At the pearly gates

It really sickens me how our government wastes our money under a
supposedly transparent shroud of lies. Our budget can not truly be
balanced with unjustified partisan dissent. Our foreign policy relies
on promoting free market capitalist ideals, largely on countries stuck
in the poverty trap and with equally corrupt leaders.

another player

As Pakistan desperately tries to escape the grip of military rule, a violent act reminds them that transition isn't always easy. People have been waiting years for a new leader, a breath of fresh air in a dangerous region. Former prime minister Bhutto, who had returned from exile just months earlier, was the person who could steer Pakistan in the right direction. A country riddled with terrorism and political uncertainty, the Pakistani people must be patient and show through voting that they will not be coerced by violence.

floating through the agri-abyss

sun kil moon playing

the rails are alive

the sun beats down

running the numbers

Chris Jordan is an artist that uses statistics to display the wasteful and irresponsible culture of America. He takes pictures of daily discarded items and uses small symbols to create large mosaics, representing the relationship between the existence and responsibility of a single life and the environment.

http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=

Helen Thomas

From the White House press conference on Friday, November 30th, 2007:

Helen Thomas: No troops out from Iraq on his watch. I know. I’m talking about all troops.

Dana Perino: Well, 5700 troops will be home by the end of the year so that is some troops coming home. The President said the troop levels are going to be made by the commanders on the ground and we are going to have to talk about return on success.

Helen Thomas: Why should it be? Why don’t the American people have a say?

Dana Perino: The American people have had a say. They elected a President who is their commander in chief and is making decisions based on what his commanders on the ground are telling him.


Helen Thomas: Do You think that was the vote from the American people?

Dana Perino: They elected a commander in chief and the President is bringing home 5700 troops based on the recommendations of his commanders on the ground and based on return on success. Hopefully in the future we can bring home more but it’s going to depend on what Gen Petraeus reports and remember he will come back in March.

Helen Thomas: Why should we depend on him?

Dana Perino: Because he is the commander on the ground, Helen. He’s the one who is making sure that the situation is moving —

Helen Thomas: You mean how many more people we kill?

Dana Perino: Helen, I find it really unfortunate that you use your front row position bestowed upon you by your colleagues to make such statements. This is. It is an honor and a privilege to be in the briefing room, and to suggest that we, at the United States, are killing innocent people is just absurd and very offensive.

Helen Thomas: Do you know how many we have since the start of this war?

Dana Perino: How many… We are going after the enemy, Helen. To the extent that any innocent Iraqis have been killed, we have expressed regret for it.

Helen Thomas: Oh, regret. It doesn’t bring back a life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8F1iAc9U0E