Hello everyone in the land of progressives. This is the Adirondack Howler for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2010. All the shopping is completed and the cards are written and mailed out to friends and relatives but this Holiday season always seems to feel depressing. I have two articles from today's Commondreams.org that illustrate, in my view, the perceptions of Christmas 2010.
The first article deals with the annual War on Christmas brought to you by the people of the Right. In the piece, John Fugelsang tells us the recitation of Happy Holidays by businesses is good for their bottom lines. The story can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/24-3 .
The second article deals with how people are being frugal and more personal with their Christmas gifts. Acoording to the story, these moves have the potential to restore meaning to the Christmas holiday. The piece by Annie Lowery of Slate is found at http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/12/24-4 .
I am sure that my readers have listened to or read "Twas the Night Before Christmas". In today's Commondreams.org, Donna Smith reinterprets this holiday fable to reflect the times that the majority of our citizens are handling at the present time. Her rendition can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/24 .
Before I started posting today, I was checking the track of Santa on the Norad Santa website (noradsanta.org) and disccovered that he was in Kazakhstan as of 1PM. Now as I blog with you, he is over the Indian Ocean island of the Seychelles. I wish I had a direct line to Santa's sleigh to tell him to drop a load of coal over the Fox News studios. I cite three pieces from Newshounds.us to give the man in red an idea that Fox News is not exactly nice.
Article One : http://www.newshounds.us/2010/12/24/fox_friends_shows_some_christmas_love_to_persecuted_christians.php
P.S -- Please mention that people of the Muslim faith have been persecuted quite severely since September 11, 2001.
Article Two: http://www.newshounds.us/2010/12/24/fox_friends_war_on_christmas_adds_to_antiislamic_hate_speech_.php
Article Three: http://www.newshounds.us/2010/12/24/van_susteren_helps_palin_play_a_haiti_expert_on_tv.php
P.P.S.-- Do not get coal from mines owned by Massey Energy.
I will return shortly with my pick for Video of the Week.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Three Cheers and Three Boos of the Week
Here I am once again with my Three Cheers and Three Boos of the week.
Three Cheers of the Week
1) To Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont for his filibuster efforts on the legislation to extend all of President Bush's tax cut. You have a great service for this country, Senator Sanders.
2) To Adam Parsons for his essay in today's Coomondreams.org that debunked the seven myhts that have developed over the years. I hope people will read this piece and gain inspiration to help the people who live in these parts of the world provide a foundation for a dignified and sustainable life.
3) To Joe Bageant for his insightful article on the role of cultural ignorance in the deterioration of our democracy. His piece appeared in this weekend's Alternet.org and can be found here .
Three Boos of the Week
1) To President Obama for continuing the bashing of WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Julian Assange whose only crime was to reveal the irresponsible secrecy of our government and its affairs.
2) To the people of Westboro Baptist Church for plans to protest at the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards. I believe that no matter how we think of the deceased, we must repect our foes at the end.
3) To former President Bill Clinton for supporting President Obama in his efforts to extend President Bush's tax cut. I believe that after two terms of capitulating to the Right, Mr. Clinton should have known not to repeat these type of mistakes.
That is all I have for this week. This is the Adirondack Howler signing off on the 325th day after the Citizens United decision in the Supreme Court which opened the spigots of corporate cash and poisoned the well of our democracy.
Good night and good luck.
Three Cheers of the Week
1) To Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont for his filibuster efforts on the legislation to extend all of President Bush's tax cut. You have a great service for this country, Senator Sanders.
2) To Adam Parsons for his essay in today's Coomondreams.org that debunked the seven myhts that have developed over the years. I hope people will read this piece and gain inspiration to help the people who live in these parts of the world provide a foundation for a dignified and sustainable life.
3) To Joe Bageant for his insightful article on the role of cultural ignorance in the deterioration of our democracy. His piece appeared in this weekend's Alternet.org and can be found here .
Three Boos of the Week
1) To President Obama for continuing the bashing of WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Julian Assange whose only crime was to reveal the irresponsible secrecy of our government and its affairs.
2) To the people of Westboro Baptist Church for plans to protest at the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards. I believe that no matter how we think of the deceased, we must repect our foes at the end.
3) To former President Bill Clinton for supporting President Obama in his efforts to extend President Bush's tax cut. I believe that after two terms of capitulating to the Right, Mr. Clinton should have known not to repeat these type of mistakes.
That is all I have for this week. This is the Adirondack Howler signing off on the 325th day after the Citizens United decision in the Supreme Court which opened the spigots of corporate cash and poisoned the well of our democracy.
Good night and good luck.
Special Segment -- You and the 2012 Elections -- 12/12/10
Welcome back to the Adirondack Howler. Today, my Special Segment deals with the 2012 elections. As candidates like Christine O'Donnell and Sharon Angle fade until at least the next Presidential election and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin mulling a run to move from Wasilla to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it is worth noting an article by Linda Milazzo in today's Commondreams.org about how this week's death of Elizabeth Edwards is loss of a compassionate voice of the people. Her article can be found at
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/12-4 .
The Adirondack Howler would like to extend its condolences to her family. She will be missed.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/12-4 .
The Adirondack Howler would like to extend its condolences to her family. She will be missed.
What's On My Mind -- 12/12/10
Greetings everyone from the land of the progressives. This is the Adirondack Howler for Sunday, December 12th, 2010. With only 13 days until that special holiday, I started my Holiday shopping over the weekend by going to some local stores near where I live. The day was made a lot nicer with all the friendly people that are behind the counter of each business. This is better than a big box store or a mall any day.
Now for news that is more important.
1) The Climate Summit in Cancun ended this past week with very little progress on creating a process to begin reversing the emission of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide). The lack of progress can be attributed to the intrasigence of the world's most powerful countries, including the United States. In today's Commondremas.org, Shefali Sharma of Think Forward gives us a summary of the talks over the past week and a half. The article can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/12-2 . With the exception of Bolivia, there is a dearth of leadership on this issue of importance to the future of this planer. Therefore, this situation can only reverse itself by activism of the world's citizens.
2) Today, I was reading an article by Adam Parsons about the world's slums. Until today, I knew very little about the nature of slums, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Like all other issues, I have little trust in our mainstream media. He debunks seven myths that have developed over the last few decades. Parsons' article is in today's Commondreams.org at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/12-1.
3) I am still very upset over the arrest of WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, Juilan Assange, in England and his detention in a London jail in a section for solitary confinement. I am more upset when a piece in today's Commondreams.org indicated that President Obama lashed out at Assange for his actions. He should be thanking WikiLeaks for its efforts. The article can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/12/12-2 .
A postscript to this story is a short story in Politics Daily that reports that former Presidential candidate Ralph Nader believes Obama will have a primary challenge in 2012. I want to say that if the candidate has progressive values, I will welcome this battle for the soul of the Democratic Party.
I will return shortly with Special Segment.
Now for news that is more important.
1) The Climate Summit in Cancun ended this past week with very little progress on creating a process to begin reversing the emission of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide). The lack of progress can be attributed to the intrasigence of the world's most powerful countries, including the United States. In today's Commondremas.org, Shefali Sharma of Think Forward gives us a summary of the talks over the past week and a half. The article can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/12-2 . With the exception of Bolivia, there is a dearth of leadership on this issue of importance to the future of this planer. Therefore, this situation can only reverse itself by activism of the world's citizens.
2) Today, I was reading an article by Adam Parsons about the world's slums. Until today, I knew very little about the nature of slums, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Like all other issues, I have little trust in our mainstream media. He debunks seven myths that have developed over the last few decades. Parsons' article is in today's Commondreams.org at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/12-1.
3) I am still very upset over the arrest of WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, Juilan Assange, in England and his detention in a London jail in a section for solitary confinement. I am more upset when a piece in today's Commondreams.org indicated that President Obama lashed out at Assange for his actions. He should be thanking WikiLeaks for its efforts. The article can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/12/12-2 .
A postscript to this story is a short story in Politics Daily that reports that former Presidential candidate Ralph Nader believes Obama will have a primary challenge in 2012. I want to say that if the candidate has progressive values, I will welcome this battle for the soul of the Democratic Party.
I will return shortly with Special Segment.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
What's On My Mind -- 12/7/10
Hello everyone from the land of the progressives. This is the Adirondack Howler for Tuesday, December 7th, 2010.
1) I am saddened to hear about the arrest of WikiLeaks' editor-in-chief Julian Assange. I believe that he has done more for this country than the mainstream media (aka -- Fawning Controlled Media). Today' Commondreams.org has a piece by Assange on how he was inspired to develop WikiLeaks. The article can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/07-1 .
To Mr. Assange: I want you to keep fighting to bring out the truth.
P.S. -- I have also read that about 500 WikiLeaks mirror sites are now set up. Keep up the good work!
2) I am pleased to hear the statement of outrage by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont over the agreement to extend President Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts between President Obama and the Republican leaders in Congress. His piece can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/12/07-12 . The words "moral outrage" are appropriate for this situation.
3) The United States District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed a suit challenging the policy of the Obama administration in regards to targeted assassinations. The case was dismissed on procedural grounds but according to U.S. District Judge John Bates the case presents "stark and perplexing" questions. Also, the merits of the case present fundamental questions of the separation of powers involving the proper role of our courts in our constitutional structure. The article is in today's Commondreams.org and can be found at
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/12/07-8 .
That is all for today. I will return next time with more features from the world of the progressives. This is the Adirondack Howler signing off on the 320th day after the Citizens United decision in the Supreme Court which opened the spigots of corporate cash and poisoned the well of our democracy.
Good night and good luck.
1) I am saddened to hear about the arrest of WikiLeaks' editor-in-chief Julian Assange. I believe that he has done more for this country than the mainstream media (aka -- Fawning Controlled Media). Today' Commondreams.org has a piece by Assange on how he was inspired to develop WikiLeaks. The article can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/07-1 .
To Mr. Assange: I want you to keep fighting to bring out the truth.
P.S. -- I have also read that about 500 WikiLeaks mirror sites are now set up. Keep up the good work!
2) I am pleased to hear the statement of outrage by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont over the agreement to extend President Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts between President Obama and the Republican leaders in Congress. His piece can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/12/07-12 . The words "moral outrage" are appropriate for this situation.
3) The United States District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed a suit challenging the policy of the Obama administration in regards to targeted assassinations. The case was dismissed on procedural grounds but according to U.S. District Judge John Bates the case presents "stark and perplexing" questions. Also, the merits of the case present fundamental questions of the separation of powers involving the proper role of our courts in our constitutional structure. The article is in today's Commondreams.org and can be found at
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/12/07-8 .
That is all for today. I will return next time with more features from the world of the progressives. This is the Adirondack Howler signing off on the 320th day after the Citizens United decision in the Supreme Court which opened the spigots of corporate cash and poisoned the well of our democracy.
Good night and good luck.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Video of the Week -- 11/28/10
My video of the week is an interview Laura Flanders of GRITtv with Katrina VandenHeuvel, the editor and publisher of the Nation magazine, on the battle for progressives between now and two years from now.
The video is at the bottom of this blog in the Vidoe of the Week section.
That is all for now. This is the Adirondack Howler signing off on the 311th day after the Citizens United decision in the Supreme Court which opened the spigots of corporate cash and poisoned the well of our democracy.
Good night and good luck.
The video is at the bottom of this blog in the Vidoe of the Week section.
That is all for now. This is the Adirondack Howler signing off on the 311th day after the Citizens United decision in the Supreme Court which opened the spigots of corporate cash and poisoned the well of our democracy.
Good night and good luck.
What's On My Mind -- 11/28/10
Greetings from the land of progressives. This is the Adirondack Howler for Sunday, November 28th, 2010. I hope that everyone had a happy, safe, and sustainable Thanksgiving and also did not get involved with the crowds associated with Black Friday.
What's On My Mind
1) This past week a crisis developed on the Korean Peninsula when North Koreans shelled the island of Yeonpyeong, killing two South Korean marines and two construction workers. Subsequently, a naval battle group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrived in the Yellow Sea. I pray that a major war that involves Northeast Asia can be avoided at all costs. In Saturday's Commondreams.org, Matthew Rothschild offers his perspective of the current situation. His piece can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/11/27-4 .
Another take is found in three articles on the World Socialist Website:
i) The first essay is located at http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/nov2010/kore-n23.shtml .
ii) The second essay is located at http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/nov2010/kore-n24.shtml .
iii) The third essay is located at http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/nov2010/pers-n27.shtml .
2) I am happy to say that the WikiLeaks organization has done it again. This time it has released 250,000 classified cables from U.S. embassies, some of them as recent as this past February. In today's Commondreams.org, David Leigh of the Guardian (United Kingdom) gives an overview of what is about to be revealed. Leigh's piece can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/11/28-3 .
3) This week, a young man of Somali descent was arrested for attempting to set off a car bomb at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon. According to Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com, this arrest is an actual setup by the F.B.I. itself. For detail, see Greenwald's article at http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/11/28/fbi/index.html .
Three Cheers of the Week
1) To WikiLeaks for the release of 250,000 classified cables from US embassies, demonstrating that this nation has no respect for the rest of the world. Once again, the mainstream media failed to live up to the responsibilities of a true Fourth Estate.
2) To Glenn Greenwald for bringing a sobering perspective to the arrest of a Somali-born man for an attempt to bomb a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon. We as a general public need to take a deep breath and work to eliminate all the causes of terrorism throughout the world.
3) To Denise Civiletti for reminding us all of the ugliness of consumerism 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Her article can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/11/26-5 .
Three Boos of the Week
1) To Sarah Palin for her rant on Facebook on Thanksgiving day. On a hoilday like this, the world would be a better place on that day if Mrs. Palin refrained from making any comments until the next day, given her whining on posts in the past.
2) To the Republicans and any Democrat who is planning to oppose the extension of unemployment benefit to people who are struggling to find work, especially when there are six people for every job opening.
3) To the Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council for calling for an apology to the Southern Poverty Law Center as part of the process of covering the tracks of anti-gay hate groups. The article can be found at http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/11/27/the-family-research-council-should-be-apologizing-to-the-gay-community/ with links to additional articles at the end of the piece.
I will return shortly with the Video of the Week.
What's On My Mind
1) This past week a crisis developed on the Korean Peninsula when North Koreans shelled the island of Yeonpyeong, killing two South Korean marines and two construction workers. Subsequently, a naval battle group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrived in the Yellow Sea. I pray that a major war that involves Northeast Asia can be avoided at all costs. In Saturday's Commondreams.org, Matthew Rothschild offers his perspective of the current situation. His piece can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/11/27-4 .
Another take is found in three articles on the World Socialist Website:
i) The first essay is located at http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/nov2010/kore-n23.shtml .
ii) The second essay is located at http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/nov2010/kore-n24.shtml .
iii) The third essay is located at http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/nov2010/pers-n27.shtml .
2) I am happy to say that the WikiLeaks organization has done it again. This time it has released 250,000 classified cables from U.S. embassies, some of them as recent as this past February. In today's Commondreams.org, David Leigh of the Guardian (United Kingdom) gives an overview of what is about to be revealed. Leigh's piece can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/11/28-3 .
3) This week, a young man of Somali descent was arrested for attempting to set off a car bomb at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon. According to Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com, this arrest is an actual setup by the F.B.I. itself. For detail, see Greenwald's article at http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/11/28/fbi/index.html .
Three Cheers of the Week
1) To WikiLeaks for the release of 250,000 classified cables from US embassies, demonstrating that this nation has no respect for the rest of the world. Once again, the mainstream media failed to live up to the responsibilities of a true Fourth Estate.
2) To Glenn Greenwald for bringing a sobering perspective to the arrest of a Somali-born man for an attempt to bomb a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon. We as a general public need to take a deep breath and work to eliminate all the causes of terrorism throughout the world.
3) To Denise Civiletti for reminding us all of the ugliness of consumerism 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Her article can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/11/26-5 .
Three Boos of the Week
1) To Sarah Palin for her rant on Facebook on Thanksgiving day. On a hoilday like this, the world would be a better place on that day if Mrs. Palin refrained from making any comments until the next day, given her whining on posts in the past.
2) To the Republicans and any Democrat who is planning to oppose the extension of unemployment benefit to people who are struggling to find work, especially when there are six people for every job opening.
3) To the Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council for calling for an apology to the Southern Poverty Law Center as part of the process of covering the tracks of anti-gay hate groups. The article can be found at http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/11/27/the-family-research-council-should-be-apologizing-to-the-gay-community/ with links to additional articles at the end of the piece.
I will return shortly with the Video of the Week.
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