Beelzebrain

[elfs]

McCain's Economic Advisor Is Paid Agent of Foreign Holders of American Debt

Holy freakin' moly! Remember when at one of the various "depths" of the economic crisis John McCain came out and said that the Congress ought to do nothing for homeowners but let the market sort things out? This is the McCain who admitted he didn't know much about the economy? His economic advisor, Phil Gramm, was a lobbyist for the giant Swiss bank UBS, one of the largest holders of US debt instruments. Talk about an undisclosed conflict of interest! This man does not deserve to be in the White House.

Hilzoy observes:

There are certain things about himself that McCain is so sure of that he does not see how he could ever be challenged on them. He knows that he is a man of honor, so why would he need to keep people with obvious conflicts of interest away from his campaign -- even when he is taking their advice on topics that, by his own admission, he doesn't know much about?

McCain Does Not Know Current US Policy Toward Iran

In a speech the other day McCain derided Obama's willingness to talk to the government of Iran, saying that talk hasn't worked "over the past two decades." Does McCain not know that the US has not had any official communications with Iran since 1980, and we have not been part of the nuclear non-profileration talks with Iran over the past four years?

The Normalization of Oral Sex

William Saletan wrings his hands that "oral sex is now more basic than vaginal sex," which makes explaining it all to the kids that much harder. I giggle at phrases like "lifetime oral virginity." I mean, who doesn't like oral sex?

Saletan concludes, "You don't have to be embarrassed any more about discussing the facts of life with your child. She'll be happy to explain them to you." Maybe in other people's households...

Prepare for cognitive enhancement drugs

Now the only question is, where can I set up a reliable source of modafinil for myself?

Monkeys fling poo with bionic arms.

Scientists report the first successful adaptation of a brain-robot interface so that monkeys can manipulate their surroundings with bionic waldos.

Obama's First Hundred Days

"I would call my attorney general in and review every single executive order issued by George Bush and overturn those laws or executive decisions that I feel violate the constitution." Sweet!

Rage Against Video Games

The media doesn't understand gaming and its social aspects, and political and punditry concerns about video games are based on an outdated and immature view of the gamer as loner.

An Al Qaeda mastermind questions terrorism.

Fascinating article about the evolution of the current jihadi movement, with a possible drift toward nonviolence, in Egypt and Afghanistan.

TSIB: Impressionable Kids and Homosexuality

The Stupid, It Burns! A mind-bogglingly silly article in which Linda Harvey asserts, among other things, that people with favorable or even neutral attitudes toward homosexuality "may be directly involved in the molestion of kids," that molestion "can seduce the young into the homosexual lifestyle," and that (contra Ted Haggard, Mary Cheney, John Schafly, and many many others) "traditional Christian beliefs act as a protective barrier to the development of homosexual desire."

WND:Secret plans under way to tear down Christian symbols

Oh, no! Worldnet reveals a dastardly conspiracy among military chaplains to abide by military regulations that require no permanent fixtures to Army chapels! How terrible! (via Dispatches from the Culture Wars)

Comments

[tagryn]

We've been negotiating with Iran for the past couple of years over Iraq. It may not be "official", but a lot of negotiations aren't.

[bikerwalla.livejournal.com]

Make sure to use a prophylactic philosophy when you're thinking about gay sex.

[gromm.livejournal.com]

TSIB: Hahahaha. Oh man. I guess she's never heard of Christian Gays (http://christiangays.com) then. Or of queers growing up in fascistly (is that a word?) Christian households. But hey, when you're head is so far up your ass that you can see the light, silly things like "facts" or "reality" don't matter.

WND: Everyone wants to be a minority martyr these days. Even when you're in the white Christian majority. I guess that's what happens when the government takes away a little bit of the enormous power you once wielded. And when your head is so far up your ass that you can see the light...

[doodlesthegreat.livejournal.com]

Olberman brought up the Phil Graham story a couple of days ago. The more sleaze they find, the more layers we realize lay beneath...

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

Adrafinil is metabolized into modafinil and is not scheduled.