The marrying of Internet mapping technology and sexual offender data bases was inevitable. And I have a problem with it. Our society has decided that rehabilitation doesn’t work. We have decided that you have not paid your debt to society when you serve your term in prison. We have decided that once a criminal, always a criminal.

If we are going to have such lists for sexual offenders, why not murderers? Why not arsonists? Why not burglars? Why not scofflaws who run red lights and get parking tickets? What scarlet letter would you wear?

My Soundtrack: All Hands On The Bad One by Sleater-Kinney on WOXY.

Regret nothing…

You’ve traveled this far on the back of every mistake,
ridden in dark-eyed and morose but calm as a house
after the TV set has been pitched out the upstairs
window. Harmless as a broken ax. Emptied
of expectation. Relax. Don’t bother remembering
any of it. Let’s stop here, under the lit sign
on the corner, and watch all the people walk by.

From Antilamentation by Dorianne Laux.

Reading about Ken Ham sent shivers down my spine. In my mind’s eye I see Leni Riefenstahl with cameramen strategically placed to catch the vision of these 2,300 elementary school students shouting God! God! in unison. Could the mullahs ever do quite so well? If you are not outraged by this, you’re not paying attention.

Via PZ Meyers comes this from The Los Angeles Times:

Evangelist Ken Ham smiled at the 2,300 elementary students packed into pews, their faces rapt. With dinosaur puppets and silly cartoons, he was training them to reject much of geology, paleontology and evolutionary biology as a sinister tangle of lies.

Boys and girls, Ham said. If a teacher so much as mentions evolution, or the Big Bang, or an era when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, you put your hand up and you say, ‘Excuse me, were you there?’ Can you remember that?

The children roared their assent.

Sometimes people will answer, ‘No, but you weren’t there either,’ Ham told them. Then you say, ‘No, I wasn’t, but I know someone who was, and I have his book about the history of the world.’ He waved his Bible in the air.

Who’s the only one who’s always been there? Ham asked.

God! the boys and girls shouted.

Who’s the only one who knows everything?

God!

So who should you always trust, God or the scientists?

The children answered with a thundering: God!

The Dover decision meant nothing to people like Ham. We are dealing with fanatics that must be opposed at every turn. We are in a battle for the future of our nation. Will our children and grandchildren live in a nation ruled by reason or ignorance and superstition?

My Soundtrack: Town by Captain Of Industry on WOXY.

OK. Let me see if I have this right? Fox, that bastion of all-that-is-right-and-Christmas feels free to run the above image of Jesus on it’s popluar show The Family Guy, but it won’t run any of the images of Mohammad that have fanatics rioting around the world? Does that make sense to you? Me either.

Maybe we need Bill O’Reilly to take up the crusade and explain it all to us. Don’t hold your breath.

Andrew Sullivan has numerous posts on this topic including this, this, this and this. Since the brutal murder of Theo Van Gough, Sullivan has been a strong voice about the bullying of Islamic fanatics around the world.

My Soundtrack: Root Down by Beastie Boys on WOXY.

The letter-to-the editor below appeared on my 50th birthday in the Albuquerque, New Mexico Alibi. Take a minute and carefully read this letter because our governments response to this citizen’s opinions represents a serious escalation by the Bush Administration that could slam the writer with — wait for it:

20 years in a Federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Dear Alibi,

I am furious with the tragically misplaced priorities and criminal negligence of this government. The Katrina tragedy in the U.S. shows that the emperor has no clothes! Bush and his team partied and delayed while millions of people were displaced, hundreds of thousands were abandoned to a living hell. Thousands more died of drowning, dehydration, hunger and exposure; most bodies remain unburied and rotting in attics and floodwater. Is this America the beautiful?

The risk of hurricane disaster was clearly predicted, yet funds for repair work for the Gulf States barrier islands and levee system were unconscionably diverted to the Iraq War. Money and manpower and ethics have been diverted to fight a war based on absolute lies!

As a VA nurse working with returning OIF [Operation Iraqi Freedom]vets, I know the public has no sense of the additional devastating human and financial costs of post-traumatic stress disorder; now we will have hundreds of thousands of our civilian citizens with PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder]as well as far too many young soldiers, maimed physically or psychologically – or both – spreading their pain, anger and isolation through family and communities for generations. And most of this natural disaster and war tragedy has been preventable… how very, very sad!

In the meantime, our war-fueled federal deficit mushrooms – and whither this debt now, as we care for the displaced and destroyed?

Bush, Cheney, Chertoff, Brown and Rice should be tried for criminal negligence. This country needs to get out of Iraq now and return to our original vision and priorities of caring for land and people and resources rather than killing for oil.

Katrina itself was the size of New Mexico. Denials of global warming are ludicrous and patently irrational at this point. We can anticipate more wild, destructive weather to occur as a response stress of the planet. We need to wake up and get real here, and act forcefully to remove a government administration playing games of smoke and mirrors and vicious deceit. Otherwise, many more of us will be facing living hell in these times.

Laura Berg
Albuquerque

The crime Berg stands accussed of: sedition. Writes Steven Robert Allen in this week’s Alibi:

Sedition certainly sounds like a serious charge, and it is, according to Norman Cairns, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office here in Albuquerque. Sedition is only mentioned in one section of the United States Code, Cairns says, and the sedition that’s listed there is basically a plot to violently overthrow the United States government by force. Based on the plain statutory language, sedition always seems to imply the use of force or a conspiracy to use force. The penalty is a $250,000 fine and up to 20 years in prison.

Did you think I was making it up? By this standard I should be looking over my shoulder for the Feds.

Thanks Andrew for the catch.

My Soundtrack: Submission by Moving Units on WOXY.

Stephen Baker has a great idea. I don’t watch TV in real time — I see shows after a full season comes out on DVD — but if I were a fan of 24, I would psyched if Jack Bauer had shown up to comment on my blog about this post. How could fictional charcters take on blog personalities? Could they reveal a depth of character yet unseen?

SF&F fans have been writing alternative stories using their favorite series characters for years in fanzines; why not blogging TV characters interacting in the blogosphere. Who would you want visting your blog?

My Soundtrack: Here Comes The Weekend by The Jam on WOXY.

There are times that the sheer weight of ignorance can weigh on me that I can despair of a solution and, for only moment, contemplate the benevolent dictatorship of the rational. It passes quickly, but when I read things like this from Mano Singham, I just want to scream: Get A Clue! We Are Not Living In The Dark Ages!

The current attacks on science in the US are often portrayed as a battle between religion and science but that is not really the case. The widespread beliefs about the rapture (taking seriously the claim that 44 percent of Americans believe that the rapture will certainly or most probably occur within their lifetimes) and the attempts at overthrowing evolution by natural selection because of religious reasons signals something more serious.

When these beliefs are coupled with the fact that 53 percent reject common ancestors for humans and apes and that 45 percent of Americans can still, in this day and age (according to a Gallup poll in November 2004), believe that God created man in present form within the last 10,000 years, indicates that what we have here in the US is a far deeper and more disturbing phenomenon. I think that it is fair to say that it pretty much represents a rejection of modernity and a yearning for an almost medieval, pre-Renaissance way of thinking…

Governor Taft recently suggested that Ohio institute a core curriculum for college-bound students that would include three years of science. Maybe not every student is up to that, but we do need some kind of class that would teach students how the Universe works. If we don’t ensure that our children know that the supernatural is nothing but fairy tales on the par with the tooth fairy and Santa Claus, then we will doomed to a leadership that caters to the unknowing.

My Soundtrack: Sold As Seen by I Am Kloot on WOXY.

What does a blogger do with this? Is Rachel really the daughter of Cathy Panzica? There’s no way to know. Does Panzica have a daughter named Rachel? Did she just discover this nearly four-month-old comment thread? Is this the equivalent of dropping the big one on a blogger? Geeze, you can’t get all snarky. Can you?

Rachael Says:
February 11th, 2006 at 12:16 pm

Ok you ass holes stop bad mouthing my mom. Yeah Cathy Panzica is my mom and you know what you don”t personally know her so don”t talk about her. She” s awesome and you suck. You”re just jealous so just shut up and stop bad mouthing her just because she is better than you.

What do you think?

My Soundtrack: Something Must Be Wrong by Arthur Yoria on WOXY.

OK. Yes. I’m pissed. Ten cretins banded together to sponsor the Pedophile Aid And Comfort Act. By attempting to ostracize loving and caring adults who might offer troubled children a safe and secure home, these bigoted idiots are doing the damnedest to increase the odds that these children will be abandoned to the care of pedophiles.

How can I say that? Look at the numbers. What is the ratio of heterosexual pedophiles to homosexual pedophiles? Are there homosexual pedophiles? Of course there are, but it has nothing to do with their homosexuality. By ignorantly eliminating the entire pool of homosexual Ohioans these blind mouth-breathers are demonstrating that what they care about is their religious dogma, not good government or safe and healthy children.

I’ve got to figure a way to get all ten voted out of office in November. Anybody got any suggestions?

My Soundtrack: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Barry Adamson on WOXY.

Sometimes we hear stories that on first impression make sense. But if we go back, pay attention to what is being said, then we can see the holes in the logic. In an era of soundbites and movie catch pharses, that’s dangerous. This story from my dad is a case in point. The fisking will begin at the end.

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn’t even have time for a boyfriend, and didn’t really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, How is you friend Audrey doing?

She replied, Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus, college for her is a blast. She’s always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn’t even show up for classes because she’s too hung over.

Her wise father asked his daughter, Why don’t you go to the Dean’s office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father’s suggestion, angrily fired back, That wouldn’t be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I’ve invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, Welcome to the Republican Party.

And now, for the fisking.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA…

Notice the setup. The young woman is haughty. She’s just begging to be put in her place.

Her father listened and then asked, How is you friend Audrey doing?

She replied, Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus, college for her is a blast. She’s always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn’t even show up for classes because she’s too hung over.

Audrey is, of course the shifty, lazy person of bad character. The only possible reasons why Audrey has her paltry 2.0 GPA (which is the average, by the way) is that she is unworthy of better. Factors such as quality of her previous education, upbringing or social status cannot have had any effect.

Her wise father asked his daughter, Why don’t you go to the Dean’s office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.

Here is where the real comparison to taxes falls flat. To make the analogy really work, you must consider the ratio of the divide. In the economic society we live in today, the ratio is not a 2-to-1 as in the case of the haughty daughter and her friend Audrey. Rather the ratio is greater than 7-to-1. So the GPA disparity would be 2.0 to 14.0 in a universe where any GPA points above 4.0 do not effect the quality of life or future educational opportunities. So, the haughty daughter could give Audrey two of her GPA points, reduce her own to 12.0 and not suffer educationally at all.

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father’s suggestion, angrily fired back, That wouldn’t be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I’ve invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!

The daughter, like our President (who seems to believe that because he was born on third base that he has hit a triple), is blinded to the advantages she has enjoyed by her social status. While she does indeed work hard for her 4.0 (14.0) GPA, she must take in all the advantages that have come before that have made it much easier for her to stay focused on her studies.

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, Welcome to the Republican Party.

Yes indeed: the party that is more interested making life easier for people who already have easy lives than making life less hard for people who just can”t quite get by.

My Soundtrack: She Began To Lie by Greg Hale Jones on WOXY.

This is what you get when you vote Republican in Ohio. In a state with a wrecked economy; where college students are packing and leaving as fast as they can; where a governor can plead guilty and stay in office; where dogma is more important than quality education; this is what our legislators think is important to focus on.

The rants are all out there, but I found the impassioned message of Michele Bakalar to be the most compelling:

It was never my GAY uncle or any of his friends who couldn”t keep their hands to themselves; it was my STRAIGHT, married with kids, had a home and job, that looked like Ward Cleaver uncle — who couldn”t keep his hands to himself. Every one of my friends will tell you it was never any one who was gay but a straight family member, a straight friend of the family, a straight grandparent, a straight step-parent; they were all straight and married. So please show me the facts, every single one of them.

Others who have weighed in include: Punderbund and Buckeye Senate. I agree with BSB. Any Democrat running for office this fall — I don’t care if it’s dog catcher or U.S. Senator, who doesn’t start screaming bloody murder about this bill should pack up their tent and go home. You’ve got no right to call yourself a Democrat.

My Soundtrack: Thunder Road by Tortoise/Bonny Prince Billy on WOXY.

Gloria Ferris tagged me with this meme on 1 February. I won’t pass it along — I’m not all about the chain letter thing — but I have made an honest effort to provide answers. I’ve been wracking my brain to come up with five but so far I haven’t. Anyone out there who cares to add one or two to the list feel free. Here’s what I’ve come up with.

1. 99.9 percent of the time, I wear all black.
2. I wash and reuse plastic bags and straws.
3. I don’t own a cell phone or television.
4. I wake up every morning at 0405 to write.
5. I time espresso shots in coffee shops.

I must be too close to myself to really think of what might be weird. I actually don’t think these three are weird, but an impartial observer might.

My Soundtrack: Marigolds by Shelby on WOXY.

OK, Jill asked me which super hero I was. I had missed it on her website (she’s Wonder Woman, well duh!) and not taken the survey. I took it this evening and what came up was surprising. The program has decided that I’m Iron Man. I didn’t buy many Iron Man comics, but I did watch the television show, and of course, listened to Ozzie and crew.

She who writes like she talks asked about the provenance of Laurence Britt’s list of 14 markers for facsism. I did my best to answer her question in this reply. In addition, this interview with Britt may be instructive to those who are interested. I found it interesting to read some of the background on Britt.

One of Coventry’s treasures is Suzanne at Mac’s Backs. The shop is everything a book store should be and much much more. It’s the only place I do my holiday shopping. In addition to books and magazines, there is a regular rotation of fascinating people. It’s the place where I recorded the Sherry And Ernie Roadshow.

This week I want to stop in and hear Tamara Draut talk about her book: Strapped: Why America”s 20-30 Somethings Can”t Get Ahead. (The Powell’s link is for reference only, make sure you buy your copy from Suzanne.)

Which events are you interested in?

My Soundtrack: Speak To Me Bones by Land Of Talk on WOXY.

Three weeks ago I wrote that sometimes cartoonists have to make it real. I don’t know which cartoonist first let reality slip into his daily strips (it may have been Charles Schulz), but Keith Knight let us into his world for a moment. Today we find that he and his wife got to have one of life’s huge victories. Good to hear it Keef.

Via the Dancing One comes this post from Less People, Less Idiots asking: where the ladies went? I have a lot of problems when people use labels like ladies and gentlemen because those terms are subject to culturual lenses. I like the points that Reverand Billy Bob Gusher makes, but I don’t like the semantic route he takes to make it.

Here’s his lede:

(Gisher trots up to the podium and taps the mike)

Gisher: First I”d like to ask you all where the ladies went? You people looked confused, so I guess I better explain. To me a lady is a woman who speaks her mind and stands up for her rights and the rights of other women. To me a lady does not need a man in her life, she may want one, but she does not need one.

(Crowd says amen)

Gisher: All you really need to survive is air, water, and food. You do not need men. It”s OK to want them, but you do not need them to survive. If you feel that you do need them, I will tell you right now, YOU HAVE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH!

(Crowd says amen)

Gisher: In my book, a lady is a woman who knows she is a woman and is proud of not only her womanliness, she is proud of her mind and her accomplishments. She doesn”t just rely on her body to get her where she”s going in life.

(Crowd says amen)

Gisher: A woman who just relies on her body to get things done, ISN”T THAT CALLED A PROSTITUTE?

I think that my Grandmother Hess would agree with much of what Gisher has to say. She wasn’t all that political, but she could be rabid on the issue of voting rights. She turned 21, then the voting age for men, in 1912. This was the same year that President Teddy Roosevelt’s Progressive Party made women’s sufferage part of it’s platform It would be another seven years before she, and her sisters, finally won the right to vote.

I don’t think she ever got as upset as when some younger woman would tell her that she wasn’t voting because her husband took care of that.

My Soundtrack: It’s How You Feel by Lab Partners on WOXY.

Dan Savage writes about much more than santorum (note the lowercase, look it up). On his blog today he posts that he’s seeing this poster going up on lightpoles around Seattle. We all kind of scratched our heads when they went after Salman Rushdie for The Satanic Verses, but now I just made my blog a target. How do you feel about that?

Writes Savage:

I love it. I couldn”t agree more. Bravo. If the folks who did this are reading this blog, keep putting ‘em up!

And the appearance of this poster on Capitol Hill-the most liberal neighborhood in one of the West Coast”s most liberal cities-gives the lie to this right-wing talking point: The left doesn”t care about this issue, and is willing to cede free speech to mollify Islamic haters. It”s not true, and this poster is evidence that it”s not true.

That it is now coming out that pictures circulating in the Middle East, most notoriously one giving Mohammad the face of a pig, are fakes produced purely for the purpose of stirring up hatred doesnt’ surprise me.

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for the directions.

My Soundtrack: The Sweater by Meryn Cadell on WOXY.

Who knew we were all such a well-balanced and calm group? At least according to the lastest pop psychology coming out of something called Last Minute Living. (Quick, somebody call the Pee Dee.) The study of 2,000 people found that of those writing blogs, 85 precent, and I am not making this up:

…did it to express their inner thoughts and feelings in a non-judgmental environment.

Well, that explains Russo, but what about the rest of us?

My Soundtrack: Goin’ Against Your Mind by Built To Spill on WOXY.

In my window is a 22-year-old Chinese Elm Bōnsai with a tiny wooden Buddha contemplating the tree. I bought the Buddha when I was in high school. It’s a calming image to contemplate after a long day. As a counterpoint to the brouhaha over the Danish image of Mohammed, take a few minutes to enjoy The Buddha Project.