Regarding Al Gore's Nobel Peace Prize... is the irony lost on anyone?

"There are several layers of irony and poetic justice wrapped into this honor. The first is that the greatest step for world peace would simply have been for Gore not to have had the presidency stolen from him in November 2000. By every just measure, Gore won the presidency in 2000 only to have George W. Bush steal it from him with the critical assistance of the US Supreme Court. It's worth taking a few moments today to consider where the country and world would be without that original sin of this corrupt presidency."

~Talking Points Memo

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What does Al know that we don't?

What does Al know that we don't? by Steven Weber

Why, given the opportunity that's been presented to him on a silver Prius, is this man not going to run for (and win) the presidency of the United States? If ever there was a clarion call to be answered it is this one: heed the will of the majority of the people, take back the yoke Bush and his cracked team of highjackers have used to steer the country into the ground and pull the ship skyward again.

Why, after his self-imposed banishment to the wilderness (suburbia), where he along with every other sentient being has observed the feckless evil of the current executive tenant and his Neo-posse, does he demur? Could he know that any run at the office would surely turn out to be a hollow chrysalis which, after gestation, would not incubate a butterfly but more likely belch forth a wingless, blind slug; that an educated, experienced, wise adult can lead more effectively and make more of a difference by being an activist/celebrity and riding a wave of pop-culture popularity, rather than relying upon the rusted and jury-rigged contraption quaintly referred to as the electoral process?

Maybe Al knows that America (to paraphrase Paddy Chayefsky) is a dying giant, that perhaps she is dead already. And the "business of government" is merely the scramble of organisms over the carcass's wan, flaking skin; any rumbles from within aren't the sounds of legislators engaged in constructive debate but the gasses issuing from the anuses of the bacteria digesting the sad corpse's putrefying innards. Are we destined to have the presidency so finally and utterly mediocritized that it no longer holds any attraction for the most qualified person in recent memory who would imbue it with the honor and prestige it -- and we -- deserve?

Well then, that's what Al must know. Because only that kind of realization would prevent him from participating. He says that politics no longer holds any allure for him. And really, why should it? He won an Oscar, for chrissakes. He's raised awareness of a real issue that actually effects us all in a way that makes him truly a uniter -- not a divider. He is the world's activist uncle. George Bush standing in front of his American Enterprise Institute portable backdrop can barely scrape up a strangulated hosanna from his meticulously vetted and dwindling audiences.

Having only once appropriated the toxic phrase "cut and run" to describe the result of catching my fishnet stockings on a partially extruded staple embedded in the side of a bed post (A long, dull story. Forget I mentioned it.) I am forced to resurrect it once again. It's an extremely ugly phrase, wielded by extremely ugly people but I will use it as that mediocre apparatchik/harridan Jean Schmidt never intended: to provoke the discouraged conscience of the marginalized true-patriot who would ably restore what has been so ignobly destroyed. On second thought, it's so shallow and inflammatory that I can't stand to apply it even in a good cause. There has to be some other way to convince this man of his worth. May be we need to convince him of our worth?

Because this country, for all its gaudy fascinations, for all its daily desperation to fend off reality by consuming goods from China as though they were oxygen atoms is also a country of souls betrayed by their loyalty to the idea of America the beautiful, the judicious and the brave. And it is not the loyalty itself that is at issue but those whom we have entrusted with it. A presidential election is not a parlor game, though it may resemble one far too closely. It is as close to being a sacred exercise as this secular republic asks of its congregants. We require a real leader now, one with a true understanding of the importance of why this country must function correctly and efficiently. We and the world depend on it. So here's your hat. And there's the ring. America needs you need to lead us now more than ever.

That's what we know that Al doesn't.

A wee bit pretentious, but effective.

link

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The Asheville-based Applied Visualization Lab is premiering its climate and visualization expertise on the global stage at the 5th International Symposium on Digital Earth in Berkeley, CA, June 5 - 9, 2007.

Digital Earth is a visionary concept for "spaceship Earth" sparked by R. Buckminster Fuller, grokked by the Apollo astronauts returning from their moon missions, and popularized by Vice President Al Gore.

Inside the portable GeoDome™ (developed by The Elumenati from Asheville), Digital Earth attendees will experience a unique animation of the effects of weather, development and land use through the story of how a storm moves through Western North Carolina.

Imagine sitting in dark domed room where a sky overhead suddenly reveals ominous thunderstorms forming. There's a steady sound of rain, and then thunder reverberates as lightning flashes all around you. This dramatic, engaging display sets the tone for the animated visualization, "Water in Western North Carolina." The story unfolds as audience members fly high over the Earth, learning about the qualities and importance of the water that covers two-thirds of the planet.

The Elumenati's dome theaters, exhibits and installations are delightfully innovative with some of their clients including Hewlett-Packard, NASA, Disney, Burning Man, Circe de Solei.

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2004 Presidential Debate Drinking Game

I knew there had to be a Debate Drinking Game out there someplace; a google search led me to Wonkette's version. I agree that we don't need another excuse to drink, as the sun rising in the morning was as good as any other excuse. was. So, anytime:



• Anyone tells that story about Bobby Kennedy turning up the thermostat before the Kennedy-Nixon debate: Take a sip of a hot toddy.

• Doris Kearns Goodwin mentions Lyndon Johnson: Pee outside.

• Someone shows a clip of Al Gore sighing: Recount your chads.

• A Republican operative compares Kerry to a classical orator: Drink an ouzo-and-hemlock cocktail.

• A Democrat operative uses the phrase "can't run on his record": Go to Stetson's.

• A Republican operative cites Kerry's prep school debate team experience: Try on a cheerleader outfit.

• A Democrat operative says that Bush "has never lost a debate": Try to look yourself in the eye.

• Someone plays the "you're no Jack Kennedy" clip: Lose anyway.

• Someone proclaims that "the entire race may come down to this": Move to Canada. (Better make room: Bryn, Maggie, Kim, Kevin, Linda, Lynn, Riri...)



Start drinking for real after the jump.



Drink One Sip If:

Anyone says "terrorism"

Anyone says "Halliburton"

Anyone says "flip flop"

Anyone says "Saddam Hussein"

Anyone blames "the media"

Anyone mentions their own military service

Anyone says "September 11"

One candidate interrupts another candidate



Drink Two Sips If:

Bush says "cut and run"

Kerry says "W stands for wrong"

Either candidate talks past their time limit

Kerry brings up Bush's "Mission Accomplished" moment

Bush mentions Crawford, TX

Anyone looks at the wrong camera

Anyone whips out "evidence"

Anyone says "Osama bin Laden"

Anyone mentions blogs

Anyone invokes the hurricane sympathy vote

Anyone mentions "North Korea"

Kerry mentions Bush wants to reinstate the draft

Everytime you see anyone wearing the yellow "LiveSTRONG" bracelet



Finish Your Glass If:

Anyone in the audience gets dragged out of the auditorium

Anyone in the audience gets off an unscripted question

Bush mispronounces any word or name

Anyone says "Osama bin Hidin'"

Anyone uses a sports metaphor

Anyone attempts to speak Spanish to pander to Latinos



Do a Shot If:

Bush mentions the deficit

Bush accuses Kerry of being "French on terrorism"

Kerry accuses Bush of being a pansy for avoiding Vietnam

Bush admits he made a mistake ("miscalculation" counts)

Ralph Nader shows up insisting on airtime



Finish the Bottle If:

Anyone challenges anyone to a duel

The moderator rips off his mask to reveal his true identity is Karl Rove

(via wonkette)

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Honest Bloggers Quiz

1. Which political party do you typically agree with? Democrats.

2. Which political party do you typically vote for? Democrats

3. List the last five presidents that you voted for. Al Gore 2000, Bill Clinton 1996, Bill Clinton 1992, Mike Dukakis 1988, Walter Mondale 1984.

4. Which party do you think is smarter about the economy?Democrats

5. Which party do you think is smarter about domestic affairs? Democrats

6. Do you think we should keep our troops in Iraq or pull them out? Set an agreed upon date, pull out all military and contractors. Give Iraq their country back in full control; not pseudo control. If it runs in the ditch, it's theirs to fix. If it flies, great.

7. Who, or what country, do you think is most responsible for 9/11? We've always been hated and it was almost inevitable, but international relations were worked on diligently to keep us safe. Most helpful? I think Carter and Clinton. Most destructive? Bushes 41 & 43.

8. Do you think we will find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? Let me consult my 8-Ball. It says, "Fat chance, motherfucker."

9. Yes or no, should the U.S. legalize marijuana? Yes.

10. Do you think the Republicans stole the last presidental election? Yes.

11. Do you think Bill Clinton should have been impeached because of what he did with Monica Lewinski? No.

12. Do you think Hillary Clinton would make a good president? I'd have to hear more about her plans.

13. Name a current Democrat who would make a great president: Bill Clinton

14. Name a current Republican who would make a great president. I don't think there is one.

15. Do you think that women should have the right to have an abortion? Yes.

16. What religion are you? Currently a practicing Buddhist.

17. Have you read the Bible all the way through? No.

18. What's your favorite book? Even Cowgirl's Get The Blues, Tom Robbins.

19. Who is your favorite band? Rolling Stones.

20. Who do you think you'll vote for president in the next election? Kerry.

21. What website did you see this on first? Post Human Blues

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Re-Defeat Bush is an activist group's weblog. They also have condoms that say "Re-defeat Bush - Don't Get Screwed Again". What if more businesses had their own condoms? McCondoms - You deserve a d*ck today!



Nice vintage posters [via: growabrain]



Artist did a portrait using only candy hearts. Pretty impressive.



Edited @ 2:30 pm - **Click Here to listen to Air America LIVE online. Al Franken's O'Franken Factor premiere show was great. Al Gore called in to wish him well. Michael Moore was a guest and the running gag was that Ann Coulter's screaming from the back room where they'd locked her in and just generally raising all sorts of hell. Hillary Clinton will be on tomorrow and Richard Clarke on Friday. Randi Rhodes show's up after Al's; and she's explaining Bush as the Fredo of the family. And Janeane Garofalo is up from 8:00pm - 11:00pm est.



{local} Local clothing designer is well on her way. Brooke Priddy, 26, has been making her own clothes since the age of 10. She once twisted a Twister mat into a skirt, exhibiting a creativity that in her teens morphed into a "Mad Max" look - leathers and boots, ripped and frayed. "Amazon goddess" is her self-described current phase - "super-empowered, sexual, flowing, beautiful, straight out of the sky like an angel." After getting her Fine Arts degree, she settled in Asheville. I wish her much success. [link]



I still miss my ex-husband. Will my aim ever improve?

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Good Morning. I couldn't get Skyler up this morning. I tried every five minutes. She finally got up at 9 and I just took her to school. Speaking of her, this morning the keyboard had rice on it. Yes, rice. She had Chinese last night. Really, if I didn't hose it down each day, it'd be a freakin' smorgasboard here. How gross can a teenage girl be?



{spirit} Want a Tarot reading? Facade also has other fascinating entertainment. I-Ching, Runes, Numerology, and Biorhythms.



{flashback} From Oct 3, 2002 Post- 1) Ari Fleischer spinning outta control; 2) 'The Firesign Theatre'; 3) If the US and Iraq do go to war; And 4) Al Gore. Wow, what a difference a year makes.



{music} 7-part series The Blues on PBS has been exceptional. Tonight's show (part 6) is about the music of the early sixties British invasion that reintroduced the blues sound to America with Eric Clapton and Cream, Jeff Beck, the Stones, and more influenced by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and others.



{weird} I Read It On The Internet So It Must Be True Dept - In Tasmania, a widow is required to wear her dead husband’s penis around her neck for a period of time after his death. [via: andreas ohrt]



{quote} Love the earth and sun and animals,

Despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks,

Stand up for the stupid and crazy,

Devote your income and labor to others...

And your very flesh shall be a great poem.

~Walt Whitman



Confucious say: He who stands on toilet is high on pot.

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Good Morning to everyone. I'm really glad you stopped by. I've been up since 3:00 am to do my weekly out of state trip, so I'll soon need to grab a nap.



If you're a country, you can sign up for the Do Not Bomb List. [via: j-walk]



Jack Black's School Of Rock Blog. Can you say over-exposure, kids?



Al Gore in Talks to Buy TV News Channel - He could probably do more good for true fair and balanced news in this public sector. I'm rooting for ya, Al, baby.



{quote} And then the day comes when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anais Nin



Change your mind; it's starting to smell.

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Gore Says Bush Policies Damage Economy


Former Vice President Al Gore charged Wednesday that President George W. Bush's economic policies, as much as the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, have damaged the U.S. economy and that the administration's unwillingness to change could allow the world economy to spiral into recession. I'm reminded of the Emperor's New Clothes story for some reason every time Gore holds forth. And never in a million years thought Al Gore would be the most outspoken political figure that we have. Testify, Al. Everyone else is still stuttering. [via: upi.com]

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Robyn salutes Bush as he does the 'hook 'em horns' sign.



A Momentum Building?


I've noticed people publically speaking out against the potential war in Iraq. Until very recently, the Democratic silence was deafening. Until, the president-elect, Al Gore, spoke out on Bush's preemptive war doctrine. The wheels are in motion, people. Then Daschel found his cajones on the Senate floor, dusted them off, and barked at Bush a little, too. On deck was Ted Kennedy, voicing his opposition. Robert Byrd came before him, but I'm not sure I understood his rant. We've had more folks display their idea of letting war be the last choice instead of the first choice. No war is the best choice, but if we can move Bush away from having it at the top of his agenda, it's a start. London had a massive march this weekend as hundreds of thousands spoke out and marched in the streets. DC is speaking out against the war as part of the demonstration against the IMF/World Bank. There seems to be momentum building. I like it. I recall a time when it wasn't popular to be against the Vietnam war, but I still marched and protested against it. Every chance I got. Years later, most everyone agrees it was wrong for us to have been there.

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