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Molecular Evolution Is Echoed In Bat Ears
ScienceDaily (Sep. 4, 2008) — Echolocation may have evolved more than once in bats, according to new research from the University of Bristol.
Professor Gareth Jones of the University of Bristol and Dr Stephen Rossiter of Queen Mary University of London, in collaboration with colleagues from East China Normal University in Shanghai, investigated the evolution of a gene called Prestin in echolocating bats – mammals with the most sensitive hearing at high frequencies.
Prestin codes for a protein of the outer hair cells – the tiny structures in the inner ear that help to give mammals their sensitive hearing. Important mutations occurred during the emergence of mammals that led to the evolution of Prestin from similar proteins. Since mammals evolved, it has been argued that the Prestin gene has changed little.
More of the science at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080904102756.htm
‘This sonar [of the bat] is a marvellous discriminator: in a bat–swarm, in cave or night air, a bat can know its own sound among thousands of mobile neighbours, detecting its own signals even if they are 2000 times fainter than background noises. It can “see” prey, such as a fruitfly, up to 100 feet away by echo location and catch four or five in a second. And this whole auditory system weighs a fraction of a gram! Ounce for ounce, watt for watt, it is millions of times more efficient and more sensitive than the radars and sonars contrived by man.
‘The bat “sees” with sound better than light. The idea that such an echolocation system (which would have to work straightaway or else accidents would eliminate the creatures) “evolved” gradually by random mutation through unspecified “ancestors” is inadequate. Indeed, that numerous changes must have had to occur simultaneously if the creatures were to operate effectively must prejudice the rational man towards creation theory.’—Michael Pitman, Adam and Evolution, Rider & Company, London, 1984, pp. 219–220.
Alabama Judge
Some of you may be wondering what Judge Roy Moore has been doing since he was removed from the bench for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from his courtroom wall. Please read the poem he wrote.
The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama . Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama ! The judge’s poem sums it up quite well.
America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims’ pride;
I’m glad they’ll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.
Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain
From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God’s love
and a need to always pray
We’ve kept God in our
temples, how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.
We’ve voted in a government
that’s rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,
Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
B u t brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.
You think that God’s not
angry, that our land’s a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?
How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?
If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:
Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He’ll heal our sickly land
and those who live within
But, America the Beautiful,
If you don’t – then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.
~~Judge Roy Moore~~
This says it all. May we all forward this message and offer our prayers for Judge Moore to be blessed and for America to wake up and realize what we need to do to keep OUR America the Beautiful.
Pass this on and let’s lift Judge Moore up in Prayer. He has stood firm and needs our support.
IN GOD WE TRUST!
Now this is a man and woman I will vote for:
http://www.johnmccain.com/about/governorpalin.htm
McCain Palin 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I watched the RNC off and on all week. One night when McCain and Palin were on stage, McCain was standing a little behind and to her right. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her butt. Those beady little eyes kept darting down to check the “stuff”.
Yeah, Palin has the “stuff” to be vice pres.
Remember when conservatives on these pages predicted rioting in the streets in Denver? How many protesters were arrested at the DNC?
I noticed that it looked like a war zone outside the RNC. How many protesters were arrested outside the RNC?
Republicans just hate it when people speak their mind.
That’s exactly why a woman’s right to choose should NEVER EVER be left up to a judge.
#
XXX
Posted September 6, 2008 at 9:13 am | Permalink
Remember when conservatives on these pages predicted rioting in the streets in Denver? How many protesters were arrested at the DNC?
I noticed that it looked like a war zone outside the RNC. How many protesters were arrested outside the RNC?
Republicans just hate it when people speak their mind.
—————————-
Let’s see, who has a history of huge protests and riots during their reign of power?
Could it be the Democratic Convention in Chicago?
How about all those protests in the 1960s? Marches on Washington by the hundreds of thousands.
hypocrites
#
XXX
Posted September 6, 2008 at 9:13 am | Permalink
Remember when conservatives on these pages predicted rioting in the streets in Denver? How many protesters were arrested at the DNC?
I noticed that it looked like a war zone outside the RNC. How many protesters were arrested outside the RNC?
Republicans just hate it when people speak their mind.
________________________________________________
LOL!
You’ve drank so much of the liberal Kool-Aid you’re starting to pee rainbows. There were as many incidents at the dem’s convention as there were at the republicans’s.
The difference? Not much really. (Accept in the coverage) The demonstrators at the republican convention were left-wing radicals. The demonstrators at the democratic convention were left-wing radicals.
Afghans fed up with government, US
Such disillusionment is widespread in Afghanistan, feeding an insurgency that has killed 195 foreign soldiers so far this year, 105 of them Americans.
“This is our land. We are afraid to send our sons out the door for fear the American troops will pick them up,” says Mohammed, who was chosen by the others to represent them. “Daily we have headaches from the troops. We are fed up. Our government is weak and corrupt and the American soldiers have learned nothing.”
Ordinary Afghans are deeply bitter about American and NATO forces because of errant bombs, heavy-handed searches and seizures and a sense that the foreigners do not understand their culture. They are equally fed up with what they see as seven years of corruption and incompetence in a U.S.-backed government that has largely failed to deliver on development.
Even with more foreign troops, Afghanistan is now less secure.
Khiel Shah says his home was raided two months earlier, and troops killed his nephew, a high school student.
An old man sits by moaning, “No, no, they weren’t Taliban. They were going to the bathroom. They weren’t even carrying guns.”
Villagers want to know why people who give false information are not arrested, and they say American soldiers still can’t sift the good intelligence from the bad.
“But now this is seven years. I am hopeless. They haven’t learned until now,” says Akhtar Mohammed.
http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/783642.html
Barack Obama, John McCain say they hate meddlers … but both benefit from them
Barack Obama and John McCain say they disdain independent campaigns being waged for and against them. But now that the conventions are over and the general election is in full swing, both presidential candidates are benefiting from millions being spent by groups beyond their control.
As of Sept. 4, outside groups have spent $11.7 million boosting Obama’s candidacy since June, when he locked up the Democratic nomination. A relative pittance, $916,000, has been spent on McCain’s behalf, Federal Election Commission filings show.
But McCain and his new running mate Sarah Palin are the beneficiaries of money being spent against Obama. Groups have spent $10.3 million to undermine Obama, compared to $696,195 to criticize McCain.
By far the biggest player so far is the Service Employees International Union, which represents tens of thousands of workers in and out of government. SEIU and its 1199 local in New York City have spent $8.1 million on Obama’s behalf, plus another $108,000 to oppose McCain.
Others trying to undermine McCain include the Sierra Club (which has spent $177,000 on that effort) and Planned Parenthood (it’s spending so far — $102,000).
The Republican National Committee is leading the charge against Obama, spending $5.75 million on polling and other efforts to oppose his election.
Using money from Texas billionaire Harold Simmons, the conservative American Issues Project has spent $2.88 million airing ads blasting Obama over his ties to former anti-Vietnam war terrorist William Ayers.
The National Rifle Assn. has spent $163,000 to oppose Obama (who had some choice words to say about the group Friday in Pennsylvania) and his running mate, Joe Biden.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/barack-obama-jo.html
The international body overseeing trade in nuclear materials approved a controversial, U.S.-sponsored nuclear trade agreement with India.
The decision by the Nuclear Suppliers Group permits the sale of civilian nuclear technology and fuel to India, despite the Asian nation’s long-standing refusal to sign the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The NSG is a club of 45 nations that export nuclear technology and services. The club is dedicated to ensuring that the fruits of civilian nuclear technology are preserved for nations that have signed and adhere to the nonproliferation treaty.
A number of Indian political parties have pledged to block the passage of the deal, as it’s seen as impinging on New Delhi’s independence in pursuing its national security policies. This opposition has only been fed by the release this week of a secret State Department document that said the U.S would cut off nuclear supplies to New Delhi if the Indian government conducted further nuclear weapons tests.
U.S. lawmakers have also indicated that Congress might not have enough time to fully vet and pass the India nuclear agreement before the current legislative session ends this month. This holds out the possibility that the nuclear accord could be passed on to a new U.S. administration and Congress next year.
Separately, Ms. Rice acknowledged that a similar nuclear cooperation pact Washington was pursing with Russia wouldn’t pass during President Bush’s second term. The Secretary of State said the White House would formally announce its pulling of support for the deal, given Moscow’s military occupation of Georgia. “The time isn’t right for the Russia deal,” Rice said.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122070708407706859.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
More of the wrecking crew’s work. Everyone take note McCain plans to continue the bushco economic policies.
———
Washington’s Fannie And Freddie Plan: Why Now?
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance giants that fund half the U.S. housing market, are about to become subsidiaries of the U.S. government.
The Treasury Department late Friday was putting together final details of a plan to take the two into conservatorship, effectively a government takeover, at a potential cost of tens of billions to taxpayers.
Any announcement would come just weeks before the two companies have to refinance $225 billion of mostly short-term notes. Fannie and Freddie sell debt to investors regularly, but concern about their financial position threatens to scare away those needed buyers, many of them foreign banks. A solid federal guarantee would allay investor fears and allow Fannie and Freddie to continue to raise funds as needed.
The Treasury, which has been hemming and hawing about a plan for weeks, may have been forced to act now by grumblings overseas. Bank of China, as one example, has been cutting its holdings of debt in the so-called government sponsored entities.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/05/fannie-freddie-treasury-biz-wall-cx_lm_md_0905mortgageplan.html
Comment from a financial blog thought it was cute.
Dr. Zeus Teaches Kids About China and U.S. Finances
I’m Uncle Sam
I’m Uncle Sam
Sam I am
Will you bail me from this jam?
I will not bail you from this jam
I do not trust you Sam I am
But I have home loans
and loans on cars
and I have nukes that shoot near and far
So will you bail me from this jam?
It’s all AAA
from Sam I Am
I will not buy your lousy loans
on cars and nukes and empty homes
This is you own mess, your own jam
You’re on you own
Sam I Am
Posted by: Winston Munn
For you Gunnies.
A love story with a 1911 at its core.
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/search/label/M1911’s
Go to Xavier’s and read the whole thing.
snip
James L. Morris returned from war, and he kept the sidearm that served him so well throughout that part of his life. Velma’s photos remained underneath the clear plastic grips of the pistol. He began a new life with his bride and the war relic was placed away as an old memento of a time he hoped would never reoccur. They had a long and fruitful life, and a son who grew up to join the US Navy. In 2005, Velma died. In September 2007, James joined her again. The pistol he carried was bequeathed to his son Jim.
snip
Sorry, that link’s messed up.
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/
An oldie-but-goodie –
“Thank you, Lord, for the many miracles we are too blond to see. Tuesday at 4 p.m. there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk come early. The ladies bible study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the fellowship hall after the B.S. is done. For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs. Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. The baby shower will be at 2 p.m. Saturday. All ladies invited. No clothing needed. There will be a procession next Sunday afternoon in the grounds of the monastery, but if it rains in the afternoon, the procession will take place in the morning.
“Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. Don’t forget, Ash Wednesday is Monday, March 5.
“The sermon this morning: ‘Jesus Walks on the Water.’ The sermon tonight: ‘Searching for Jesus.’ Next week’s sermon: ‘What is Hell?’ Come early and listen to our choir practice. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
“The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict, and the Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet instead. Please use the back door. Weight Watchers will meet tomorrow. Please use large double door at the side entrance. The Fasting & Prayer Conference this weekend includes meals. The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: ‘I Upped My Pledge – Up Yours.’ Don’t let worry kill you off – let the Church help…”
#
HLP
Posted September 6, 2008 at 9:31 am | Permalink
The difference? Not much really. (Accept in the coverage) The demonstrators at the republican convention were left-wing radicals. The demonstrators at the democratic convention were left-wing radicals.
______________________________________________
Or not.
DENVER — A graying folk singer belted out protest songs in a downtown park as handfuls of black-clad demonstrators milled about. Activists stepped to a microphone to denounce oppression of Native Americans and the poor.
The only sign that the midday gathering Monday was anything other than a run-of-the-mill congregation of local leftists was the dozens of police in riot gear, staying under spruce trees to avoid the brutal sun.
“I don’t see it really getting any rowdier,” Shannon Frances, a veteran Denver activist, said as she waited for people to assemble for the day’s march.
After months of warnings about tens of thousands of dissidents descending on Denver, protests here have begun with a whimper, not a bang.
A warehouse that police converted into a razor-wire-rimmed holding facility for arrestees during the convention sits largely empty; 12 people had been arrested for demonstration-related activity early Monday evening. Dozens more were detained after a clash just before Michelle Obama’s speech later that night.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-protests26-2008aug26,0,1315447.story
_______________________________________________
About 300 people were arrested during a series of skirmishes yesterday, many of which broke out around a large anti-Iraq war march.
They will be formally charged in Ramsey County District Court today, according to a police spokesman said.
Several thousand people – veterans, grandmothers, young families and even disgruntled Republicans – marched through the streets of St Paul, Minnesota, calling for the end of the war.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/johnmccain/2668421/Republican-convention-Police-prepare-for-more-protests-after-arresting-280-people.html
______________________________________________
God, don’t you just hate those veterans, grandmothers, young families and even disgruntled Republicans? How dare they try to be heard at the RNC.
What cal. of hand cannon are ya shootin’ XXX?
The difference? Not much really. (Accept in the coverage) The demonstrators at the republican convention were left-wing radicals. The demonstrators at the democratic convention were left-wing radicals. by HLP
And that is the gods honest TRUTH!!!
The demonstrators were all left-wing, radical domestic terrorists.
Well put HLP
Actually, the Republican Convention had a lot of far left anarchists causing problems.
Anarchists are just people who love to smash things for the purpose of just smashing things.
Cartoonist makes excellent point succinctly.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_main.html?name=Toles&date=09052008
Just checked 154 arrested at the dnc. I know I heard over 800 at the rnc.
Rush wields monumental influence, ha ha.
AFTER I stitched my sides back together from Monkeyhawks post….and caught my breath.
I noticed…
“And that is the gods honest TRUTH!!!
The demonstrators were all left-wing, radical domestic terrorists.
Well put HLP”
Is THAT right? ALL the demonstrators were left wing?
I bet if I did the looking, I’d find out otherwise.
There were NO Ron Paul supporters outside the RNC? And I hear about “anarchists”. Anarchists are decidedly NOT left wing.
But these posts come from the usual group of narrow minded, intellectually uncurious, howlers.
This years RNC was the most watched convention EVER.
“The Republican convention was the most-watched convention on television ever, beating a standard set by the Democrats a week earlier.”
“This week’s ratings, with an average of 34.5 million viewers watching the GOP convention over three days, proved people are becoming more interested in what the Republicans have to say. The Democrats had an average audience of 30.2 million over four days, Nielsen said.”
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D930S7U81&show_article=1
“ANTI” struts –
“This years RNC was the most watched convention EVER.”
Yeah.
People always tend to slow down and gawk at the scene of an accident.
“ANTI” struts –
—–
It was more of a “stroll”
We should be paying very close attention! This is our ruined economy, the same economy McCain sees as being solid, in good shape, and plans to continue the same policies that got us here!
==============
Paulson readies the ‘bazooka’
It took two months, but the bond market called Henry Paulson’s bluff: The Treasury Secretary was widely expected this weekend to announce a plan to take Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under government control.
News reports say the mortgage giants will be placed under a “conservatorship” of their new regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency. That would enable the government to gradually invest funds in the troubled mortgage giants.
The reports come just two months after Paulson attempted to calm financial markets by pledging government support for Fannie (FNM, Fortune 500) and Freddie (FRE, Fortune 500), which were under siege by investors because of fears about their weak balance sheets.
Paulson asked Congress for the right to use taxpayer funds to intervene – but hoped the pledge alone would be sufficient. “If you have a bazooka in your pocket and people know it, you probably won’t have to use it,” he said at a July 15 Senate Banking Committee hearing.
But now Paulson is readying the bazooka, because the markets didn’t respond as hoped. Shares in the companies bounced back from multiyear lows in recent weeks, but bond markets have not regained confidence in Fannie and Freddie.
The amount the companies pay to borrow in the bond market has risen sharply during the past year.
Fannie and Freddie rely heavily on their ability to borrow money at good rates, which they use to buy mortgages from lenders – they now own or guarantee some $5 trillion in home loans.
Investors began shunning debt issued by Fannie and Freddie in favor of U.S. Treasury bonds. On Friday, yields on the 10-year Treasury note hit a five-month low at 3.55%, down a full percentage point from a year ago. This reflects greater demand for the perceived safety in Treasuries.
Foreign central banks, particularly China’s, have in recent years been among the biggest buyers of “agency” bonds, those issued by Fannie, Freddie and other government entities. But they’ve been backing away. Brad Setser, an economist at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted last month that Federal Reserve data showed foreign central banks were, for the first time in four years, net sellers of agency bonds.
The White House, Treasury Dept. and regulators would not comment on the reports.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/06/news/economy/fannie_freddie_paulson.fortune/
I bet interest was up because people wanted to know how the other side would respond to the dems. assault.
American posted September 6, 2008 at 7:55 am
“Now this is a man and woman I will vote for:”
———-
‘Johnny-come-lying
McCain’s 10 energy lies top Palin’s four‘
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/9/5/82721/82943
‘Lies, damned lies, and energy politics
In her big speech, Palin repeats the GOP’s big energy lie — plus three other energy lies‘
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/9/4/122931/0114
#
ANTI
Posted September 6, 2008 at 10:29 am | Permalink
What cal. of hand cannon are ya shootin’ XXX?
_______________________________________________
ANTI,
I shoot an S&W model 500 with an 8 inch barrel. It’s a .50 cal mag. I also shoot a Tarus Raging Bull .454 Casul. I have a taste for big bore. There’s nothing like firing a weapon powerful enough to break your arms if you’re not careful or man enough to handle it.
I have no political affiliation on the firing range. Just ask my friend Hank. I’m always open to new friends on the firing range if you’re interested.
I shoot an S&W model 500
——-
Damn! You hunt bear??
—-
I’m always open to new friends on the firing range if you’re interested.
—-
Well, I may look you up sometime, although I shoot a measly .40 & .45 handguns, .308, .223, .17 rifle, and 12 ga. on the scatter gun…..But I would love to see the ole’ 500 in action!
Well, I am out for now. I’ll check back with you XXX sometime, keep lobbing the lead!
http://www.bloggernews.net/117648
Mighty clean and well packed to be thrown into the garbage or “on their way to the landfill.”
Let’s get those Hillary voters! Whoo-hoo!
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/cartoons/09_02_08_inktank?pg=8
A good question.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/cartoons/09_02_08_inktank?pg=18
Shouldn’t you be setting out troll lines for chiquitas about now?
ANTI
Posted September 6, 2008 at 1:02 pm | Permalink
I shoot an S&W model 500
——-
Damn! You hunt bear??
______________________________________________
Check the website. The S&W model 500 has brought down elephant and rhino. They say it’ll stop anything on the planet. After having shot the thing, I don’t doubt it.
Interesting.
http://www.electoral-vote.com/
“I shoot an S&W model 500″
hehehe
It takes a lot of balls to shoot the damn thing the first time. For me, it took a lot more to shoot it the second time!
I’ve been working on my arms and shoulders since May, I’m curious to see if I can shoot it again!
The Afton range isn’t open today or tomorrow, second and forth weekends. We might have to meet at the Bullet Stop some night. I’m not sure but your .500 might be to big for there.
Linda,
From your electoral vote site, I found this the most interesting:
Dem pickups (vs. 2004): CO IA NV NM ND OH
GOP pickups (vs. 2004): (None)
Alaskans to receive state payouts topping $3,200
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – It’s the season for Alaskans to be rewarded just for living here and this year’s take is extra sweet: $3,269, a record share of the state’s oil wealth combined with a special cash payout to help with stratospheric energy prices.
Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell announced today that every eligible man, woman and child will receive $2,069, thanks to this year’s annual payment from the state’s oil royalty program. On top of that, the checks will include an additional $1,200 from the state treasury to help offset soaring fuel prices.
The one-time energy boost was proposed by Gov. Sarah Palin in May and approved by state lawmakers last month.
“The royalty dollars that flow through the state are the people’s wealth,” said Parnell. “The $1,200 resource rebate goes to that philosophy.”
In addition to the $1,200 payments, the Legislature also approved Palin’s proposal to suspend the state’s 8-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax for a year.
Past dividend payments ranged from $331 to $1,963 in 2000. Last year’s payout was $1,654. People must live in Alaska one calendar year to qualify. For residents in Alaska’s rural communities, the money can’t arrive at a more crucial time.
“When it gets real cold in winter, it can take five gallons of fuel for heating overnight,” said Wanda Sue Page, who lives in the Arctic village of Noatak, where residents pay more than $9 a gallon for gasoline and nearly $10 a gallon for heating oil.
“I’m going to fill my 52-gallon tank up to the top and put the heat up real high,” Page said. “And when it gets empty, I’m going to fill it again.”
In all, 610,768 people are receiving the dividend this year. The state’s estimated population is just under 680,000.
The fund was established in 1976 after North Slope oil was discovered. Including the upcoming dividends, the fund has yielded $16.5 billion to Alaskans since the first payout of $1,000 in 1982, according to the state Revenue Department.
That’s not counting this year’s extra energy relief money, which alone totals $730 million.
Sam Shields, who lives in the Kuskokwim River town of Bethel, said the state money is desperately needed in his community, where he recently saw a whole chicken selling for $23 at the local grocery store.
“Everyone around here was happy to hear how much we’re getting,” he said. “Mainly everybody here is saying they’re going to use it on fuel.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/west/view.bg?articleid=1117272
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/aaos-cwd050708.php
According to the latest studies, down syndrome babies and children have a hard time sleeping.
How did Sarah Palin’s beautiful little baby Trig sleep so soundly through every rabble rousing speech she gave at the convention and before?
I am perplexed.
HBO will again be airing the HBO Film, Iron Jawed Angels in October.
IRON JAWED ANGELS recounts for a contemporary audience a key chapter in U.S. history: in this case, the struggle of suffragists who fought for the passage of the 19th Amendment. Focusing on the two defiant women, Alice Paul (Hilary Swank) and Lucy Burns (Frances O’Connor), the film shows how these activists broke from the mainstream women’s-rights movement and created a more radical wing, daring to push the boundaries of political protest to secure women’s voting rights in 1920. Breathing life into the relationships between Paul, Burns and others, the movie makes the women feel like complete characters instead of one-dimensional figures from a distant past.
Although the protagonists have different personalities and backgrounds – Alice is a Quaker and Lucy an Irish Brooklynite – they are united in their fierce devotion to women’s suffrage. In a country dominated by chauvinism, this is no easy fight, as the women and their volunteers clash with older, conservative activists, particularly Carrie Chapman Catt (Angelica Huston). They also battle public opinion in a tumultuous time of war, not to mention the most powerful men in the country, including President Woodrow Wilson (Bob Gunton). Along the way, sacrifices are made: Alice gives up a chance for love, and colleague Inez Mulholland (Julia Ormond) gives up her life.
The women are thrown in jail, with an ensuing hunger strike making headline news. The women’s resistance to being force-fed earns them the nickname “The Iron Jawed Angels.” However, it is truly their wills that are made of iron, and their courage inspires a nation and changes it forever.
Schedule:
http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DETAIL=DETAIL&FOCUS_ID=614929
janabanana,
I’ve heard the same question asked repeatedly, and my first kneejerk answer would have been that babies can sleep through anything.
And then I remembered that NEWBORNS can often sleep through anything. By four months, that isn’t so true.
Your guess is as good as mine.
Pseudo-arrests and the Republican National Convention
Security at the Republican National Convention was organized by the Secret Service at a cost of tens of millions of tax-payer dollars. Day-to-day security operations fell largely to local police but numerous federal agencies including the ATF, Secret Service, Transportation Safety Authority, Coast Guard, and Immigration and Customs were active in assisting and maintaining “control” of security. In other words, federal agencies were organizing, advising, and even directing local police and security.
“Pre-emptive” strikes by automatic weapons wielding security forces against citizens in their homes ensued prior to the convention in St. Paul. We can assume that such pre-emptive strikes, which detain and arrest ordinary citizens, were not performed without the expressed consent of the federal agencies organizing the security. In a more sinister twist, it appears pre-emptive strikes were also targeted against journalists that chose to leave the cozy confines of the convention. Secret service agents removed press credentials while local police make questionable arrests on independent journalists.
A question for America: Where does the information for these pre-emptive strikes come from? Are the local St. Paul police running their own intelligence service? Doubtful. A better guess would be the federal agencies themselves. The Secret Service admitted it used electronic surveillance, cyber-technology, and “other resources” to assist in security at the RNC. What it didn’t mention is whether fusion center information (local spies for Homeland Security) were also used in their decisions on which doors to kick in.
What we do know is the vast majority of those handcuffed and terrorized were later released. We also know that none of those arrested were affiliated with Al-Qaida, Cambodian Freedom Fighters, White supremacist organizations, HAMAS, Hizballah, Red Hand Defenders, or any other terrorist group. So the question remains: why is the federal government interested in usurping local authority, developing battle scenarios, ignoring civil liberties, terrorizing ordinary citizens, and for what end? Let’s not be stupid enough to say 9/11 – doubtful that kind of over-kill is really necessary.
Millions of tax dollars were spent on security at the RNC and a significant amount was devoted to doing the work of fascism and thuggery. There is nothing patriotic about destroying American civil liberties or terrorizing innocent citizens. I am embarrassed by the bullying of St. Paul police and the duplicitous actions of the federal agencies.
Excellent Jgait.
Yeah Jgait, excellent….bullshit, and that’s all that diatribe contributed.
#
HLP
Posted September 6, 2008 at 4:11 pm | Permalink
“I shoot an S&W model 500?
hehehe
It takes a lot of balls to shoot the damn thing the first time. For me, it took a lot more to shoot it the second time!
I’ve been working on my arms and shoulders since May, I’m curious to see if I can shoot it again!
The Afton range isn’t open today or tomorrow, second and forth weekends. We might have to meet at the Bullet Stop some night. I’m not sure but your .500 might be to big for there.
______________________________________________
Hank, if the Bullet Stop is the one on 13th, they only let me fire on the rifle range.
I don’t ever want to fire that pistol indoors again. You feel the concussion in every bone in your body. I’m not exaggerating. It’s a distinctly uncomfortable feeling. It was so bad, I fired 3 shots and packed up thinking I’d spent $1000 on a pistol I couldn’t handle. The guy that was firing a rifle next to me ran out of the range.
When it comes to governing styles (ie, governing by gut instinct),
Sarah Palin = George W Bush
Are you happy with the overall direction of the USA under the leadership of George W Bush? If so, then you’ll LOVE Sarah Palin!
To all the Repukes including Rudy “Did I Mention 9-11?” Giuliana and Sarah Failin’, here’s what a community organizer does.
(from The Dallas Morning News)
Starting at age 23, Obama ran a faith-based charity called the Developing Communities Project.
It was made up of eight Catholic parishes. When he got there he had one staff member. He was its director, meaning he was in charge. He made decisions about it, including staffing, budgets, etc. And when he left in 1988 to go to law school, he had grown its budget from $70,000 to $400,000, its staff from 1 to 13 people. More important, he created a job training program for this community and a college prep tutoring program.
XXX et al.
I’m sure that the S&W packs a wallop. A 440 grain bullet would be pretty close to an ounce IIRC.
That means your firing close to the equivalent of a 12 gauge slug from a pistol.
On the other hand, the quick google search I did on the 50 cal shows that it weighs loaded about 5 pounds.
That’s a lot of mass–the more mass, the less kick.
Here’s a dude shooting a 50 with one hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hEiyOkpxpE
Then his skinny girlfriend tries it (with both hands)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN7lcHQzV0I&feature=related
My wife was nicely grouping shots on target with her brother’s .45 Colt replica a few years back, and it was one of her first times out.
Let’s not make too much of a big thing out of a gun doing what guns are supposed to do, kick and make noise, heh . . .
Looks like Slattery is off to a good start with his debate with roberts at the state fair (see todays editorial)! Hope he doesn’t cut Roberts any slack, and keeps trying to hold him accountable. Slattery should have hit back with Phase two was held up by Roberts, and if he hadn’t lost his chairmanship, we’d still be waiting for it.
Need a thread on it so we can beat up on Roberts, and his supporters.
Boxlock
Posted September 6, 2008 at 9:11 pm | Permalink
Yeah Jgait, excellent….bullshit, and that’s all that diatribe contributed.
========================================
Once again, Boxlock(stock and barrell) proves to be an Anti-American, Totalitarian supporting idiot… nothing new there!!
What a bigot!!
Probably shouldn’t have said ‘beat up’, It was a figure of speech, honestly!
Yeah Jgait, excellent….bullshit, and that’s all that diatribe contributed.
Reminds me of when the S.S. was kicking down doors of people having political meetings dissing bush. Or, during the hysteria, when they were trying to prosecute the cartoonist for, what was it, the burning bush? Or, was it a cartoon of lynching in effigy?
We need to get past this period in history.
I really get a kick out of reading what each side says the other is going to do/for the country when they are in office. The only thing thing that will change is who is screwing us and how far and hard they are going to stick it in. Changing Madams in the whorehouse,nothing more,nothing less
“Freebird1971″ –
Cynicism isn’t conducive to recovery.
It might be the way to bet, but… well, go figure.
You might catch “The Daily Show’s” Friday broadcast. McSame’s acceptance speech in 2008 intercut with Shrub’s acceptance speech in 2000. The same Republic Party boilerplate phrases. The same empty rhetoric. Even an in-unison of Shrub and McBush saying “I strongly support [George Bush/John McCain].” Seriously.
Being cynical about the governing of this country has been my attitude since I was old enough to see what was going and my own life experiences on,btw how I handle my recovery is between me and my sponsor,but appreciate the concern.
Fair enough, “Freebird1971″ –
But I’m a friend of Lois.
So I tend to butt in more than I should.
;^)
Ok,no hard feelings on my part.
Chas posts, “What a bigot!!”
Comments from the village idiot don’t mean anything anymore.
Chas, go back into your drugged state will ya?
Hey Boxlock, Something hit a nerve? I dare you to take a look at this video from St. Paul or read an article or two about fascism in America: check it out … or maybe not. It’s a lot easier to keep your head in the sand (or an even warmer, darker place), nestled in the bosom of empty lies and 30 second sound bites.
Fusion Centers (Big Brother is Watching): http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/privacy/fusion_update_20080729.pdf
Arrest in St. Paul (Brown Shirts in Action):
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/9/1/update_democracy_now_s_amy_goodman_sharif_abdel_kouddous_and_nicole_salazar_released_after_illegal_arrest_at_rnc
When Facism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a Flag, carrying a Cross…
Boxlock and his bigot pals will lead the march!!
JGalt
Posted September 7, 2008 at 2:15 pm | Permalink
Hey Boxlock, Something hit a nerve? I dare you to take a look at this video from St. Paul or read an article or two about fascism in America: check it out … or maybe not. It’s a lot easier to keep your head in the sand (or an even warmer, darker place), nestled in the bosom of empty lies and 30 second sound bites.
Fusion Centers (Big Brother is Watching): http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/privacy/fusion_update_20080729.pdf
Arrest in St. Paul (Brown Shirts in Action):
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/9/1/update_democracy_now_s_amy_goodman_sharif_abdel_kouddous_and_ni
===========================
Ah, another viewing of the drama queen Amy Goodman and the pre-planned arrest scenario.
Sorry, a shaky camera and some over emphasized screams means nothing.
Exactly Regular,
The Demlibs are so stupid as to think we can’t see through a preplanned set up arrest.
But that’s okay, they are wrong again, and as usual.
I think it will be a hoot for those ‘reporters’ to be carrying the arrests and hopefully the convictions, some felonies, around for awhile.
They are the losers.
Excellent blogging!!!