Charlie Sheen brings 9/11 out of the closet

For the first time, a major news network (CNN) has run a story bringing focus to the 9/11 truth movement. Radio host Alex Jones has appeared twice on CNN's Showbiz Tonight, discussing his recent interviews with actor Charlie Sheen.

Sheen is the first major Hollywood star to come out and publicly express his concerns that the "official" 9/11 story is bogus. Not that Charlie Sheen is necessarily someone who should be looked upon as a role model or as the ultimate truth-teller, but the result of this is that the issue is being finally brought into the spotlight.

You can watch the Alex Jones portion of the CNN show here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU-qfQEGDEg

Nuclear waste fun for the kiddies!

In the "you've GOT to be kidding me" category comes Yucca Johnny, the Yucca Mtn. project's kid-friendly new mascot! I guess the project's propagandists figured the best way to garner support in the future is to brainwash the kiddies now!

Here's the site: http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/youth/index.htm

and here's a link to the LV Sun story: http://tinyurl.com/jbj4f
I'm going to Target to see if I can get my kids a Yucca Johnny action figure, and maybe some YJ sheets.

Piddie Korn scandal

I was watching CNN the other night, and the "big" story of the hour was the bust of a huge KP ring (I'm not going to spell it out, but it rhymes with Piddie Korn. Again, I'm reluctant to use the actual words, should the govt. be on the hunt for such terms on the web, I don't want anyone to come across this little diatribe).

Supposedly, 27 people were involved, all across the country (from Nevada to New York), and in Britain, Canada and Australia. This was allegedly one of the biggest and most disturbing cases of KP yet, involving live broadcasts, torture, and other dastardly acts with children as young as 18 months.

Perhaps you heard about this big news? It was everywhere the day it broke. But since then...? Not a word, that I've seen. I've been checking the newspaper and occasionally switching the news on, but this case has apparently all but disappeared.

Now, please understand, friends... I think KP exists, and I think it's a horrendous, disgusting thing. But I have a few concerns about this particular case.

1. Of the 27 alleged perpetrators, only one was actually named
2. Supposedly, all 7 of the children involved were found and placed in "safe custody"
3. Why, if this is one of the biggest KP cases in recent history, has there been virtually no news since the story broke? Wouldn't you expect more details to be constantly coming out, as more people are arrested, and more disturbing facts are learned?
4. Is it only coincidence that this story broke later in the same day that the US Govt. won a small victory in its battle with Google over turning over some of its search records? What was the reason the govt. gave for requesting the records from Google? Well, to combat KP, of course.

Am I the only one skeptical enough to contrive this scenario:

Govt. wants Google records of searches for some reason, and subpoenas Google to surrender them. Google fights it, and the knowing public cries "invasion of privacy." Govt. and Google come to a settlement of only 50,000 records, citing the need to protect the public from KP predators using Google and the Internet. To reinforce the point, a massive KP ring is "discovered" that stretches from one end of the country to the other, and includes some of the most heinous and disturbing acts against children yet.

And now, since the story originally broke, I have not seen one more detail surface, one story about the alleged perpetrators or their victims. Sorry, folks, but sounds fishy to me.

"Nobody likes beheadings"

In a speech given yesterday to the "City Club" in Cleveland, good 'ol Georgie urged Americans to look beyond the bloodshed in Iraq and see the progress.

Looking beyond the bloodshed might be easy for a black-hearted, soulless, self-centered thug. For someone like that, it's easy to see past human suffering right to the billions of dollars that will line the pockets of the corporate war machine that he and his cronies are a part of.

For families of Americans and Iraqis killed, maimed and mutilated, it might be a little more difficult. For college-aged kids spending months away from home, in a strange place, with people they don't know shooting at them and their friends dying around them, looking beyond the bloodshed could prove difficult.

But Bush has no problem seeing past a little bloodshed, and even less of a problem seeing past a whole lot of bloodshed. In an effort to show that he isn't completely devoid of all emotion, Bush belched out the little nugget, "nobody likes beheadings." What a softie.

The high cost of war

Yesterday, the Senate approved a new $2.8 trillion budget, in which the debt limit was increased by $781 billion, bringing the national debt ceiling to $9 trillion.

Before you throw up your hands in disgust (or stop reading from sheer boredom), check this:

In a SEPARATE action, the House approved emergency spending of $92 billion, $68 billion of which will go toward military action in Iraq and Afghanistan (and... maybe... Iran?). How many people do you think could eat on $68 billion?

See that ticker over there to the right, the one that is adding up the cost of the war? You thought it was bogus didn't you? Or meaningless... it's not. Who do you think that $68 billion is going to? Perhaps the military contractors like Lockheed Martin, whose CEO, Robert J. Stevens took home $10.3 million in pay and bonuses in 2004? Someone's getting rich off this war, but it sure isn't the Iraqi people, or the American soldiers dying there.

Bush puts children at risk?

Here's a curious thought:

When I watched the 2nd plane hit the WTC on Sept. 11, I thought to myself (and said to my wife), "This is it... WWIII. We're being attacked."

George Bush was at an elementary school when the planes hit. Wouldn't you think that the President of the United States of America, when our future was uncertain, and it appeared as though there may be more strikes, would be concerned about a.) his own safety, and b.) the safety of the hundreds of school children he was near?

His appearance at the school in Florida was public knowledge. What if, as a part of the attack on America, the President were a target? Is that far-fetched? Upon hearing of the second tower strike, shouldn't the Secret Service have whisked GW away quickly, when staying in place was obviously presenting a danger to those in and around the school?

No one seemed concerned that he might be a target. Seems Georgie and the rest of the crew were privvy to the plan and knew they were safe. Otherwise, putting all those innocent people in danger seems a pretty callous thing to do. Callous or corrupt? Pick the one you feel more comfortable with.

Organic food... really more expensive?

As recently as within the last year, I would not buy chicken (boneless, skinless breasts) unless it was less than $2 a pound. Vons would usually put their generic brand on sale for about $1.79/lb., and I would buy several pounds.

The chicken we buy now costs between $6 and $7/lb., sometimes more. It hurts, believe me. After years of only buying the cheapest chicken available, it ain't easy shelling out the better part of ten bucks for the same thing.

When I talk to friends about eating organic, one of the biggest objections everyone has is cost. And it's a valid concern, organic and healthier foods are usually more expensive, sometimes excessively so (a difference of what, almost 400% on the chicken alone?). But I've come up with a new catch phrase that I will use any time this argument comes up. You can use it too, that's the beauty of language: it's free. [disclaimer: the use of the following catch phrase is allowed only until the copyright holder registers it with the U.S. Trademark Assn.] Here it is: "Food is always more expensive than poison."

Knowing what many of us know (and many more at least suspect) about how chicken and other "food animals" are farmed and processed, how do we justify saving a few dollars when it comes to our health? Two pounds of chicken would probably feed a family of 5 or 6. At $7/lb., dinner for 6 just cost $14, add in another $10 for salad, some veggies and fixin's, $6 for bread and drinks, and, with a total of $30, each person ate a healthy dinner for $5. When was the last time you bought dinner out for $5 each? We went to Tony Roma's last night. We're a family of only four, the kids ate FREE, the food wasn't exactly healthy, and it cost over $40!

I'm preaching... sorry.

We were really happy to see our neighborhood Vons start a brand they call "O" (for organic, duh). They have a great selection of products, and the price is indistinguishable from that of comparable conventional products. Of course it's a marketing move, designed to tap into an emerging market, but hey, it's a step in the right direction.

Be wary, though, as just because something is labeled "organic" doesn't mean it's necessarily good for you. I went to buy some "O"rganic frozen cheese enchiladas (microwave... I know, baby steps, BABY STEPS!), and flipped 'em over to check out the stats. One serving = 90% of the Daily Recommended Allowance of saturated fat. A day's-worth of fat in lunch. So, read the label, always check out the nutritional value and ingredients!

U.S., Iran trade threats

A couple of days ago, I posted that war with Iran might be imminent, and soon, because of their impending switch from the dollar to the Euro for oil trade. Today's headline in the Review-Journal reads as above, in my blog post title, and the first paragraph goes on to say:

"Iran threatened Sunday to embark on full-scale uranium enrichment if the U.N. nuclear agency presses for action over its atomic program, and a top U.S. diplomat warned Tehran of possible 'painful consequences'."

Shock and awe, baby... shock and awe!

Of course, no mention of the "oil bourse" was made, and won't be in mainstream media, most likely. One must wonder, though, if the escalating situation will peak and result in 'coalition' forces striking Iranian targets before March 20.

The Iranians say they want to develop nuclear (or nucular, as W likes to say) technology for energy only. Who's to say they're lying? They, unlike North Korea, have not withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, so they are still subject to its provisions. Perhaps Iran knows that the supposed huge oil reserves are not enough, and want to pursue nuclear energy in a peaceful manner. The Russians (our ally) believe them, and are assisting them with their program.

But, we're gonna get 'em anyway! How many fronts can the U.S. military maintain? Afghanistan, Iraq, now possibly Iran, and eventually Syria and North Korea. We're going to need a bigger military! There's always the draft. And as for weapons, military vehicles and the like, Cheney and his buddies will take care of that! This could be a win-win situation for the military/industrial complex. War is so great for the economy... let's make more!

Un-Patriot Act

Voicing his opposition to the reauthorization of the Patriot Act (which lamentably passed 89-10), West Virginia senator Robert C. Byrd said this:

"There is no doubt that constitutional freedoms will never be abolished in one fell swoop, for the American people cherish their freedoms, and would not tolerate such a loss if they could perceive it," explained Byrd. "But the erosion of freedom rarely comes as an all-out frontal assault but rather as a gradual, noxious creeping, cloaked in secrecy, and glossed over by reassurances of greater security."

Wise and prophetic words, no? A couple of related articles:

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060303/WIRE/203030312/1117/news

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0303-35.htm

War with Iran imminent?

Admittedly, I'm no expert in world financial affairs. However, I've been hearing rumblings (both in mainstream and alternative media) about possible military action in Iran. After doing some searching and reading, I think perhaps I've discovered for myself the underlying financial basis for these assertions.

This month, Iran is set to change the way it trades oil: from the U.S. dollar (petrodollar), to the Euro. Apparently, what this would mean is a global devaluation of the dollar, and a very real potential for sudden and extreme economic collapse in the U.S.

Would the U.S. Government allow this to happen? Apparently, Saddam Hussein did the same thing - converted from the dollar to the Euro - in 2000. In 2001, we were "attacked" by Arab terrorists, and shortly thereafter, the campaign against Saddam began, and the bombs started falling. Will we begin military action in Iran before or shortly after the March 20 currency "switch"? Can we support two major military actions at the same time?

I would suggest a Google search on Iran's oil "bourse," and keeping an eye on Iran in the news in the coming days. Have we been hearing about Iran's "nuclear" program recently? A pretext for attack? Watch and wait...

The World Loves Bush!

How proud we should be of our beloved administration and our stellar reputation in the world! And it only gets better with each passing day.

Story here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/01/AR2006030100337.html

By the way, anyone catch this:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/03/heres_how_some_.html?

Apparently a video has surfaced that shows Bush being briefed on the impending Katrina disaster, and told that it was a good possibility that the levees wouldn't hold. Er... didn't he say a few days later that no one could have predicted the ferocity of the storm and no one expected the levees might give?

Meaty Musings...

Nasty title for a blog, I know, but it's the first alliterative title involving meat that I could come up with. In fact, maybe I should change the actual name of my blog from "With Eyes Closed" to "Meaty Musings." Food for thought... So - what am I referring to, exactly, when I say "meaty musings" you're no doubt pondering...

I think I'm becoming a vegetarian, God help me.

I just found myself baking brownies (!), and after breaking the egg into the bowl, I was thinking, "this is some creature's unborn child." WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I don't think those things. I think things like, "Golly, these ribs sure are tasty," and "Gosh, nothing beats a movie theater hot dog."

I DON'T WANT TO BE A VEGETARIAN. My pastor doesn't want me to be a vegetarian! I'm pretty sure my wife would flip out, too. Eva would be happy. She'd say I "joined her team." She'd feel like she had an ally in this den of carnivores.

Is my 9-year-old converting me to the dark side? Is it the dark side? You're pondering again... I can feel it. Well, these questions may or may not be answered in the near or distant future. Stand by...