Grand Finale

The Man the Magic

One measure of success is how much you are loved by others, including former US presidents.

The recent Beatification of Pope John Paul #2 confirms his sainthood and Vatican assurance that his remains will be preserved for adoration.

Word is My Sword

The Legacy of Martin Luther King will also be revered for his life's work to bring world peace through non-violence.

Act 3 Scene 2 Take 1

The shock and spectacle of death that engulf defining moments in the human psyche are in time transformed and twisted by a mythology that serves a scripted continuum.

Paper Machete

This photo, a clownish reenactment of the event in Bolivia 1968 where the corpse of Che Guevara was presented to the world press rather artistically defuses the passion of el Che, a man of war.

Seeing Believing

Here is the official image, corpse with eyes opened. It is interesting that immediately after the assassination photos show Che with eyes closed, leading one to conclude a decision was made that the eyes would be opened for some macabre humiliating or hypnotic purpose.

Sacred BodyBag

There are gushing volumes of talk about the one whose name i will not write.

There is an ocean of myth being poured into the vessel of civilization.

There is a billowing cloud of closure being crafted for consumption.

Deep Fry Turkey

Ceremonial burials at sea seem the appropriate choice to dispose of both pirates and presidents. We are after all, part fish. But like so many of my countrymen's disdain for bin Ladin, i might have signed off on the cremating blast from an oil well in his backyard burial.

Headline for Humanity

Let's honestly hope it's time to say adios to endless war's circus of carnivores.

Somehow i doubt it but who is ready for a ticker-tape parade?

photo not related.

What's next, a memorial to O'binLaden?

Update: According to Cindy Sheehan, this whole corpse story stinks... inclined to agree?

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Minority Report

I never thought 'homegrown' could be a dirty word, but in these orwellian times just thinking/reading/writing may be hazardous to our health.



... not to be accused of profiling.



Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act

"In a startling affront to American freedoms of expression, privacy, and association, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act passed the House on Oct. 23 by a vote of 404-6. With problematically vague definitions, the act will establish a national commission to study and propose legislation to address the threat of possible “radicalization” of Americans. Author of the bill Jane Harman (D-Calif) explains, “We’re studying the phenomenon of people with radical beliefs who turn into people who would use violence.” The act’s purpose goes beyond academic inquiry, however. In a press release Harman stated: “the National Commission [will] propose to both Congress and [Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael] Chertoff initiatives to intercede before radicalized individuals turn violent.” This preemptive measure of policing thought, specifically identifies the Internet as a tool of radicalization: “The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens.” The commission will have broad authority to collect evidence and hold hearings in localities across the nation...."



land of the freaks, home of the brazen.

Global Waw on SOME terists

Here is a nice pic of cuban brides 50's that a lady was showing at a recent BBQ of the Municipio de Camaguey, one of the The Big Five Club, a local must-join social club for cuban-americans here. They just love my obamobile. To be in exile is a work-ing progress, I should know, these are my people. we are here to not suffer, to boldly go where no cuban has gone before, miami, where old folks relish unfullfilled, where the irony is painful.



militant cuban exile honored.

"I want to give you a kiss," said a woman who was among the first to greet Posada as he arrived at the Big Five Club....

...an attorney who represents the Venezuelan government in the extradition case, called the tribute to Posada "outrageous," adding: "It would be like Osama bin Laden being honored by the Arab-American community."

Robert Perry of Consortium News has the poop on this:

Bush got a round of applause when he declared “one of the lessons learned after September the 11th is that we must hold people to account for harboring terrorists. If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you house a terrorist, you’re as equally guilty as the terrorist.”

So let's call Posada a "freedumb fighter".

Taxman Cometh

The Beatles knew exactly how to portray the tax collectors.



Harrison

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.

Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me.


Dear Sir or Madam:

After careful consideration of the consequences and balancing them with my strong feelings against contributing fully to the illegal, unethical, and unnecessary war presently being waged by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, I hereby declare myself a War Tax Objector and am withholding 15% of my total tax liability for the 2007 tax year. The 15% amount is intended to represent a compromise or median point between the percentage of U.S. income tax revenue currently spent on the military occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan (7%) and the percentage of revenue targeted to military expenses in toto (31%). I simply cannot justify making a full contribution to the deaths of thousands of U.S. and coalition soldiers and exponentially more Iraqi and Afghan citizens, nor to the destruction of the rule of law in America by the regime presently in power....

There is more to this suggestion letter from blast-off.