving and caring, and gain their value in life through the sheer joy of existence, instead of material junk. I hope that people will learn to listen to one another and help one another.

I sincerely hope that in the New Society common sense will take the place of politics, and that rationalism will replace religion. I'm sick and tired of the political bickering that's all around me. We arrange the deck chairs while the great ship sinks. As for religion, it has outlived its usefulness. Christianity, for example, was supposed to unite people under the holy banner of Jesus Christ, yet there are 38,000 Christian denominations around the world, so something has gone terribly wrong. All religion really does is create one more barrier that divides people and causes conflict.

In regards to politics, we need to stop arguing and start working together as a team. Listen to your opponents. If your opposition makes a good case, accept it, and don't be a slave to your political party. If your opponents are worthy of respect, then respect them. Always remain civil. When I read the comments on the various online forums, I see that civil discourse has gone down the toilet. Hiding behind the protective veil of the Internet, people show themselves to be really disgusting with their sick and evil comments. Honestly, I often wonder if humanity is worth saving.

Get to know your neighbors and all the people around you. Participate in community events. Become a giver and not a taker. Help others unconditionally — don't do it to earn brownie points upstairs, but rather do it because it's the RIGHT thing to do.

Do not take up arms against your human brothers and sisters — your real enemies are the old men in the capitals who ordered you to march. Love one another.

Anyway, the video below is powerful, and provides tips for how to live and survive after the collapse of Mother America. Enjoy.

Freedom

My friend says the ideal form of government would be an enlightened dictatorship. Nosiree, I don't buy into that because who is going to define the term "enlightened?" Wasn't Hitler and Stalin supposed to be enlightened? At first, maybe? And wasn't that dictator in Tanzania supposed to be enlightened, and now he's sorta mad?

I digress ...

The point being is that democracy is a beautiful thing, and it we can't have a democratic planet, then maybe the human species should just call it quits. For democracy means freedom, and this is a great gift that most people don't have. Around the world, people are shackled by their religions, governments, employers, and cultural traditions. So what's the point? I say shed all that and be free!

In Iran they overthrew the Shah and created a religious state — they just swapped one form of control for another. Come one, the great Persian Empire has a long and great history — is all that CONTROL necessary?

The more free we are, the more human we are. When we are free, we can be happy, inspired, and carefree. We can can explore every dimension of this life, and we can form our own opinions.

Even if democracy stays in a gridlock and moves at a tortise pace, well, again, democracy means FREEDOM, and that is a precious, sacred gift. In the course of history, most people have NOT been free, so we should really be thankful for this RIGHT.

Now, in addition to promoting global democracy, I support free movement and total free trade. Yes, that means I support OPEN BORDERS and have zero interest in immigration restrictions. "But, Goose, won't the United States fill up with people?" Maybe it will, but anyone should have the right to live anywhere they want. The real issue is about the total numbers of people, not their movement. Eventually, as people move around economic homeostatis will be achieved. Maybe all the world's poor people will come here and make us poor too. Maybe that's only fair. All people are equal and nation's that attempt to fortify their borders are only, well, buying time.

I also support total, unrestricted trade. The free trade would actually raise the global standard of living, prompting more people to stay put in their towns and villages. Or, will it?

In the natural world, as well as the free enterprise system, there is a trend towards simplification. In econonimics, this achieved as companies merge, absorb other companies, and grow into massive worldwide congolomerates. For the consumer, this is a good thing because the improved efficiency mean lower prices and usually better service. For the small farmer or shop, global simplification means disaster because the small producer cannot compete with the giants. This phenonomen forces the villagers and small town people into the large cities where the large manufacturing plants are. There, they work long hours with typically poor pay and conditions. Life would have been so much better out in the country, and on the family farm. But now, around the world, MORE PEOPLE LIVE IN CITIES THAN IN RURAL AREAS.

For the environment, this is a win because humans are concentrating, and thus rural habitat is allowed to recover and thrive. Small farms become forests again, well at least until some massive factory farm takes it over.

So, there is a lot to balance here but I do believe that even though freedom may take us down some scary paths, ultimately it is a win for humanity.

In conclusion, I must say that with freedom comes responsibility. We all have the responsibility to not hurt one another and the Planet we live on. Yeah, that's the whole point of my blog. If we can't handle the responsibility that goes with freedom, then maybe we deserve to be herded like goats and kept under the grip of some theocratic, corporatist, fascist state. Yet to understand and to have the moral compass that freedom requires, then we must have an educated and enlighened populace. So, we must educate our children, and we must provide an open educational environment where they can debate and play with new ideas — you know, like an incabator.

Let freedom ring, for without it, I believe that life is quite meaningless. I am thankful to live in a nation that values freedom, although I don't buy into the myth that people have to die for it — usually not. For freedom comes from the heart, and not from the muzzle of a cannon.

Okay, enough.

Rep. Chris Smith - The Egg Saving Zealot

I have one of the most difficult jobs in the environmental movement — working on the population issue. Domestically, I work on five issues:

• Comprehensive sex ed instead of abstinence only programs.
• Contraceptive insurance coverage for women.
• Universal access to emergency contraception.
• Title X - Low-income access to family planning services.
• Male Responsibility - An almost forgotten issue these days.
  

Yes, I am pro-choice, but I would much rather see abortions eliminated through better prevention (i.e. the items above). However, the conservative Christian community obviously loves abortions because they do all they can to oppose the items listed above.

Leading these righteous religious folks is Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). Every year when we push for adequate funding of both domestic and international family planning programs, Rep. Smith vigorously fights against us. He is a man with a mission. If you are a woman, Rep. Smith not only wants to throw you in jail for having an abortion, he wants you arrested for even using birth control!

The United States, as well as most of the world, is exploding in population. We are already seeing the hundreds of detrimental side effects of adding 80+ million people to the Earth every year. Why is the price of gas going up? BECAUSE OF INCREASED DEMAND!

People like Rep. Smith want to pull the plugs and allow our population to explode even faster. He defies the laws of nature, which says that there are limits to growth. That's because he believes that God will take care of everything. Hmm, I seem to be missing that part.

The video below is made by a candidate running against him for U.S. Congress. The clips of Smith talking are quite revealing, and shows everyone what this guy is really about. He is a man with a mission. I guess he'll want to arrest couples for early withdrawal as well, or for using the rhythm system, or does God approve of those methods, compared with condoms or birth control pills? Rep. Smith has really wandered into a complex moral quandary. He's really trying to play God in his own little way, or maybe he is trying to BE GOD. I'm not sure.

Enjoy the video...

Theocons Wage War On Families

I read a great article in today's newspaper. Okay, let's see if I can get this straight. The thecons are always complaining about how the traditional American family has fallen apart, but it is their allies the neocons who are the cause.

See the neocons are the ones screaming about efficiency etc.. as all our jobs are getting outsourced and manufacturing continues to slip away in the U.S. The U.S. working class now live in a world of instability, with all the mergers, downsizing, etc... When your situation is unstable, it's hard to maintain a traditional family and marriage.

I do not have a problem with the changing job market in the U.S. See, other countries that grow their population with reckless abandon have provided an endless supply of cheap labor. That means American blue collar workers are competing with some guy who gets paid one bowl of rice per day with a fish thrown in on Fridays.

Furthermore, U.S. pro-population policies within our foreign policy have only made the problem worse. Cutting international family planning aid, restricting funding, etc.. only allows foreign populations to grow, grow, grow. Again, that means more labor, and more competition.

I love a free market -- it is simply evolution at it's finest. All I'm saying is that the theocons need to stop bitching about the breakdown of the traditional family because they helped create the problem.

We Americans REFUSE to acknowledge the population explosion, then we act dumbfounded when our job is shipped overseas. In parts of China there are multiple generations of families living in the same hut -- their overhead is cheaper than an American. Doesn't anyone get it?

Meanwhile, the theocons continue to wage war on a woman's right to choose (which creates more labor competition) and gay marriages (typically less fertility).

So, don't you see? The thecons are enthusiastically pro natal, at any expense -- even at the expense of the families they are trying to save.

This all makes me laugh. But every time I laugh I end up crying, so I prefer to just sit in my chair and do nothing. Meanwhile, the Newt Gingriches, Pat Robertsons, and James Dobsons of the world continue to wage war on the very institutions they pretend to support. Yeah, it's all real funny.

P.S. I heard James Dobson interviewing New Gingrich on the radio tonight. The incredible hypocrisy of their agenda makes me want to hurl my beans!

Grand Oil Party

Today it was hot as hell and it makes me furious that the U.S. Congress still doesn't get it. What a pathetic joke they are. I hate having to send my taxes to a bunch of nobodies in Washington who do nothing but vote themselves raises. During the few times they actually pass major legislations, they get the lobbyists to write it for them. For the most part, Congress is made up of vast numbers of unprincipled nothingness. Yes, there are a few exceptions, but for the most part the Georgia delegation is a group of nothingness, well, at least all the Republicans (whoops, sorry). Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss are both nothingness who have made absolutely no contribution to our future.

The point is, just how many plagues does Congress need to see before they do something about global warming? My god, the Senate just passed a bill to allow drilling in the Gulf, but the idea of encouraging conservation doesn't enter their minds. Very few Senators and Representatives are willing to take a stand on perhaps the greatest issue facing our Planet in 45 million years. It is so much more convenient to deny, dispute, or just ignore the problem.

I really see the United States as the nation that can be a great leader and role model for this World, but instead we act selfishly and stupidly on every front. We were the nation that refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol because it would "hurt the economy." But the path my sorry government has chosen to take is all about putting off the long-term in favor of short-term comfort and laziness. We live in a so-called "Christian" nation where it's all about "me," and I see a major conflict with these two values.

So, in closing, I applaud the members of Congress who are standing up and speaking out about global warming. Hurray to the Democrats and moderate Republicans who actually give a damn. "BOOO" to the arch conservatives who continue to sling excuses at this issue.

Really, whether you are a Congressperson or some poor person living in an unairconditioned apartment, you still have to deal with this hot nightmare. This is a horrible crime being committed against our children, and I hold the U.S. Congress accountable for this great crime of neglect.

I Tried To Warn Ye

You Guys Is Being Used

Okay, I've written about this many times but I'll go over it again.

You good Christian Conservatives are being USED by business interests. I first stumbled upon this in 2003 while doing research.

The great master of manipulating Christians to support business interests is Ralphie Reed, former director of the Christian Coalition. See, Ralphie knows how to work up his "base" with emotionalism and get them to the polls.

Most recently, he used this ploy during his work as a so-called "political advisor" in Texas. See, he got his Christian fundamentalist foot soldiers all worked up about keeping gambling casinos out of Texas Indian reservations. What he didn't tell anyone (and says he didn't know) is that funding for this initiative was coming from Louisana Indian casinos who didn't want the competition in Texas.

An e-mail from Michael Scanlon (friend of superlobbyist Jack Abramoff) reads:

"Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them. The wackos get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the Internet , and telephone trees."

See, good Conservative Christians, you are faithfully serving business interests, and the lobbyists don't even respect you. They are calling you "wackos." They know how to touch the "gambling button" and "Christian morals button" and whatever button they want to get you to jump up and do exactly what they want.

YOU ARE BEING USED!!!

So now, Ralphie, who was involved with all of this, is running for Lt. Governor of Georgia. He knows the system, he knows how to work the single-issue voters. This time, don't fall for it. Please! These people use Christians for financial enrichment. It's like the "Christians" who swindled my mother's life savings in an investment scheme. Yes, they are working you and playing you for a fool.

Don't fall for it, and don't vote for Ralphie.

"The corrupt lobbyists who were leading this effort were counting on the gullibility of Christian conservatives and the ignorance of everyone else."

Boy, that says it all.
Source: Jan. 20, 2006, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Happy MLK Day

We march for our future.

A Special Day

I'm really tired, overworked, and burnt out. Everyday is a repeat of the last day, and when you get older it seems to go in fast motion. I wish I could have been there in the MLK parade — it's been several years since I've marched.

It's like constantly I have this guilt on my shoulders that I have to try and save the world, but there are times when I'm just trying to survive, trying to hold my job, trying to stay afloat financially, trying to keep up with the hundreds of things that never get done, and I'm just thinking that, well, maybe I should just let it go for this one afternoon, but I can't. I think that maybe there are some politicians out there doing the job of saving the world, but I know there aren't. There ARE a handful of people trying to make the world better, but most of them are only programmed to save a small part of it, and they don't work toward the overall goal. But each in their own way contributes. Every single person in the picture above is a big winner in my book because they are actually DOING SOMETHING, yes, DOING FUCKING SOMETHING to make the world better.

And then there are the millions and millions of innate people. Yes, the Republican Party is the party of greed, and the party of the innate. And God bless my dear brother friend Jack Clark, who has a weekly podcast called Blast the Right, and each week he exposes more of the pathetic Hard Right hypocrisy. So, yes, Jack is doing something beautiful because he is standing up for truth and justice, and he is exposing the lies and the evil, and the Machine that wants it all.

So, half the time I'm not really doing anything, and blogging doesn't count toward saving the world, it's really a waste of time. But I still do a lot of volunteer work for the environment, and I still give a lot more time then most people, but it's not nearly enough. And then I think about all the things I COULD be doing with my God-given talents to organize, but I'm not using them, so really, I am just wasted brain matter. But every thing takes time, it requires driving, and it requires a lot of energy. It is so much easier just to stare blankly at the boob tube and watch the nightly garbage, like the millions of other innate Americans. I should just snuggle in front of the TV and watch 24, whatever the hell that is.

But I can't .... because .... I can never get over that guilt of not doing .... enough ... to save the world.

My Take on Christmas

Damn..

Okay, the so-called Right Wing backlash on Christmas this season is totally nuts. For the record, Christmas was hijacked from a Pagan holiday called Saturnalia by the Romans. The Romans, in turn, stole the holiday idea from various ancient European traditions. In recent years the corporations stole the holiday and turned it into a profit center. Now, mass media blitzes try to get you to buy LOTS of junk and they don't care if you run up your credit card in the process.

For a long time I've ranted about the perverse relationship between industry and religion, and there is no greater example of this than Christmas. This is a holiday about materialism, consumerism, excess, indulgence, and extreme narcissism.

Yes, this holiday has NOTHING to do with the teachings of Christ. So, don't get pissy when a store clerk says, "Happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." See, it's their holiday now, but they don't want to just confine it to Christmas because if they offend other religions they might lose sales. It's not about political correctness, it's about BUSINESS.

So, if you are one of those fundamentalist Christians involved in the great Christmas counter-movement, I say that you should just relax. Drink some eggnog, watch some football, and just chill out a little. It really doesn't matter — honest, it really doesn't.

Well, I'm not anti-Christmas; I just don't like the commercialism part. Let's just cut out the mass merchandising and recognize Christmas for what it is — a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and enjoy a really fun winter holiday with some neat traditions. It's okay to eat cookies, sing some carols off key and get smashed at an office party. But PLEASE, don't freak out when stores put "Happy Holidays" in their ads. Sheesh, come on.

Yellow Canary

"The harbinger of danger, the carrier of glee, the avian nut case ... yeah, the bird, man."

Rantings of a Mad Bird

I Do Not Want This War ....

I really don't want to take part in a Left-Right culture war. I really don't want to take on the pseudo Christian Establishment. This is not my war. I really don't want to take on anyone. Actually, I'd prefer to just crawl into a little hole and sleep.



But what I must take on is the massive ignorance, blatant hypocrisy, and corruption of this World. I mean, come on, the Bible provides a great roadmap for living, but few people actually follow it. Or they selectively follow it. Actually, people use it for self-gain, or to just beat their ideological opponents over the head. It's really all a game.

I recently read several articles that link Hurricane Katrina to Global Climate Change. What an irony: every time you get into your car to go to a Sierra Club meeting or to church, you are contributing to the crime. This week I've read articles and watched TV documentaries on the effect of Climate Change on the Arctic. For the people who live up there, Climate Change is already happening and affecting their lives. It is a warning for things to come.

And YES, it is human-caused and not part of a long-term cycle (as the industrialists would have you believe). It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that the millions of tons of emissions we put into the sky each week are going to have SOME impact on the Earth.

Ms. Bradberry: One volcano puts more pollution the air than all of industrialized society combined. And in the 1970s they were predicting that all the pollution would keep the sun from getting in and we'd have another ice age.

Well, I don't know about the volcano thing, but I CAN say that scientist know a lot more now than they did 30 years ago, and it is becoming an accepted fact that Global Warming is anthropogenic.

When Global Climate worsens, it will be the poor that is impacted most. We are already seeing that from Hurricane Katrina. Those in Bangledesh, a nation at or below sea level, will soon see it too. The poor live in flood plains, on the mountainsides, and in the most dangerous areas. The wealthy can adapt, they can move, they can buy more air conditions, but what about the poor.

Below is a favorite passage of Scripture, because it talks about humility. Oh, and then we are threatened with Hell. Truly, a religion of contradicting forces and cognitive dissonance.

Matthew 25:44-46 (RSV)

44. "Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' 45. Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' 46. And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."


What kind of world are we leaving our little
children. Hell, I know that sounds cliche. And,
hell, I know that no one really cares.

Ten Minutes of Hope
I think maybe I should start with what hope is not. Hope is not saying or believing that everything is fine now. And it’s not a belief or a promise that every thing is going to be fine. Terrible things are going on now, and terrible things will be going on then. Hope is the belief that what we do matters, and that the world is wilder than our imaginations. And the despairing often go for sweeping statements as though if not everything is fine, then everything is doomed and ghastly. Despair is predicated on the idea that the future looks like whatever is most painful and worrying in the present. But if the past is anything to navigate by, it isn’t going to look that way at all. We don’t know what it will look like.
—Rebecca Solnit, author of “Hope in the Dark,” Sierra Summit 2005

Quote of the Week

Where do I begin? Last week Governor Pataki (R-NY) vetoes a bill to make the "Morning After Pill" over-the-counter. He does this because he's posturing for the 2008 presidential race. Then, everyday I'm hearing about all the soldiers getting killed in Iraq, including 11 from Georgia. And the President twists things around by saying they died in the War Against Terror. Yes, that would be noble, but the fact is that the Iraq war is a neocon oil war.

And then, last Friday I'm at the oil change place sitting in the lobby and I pick up a magazine called "Citizen," which is put out by James Dobson's Focus on the Family organization. The first thing I noticed is that the mailing label had been carefully torn off the cover. So, if some right-winger is going to be spreading propaganda at QuickLube stores, the least they should do is have the balls to leave their name on it. So, I'm flipping through the magazine and I'm thinking that it's not all that bad because the articles are talking about all the filth on TV and in Hollywood, and, well, I'm in full agreement. But then I turn to an article that's attacking environmental "extremism." My GOD, who are these people to talk about extremism? The article is going on about how "liberals" are using scare tactics for some unclear motive. Of course, the article had to say that Global Warming is just a MYTH (they should know all about MYTHS!).

So, I'm looking at this Christian magazine that's viciously attacking the environment and I'm stunned. Why do conservative Christians hate the environment so much? Are they that firmly in bed with Corporate America? Maybe it's troubling to them that we environmentalists are predicting that MAN will destroy the Earth, when they believe that GOD is supposed to destroy it. Or maybe they just associate the environment with evil, heathen LIBERALS. Gosh, I really don't know.

But anyway, all these events have put me in a mild depression, which seems to be more and more like my common state. I just feel a great sense of hopelessness in trying to resist THE MACHINE. I mean, this afternoon I'm standing in the parking lot of a Chinese restaurant, and I just look around at the surrounding houses and cars and strip shopping centers, and I say to myself, "What have we done?" What kind of world have we created for ourselves? It's all nuts.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Other than telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and, now, die, I think the Republicans have done a fine job of getting government out of our personal lives."

-Editorial Page, Sunday, June 19, 2005 Portland Oregonian

Vanguard of Capitalism and the Right?

John G. Roberts Jr., the guardian of
capitalism?

The Fun Begins

President Bush made his nomination for the Supreme Court last night and now the fun begins. Both political sides will begin their intense lobbying and arguing, and the Senate will have their chance to grill him.

At first glance, it appears that Judge Roberts is a good friend of Big Business. Unrestrained capitalism is like a cancer consuming and destroying everything in its path, and there will be Justice Roberts serving as a guardian for the very machine that's annihilating us.

Yes, it's true, capitalism is like cancer. To survive, we will need to either keep it on a tight leash, socialize it, or destroy it. But people like Roberts will fight to preserve it, and he will likely say that the boardroom is no place for government (although the bedroom apparently is).

From a Sierra Club statement released today:

“Upon initial review, we are particularly concerned about his decisions in the following cases: his opinion in Rancho Viejo LLC v. Norton, 343 F.3d 1158 (D.C. Cir. 2003) where he strongly implied that Congress does not have the Constitutional authority to protect certain species under the Endangered Species Act, and Sierra Club v. EPA, 353 F.3d 976 (D.C. Cir. 2004), where he upheld a decision by the Bush administration to ignore the public health impacts of toxic pollution from copper smelters.”

So, maybe the corporatization of America is continuing. Those with the money and power control the Executive and Legislative branches, and now they are going after the Judicial branch. It seems that the Capitalist Machine we've unleashed years ago just keeps growing stronger, and will soon own everything. They already control and influence the media, they can strongly influence universities, and with their dollars they can even manipulate environmental organizations. Who can stand in the way of these great locusts as they continue leading us to our ultimate end?

Abortion Will Surely Come Up

No doubt "abortion" will come up during Roberts' confirmation hearings. Now my good friends on the Right seem to strongly support the "sanctity of life" by vigorously opposing abortion, stem cell research, and euthanasia. However, it's odd how they ignore far greater threats to life like global warming, pollution, and the poisoning of our environment. But that's okay, because those things are done by companies, and Corporate America should never be touched or challenged!

I, too, find abortions troubling but I disagree with my Right Wing friends on how to address the problem. The difference is that I would like to see abortions eliminated through education and access to family planning resources, while righteous conservatives would like to legislate it. Thus, they want a person like Roberts who will hopefully say, "The courts have no business ruling on abortion, so go ahead and ban it with your state laws!"

This raises many questions that my Righest friends have yet to answer, like who is going to take care of all these unwanted children? And what if these unwanted children grow up to be criminals and even murderers? Plus, with America's population already skyrocketing, what is gained by forcing women to have children they don't want? Couldn't we just focus on prevention?

At this point it is too early to have an opinion on Roberts. But suffice to say, the Right wants a good holy man that will leave Business alone, and will instead go after desperate young pregnant girls, gays, labor, environmentalists, and all those other villians who stand in the way of their hypocritical morality and lust for profits.

God bless America!

Remember That I'm Not Insane

The lord musta blessed me with it.

What The???

I had a wonderful evening tonight celebrating my daughter's 19th birthday at a favorite restaurant. Some of her friends brought male companions and I was introduced to a guy who is a salesman for Atlanta Hummer.

ATLANTA HUMMER? My GOD, those gas-guzzling vehicles are a symbol of everything that we environmentalists oppose. Hummers make our skin crawl. Hummers represent all the excess, craziness, and everything that is wrong with America. So, was I going to jump over the table and whoop this guy's butt? Were we going to have a cowboy saloon fight right in the middle of the restaurant?

Naw, I figured what the heck. I was just nice and pleasant to the guy, and I even shook his head. I figured he probably didn't want me lecturing him about how the Hummers are making us more dependent on foreign oil and filling up our atmosphere with greenhouse gases. See, the auto industry only knows that bulk means profit, and the dealers have to move bulk. BULK, LOTS OF BULK, and screw air quality, the future of our world, or anything else. Detroit has to move bulk. Who am I to argue with THAT?



Tom DeLay - the new breed of Christian.
Me want to be just like him when I grow up.

A Loving Reminder

A Canary friend sent me the following. It does seem to have a sharp, cynical edge to it, but it makes a good point. All I can say is that when I look at Tom DeLay, who is supposed to be this good, moral Christian, I am totally disgusted. Why aren't the Christians and clergy and religious conservatives demanding his ouster? To the contrary, they place his icon on their holy shelves and they worship him. But I tell ya, Tom DeLay is corrupt, the U.S. Congress is corrupt, and the caustic religious system that supports DeLay and his Republican brood are corrupt. Rep. DeLay played his Terry Schiavo card and pacified his base. So now, all is well in America. Sleep tight.

Teaching of Christ

Love your enemies.
Turn the other cheek.
Feed the poor.
Help the sick.
Do not judge people, just help them, God will judge when the time comes.
Be suspicious of Churches that acquire wealth.
Don't dwell on personal wealth. It would be better to give it all to the
poor (specifically he said the poor, not the church.)
Pay your taxes.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Teachings of American Conservatives

Wars to get more oil are OK.
Wars to stop genocide are not OK.
If the rich get richer everyone benefits.
Big corporations are good for America.
Drug companies need to make a big profit so they can do research even though
government funds the research.
HMO's and Insurance Companies don't need regulation.
The property rights of polluters are more important than the property rights
of those who live down stream or down wind.
Poor people deserve to be poor because they are lazy.
Poor children deserve to be hungry because their parents are lazy.
Lowering taxes is more important than the environment, education or anything
that helps children.
Poisoning the environment is OK if it's profitable. Besides the rich always
live upstream.
It is Ok to regulate what people can do in their bedrooms, but not OK to
regulate guns or corporations.
It is important to make a big public display about loving Jesus, but his
teachings are often a problem. It is better to stick to the Old Testament's
eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth while condemning homosexuals and
others different from you. You can still call yourself "Christian" and most
people won't notice the difference.

Canary Sez: Don't call me insane, baby. I ain't insane. If you support Tom Delay and his brand of selective, perverted moralism, than you'ze insane. Honest.

Neocons

Let's conquer the world! On
to victory!

Neocon? Neo Nazi? Is there a difference?

I've been reading a lot about Neocons the past two weeks and what I'm learning really scares me. Most frightening, when I was at lunch a couple of days ago I was behind a good ol' boy pickup truck with a bumper sticker that read: "Condoleezza Rice For President - 2008." Now that really scares me because while I would love to see an African-American woman as president, I just don't think Dr. Rice is the right candidate. In fact, her words, actions, and attitudes are that of a true Neocon. My mom says she likes Dr. Rice because she is a "Christian." So, what a great candidate the Neocons have for 2008 — someone who will attract more woman, minority, and conservative Christian voters. With her as a candidate, the Republicans might attract just enough voters to win yet another election and thus, KEEP THE NEOCONS IN POWER!

What is a Neocon, Canary?

Neocons make my feathers stand straight up. They are the complete opposite of everything I believe in. When I see a group of them gathered at a White House press conference, I can't help but see the parallels to Hitler and his inner circle. There are a lot of similarities between the Neocons and Nazis.

Attributes of a Neocon:

• Believe that the U.S. is God-ordained to dominate the world.
• Don't like the UN.
• Not afraid to use military force to advance their agenda.
• Are masters of deception.
• While screaming "values" they work toward the corporatization of the U.S. government.

A Lesson Learned

My thought for the day: "Those who have the power will do anything to keep their power." This explains the "Condi Rice for President" movement. This explains the recent nomination of Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfwitz to lead the World Bank. See, the Neocons are simply trying to broaden and perpetuate their power.

George Orwell's 1984

I read this book in 1984. Now, it's terrifying to see it all come true 21 years later.

From a recent letter writer to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Orwell described a society based on misinformation, suppression of truth, distortion of reality, calling something the opposite of what it is, and playing on fear to manipulate people's perceptions. The Orwellian society is also characterized by loss of personal freedoms, egregious intrusions into private life, and complete state control by an elite who believe they alone are qualified to lead. This describes what is happening now in America with the radical corporatization of the state.

In the Orwellian state, the basis and purpose of government is to serve the ideology and interests of the wealthy and powerful. In this country, the parallels are sobering.

Does That Surprise You, Canary?

Well, if you'll read my blog entries and web site, you'll see that I was quite freaked in 2003 when I first discovered what was going on in my country. Now, I'm used to it. It no longer surprises me to think that a group of people have taken over the U.S. government and they want to mold it to: first, re-engineer government to be the slave of corporations and second, to push their so-called "values" on the rest of the world. What they are really trying to do is make the world submissive and subservient to the U.S. and her economic interests. Rest assured, this isn't about democracy — ultimately it's about MONEY.

And it no longer startles me when Neocons play the Christian card to get the votes they need to keep "their people" in power. And it no longer surprises me to think they will find minority and female candidates to run for office to again, attract more voters.

I understand that corporate America has infiltrated our government. They have collected the best minds to figure out ways of controlling and manipulating the American people, with the primary goal of keeping them submissive.

Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.
— Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

But I Have Hope



The beautiful thing is that the real power is ultimately in the hands of WE THE PEOPLE. The people with the POWER will try to manipulate us and lie to us, so that they can keep us subservient. But when we get angry enough, we can go to the polls and vote them out, we can go on strike and shut down their industry, and we can go to their capital to demonstrate. When they see thousands of peaceful demonstrators in the streets, in most cases they will back down (but not always).

The recent peaceful demonstrations in the Ukraine and Lebanon have been beautiful events. In both cases, the people stood up to corrupt and unjust governments and said ENOUGH! Both mass demonstrations made positive accomplishments. As for the hippy movement and peace marches in the U.S. during the Vietnam War, again, that was a beautiful thing. The people stood up to an unjust war and a corrupt establishment and said ENOUGH!

The Canary thinks it's time to hit the streets again. The Power mongers know how to play the game better — they can do a better job of keeping us passive. But maybe not for long.

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece?"
— Excerpt from Nuremberg Diary

Blind Charge

The world is beautiful and it is our reminder
that God is great. So, then, why do we
destroy it?

The War

I feel like I'm in a battle, in a trench, with mortar shells landing all around me. It's only a matter of time before I'm hit, but I still must go on. There are so many things in life that can suck the will to fight right out of you — health, finances, jobs, relationships — but still, I must focus my resources and continue my lifelong struggle to make the world a little better. I do know some fellow Canaries who have faced great hardships in their own lives, yet they still continue the Mission. When the flag bearer is shot, they just pick the flag off the ground and continue the charge up the hill. I thank these special individuals for giving me the example and inspiration to continue the fight.

The Takeover

I hear the stories about Newt Gingrich and how the Radical Right had been planning their takeover for years, but I think our nation's shift to extreme conservatism is far more than that. I think we are in the final days of the Roman Empire. I look around to see all the obese Americans and all the cigarette addicts, and then I look to see how the medical industry is gladly capitalizing on all the ill health and making billions off of our fatness and laziness. For the most part, I have found my fellow Americans to be listless blobs of nothingness with no sense of vision beyond their immediate gratification.

The Respect

Yet, yet, all it takes for me to respect you is to do one thing, ONE DAMN THING, that contributes to the greater good. Because if every human would just give a LITTLE of themselves to help the grander scheme of things, we could wipe out most of our problems. But Americans have become a selfish, inward looking lot. We talk about idealism, our President talks about idealism, but it is hollow and hypocritical.

The End

With a larger Republican majority in Congress, and with a President who feels he has a "mandate," I wait for the final onslaught. For example, plans for a new Energy Policy are already in the works. The PLAN is to provide more corporate welfare for the big oil companies. The PLAN is to reverse and eliminate dozens of environmental protection laws. The PLAN is to reverse worker rights. The PLAN is to downplay public health for the sake of greater public profit. There is little talk about conservation and clean, renewable energy incentives. Rather, there is a LOT of talk about raping the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

There is no idealism to the Radical Right agenda. It is not about principles or philosophy, or religion, or schools of thoughts. It is only about CORPORATE PROFIT and how all the aforementioned variables can be manipulated to generate MORE MONEY for the RICH, POWERFUL, and GREEDY! We have seen the Kenneth Lays of America. We have seen the spineless, moral-less, empty, excuse for humanity that America now produces.

We are the land of nobodies, nothingness, obesity, hypocritical corruption, and perverted principles. We are the Roman Empire in its last days. God bless America.

Time Is Running Out ... Or Maybe Just Oil

It is 2005 - A New Year

Maybe we should just end it all now, or maybe we should continue the struggle.

I'm puzzled by these "White Flight" Republicans who have moved into their nice trophy houses in the outer counties around Atlanta. They scream how they don't like taxes and how they stand for "values." However, their values have nothing to do with Christianity — the value they push is the "American Way of Life." You know, it's the "all about me" syndrome. "Golly jeepers, I'm an entrepreneur and I don't believe the government should be taking MY MONEY," they say. What they really are saying is they don't want THEIR MONEY being taken and given to those poor black kids FAR AWAY in the inner city.

And if they really believed in "values" why did they flee the city and older suburbs to get away from people of color? If they are Christians, shouldn't they stay in these areas and help the poor people who need help the most? No! They drive their trophy SUVs, go to their trophy churches, live in their McMansions, and then they scream about "values." They have sold their soul to their credit cards and mortgage company and they provide their children with a shallow "video game" existence. VALUES? They get all pumped up about anti-gay amendments, yet most of them have never even MET a gay person. They scream that abortion is unconditional murder, but they have never looked into the eyes of a scared, pregnant 10-year-old girl who was raped by her drunken step-dad. VALUES? Thank God their SUVs are sucking up the oil more quickly. Once our oil-based economy crumbles, then these materialistic conservatives who make up George W. Bush's BASE will be humbled.

Speaking of Oil....

Seven years ago I realized that the Earth is in major trouble, and I decided to work on the most serious social and environmental issues — the human population explosion. But now, I think I might be able to take a break and play more tennis.

See, I am now starting to think that a world oil crises will do much more to slow population than any family planning program ever could. For one thing, it appears that humans are determined to reproduce to the limits of their food supply regardless of how much we are educated and regardless of the availability of contraceptives.

But our food production requires a lot of energy, and as gas goes up to $2.50 a gallon and above, everyone will feel the ripple effect. It won't affect the most primitive societies and it won't affect the very rich because they can afford alternative energy. But for the vast majority of us in the middle, the spike in oil prices will have a major, unpleasant effect on our lives. Maybe then, people will wisely begin to have smaller families and live more sustainably. Then, it will take the Earth a century or so to recover from all the burnt fuels we released into the atmosphere. So, maybe with the cheap oil all gone, humans will begin living a sustainable life sometime in the next 50-75 years.

Values??????

Getting back to my original comment above, I mean VALUES? Everyone wants their freaking "DREAM HOME" and these are usually built on pastures and old farms in the bedroom communities of major cities. VALUES? You just HAVE to pay $40,000 for that SUV, with the video screen in the back, so your three kids will be occupied? You feel safe in an SUV? What about those unfortunate poor people who drive Ford Fiestas? You'd flatten them and not even know it. VALUES? Come on, I am bent over, laying on the floor, and laughing until my sides hurt. VALUES? My gosh! Your souls may be saved, but they sure are hollow — and shallow.

I Don't Understand

Here me is, just getting older and feeling that
all of us are in the final scene of great play.

Well, SO MANY things ...

...Have been floating around in my belgueared mind that I don't know where to begin. My, those organic organs inside our skulls are such complex mechanisms. So why were we given this incredible organ? So we can learn to throw litter out the window? So we can burn incense to the gods? Who really knows.

So WHAT am I thinking about?

I just can't get out of my head the incredible hypocrisy of the so-called Moral Majority. It troubles me greatly every day. If they weren't helping to destroy the environment and dragging us into wars, I wouldn't pay much attention to them. But they seem to hold the keys to the vault and they ain't handling it very well.

First off, I have stretched my mind, thought outside the box, and I cannot comprehend how ANYONE could vote for the current crooks, egotists, and opportunists who control the Republican Party. If you didn't like the Democratic candidates, you could have at least voted for Libertarians, or Ralph Nader, or you could have even done a write-in vote for Alfred E. Neuman. But why George W. Bush and his gang of crooked politicos in Congress? Why, why, WHY??

Let us review..

Let us look at what the Moral "Family Values" politicians have been up to lately:

• Federal debt increased by $413 billion, and the trade deficit is up to $620 billion.

• Republicans change their own rules to keep Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) in his post, EVEN if he is indicted for corruption.

• Much of our federal debt this year is courtesy of the $137 billion tax cut that Congress gave to businesses. Make a contribution to a Congressperson and you will be repaid generously.

• Even though the U.S. government is straddled with debt and deficit spending, Congress passes a spending bill that's full of pork. Hurray! Lobbyists received an early Christmas present from the God-fearing Republicans.

As mentioned before, I am a progressive Republican at heart, but the maggots who have infested the Grand Ol' Party are as corrupt as any Third World dictatorship. They scream, "God, pro-life, sanctity of marriage," and then we go jumping off to the polling places like bunny rabbits to give them our vote and our unquestioning allegiance.

More from the front...

A fellow Canary on the other side of town noticed an interesting sign recently. She investigated a little and here is what she found:

The week before the election I noticed a huge sign along the road about a lecture on the war, which read: "Come to this lecture, find out the truth about the war before voting." I thought maybe it was some cool anti-war people and got the name and phone number of a gentleman. I called him and politely asked him what the talk would be about. What I got from him is that he, (a VERY right wing evangelical) believes that the war in Iraq is God-ordained and is tied up in their belief that Israel is sacred to God above all else. They believe George Bush was "sent by God" to attack Iraq and this war will bring "final judgement," whatever that means to them.

Right, this explains everything. Okay, everyone - go sell your house!

Bob Barr Says Something Good...

Bob Barr, the the former conservative Congressman who led the impeachment effort against President Clinton has been behaving better lately. As my Congressperson, he and I were at odds because of his poor voting record on the environment and family planning. However, after leaving Congress he joined the liberal-leaning ACLU, where he has been working on privacy issues. He has been fairly cool in opposing the proposed gay marriage ban in the constitution. Today he was on the radio in a panel discussion with Neal Bortz. When a question came up about how gay marriage threatened the family, he said something to the effect:

The real threat to the family is not homosexuals. Rather, it's parents not spending enough time with their kids and their addiction to consumption and materialism (paraphrased).

Well, said Bob!

Sources: Tom Blackburn, columnist for the Palm Beach Post, Atlanta Journal-Constitution.