1 week......35 degrees difference

78 degrees, just perfect

Pancakes for Peace.......

July 31, 2006

PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION TO SHOW MR. DUNCAN HUNTER THAT YOU DON’T APPROVE OF HIS SERVICE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 52ND DIST.

WHEN: Monday, July 31, 2006 7:00 TO 8:00 AM COME EARLY

WHERE: ON THE PUBLIC SIDEWALKS NEAR 1380 Harbor Island Drive, Sheraton Hotel & Marina, SAN DIEGO CA

This event, just by a strange coincidence, will occur at the same time and place as a $200 a plate Duncan Hunter fund-raiser: with special guest Michael Reagan.

Dumpin' Duncan

Come join us and let Hunter know that we think he and the rest of the 109th Congress is by far the

Worst Congress ever!

August 12 marks the date of the Emergency March on Washington to protest the actions of Israel and the US in their actions against the civilian populations of Gaza and Lebanon. If you can't travel to the East Coast, join marches in Los Angeles or San Francisco. Or have your own little gathering wherever you may be, maybe

Downtown El Cajon?

......................

2nd day, still 15 miles away

113 degrees yesterday followed by fire today....

Lake Morena fire. The first picture was taken about 4:30pm and the 2nd at 6:30 pm.
It's about 15 miles away as the crow flies. Not very far if the wind kicks up.

US/Israel war criminals

US rushes bombs to Israel

Find the military target, go ahead, I dare ya.

Collective punishment

We've seen it in Fallujah, Ramadi, Bagdhad and numerous other cities and towns in Iraq. Pictures of the casualties of US military assaults. Rarely if ever ,do we see military victims or military equipment or weapons in these pictures. Always we see dead women and children, husbands, sons, fathers, daughters. Destroyed homes and destroyed infrastructure. The dead are referred to as "collateral damage" as though it was all an unfortunate accident. Now we are seeing the same pictures emerging from Gaza and Lebanon. These types of occurences are all too common for them to be accidents. They are what is known as "collective punishment" and they are in violation of the Geneva Convention, agreed to and signed by both the US and Israel.

Article 33. No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.
Pillage is prohibited.
Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.

Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions collective punishments are a war crime. Article 33 states: "No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed," and "collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited."

By collective punishment, the drafters of the Geneva Conventions had in mind the reprisal killings of World Wars I and II. In the First World War, Germans executed Belgian villagers in mass retribution for resistance activity. In World War II, Nazis carried out a form of collective punishment to suppress resistance. Entire villages or towns or districts were held responsible for any resistance activity that took place there. The conventions, to counter this, reiterated the principle of individual responsibility. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Commentary to the conventions states that parties to a conflict often would resort to "intimidatory measures to terrorize the population" in hopes of preventing hostile acts, but such practices "strike at guilty and innocent alike. They are opposed to all principles based on humanity and justice."

Wikipedia

We all must demand the immediate pullout of our troops and mercenaries from Iraq and the immediate end of all aid to Israel. Vote for Peace candidates this fall and don't be afraid to speak out. What is happening in the mid-east is wrong and to support such nonsense based on the false notion that Iraq was involved in the 9/11 attacks and to support the collective punishment of all arabs is un-ethical as well as illegal.

Collective punishment isn't self-defense

Crimes of war

Morning rainbow

Jumped out of bed this morning to rescue the clean clothes hanging on the solar clothes dryer and spotted this in the sky. Can't say I've ever seen one early in the morning like this and I've seen quite a few. Sure was pretty.

Netroots

Blog blockade

Country in distress......

Thief steals flag from the mother of a dead veteran

(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except 
as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or 
property.

I think that fits the situation to a tee don't you?

U S flag code

Teach your children well......

Israeli bombs being prepared to kill other children.

F117A Stealth fighter........

It has been another scorcher here in the cajon zone ,102 degrees in the shade and not enough energy to do anything but stare at the computer. Ran into a nice research site the other day called POGO and while I was looking at it today I ran into an interesting story about a lawsuit by workers at the groom Lake airbase in area 51. They've had unusual health problems that were being associated with the incineration of hazardous materials and were suing for release of information related to the burning. They didn't get it, but info was later found on the internet that had been posted by the air force. The safety manual for the F117A makes for interesting reading especially for you engineers out there,

Get out............

I've been seeing all sorts of news in the last few weeks of atrocities commited by the Israeli government against the Palestinians in Gaza and more recently in Lebanon and I have to say that I am very very sick of it. I know they havn't sent anyone to the gas chambers yet but what they are doing compares very well with actions taken by Gengis Khan, Attilla the Hun and the Nazis. Destroying civilian infrastructure, bulldozing farms and orchards, kidnapping and killing Palestinian government officials is not justified by the kidnapping of 1 Israeli soldier. The Israeli's are guilty of genocide just as we in the US are guilty of the same. The US should immediately stop all aid to Israel and that includes the sale of jet fuel that is currently being negotiated. Punishing civilians for the actions taken by a militaristic minority is not acceptable to me and I resent my tax dollars being used to support such activity. Warning residents to leave an area and then rocketing their vehicles? Pigs!
The child was holding a sandwich when an Israeli missile killed him and 19 other people fleeing their Lebanese border village in a van.

The Israeli's certainly learned well from their tormentors in WW2 didn't they?
Then there's this group of so-called christian leaders who will be visiting with bush next week to lobby for more support of Israel and their assault on humanity. Fuck them and their moralistic Jihad.
Which leads me back to the title of this post...Get out!
It seems as though the grass root democrats who are pushing for the ouster of joe lie.....berman are pissing off the jewish democrats who are threatening to leave the party if he loses to Ned Lamont. To that I say, get out! And don't let the door hit you in the ass on way. We don't need warmongering religious zealots in the party and I personally don't want your alliance.

What does the picture of Dennis Hopper have to do with all of this? Nothing!
It's just that my wife mentioned to me earlier this week about how Bushco had stolen the phrase.......
"They hate us for our freedom"
Now, I'm familiar with the use of Nazi propaganda by bushco and and well aware of the fact that they steal everything and have never had an original thought of their own, and that includes ann coulter. But what surprised me is where they stole it from..........Easy Rider! They stole it from the freaks. Here's the quote from the movie...

George Hanson: You know, this used to be a helluva good country. I can't understand what's gone wrong with it.
Billy: Man, everybody got chicken, that's what happened. Hey, we can't even get into like, a second-rate hotel, I mean, a second-rate motel, you dig? They think we're gonna cut their throat or somethin'. They're scared, man.
George Hanson: They're not scared of you. They're scared of what you represent to 'em.
Billy: Hey, man. All we represent to them, man, is somebody who needs a haircut.
George Hanson: Oh, no. What you represent to them is freedom.
Billy: What the hell is wrong with freedom? That's what it's all about.
George Hanson: Oh, yeah, that's right. That's what's it's all about, all right. But talkin' about it and bein' it, that's two different things. I mean, it's real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the marketplace. Of course, don't ever tell anybody that they're not free, 'cause then they're gonna get real busy killin' and maimin' to prove to you that they are. Oh, yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom. But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em.
Billy: Well, it don't make 'em runnin' scared.
George Hanson: No, it makes 'em dangerous.

Daddy's little girl

It's becoming harder to "support the troops" now. I realize that most of them are just kids, put into a hard situation but there are too many who would relish the chance to kill or in this case kill and rape someone because they are simply hateful racist assholes.This type of attitude is fostered in boot camp where the "enemy" is de-humanized and demonized in order to make it easier to kill them. Some of the chants used during marches speak of brutalizing the civilian population and others discuss Iraq's involvement in 9-11. This little girl never commited a crime against our country nor did the rest of her family who were also brutally murdered in this now infamous incident. Her only "crime" was that she was pretty.
It should be obvious to most at this point that "they" don't hate us for our freedom, they hate us because we are tyrannical, greedy, hateful people. The contract is out now on 10 US soldiers for the crime commited against Abeer and her family. 2 have been killed and mutilated so far and 8 more are targets. We are all targets now thanks to our countries leaders, soldiers and years of oppressive foreign policy. This cycle will continue until this countries demise unless we take away the power from the military industrial complex and cease our exportation of weaponry. This cycle will continue until the US stops bullying the rest of the world in the name of the almighty dollar.
Why do they hate us?
Question answered?

The above photo is of Abeer Qassim Hamza's ID card issued when she was 2 years old.

All dressed up and........

Ready to roll!

Alternate uses for the er um.......war memorial

Last Friday the Supreme Court issued a stay, temporarily saving the......war memorial from its scheduled removal by August 1st. Judging by the letters in todays San Diego Union however, it seems as though even the more rationally thinking Christians here in town are sick of it.
July 5, 2006

The cross debate continues

The Mount Soledad cross issue illustrates a significant debate in this county. First, it seems odd to non-Christians that anyone would claim that a cross is not a religious symbol of Christianity. It appears to be a rather disingenuous claim by those who wish to give their religion a preference over others. Second, it seems to be a diversion of city resources that the city can ill afford. Third, the cross is a slap in the face to those non-Christian veterans who gave their lives protecting their country. Yes, this country belongs to non-Christians as well. A cross is an unsuitable memorial. Finally, and more important, Mount Soledad is a small piece in a much larger confrontation. This is a nation at war. It is at war with itself. It is a war between those who believe the political process is about the laws of the land, and those who belief the process and government are about the laws of a higher power. It is not a healthy war. Nor is it a war in which there is room for much compromise.

This is a frightening culture clash more profound than the one of the Vietnam era. This is one in which the political system has been corrupted into a choice between God and country. In such a choice, country cannot win. The challenge, for those who believe in liberty under a constitutional framework, is to regain control of the political system. This was founded as a nation of laws. These are laws of man. History has taught us to be very careful about handing political power to those who profess to govern by the rules of a higher power.

The present governing philosophy is not “conservatism.” I do not know what it is. I just know it is frightening.

xxxxxxxxx
Carlsbad

Like many Christians, I was offended by the lone atheist who dared to rock our boat by demanding that we remove the cross on constitutional grounds. The courts have consistently ruled in his favor and forced me to conclude that he is correct in his position.

I now believe that no religious symbol is appropriate for a military memorial for it cannot honor every named person equally. Religious affiliation must be confined to the individual markers and a new or modified symbol found, which displays their common love of the country they all were willing to fight for.

I appeal to those individuals who have perhaps viewed this controversy as an attack against Christianity to reconsider and to urge their leaders to abandon the fight to save the cross at any cost. To any Christian clergy, a message that disenfranchising minorities is not the Christian way would help. To the many creative people in San Diego, I offer the challenge of submitting to the Mayor's Office ideas for a more appropriate symbol to the memory of our war heroes.

xxxxxxxx
Escondido

I went to the top of Mount Soledad to see what the fuss is about. I do not know who built that cross or why. I do not know the history. My first impression: What a majestic view but why did they put that ugly cross here? You who have not seen it up close, it is made of cement, and you can still see the impression of the forms. This thing should have never been allowed to stand, let alone for 50 years. Tear it down and put up something that says: America's Finest City did this for its veterans.

If this is a veteran's memorial, why is the cross higher that the American flag? I did 22 years in the Navy and was taught that we dip our flag to no nation. Last, I am a Mormon; the cross does nothing for me. If you really want to make this a world-class memorial fitting of its location, get the local artists involved. San Diego deserves better.

xxxxxxxxxxx
Ocean Beach

Happy 4th of July.........

We had a great parade today. The community is slowly rebounding from the devastating wildfire that roared through here 3 1/2 years ago, destroying over 200 homes in its path. The people were in great spirits and were very receptive to the "Impeach Bush" contingent. A lot of smiles, thumbs up and thank you's were seen and heard.
Jeez, I wish the Democrats would smarten up and get on the impeach bandwagon. They were not receptive to us walking with them in the parade so we walked in the back with the horses and they missed out. How can they expect to win ? How arrogant they are to think they know what's best for us, without listening to us.
When was the last time they won a major election? 10 years.......12 years ago?

Happy 4th of July!

Anti-bush neighbors........4th of July Parade

I was very excited to see this sign stuck in the dirt a few blocks away from me.
There wasn't any answer when I knocked on the door but I'll go back later tonight and ask them to join the
"Dumpin' Duncan"
impeach bush contingent in tomorrows 4th of July parade.
There will be parades all over the country tomorrow and the opportunity awaits anyone who has ever wanted to express their feelings about the war in a very public manner. Go out and march, be a true patriot and show your neighbors how you feel. Don't worry about being a buzzkill, people who can't accept dissent are not patriots, don't believe in democracy and don't love their country.
Down with the tyrant! End the reign of King George!
Celebrate the 4th of July in a way our predecessors would be proud of!

Let America be America Again........

Just saw this on Information Clearinghouse and it speaks for me, so here it is copied and pasted in full. Happy 4th of July!

Let America Be America Again

By Langston Hughes

Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.

(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed--
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.

(It never was America to me.)

O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.

(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?

I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek--
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one's own greed!

I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean--
Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today--O, Pioneers!
I am the man who never got ahead,
The poorest worker bartered through the years.

Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream
In the Old World while still a serf of kings,
Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,
That even yet its mighty daring sings
In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned
That's made America the land it has become.
O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas
In search of what I meant to be my home--
For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore,
And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea,
And torn from Black Africa's strand I came
To build a "homeland of the free."

The free?

Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?
The millions shot down when we strike?
The millions who have nothing for our pay?
For all the dreams we've dreamed
And all the songs we've sung
And all the hopes we've held
And all the flags we've hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay--
Except the dream that's almost dead today.

O, let America be America again--
The land that never has been yet--
And yet must be--the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME--
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.

Sure, call me any ugly name you choose--
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!

O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath--
America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain--
All, all the stretch of these great green states--
And make America again!

Be careful out there, you could get hurt..............

I keep hearing that from people who are against the war and the militaristic policies of the Bush administration,
but are too afraid to participate in PDAs (public displays of anarchy) out of fear of bodily harm or arrest.
I'm not talking about youngsters with a lifetime still ahead of them, but people of my generation, and all I can think of as a reply is "what are we saving ourselves for"? It's not our world anymore, it belongs to our childrens generation now and their children. Why not stick out your neck? The world as we know it now is of our making and we should be at the forefront of any effort to change it. The above picture was taken Tuesday morning, about 20 minutes before a California Highway patrolman demanded we take down the signs and move on or risk arrest for "illegal assembly". Well we could have challenged him on that, the signs were certainly illegally placed but he would have had a hard time with charging 4 oldsters with illegal assembly and have it stand up in court. 2 of us were getting ready to leave anyway for another demonstration and the other 2 "had to work". What was he going to do? Beat us with a rubber hose? Thursday night we had a small demonstration downtown and there sure were a lot of cops driving back and forth. But they didn't bother us. We generated the usual 50% positive response from the drivebys, 20 or 30% more were people who just looked ahead and pretended we weren't there and the rest showed us their middle finger and foamed at the mouth. Its the foamers I guess we should worry about, but I doubt they have much of a bite behind their barks. Maybe someday we'll get arrested and beaten or shot at by some crackpot, but what are the odds? We do have our fair share of hate groups down here and we could become a target or maybe a loner tinfoil hat will get us, but I think there's a lot of un-founded fear there, similar to the type of fear that has pervaded this country since 9/11. My chances of being done in by a crackpot are about the same as being hit by a terrorist. A very slim chance. A million to one odds maybe? Maybe even slimmer, who knows? I do know however that on any given day, I stand a better chance at being killed in a car crash or any number of other ways to meet my doom but that doesn't stop me from living my life anyway. So jeeeez people, get out there! Celebrate democracy by participating in it.
Here's a a list of the countries biggest killers..........
1- Heart disease
2-Cancer
3-Stroke
4-Chronic lower respiratory diseases
5- Accidents (un-intentional injuries)
6-Diabetes
7-Influenza/Pnuemonia
8-Alzheimers disease
9-Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis
10-Septicemia