Most recent missive from my mom:
"> home hon
> and it is a bloody war zone here....
> soldiers everywhere with guns....
> no food and have to go get MREs every day
> no stores....
> but some are coming back...
> god this is atrocious....
> but we have bathing water, power, and now cable...
> we are COMING back!!!!!!!!!!!
> new orleans i mean...."
She had spent two weeks living in my cousin's mobile home. Crowded with four families, lots of pets, kids, etc.
At least she's home.
TTFN
Friday, September 16, 2005
Bill Maher's letter to the President
Found this to be hilarious.
And true.
Here's the text:
Dear Mr. President
"Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money
to spend--you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you
used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the
Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's
bare, the credit cards maxed out. No one's 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 space man? Now I know what you're saying: 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. 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 that you haven't
given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert
Hoover was a s___y president, but even he never conceded an entire city 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. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.' "
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
TTFN
NO MORE BU--SH--
And true.
Here's the text:
Dear Mr. President
"Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money
to spend--you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you
used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the
Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's
bare, the credit cards maxed out. No one's 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 space man? Now I know what you're saying: 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. 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 that you haven't
given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert
Hoover was a s___y president, but even he never conceded an entire city 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. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.' "
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
TTFN
NO MORE BU--SH--
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Surprise surprise
Highlighted sections:
Section 3142(a) of title 40, United States Code, provides that "every contract in excess of $2,000, to which the Federal Government or the District of Columbia is a party, for construction, alteration, or repair, including painting and decorating, of public buildings and public works of the Government or the District of Columbia that are located in a State or the District of Columbia and which requires or involves the employment of mechanics or laborers shall contain a provision stating the minimum wages to be paid various classes or laborers and mechanics."
Section 3142(b) of title 40, United States Code, provides that such "minimum wages shall be based on the wages the Secretary of Labor determines to be prevailing for the corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on projects of a character similar to the contract work in the civil subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed . . ."
Section 3147 of title 40, United States Code, provides that "[t]he President may suspend the provisions of this subchapter during a national emergency."
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do by this proclamation suspend, as to all contracts entered into on or after the date of this proclamation and until otherwise provided, the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code, 40 U.S.C. 3141-3148, and the provisions of all other acts providing for the payment of wages, which provisions are dependent upon determinations by the Secretary of Labor under section 3142 of title 40..."
----------------
What does this mean, in effect?
It means, that in order to give the appearance of employment, in order to give the President good PR by having people working, he is in effect waiving the Minimum wage and Minimum earning potential of any laborer or contract worker in the affected Counties or Parishes of the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
People would normall make the $5.15 minimum wage in those areas can expect to be employed for LESS than that. Minus taxes, supposed benefits, and various other sundries such as transportation, clothing, etc. etc., George Bush has in this proclamation created a condition for creating virtual slavery in these areas. As if these people are not poor enough, they can expect to be working for less than a fast food cashier makes.
Also,
Halliburton's KBR unit gets contract to repair Gulf Coast facilities
Dick Cheney, that epitome of selfishness, priggishness, self-aggrandizement, anti-modern society, warmonger and war criminal (okay, I might've exaggerated a little), stands to benefit from this.
KBR can, in effect, subcontract jobs to laborers and mechanics the repair work in these areas for LESS than they normally would. As the federal government has contracted KBR to rebuild, the waiving of the Minimum wage clause allows KBR to not employ a minimum wage in its dealings with subcontractors. It does not affect the money that KBR charges the federal government for work that it does.
So, KBR makes money off the sweat of virtual slave labor, increasing its profits, and Halliburton's profits, increasing the value of Dick Cheney's shares, making the rich even richer.
What a f*ckin' country.
TTFN
NO MORE BU--SH--
Section 3142(a) of title 40, United States Code, provides that "every contract in excess of $2,000, to which the Federal Government or the District of Columbia is a party, for construction, alteration, or repair, including painting and decorating, of public buildings and public works of the Government or the District of Columbia that are located in a State or the District of Columbia and which requires or involves the employment of mechanics or laborers shall contain a provision stating the minimum wages to be paid various classes or laborers and mechanics."
Section 3142(b) of title 40, United States Code, provides that such "minimum wages shall be based on the wages the Secretary of Labor determines to be prevailing for the corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on projects of a character similar to the contract work in the civil subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed . . ."
Section 3147 of title 40, United States Code, provides that "[t]he President may suspend the provisions of this subchapter during a national emergency."
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do by this proclamation suspend, as to all contracts entered into on or after the date of this proclamation and until otherwise provided, the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code, 40 U.S.C. 3141-3148, and the provisions of all other acts providing for the payment of wages, which provisions are dependent upon determinations by the Secretary of Labor under section 3142 of title 40..."
----------------
What does this mean, in effect?
It means, that in order to give the appearance of employment, in order to give the President good PR by having people working, he is in effect waiving the Minimum wage and Minimum earning potential of any laborer or contract worker in the affected Counties or Parishes of the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
People would normall make the $5.15 minimum wage in those areas can expect to be employed for LESS than that. Minus taxes, supposed benefits, and various other sundries such as transportation, clothing, etc. etc., George Bush has in this proclamation created a condition for creating virtual slavery in these areas. As if these people are not poor enough, they can expect to be working for less than a fast food cashier makes.
Also,
Halliburton's KBR unit gets contract to repair Gulf Coast facilities
Dick Cheney, that epitome of selfishness, priggishness, self-aggrandizement, anti-modern society, warmonger and war criminal (okay, I might've exaggerated a little), stands to benefit from this.
KBR can, in effect, subcontract jobs to laborers and mechanics the repair work in these areas for LESS than they normally would. As the federal government has contracted KBR to rebuild, the waiving of the Minimum wage clause allows KBR to not employ a minimum wage in its dealings with subcontractors. It does not affect the money that KBR charges the federal government for work that it does.
So, KBR makes money off the sweat of virtual slave labor, increasing its profits, and Halliburton's profits, increasing the value of Dick Cheney's shares, making the rich even richer.
What a f*ckin' country.
TTFN
NO MORE BU--SH--
Monday, September 12, 2005
Insurance 'losses'
Came across this link in the news today.
How in the HELL can an insurance company call what it is DESIGNED to do a 'loss'?
I mean, don't people pay insurance companies to cover their losses? I pay automobile insurance. IN CASE something were to happen to my car.
Now, I've paid insurance on automobiles since 1995. For ten years, with different cars, different companies, different premiums. Claims? I've had to go through comprehensive to replace a totaled Toyota Tercel - not my fault for the accident, but driver of the other car was uninsured so since I had uninsured motorist, I was able to get my car replaced - and that's it. So aside from that one payout, every other dime has been PURE PROFIT for these people.
And that's the thing of it. Insurance premiums ARE PURE PROFIT for insurance companies. They pay their workers out of your premiums, because they DON'T EXPECT TO PAY FOR SQUAT when it comes to the insured.
So, God forbid, something happens to your home, your car, YOUR G'D LIFE, and these bastards go off and say it's a loss to their company!
What complete and utter BULLSHIT.
They make billions off everyone, drive up costs, support legalized discrimination against the young and the old, and DON'T GIVE A FIG about what happens to the people who pay their salaries!
*sigh*
TTFN
NO MORE BU--SH--
How in the HELL can an insurance company call what it is DESIGNED to do a 'loss'?
I mean, don't people pay insurance companies to cover their losses? I pay automobile insurance. IN CASE something were to happen to my car.
Now, I've paid insurance on automobiles since 1995. For ten years, with different cars, different companies, different premiums. Claims? I've had to go through comprehensive to replace a totaled Toyota Tercel - not my fault for the accident, but driver of the other car was uninsured so since I had uninsured motorist, I was able to get my car replaced - and that's it. So aside from that one payout, every other dime has been PURE PROFIT for these people.
And that's the thing of it. Insurance premiums ARE PURE PROFIT for insurance companies. They pay their workers out of your premiums, because they DON'T EXPECT TO PAY FOR SQUAT when it comes to the insured.
So, God forbid, something happens to your home, your car, YOUR G'D LIFE, and these bastards go off and say it's a loss to their company!
What complete and utter BULLSHIT.
They make billions off everyone, drive up costs, support legalized discrimination against the young and the old, and DON'T GIVE A FIG about what happens to the people who pay their salaries!
*sigh*
TTFN
NO MORE BU--SH--
Thursday, September 08, 2005
What a week
Well,
I think the difference in the pictures illustrate the week that was.
Actually I hadn't heard from my dad since before Katrina, and the last I'd heard from my mom was Sunday afternoon before the storm hit and the flooding occurred, so by Wednesday I was panicking, and my doctor noticed my blood pressure was high when I went to see her.
By Friday, though, I'd heard from both of them and my Aunt who lives in the Westbank, so I was much better.
Much.
Friends of mine are setting up relief and recovery operations - information sources as well as helping libraries and other such organizations getting word, help, back on their feet. It's small scale, but it's something. If you'd like to help, please visit the Geaux Library Project website.
I'm only peripherally involved, but I want to get the word out as much as possible.
Outside of the disaster, you're already hearing of the finger-pointing going on.
Regardless of where the blame lies - whether on Nagin for telling people to get to the Convention Center and Superdome (I mean come on people, they want to blame Mayor Nagin for advising people WHO COULD NOT LEAVE THE DAMN CITY [for whatever reason] to get to a HIGH, VISIBLE (and supposedly) SAFE AREA?), or on Gov. Blanco for not immediately dispatching the National Guard or signing them over to federal control (Does anyone RATIONALLY believe that Bush or his cronies need to be commander of ANYTHING anymore?) after the flood, or on the federal government for stripping funds, for removing National Guard to Iraq, etc. (Like the federal government gives a shit, but that's another story) - you can smell the sharks starting to circle.
Democrats against Republicans. Liberals vs. Conservatives. Locals vs. Federal. Political sniping, character assassination, all of it is beginning to go on. Calls for the firing of Michael Brown ('Brownie' to the Shrub and his cronies) who said on Friday that the earliest he knew of the problems at the Morial Convention Center was on THURSDAY morning, when CNN was there on Wednesday may be justified. FEMA has been stripped of a lot of what it could do before Shrub took over.
But in the side stories.
Insurance adjusters not validating claims because 'wind-driven rain' is not covered in hurricane insurance. NPR had an interview with a guy, saying that if the roof blew off fine. But if rain came in through a window or vent, the owners were SOL if that specific cause 'wind-driven rain' was not covered.
People angry and upset about the needless deaths of family members. Can we say 'L-A-W-S-U-I-T'?
The estimated costs of the damage to New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast is in the $30-40 billion dollar range. The loss of culture, heritage, arts, is immeasurable. Beauvior - the estate of Jefferson Davis, former President of the Confederate States of America - and the Presidential Library basically wiped out. The Aquarium of the Americas, destroyed. Flooded and looted buildings in the Quarter and elsewhere.
The damage to the infrastructure of America's transportation network that relies heavily upon the Port of New Orleans. This will affect farmers in Iowa, automobile factories in Michigan.
The pollution in the water, even when people are endangering THEMSELVES, again, can we smell 'L-A-W-S-U-I-T'?
New Orleans was the armpit of Louisiana, the center of its culture, arts, a world city with history, prestige, beauty. It was sometimes an eyesore, often lovely. It represented the best and worst in people.
Its death was a nightmare.
Now, the body is beginning to smell, and all the problems are coming to light. You thought it was bad last week. Before it's all over, some heads will roll. And quite possibly, more than that.
TTFN
I think the difference in the pictures illustrate the week that was.
Actually I hadn't heard from my dad since before Katrina, and the last I'd heard from my mom was Sunday afternoon before the storm hit and the flooding occurred, so by Wednesday I was panicking, and my doctor noticed my blood pressure was high when I went to see her.
By Friday, though, I'd heard from both of them and my Aunt who lives in the Westbank, so I was much better.
Much.
Friends of mine are setting up relief and recovery operations - information sources as well as helping libraries and other such organizations getting word, help, back on their feet. It's small scale, but it's something. If you'd like to help, please visit the Geaux Library Project website.
I'm only peripherally involved, but I want to get the word out as much as possible.
Outside of the disaster, you're already hearing of the finger-pointing going on.
Regardless of where the blame lies - whether on Nagin for telling people to get to the Convention Center and Superdome (I mean come on people, they want to blame Mayor Nagin for advising people WHO COULD NOT LEAVE THE DAMN CITY [for whatever reason] to get to a HIGH, VISIBLE (and supposedly) SAFE AREA?), or on Gov. Blanco for not immediately dispatching the National Guard or signing them over to federal control (Does anyone RATIONALLY believe that Bush or his cronies need to be commander of ANYTHING anymore?) after the flood, or on the federal government for stripping funds, for removing National Guard to Iraq, etc. (Like the federal government gives a shit, but that's another story) - you can smell the sharks starting to circle.
Democrats against Republicans. Liberals vs. Conservatives. Locals vs. Federal. Political sniping, character assassination, all of it is beginning to go on. Calls for the firing of Michael Brown ('Brownie' to the Shrub and his cronies) who said on Friday that the earliest he knew of the problems at the Morial Convention Center was on THURSDAY morning, when CNN was there on Wednesday may be justified. FEMA has been stripped of a lot of what it could do before Shrub took over.
But in the side stories.
Insurance adjusters not validating claims because 'wind-driven rain' is not covered in hurricane insurance. NPR had an interview with a guy, saying that if the roof blew off fine. But if rain came in through a window or vent, the owners were SOL if that specific cause 'wind-driven rain' was not covered.
People angry and upset about the needless deaths of family members. Can we say 'L-A-W-S-U-I-T'?
The estimated costs of the damage to New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast is in the $30-40 billion dollar range. The loss of culture, heritage, arts, is immeasurable. Beauvior - the estate of Jefferson Davis, former President of the Confederate States of America - and the Presidential Library basically wiped out. The Aquarium of the Americas, destroyed. Flooded and looted buildings in the Quarter and elsewhere.
The damage to the infrastructure of America's transportation network that relies heavily upon the Port of New Orleans. This will affect farmers in Iowa, automobile factories in Michigan.
The pollution in the water, even when people are endangering THEMSELVES, again, can we smell 'L-A-W-S-U-I-T'?
New Orleans was the armpit of Louisiana, the center of its culture, arts, a world city with history, prestige, beauty. It was sometimes an eyesore, often lovely. It represented the best and worst in people.
Its death was a nightmare.
Now, the body is beginning to smell, and all the problems are coming to light. You thought it was bad last week. Before it's all over, some heads will roll. And quite possibly, more than that.
TTFN
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