Thursday, June 23, 2005

Burning Flags, Forests, Fallujah, and Philadelphia, Mississippi

I never think about burning a flag. I never want to burn a flag; at least not until they tell me there may be a law that says I can't. Burning a flag as an expression of disgust or whatever rage against the nation it represents should be protected under our constitution. Free speech and expression isn't about stuff that's sweet and filled with puppy dogs; free speech is about allowing the most acerbic of expressions and protestations against authority. A free country that is strong and secure enough in its national self can withstand, and even grows stronger from, the diverse exchanges and communication that occurs within.

So glad to see Lisa Bloom back today on Anderson Cooper 360 and the other day we got a double dose--Heidi Collins and Rudi Bakhtiar were on.

Sounds like the judge's son might have killed that girl, Natalie Holloway. they even arrested the judge. This is a friggin compelling little mystery the news has a hold of! these little crime dramas are midly interesting and they tickle the drama fancy of everyone--but when we've got a war going on they are weapons of mass distraction.

The trickerations and horseshit continues from this administration about Iraq and meanwhile the dying continues. One of the items in today's hearing, and right along it's been an issue, was the number of trained Iraqi forces. Just how many trained soldiers are there?? They can't seem to answer that. That answer should be in numbers not in explanations clarifications and sound byte babbling.

Terrible wildfires seem to be the norm in our warmer wetter world...I guess not wet enough when and where we need it.

Very sad about Cosmos 1's failed attempt at becoming the first solar sail deployed in orbit. As the saying goes, back to the drawing board. You can join in the journey here.

They sentenced the old klansman and I will enjoy thinking of him rotting away in prison...he got 60 years, he's 80 now, let's assume he won't be getting out.

Big big fight coming up this weekend...more on that later.