John Connolly in a solemn moment of contemplation.
Judy Bobolik (sp) and Ruth Jordan taking mental notes.
Dianne Jordan; ace photographer...2006-11-14
Murder & Mayhem in Muskego Pics
John Connolly in a solemn moment of contemplation.Judy Bobolik (sp) and Ruth Jordan taking mental notes.Dianne Jordan; ace photographer...
2006-11-13
2006-11-09
2006-11-08
Rummy, we hardly knew... what the hell you were saying.
Rummy quotes:"We do know of certain knowledge that he [Osama Bin Laden] is either in Afghanistan, or in some other country, or dead."
“As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don’t know we don’t know.” From a February 2002 Department of Defense briefing
"Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war."
“Freedom’s untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things. ... Stuff happens.” On looting in Iraq in April 2003 after the U.S. invasion.
"We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat." On Iraq's weapons of mass destruction
“You’re thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don’t. I think that’s old Europe.” From a January 2003 DOD briefing
“Needless to say, the president is correct. Whatever it was he said.” From a February 2003 DOD briefing.
“I would not say that the future is necessarily less predictable than the past. I think the past was not predictable when it started.” From a DOD briefing, April 2003
“Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the president and do wonders for your performance.” Published in the Wall Street Journal, January 2001.
"I am not going to give you a number for it because it's not my business to do intelligent work." asked to estimate the number of Iraqi insurgents while testifying before Congress
"I'm not into this detail stuff. I'm more concepty."
"I don't do quagmires."
"I don't do diplomacy."
"I don't do foreign policy."
"I don't do predictions."
"I don't do numbers."
"I don't do book reviews."
"Learn to say 'I don't know.' If used when appropriate, it will be often."
"Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns... the ones we don't know we don't know."
"It is unknowable how long that conflict [the war in Iraq] will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months." in Feb. 2003
"If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't, I'll just respond, cleverly."
2006-11-07
Hey!
Vote!
Or don't bitch about this country in my presence ever again...
Now, let's lay bets on which states will have the final result contested... You know Wisconsin will be in there.
Or don't bitch about this country in my presence ever again...
Now, let's lay bets on which states will have the final result contested... You know Wisconsin will be in there.
2006-11-06
Robocall Mayhem
It's the day before mid-term elections and the phone is practically ringing off the hook.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has launched a $2.1 million campaign calling hapless Americans (including those on the Federal Do-Not-Call Registry which includes me), with automated telephone messages scripted to sound as if they are coming from the Democratic candidate up for election.
"Hello. I'm calling with information about [fill in name of applicable Democratic candidate]," and then pauses for the well-earned hang-up. If the recipient dares to hang up, they will receive repeated phone calls back. Sometimes up to twenty times a day. I can show you my caller i.d. if you need documentation.
And it is bad form.
Annoyed voters call the Democrat in question only to find the candidate has nothing to do with the calls.
This manner of scripting violates 47 CFR 64.1200(b)(1), which requires that "the identity of the business, individual, or other entity that is responsible for initiating the call" be "state[d] clearly" "at the beginning of the message."
New Hampshire's Attorney General got them to stop calling those on the Do-Not-Call Registry. The first press releases from the NRCC stated:
Here is a listing of the known districts being hit with this plague of irksome, last ditch dirt from the RNC.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has launched a $2.1 million campaign calling hapless Americans (including those on the Federal Do-Not-Call Registry which includes me), with automated telephone messages scripted to sound as if they are coming from the Democratic candidate up for election.
"Hello. I'm calling with information about [fill in name of applicable Democratic candidate]," and then pauses for the well-earned hang-up. If the recipient dares to hang up, they will receive repeated phone calls back. Sometimes up to twenty times a day. I can show you my caller i.d. if you need documentation.
And it is bad form.
Annoyed voters call the Democrat in question only to find the candidate has nothing to do with the calls.
This manner of scripting violates 47 CFR 64.1200(b)(1), which requires that "the identity of the business, individual, or other entity that is responsible for initiating the call" be "state[d] clearly" "at the beginning of the message."
New Hampshire's Attorney General got them to stop calling those on the Do-Not-Call Registry. The first press releases from the NRCC stated:
"We were informed by the attorney general's office that the NRCC has agreed to immediately stop the calls to people on the do-not-call list." [Democratic Party spokeswoman] Strand said.
"We have not agreed to stop the calls," said Alex Burgos, a spokesman for the NRCC. "Our calls will continue independently of the Charlie Bass campaign and in compliance with all applicable laws."
They later said , after being informed that what they are doing is illegal:"The National Republican Congressional Committee has reportedly agreed to stop making automated campaign calls to people on the national "Do Not Call" Registry. [...] The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office has confirmed the calls are under investigation."
Which would be their best interests due to the $5,000 fine per call.
Here is a listing of the known districts being hit with this plague of irksome, last ditch dirt from the RNC.
2006-11-05
Bionic Sleep
Oh, my friends, it is the late night blogging of a woman mentally blurred and sinking slowly into Ambian induced bliss. Yes, the Bono stumbling is in full force as I avoid colliding with furniture and cats. My speech is slow and so very affectionate. I sing little songs to myself as I get my water and work through the stacks of books to see what will be read before I slide into dreamland.
Did you know I do lucid dreaming? Indeed. It has been a big help since my Dad died. He's got a lot to say. An argument that's been taking place between us over the last month has me finally convincing him he has died.
"Oh," he says. "Then what am I doing here?"
"Where do you think you are?"
"Home."
"No, sweety. This isn't home as it is now. This is home from when you had four obnoxious kids and a job that robbed you of your will to live. Look at yourself."
He looks down. He's wearing the same blue-gray cardigan he wore in life but it hangs on him. He reaches up to touch his hair which was shorn in the hospital from the curly ponytail he had when he went in.
He points to all the people moving about the house. Jon still has that brown 'fro he had in high school. Paul is tall and dark and silent. Dianne is very young and running around like a maniac.
"They don't know you're here. This is all memory. It isn't life."
A look of sadness passed over his face replaced by resolution.
I reached out and took his hand.
"It's ok. It's ok for you to move on."
"Your mother..."
"I'll take care of her, I promise."
He smiled and tears welled in his eyes.
"Everyone loves you, Dad. We won't forget you. It's ok to move on."
And he did.
The next morning an illness that had robbed me of strength and energy slowly left me. I felt better, stronger, faster than I was before. Calmer, too, which waylays the bionic experience.
Last night was the first night I didn't dream of him in five months. He's back to the land beyond with horses and Harleys and blue skies and cowboys songs.
And I'm back to whistling while I write, listening to my music and clapping when the sun shines.
Did you know I do lucid dreaming? Indeed. It has been a big help since my Dad died. He's got a lot to say. An argument that's been taking place between us over the last month has me finally convincing him he has died.
"Oh," he says. "Then what am I doing here?"
"Where do you think you are?"
"Home."
"No, sweety. This isn't home as it is now. This is home from when you had four obnoxious kids and a job that robbed you of your will to live. Look at yourself."
He looks down. He's wearing the same blue-gray cardigan he wore in life but it hangs on him. He reaches up to touch his hair which was shorn in the hospital from the curly ponytail he had when he went in.
He points to all the people moving about the house. Jon still has that brown 'fro he had in high school. Paul is tall and dark and silent. Dianne is very young and running around like a maniac.
"They don't know you're here. This is all memory. It isn't life."
A look of sadness passed over his face replaced by resolution.
I reached out and took his hand.
"It's ok. It's ok for you to move on."
"Your mother..."
"I'll take care of her, I promise."
He smiled and tears welled in his eyes.
"Everyone loves you, Dad. We won't forget you. It's ok to move on."
And he did.
The next morning an illness that had robbed me of strength and energy slowly left me. I felt better, stronger, faster than I was before. Calmer, too, which waylays the bionic experience.
Last night was the first night I didn't dream of him in five months. He's back to the land beyond with horses and Harleys and blue skies and cowboys songs.
And I'm back to whistling while I write, listening to my music and clapping when the sun shines.
2006-11-02
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