Daily Nonsense

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Today in 1492 – Queen Isabella of Castille orders her 150,000 Jewish subjects to convert to Christianity or face expulsion.

Today in 1889 – The Eiffel Tower is inaugurated.

Today in 1959 – The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, crosses the border into India and is granted political asylum.

Today in 1995 – In Corpus Christi, Texas, Latin superstar Selena Quintanilla Perez is shot and killed by Yolanda Saldivar, the president of her own fan club.

Celebrating Birthdays today are René Descartes, Joseph Haydn, Alfred E. Hunt, Richard Kiley, Charles Guggenheim, César Chávez, Liz Claiborne, Shirley Jones, Marge Piercy, Patrick Leahy, Gabe Kaplan, Angus Young, and Paul Mercurio.

Celebrating Death-iversaries today are Anne Hyde, Sir Isaac Newton, John Pierpont Morgan, Knute Rockne, Anne Frank, Jesse Owens, Brandon Lee, and Terri Schiavo.

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Today in 240 BC – First recorded perihelion passage of Halley’s Comet.

Today in 1842 – Anesthesia is used for the first time in an operation by Dr. Crawford Long.

Today in 1951 – Remington Rand delivers the first UNIVAC I computer to the United States Census Bureau.

Today in 1981 – President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John Hinckley, Jr.

Celebrating Birthdays today are Ivan II of Russia, Francisco Goya, Vincent van Gogh, Sergey Ilyushin, Albert Pierrepoint, Richard Helms, Sonny Boy Williamson I, Warren Beatty, Eric Clapton, Tracy Chapman, Donna D’Errico, Celine Dion, and Norah Jones.

Celebrating Death-iversaries today are Vauban, Beau Brummell, Maxfield Parrish, James Cagney, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Alistair Cooke, and Dith Pran.

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A French news web site has made accusations that at least one of the videos on the newly launched scientology video channel contains misleading or outright false footage containing exaggerated claims by non-existent public officials.  So, to recap, fictional people making fictional claims.  Sounds like a fictional movie, or at most a mock-umentary!

What does this have to say about Scientology?  That they can’t make a compelling argument in favor of their own ‘religion’ without resorting to falsehoods?

Scientology video channel’s credibility in question

Muddy waters of fact and fiction meet as mysterious “dignitaries” and out-of-context quoting bring video channel’s legitimacy into question.

Andrew Hendry 28/03/2008 11:52:02

The Church of Scientology has refuted claims by an independent French news Web site, the Anonymous Group and the Enturbulation that a video posted to the church’s new Video Channel includes bogus or misleading footage of non-existent dignitaries singing the praises of the controversial religion’s youth humanitarian efforts.

The video in question – Human Rights, In Support of Human Rights – featured on the Scientology Video Channel includes more than 20 unnamed dignitaries from various political, cultural and educational occupations promoting the Youth for Human Rights campaign; a movement in which the Church of Scientology is only one of over 30 sponsors. Only the speakers distinguished job titles are offered to the viewers as a means for judging the credibility of the speaker’s statements.

The satirical French news site Bakchich – a similar publication to Australia’s Crikey news site – claimed that a so-called representative from the mayor’s office in Marseille did not exist. "The fellow in the video was perfectly unknown to the municipal team," said the article’s author after contacting the mayor’s office in Marseille.

The Church of Scientology told PC World it was unfathomable that he would not be recognized, as he was at the time of the interview the deputy mayor of the seventh arrondissement of the city of Marseille.

[Thanks, PC World]

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Today in 1461 – During the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Towton – Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Edward IV of England.

Today in 1886 – Dr John Pemberton brews the first batch of Coca-Cola in a backyard in Atlanta, Georgia.

Today in 1973 – During the Vietnam War, the last United States soldiers leave South Vietnam.

Today in 2007 – The first Earth Hour event was held.

Celebrating Birthdays today are Carlo Buonaparte, John Tyler, Cy Young, Lou Hoover, Eugene McCarthy, Man o’ War, Pearl Bailey, Sam Walton, Billy Carter, Terence Hill, Eric Idle, Karen Ann Quinlan, Amy Sedaris, and Lucy Lawless.

Celebrating Death-iversaries today are Yaoya Oshichi, King Gustav III of Sweden, John Jacob Astor, Sir Robert Falcon Scott, Mantovani, and Carlo Urbani.

Yesterday, in an attempt to compete with Picnik and FotoFlexer, Adobe released it’s own online photo editing solution called PhotoShop Express.

With a modest set of features Adobe hopes to attract a new generation of users who will edit, store and share photos completely online.  The 2 GB of online storage is a little slim for a 10 mega-pixel camera, but it’s a start.

The University of Georgia hosted a roundtable discussion this week that was comprised of the 5 former Secretaries of State; Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell.  During the discussion they quickly reached a consensus that the detention/torture facility at the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay should be closed as soon as possible by our next president.

It was summed up quite simply by Colin Powell, "Our image abroad has dropped significantly."  He then went on to place part of the blame on his old boss.

But, you might have noticed that the count was 5 out of 6.  What’s up with that dissenting vote?  That would be Condoleezza Rice and she dissents because she’s a tool.

Former secretaries of State: Close Guantanamo
By AARON GOULD SHEININ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/27/08

ATHENS — Five former U.S. secretaries of State said Thursday the next president should move quickly to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

That single act would improve America’s dismal reputation in the world immediately, agreed Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell.

The five former secretaries, who served under Presidents Nixon, Ford, George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush, were at the University of Georgia for a roundtable discussion billed as "The 16th Report of the Secretaries of State," which offered "bipartisan advice to the next administration." Kissinger, Baker and Powell all served Republican presidents. Albright and Christopher served Clinton, a Democrat.

Powell, who was in office when the notorious prison opened in Cuba, was the first Thursday to call for it to be shuttered. The most recent holder of the office on the stage, Powell served the current president from 2001 to 2005.

"Our image abroad has dropped significantly," Powell said. He put some of that blame on his former boss.

"Perhaps this administration has spoken a little too harshly in a unilateral way," Powell said. He added, however, that he thinks the case can be made that the administration did act in conjunction with other governments. "There are some things the new president can do right away," Powell said. "I hope the new president, and it seems it will be the case, will close Guantanamo immediately. And saying to the world [that] we are now going to go back to our traditional, respected way of dealing with people who have potentially committed crimes."

All three major-party candidates still running for president —Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and Republican John McCain — have called for Guantanamo to be closed.

Kissinger, who served under presidents Nixon and Ford, said that not all of the criticism of the United States is because of American actions. "Some of it is also due to structural changes going on in other parts of the world," he said.

In Europe, for example, governments no longer are the driving forces of national sentiment, Kissinger said. "European governments cannot ask their people to make sacrifices that American presidents can."

Baker, secretary of State under the senior Bush, said he thinks America’s reputation is on the upswing internationally, but he was harsher than the others in criticizing U.S. policy on enemy combatants.

Guantanamo "gives us a very, very bad name, not just internationally," Baker said. "I have a great deal of difficulty understanding how we can hold someone, pick someone up, particularly someone who might be an American citizen, even if they were caught somewhere abroad, acting against American interests, and hold them without ever giving them an opportunity to appear before a magistrate."

In addition to calling for Guantanamo’s closure, all five agreed that the United States should talk to its enemies, including Iran.

"We have to understand what diplomacy is really about," Albright said. "It’s talking to your enemy."

The United States should not "see diplomacy as appeasement, which is what’s happening," Albright said. "How we dig ourselves out of Iraq, and a bad reputation, has to do with using all the tools."

On China, most of the discussion centered on that nation’s economic growth and its battles with pollution and air quality. Albright jokingly predicted that Chinese athletes will dominate the Beijing Olympics this summer, because "no one else will be able to breathe."

Kissinger, who made two key trips to China before Nixon’s historic visit in 1972, said it is a "fundamental" part of American foreign policy that our attitude toward China be bipartisan.

"Every administration has substantially followed the way the relationship evolved, with some tactical variations," Kissinger said. "The main line about the importance of a close relationship has been maintained and should be maintained and will be maintained."

But that relationship, Christopher said, could change dramatically as the insular giant deals with outside forces it cannot contain.

"We need to expect more difficulty in China in the future — not to sympathize with them, but to be realistic," Christopher said. "The Internet is going to make it much, much harder to maintain the kind of control they need."

[Thanks, Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

In Christianity we are supposed to live under a series of rules.  Some of these rules have been codified for us in the 10 Commandments, while others are more like suggestions that illustrate a way to live.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used the expression ‘Turn the Other Cheek’ to illustrate a way of life that allows for different points of view and the anger so commonly associated with that.

I guess it’s foolish of me to expect that kind of humanity from a cult based upon genocide committed by an alien.

Not only are they not turning the other cheek toward Anonymous, but they are actively persecuting individuals they believe belong to Anonymous.  Even if they’re mistaken about the identities like the case of poor little Rosalie Fair, a Starbuck’s employee who was identified as an Anonymous member when she went into her place of work during the demonstration in Clearwater last February 10th.

Wanting to check her upcoming schedule Rosalie walked through the protestors and entered her place of work.  I guess it was simply the proximity to a ‘real’ Anonymous protester that got her targeted, but her name started appearing in the scientologist’s bilious condemnations of the group and the individuals.

I guess the point here is that the Scientology drones don’t want to believe that what they have paid so dearly for (both in cash and in self-respect) is based on a get rich quick scheme by a science fiction writer.

Well, now the focus has passed from Rosalie to Boston’s own Gregg.  GlossLip reports:

Member Of Anonymous In Boston Being Fair-Gamed By Scientology

I keep reading more and more stories about members of Anonymous being tracked down, harassed, entrapped and incarcerated at the hands of the Church of Scientology.

In some ways, this should come as no surprise based on the vicious and litigious history of the CoS, but in this day and age you would think a legitimate religion could withstand criticism and continue to thrive and move forward. But therein lies the problem, Scientology is NOT a legitimate religion in its current form. I am even beginning to suspect it may not be a legitimate philosophy in any form.

Up until now, I have reserved calling the Church of Scientology a cult. Well, I guess the time has come for me to take off the rose-colored glasses, as clearly David Miscavige and those within the Church of Scientology who support him are in fact running a brutal and ruthless CULT for the sole purpose of destroying lives, obtaining power and making as much money as possible.

Let’s talk about Gregg. He is a young man who lives in Boston. Here’s his story as it was relayed to me:

“Today Gregg received a summons for criminal trespass and criminal harassment.

An 8 inch stack of complaints have been filed against him by the cult. But they finally got one to stick.

The Boston anons go out flyering every weekend. On March 9th the anons that Gregg was with decided to hand deliver the flyers to the Church on Beacon Street in Boston .

As the anons walked up the front stairs to the Boston Church, 4 Scientologists came rushing out and Gregg and the anons handed the Scientologists the flyers. The Scientologists asked the anons to leave and so they did leave, immediately. The anons have it all on video.

However the Church as managed to somehow get this one to stick and brought charges against Gregg.

Gregg will be making a scan of the summons for people to see.”

There are several caveats to this story which I am not including, but suffice it to say that Gregg was singled out for a reason, and like the predator the CoS is, they pounced on Gregg and are using him to set an example.

The reason they’ve been allowed to do this, they being Scientology, is because the mainstream media, or as Andrew Morton called them, “the elite media” (and out of touch I’d add) refuse to follow up on the story in any way. Without the pressure of the big media, Scientology will be able to destroy people like Gregg, and anyone else they single out of the herd.

I am angry, frustrated, mentally taxed, bewildered and disgusted that people who call themselves journalists are intentionally and flagrantly avoiding any kind of critical analysis of Scientology’s evil, vile practices and by way of this side-stepping, condoning the “fair gaming,” “disconnection policy,” “unfair tax protection and exemption” which the CoS is allowed to perpetrate unchecked.

I don’t know Gregg, but I don’t have to. I know the many, many mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends and associates who make up Anonymous, and any one of them could be Gregg. Gregg could be you some day, and Gregg, could definitely be me. It’s only a matter of time. This is how Scientology has managed to survive, no better yet, thrive. In the dark places where good people avoid, in secrecy, in veiled and implied threats.

This cannot go on. The destruction MUST stop.

Gregg needs legal counsel, assistance and likely, moral support in fighting these charges and I appeal to those with the means and know-how to contact me so we can help Gregg. In fact, I propose a fund or a network be set up to help folks like Gregg, for there will be more.

Anonymous has strength in its numbers, I challenge Anonymous to prove it is stronger than the CoS, more powerful than the media, more courageous than the authorities and more moral than the government.

It’s time to circle the wagon, protect the herd.

[Thanks, GlossLip]

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Today in 193 – Roman Emperor Pertinax is assassinated by Praetorian Guards, who then sell the throne in an auction to Didius Julianus.

Today in 1854 – to start the Crimean War, France and Britain declare war on Russia.

Today in 1979 – In Pennsylvania, a pump in the reactor cooling system fails in the Three Mile Island accident, resulting in the evaporation of some contaminated water causing a nuclear meltdown.

Today in 2003 – In a "friendly fire" incident, two A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft from the United States Idaho Air National Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron attacked British tanks participating in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, killing British soldier Matty Hull.

Celebrating Birthdays today are Frederick Pabst, Maxim Gorky, August Anheuser Busch, Jr., Marlin Perkins, Julia Stiles, Reba McEntire, and Nikki Sanderson.

Celebrating Death-iversaries today are Emperor Go-Toba, Modest Mussorgsky, Virginia Woolf, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jim Thorpe, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Emmett Kelly, Maria von Trapp, and Caspar Weinberger.

As the Democratic Primary race continues we’re starting to see more and more signs that the Clinton’s are on the ropes.  With superdelegates being urged to vote against the public opinion by some of the Clinton’s richest backers to this new story that decries Hillary’s assertion that she can win the big states, it seems like public opinion is slowly turning against the Clinton’s. (Although I don’t really understand how ‘winning the big states’ is a viable platform message.)

Recent polls in California, the biggest state of them all as delegate votes go, show Obama not only with a substantial lead over Hillary & Co., but with a very commanding 9% lead over the Republican tool, John McCain.

It’s interesting to see how the sheer number of votes that have been cast for Obama in the primaries that have already been held would ensure him a trip to the White House if the elections have been the November General Elections rather than the primaries.

Obama stronger than Clinton in California, top-prize

by Mark Silva

Sen. Hillary Clinton’s argument for the Democratic presidential nomination includes a pitch that she can win the big states that Democrats need in November to amass at least 270 Electoral votes.

Yet a new poll in the biggest of all states – California – shows Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois stronger than Clinton among likely voters there – with Obama favored by 9 percentage points over Republican Sen. John McCain.

If the election were held today, California’s likely voters would favor Obama over McCain by 49 to 40 percent, according to the survey. A Clinton-McCain match-up is a virtual tie: 46 percent Clinton, 43 percent McCain.

In the mid-March survey by the Public Policy Institute of California, voters there view the Democratic Party as “more capable than the Republican Party on four key national issues”

Californians give Democrats a 32-point advantage in handling health care (59 percent Democratic Party to 27 percent Republican Party), a 13-point advantage in handling the economy (50 percent to 37 percent, a 10-point edge in handling the situation in Iraq (48 percent to 38 percent), and a 5-point edge in handling immigration (42 to 37).

Six in 10 likely voters (61 percent) say they have a favorable opinion of Obama. Nearly half have a favorable view of McCain (49 percent) and fewer say so about Clinton (45 percent.)

Most Democrats have a positive impression of Obama (78 percent) and Clinton (74 percent), the institute reports, and most Republicans have a favorable opinion of McCain (75 percent).
Among independent voters, more hold a favorable view of Obama (57 percent) than of McCain (47 percent) or of Clinton (35 percent).

The survey of 2,002 Californians was conducted between March 11 and 18, with interviews conducted in English or Spanish. The possible margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Posted by Mark Silva on March 27, 2008 9:45 AM | Permalink

[Thanks, Baltimore Sun]

In yet another case the RIAA is dragging it’s feet in paying a bill.  Not only that, but it’s arguing about the validity of the bill as well.  No, I’m not talking about all of the monies that the thieving association has won in it’s incessant litigation against college students and single moms.

The fact that not a single artist has seen a single red cent of that cash is not the basis for this article.  I’m talking about the infamous Tanya Andersen case.

After the RIAA recognized their error Tanya sought and was awarded restitution for her legal fees.  Her lawyers, like the artists mentioned above, haven’t see a single cent.  In fact, the RIAA is whining about the size of the bill presented to them by Lory Lybeck, Tanya’s attorney.  It’s not like the RIAA is a starving student who really can’t afford the settlement, right?

RIAA doesn’t want to pay for a fair defense, says victor

By Eric Bangeman | Published: March 26, 2008 – 09:10PM CT

Even as exonerated file-sharing defendant Tanya Andersen pursues her malicious prosecution case against the music industry, there is some unattended business left over from the RIAA’s original copyright infringement lawsuit. After the RIAA threw in the towel on its lawsuit against Andersen, she sought and won an award of attorneys’ fees. The two parties are now trying to settle the bill, and the RIAA is only willing to pay one tenth of what Andersen’s attorney is seeking.

Andersen’s attorney, Lory Lybeck, is looking for just under $300,000 in fees from his defense of Andersen. The $298,995 figure submitted to the court includes a "multiplier" of two times the "reasonable" hourly rates due to the "high risk, successful" defense (Oregon law allows for multipliers).

In a brief filed earlier this month, the RIAA called the $298,995 figure "excessive" and said that it should be drastically slashed to something along the lines of $30,000. In the RIAA’s opinion, Atlantic v. Andersen was a "straightforward copyright infringement claim," and the labels’ independent expert believes that the fees sought are excessive "in numerous respects."

Lybeck takes issue with the RIAA’s characterization of the case in his reply to the RIAA’s brief. "Contrary to plaintiffs’ argument, this copyright case was anything but typical or ’straightforward,’" argues Lybeck. "As the court has previously found, the proceedings were complicated, prolonged, and made more expensive by the plaintiffs’ unreasonable tactics throughout the case."

Indeed, the mere existence of a malicious prosecution case accusing the RIAA of all sorts of questionable tactics seems to belie the labels’ claim that Atlantic v. Andersen was "straightforward." The RIAA stands accused of racketeering, fraud, deceptive business practices, and a host of underhanded tactics such as seeking to directly contact Andersen’s then-eight-year-old daughter under false pretenses.

Recently retired Judge Donald Ashmanskas, who presided over Atlantic v. Andersen, took issue with the labels’ tactics, writing "[w]hatever plaintiffs’ reasons for the manner in which they have prosecuted this case, it does not appear to be justified as a reasonable exploration of the boundaries of copyright law." The RIAA did not act "in an objectively reasonable matter," Judge Ashmanskas wrote in one ruling.

Lybeck is seeking payment for over 540 hours of work. That’s way too much, argue the labels, because those hours include time spent on counterclaims that were voluntarily dismissed as well as on "talking to the media" and working on the attorneys’ fees question. Lybeck replies that all of those things are covered and notes that the argument the RIAA makes is "exactly the opposite" of those made throughout the case.

That’s not the only double standard from the RIAA, Lybeck says. He notes that the RIAA frequently had multiple attorneys present in court, including six at a single hearing. Despite that, the RIAA says that Andersen’s having just two lawyers present at a hearing or deposition is "duplicative" and that only one should be reimbursed. "Defendants like Ms. Andersen… should be allowed to defend themselves as aggressively as the RIAA prosecutes claims against them," Lybeck counters.

The labels are also upset about Lybeck’s travel expenses. Lybeck told Ars earlier this month that the RIAA was digging its heels in on that issue. "Andersen tried to get a local lawyer," he told us. "But no one would take the case unless she agreed to default on the judgment and file bankruptcy."

Ultimately, the dustup over attorneys’ fees isn’t that surprising. Losers seldom like writing checks for the winners, and the RIAA is no exception. After exonerated defendant Debbie Foster won an attorneys’ fees award in the case the RIAA brought against her, the RIAA appealed and dragged its feet before finally cutting a $68,685 check.

As was the case with Capitol v. Foster, there’s likely going to be more back and forth before a final fee is agreed upon—or ordered by the judge. One thing is certain: the RIAA sued, lost, and the judge has said it is going to have to pay up.

[Thanks, ars technica]

In actions more reminiscent of the fear and intimidation used by our current administration, a gaggle of extremely wealthy Clinton donors posted a letter to Nancy criticizing her view of the way that the superdelegates should commit their votes during the Democratic National Convention.

Pelosi has stated that she believes superdelegates should vote following the ‘will of the voters’.  This is contrary to the policy that the Clinton’s have concerning those votes, since they have bought and paid for them, they want them.  This is regardless of the will of the people, don’t you think.  The Clinton’s are showing their desperation and fear as they slip farther and farther behind the popular candidate.

This whole mess reminds me of the last time a president lost the popular vote but was elected anyway.  Of course the Supreme Court had to intervene just a little bit in that mess.

Hillary Clinton’s wealthy pals warn Nancy Pelosi on superdelegates

BY MICHAEL McAULIFF
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Thursday, March 27th 2008, 4:00 AM

WASHINGTON – Hillary Clinton’s megabucks donors picked a fight with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday, pitting the most famous woman in politics against the most powerful.

Angered that Pelosi wants Democratic insiders to follow the will of voters when they cast their own "superdelegate" votes in the nomination race, 20 of Clinton’s top fund-raisers issued a veiled threat to Pelosi and warned her to change her tune.

"We have been strong supporters of the [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]," they wrote, referring to the House fund-raising arm overseen by Pelosi. "We therefore urge you to clarify your position on superdelegates and reflect in your comments a more open view."

Sources said Pelosi was infuriated by the implied threat the donors would quit giving cash to the committee.

Clinton’s supporters pounced on Pelosi for telling ABC this month that the party would be damaged if "superdelegates overturn what happened in the elections."

Clinton trails Barack Obama in the "pledged" delegates that have been selected by voters – and almost certainly cannot catch up. But she hopes superdelegates catapult her ahead of Obama.

The House speaker was not backing down, however, and is still insisting that superdelegates respect "the decisions of millions of Americans who have voted," her aide Brendan Daly said.

The brazen move by Camp Clinton stunned veteran Democrats, particularly because at least eight of the letter’s authors have not donated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee since Pelosi became speaker.

"[Clinton] looks desperate," said one. "There is no way they should have threatened to do this. It is terrible. … I am sure Obama is raising money off of it already."

Obama’s campaign said the letter was inappropriate.

"We hope the Clinton campaign will reject the insinuation contained in it," said Obama’s spokesman Bill Burton.

But the Clinton team stood by its moneymen.

"Sen. Clinton has been vocal in stating that superdelegates should exercise independent judgment about who’d be the best for the party and the country," said spokesman Phil Singer.

"Few have done more to build the Democratic Party than Bill and Hillary Clinton," Singer added. "The last thing they need is a lecture from the Obama campaign."

Clinton’s team had hoped uncommitted superdelegates would stay that way through the April22 Pennsylvania primary, in which the New York senator is expected to do well.

But one senior Democratic operative said, "If they were hoping to put a freeze on the superdelegates, they just blew the cork."With Kenneth R. Bazinet

mmcauliff@nydailynews.com

[Thanks, NY Daily News]

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Today in 1513 – Explorer Juan Ponce de León sights North America (specifically Florida) for the first time, mistaking it for another island.

Today in 1958 – Nikita Khrushchev becomes Premier of the Soviet Union.

Today in 1998 – The Food and Drug Administration approves Viagra for use as a treatment for male impotence, the first pill to be approved for this condition in the United States.

Celebrating Birthdays today are Antonio Squarcialupi, King Louis XVII of France, Gloria Swanson, Cale Yarborough, Michael York, Quentin Tarantino, and Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson.

Celebrating Death-iversaries today are Johann Stamitz, Sir James Dewar, Yuri Gagarin, M. C. Escher, Ferry Porsche, and Dudley Moore,.

Hey Dickey!  Yesterday I suggested that you use some of your final days in the White House to offer condolences to the families of the soldiers that perished in Iraq.  Again, since all 4,000 of those lives rest on your shoulders, it’s the least that you can do, right?

But before I present today’s list of 10 I’d like to clarify my position on how I think you should be accomplishing this little chore.

1. I think you should travel to the families home to deliver your condolences.
2. I think you should present a condolences card that you picked out and signed to the family.
3. I think you should pay your own transportation costs.  Both for you and your posse.  You should give back some of your ill gotten gains.
4. I think you should continue this little soul cleansing chore until you’ve met with the families of each and every soldier that has perished and will perish your little war.

And now, on to the list:

• Staff Sgt. Patrick Lee Griffin Jr., 31, of Elgin, S.C.
• Lance Cpl. Nicholas Brian Kleiboeker, 19, of Irvington, Ill.
• Spc. David T. Nutt, 22, of Blackshear, Ga.
• Master Sgt. William L. Payne, 46, of Michigan,
• Cpl. Douglas Jose Marencoreyes, 28, of Chino, Calif.
• Lt. Col. Dominic R. Baragona, 42, of Ohio
• Sgt. Kirk Allen Straseskie, 23, of Beaver Dam, Wis.
• Staff Sgt. Aaron Dean White, 27, of Shawnee, Okla.
• 1st Lt. Timothy Louis Ryan, 30, of Aurora, Ill.
• Lance Cpl. Jason William Moore, 21, of San Marcos, Calif.

Come on Dickey, do the right thing….

I was very interested in this article I found on what is apparently a Scientologist’s blog.  He describes the malfeasance of Church ‘leader’ David Miscavige and everything he has done to further the plans of Anonymous.

Scientology’s Biggest Enemy

Anonymous’ biggest ally in its effort to bring down the corporation of Scientology is … David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology.

By this I mean that Miscavige has done and is doing more to damage the Church of Scientology than anyone else in its short history.

• He has destroyed the church hierarchy,
• He has destroyed the technology,
• He has abandoned any past workable activities within the church,
• He has gotten rid of or destroyed any effective leadership within the church,
• He has created enemies everywhere in the world,
• He has created an operating climate within the church that promotes criminal activity as the preferred method of operation,
• He has converted the church from a service organization to a parasitic donation-with-no-exchange organization,
• He has destroyed any credibility the church might have had by spouting his easily disproven lies,
• He has destroyed any legitimacy for his "religion" by always rejecting religious actions and always embracing aggressive business practices,
• He has and is alienating all the members of his church by treating them as enemies or, at best, a large money bag that can simply be squeezed for more money constantly,
• He has committed and continues to commit crimes that put the whole church at risk,
• And so much more.

The Church of Scientology is weak and getting weaker. The membership is shrinking so fast it could be said to be imploding. Money is flowing out of the church much faster than Miscavige can force the parishioners to cough up more.

The church can no longer spend money on its attacks in the quantity it used to.
However, do not be fooled into thinking that Miscavige is not dangerous. He is unstable and unpredictable. He is capable of great evil and he does not feel constrained by laws, ethics or morality. While his actions become less and less effective, they can also be randomly destructive.

One side note: I am truly sorry that those near Miscavige are getting hurt, and it is an unfortunate side-effect that the work to get rid of the criminals of Scientology does cause Miscavige to be even more cruel to those near him. I can only hope that those people can escape. However, the fact that people near Miscavige are getting hurt is no reason to mitigate the attacks.

When Anonymous says they are attacking the corporate evil that is the Church of Scientology, Miscavige "knows" that they are attacking him, personally. He is taking it very, very seriously.

So, it is important that Anonymous not take it seriously. The best weapon to use against Miscavige is Miscavige. Meaning: Laugh at him. He can’t stand being laughed at. Point out what an absolute fool he is. Let everyone know what he has done and is doing. He is insane. He is a criminal. He is unstable. Laugh at him because he is ridiculous. He may just take the final actions to destroy the corporation of Scientology himself.

I’ve seen various suggestions about what the theme of Anonymous’ May protest should be. May I suggest "Laugh!"?

[Thanks, Ask the Scientologist]