Der Parson's rant

Here is something like I was sort of trying to say in my last post about how to help and get more information about the Burma people. A lot of them live here in Fort Wayne. There is information from the local paper.

burma3

I used the information on that website to send a letter to my representatives in the government.

Here is a copy of my letter, any comments or critisim would be helpful. I never wrote to anyone in government before so I hope I did ok.

I am writing in concern to the situation in Burma, I'm sure you are aware of the things that are going on in that country. I think it's important that the United States government take a strong stance to get this situation under control. After all we charged into Iraq to save them from a tyrant. I'm not saying out military should be involved, but we need to put some pressure on the junta to actually engage in talks. They wouldn't even speak UN envoy that went to Burma (at least at the time of writting this). The United States Senate and Congress needs to do anything in their power to try and get either more US or United Nations involvement in that country.

Thank you in advance for your attention and anything you can do to help these people in Burma.

Here is something about the UN envoy that is in Burmna, apparently the junta leader won't even speak to the man.


UN envoy snubbed by junta leader in Burma - Telegraph

The United Nations special envoy to Burma has met the opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon, but was snubbed by the leader of the junta that crushed democracy protests last week.

However, some Western diplomats consider Mr Gambari a weak negotiator. One commentator also pointed out that the junta holds deeply racist attitudes and is probably prejudiced against dealing with a black man.

This is were the real shame is, here is a government so affraid of the truth they shut down the internet and phone lines. You know things are in bad shape when the world is looking too China to put some pressure on these junta thugs.

Cut off from the outside world after the regime switched off foreign phone lines and the internet, their sole source of information, apart from government propaganda, is now the grim whispers on the streets, which speak of hundreds being arrested, killed and tortured.

The most sinister report circulating in the streetside tea shops spoke of how up to 200 people had been killed in custody since Friday, with their bodies allegedly incinerated at a secret location.

"We heard that one of the victims turned out to be still alive when they started burning them, and began screaming, but the soldiers just continued regardless, because they had their orders," said Mr Kyaw, who has no way of verifying the claims.

However, given Burma’s past record in dealing with pro-democracy uprisings — an estimated 3,000 people were killed during the last one, in 1988 — he was not the only one to take them seriously.

Obviously living the high life here in America I can't have any real idea of what these people are going through. We talk about how bad protesters and such have been treated by police in this country. I say we have it pretty good. Yes people have been killed potesting in this country (Kent State Shootings), but nothing like what is happening in Myanmar. For me to sit here in my ivory tower and say "my heart goes out to these people" just is not enough. There are no words that can express the helplessness I and probably a lot of other blogger types feel. I sit here and think, "what can I do?", does writting a blog post really help anyone in Myanmar?, probably not, maybe it does help me in a way. Getting the feelings out there so maybe someone else will read this and understand were I'm coming from. Sometimes this blogging thing is like putting a message in a bottle and throwing it out into the ocean.
I just turned on CNN just to see if the MSM is even covering this. They were just showing the same video I already have linked.

Myanmar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Myanmar is bordered by China on the north, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, and India on the northwest, with the Andaman Sea to the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the southwest. One-third of Myanmar’s total perimeter, 1,930 kilometres (1,199 mi), forms an uninterrupted coastline.

Here is some general information about Myanmar. I wasn't even sure were it was on a map, until I started doing some reading. I'm going to link other things I found on Wiki to save anyone wanting to read up some time.

Burmese anti-government protests

WARNING, GRAPHIC violence!



Watch carefully at about :30. Were are all you neocons and war mongers now? Here is a country killing journalist at point blank range, cutting off internet access and cellphone servics so nobody can get news out of these types of outrages that are going on. Why isn't good ol' Georgy boy charging in to help these people? They must not have enough oil to make it worth is trouble.

Here is something for the you can't be serious file, or the What the Hell are they thinking file.

Madonna Nominated for Rock Hall of Fame - MSN Music News

Madonna Nominated for Rock Hall of Fame
Sept. 28, 2007, 10:52 AM EST
The Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Here's something Madonna can really celebrate: a nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Madge joins heartland rocker John Mellencamp, the puckish rappers Beastie Boys and premier dance acts Donna Summer and Chic among the nine nominees for the hall. The five leading vote-getters will be inducted in the annual ceremony March 10, 2008, at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Are you f'ing kidding me? Madonna in the "Rock and Roll" Hall of fame. How can anyone think Madonna even belongs in this hall of fame? Seriously WTF are they smoking? They need to consider changing the name to the "Rock and Roll Hall of LAME"!!!

Sorry, I just found this funny.

Knocked off by a bargain - Los Angeles Times

By David Colker, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 26, 2007
I make my living writing about scams.

Check-cashing schemes, Nigerian frauds, fake Viagra -- I've covered them all. And in the back of my mind was always the sense that the victims must be a bit greedy or stupid. Like me.

My comeuppance came this year when I went shopping online for high-end earphones and ended up with a fake.

And I don't mean crude knockoffs. I thought I was getting a brand-name product at a bargain price by being a smart shopper, just like my flea-market-loving mom taught me.

It's amazing how much counterfeiting is going on. I guess as technology gets better there always be crooks and scammers ready to use it to make a easy buck.

Iran leader condemned by university host - Focus on Iran - MSNBC.com

NEW YORK - As hundreds protested outside, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took the stage at Columbia University on Monday after a blistering introduction from the school's president, who said the hard-line leader was a dictator with preposterous beliefs.
Ahmadinejad smiled as Columbia President Lee Bollinger took him to task over Iran's human-rights record and foreign policy, as well as Ahmadinejad's statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the disappearance of Israel.

"Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator," Bollinger said, to loud applause.

"There were insults and claims that were incorrect, regretfully," Ahmadinejad said, accusing Bollinger of offering "unfriendly treatment" under the influence of the U.S. press and politicians.

I wonder the same thing knowing Columbia has been under fire for having Imanutjob speaking there, It's kind of funny Bollinger suddenly grows some balls.

I know I probably shouldn't agree with Imanutjob,

Asked whether he beleved the U.S. is preparing for war, he responded: “That is not how I see it ... I believe that some of the talk in this regard arises first of all from anger. Secondly, it serves the electoral purposes domestically in this country. Third, it serves as a cover for policy failures over Iraq.”

It is definitely something the neo-cons like McCain and Giuliani are using to scare the sheep into voting for them.

I apparently messed up while trying to change my template to something new. It will take me a bit to get everything back. As George Bush might say, Oh well you can't break a omlete without making some eggs...

I will try to get all my blog roll links back and some of my news feeds tomorrow when I get home from the day job. It's going to be hard to remember were I got most of that stuff.

InFlash.com - Flash Games, Flash Shows, Flash Greetings and more!

A fun little game to waste some time. A game like this could keep Bush busy for days, and maybe he would forget about invading other countries.

News-Sentinel.com

Gary dad finds son's body police missed after crash
He wants answers after discovering two teens seven hours later.

By Jeff Long
of The Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Gary police and city officials on Sunday remained silent for a second day about the weekend crash that killed two teens and left two others injured, but the father who found his son's mangled body at the side of a road seven hours after the wreck lashed out at what he called a failure that no parent should endure.

“It's a disgrace, how we have to be tormented,” said Arthur Smith, as friends and relatives stopped by to offer condolences for the death of his son, Brandon Smith. “And you, as a city, can't stand up and say, ‘We made a mistake.'”

This is completely inexcusable, and to make it worse.

“We haven't heard anything from anyone,” Smith said Sunday during an interview at the family's home. “Nothing. We haven't heard anything from anybody. Not the police. Not the mayor.”

Repeated calls from reporters to Gary Police Cmdr. Sam Roberts, to whom all calls were referred, were not returned Saturday or Sunday. An officer at the police headquarters desk Sunday said no one was available for comment about the crash.

Police Chief Thomas Houston could not be reached for comment, nor could Gary Mayor Rudy Clay. Fire Chief Jeff Ward also could not be reached.

Not even the decency to say they are sorry? The police chief needs to be turning in his badge.

Security Firm’s License Is Pulled in Iraq - New York Times:

BAGHDAD, Sept. 17 — The Iraqi government said it had revoked the license of Blackwater USA, a private security company that provides protection for American diplomats across Iraq, after shots fired from an American convoy killed eight Iraqis.

Abdul-Karim Khalaf, a spokesman for Iraq’s Ministry of Interior, said the authorities had canceled the company’s license and barred its activity across Iraq. He said the government would prosecute the deaths, though according to the rules that govern private contractors, it was not clear whether the Iraqis had the legal authority to do so.

“This is a big crime that we can’t stay silent before,” said Jawad al-Bolani, Iraq’s interior minister, speaking on satellite television. “Anyone who wants to have good relations with Iraq has to respect Iraqis.”

It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

White House threatens terror insurance bill veto - Yahoo! News

By Kevin Drawbaugh 1 hour, 3 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration threatened on Monday to veto a bill the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on this week that would extend a post-9/11 federal terrorism risk insurance program.
ADVERTISEMENT

"The administration strongly opposes efforts to expand the federal government's role in terrorism reinsurance," the White House said in a statement.

What's next falling bridge insurance? I will probably have to turn in my liberal badge, but I partially agree with Bush on this one. (Hey I liked parts of his immigration bill). The other thing is I really wouldn't want to depend on the federal government on insurance. Look at FEMA they didn't figure out how messed up it was until it was too late. I wonder what the libertarians have to say about this? The federal government has enough of a role in terrorism, we don't need them selling us insurance against it.

Protest bloggers ordered to come out of the shadows - Times Online


Jane Macartney in Beijing

Anonymous online postings are to be banned by a city in China, after residents mounted a successful internet campaign against proposals for a huge chemicals factory.

Internet users will have to provide their real names, backed up by data from their identity cards, when posting messages on more than 100,000 websites registered in Xiamen. Authorities are taking action after thousands of residents of the prosperous southern port city marched through the streets, mobilised by mobile phone text messages and an internet-based campaign.

One government official said that the protest had shown the necessity to control content on the internet. He said: “Those who illegally spread harmful or bad information will be detained or fined.”

Wow, this would be a conservative's wet dream to make it easier to track down us liberal bloggers that refuse to praise President Bush's or Mayor wanabe Kelty's retarded policies.

I guess communism as hit the modern times. I guess it's true in Red China you don't watch the internets, the internets watch YOU!


hat tip to the Libertarian party of Allen county

Russia tests superstrength bomb, military says - Yahoo! News

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has tested the world's most powerful vacuum bomb, which unleashes a destructive shockwave with the power of a nuclear blast, the military said on Tuesday, dubbing it the "father of all bombs."

It sounds like someone in Russia hasn't been getting enough attention lately.

Today it's been 6 years since September 11, 2007

Take a minute or more to remember those that died today.

Also remember how the Republican neocons bring this day up every time they need to justify their endless war. Remember how as those towers fell, so did your civil liberties as Georgie boy use them as a excuse to wire tap your phones and read your mail.

"I lost," top Colombian drug suspect tells captors - Yahoo! News

BOGOTA (Reuters) - He is charged with running one of the world's fiercest drug cartels, but Colombian soldiers finally caught up with Diego "Lord of War" Montoya cowering in his underpants in a shallow hole hidden by a pile of leaves.

I just thought this was a bit funny. I drug deal with millions of dollars caught under a pile of leaves. It's good they captured this guy, but now the other drug cartels just have to step up production and fill in the gap he's left. Until the demand is curbed there are always going to be suppliers waiting to fill that need.

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Everett likely paralyzed after neck injury

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - The Buffalo Bills' Kevin Everett sustained a "catastrophic" and life-threatening spinal-cord injury and his chances of regaining a full range of body motion are very small, an orthopedic surgeon said Monday.

"A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely," Dr. Andrew Cappuccino said, one day after performing a four-hour operation on the player. "I believe there will be some permanent neurological paralysis. ... A full neurological recovery was bleak, dismal."

Cappuccino noted the 25-year-old reserve tight end did have touch sensation throughout his body and also showed signs of movement. But he cautioned that Everett's injury remained life-threatening, saying the player is still susceptible to blood clots, infection and breathing failure.

I hope Kevin Everett can make a full recovery.

I decided to go green, at least a little bit. It's pretty neat you can replace a old 75 watt light bulb with a 26 watt "energy smart" bulb and get the light you would get out of a old 100 watt light bulb. I see you have to send this bulb to someplace special when it burns out. I hope I can remember that part if it burns out a year or so from now. I have a few other bulbs I'm going to replace as I get a chance. It's nice you get more light for less watts which hopefully means less electricity and a lower bill.

S. Korea rebuffs Bush; North makes nice - Yahoo! News

In an unexpected confrontation, Roh publicly challenged Bush during a picture-taking session to pledge support for "a declaration to end the Korean War." That conflict ended in a truce in 1953, not with a peace treaty, so the two sides technically remain at war.

Bush said North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has "got to get rid of his (nuclear) weapons in a verifiable fashion" for the United States to agree to sign a peace treaty. Roh told Bush he should "be a bit clearer in your message" and Bush shot back "I can't make it any more clear, Mr. President."

That Bush, he's a diplomatic genius.

Sammy Kershaw Running for Office - MSN Music News

The Associated Press

Baton Rouge, La. -- Country singer Sammy Kershaw officially entered the race for lieutenant governor of Louisiana on Wednesday, challenging incumbent Mitch Landrieu.

Kershaw, who arrived at the Capitol to sign up for the race wearing a sport-coat and cowboy boots, said he would prove wrong critics who have accused him of running for public office to get attention for his music career.

"I'm here to tell you now, this is not a publicity stunt and I am serious," said Kershaw.

Kershaw is a Republican who announced in June that he would seek the post. Landrieu, a Democrat and the brother of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, signed up for re-election on Tuesday.

Kershaw's hits include "She Don't Know She's Beautiful," "Third Rate Romance" and "Queen of My Double Wide Trailer."

It wouldn't be the first time a country singer made the move into Louisiana politics. Jimmie Davis, famous for "You Are My Sunshine," was twice elected governor, serving from 1944 to 1948 and from 1960 to 1964.

Wow a country singer running for office as a Republican. Who would have figured?

If you can't fix the problem, try bullying....

Asians Say Trade Complaints Bring Out the Bully in China - washingtonpost.com

By Ariana Eunjung Cha
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, September 5, 2007; Page A01

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- After hearing about dangerous Chinese products elsewhere, Indonesia this summer began testing popular Chinese-made items on its own store shelves. What it found has added to the list of horrors: mercury-laced makeup that turns skin black, dried fruit spiked with industrial chemicals, carcinogenic children's candy.

The Chinese government called up in August saying it had a possible solution. Husniah Rubiana Thamrin Akib, head of Indonesia's top food and drug safety agency, was pleased and welcomed her counterparts to her office.

But according to Husniah, the Chinese suggested Indonesia lower its safety standards. Husniah said she was "very upset and very surprised." "I said to them, 'I respect your standards for your country. I hope you respect ours,' " Husniah said.

In dealing with product safety complaints from the United States, China has sought to convince a concerned American public that it has reformed and is doing all it can to ensure the safety of its products. But its dealings with other, less-developed countries or those in vulnerable political positions are a different story, according to Husniah and officials in the Philippines and Malaysia.

Greatest video ever I say!!!!! Rap music has never been so good.

Here is something great I found on Daily Kos: America

"Who are these Swine? These flag-sucking half-wits who get fleeced and fooled by stupid little rich kids like George Bush? ..... They speak for all that is cruel and stupid and vicious in the American character.... I piss down the throats of these Nazis. And I am too old to worry about whether they like it or not. Fuck Them."

"But wow! This goofy child president we have on our hands now. He is demonstrably a fool and a failure, and this is only the summer of '03. The American nation is in the worst condition I can remember in my lifetime, and our prospects for the immediate future are even worse. . . The Bush family must be very proud of themselves today, but I am not. Big Darkness, soon come. Take my word for it."

"The utter collapse of this Profoundly criminal Bush conspiracy will come none too soon for people like me.... The massive plundering of the U.S. Treasury and all its resources has been almost on a scale that is criminally insane, and has literally destroyed the lives of millions of American people and American families. Exactly. You and me, sport— we are the ones who are going to suffer, and suffer massively. This is going to be just like the Book of Revelation said it was going to be— the end of the world as we knew it."

"These horrifying digital snapshots of the American dream in action on foreign soil are worse than anything even I could have expected. I have been in this business a long time and I have seen many staggering things, but this one is over the line. Now I am really ashamed to carry an American passport."

"America... just a nation of two hundred million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns and no qualms about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable."

~ Hunter S. Thompson

Congress won’t stand up for us. The Democrats won’t stand up for us. The media won’t stand up for us. We have been left to our own devices. It’s time for us all to stand up for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.

The revolution will not be televised – but it will be YouTubed.

Come to Washington on September 15th and join the American Revolution!

This is how I feel! Democrats or Republicans, it's all the same shit. The Democrats pretty much said what we wanted to hear to get elected. Now they are in, they won't stand up to Bush Co. because the only thing they care about is staying elected or making that Presidential run. They won't stand up because they know the Republicans will use it against them in the next election and that might loose them a few swing votes. I don't understand these politicans, I guess I though the idea of public service was to SERVE the public, to do actually represent the people that elected you. Not to make money off lobbyist and anyone else that want's to give you a "campaign donation".

I don't know how to solve these problems, how can I solve human greed and power lust? Oh I wait, I got it!!! Pick up that King James Bible you all claim to believe in so much when your on the campaign trail trying to get Mr. and Mrs. Christian's vote. I'm not saying become born again or some crap. Just read it and learn how to actually treat other people. If nothing else learn to treat ALL people the way you want to be treated.