The car probably deserved it.
Click to listen:
This week in local news, a pair of pit bulls attacked and damaged a car. Of course, this was a Very Big Deal, and the hysteria surrounding it was based entirely on public ignorance and sensationalism by the press. This is the local version of the news that a “Victory Mosque” is to be built at Ground Zero. If you listen to the far right – the divisive, truth-free, hate-mongers who are routinely handed a megaphone by the press (not just by Faux News) – you’d think such statements are true. But they’re not. And while we’re being force-fed this nonsense, other real news goes unreported, un-investigated, and is generally found to be uninteresting by the people too busy texting their way off a cliff. Yes, sadly, a famous plastic surgeon tweeted his last as he drove off a cliff in California. Probably not the first person whose Cause of Death or dismemberment was “texting”, but he tinkered with some famous faces, so he made the news.
SO… While all this craziness has been being passed off as “news”, the US has reached Third World Status – as proven by 10 (and we make it a nice round 14) points that mark a country’s entrance into that club, ranging from economic crisis and the government’s handling thereof to the willful curtailing of civil rights. We’re also facing a future $1.3 trillion deficit, and apparently, every cent of it was rung up since January 20th, 2009. Quite an amazing trick, actually. Much like the trick where our freely-elected President weathered the flak for his belonging to a United Church of Christ parish run by a “racist” minister, only to later be accused of being a Muslim. Amazing, eh? Hey, from the American Liberty League who opposed FDR’s New Deal (and whose manifesto the Tea Partiers have sneakily co-opted) to the Birchers who attacked Kennedy to the Birthers attacking Obama, there truly is nothing new under the sun.
The real news – the stories behind the stories, the items that should have made it to the front page – fill our time this week, and we hope you’ll give us a listen and check the links below for all the supporting evidence. As usual, we wrap up with the Lunatic Fringe, including interesting curriculum in Australian public schools (did you know Adam & Eve escaped being eaten by dinosaurs because they were living under a magic spell?) and a truly hysterical use of Chat Roulette to market a movie. It’s all here – and by the time we’re done, it all (sort of) makes sense!
And now for the links:
“Shadow RNC” Agenda – We are NOT the party of No!! No way, no how, and damn you for saying so.
The Economic Impact of Runaway Military Spending – Wait a minute. It’s not the government’s takeover of private business?
Third World Nation? - You betcha. 10 reasons the US now qualifies.
Why Aren’t They Hiring? – Because it’s so much more profitable not to.
False Charges Against Wikileaks Founder – Interestingly, they came out just before an impending batch of new leaks…
Mosque Poll – We believe in your rights, we just don’t think you should be able to use them.
Bad Argument from the Krauthammer – Hallowed ground? Um, it would be if the site was actually at Ground Zero…
Ground Zero “Church” – The truth about the Greek Orthodox Church that’s “not allowed” to rebuild. Oh, yes they are.
Ground Zero “Strip Club” – One of the acceptable uses for “hallowed ground.”
Climate Change for Dummies III
Creationism Gone Wild- DNA’s invention, the impact of The Flood on carbon dating, and a really awesome magic spell!
The Best Use (so far) for Chat Roulette – “Show me your boobs!” goes Hollywood.
Bonus Link: Big Box Mart – Jib-Jab’s poke at the crap we buy for low, low prices. It’s more expensive than we think.
Thanks for the insightful remarks on the mosque at Ground Zero, as a medical professional who volunteered there along side a Muslim co worker we were both equaly horrified by the actions of a very few radical people. Muslim people are as peaceful and life respecting as anyone of another religion. We certainly cannot classify all Muslim people based on a few crazed ones. They do not represent the religion or the intent of that faith. Your remarks that it is time to move on were excellent. No one is asking anyone to forget the horrors of 9/11, but we need to move on and learn, part of that learning is tolerance, and sadly that seems to be in short supply regarding this issue.
PS, you mentioned the God people pray to several times in the male tense..God could be female or genderless too, depending on what someone believes.