Thursday, February 08, 2007

In the news

Here's a little something to keep you all hip to what's going on in the news:


USPS: United States Postal Spying
According to this article, your boy Dubya has secretly given himself the authority to go through our mail without getting first getting a warrant. Apparently, the President added a "signing statement" that affords him the right to go through people's mail in the case of an emergency. Maybe somebody should remind him that the year is 2007; not 1984.

Snickers pulls controversial ad
Just two days after airing during the Super Bowl, Snickers was quick to remove one of its ads after receiving heat from several gay advocacy groups. The commericial, which I thought was actually pretty funny, involved two mechanics in a shop working on car. One mechanic starts eating a Snickers bar, while the other starts at the other end, clearly a spoof of the famous scene in “Lady & the Tramp”. When their lips meet, they panic and – in response – do something “manly” by ripping hair off their chests. As gay activists cried ‘foul’, Snickers got rid of the ad. But not before I was able to find it here (though I’m not sure how long it will be up).

On one hand, I get the whole uproar from the gay community thing. But seriously, where is the same outrage against flamboyant, boisterous and affeminate homosexuals who parade around; providing the most impetus for discrimination against the homosexual community? I mean, they're the ones who are the antitheses of the "manly" persona. If you want to blame anybody, blame them.

Praise the Lord! He's healed!
Speaking of homosexuals, Ted Haggard, the evangelical minister who purchased crystal meth from a male prostitute with whom he was sexually involved; has apparently been cured. I wish I was making this up.

Pumping in the $$$
According to reports, Exxon Mobil Corporation has just surpassed the previous held record for annual profits. Beating out last year's numbers from...uh...itself, Exxon amassed an astonishing $39.5 billion dollars of profit; resulting from a yearly revenue of $377 billion. Let's keep that in mind the next time one the oil execs goes on CNN to inform consumers that outrageous oil prices are simply the product of the high costs of refinery and exploration. Riiiiight.

Congress skeptical of Bush's Iraq Budget
After reading this article, who can blame them? After the president recently outlined his $2.9 trillion budget (which includes $625 billion for defense), both Dems and the GOP have grown decidely skeptical with Bush. When, according to Henry Waxman; Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, our government "drops" 363 tons of cash in Iraq with no stated purpose, people are a little more likely to be critical of its fiscal moves.

Stories like this remind me of why oversight is important. Most of us can already see that Bush and his buddies have been failing us miserably with this nonsensical war. Maybe Congress will finally open their eyes and take action.

Kerry won't run
This bit of news is a little old, but worth mentioning since it will impact the outcome of the 2008 president election. John Kerry, whose botched presidential run served as a prelude to other botched stuff, removed himself from consideration as a presidential candidate. Whew! That was close. Even though I don’t think he had a chance of gaining the same momentum that he had (and lost) in ’04, I’m relieved to see that he won’t be attempt to run again.

Don’t get me wrong: I personally like Kerry and I supported most of his agenda. But he clearly didn’t have what it took to win an election. He lost to the worst president in history. As a war hero, he lost to a draft dodger. He essentially lost an ‘open and shut’ case. To think that he’d be able to win against a candidate even HALF as insipid as Bush would be far reaching.

More loss in Iraq
The military has reported that another helicopter has been downed; bringing the count to five in a little more than three weeks. Not only does this spell the loss of valuable and expensive resources but, more importantly, the loss of more human life. When will the President get it? If an American death toll of 3100 + doesn't do it, what will?

Scientists bribed to counter global warming claims
Even I was shocked to hear this story. Apparently, the American Enterprise Institute has offered scientists $10,000 in cash if they can refute any claims of global warming. This bribe was done in response to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report; which indicates that human activity is the largest culprit of global warming. I wonder how far 10 grand will go when the global warming that you claimed didn't exist just caused the flood that's washing your home away.

Compliments: The new insult
Those silly Democrats; always putting their feet in their mouths. This time it's not John Kerry and his bad jokes about Iraq, or Howard Dean with...well...just about everything he says. Rather the culprit now is Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), regarding statements made about fellow Democratic senator Barack Obama.

In an article submitted to the New York Observer, he noted that Sen. Obama was "...the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy..." Bush's comments about an "articulate" Obama also grew criticism; but not to the extent of Biden's.

Writers all over the blogosphere have been weighing in on this story. Frankly, I could care less either way; but I can see the viewpoints of both sides. I get the idea that whites feel "damned if they do, damned if they don't" regarding complimenting blacks. But, I also understand how Biden's comments; especially calling Obama the "first mainstream black who is articulate..." can get intepreted as racist; implying that Obama's positive attributes are somehow a unique exception to the rule of his race. All I know is that the best way to avoid situations like this is to leave the politically correct bulls**t at the door.

There. I said it.

**Update**

Anna Nicole Smith found dead
Former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith was found dead in Florida hotel. The cause of death was not determined, but I've got my theories. Let's see: wealthy aflluent family in a legal battle over an estate. Smith's son is mysteriously found dead. She mysteriously dies soon thereafter. Hmmm.

Truth be told, I'm not in the least bit interested in what happened. Now please don't interpret what I'm about to say as being heartless, but there wasn't much to her life that bore any real significance to me. I will admit, however, that stories like this do tend to get a little more interesting if they open themselves to a good conspiracy theory...

**Update (last time, I promise)**

Abu Grab-ass
When I heard this story, I had to blog on it. According to this report, President George H.W. Bush sought some sexual healing from somebody other than Barbara. After having lunch with Despearate Housewises star Teri Hatcher, the Prez got himself a slice of pizza; a piz-za Teri's ass (I can't take credit for this joke. I stole it from this SNL skit.)

Anyway, you can check out the video of your perverted president here. Laugh away...

I guess that's about it for today. There's tons more to discuss, but a brotha's gotta get some work done. Until next time, be easy...

- ACL

11 "Insiders" spoke their mind. Join in...:

Perez said...

Very interesting-

I never hear of the postal spying...I'll have to look into that-

The Snickers ad was stupid to me....Not very funny, only stupid-

The Exxon thing...Think about it...Capitalism is at play-

About Kerry...He is a lame ass...And Bush is the worst president now, but what about in 50 years? What will they say about him....Will they say he was strong against the radicals who want to kill me, as a Jewish women, or kill you as just not one who will fit in....If we do not have a strong president, and the Democrats run with the tail in between their legs, you and I are both toast-

Think about how many more lives will be killed if Iran get nukes....They want to kill ever Jew in Israel, everyone who is not a radical muslim...So my heart goes to the men and women fighting, but if we pull out of the middle east-wiil their lives be for no good cause?-

Global Warming is a hard one to talk about...Yes the earth is changing, but can anyone blame anyone else? Everyone is doing something wrong-And we are coming out of an ice age-

Bush's comments about an "articulate" Obama are just plain crazy...Why is being articulate a bad thing? Just like in the hispanic community, if you are smart, you are too white...Stupid right? You be the judge-

Wait...Anna Nicole Smith died? When? I never hear that-

Well anyways-very interesting thoughts you have about the world-take care-Shalom-perez

heiresschild said...

the different articles have been informative, interesting,and entertaining.

i hadn't seen the snickers commercial, but heard the controversy surrounding it, so thanks for the link here. i'm in a light-hearted mood tonite so i found it entertaining.

have never watched south park before, so i followed that link also. it's interesting how you can take some serious real-life issues and find humor in it. some things are never funny to me though because of the ignorance and seriousness surrounding them like the senator biden comments and the war losses.

i'm saddened by anna nicole smith's death. i only knew her from t.v., but i felt sad for her when her son died. now her daughter will never know her mother, and the court battle will continue, i'm sure, to determine the real father. such tragedy.

The H.C. said...

Hey Dre,
I've got tons to comment on this one (you know I love when you do these) but unfortunately I've got little time and a busted CPU at home, so I don't know when I'll get time. But for now, great post and once again thanks for the props. Have a great weekend my friend.

Anonymous said...

The militant black dude strikes again...

Interesting post.

Anonymous said...

Andre complaining again. What else is new?

Andre said...

@ Perez: Thanks for taking time (obviously LOTS of time) to respond!

-The postal spying thing is too freaky not to know about.

- I actually thought the Snickers commerical was funny. But I can see where the offense would come. I just think it's interesting that gay advocates choose THIS particular expression to go up against.

- Kerry was lame in the sense that he took the 'high road' during the '04 election when he needed to attack more. Bush, on the other hand is...well...just lame. I think history will keep that in mind.

- If Iran should be expected to get rid of its nukes, so should we.

- When science shows that the CO emissions we create contribute to global warming, maybe it's time to listen.

- I won't vilify Bush or Biden on this one. But I also understand the other side. Being a person who's been directly discriminated against, I'm not quick to dismiss hidden racism. I don't think this was a case of BLANTANT racism, but these were comments that didn't need to make their way out of these guys' mouths; if only to protect themselves.

- Yep. Anna's dead. But you've probably heard about it by now. The media just won't let it rest.

Thanks again; for stopping by!

@ Heirress: How have you been, my friend?

I got a pretty good chuckle out of the commerical also. I hear that there were different variations of the ad; where the guys did different types of "manly" stuff.

I didn't exactly get the South Park reference; but I get your point about finding humor in some of life's situations. Some things though, like you said, are off limits to comedy. At least they should be...

As it relates to Anna Nicole Smith, I'm not sad; in the traditional sense. I feel bad for her and her family; but no worse than I feel for anybody else who has died.

The only problem that I have is that the media and the entertainment world is making this out to be a huge loss for the world when -- quite frankly -- it's not. When you have thousands of soliders and civilians dying in worldwide conflicts, the death of a stripper turned Playboy model is not exactly a headline. At least it shouldn't be.

Thanks, heirress, for blessing me again.

@ HC: I already KNOW you've got tons to say. You wouldn't be YOU without being vocal.

@ KC: I assure you, brotha. I'm not militant. If anybody's militant, I'd say that HC and Malik wear that crown.

@ anonymous: Whatever.

Thanks for your comments guys. Well, most of you anyway...

Anonymous said...

Andre I apologize for my remark. It was stupid and un-called for. My remark had absolutely nothing to do with the post, it was just me being mean. Please forgive me. I sometimes get carried away with the fact that I'm allowed to be anonymous. Truth be told, I'm not broave enough to say half the things that I say in this blog. Your intelligence and insight intimidates me, even if I don't always agree with you.

Anonymous said...

Sorry about the typo. I meant "brave"......See, even I'm wrong sometimes

The H.C. said...

Me? Militant? Just because I like camo and have a few guns? Nah, I know what change of government by force means. If you don't want the most violent and well armed amongst us in charge, the political system is still the way. AS F'ed up as it can be sometimes.

Anonymous said...

Good morning, my friend.

I'm curious: you mentioned that you've been discriminated against. Clearly by saying that, you're pointing out how you faced blantant and unmistakable discrimination. If you don't mind, I'd like to hear about it.

Anonymous said...

By the way, that was a funny story about President Bush, the senior. I guess it goes to show that even the Commanders-in-chief have a little "horndog" in them.