I’m collecting links to posts that demonstrate just how bass-ackwards this nation’s Iraq escapade is. The latest addresses an issue that certainly wouldn’t come up in polite conversation in Republican circles. How do George and Dick sleep at night, really?
I’m never one to stifle the creative or expressive urges of another, but does the world really need a blog entirely devoted to explaining Marmaduke comic strips?
I suppose the answer is yes. As of today, there are 244 posts.
Perhaps I’ll start a blog dedicated to that 1980’s paragon of fucked-uppedness, Arnold:
Thanks to Atrios for reminding us that this exists: The Star Wars Holiday Special.
I was four years old when it aired for the first and only time ever, and for the longest time I couldn’t quite remember if I imagined the whole thing after drinking some bad juice as a child.
Then I found it on ebay (VHS, of course). It took about six non-consecutive days to watch the whole thing, because I could only handle 20 minutes at a time. I urge you strongly to watch the five-minute clip linked above–it pretty much shows you everything you need to see, and you HAVE to stick it out to the end, when Carrie Fisher sings.
George Lucas supposedly hoped that this never see the light of day after its one airing. While it has its fans, I must say that is one decision by George Lucas I wholeheartedly support, at least in principle.
On the plus side, the special gave us Boba Fett for the first time.
This actually happened, according to Reuters (or did it?):
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad had to reconvene the U.N. Security Council and rerun a meeting on Friday after reading the wrong statement on Sudan, effectively wiping an entire council session out of history.
At the first session, Khalilzad, current president of the council, read out a hard-hitting statement denouncing aerial bombardment in the troubled Darfur region in a clear critique of the Sudanese government.
When the session ended, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin was the first to point out that the statement was not the one that the council’s 15 members had agreed, participants said.
After about 10 minutes, officials managed to corral diplomats wandering off for the weekend back into the council chamber. Khalilzad opened a new meeting under the same serial number at which he read out a more anodyne statement that just urged all parties in Darfur, rebels included, to end violence.
“He read an old version” of the statement at the first meeting, U.S. mission spokesman Benjamin Chang said of Khalilzad. “That first one (session) never happened.” U.N. officials agreed that in effect the earlier session had been superseded.
Khalilzad’s only admission of error at the second meeting was when he concluded by saying with a grin: “The meeting IS adjourned,” stressing the word “is.”
Afterward, he told reporters: “There were two words that were there in the first statement that shouldn’t have been there. It was late in the day, Friday, administration under a degree of stress, but you know, we’re all human beings, it happens.”
Well, that’s certainly inspiring. The statement itself hardly inspires shock or awe.
Dammit Al, you have charisma, even ganas, so where was all this stuff when you ran for president?
You’re not the first presidential candidate to mysteriously develop a personality after a presidential election (although at least you won yours, technically), but if you start showing up in Viagra ads*, I will be very, very upset.
*Yes, I know it’s not the Viagra ad, but close enough.
I’m not usually one to read any sort of signs or portents into current events, but you gotta wonder:
Bush In Line of Fire
May 24, 2007 1:50 PMABC’s Ann Compton reports: An outdoor news conference in perfect spring weather, with birds chirping loudly in the magnolia trees, is not without its hazards.
As President Bush took a question Thursday in the White House Rose Garden about scandals involving his Attorney General, he remarked, “I’ve got confidence in Al Gonzales doin’ the job.”
Simultaneously, a sparrow flew overhead and left a splash on the President’s sleeve, which Bush tried several times to wipe off.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino promptly put the incident through the proper spin cycle, telling ABC News, “It was his lucky day…everyone knows that’s a sign of good luck.”
Here’s a good way to totally screw with your children’s minds (be thankful I haven’t polluted the gene pool):
The U.S. is on good terms with the Kurds of Iraq.
The U.S. is on good terms with Turkey, generally speaking.
The Turks and the Kurds aren’t on such good terms.
The Turkish military is reasonably badass.
The Kurds in Iraq seem to do okay militarily.
So, anyway, this could get messy. I suggest the U.S. stay out of this one if it comes to blows.
