Beware of the Newt
"Now he's back, preaching the gospel of party moderation."
Watch out for Newt.
Rhianna's Groovy Tarot BLOG: What's in The Cards?
Blog of Rhianna, a Groovy Fortuneteller: read about political & economic rants and rambles as Rhianna reveals crystal ball forecasts and tarot card predictions with a mystical twist on celebrity gossip, fortunetelling, current events, astrology, humor, entertainment, news and advice.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Portugal Bars Dutch Abortion Ship From Docking; Defense Ministry Threatens To Use Force
Portugal Bars Dutch Abortion Ship From Docking; Defense Ministry Threatens To Use Force
"The operators of the Dutch Women on Waves ship said on Sunday that the vessel will stay outside of Portuguese waters until it is given permission to dock in the country, following an announcement by the Portuguese Defense Ministry that it would use force to bar the ship from entering its territorial water to provide abortion services and contraception, Agence France-Presse reports (Agence France-Presse, 8/30). "
Kerry's wavering on abortion
Kerry's wavering on abortion
"Kerry is trying to have it both ways. He wants to talk about being pro-life and the Bible's support for that position. Then he hopes to split the differences and somehow merge that view with the controversial Roe v. Wade decision.
That is a difficult merger. A baby is a human being in the womb, or it is just a blob of protoplasm. It can't be both at the same time. That is what the abortion debate has been all about, for 30 years.
The issue deserves debate also because the pro-abortion rights position has led to unintended consequences. Abortion is often used not to save the lives of mothers, but to avoid the inconvenience of children.
Amy Richards wrote in the New York Times magazine this summer about how she needed to abort two of the three children in her womb because of the inconvenience that three would bring"
Life is not a convenience to throw away.
Do you think that you are not affected by the abortion debates? If abortion is wholeheartedly embraced, what will stop Euthanasia?
Web addicts escape army conscription
Yahoo! News - Web addicts escape army conscription: "HELSINKI (Reuters) - A number of Finnish conscripts have been excused their full term of military service because they are addicted to the Internet, the Finnish Defence Forces says."
Why Bush is on the carpet with Hoover
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Why Bush is on the carpet with Hoover
"As Bush's term has followed the eight years of economic boom under Bill Clinton, the Hoover comparison is one that hurts.
It hands Democratic challenger John Kerry one of his strongest cards in the campaign.
It has been touch and go all year as to whether jobs growth, measured by monthly non-farm payrolls data, would be sufficiently rapid to save Bush from having to adopt the Hoover mantle.
But the low new jobs figure of 32,000 in July, compared with a Wall Street forecast of a 220,000 gain, combined with a downward revision of 50,000 to the jobs numbers of the previous two months, means Bush needs almost a quarter of a million new jobs a month between now and the end of the year to replace all the jobs lost since he took power in 2000."
Uh oh -- Both candidates are like Hoover?
Timothy Kane on John Kerry, Herbert Hoover, the Great Depression, and Economic Policy on NRO Financial
"History reminds us that presidents cannot control the economic winds. But they can change the direction of the sails.
What were Hoover’s policy responses to the Great Depression? He persuaded Congress to raise the top income-tax rate from 25 percent to 63 percent. Hoover also signed the Smoot-Hawley tariff, a 40 percent tax on imports. But aren’t higher taxes on the rich and protectionism against outsourcing Kerry’s signature issues? Every time outsourcing is mentioned in this campaign, voters should recognize Hoover’s fingerprints on the Kerry economic agenda."
Ad compares Bush to Herbert Hoover on economy | The Arizona Daily Star ?
Ad compares Bush to Herbert Hoover on economy | The Arizona Daily Star ? He sure does sound like Hoover lately.
Poverty Rates Continue to Rise Under Bush
Baltimore Times - Article - national news
"In addition to the increase in poverty, overall Census Bureau figures show that the number of uninsured Americans rose to 45 million in 2003, up 1.4 million from 2002 when 43.6 million Americans were uninsured. In 2000, the year Bush was elected, 39.8 million were uninsured.
'The year 2003 marked the third straight year that living standards have deteriorated, with poverty increasing, the number of uninsured climbing, and the income of the typical household stagnating,' says Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities."
Sound like a Candidate you know?
Herbert Hoover
The President
From Washington Merry-Go-Round (1931)"He came in on the high tide of a prosperity which he claimed was wholly the act of the Republican Party. It was a golden era that under his ministrations would be broadened and deepened in its fruitfulness. He was the apostle of the New Economic Order, promising a chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage.
A year later millions were walking the streets out of work. Thousands of factories have been shut down. Thousands of concerns and businesses have gone into bankruptcy, and hundreds of banks have crashed and failed. Agricultural prices have sunk to the lowest levels in thirty years. Exports have fallen off hundreds of millions of dollars and throughout the length and breadth of the land there is want, hunger, despair, and tragedy.
When he entered the White House he was the hero of great humanitarian exploits. In Europe and Russia he had fed millions. He had never hesitated to come before Congress and ask for vast sums for this purpose.
When disaster overwhelmed millions of his own countrymen in the city and on the farm, he suddenly developed austere scruples."
http://www.monmouth.com/~colonel/hoover.html
Monday, August 30, 2004
Yahoo! News - UPDATE: Roger Altman on Jobs Numbers Out This Week and the Bush Economy Heading Into the Election; New Time - 1 p.m. ET
The many faces of John Kerry
The many faces of John Kerry
Remember when the Daily News displayed a picture of John Kerry next to a picture of Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster? Well, Kerry's flip-flopping can be reminiscent of another scary character:
"Sounds familiar? Someone wrote a book about it in the 1800s--it’s called Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. During his 19 years as a career politician and Washington insider, Kerry has never let a little thing like principle get in his way. He’s made a career out of balancing between the Democratic Party’s conservative and the liberal wings.from http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-1/485/485_05_Kerry.shtml
That’s why, last week in Greenville, S.C., Kerry declared that he was going to "hold Bush accountable" for the war in Iraq. But just as easily, he could boast to his Republican critics, "I have voted for the largest defense budgets in the history of our country."
Kerry has taken several liberal positions during his career, only to take them back years later."
Does anyone else picture political candidates in Halloween costumes? Kerry does take the prize as Frankenstein, or another Herman Munster.
Vice President Dick Cheney would look great as Nosferatu. How about President Bush? Does President Bush look more like the Wolfman or the Devil?
No matter the outcome of Election 2004, Halloween is going to be a blast with all these scary candidates.
Bush's House of Cards
Bush's House of Cards by Dean Baker
Dean Baker is the co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
"The red-hot housing market has forced up home prices nationwide by 35 percent after adjusting for inflation. There is no precedent for this sort of increase in home prices. Historically, home prices have moved at roughly the same pace as the overall rate of inflation. While the bubble has not affected every housing market--in large parts of the country home prices have remained pretty much even with inflation--in the bubble areas, primarily on the two coasts, home prices have exceeded the overall rate of inflation by 60 percentage points or more.
The housing enthusiasts, led by Alan Greenspan, insist that the run-up is not a bubble, but rather reflects fundamental factors in the demand for housing. They cite several factors that could explain the price surge: a limited supply of urban land, immigration increasing the demand for housing, environmental restrictions on building, and rising family income leading to increased demand for housing.
A quick examination shows that none of these explanations holds water. Land is always in limited supply; that fact never led to such a widespread run-up in home prices in the past. Immigration didn't just begin in the late nineties. Also, most recent immigrants are low-wage workers. They are not in the market for the $500,000 homes that middle-class families now occupy in bubble-inflated markets. Furthermore, the demographic impact of recent immigration rates pales compared to the impact of baby boomers first forming their first households in the late seventies and eighties. And that did not lead to a comparable boom in home prices."
BW Online | August 30, 2004 | Nothing to Fear but the Election Itself
BW Online | August 30, 2004 | Nothing to Fear but the Election Itself: "Market strategist Barry Ritholtz says this election has loads of wild cards, and that's making the Street jittery "
(DV) McGovern: Swift and Intelligent Smokescreen
(DV) McGovern: Swift and Intelligent Smokescreen
" What do the president’s nomination of Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., to head the CIA and the seemingly contradictory proposal of Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., to dismember the CIA have in common with tales of Swift boats once in Vietnam? Answer: The proven potential of all three to grab the headlines and draw attention away from President George W. Bush’s most serious vulnerabilities in this key pre-election period."
Center for Economic and Policy Research
Center for Economic and Policy Research
"CEPR promotes democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives."
Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide
Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide
"Political Issue
`The Fed chairman has put out a warning that the markets ignore at their peril,'' said Christopher Rupkey, senior financial economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in New York. `The greying of America could force interest rates up substantially with the Fed powerless to respond.'
Social Security is a political issue in the U.S. during this presidential election year. In his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston July 29, nominee John Kerry suggested he would consider tax increases to close the funding gap. `As president, I will not privatize Social Security. I will not cut benefits,' he said.
President George W. Bush, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, yesterday, said that younger workers should be `concerned' about the fiscal stability of Social Security, and again pitched private retirement savings. `I believe younger workers ought to be able to own a personal retirement account they call their own, so they can pass it on from one generation to the next,' he said."
(DV) Mayer: History is on the Side of the Nader Candidacy
Vote your beliefs and for the candidate who is most qualified and most courageous
"Polls show that if the election were held today, Kerry would win because of his lead in the swing states. History suggests this will not be a close race. Close Presidential races come along once or twice a century and it is unlikely that we will have two in a row based on historical patterns.
If the economy doesn’t start producing more jobs, Kerry could win in a landslide. If Osama Bin Laden is captured, Bush will win in a landslide. Either of these scenarios is more likely than another photo finish like the 2000 election.
If one accepts that the race might not be close, then progressives might want to rethink their stance on the Nader candidacy and elevate their sense of their own importance in the political history of the country. "
Party Favors
Party Favors: "New campaign finance rules haven't stopped lobbyists from bankrolling lavish fetes at the conventions."
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Pixel2Life.com - Tutorial Index & Search Engine - Hosting Provided by ServerSeed
Pixel2Life.com - Tutorial Index & Search Engine - Hosting Provided by ServerSeed
"Pixel2Life is a Tutorial Index & Search Engine for designers and programmers. Thousands of tutorials, free image hosting, Photoship plugins & Filters, Free 3D models and much more! Tutorials, Tutorial Index, Tutorial Search Engine, Flash, Macromedia, Adobe, Photoshop, Corel, Coreldraw, Photopaint, HTML Tips and Tricks, PHP Coding, ASP, SQL, Free Image Hosting, Forums, Help, Search, Free Tutorials, Sig Files, 3d Studio Max, 3D Models, Downloads, Filters, Plug-Ins, Brushes, Meshes"
GreenvilleOnline.com - GOP 'cautiously upbeat' as delegates gather in N.Y.
GreenvilleOnline.com - GOP 'cautiously upbeat' as delegates gather in N.Y.
"Cautiously optimistic but embattled Republicans are assembling in New York today for a national convention they hope will offer enough bounce to give President Bush a second term."
If the GOP is looking for some bounce, they should just ask Britney Spears to chew some wads of pink bubble gum and then to throw pieces of it to the delegates of the Convention.
Some of the delegates were wondering whether they really wanted to go to NYC: after all, they'd have to face traffic gridlock, hot subways, and then on top of that there will be a number of protesters (There's something about NYC that brings out the protester in a person).
The delegates were giving careful consideration to all the possible obstacles, *but* then word came out that Britney Spears might be coming to the Convention. As far as the delegates were concerned, Britney's appearance would make the Convention worthwhile.
Why would Britney show up? Britney is looking for juicy tax credits and some gum.
There's a rumor that Topps Candy & Gum just might give Britney some Bazooka Bubble Gum to blow. Wow, that will really instill a sense of excitement. If Britney will be blowing bubbles, tell the delegates to be upbeat but to be cautious & watch where they step.
Winston-Salem Journal | Democratic team in New York to counter GOP convention
Winston-Salem Journal | Democratic team in New York to counter GOP convention: "A Democratic 'rapid response team' is in New York, eager to remind Americans of the many domestic problems that President Bush and his administration have not solved, Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa says."
Britney Spears at GOP Convention?
NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story
Maybe Britney will spit out a wad of gum and offer it as a campaign contribution.
Mirror.co.uk - BRITNEY'S OLD GUM SELLING ON INTERNET
Mirror.co.uk - BRITNEY'S OLD GUM SELLING ON INTERNET
"INTERNET auction site eBay was forced to withdraw a discarded lump of Britney Spears's chewing gum after boasts it contained her DNA.
Bids had already reached 280 (Pounds Sterling) when the site realised the sale contravened its Human Body Parts and Remains policy."
Alice slams anti-Bush rockers
Alice slams anti-Bush rockers
"Despite his strong insistence that rock has no place in politics, Cooper is one of just a handful of high-profile musicians who've proclaimed support for Bush.
The list of pop-culture Republicans includes Britney Spears, Toby Keith and Ted Nugent, the latter being one of Cooper's old buddies from his early days in Detroit."
Florida voters deadlocked, survey shows; Bush, Kerry at 46% each: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Florida voters deadlocked, survey shows; Bush, Kerry at 46% each: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
"Apparently boosted by his rapid response to the ravages of Hurricane Charley, President Bush has pulled dead even with Democratic challenger John Kerry in the presidential race in Florida.
The race is as close as it can be: 46 percent for Bush, 46 percent for Kerry, 2 percent for independent Ralph Nader and 6 percent undecided, according to a statewide poll commissioned by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Florida Times-Union."
Saturday, August 28, 2004
sundaymail - STRANGE BUT TRUE: BIZARRE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD : FORTUNE COOKIES
sundaymail - STRANGE BUT TRUE: BIZARRE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD : FORTUNE COOKIES Someone won using numbers printed on the fortunes.
Polls Continue to Predict Tight US Presidential Election
VOANews.com: "Some new public opinion polls suggest the U.S. presidential election remains very tight and that an unusually high number of voters have already decided which candidate they will support."
Ready.gov - From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Ready.gov - From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
"All Americans should begin a process of learning about potential threats so we are better prepared to react during an attack. While there is no way to predict what will happen, or what your personal circumstances will be, there are simple things you can do now to prepare yourself and your loved ones."
Moontool for Windows
Moontool for Windows: "Moontool for Windows is a Microsoft Windows application which calculates the phase of the Moon at either the current time or at any user-specified time and displays a picture of the Moon at the correct phase, either as a system tray icon or in an open window."
Your Sky -- How did the sky appear when you were born?
Predict your future skies
Your Sky
" Your Sky makes custom maps of the sky for any location on Earth and any date from 4713 B.C. into the distant future. Maps can include stars as faint as magnitude 6.5, constellation names, outlines, and boundaries, the Moon and planets, deep sky objects from a database of more than 500, and a comet or asteroid whose position is calculated from its orbital elements. A variety of display options allow customising the map for its intended use."
Javascript SkyPlanner
Javascript SkyPlanner
"Skyplanner is a tool for graphically presenting ephemeris data for astronomical objects. The data is displayed as charts to get a quick overview of the visibility etc of the desired object. Skyplanner has many uses. It is obviously of interest to lunar and planetary observers to identify good times for observation of selected objects. Deep sky observers want to know when that "irritating" Moon is well hidden below the horizon. And it is also a great tool for simply investigating the mechanics of the movements of the planets and the Moon."
Notes to Javascript SkyPlanner
Ole's Astronomy Site
Transit Kalculator
Transit Kalculator
"This Transit Kalculator allows you to look at how the planets in the sky right now are affecting the planets in your own birthchart (or any other chart, for that matter). User Instructions are after the applet and data entry form, while the Help Pages contain links to supplemental information. See the System Requirements section..."
High energy prices slow economy
Observer-Reporter
"Soaring energy prices have taken a toll on economic activity, aggravating the U.S. trade deficit as the nation's foreign oil bill swelled and making consumers less willing to spend.
The yawning trade deficit in the second quarter -- which hit a record $588.7 billion on an annualized basis -- shaved 1.4 percentage points off the GDP. That was worse than first thought."
Kerry attacks Bush on sluggish economy
Kerry outlined a plan to crack down on predatory lenders: "DALY CITY, Calif. -- John Kerry on Friday hammered President Bush for a sluggish economy and failing to protect consumers from the 'debt trap' set by predatory lenders, as the Democratic nominee prepared to retreat to Nantucket, Mass., Saturday night and cede center stage to the Republican convention for much of the next week."
Commerce Department: Economy's growth falls short of initial projections
News - theworldlink.com - Serving the Great South Coast of Oregon
"WASHINGTON (AP) - Weighed down by high energy prices, the economy was even more sluggish than initially believed during the second quarter. But Federal Reserve policy-makers believe the pace will pick up in coming months, something President Bush is counting on as the election approaches.
The Commerce Department reported Friday that gross domestic product grew at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the April-to-June quarter, down from an earlier estimate of a 3 percent pace. The new GDP reading - the smallest gain in just over a year - indicated the economy slowed considerably compared with the brisk 4.5 percent growth rate in the first quarter of 2004."
ABCNEWS.com : Kerry, Greenspan Differ on Social Security
ABCNEWS.com : Kerry, Greenspan Differ on Social Security: "John Kerry, Alan Greenspan Offer Different Perspectives on Social Security"
Son of Margaret Thatcher lead mercenaries from the former USSR - PRAVDA.Ru
Son of Margaret Thatcher lead mercenaries from the former USSR - PRAVDA.Ru: "The South African police arrested the son of the former Prime Minister of Great Britain Margaret Thatcher.
51-year-old Mark Thatcher is suspected of funding and providing technical assistance to the mercenaries who were plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea."
Rhianna's Element is Water (fitting for a Pisces!)
You're Element is Water. You are soft and serene at
most times but like Wind, you're scary when
you're mad. You proabaly have a talent is
singing and even your speaking voice is lovely.
You have an innocent type of beauty that makes
you look younger than you are and you like
close relationships with people.
What's Your Element(girls)? (PICTURES)
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Rhianna Knows Pink!
You're Pink!
Rate a 5 to see a picture of a hot
guy... Send me a message!
What is your color? (girls only... great anime pics)
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