Hee Haw George Allen

Want to read what a phony dip shit Senator, and presidential candidate, George Allen is. Even his sister wrote about what a jerk he is? If so The New Republic has a piece on him. You must register for free is you want to read the whole article.

Republican Lawrence Wilkerson Speaks the Truth

What good does a two party system do the citizenry of the USA when the opposition party provides no opposition, particularly to the egregious acts of King George and his courtiers?
With a few notable exceptions, federally elected democrats have had little to say about the lies, abuses, monumental corruption, and extreme radicalism of [...]

The Woeful USA Senate

A USA Senate committee has spent seven months considering the federal government’s botched response to hurricane Katrina and has determined that FEMA should be disbanded. The report recommends nothing more than bureaucratic reshuffling the deck chairs. Further evidence that the Senate is populated by incompetents.
Those with memories will remember that President Bush Sr. had [...]

A Joke Making the Rounds

A joke, via Needlenose, apparently making the rounds.
George Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are flying on Air Force One.
The President looks at the Vice President, chuckles, and says, “You know, I could throw a $1,000 bill out the window right now and make somebody very happy.”
The Vice President shrugs and says, “Well, I could [...]

Pedi-powered Pickups

I’ve been meaning for some time to post a picture of one of these conveyances that are ubiquitous in Merida. Since Merida is essentially flat, their single speed is sufficient.
The units cost around 1,800 pesos and are used for a wide variety of purposes. Here a vendor is using his to peddle (pun entirely intended) [...]

The National Security State

Today I received a copy of wire transfer authorization form from my bank in the USA, land of the free, home of the brave, as the song goes.
There is the following question on the form:“To assist in complying with the USA Patriot Act requirements, please answer the following question: What is the purpose of [...]

Bush’s Iran Lies

Kevin Drum documents the rebuffing by the Bush administration of repeated Iranian offers of diplomatic discussions on a range of subjects. Bush and his band of lying lunatics continue to tell the world they are seeking diplomatic approaches to their grievances with Iranian policies, while having long ago settled on a military approach. [...]

Damn Dogs

I gave up many years ago on keeping pets, essentially because they are pains in the ass. In the case of dogs they dug in the garden, bothered the neighbors, or chased the sheep I used to keep. In the case of cats they tend to scratch things, like the woodwork. Additionally, [...]

Soap

Those who know El Gringo Loco well know that I prefer to make my own soap. I find simple soap composed of only vegetable shortening, water, and lye preferable to the store bought variety with fragrances and other additives.
The supply of home made soap I brought with me, some made from lamb fat, was [...]

I find this very interesting. A Cooperation Organ…

I find this very interesting. A Cooperation Organization of Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan can provide a potent counterweight to the neofascist global hegemonic ambitions. Coupled with the growth of South American Mercosur trade bloc, the European Union, and the hints by China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE [...]

The "Generals Revolt"

Steve Clemons has a very good discussion of the, six or so, retired generals who have called for Rumsfeld’s dimissal.While I agree with the generals sentiment, and somewhat wish they had the gumption to fall on their swords rather than wait until retirement, the concept of civilian control of the military, memorialized in our Constituion, [...]

Why A Single Payer System Would Be Less Expensive

Thanks to a link posted by Kevin Drum at Washington Monthly here’s a doctor’s take on why a “single payer” health care system in the USA would cut health care expenses. Four of the doctor’s office staff now deals with 301 different private insurance plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid. He [...]

USA War of Terror in Iran

Raw Story editor Larisa Alexandrovna is reporting that the lunatics running the USA War Department already have military forces in Iran and are using the MEK, an Iraqi terrorist group, to commit terrorist acts in Iran.

Mis Profesores de Espanol

I began this week to get together in the evening with Ana Belem, Ariel, and Carlos (right to left) to learn to speak Spanish better and to help them learn to speak English better.
Ariel, Ana Belem, and Ana Belem’s mother, Maria, operate the cocina economica where my neighbor Armando gets his lunch each day.
Ana Belem [...]

HSA Protecting Us

Here’s how the brown shirts of the Fatherland Security Administration protect their constituency.

Iguanas

I watched this Iguana walk down the wall of the bus garage across the back yard wall until it came to the ledge where it sat sunning itself.
Iguana have as of late been devouring the leaves of my young watermelon and cantaloupe plants. The vegetation is pretty dry here these days, so I imagine [...]

Jon Stewart Nails McCain

It is a sad commentary on the state of the USA media when Jon Stewart, on his parody news show The Daily Show, can do what Tim Russert, on Meet the Press, couldn’’t. That is to get John McCain to admit he is “freaking out on us”” and pandering to the radical religious right. [...]

USA Congressional Immigration "Reform" – Election Year Demagogy

Being a USA election year the Republican congressional demagogues are once again trotting out immigration “reform” legislation to energize their bigot base. The current proposal will criminalize illegal immigration and is heavy on other enforcement provisions, despite the fact that the futility of attempting to prohibit the supplying of a market demand has been [...]

Armando and the Buena Vista Social Club

You may remember that a couple weeks ago I cooked dinner for my neighbor Armando’s 89th birthday, which we celebrated on the patio with dinner and beers. Armando left Cuba in 1958 for the USA and moved here upon his retirement 28 years ago.
During dinner I played my Buena Vista Social Club, and other [...]