"Conspiracy of Fools"

Currently reading "Conspiracy of Fools"

It sat on my shelf for a long time and I don't even remember buying it, but at over 700 pages it seemed too daunting. Anyway, I started it on my trip to Texas and it is really hard to put down. I think it's the somewhat annoying way the author tells the story, with various anecdotes of things that are happening concurrently. So, each little snippet may only be a half a page, maybe a whole page. Again, while annoying, its hard to stop reading it.

I am surprised to find myself less harsh of Kenny Lay (but some people have said the author is too easy on Lay). Although he was VERY guilty of failing in his fiduciary duty to stockholders (including employees) for being clueless, I'm much more convinced of the guilt of Fastow and Skilling, especially Fastow. That guy was sleezy. As for Arthur Anderson, I used to wonder if they took too much flack, but they weren't just negligent, they were co-conspirators in much of Fastow's schemes.

There were many people who tried to raise flags, but when the CFO is the criminal and has all the power, it's hard to stand up to that. But you have to wonder why NO ONE had the balls to do anything more substantial (maybe it was the rising stock price??)

Does God Love America best?

I recieved this email today showing an American flag with what appears to be a cross in it created by sunlight. It stuck me a bit offensive that this email was saying that God Loves America more than others. Here is my response



Sorry, I had to speak up. This message seems to say that "God Loves America best". Which seems like a short-sighted and possibly a very unChristian thing to say.

Actually, this photo is quite believable and to be expected (see this article on the subject http://www.snopes.com/photos/patriotic/azflag.asp)

1- the cross is a symbol that was created by man to represent Christianity, although some Faiths don't celebrate the cross as much as others. (Not to mention the debate that has been going on in Christianity for 2000 years on what the 10 COmmandments say in regard to "Graven Images". (For an interesting look at just how much man has played a hand in the "Divine Word" read the 2nd commandment as it appears in various versions of the Bible, say King James vs. New Revised...). My point, would God show his existence to the world by tricks of fabric and sunlight? Would God show this in the form of a Cross (a man-made device)?

2- The more offensive part of this email, at least for Christians, should be...that God loves America best. Why would God show a particular allegiance to one country over another. Are Americans better than Canadians? Are Americans better than Italians? Are Americans better by virtue of the location of their birth??? These country affiliations are, again, man-made political boundaries. it would seem that God, having existed for all time, wouldn't have "a favorite team", especially one that has only been around 225 years. For an interesting read on God and Politics, here's a quote from the book of John:

Likewise, the Christian does not become involved in the affairs of earthly governments but represents the heavenly kingdom to them. He is in this world but is not of this world (John 17:16).



-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 10:59 PM
To:
Subject: FW: FW: UNBELIEVABLE PHOTO!!!!!!!]

This is a beautiful photo of a giant American flag in Arizona The photo is authentic, UN-Touched and was taken on regular Kodak 35mm film. The person who took the picture couldn't believe the image created by the suns rays.
Nice of them to share it with the world!
Read what is says under the picture....

For those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us...go ahead and delete this.
For the rest of us...pass this on.

More stuff that must stop

I've spoke of my disgust for people who can't say the word "Sandwich" without putting an "M" in the middle. (SAMWICH) but I've yet to discuss these two other gems.

1- STOP USING THE WORD "SURREAL" TO DESCRIBE EVERY GODDAMN LITTLE THING THAT IS A BIT STRANGE.
Every time some 3rd tier celebrity gets interviewed every thing in their life is "So Surreal". No! It's NOT!. Just b/c the time you walked into the Burger King and Lindsey Lohan was there doesn't make it "Surreal".
http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9379935

"Surreal" - (Mid-20th century. Back-formation surrealism])>from Merriam Websterke



2 - WORLDWIDE BAN ON BANDS WITH NUMBERS IN THEIR NAMES.
The world has had enough. Using a number in your name is just lazy and it's beyond STUPID now. Blink 183, Maroon 5, Three Doors Down, Sum41, and on and on and on. STOP it. Get a real name like "Brian Jonestown Massacre" or hell, even "the Monkees".

The Worst Nightmare

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/20/bush.colonoscopy/

CHeney to run the world for 150 minutes...do you know how much damage a man that evil can do? WOW.

Comedy at the Texas Capital or "That's right, you're not from Texas"

Just returned from Austin and visiting my brother, but there was a little something that happened on our tour of the Capital Building that I must share with you.

We were walking around the building just taking in the history and when we went into the Senate Chamber we came upon a tour group. The guy leading the tour looked very Texas (whatever that means) , about mid 40s, dressed in a suit and quite authoritative on the building and Texas history. So, he going through his stuff about the Senate and then he points out the portraits on the wall. Sam Houston, Stephen F Austin, etc. various state senators. And he points out the HUGE painting of LBJ on the wall. Explains that LBJ is there b/c he was the only President who TRULY called Texas his home and he goes on and on. Finally, he says "you know there are 4 Presidents with ties to Texas, do you know who they are?" Someone says "LBJ and the Bushes". The guy says, "right...of course LBJ, who always called Texas home and was very proud of Texas. And the Bushes, but they were born and raised and educated in New England, not in Texas. They just have had homes here, that's why their portraits are not hung in this room".

DAMNNNNNNN

It was quite obvious that this guy, this expert on Texas and proud Texan was pointing out the fallacy the Bushes are "Texans". And when the guy leading the tour of the building where the former governor's portrait hangs points that out, it was PURE COMEDY. Delicious. I don't think it was a comment on either of their political legacies, it was just that they are not considered Texans by Texans.

btw- turns out Dwight Eisenhower was born in Texas, but moved to Kansas when he was there, so he ain't no Texan either.

It's NOTHING like Clinton

While defending the President's latest lame and pathetic move, his buddies have trotted out the "Well, Clinton did it" excuse...which KILLS me b/c when Bush ran he was going to "repair the damage done to the Office by Clinton", but now he continually defends his actions by saying Clinton did the same thing.

That would just be funny if it weren't so incredibly irrelevant. Clinton's pardon of Rich was for Rich's crimes. the Libby affair still stems from the knowning outing of a secret agent of the CIA, I still say that's treason. and the fact that it came from the Executive branch should be grounds for everyone one of them going to prison, but I'll let that go. Libby committed a crime to further the political aims of the President and the President is letting him get away with it. All this bullshit about damage to reputation (how hard to you think it will be for Libby to get a job with some GOP thinktank????), the bullshit about the fine (he has over $5 million dollars in his defense fund)...so Libby suffers very little consequence. All for doing the President's bidding (well, actually Cheney's we all know ). It's not a stretch to see this all being part of the plan. Libby taking the fall with the pre-arranged deal that he'd NEVER do time.

I also understand that there is a good reason NOT to pardon him completely. from what I've heard Libby would lose his ability to use the 5th amendment b/c he could not incriminiate himself, or more importantly he COULD incriminate Bush, Cheney, et al. Disgusting.

ANd just for some context. EVeryone trots out Clinton's record on pardons...it's nearly IDENTICAL to Reagan's.

Once again, Bush proves he's the worst President we've ever had.

Thanks CNN:
Pardons and Commutations
George W. Bush (2001 - ) Pardons -- 13 Commutations -- 4
Bill Clinton (1993-2001) Pardons -- 396 Commutations -- 61
George H.W. Bush (1989-1993) Pardons -- 74 Commutations: 3
Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) Pardons -- 393 Commutations -- 13
Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) Pardons -- 534 Commutations -- 29
Gerald Ford (1974-1977) Pardons -- 382 Commutations -- 22
Richard Nixon (1969-1974) Pardons -- 863 Commutations -- 60
Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969) Pardons -- 960 Commutations -- 226
John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) Pardons -- 472 Commutations -- 100
Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961) Pardons -- 1,110 Commutations -- 47
Harry Truman (1945-1953) Pardons -- 1,913 Commutations -- 118