Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Tricks you can do with technology

I saw this facial morphing video and I just had to share it ... remember the dead Osama and how he was obviously a photoshopped composite of another guy?



BTW, you can also do this kind of thing with voices:

Monday, August 29, 2011

How The Patriot Act Violates Virtually The Entire Bill Of Rights

[Originally posted at http://rense.com/general94/patr.htm . For those of you who aren't quite old enough to remember, the USA "PATRIOT" act was signed into law almost 10 years ago. It was one of the many outrages justified by the sham of the "official story" of the 9-11 attacks, and was passed on the heels of the Anthrax attacks, which targeted (among others) Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota and head of the Senate Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy. As I recall it was supposed to have been temporary. They said the Iraq war was only going to last a few days, too.]

From Scott Hamilton
8-28-11

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


Amendment II: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.


Amendment III: No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Indirect. Of course, if you are imprisoned without charges, you do not have your freedom of speech, religious liberty, or your right to bear arms.

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

DIRECT HIT. The Patriot Act rips this amendment right out of the constitution. The gov't can do warrantless searches without even informing the property owner they were there. No probable cause needs to be proved, no oath taken, and no limit to what can ben searched or seized.

Amendment V: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

DIRECT HIT. Grand jury? You get no jury under the Patriot Act. Due process of law? There IS NO due process of law under the Patriot Act.

Amendment VI: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

DIRECT HIT. Under the Patriot Act there are no charges much less trial, jury, witnesses, or counsel.

Amendment VII: In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Corollary. More rights rendered obsolete by the Patriot Act.

Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

DIRECT HIT. What rights retained by the people? We have none under the Patriot Act.

Amendment X: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

DIRECT HIT. The Patriot Act supersedes rights of states and people.

AMENDMENT XIII: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

DIRECT HIT. Without all the other rights, we are slaves. Anyone who supports the Patriot Act after seeing this holds the constitution in contempt and is guilty of treason against America.


Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox: Revolution is a Potluck by Cindy Sheehan

From Cindy's blog:
Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox: Revolution is a Potluck by Cindy Sheehan

“A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.”
Mao Zedong

First of all, don’t worry, I am not advocating violent overthrow of the Robber Class in this piece—now that your mind is eased (or disappointed), I will go on.

Today, Peace of the Action, and our Re-Creating Revolutionary Communities or Bust Tour is wrapping up near Yosemite in bucolic (and hot), Oakhurst. We began in Eugene, Or. and stopped in Hood River and Newport before heading down to California where we had events in Arcata, Garberville, Fresno and soon in Oakhurst.

At each stop, a community potluck was included and I observed and heard many revolutionary acts being planned by members of each community stemming from the mere act of building community.

Back in the days of the Great Depression in the 20s, 30s, and 40s, “community” wasn’t a concept, it was a reality—with longevity in residence, no TV box, and multi-generational homes—for better, or worse, we needed each other. Since then, we have become Pod People—isolated and propagandized by the TV box to the point where many of us believe that if we need another person, we are weak. However, this tribal need for community is natural and we should pay heed to the impulse to gather in healthy community rather than suppress it with unhealthy activities.

Re-creating Revolutionary Communities is not about locking ourselves in our own homes with stockpiles of food and ammo and it’s not about confronting our current class-based diseased system head-on with heavy weaponry or ineffectual protests. It’s about, as far as possible for each of our own current circumstances, CREATING OUR OWN SYSTEMS.

On our tour, we have seen communities using local scrip, barter, community gardening and food co-ops, canning circles (fyi, canning is preserving food that you grow—it’s an ancient process making a comeback), community medical clinics, recycling, forest preservation, energy production, etc.

This Empire that we reside under is on the verge of collapse by institutional rot, fueled by avaricious greed. Removing ourselves from the diseased systems of the Robber Class is the only way we are going to survive the collapse.

Can it be any more obvious at this point that we cannot vote our way out of this mess? This system cannot be reformed to a place where it’s healthy, clean and safe for us.

Many people wrote to me in 2008 that “Barack Obama is our only hope.” Well, I don’t know how many more deaths and economic terrorism against our class it’s going to take before 100% of Obama supporters wake up to the fact that Obama was only “hope” for the Robber Class.

Now, I am being harassed with, “Ron Paul is our only chance.” Please, give it up, people.

WE ARE OUR ONLY CHANCE!

We have been finding that many people are on this parallel path of localization and we feel that it’s imperative to connect our communities in solidarity to build a new paradigm of people before profit and anti-consumerism that has infected us in the Robbed Class.

“Dog eat dog” is dead. Have a potluck in your community and start fomenting your own revolution!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Wisdom from Steve Jobs

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.


from I'm Glad I Dropped Out of College

(Hat tip to whatreallyhappened.com)

Thursday, August 25, 2011

My Fellow American



Lyrics from South Pacific:

"You've got to be taught
To hate and fear
You've got to be taught
From year to Year
It's got to be drummed
in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught"

Thursday, August 18, 2011

What brought down WTC building 7? Must see video!

Ed Asner narrates a very good synopsis about the mysterious building 7, the third skyscraper brought down on Sept. 11, 2001 (the one that *wasn't* hit by a plane!)



Please contribute to the cause of educating people about building 7 at http://rememberbuilding7.org -- with your money or your time spreading the word, or both, preferably. They're planning a big ad campaign for the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Balance



Here is a short, very thoughtful animated piece that demonstrates the importance of working together. Many commenters viewed it as a political metaphor. As one of them said, "It would have been so simple to get the box into the middle."

Thursday, August 4, 2011

How I feel about the "Super Congress"

This is yet another attempt to dismantle public oversight. It's taxation without representation. Another end-run around the voters. Our Constitution being further whittled away into meaninglessness.

There has to be a tipping point. There has to be a straw that breaks the camel's back. Where is the outrage to come from?

Listen to this excellent commentary from Keith Olbermann. He'll tell you.