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New Year's Eve
Well, it is time once again for the most over rated night of the year. I have always found that elaborate plans and high expectations lead to disappointment. I'm not being a negative Nancy, but it has been my experience that a simple plan with good friends works best.
2004 was a pretty significant year. My cousin Jenny got married (click here for her wedding website, click here for picture of me and Jen on 20SomethingDramaQueen). I'm very happy for her and continue to wish her all the best. As a political junkie, it has been a fascinating year. I agree with Keeler Report Editor Ben Keeler that the most significant political event was President Bush winning re-election. The Democratic primary and the general election were full of ups and downs, scandals, and unexpected finishes. Time Magazine was also justified in making President Bush man of the year. The Bush campaign won with a record of job loss, record defects, and taking our nation into a war based on false premises. Let's just hope Bush does better on his second try.
My hope for the New Year is that elections in Iraq go smoothly, the economy for average Americans recovers, and that the political divisiveness both in Washington and across the country calms down. Unfortunately, I don't think any of these things will happen due in large part to those god dam Republicans who are quick to fight to make sure you are born, but once you are out they could care less unless of course you are a little light in your loafers in which case they will turn out in record numbers to protect the sanctity of marriage, which is ironic because most of them are twice divorced and in general take this high moral authority which comes from having watched "The Passion" a hundred times and spending every Sunday at their tax-free political campaign headquarters also known as "church" while they claim to try to live the life of Christ yet they work hard everyday all across this country and especially in Washington D.C. to screw us all in every way they can! Somebody fetch me another drink...
The progression of New Year's Eve in pictures:
9:30pm
11:45
2:00am
9:30am
We Are Family
As much as I think Bush has been a complete bastard in this Tsunami disaster, I have no problem with them sending brother Jeb. I guess he did a good job for Floridians in the Fall. Plus, it may make brother W look like less of a dick if his brother puts on some down south charm.
But I really Bush's brother Neil can come, because Neil has a history for going to Asia for sex romps. Read here to learn about what a comical, but disgusting, criminal this Bush family member is. Also, click here to take the Neil Bush Family Values quiz. Seriously, how do we lose a debate on values to a family like this. It makes me so upset.
Okay, I am done for 2004. I am going out of town for a few days. Happy New Years to everyone. I'll be back Sunday with some sort of 2004 year in review.
Editor's Note
Ian Sigalow, one of my best friends, was in Thai Land when the earth quake and following devastation hit. Supposedly he was on a boat. I haven't confirmed that part yet nor do I have any details at this time. He is ok. I have not been able to contact Ian personally, but as soon as he is home I will ask him to submit his experiences to the Chief Source. We wish him safe and speedy travels home.
More tragic math
I had planned to post something about 'The Rights of the Accused' but it'll have to wait. I just read that the casualty count from the tsunami passed 125,000 and I wanted to try to put a number like that in perspective. Here goes:
Imagine, if the terrorists had managed to pull off one World-Trade-Center-caliber attack in ALL of the 50 states simultaneously. The total number of casualties would be around 130,000 (not counting rescue personnel).
Together, the two atomic bombs that we dropped on Japan killed around 115,000 people (in the immediate blasts).
Now, this Tsunami is already in this neighborhood and who knows where the number will stand tomorrow.
According to the BBC, there have only been 4 natural disaster that were more lethal in the last 500 years!
1976 Earthquake in Tangshan, China, kills 242,000
1970 Cyclone in Bangladesh kills 500,000
1887 China's Yellow River breaks its banks in Huayan Kou killing 900,000
1556 Earthquake in China's Shanxi and Henan provinces kills 830,000
As Chuck already said...the U.S. govt's pledge stands at $35m.
For those of you whinny liberals who think that that isn't a lot of money, I'd like to point out that it 3.5 times MORE than what Cameron Diaz made for her week's worth of work providing the voice-over for Princess Fiona in Shrek 2! And that was a funny flick.
$35 Million
UPDATE 2: US has stepped up with a real contribution. It will go a long way to help the devastation. Sadly, any person with logical skills knows this contribution was, in part, given because Bush didn't like looking like a dick. Also, all of us know that the horrific delay by Bush to respond or seem to care at all, cost the American people a chance to gain some good will. Too bad.
UPDATE: That is half the amount that France ($57 million )and Spain ($60 million) each. About 1/3 the amount of the UK ($95 million).
That is "all the money the US can afford to give" for the 100,000 Tsunami victims.
That is how much money Dick Cheney made from Halliburton in 2000.
That is at least $5 million less then Bush is spending on his inauguration party. (by the way what are they spending so much money on.....I hope Bush is drinking again)
My calculator will not compute how small of a fraction that is compared to 'liberating' Iraq.
I've got another one....
4 Days: That is how long Bush waited to publicly comment on the crisis.
That is 4 days less than it took for Bush comment on the Florida hurricanes.
Where to start?
Well, this is Bob Hewitt here...
Today I joined the Chiefsource staff and pending good behavior, you will be seeing me quite frequently here. To start off, I'd like to share with you a story, something that happened to me just 2 days ago.
As many of you know, I have been living in a small mountain city in the Southeast of Brazil for a while. The other night I was invited to sit down for drinks with a Brazilian family who had lived in Michigan in the 80s. One of the things that the Dad said stuck with me. ยด
(Now, keep in mind that this is a rough translation.)
Squeezing my shoulder he said: "Why do you guys think that you have a monopoly on liberty? I lived in Michigan...the bars close at 2:30am and you can't buy beer on Sunday. You call that freedom?!"
All jokes aside, it is interesting our perception of 'our' freedoms vs. 'their' freedoms. Before I moved here, I was washing dishes at Boston Market to save some quick cash (glamorous, I know) and I'll never forget a conversation that I had with one of the girls working there. After I told her that I was moving abroad I asked if she'd ever consider it.
Her response was: "I'd like to know other cultures and stuff, but I just don't know if I'd be willing to give up all my freedoms."
(sigh)
OSU vs. OSU
How many interceptions will be thrown tonight?
For those of us who follow Ohio State football, tonight will be a bitter sweet game when the Buckeyes play Oklahoma State. I can't help but cheer for the amazing Mike Nugent, the crazy fast Ted Gynn, A.J. Hawk, and the now benched Troy Smith. Unfortunately, Troy Smith took a little money on the side. Tressel manages to recruit the top talent in the country and then is forced to bench them. I wonder how squeaky clean Tressel really is? Youngstown is a very shady place. Given the fact that OSU just went through this with Maurice Clarette, one would think that the program would be extra diligent in educating players and keeping the program clean. That clearly hasn't happened and when it is repeated offenses with different players year after year the leadership including Athletic Director Andy Geiger needs to be held responsible.
I sincerely hope that the Buckeyes win tonight. I think it is possible if the defense can keep the score low and the special teams can score points. Zwick just needs to make sure that he tackles the Oklahoma DB's when he gets picked 3-10 times so that the defense can come in to clean up his mess.
My score prediction - Buckeyes 17, Cowboys 13
Powell: The Insurgency in Iraq "Will Not End"
No wonder Bush squeezed you out of office, Colin. You should talk more about being greeted with flowers....and how we build schools (that we blew up).
Out of hand
Chuck: The Tsunami death toll went from 13,000 to 23,000 in the 8 hours I was sleeping. US plans to be 'very responsive,' and I am sure we will.
Funny that we have stressed reliance on the UN. The same UN that most republicans mock and many say should not exist. I wonder if this loser organization approves. I hope these assholes get wrecked by a Tsunami (funny thing, this anti-UN group is located in Wisconsin).
Kyle: ABC has a really good interactive map which gives you an idea of how it happened. You may have heard the story of the Swedish boy who was reunited with his parents through this website posting the pictures of children missing their parents. Most of the information I have gathered on the tsunami has been from reading because I can't stomach the television images. It makes me sick how the western press runs hours of footage of bodies rotting in piles or floating in the water. Then they remind us how much is smells. Sick.
The voice over the footage says something like, "Well Brenda, as you can see total carnage. The death toll includes 5 Americans known dead with up to 100 unaccounted for. On a side note, some 24,000 native peoples are dead. As you can see here there are more bodies than the morgues can handle. It is tough to look at. Here is a pile of school children who were going to get lunch, but got trapped by water. All you can see are back packs and dead kids. A real difficult scene. This next footage is of the maternity ward at a local hospital. You can see lots of mothers and infants here Brenda. You can imagine the stench. It is too much to handle."
I think the press would show more discretion with what they show if the victims looked like you and me. (comment not intended for our Indonesian, Thai, India-Indian, or Somali readers)
I brushed my teeth during the tsunami coverage and when I came back they had moved on to the other top story about a woman who killed another woman and cut out her fetus.
That Crazy Day After Christmas
I am finally back home in 70 degree Arizona after 5 days in Ohio. I am sure everyone missed my posts, but I was so busy during the entire week. I am glad I got to see most of my friends, and sorry to those I missed.
So the now its the day after Christmas. I will be actually laying around because I was on the flight from hell last night, but most everyone will be busy. Some will be visiting the less-liked half of their family. Some will be spending their Christmas cash. Some will be exchanging gifts given by the out-of-touch family members. Many will be hurrying to the airport to get home for work on Monday. Some will even get to vote for a new president....too bad its not us (people in Ukraine began voting again for president).
However, it is a tragic day after Christmas in Asia. Over 23000 people are dead from viscious Tsunami. Millions of people are being displaced. Pretty insane. I hope President Bush's call for compassion extends to these devastated people. If not, maybe he can find a way to blame some country for the disaster and then spend $200 billion ruining that nation. Then after the country's links to the Tsunami proved wrong, we can claim we are liberating the country. I think that is just the type of compassion Bush loves most.
On the brightside, seriously, here is the Christmas story of the year. Some random guy gave away $35,000 in cash at a homeless shelter.
?
I remember during the days after September 11, 2001 talking with friends about the fact that whoever did this to us was going to die. There was no doubt about it. I figured it would be a couple of days at the most. Now, over three years later he is still on the loose and the President can only guess...
Question: "Do you have a sense of where Osama bin Laden is, and why the trail on him seems to have gone cold?"
President: "If I had to guess, I would guess that Osama bin Laden is in a remote region on the Afghan-Pakistan border." - December 20, 2004
Why are so many of our troops in Iraq if the Commander-in-Chief believes the most wanted terrorist is on the Afghan-Pakistan border?
Vote for your favorite message
This is our first anual vote for the best voicemail message of 2004. We have several excellent messages from different times over the past year. Vote for your favorite message in our poll. The audio quality gets poor during a couple so be ready to turn up your volume. May the best message win...
 - You are the man  - Teddy bear advice  - Tough times for Reagan  - Working Women's Wednesday
This last one is the winner from 2003
 - Loser to another notch
Updates: Cindy, Drugs, and Shock Therapy
EVOLUTION: Republican State House Representative Cynthia Davis (R-MO) thinks we should teach alternatives to evolution. She explained why teaching evolution is the fault of evil horrible liberals. Here is her explanation: "It's like when the hijackers took over those four planes on Sept 11 and took people to a place where they didn't want to go. I think a lot of people feel that liberals have taken our country somewhere we don't want to go." Yeah, Cindy it's just like that.
DRUGS: Okay, this Pfizer/Celebrex thing is bad. But they have decided to stop marketing the product. Of course, the corporate greed will not allow Pfizer to quit selling the killer-pill.
Also, Bushies were covering up concerns about AIDS medication we were providing to Africa. But its Africa, so who cares, right?
TORTURE: Remember my Chief Source debut post, about the Bush-sanctioned torture in the war on terror. Sadly, I feel the need to reveal a new twist. We were using Electric Shock. Is that bad enough to complain, or am I just anti-american? Or maybe I am just a liberal pussy. That's it, I think electric shock is bad, so I'm a pussy.
My Mailbag
Starting tonight, I am going begin a segment where I respond to readers questions. Here we go....
Q: Bush is Time Magazine's Person of the Year, who would you have picked?
--Preston: Phoenix, Arizona
Jon Stewart. Thru all of this nonsense, Stewart has made me laughed and prevented me from killing someone/myself.
Q: What do you think about this Rumsfeld situation?
--Angela: Phoenix, Arizona
Well, he's obviously a bum. I never thought I would see the day that I agree with Trent Lott. Well, at least he has now ordered himself to sign his condolence letters to dead soldiers families . Seriously, he would just stamp letters home to parents, saying their child died. He couldn't sign them. What a really bad person. I'll just stop there.
Q: What did you think of the Cavs/Celtics game Saturday?
--Steve: Highland, Ohio
What a glorious night. The Celtics came back on the Cavs to win in overtime. During the Cavs collapse, Lebron airballed a 5 foot jumper, which would have won the game. Then he got blocked by the most underrated player in the league, Ricky Davis. LBJ proceeded to lose the jumpball to Ricky. Ricky looked solid, yet the loser Cavs fans booed him all night. How is Eric Williams doing for you bums?
Q: You have to admit the French and Germans are dicks for not helping out in Iraq, right?
--Rob: Cleveland, Ohio
Hey, they have offered to train troops in their own country, but Bush is such a loser, he is not taking the opportunity to train the troops in those countries. I guess Freedom Fries don't taste so good, when the French are actually offering some help, even though the French knew all along the war was a load of shit, because there was no WMD.
Q: Who would you like to see be the next president?
--Bill: Los Angeles, California
I'd like to see Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE). I have heard he had some problems with a fudged resume back in the 80's, which might be a problem. But Bush did drugs and was pulling DUI's, so I don't think its a problem.
Q: How is your Corolla doing?
--Matt: Cleveland, Ohio
Good. Well, actually great, considering I don't have a Kia Spectra, which was rated as the least safe small car. Tough times for Kia.
The Chief Source Internship Program:
Thank you for your interest in our internship program. The Chief Source Internship Program provides a unique opportunity to learn more about the daily operations of a political blog and how it is run. Approximately one intern will be chosen each spring, summer, and fall to participate in this highly competitive program.
Applicants must be: - At least 18 years of age on or before the first day of the internship
- Enrolled in a college or university
- A U.S. citizen
Interns will be selected based on their application and demonstrated interest in current events. Upon acceptance, candidates will recieve training before being put on the job. All measures used in the screening of candidates are confidential and intended to protect the applicant as well as The Chief Source. Note: Chuck likes 2 sugars and Kyle likes sweet and low with a splash of skim.
To apply please email email a letter of interest to Kyle at kutuchief@hotmail.com
Good Times and Heart Attacks
Good Times, if you have profited enormously from drug-dealers Pfizer and Merck. Heart Attacks, if you were one of the unlucky that has been taking Pfizer money-maker Celebrex. Not sure what I am talking about, read here.
So Pfizer, Merck, and the whole gang of corporate medicine keeps getting their drugs rubberstamped by the FDA. Why are all of these drugs getting fast track approval, when it turns out that they are killing people? Take a guess.....greed. Here is a great article on why this is Bush's fault. Whatever, I just think this is funny. At least the FDA is good at keeping the morning-after pill, which is safe, unavailable. What a bunch of dicks.
 This picture is of the apartment of a friend from OSU who is from NJ. He now lives in New York City and took this picture of his apartment to show what $1,350 a month can get you in the village. The only thing not show in the picture is the kitchenette and bathroom. I found the picture on the couch extra special. Thanks bird.
Bush Administration On Sex Education
A big part of the Bush administration's social agenda has been to teach abstinence only instead of sex education in our public schools. This year the Federal Government will spend $170 million on abstinence only education. The problem with this investment is that abstinence education alone doesn't work as study after study shows that students who only recieve absitinence education make uninformed decisions when it comes to sex. Yesterday Congressman Henry Waxman released a study on the most popular abstinence only curricula. Here are some examples of the bad information being taught: - Condoms - "[i]n heterosexual sex, condoms fail to prevent HIV approximately 31% of the time"; and another teaches that a pregnancy occurs one out of every seven times that couples use condoms. These erroneous statements are presented as proven scientific facts.
- Risks of Abortion - 5% to 10% of women who have legal abortions will become sterile; that "[p]remature birth, a majorcause of mental retardation, is increased following the abortion of a first pregnancy"; and that "[t]ubal and cervical pregnancies are increased following abortions." In fact, these risks do not rise after the procedure used in most abortions in the United States.
- Religion and Science - Many of the curricula present as scientific fact the religious view that life begins at conception. For example, one lesson states: "Conception, also known as
fertilization, occurs when one sperm unites with one egg in the upper third of the fallopian tube. This is when life begins." Another curriculum calls a 43-day-old fetus a "thinking person."
- Scientific Errors - In numerous instances, the abstinence-only curricula teach erroneous scientific information. One curriculum incorrectly lists exposure to sweat and tears as risk factors for HIV transmission. (Click here for the full report in PDF format)
Bush Supporter: "This is Freaking Embarrassing"
Our nation's highest honor?
Well, at least that is what any rational Bush-backer would say. On Monday, Bush awarded the 3 most 'pivotal' figures of the Iraq war. I feel 'pivotal' is the appropriate term, since these losers (Tenet, Bremer, and Franks) have been so 'pivotal' in the disastrous mess, especially Bremer and Tenet. Without them, Iraq might actually a bit more reasonable.
Seriously, this is unbelievable. Here are some highlights of the 2 men that have endangered each and everyone of our safety:
- Tenet claimed Iraq having WMD was a "slam dunk." Nice try loser.
- Tenet was the head of the biggest intelligence failure ever, 9/11. Not so good.
- Bremer was responsible for the civilian life in Iraq. How's that going?
- Bremer disarmed the Iraqi army. We could sort of use them about now.
This is kinda like the Browns retiring #'s of Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, and Jeff Faine. I mean, those losers are why the Browns are in a mess, so why not.
Does Bush know he's not running for president anymore? He can cut out the shit. Seriously.
Chief Source Exclusive
A source has revealed the expense report from a recent incident discussed in a prior post. It is in regards to the destruction of a hotel room. I don't know any details on the incident itself because I wasn't there, but a reliable high level contact passed this information along and some of our readers should find it interesting.
The following is a list of damages to room 724 on November 24, 2004 and amount owed to the Residence Inn in Montrose:
Items:
- End Table ---------------------------------- $75.00 x 1 = $75.00
- Lamps - end Table ------------------------- $50.00 x 2 = $100.00
- Clock Radio --------------------------------- $25.00 x 1 = $25.00
- Ash Trays ----------------------------------- $3.00 x 6 = $18.00
- TV Remotes -------------------------------- $20.00 x 2 = $40.00
- Fan Remotes ------------------------------- $32.00 x 1 = $32.00
- Flourescent Bulbs and Ballasts -------------- $3.00 x 15 = $45.00
- Window Screen ----------------------------- $20.00 x 1 = $20.00
- Lamp shades ------------------------------- $15.00 x 4 = $60.00
- Vent Cover --------------------------------- $20.00 x 1 = $20.00
- Drinking Glasses, Mugs --------------------- $3.00 x 10 = $30.00
Labor - Steam Clean Carpet + Furniture------------------------- = $200.00
- Excess Room Cleaning ----------------------- $25.00 x 4 = $100.00
- Wall Repair - 2 holes ------------------------------------ = $240.00
- Steam Walls --------------------------------- $25.00 x 2 = $50.00
------------------------------------------------------- Subtotal= $1,055.00
------------------------------------------------- Room Deposit = -$100.00 Total Owed Residnece Inn ------------------------------------ = $955.00
Bits of News
'Blog' Tops U.S. Dictionary's Words of the Year
Merriam-Webster Inc. said on Tuesday that blog, defined as "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks," was one of the most looked-up words on its Internet sites this year.
Obesity Among Low-Income Kids on the Rise
Researchers found that in 2000, more than 10 percent of the children 2-4 years old were overweight in 28 of the 30 states included in the study, compared to 11 states in 1989.
-I include this story because obesity is set to pass smoking as the number one cause of death in the United States.
Afghanistan Opium Survey 2004 - U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime
- Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan up 64 percent from 2003 to 2004
- Percent of agricultural land used for poppy cultivation up from 1.6 percent to 2.9 percent
- Price per kilogram has dropped 67 percent during that period
"In addition to the tragic consequences of drug use for Americans and their families, the drug trade supports terrorist networks that threaten our country and our allies around the world. When we fight the war on drugs, we also fight the war on terror." - President Bush on National D.A.R.E. Day, 2002
YAHOO!
I went onto Yahoo tonight, and could not believe the headline: Leavitt to Lead HHS (Health and Human Services), Could Cut Programs.
Here is the highlight: Leavitt may have to cut billions of dollars from the government's mammoth health programs for the elderly, poor and disabled to pare the budget deficit.
Get ready old folks, its going to be a long 4 years. Well actually, it could be shorter then that for the many elderly who are poised to lose some health benefits.....shorter for the elderly that die from cuts to their health coverage. You know they will do it. I mean sure cut the poor, we know they hate them, but the elderly and disabled? Go ahead sick Bush supporters. Justify it. Justify your Bizarro-Robin Hood mentality. Take from the poor and disabled, so you can keep your tax cuts. Sick.
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