Answers Descended From Apes

Easy quiz with an easy theme this week, though there were still a couple that slipped by. Here are the answers for all you simian-lovers out there:

1. There was a guy, an underwater guy who controlled the sea, got killed by ten million pounds of sludge... Monkey Gone To Heaven; Pixies

2. Come on come on, come on come on, come on is such a joy, come on is such a joy... Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey; Beatles

3. I'm a flea-bit peanut monkey, all my friends are junkies - that's not really true. Monkey Man; Rolling Stones

4. A long time ago, our point of view was broadcast by Mr. Bartholomew. Monkey To Man; Elvis Costello

5. Back from the war, covered in red, white and blue, so here I am, but I got nowhere to go. Monkey Man; David Byrne

6. There's a place right across town, whenever you're ready, where people gather 'round whenever they're ready... Monkey Time; Major Lance

7. Back in '64 I was feeling 63, the strangest sort of feeling started creeping over me... Monkey Time; Boz Scaggs & Band

8. I think I'm sophisticated 'cause I'm living my life like a good homo sapiens... Apeman; Kinks

9. This cat named Mickey came from out of town, he been spreadin' this new dance all around... Mickey's Monkey; Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

10. They shot him down, they shot him down, they thought he was a monster but he was the King. King Kong; Daniel Johnston (I confess, though, that before I wrote this quiz I was only familiar with the Tom Waits version)

**Bonus** They prosecuted some poor sucker in these United States for teaching that man descended from the apes... Part Man, Part Monkey; Bruce Springsteen

Back with another one next Tuesday!

Another Letter The SF Chronicle Won't Print

Well... they might. But I'm not holding my breath.

(With apologies to the Poor Man.)

Editor --

Right after George W. Bush engineers a lasting peace in the Middle East, I expect him to ask his good friend Jesus to give every single person in America a pony. I'd like a speckled gray one, please.

Love, Generik.

Whose Opening Line Is It, Anyway: Hey, Cousin!

Some might say that this week's theme is a continuance of one that ran here very recently. Others might dispute that. Me? I'm not saying... until Friday, anyway. All right, swing away, kids!

1. There was a guy, an underwater guy who controlled the sea, got killed by ten million pounds of sludge...
2. Come on come on, come on come on, come on is such a joy, come on is such a joy...
3. I'm a flea-bit peanut monkey, all my friends are junkies - that's not really true.
4. A long time ago, our point of view was broadcast by Mr. Bartholomew.
5. Back from the war, covered in red, white and blue, so here I am, but I got nowhere to go.
6. There's a place right across town, whenever you're ready, where people gather 'round whenever they're ready...
7. Back in '64 I was feeling 63, the strangest sort of feeling started creeping over me...
8. I think I'm sophisticated 'cause I'm living my life like a good homo sapiens...
9. This cat named Mickey came from out of town, he been spreadin' this new dance all around...
10. They shot him down, they shot him down, they thought he was a monster but he was the King.

**Bonus** They prosecuted some poor sucker in these United States for teaching that man descended from the apes...

Answers Friday!

A Nation Of Men, Not Laws

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'd like to point out this essay from the Seattle P-I, written by guest columnist Linda Boyd (tip of the Generik top hat to my good friend Buffoon for the link), that makes yet another impassioned plea for our Senators and Congressfolk in Washington to do the right thing and take the criminals occupying the highest offices in the land to task for their many high crimes and misdemeanors. I've said it many times before, and I can pretty much promise that I'll say it again, but these guys and gals have broken the damn law, blatantly, flagrantly and repeatedly, and must be held accountable. Otherwise what's the point of having laws? If Dick Cheney and George Bush are allowed to get away with breaking laws and violating the Constitution while in office, what's to stop any future administration from the same -- or even worse?

Here's an excerpt:

"The most conservative principle of the Founding Fathers was distrust of unchecked power. Centuries of experience substantiated that absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Constitution embraced a separation of powers to keep the legislative, executive and judicial branches in equilibrium," Bruce Fein, a constitutional lawyer and associate deputy attorney general in the Reagan administration, said in the October 2006 edition of Washington Monthly.

If Congress were serious about oversight, there already would be dozens of bills and resolutions calling for impeachment of Bush and Cheney. The "Unitary Executive Theory" violates the principle of balance of power in the Constitution. The president cites this "unitary" power in hundreds of signing statements that say he can ignore laws passed by Congress.

The First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments are all now subject to the caprice of government officials. The Military Commissions Act allows U.S. citizens to be detained without due process if they are declared enemy combatants. Without our permission, this country has become an exporter of torture.

Congress has failed to provide oversight and exercise its authority to rein in a criminal administration. Only swift action on impeachment can redeem it now. The people have done the heavy work of bringing impeachment forward. Representatives need only ask if the allegations are serious enough to warrant investigations.

George Bush and Dick Cheney promote an imperial presidency. They assert that the executive is the most powerful branch of government, undermining the judiciary and Congress in violation of the Constitution's bedrock principle of shared power among three co-equal branches. This subverts the very nature of our system of government.

"This is an attempt by the president to have the final word on his own constitutional powers, which eliminates the checks and balances that keep the country a democracy. ... That's a big problem because that's essentially a dictatorship," Fein said.

As always, I urge you to read the whole piece. Then get angry; then write or call your Representative in DC.

Monday Random Flickr To Be Continued

Slippery, huh? Must be all those tears.

Maybe I'm being xenophobic, but I just don't think I want to visit a country where they worship giant silverfish.

Gene Simmons: The Early Years.

Gene Simmons II: Adolescence and Beyond.

Where do you think they got the cloth strips to cover their eyes?

...Oh. I see. Never mind.

Even with the promo offer of your money back if you finish one, very few people could swallow an entire Ron Jeremytini.

(Original images, #1335, posted here, here, here, here, here, here and here. Random Flickr Blogging in one or two parts explained by Tom Hilton here.)

I Don't Really Believe In These Answers

As expected, this week's quiz was a bit tougher for most of you (except for Eric the DiscoBoy, who was apparently Touched by His Noodly Appendage while reading it, and thus was able to come up with four and a half answers). The theme, of course, was God, in all His or Her or Its glory, or maybe just in all the song titles. Here's the key:

1. It doesn't hurt me. Do you want to know how it feels? Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God); Kate Bush (also numerous cover artists, including Placebo)

2. I may not always love you, but long as there are stars above you... God Only Knows; Beach Boys

3. Why can't we be humble like the good lord said, he promised to exalt us... That's The Way God Planned It; George Harrison (also acceptable: Billy Preston)

4. Cain slew Abel, Seth knew not why, for if the children of Israel were to multiply, why must any of the children die? God's Song; Randy Newman

5. I was walking through the counters of a national concern and a cash machine was spitting by my shoulder. God Knows I'm Good; David Bowie

6. Them that's got shall get, them that's not shall lose, so the bible says, and it still is news. God Bless The Child; Billie Holiday (also acceptable: Blood, Sweat & Tears)

7. Was he thinking about my country or the color of my skin? Was he thinking 'bout my religion and the way I worshipped him? When God Made Me; Neil Young

8. Looking for an insult, there's a trickle in my head, seeing it's worth the effort, I forgive myself. God Made Me; The Sundays

9. I'd sell your heart to the junkman, baby, for a buck, for a buck... God's Away On Business; Tom Waits

10. Señorita, looks like you ain't done nothing good women ain't supposed to do, oh no no no no... God Don't Make Lonely Girls; Wallflowers

**Bonus** All you kids get out the back door, I've never seen her this bad before. Mother Of God; Patty Griffin

Back at it next Tuesday, providing my jury duty service next week doesn't interfere. Thanks for playing!

More Graphic Content

While I'm on the subject of photography, I just wanted to let those of you who might be interested know that I've recently uploaded a number of black and white pictures to my Flickr account. I'm known as Generik11 there, and there are about 13 pages of photos available for your enjoyment... or whatever. So enjoy. Or whatever.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

It Just Dawned On Me

Just a little early morning pre-holiday photography. Here's the sunrise over the East Bay hills, as seen from Oyster Point.

In Other News, The Sun Rose In The East This Morning

I know a lot of people on the internets have been making noise about this story today; I wonder when (read: "if") the corporate media will pick up on it and make a big deal about it. It seems that chipmunk-cheeked former White House press secretary Li'l Scotty McClellan has a book coming out -- and lo and behold, there are some allegations in it of his bosses being less than honest with the press and the American public! I, for one, am shocked.

Here's the part that everyone here in the reality-based community is finding so gosh-darned interesting:

The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby.

There was one problem. It was not true.

I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief of staff, and the President himself.

Do tell, Scotty, do tell!

So... in other words, when Scooter Libby got his George W. Bush-approved Get Out of Jail Free card, the president pardoned a guy who had been convicted of a crime that he himself had essentially asked him to commit. Can you say conflict of interest? Can you say high crimes and misdemeanors? I knew you could.

All I can say now is thanks, Nancy Pelosi. Thanks for taking impeachment off the table, and for never again allowing it even in the same room as the grown-ups there in Washington. Thank you so very, very much.

Despicable

It reads like a Monty Python sketch at first glance -- and it would almost be funny, if it weren't so damned tragic. Facing unprecedented enlistment shortages because of the bloody, bungled debacle in Iraq, the Army has taken in the past few years to offering big bonuses -- up to $30,000 in some cases -- to soldiers willing to re-enlist and go back to Iraq and Afghanistan. News now comes that some of those soldiers who took the Army up on the offer are being asked to return some portion of those bonuses when they are injured in the line of duty and can't complete their tours.

It's sick, isn't it? Unbelievable and completely unconscionable -- and absolutely par for the course for this administration.

The report out of Pittsburgh cites the case of one Jordan Fox, who re-upped and received $10,000 for his commitment. He was seriously injured by a roadside bomb, is now home recuperating -- due to his wounds, including complete loss of vision in his right eye, he cannot fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer -- and because his tour was cut short by three months, the Army is asking him to return $3000 of his bonus.

Had this happened under a Democratic administration, there'd be no end to the pissing and moaning of right-wing pundits and bloggers about how the Dems don't support the troops, how all liberals are traitors and on and on and on. Savage and Malkin and Coulter and Hannity and Limbaugh, et al, would rail on endlessly, and we'd be hearing about it for weeks or months on end. But for some reason, most of the corporate media has so far ignored this story under the Bush regime. Don't expect to see this on Fox News any time soon.

(And why aren't the Democrats raising holy hell about this? One Congressman, Democrat Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, has introduced a measure calling for all servicemen to receive their bonuses regardless of whether or not their tours are cut short by injury -- which sounds, again, like something out of the Python playbook. But that shouldn't be necessary, should it? It shouldn't even be a question. Jesus!)

Tell me again how the Republicans are the ones who "support the troops." Then explain to me why any serviceman or -woman in his or her right mind would ever vote for another Republican after this.

Whose Opening Line Is It Anyway: Divine Inspiration

I'm guessing this week's list is going to be a tough nut for most of you. In fact, I'd wager that no one knows more than about three of these at best -- and that the theme will be easier to discern than many of the songs themselves.

But I've been wrong before, and I'm certain I will be again. So, how about it? Prove me wrong, go on, I dare you!

1. It doesn't hurt me. Do you want to know how it feels?
2. I may not always love you, but long as there are stars above you...
3. Why can't we be humble like the good lord said, he promised to exalt us...
4. Cain slew Abel, Seth knew not why, for if the children of Israel were to multiply, why must any of the children die?
5. I was walking through the counters of a national concern and a cash machine was spitting by my shoulder.
6. Them that's got shall get, them that's not shall lose, so the bible says, and it still is news.
7. Was he thinking about my country or the color of my skin? Was he thinking 'bout my religion and the way I worshipped him?
8. Looking for an insult, there's a trickle in my head, seeing it's worth the effort, I forgive myself.
9. I'd sell your heart to the junkman, baby, for a buck, for a buck...
10. Señorita, looks like you ain't done nothing good women ain't supposed to do, oh no no no no...

**Bonus** All you kids get out the back door, I've never seen her this bad before.

Answers Friday!

Wrench In The Works

My pal Dean in Connecticut (who has provided me with links and other bits of information in the past that have made their way to posts on this site) tells me about a coffeehouse collective that he helped to start in Willimantic, CT. It's called Wrench in the Works, and here's a description from the home page:

The Wrench is a space for workshops, meetings, performances, or just hanging out with a cup of fair-trade coffee or tea and browsing our small collection of progressive and radical books, 'zines and other media.

For those of you on the East Coast, this looks like it could be a good place to enjoy a cuppa and a book or magazine with some like-minded individuals. And lately they've been running MST3K episodes on one Friday every month! To check out the schedule and learn more about the place, go here.

A Round Of Random Flickr Blogging For All My Friends

Demonstrating the latest in cleansing enema technology, Los Angeles scientist and entrepreneur Larry Fogle announces his latest invention, the Colon Swiffer™.

Grandma finally got the bundt down and sacrificed Aunt Clara to second. But with Maggie throwing nothing but slop to the plate, the rally eventually died at home. "Piece of cake," Maggie said later.

"No, Mr. Bond, I want you to... play the sousaphone."

The latest fad for college kids spending summers abroad is the relatively new practice of monument-tipping.

*chuckle* "Okay, sieg heil, heh heh. Now you kids get off my lawn, y'hear? Go on, now. Shoo."

Another satisfied customer highly recommends the Colon Swiffer™. "It really -- urf!! -- works!"

(Original images, #4196, posted here, here, here, here, here and here. Random Flickr Blogging explained by Larry Fogle Tom Hilton here.

I Just Dreamed Up These Answers

So the dream theme wasn't nearly as elusive as I initially thought it might be (I must have been dreaming!), and nearly all the lines were identified... except for the second one and the Bonus 11th line. That's as it should be, I suppose, as that bonus line is meant to be a bit more difficult for folks to nail down. (And on the subject of that song, those of you who appreciate killer guitar riffs should check it out sometime.) Also -- I agree with the commenters who associated the Roy Orbison song with the film Blue Velvet. I can't hear that song without seeing Dean Stockwell lip-syncing it either. Creepy!

Here's the key:

1. Just one more morning, I had to wake up with the blues. Dreams; Allman Brothers

2. Well, is this seat taken? Would you mind some company? Help You Dream; The Blasters

3. A candy-colored clown they call the sandman tiptoes to my room every night... In Dreams; Roy Orbison

4. A Salvation Army band played, and the children drank lemonade. Life In A Northern Town; Dream Academy

5. Now here you go again, you say you want your freedom. Dreams; Fleetwood Mac

6. I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams; Green Day

7. When the dream came, I held my breath with my eyes closed... On The Way Home; Buffalo Springfield

8. I've been down, but not like this before. All That You Dream; Little Feat (also known to many -- if not more -- people by Linda Ronstadt's cover version)

9. Oh, my life is changing every day, every possible way. Dreams; Cranberries

10. I dreamed you paid your dues in Canada, left me to come through. These Dreams Of You; Van Morrison

**Bonus** Every day I spend my time drinking wine, feeling fine, waiting here to find the sign that I can understand, yes I am. In A Broken Dream; Python Lee Jackson (vocal by Rod Stewart)

Does Rick Santorum Know About This!?

Found this just now on the AP Day in Pictures wire. The accompanying caption reads:

My wife is a dog: To atone for stoning to death two dogs in his youth, P. Selvakumar marries a sari-draped mutt named Selvi in Manamadurai, India. Selvakumar believes his cruelty left him cursed.

Wonder if this will cause the former Pennsylvania senator's daughter to turn on the waterworks again...

Whose Opening Line Is It, Anyway: Tell Me Yours And I'll Tell You Mine

Back again with a fresh batch of opening lines guaranteed to confound and confuse at least some of you good folk out there. Personally, I think this is a rather inspired list with a good -- and maybe not immediately obvious -- theme; let's see how many of these songs and artists you know, shall we?

1. Just one more morning, I had to wake up with the blues.
2. Well, is this seat taken? Would you mind some company?
3. A candy-colored clown they call the sandman tiptoes to my room every night...
4. A Salvation Army band played, and the children drank lemonade.
5. Now here you go again, you say you want your freedom.
6. I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known.
7. When the dream came, I held my breath with my eyes closed...
8. I've been down, but not like this before.
9. Oh, my life is changing every day, every possible way.
10. I dreamed you paid your dues in Canada, left me to come through.

**Bonus** Every day I spend my time drinking wine, feeling fine, waiting here to find the sign that I can understand, yes I am.

Answers Friday!

Monday Randy Flickry Bloggy

When making Blood of the Virgin Pops, always be sure to use the finest virgin's blood in the land. And don't forget to give props to the Dark Lord while pouring them out!

"Try one, they're really pretty good. Kinda like roast beef on a hard roll, except a little fishier."

"You know you blew that offside call in the third quarter."
"Yeah, well, at least I didn't get hit in the ass with one of Manning's passes."
"Hey, I tried to get out of the way!"

My Second Favorite Martian.

"Blood of the Virgin Pop? Fresh this morning!"

(Original images, #3688, posted here, here, here, here and here. Random Flickr Blogging explained by the guy who invented it, here.)

Miracle Man

I still remember when I first purchased and listened to My Aim Is True, Elvis Costello's debut album, back in 1977. It was the beginning of the New Wave/Punk scene, and after getting past the name that seeemed like it had to be a joke when I first heard it, I discovered a musical talent that I have been a fervent fan of for thirty years now. I don't even know how many times I've seen Elvis in concert over the years -- probably somewhere between 20 and 30, maybe more -- but I try never to miss him when he's in town.

My Aim Is True absolutely knocked me out the first time I heard it, and my music-appreciating life changed then forever. I bought that and Iggy Pop's Kill City (on green vinyl!) at the same time, and played both of them to death over the course of the next... well, hell, I still haven't stopped playing MAIT. And neither has Elvis, apparently. Songs such as Alison and Watching The Detectives have been staples of his live shows since he began touring shortly after the album was released; but in all that time, he had never performed them live with Clover, the Marin County-based band that preceded the Attractions and with whom he recorded that seminal album.

Until last night, that is.

It seems that a local musician, keyboardist Austin de Lone of Mill Valley, is in need of a large infusion of cash to help set up a foundation to research treatment and/or a cure for Prader-Willi syndrome, a disability that affects his young son Richard. Austin and Elvis have been friends for many years, and Elvis agreed to do a benefit to help raise money for the cause. The idea came about to reunite Elvis with the long-defunct Clover (guitarist John McFee, who has played for the past 20 years with the Doobie Brothers; keyboardist Sean Hopper, who, along with former Clover harmonica player Huey Lewis, formed Huey Lewis and the News; and bass player John Ciambotti, who had been out of the music business for many years and working as a chiropractor). They would play the entire album My Aim Is True, start to finish, in two shows that somehow flew rather lowly under the radar because of the small venue and the high price of tickets.

So it happened that last night I found myself at the Great American Music Hall (capacity: 600 people; two blocks from my home; one of the sweetest venues you'll ever find, anywhere), just about this ... far from the stage, getting to hear one of my all-time favorite albums being played live, in its entirety, in the order the songs came out on the record. Jesus pancake-flippin' Christ, that was an amazing show.

My pal Marty and I wisely opted for the late show, and were very glad we did. (Here's a hint, kids: If there is an early show and a late show, always, always, always go to the late show. Early shows are for squares.) To open the show, Austin de Lone and well-regarded guitarist Bill Kirchen (Hammer Of The Honky-Tonk Gods, Hot Rod Lincoln) played a lively little set; then Elvis took the stage, the crowd shut up and magic happened.

From the hammer-down opening of Welcome To The Working Week through a beautiful Alison, a romping Blame It On Cain, a blistering I'm Not Angry to the encore of Watching The Detectives, Elvis and Clover sounded as if they had been playing together all those 30 years. It was sublime. After he finished Sneaky Feelings, he joked, "And now we flip the record," then began what bass player John Ciambotti had always referred to as "that song that sounds like The Byrds," (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes. Between songs he told many stories about the early days of his career, how he happened to hook up with Clover to record that first album and lots more. He was charming, effusive and loquacious. "The record was only 35 minutes long," he quipped at one point; "that's why I'm talking so much in between songs." Of his life situation in those early days he said that he had been working in the computer department of a lipstick-making factory. "I thought I would combine make-up and rock and roll. It turned out I was a few years too late for that phenomenon." Later he mentioned that not long after the first album's relelase he and the Attractions had been interviewed by "some reporter from Nightline, looking to cover the 'punk scene'(!!)... his name was 'Geraldo' [Rivera], but we called him 'Horrendo'."

The show could have ended then, and I would have gone home happy. But after Watching The Detectives, Elvis took the stage alone and played a half-dozen songs on acoustic guitar, all of them written circa 1975, and all of them little undiscovered gems. Then Clover, joined by Austin de Lone and Bill Kirchen, came back on stage and they ran through a few more early numbers, including Living In Paradise, Stranger In The House and Radio Sweetheart (with John McFee playing pedal steel on the latter two). Another stage exit, and another encore had Elvis leading the audience in a chorus of Happy Birthday to a woman who had just flown in that night, and then telling us that Bonnie Raitt was there, and that he had hoped to get her on stage with him, but that she had declined. He then sang Love Has No Pride, accompanied only by Austin de Lone on keyboard, dedicated to her and pointing to where she was apparently seated in the balcony. Finally, everybody came back on to close the show with a thundering version of (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding, featuring a raucous three-way guitar battle between Elvis, John McFee and Bill Kirchen.

After the last note sounded and the band was off the stage for good, audience members, most of them grinning from ear to ear, high-fived each other, hugged each other and just generally milled about in a state of bliss, not wanting to leave. I just wish you could have been there with me (especially you, nash). It was truly a performance for the ages, one I will certainly remember for the rest of my life, easily one of the top two or three I've seen him give. I'm still blissed out.

There Are Answers I Remember

Well, good show this week! Most got answered, but no one person got more than two, and a couple lines still went unnamed. Let's see what we've got here, with the theme, of course, being geographic locations:

1. Come on, my star is fading, and I swerve out of control. Amsterdam; Coldplay

2. Start tearing the old man down, run past the heather and down to the old road. Omaha; Counting Crows

3. Now the party's over, I'm so tired, then I see you coming out of nowhere... Avalon; Roxy Music

4. A race of angels, bound with one another, a dish of dollars, laid out for all to see... Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me); Steely Dan

5. Danced with wind and danced with fire, killed the truth and called the liar... China; Red Rockers

6. Photographs of fancy tricks, to get your kicks at sixty-six... (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea; Elvis Costello

7. Friday night, I'm going nowhere, all the lights are changing green to red. Babylon; David Gray

8. Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together. America; Simon & Garfunkel

9. (Listen my friends) You thought never but (listen my friends) I'm yours forever... Omaha; Moby Grape

10. I threw away your greatest hits, you left them here the day you split. Amsterdam; Guster

**Bonus** They got a place down Kentucky, right down near Ohio, where you can watch the planes at night, people line up to watch each flight. Oh, Atlanta; Little Feat

Nobody discovered the double-double, which was Omaha and Amsterdam. Two titles, four different songs by four different groups! And I'm a bit surprised there are no Little Feat fans here, but again, maybe I'm just showing my age.

Okay, we'll try again next week. And later today (when I have some time, which I don't right now), let me tell you about the great Elvis Costello show I saw last night...

...And Good Luck

A blistering special comment from Keith Olbermann takes a whole lot of guilty and complicit people to task for the practice of waterboarding torture, including the Bush administration, Senators Schumer and Feinstein, and Alberto Gonzales; and points out that one Daniel Levin is what some might call an unsung hero.



Speaking of Senator Useless, the senior senator from California, you can see this same video clip on a page set up by the Courage Campaign asking for suggestions about how to reach her and what to do about her complicity in this unconscionable enabling of the administration's descent into fascism and evil. I'm at a loss, myself. Every time I send her a letter expressing my displeasure at her latest accession to Bush excess, all I receive in return is a form letter thanking me for contacting her office and spelling out in many uncertain terms just why it is that she cannot find it in herself to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Maybe some of you will have an idea or two.

(h/t to mrgumby2u for the moniker "Senator Useless".)

Approximately Half Of All Americans Appear To Be Sane

A new Gallup poll released today reports that 50% of all Americans surveyed "strongly disapprove" of the job Preznit Bunglenuts George W. Bush is doing. This is the highest "strongly disapprove" number Gallup has ever recorded for a president.

My question, as it always is, is who the hell are these people who still think he's doing a good (or even okay) job?

"I Wanted A Mission... And For My Sins, They Gave Me One."*

The Freeway Blogger has a great Apocalypse Now riff posted on his site as of Monday. You should all go check it out now. All of you, now. Go.

*-- Father Junipero Serra

Whose Opening Line Is It, Anyway: If It's Tuesday, This Must Be...

A couple easy ones and some tough ones this week, with a theme that should be readily apparent if you know more than two here. Let's go!

1. Come on, my star is fading, and I swerve out of control.
2. Start tearing the old man down, run past the heather and down to the old road.
3. Now the party's over, I'm so tired, then I see you coming out of nowhere...
4. A race of angels, bound with one another, a dish of dollars, laid out for all to see...
5. Danced with wind and danced with fire, killed the truth and called the liar...
6. Photographs of fancy tricks, to get your kicks at sixty-six...
7. Friday night, I'm going nowhere, all the lights are changing green to red.
8. Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together.
9. (Listen my friends) You thought never but (listen my friends) I'm yours forever...
10. I threw away your greatest hits, you left them here the day you split.

**Bonus** They got a place down Kentucky, right down near Ohio, where you can watch the planes at night, people line up to watch each flight.

Answers Friday!

"Better Cut Off All Identifying Labels..."

From the AP wire today:

Mukasey Protesters Act Out Waterboarding

By LARA JAKES JORDAN Associated Press Writer

Nov 5th, 2007 | WASHINGTON -- Protesters staged a waterboarding Monday outside the Justice Department, calling for a Senate committee to reject attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey because of his reluctance to define the interrogation tactic as torture.

The demonstration came shortly before Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said he would oppose Mukasey during a Senate Judiciary Committee vote set for Tuesday on whether the retired judge should be confirmed to lead the Justice Department.

Mukasey's approval was all but assured last week when two Democrats on the panel — Charles Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California — said they would buck concerns about his stand on torture and support him.

On Monday, about 25 protesters describing themselves as anti-war activists and actors responded with a demonstration of waterboarding that brought a volunteer to retching coughs and tears in less than four minutes.

"I wanted desperately to scream but I couldn't because as soon as I would — water," said Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, a 26-year-old Iranian-American actor from Maryland. "Water would go through the mouth and through the nose."

Set up outside the Justice Department's headquarters, Ebrahimzadeh struggled against his supposed interrogators as they yelled questions and forced him to lie on his back, a cloth over his face, his legs elevated. They poured two gallons of water over his face.

The process was supposed to resemble the process that CIA interrogators are believed to have used on terror detainees until a few years ago. However, Ebrahimzadeh's interrogators put a plastic cage between his face and the cloth to make sure he did not inhale too much water and, potentially, drown or asphyxiate.

At Senate confirmation hearings last month, Mukasey repeatedly refused to say whether he considers waterboarding a form of torture, as claimed by an unlikely coalition of military officials, doctors and humans rights groups.

The Pentagon has banned its personnel from using waterboarding. The Bush administration has sidestepped questions on whether it has allowed CIA interrogators or other employees to use it against terror detainees.

In a letter to the Senate panel Monday, 21 military and intelligence officials urged lawmakers to delay voting on Mukasey's confirmation until he clarifies his position on waterboarding.

"The most likely explanation for Mukasey's reticence is his concern that, should his conscience require him to condemn waterboarding, this could cause extreme embarrassment and even legal jeopardy for senior officials," the letter stated.

Cardin, a Senate Judiciary Committee member, said Mukasey is "a good person, an honest man," but probably cannot be truly independent of the president.

Cardin said he would vote against Mukasey because "on the critical issue of standing up to this administration as an independent adviser against torture, I have my doubts."

(This version CORRECTS that Ebrahimzadeh is a U.S. citizen of Iranian heritage.)

And a comment on the subject made by Rhode Island Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on the Senate floor last week, 10/31:

"Will we join that gloomy historical line leading from the Inquistion, through the prisons of tyrant regimes, through gulags and dark cells, and through Saddam Hussein's torture chambers? Will that be the path we choose? If we allow the president of the United States -- the most highly representative of our rule of law -- from recognizing that bright line, we will have turned down that dark stairway. I cannot stand for that."

Every time I think of the fact that this country is seriously engaged in a debate as to whether or not torture is justified -- setting aside, for the moment, the fact that we actually have, you know, tortured people -- I get sick to my stomach. Torture is barbaric; it's cruel, inhumane and despicable. It has no place in civilized society, none whatsoever, not for any reason or purpose. It's criminal. The practice is outlawed by all truly civilized countries, as it should be. To have a debate on the subject is simply beyond the pale; there should never be any question of allowing it, ever, under any circumstances. That this current administration has taken us to a place where there are Americans who are actively defending the process, saying that it should be allowed under certain conditions or in certain circumstances, should make every American who truly loves his or her country weep with sadness at the passing of this once great nation. If torture is on the table, a condoned practice by this government, then perhaps we don't deserve the Constitution any more.

RIP, USA.

Sidewalk Short Story

I discovered this on the sidewalk across the street from my apartment building this past Saturday. I don't know who the author is, or how it ends, but I have to say, I'm intrigued.

Mundane Randumb Filckr Blagging

"Yes, in fact, I am expecting a flood. A rather deep one, too. Any minute now. Annnnny minute now..."

Finalist: Worst Sacrum Tattoo of 2007.

John misunderstood Salome and thought they were going to put a plate in his head...

o/` Heaven... must have sent me a ninja... o/`

When JP went vegan, he really went all the way, refusing to eat anything that wasn't actively growing at his own table at meal time.

"Mmmmm... licorice..."

(Original images, #0684, posted here, here, here, here, here and here. Random Flickr Blogging explained by Tom Hilton, here.)

The Names Have Been Changed to Implicate The Guilty

Okay, Tom Hilton, founder of If I Ran The Zoo, whom I consider a good friend and blogging colleague, is asking for a link to Your Best Post Ever, and so I'm looking through my archives right now. (With little hope, I might add, because, egalitarian site that this is, all my posts are my best posts -- want to read my best post? Read my last post.) But, be that as it may, I ran across this particular little piece from a couple years back that, allowing for one single name change, is perfectly relevant today. Scary and sad and depressing.

Still searching for that "Best Post" thing, though that's like trying to find the Hope Diamond in a mountain of fool's gold... or something equally mixed metaphorical and non-sequiturish.

One thing I am discovering is that I was a hell of a lot more prolific in the early days of this blog... and a much better writer. What happened?!?