![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
"That's not a party, that's a hostage situation."
First two brief car-related announcements:
1) I have my Bug back!!! The scratches are all fixed, the car nice and sparkly, even if it does smell a bit like circus peanuts....Anyway, Maaco did a superb, fast, professional job for a very reasonable amount of money. Their quote: around $400, everyone elses' quotes: around $1,000. Body shops see a Bug and their eyes light up, "Oh my, well we'll have to order parts for this and as you know VW Bug parts are *expensive*!" Yeah right, pull the other one.
2) The Enterprise rental on San Antonio rented me quite possibly the smelliest Dodge Neon ever. I mean seriously, I've been on subway cars that were better smelling. I had to drive with the windows rolled down, it was truly pathetic. I'm renting from Enterprise again on Saturday, though this one will be the one on Stevens Creek. Hopefully that Neon won't be quite so..fragrant.
Went to my beloved Cosentino's last night for some staples and a few things for John's visit, and danced around the store to Howard Jones' "Everlasting Love". Also got complimented on my green tear-drop choker twice. I'm definitely wearing that one on Saturday!
And I bullied![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aelfsciene into letting me watch the "Warrior Goddess Workout" tape I got her for her b-day. I like Dolphina, even if she does rather disturbingly resemble a Barbie doll. The workout kicks serious ass, I mean of the "My god I'm getting tired just sitting here watching *her* exercise!" type. And there are some great bellydance moves we can use ourselves, so we were both highly intrigued by it. Perhaps I'll twist her arm into doing the workout on the Sundays we don't have Alyne's class...or even on the ones we do. There is no way we could do that workout and not get into fantastic shape, none at all. It's all about strength building, woo!
Heh, and Aelf, I found her online:
http://www.goddessworkout.com/goddesswear.html
Toldja she'd have a website }:)
We then tuned in for the embarassment that was the Sharks game last night. The less said about that the better I think. I'm just gladmallen was being Sharky-ed last night for his birthday so that he and his row was mildly entertained.
Thank you,cyranocyrano, for posting a fascinating link 50 Questions About Iraq
(with answers)
A few of the facts I'd call particular attention to:
9. How long has Iraq had chemical and biological weapons?
Since the early 1980's.
10. Did Iraq develop these chemical & biological weapons on their own?
No, the materials and technology were supplied by the US government, along with Britain and private corporations.
11. Did the US government condemn the Iraqi use of gas warfare against Iran?
No
12. How many people did Saddam Hussein kill using gas in the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988?
5,000
13. How many western countries condemned this action at the time?
0
14. How many gallons of agent Orange did America use in Vietnam?
17 million.
15. Are there any proven links between Iraq and September 11th terrorist attack?
No
23. Does Iraq present more of a threat to world peace now than 10 years ago?
No
24. How many civilian deaths has the Pentagon predicted in the event of an attack on Iraq in 2002/3?
10,000
25. What percentage of these will be children?
Over 50%
26. How many years has the U.S. engaged in air strikes on Iraq?
11 years
27. Was the U.S and the UK at war with Iraq between December 1998 and September 1999?
No
28. How many pounds of explosives were dropped on Iraq between December 1998 and September 1999?
20 million
Go read the rest of the list yourselves.
For those of us who couldn't participate in any of the anti-war marches held this past weekend, there's another opportunity on February 26 to make your voice heard. The Win Without War effort is something even those harried and time-crunched among us can participate in:
Organizers of the "virtual march" on Washington are calling on
supporters to call, fax or e-mail their two U.S. senators and
the White House during business hours on Feb. 26.
If you choose to do the call-in method, you're asked to register with the organization so you can be given a time to do so, they want to make sure the phone lines stay busy all day long.
Also, Aelf pointed me atbryant, who is very politically active and always has some fascinating things to say. His topic of choice today is terrorism, and he posits that we're not going to be any safer after Iraq falls. What civil liberties are you willing to give up to help fight terrorism? Damn good question, and one I don't think I've got an answer for.
And another person whose journals I never fail to read iskuro_neko, she posted information about a Texas bill that quite frankly scares the living piss out of me. Now I know most of you aren't really into environmental or animal rights issues, and may be wondering why I'm talking about that amongst all my pro-peace mutterings. Well, see this bill is starting to blur the lines between the definitions of "protester" and "terrorist". Sure there are loonies in both the environmentalist and animal rights camps, people whose actions are violent and anarchistic and against whom laws already exist. Take a look at the actual bill itself, and bear in mind that it was drawn up by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, Cabela's, and other hunting industry corporations. But here's a nice summary of what we're talking about:
If passed in its current form H.B. 433 would add a new class of crimes to the Texas Criminal Code. Some of the provisions would:
-Criminalize legitimate political and social protests, demonstrations, civil disobedience and debate by animal or environmental advocates.
-Subject any Texan to criminal liability if he or she donates money to an organization that has engaged in non-violent civil disobedience; this criminal liability would apply only to donors of animal or environmental groups, not groups working on peace, pro-life or other causes.
-Create a state run website at which certain people advocating for animal welfare and environmental protection would be identified, photographed and stigmatized as "terrorists" -- much like they now do with sex offenders and child molesters.
-Bar a journalist from legally entering an animal facility "to take photographs or make a video recording with the intent to defame the facility or the facility's owner."
Currently the legislation is being opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Texas Sierra Club, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Texas Humane Legislative Network. And, well, some outspoken, pissed off, freaked out types like myself. I've donated to PETA and several environmental groups in the past and will continue to do so in the future...I think I'm entirely too uppity to live in Texas. Hell, for that matter, anywhere except California!
And things that make me go, "Hmmm." Black woman joins US presidential race. Do I think the Democratic party will receive Carol Moseley-Braun with open arms as a viable presidential candidate? Hard to say, but so far she's looking more appealing to me than the guys who have been trotted up as possible runners. I need to find out where she stands on most of the issues, but it is an awfully intriguing concept to ponder, don't you think?
1) I have my Bug back!!! The scratches are all fixed, the car nice and sparkly, even if it does smell a bit like circus peanuts....Anyway, Maaco did a superb, fast, professional job for a very reasonable amount of money. Their quote: around $400, everyone elses' quotes: around $1,000. Body shops see a Bug and their eyes light up, "Oh my, well we'll have to order parts for this and as you know VW Bug parts are *expensive*!" Yeah right, pull the other one.
2) The Enterprise rental on San Antonio rented me quite possibly the smelliest Dodge Neon ever. I mean seriously, I've been on subway cars that were better smelling. I had to drive with the windows rolled down, it was truly pathetic. I'm renting from Enterprise again on Saturday, though this one will be the one on Stevens Creek. Hopefully that Neon won't be quite so..fragrant.
Went to my beloved Cosentino's last night for some staples and a few things for John's visit, and danced around the store to Howard Jones' "Everlasting Love". Also got complimented on my green tear-drop choker twice. I'm definitely wearing that one on Saturday!
And I bullied
aelfsciene into letting me watch the "Warrior Goddess Workout" tape I got her for her b-day. I like Dolphina, even if she does rather disturbingly resemble a Barbie doll. The workout kicks serious ass, I mean of the "My god I'm getting tired just sitting here watching *her* exercise!" type. And there are some great bellydance moves we can use ourselves, so we were both highly intrigued by it. Perhaps I'll twist her arm into doing the workout on the Sundays we don't have Alyne's class...or even on the ones we do. There is no way we could do that workout and not get into fantastic shape, none at all. It's all about strength building, woo!Heh, and Aelf, I found her online:
http://www.goddessworkout.com/goddesswear.html
Toldja she'd have a website }:)
We then tuned in for the embarassment that was the Sharks game last night. The less said about that the better I think. I'm just glad
mallen was being Sharky-ed last night for his birthday so that he and his row was mildly entertained.Thank you,
cyranocyrano, for posting a fascinating link 50 Questions About Iraq(with answers)
A few of the facts I'd call particular attention to:
9. How long has Iraq had chemical and biological weapons?
Since the early 1980's.
10. Did Iraq develop these chemical & biological weapons on their own?
No, the materials and technology were supplied by the US government, along with Britain and private corporations.
11. Did the US government condemn the Iraqi use of gas warfare against Iran?
No
12. How many people did Saddam Hussein kill using gas in the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988?
5,000
13. How many western countries condemned this action at the time?
0
14. How many gallons of agent Orange did America use in Vietnam?
17 million.
15. Are there any proven links between Iraq and September 11th terrorist attack?
No
23. Does Iraq present more of a threat to world peace now than 10 years ago?
No
24. How many civilian deaths has the Pentagon predicted in the event of an attack on Iraq in 2002/3?
10,000
25. What percentage of these will be children?
Over 50%
26. How many years has the U.S. engaged in air strikes on Iraq?
11 years
27. Was the U.S and the UK at war with Iraq between December 1998 and September 1999?
No
28. How many pounds of explosives were dropped on Iraq between December 1998 and September 1999?
20 million
Go read the rest of the list yourselves.
For those of us who couldn't participate in any of the anti-war marches held this past weekend, there's another opportunity on February 26 to make your voice heard. The Win Without War effort is something even those harried and time-crunched among us can participate in:
Organizers of the "virtual march" on Washington are calling on
supporters to call, fax or e-mail their two U.S. senators and
the White House during business hours on Feb. 26.
If you choose to do the call-in method, you're asked to register with the organization so you can be given a time to do so, they want to make sure the phone lines stay busy all day long.
Also, Aelf pointed me at
bryant, who is very politically active and always has some fascinating things to say. His topic of choice today is terrorism, and he posits that we're not going to be any safer after Iraq falls. What civil liberties are you willing to give up to help fight terrorism? Damn good question, and one I don't think I've got an answer for.And another person whose journals I never fail to read is
kuro_neko, she posted information about a Texas bill that quite frankly scares the living piss out of me. Now I know most of you aren't really into environmental or animal rights issues, and may be wondering why I'm talking about that amongst all my pro-peace mutterings. Well, see this bill is starting to blur the lines between the definitions of "protester" and "terrorist". Sure there are loonies in both the environmentalist and animal rights camps, people whose actions are violent and anarchistic and against whom laws already exist. Take a look at the actual bill itself, and bear in mind that it was drawn up by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, Cabela's, and other hunting industry corporations. But here's a nice summary of what we're talking about:If passed in its current form H.B. 433 would add a new class of crimes to the Texas Criminal Code. Some of the provisions would:
-Criminalize legitimate political and social protests, demonstrations, civil disobedience and debate by animal or environmental advocates.
-Subject any Texan to criminal liability if he or she donates money to an organization that has engaged in non-violent civil disobedience; this criminal liability would apply only to donors of animal or environmental groups, not groups working on peace, pro-life or other causes.
-Create a state run website at which certain people advocating for animal welfare and environmental protection would be identified, photographed and stigmatized as "terrorists" -- much like they now do with sex offenders and child molesters.
-Bar a journalist from legally entering an animal facility "to take photographs or make a video recording with the intent to defame the facility or the facility's owner."
Currently the legislation is being opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Texas Sierra Club, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Texas Humane Legislative Network. And, well, some outspoken, pissed off, freaked out types like myself. I've donated to PETA and several environmental groups in the past and will continue to do so in the future...I think I'm entirely too uppity to live in Texas. Hell, for that matter, anywhere except California!
And things that make me go, "Hmmm." Black woman joins US presidential race. Do I think the Democratic party will receive Carol Moseley-Braun with open arms as a viable presidential candidate? Hard to say, but so far she's looking more appealing to me than the guys who have been trotted up as possible runners. I need to find out where she stands on most of the issues, but it is an awfully intriguing concept to ponder, don't you think?