The real “debate” is whether to obstruct big issues with non-issues

It's a tactic the GOP has carefully developed. Andrew Sullivan sums it up well: [I]t is hard to avoid a sense of deep concern about where we're headed. We have war criminals as president and vice-president, and a constitution staggering after one serious terror attack. But the campaign is about…

Continue ReadingThe real “debate” is whether to obstruct big issues with non-issues

Naked Bike Ride 2008 – St. Louis – to protest our dependency on oil and celebrate our bodies

Here is the simple goal for those participating in Naked Bike Ride: Protest our dependency on oil and celebrate the power and individuality of our bodies. In America, most people tend to have a warped attitude toward bicycles. They see bicycles as toys and amusements, not as incredibly efficient and serious modes of transportation. More than anything else, Naked Bike Ride is an attempt to change this attitude and to get people to choose bicycles rather than gas guzzling motor vehicles, whenever possible.

This combination was pure marketing genius. If 1,000 people had assembled in the middle of St. Louis to promote alternative sustainable methods of transportation, the media wouldn’t have given a rat’s ass. Because these organizers promised to wrap this serious message about bicycle riding in a package of nudity, however, the media was there in droves.  Here’s an video interview of two of the organizers.

Now, what kind of nudity did those curious media types actually see when they got to the assembly prior to the bicycle ride? Well, they saw some of this:

man with woman costume 8 2 2008 8 33 26 am

As well as some of this:

assembling for naked bike ride 8 2 2008 8 51 01 am

The evening could also have been accurately called Slogans Painted on Partially Naked People on Bikes Night, but that would have been unwieldy.painting-bodies-8-2-2008-8-39-10-am

This use of nakedness to promote the message that we desperately need to start using sustainable transportation methods has been successfully executed in numerous other cities. Tonight, the event came to my home town. erich-vieth-ride-a-bike-8-2-2008-9-23-22-amI decided to both participate in a minimally naked way …

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Bill Moyers: “Laissez-faire” is French for turning off the alarm until the burglars have made their getaway.

Bill Moyers has some sharp comments for those who believe that the Free Market offers free, effortless and unrivaled wisdom: [W]hen you worship market forces as if they were the gods of Olympus, then the gods can do no wrong - until, of course, they prove to be human. Then…

Continue ReadingBill Moyers: “Laissez-faire” is French for turning off the alarm until the burglars have made their getaway.

It was OK for phone companies to spy on Americans

The "bipartisan" telecom immunity bill is about to be made law.  It contains a specific provision granting amnesty to the telecoms which has been titled ""Protection of Persons Assisting the Government."  How bad is this new law?  That depends on how badly you prefer that Courts be open and accessible…

Continue ReadingIt was OK for phone companies to spy on Americans