What is Boko Haram?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-8pwUjCKwM&feature=sub

Obaid Karki is one of those people that gets labeled as a kook or mindless zombie by others. Obaid can be difficult to follow as he tends to jump from subject to subject without much transition. I find the views of a self described Outcast, Underdog, Diogenesist, Libertarian, Kabbalist, Spinoziste, Pantheon, Hexalingual, Automath somewhat alien, but an alien view is why I take the effort to listen.

The gem from this video is the the Delta/Northwest Airlines Christmas Day terrorist Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab may not be a member of Al Qaeda but instead a member of Boko Haram. I have no way of confirming Obaid’s claim that the terrorist is a member of Boko Haram is true. It seems very plausible Boko Haram is behind this attack because this homegrown Nigerian militant Islamist group finds western education and science evil and Umar Farouk Abdul Mutalla grew up in Nigeria.

Having never heard of Boko Haram before, I think Obaid has a point about media tagging Al Qaeda to the story. Al Qaeda to me means “those evil guys that hate us and want to kill us” and Al Qaeda is more likely to grab my attention and scare me.

Its important to know which group is behind terrorist attacks and why they are attacking. I can see this latest terrorist attack being used as an excuse to increase US military presence in other parts of the world instead of addressing the real masterminds. Edit – Senator Lieberman calls for ‘preemptive’ attack on Yemen

Paris Hilton 2012

Donofrio v. Wells – Buried in the US Presidential 2008 elections, there was a case challenging the ballot process. The Supreme Court declined without comment to hear the Donofrio v. Wells case. The case (PDF) challenged Senator John McCain and then Senator Barrack Obama’s eligibility to hold the office, because there is no law that you have to prove US citizenship to get on the ballot. One of the candidates on the same ballot was Socialist Workers Party candidate, Roger Calero. Roger Calero has never hidden that he was born in Nicaragua.

The media did some reporting on the case but failed to mention Roger Calero was not a US citizen. Example – this Washing Post article mentions Roger Calero, but the article is focused on the politics that motivated the case and not the merits of the case.

Qualifications for President of the United Sates • 35 years old or older • Must be a natural-born U.S. citizen • Must have lived in the United States for fourteen years.

This case pointed out that anybody could get on the ballot. Here is Paris Hilton weighing in on politics during election. Paris Hilton isn’t old enough to run for President, but there is nothing to prevent Paris from getting on the ballot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg46t2FBG6k&feature=PlayList&p=38D00C7A0CE37DAC&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2

Worst case scenario would be after being elected President, it is discovered someone didn’t meet one of the three qualifications. If the President had signed bills into law would the laws be null and void? It would be utter chaos in the Congress; their fights would make South Korea brawls look like folk dances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJdZ0TocTlo&feature=related

Picture John Boehner stabbing Nancy Pelosi with a US flag pole–that’s how bad it could get.

Some people say the qualifications are now irrelevant and useless so there is no point enforcing them. The people who wrote the US Constitution seem paranoid from our perspective two centuries later because they suffered from a host of abuses. Just because it seems paranoid now doesn’t mean its not a valid concern.

Picture 2012 rolling around and Paris Hilton runs on a 3rd party against Obama and Palin(all three are celebrities; it could happen). Hilton wins the “throw the bums out vote.” The Electoral College could refuse to vote in Paris Hilton, but I have to wonder if the members of congress would refute the will of the people and uphold the constitutional requirements.

Paris Hilton 2012 – isn’t that worth being paranoid about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiCH5jPgtuM

The Christmas Spirit

Christmas time in politics. Listen to the harmonic sounds of demonizing the opposition. This just makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.(sarcasm)

Oh Come All Ye Tea Baggers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kmccnhCquY&feature=player_embedded

The 12 Days Of Obama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhenXd0yH7A&feature=related

Money Can’t buy Happiness – Only Power Can do That

This video explains how influence is purchased in congress by hiring relatives of congress members. I don’t know if its the oldest form of influencing politicians, but I’ll bet the ancient Romans wouldn’t be surprised by it.

I’ve heard the solution is to only vote for politicians with integrity; unfortunately there is over 200 years of evidence to dispute this approach. So the question I have is how much money would it take for voters to buy the politicians back? Would there be any savings? If Evan Bayh’s wife is getting a million a year from WellPoint. Would raising a Senator’s salary to 1.5 million a year be enough to buy Bayh back?

Maybe I should work this backwards and start by finding out how much political influence cost taxpayers each year. Lets say its only 100 billion a year transferred from taxpayers to political benefactors. One hundred billion divided by 537 people (house, senate, President and VP combined) works out to 186 million per person. If we offer to split the difference with Washington, it works out to 93 million a year salary per person and we’d save 50 billion.

We’ve bribed our enemies before; so why not bribe our public servants?

Politics in Star Trek

The NRO has a post that touched a nerve in me – Congratulations to Captain Picard!

This line is the one that set me off “Its (Star Trek) messages are unabashedly liberal ones of the early post-Cold War era – peace, tolerance, due process, progress (as opposed to skepticism about human perfectibility).”

Peace, tolerance, due process, and progress are not the sole possession of liberals. Peace, tolerance, due process, progress are essential for freedom to survive. These principles are very important for free markets to thrive. I’m putting this aside for now because it could easily turn into a book of quotes from the founding fathers supporting all these “liberal” messages.

The “touched a nerve” issue is that Star Trek somehow represents a Socialist or Communist utopia. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard a conservative poo-poo Star Trek as liberal propaganda.

Star Trek was centered on the Federation of Planets. The Federation is very similar to the Articles of Confederation of the United States of America because each member planet retained its sovereignty, freedom, and independence. There are state-rights conservatives that would love to have the same rights as members of the Federation.

Star Trek had replicators, not socialism – A device which can produce anything you need would have a huge impact on any society. The concept of ownership wouldn’t have the same importance because everything could easily be replaced. Imagine someone walking up and pointing a phaser at someone in the Star Trek universe and demanding their shoes. The victim would probably say “Is your replicator broken? If it is, you can use mine.” Theft would probably be classified as a mental illness, because there would be no need to steal. Once there is a limitless supply of food and clothing, ownership becomes meaningless.

Star Treks biggest, nasty, evil villain was the Borg. The Borg are the embodiment of all things communist. To the Borg individuality was irrelevant and made each person alike. Under Borg control, there was no privacy at all–not even the privacy of your own thoughts. The Borg sought to enslave others and “improve” them by force into a regime of total control.

Star Trek has the Prime Directive – “As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Starfleet personnel may interfere with the normal and healthy development of alien life and culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation.” I’m fed up with lawmakers interfering with my normal development and culture. I can only wish that some day the United States government adopts this attitude towards its own citizens. A form of governing with a Prime Directive of not meddling in the affairs of others; it seems only possible in science fiction.

Lil’ Obama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEd-0rSF2IsPresidents Obama’s approval ratings have been going down. There has been a flood of negative comments about the President on the social news sites. It might be time for Comedy Central to start working on a Lil’ Obama show.

There should be enough material to work with. I see a running joke with Lil’ Obama wanting to grow up to be the President of the United States. Others poking fun at Lil’ Obama for believing a black man could ever get elected as President “Lil’ Sarah has a better chance of becoming President.”

The opening clip of the show could start with Lil’ Obama running through fields in Kenya. The clouds parting for light to shine on Lil’ Obama as he runs home pulls out a box of crayons and makes his own birth certificate.

There is a big cast of characters to work with for this show. Lil’ Orly Taitz would be there trying to prove Obama doesn’t live in the school district. Lil’ Chris Matthews would always be following Lil’ Obama around with heart balloons popping from Lil’ Chris’s chest when Lil’ Obama speaks. Lil’ Bill Ayers trying to talk the kids into setting off stink bombs in the school. Lil’ Glenn Beck always questioning if Lil’ Obama was following the schools rules. Lil’ Alex Jones trying to get Lil’ Obama to play “the Joker” in a school play.

When a fight breaks out at school, Lil’ Obama asks the kids fighting to come to his house for a Kool-Aid summit. Lil’ Rush and Lil’ O’Reilly warn the kids not to drink Lil’ Obama’s Kool-Aid because its spiked with something that turns you into socialists.

Another running joke is Lil’ Obama continuously working on an eighteen-point plan to clean up his room. The room, of course, is a huge mess left by the previous occupant, Lil’ Bush. Lil’ Obama continuously tries explaining to his mom why the room isn’t getting cleaner. Lil’ Obama reminds his mom the mess is really Lil’ Bush’s fault, and comes up with new definitions of the word “clean.” In the end, his mom gives Lil’ Obama a gold medal for trying.

The time is now for Lil’ Obama!

Preschool Politics

This Build-A-Scare video might be just a tad bit overboard. Visions of sugar-plums soon to be replaced with “Christmas canceled because Global Warming will be melting the North Pole in two days.” Global warming debate aside–telling kids that Santa’s workshop will be gone in two days is not cool.

They say children are the first victims in any war. As technology has advanced, children are the first victims in the propaganda wars also. The video below is another example of using children to promote propaganda.

You might be a Aryan, Racist, Birther, Fanatic if…

This video reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy –”You might be a redneck if” jokes. If you are against government health care reform, you might be an Aryan, racist, birther, fanatic.

I’m against government health care reform/takeover and against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. So in Jeff Foxworthy speak – I might be: an isolationist, Aryan, pinko, racist, unpatriotic, birther, terrorist sympathizer, militia member.

The goal is simple; pile on the straw-man attacks until people are afraid to speak out for fear they’ll be labeled an extremist.

Sexual Dislikes are not Chosen

I watched a documentary about pornography – The Price of Pleasure Pornography, Sexuality & Relationships. The film makers claim the film is honest and non-judgmental; to me the main message was to point out that some people find pornography degrading to women. The film used similar arguments used by social conservatives to describe the homosexual agenda, in that cultural acceptance and normalcy of pornography is damaging perceptions about sex and several social problems can be attributed to pornography.

Both the anti-pornography and the anti-homosexual arguments say there is too much pornography or homosexuality promoted or viewed positively in popular culture. The underlying argument seems to be if a certain form of sexuality is promoted, then the sexuality will become more popular or at the least be seen as normal. Several questions come to mind – Who decides what a sexual perversion is? Why is it seen as a sexual perversion? Can sexual perversions be promoted?

I’m starting with the assumption that what people like sexually is not chosen–that sexual preference is biological. If what people like sexually is not chosen, then what people dislike sexually isn’t chosen either. Sexual dislikes can be equal biologically to likes. Example – the “two girls one cup” video was so distasteful that videos were made just showing viewers reaction to the movie. When there were several viewers watching together, usually one person became ill and left the room, while others just sat and watched unaffected by what they were seeing. People that enjoy scat are a very small portion of the population. I imagine they did not choose or seek out enjoying scat. I don’t think anyone who becomes ill upon seeing scat videos chose their physical reaction either.

Over the years, I’ve watched several documentaries about swingers and group sex. In several of the documentaries were statements that if what they were doing didn’t appeal to you, then you were sexually repressed or prudish. I thought calling someone prudish because they didn’t share the same sexual proclivities was unfair; it may not be their cup of tea. Repeating from what I said earlier, sexual likes as well as dislikes are not chosen.

Openly expressing sexual preferences often enough might cause some people to become numb or just not shocked or surprised by it. For others openly expressing sexuality in public might always create a feeling of repulsion. Back to the “two girls one cup” example – I don’t believe I will ever react differently than I do right now and that means with revulsion. I can’t control the urge to vomit; I’m not sexually repressed or prudish. If feces are present, my lunch will soon be present also.

I hope people will not judge others too harshly for their sexually likes and dislikes. As powerful as the media can be, it is not powerful enough to change human sexuality. Please don’t demonize sexual preferences you find repugnant for fear others will be persuaded to participate.

I would also ask you to keep in mind not everyone is comfortable with every form of sexual expression. Just because you can openly express sexuality in public doesn’t mean you should. I’d like to thank all with the scat fetish for keeping it private. I do not wish to see bowel movements become a social movement.

Animal Farm America Style

This commune is Twin Oaks Community. The video kinda implies the commune is something new, but its been around since 1967. Basically its a hippie commune that has survived 40+ years by firing non-productive members and becoming capitalist to keep it going. One of the founders, Kathleen ‘Kat’ Kinkade, died July 3rd, 2008. The Washington Post has an article about Kat’s life here. From that article – “Although she was involved in founding two other income-sharing communities — in Missouri and Virginia — she told The Post in 1998 that communal life had not measured up to her expectations.”

“My mother was disappointed that Twin Oaks did not turn out to be the model for what the rest of our society would be,” said her daughter, Dr. Josie Kinkade of Louisa, Va. “When she found out that it was really just a nice place for some middle-class people to live, she was disappointed.”

This group reminds me of the polygamist communities that claim to be self-sufficient and yet receive state welfare. I didn’t find anything on their site about food stamps, but its a safe bet the residents qualify for government cheese. From Twin Oaks FAQ “Because of our income-sharing, our members often qualify for state-subsidized health care at medical facilities in the area.”

I imagine this commune’s revenues are down just as most business revenues are down. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some less-productive people asked to leave so a younger more productive person can take their place. If you are young and hardworking, they might have an opening on the slave-owned plantation.