Sign him now.

I'm willing to bet that's some serious left-handed heat. I'm not so sure about Leia as pitching coach, though.

'Je me souviens' (Montreal 2005)

I wish I took more pictures, especially when I travel, but I resist for two reasons:

1. I don't want to look like a tourist, even though it's pretty obvious that I am one. Pretty dumb reason. And it's not like I give a shit if I see a tourist in Boston snapping pics.

2. I don't want to look like Asian guy taking pics of everything, even though everybody takes pictures these days. Another pretty dumb reason.

Anyway, here are a few from the trip...

A corner of Saint Catherine's St. (the main commercial street of Montreal). On the right is the Much Music building.

There's a lot of interesting graffiti in the east end of Saint Catherine's, where all the punk kids hang out.

I wish I had a nicer camera or actual talent in photography, but I'd like to think this shot kind of sums up the city: Shiny and new, old and beautiful, naked chicks at strip clubs.

Like the previous photo, sans club danseuses.

"A Monument to Universal Justice."

"The ethnically divided Bosnian city of Mostar has agreed to erect a new symbol of unity -- a statue of kung fu legend Bruce Lee, worshipped by Muslims, Serbs and Croats."

Kind of crazy, but really cool. (Saw this article on AngryAsianMan)

Bill Maher's New Rules:

New Rule: America must recall the president. That's what this country needs. A good, old-fashioned, California-style recall election! Complete with Gary Coleman, porno actresses and action film stars. And just like Schwarzenegger's predecessor here in California, George Bush is now so unpopular, he must defend his job against...Russell Crowe. Because at this point, I want a leader who will throw a phone at somebody. In fact, let's have only phone throwers. Naomi Campbell can be the vice-president!

Now, I kid, but seriously, Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you anymore. There's no more money to spend. You used up all of that. You can't start another war because you also used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people.

Yeah, listen to your mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit card's maxed out, and no one is speaking to you: mission accomplished! Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service. And the oil company. And the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or spaceman?!

Now, I know what you're saying. You're saying that there's so many other things that you, as president, could involve yourself in...Please don't. I know, I know, there's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela, and eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote. But, sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man.

Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire metropolis to rising water and snakes.

On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two Trade Centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans...Maybe you're just not lucky!

I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side. So, yes, God does speak to you, and what he's saying is, "Take a hint."

Cartoon.

Carmina Burana? More like Carmina Bore-ama.

Can we get a moratorium on playing 'Carmina Burana' at sporting events? Jesus.

Random Katrina stuff.

I got the following articles from Andrew Sullivan's excellent blog:

From Slate :: How race shaped Bush's response to Katrina.

"Had the residents of New Orleans been white Republicans in a state that mattered politically, instead of poor blacks in city that didn't, Bush's response surely would have been different. Compare what happened when hurricanes Charley and Frances hit Florida in 2004. Though the damage from those storms was negligible in relation to Katrina's, the reaction from the White House was instinctive, rapid, and generous to the point of profligacy. Bush visited hurricane victims four times in six weeks and delivered relief checks personally. Michael Brown of FEMA, now widely regarded as an incompetent political hack, was so responsive that local officials praised the agency's performance."

From Halifax Live :: Canadians Arrived In New Orleans Five Days Before The U.S. Military.

They came all the way from fucking Vancouver and still beat FEMA and the National Guard.

From the Salt Lake Tribune :: Frustrated: Fire crews to hand out fliers for FEMA

"Many of the firefighters, assembled from Utah and throughout the United States by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, thought they were going to be deployed as emergency workers.
Instead, they have learned they are going to be community-relations officers for FEMA, shuffled throughout the Gulf Coast region to disseminate fliers and a phone number: 1-800-621-FEMA."

Sign it!

http://www.petitiononline.com/FEMA/petition.html

Musings.

From Peggy Hill's collection of unused/unusable 'Musings':

"Lots of cookies will make you fat."

"Sunburn, too much of a good thing."

"Give a donkey the chance and he will bite you in the ass."

"Mix pineapple juice with club soda, you've got yourself a big bucket of crap."

What the hell is going on?

How can this be happening in the United States? Why is the federal government so slow to respond? Why are they blaming the local authorities? What is it about the Bush administration and all of their cronies who would rather pass the buck than actually accept responsibility? Where is the federal leadership? How can conservative right-wingers actually have the gall to blame the poor for not having enough money or resources to leave? Who are these lecherous fucks looting and raping? Where are the soldiers and police force to stop them? Who the fuck is sniping at the hospital? Where is Dick Cheney? Who the fuck cares about Trent Lott's house? Does FEMA chief Michael Brown have his head up his ass, or is he just stupid?

Ray Nagin, mayor of New Orleans: righteous anger.

Not to politicize a catastrophe, but heads better roll for this massive fuckup. Nobody is ever accountable with this administration. Seeing as how the federal government decreased hurricane spending in Louisiana for the last five years, how they wouldn't supply the Army Core of Engineers (who volunteered to strengthen the levees for no cost), and how they colossally failed in their disaster response in all phases (security, food and water, shelter, evacuation, manpower, medical aid), people need to be made examples of.

[ American Red Cross ]
[ America's Second Harvest ]