In order to be a "terrorist" don't you have to commit some kind of act of violence or have the intention of promoting violence? WikiLeaks doesn't do that. Everyone talks about "speaking truth to power" but when someone does it everyone goes bonkers. In defense of WikiLeaks and it's stance vis a vis releasing "classified" information. (3 million people had access BTW).read the following:
In 1971 Justice Potter Stewart wrote in the Pentagon Papers trial (NY Times, WaPo etc. )
Mr. Stewart argued that a free press was the only effective check on the power of American presidents to fight foreign wars, writing:
In the governmental structure created by our Constitution, the Executive is endowed with enormous power in the two related areas of national defense and international relations. This power, largely unchecked by the Legislative and Judicial branches, has been pressed to the very hilt since the advent of the nuclear missile age. For better or for worse, the simple fact is that a President of the United States possesses vastly greater constitutional independence in these two vital areas of power than does, say, a prime minister of a country with a parliamentary form of government.
In the absence of the governmental checks and balances present in other areas of our national life, the only effective restraint upon executive policy and power in the areas of national defense and international affairs may lie in an enlightened citizenry – in an informed and critical public opinion which alone can here protect the values of democratic government. For this reason, it is perhaps here that a press that is alert, aware, and free most vitally serves the basic purpose of the First Amendment. For, without an informed and free press, there cannot be an enlightened people.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
"Black Friday"
Over the years I've had fewer and fewer people to buy gifts for. I've never done the "black Friday" thing. Now this year I'm not even participating in these holidays. I don't care. I've got a bottle of good scotch. And:
I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Bloomberg you lose--Cathie Black dismissed
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/11/23/2010-11-23_blow_to_bloomberg_panel_votes_down_mayors_pick_for_schools_chancellor_cathie_bla.html
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Mayor Mike Bloomberg
Cosimo Medici was one of the most powerful men in Renaissance Italy. I believe that Bloomberg models himself after him. Medici thought of himself as a man who worked for the common good like Bloomberg believes he does except "Cosimo's career reflects this aristocratic, elitist tendency. His pose as a simple merchant, his pretense of being no greater than any other citizen, deluded no one. He crushed his enemies and exalted his friends and supporters." (http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth213/Medici_patronage.html) This is Michael Bloomberg who thinks he owns NYC and in this vein crushes his enemies and exalts his rich friends.
The History of my Naval Service
I went on board the U.S.S Fort Snelling (LSD-30) from Great Lakes Engineman's school on my 19th birthday Sept 8,1963. I was in A Division and worked on the four boats, the emergency diesels, the anchor, the steering gear and the two hydraulic cranes as well as the stern gate. In addition I moved on to work in the A/C and refrigeration gang. We took care of the galley refrigerators, the ward room refrigerator, the Captain's A/C and so on. As a fireman I sometimes stood watches in the engine room when underway.
One of my more enduring memories happened the day President Kennedy was assassinated. I was messenger of the watch and had to lower the flag to half mast and walk through the ship's quarters announcing what had happened. In lowering the flag it almost ripped out of my hands it was so windy that day. The OOD that watch was a crusty lieutenant that had served in WWII and had come up through the ranks. We used to call him "tight jaws" because he didn't say much, never showed emotion and was all spit and shine. He stood inside the watch cabin, smoking cigarette after cigarette, staring out at the jetty and crying. (I wrote a short story about it later on.)
In 1964 we barely outran a hurricane in the Caribbean, but the weather was so bad no one was permitted on deck. My partner in crime tied a rope to me and I got out an after hatch and took some photos which I can't find.
In 1965, our ship was the first to arrive at the Dominican Republic during that crisis in our continuing role as imperialist. The job I had required round the clock engine repair work. And I think it was the best time of my entire service working the midnight shift for weeks. Got stories about that time too, but too long to put here. Maybe some day.
On the Med cruise from 65-66 we anchored outside Genoa and for New Years Eve those of us on liberty got stuck on shore due to a bad storm. I spent the night on the floor of a whore house since I didn't have anymore money. That was of course the time one of the sailors who was with me looked at a statue of a man named Cristoforo Colombo outside the RR station in Genoa. When I said that his name in English was Christopher Columbus, he said: "They had one too?" American education hasn't improved much since then.
In 1966 we were (I think) the command ship for a couple of months in the hunt for the lost 4 atomic bombs off the coast of Spain. I spent a lot of time in the water as boat engineer shuttling back and forth between the beach and other ships. The worst time we had was when we had an NBC camera crew with us and got hit with a freak storm. The boat almost capsized but only the ability of our hotshot coxswain got us to safety. He was only a kid but he could pilot a boat. BTW one of the camera crew was loudly saying prayers and you could hear him above the wind and the crashing waves. BTW they spent 3 months looking for one of the bombs that fell in the water about five miles off the coast. A fisherman directed them to it when all their technological equipment couldn't.
The best time I had was my final cruise when I became a shellback and on the way back from the equator stayed in Trinidad. We got overnight liberty there and need I say more about that.
One of my more enduring memories happened the day President Kennedy was assassinated. I was messenger of the watch and had to lower the flag to half mast and walk through the ship's quarters announcing what had happened. In lowering the flag it almost ripped out of my hands it was so windy that day. The OOD that watch was a crusty lieutenant that had served in WWII and had come up through the ranks. We used to call him "tight jaws" because he didn't say much, never showed emotion and was all spit and shine. He stood inside the watch cabin, smoking cigarette after cigarette, staring out at the jetty and crying. (I wrote a short story about it later on.)
In 1964 we barely outran a hurricane in the Caribbean, but the weather was so bad no one was permitted on deck. My partner in crime tied a rope to me and I got out an after hatch and took some photos which I can't find.
In 1965, our ship was the first to arrive at the Dominican Republic during that crisis in our continuing role as imperialist. The job I had required round the clock engine repair work. And I think it was the best time of my entire service working the midnight shift for weeks. Got stories about that time too, but too long to put here. Maybe some day.
On the Med cruise from 65-66 we anchored outside Genoa and for New Years Eve those of us on liberty got stuck on shore due to a bad storm. I spent the night on the floor of a whore house since I didn't have anymore money. That was of course the time one of the sailors who was with me looked at a statue of a man named Cristoforo Colombo outside the RR station in Genoa. When I said that his name in English was Christopher Columbus, he said: "They had one too?" American education hasn't improved much since then.
In 1966 we were (I think) the command ship for a couple of months in the hunt for the lost 4 atomic bombs off the coast of Spain. I spent a lot of time in the water as boat engineer shuttling back and forth between the beach and other ships. The worst time we had was when we had an NBC camera crew with us and got hit with a freak storm. The boat almost capsized but only the ability of our hotshot coxswain got us to safety. He was only a kid but he could pilot a boat. BTW one of the camera crew was loudly saying prayers and you could hear him above the wind and the crashing waves. BTW they spent 3 months looking for one of the bombs that fell in the water about five miles off the coast. A fisherman directed them to it when all their technological equipment couldn't.
The best time I had was my final cruise when I became a shellback and on the way back from the equator stayed in Trinidad. We got overnight liberty there and need I say more about that.
Friday, November 19, 2010
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