http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7242016.stm

US film director Steven Spielberg has withdrawn as an artistic adviser to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

In a statement, he accused China of not doing enough to pressure its ally Sudan to end the "continuing human suffering" in the troubled western Darfur region.



"At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur."

He added: "Sudan's government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these on-going crimes but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more."

Denounce Chinese Communist Party

http://declaration.epochtimes.com/ 

Not trying to stir up crap here, if I wanted to do that, I would enroll in a class and call my lawyer...

But ever since I moved here I cannot get a feel for TESC.  It is odd to say the least.  Going through their catalog online today,  I see a strong emphasis on "liberal" issues and slants for lack of a better turn of phrase, in fact going through their catalog it would seem to nearly be a hostile enviorment for someone like me who leans a bit right of center on some things.  

The "vibe" I get from TESC students sometimes is odd, and I really can't describe it, except I don't think everyone there is as progressive and open minded as they may fancy themselves to be.

Honestly I have toyed with taking a few odd classes here and there, although nothing that would realistically further my education.  In fact I'm not sure how much I can get there that has real world applications for what I am interested in.  I guess if I wanted to study theatre and how natives, women and other minorites get oppressed while learning Marxism it would be the right place.  And it looks like a good place for someone who wants to get involved in state government, but for more mainstream pursuits?

Someone please tell me what the heck TESC is all about.   

So much for privacy...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080213/ap_on_go_co/terrorist_surveillance

It's for our own safety you know...  Maybe they should make available a list of every person who makes telephone calls overseas...  It's a public health issue right? 

I dreamed I attended an Old Time Relijun concert. Then I shot the rapids with Arrington w/o a boat. We arrived in a deep area and noticed some huge fish with huge open mouths and lots of teeth. Arrington didn't think they would be that sharp. He found out that he was wrong when one started biting him. I killed it with a knife. Then another appeared. Together we killed it.

Anyway, I haven't heard from any out-of-staters whether the 2nd week in April will work for a reunion.

Maybe we should do it in the summer time. Maybe they can caravan from California... or ride the Green Tortoise up here. Except that we wanted to celebrate doranne's birth (in April) instead of her death (in July).

It does seem like an uphill battle to recreate that magic after a decade has gone by.

I called the 8-Ball and asked for guidance. The answer was by The Upperhand from the album "The Sailing and Sinking of the S.S. Ridiculous"... (Oh, great album title!), the song "Mariana".

My notes: Searching..

Forgotten their name

Island

Savages

Girls that are flirting

Hungry for days

Cannonballs rolling on the deck

Starboard

Sailor

Captain named Carolin

Stuck here swabbing decks"

Divination

87 yr-old NH state rep announces fast for impeachment

By Susan Serpa

I just got off the phone with Betty Hall. She is the 14-term State of N.H. representative who has introduced to the state house HR 24 to impeach Bush and Cheney. The public Hearing for the resolution is next Tuesday Feb. 19th (the day after President's day).

She is joining the Code Pink fast.

She is 87 years old and refuses to eat again until Conyers begins impeachment proceedings. She told me "I've had a good life. I can't think of any better way to end it."

Now, before you think I am heartless by "encouraging" this act by announcing it, I know Betty. When she decides to do something, there is no changing her mind - she's going to do it. She will not eat until impeachment proceedings begin in earnest. We owe it to her to make this worth her while. It's time to pull out ALL the stops and get Conyer's ass into gear! We cannot let this clear-headed, heroic woman sacrafice herself.

I just mixed up a small playlist to play and thought it would be fun to share...

 Gary Jules- Mad World

George Harrison- Devil's Radio

George Harrison-  Any Road

Harvey Danger- Flagpole Sitta

Dragonforce- Through the Fire and Flames

Rolling Stones- Paint it Black

 BonJovi- Who says you can't go home?

Johnny Cash- Thunderball

The Doors- Rider on the Storm

Roy Rogers and The Sons of the Pioneers- Ghost Riders in the Sky 

Olydowntowner got me thinking....  usually he gets me angry so this is probably a good thing! 

Some will focus on what is wrong with the United States, and please don't get me wrong, there are plenty of problems in this country.  But I still think we have a pretty solid foundation to work with...

Consider what you can do in this state for instance.

Free speech is a carefully protected right.  Exercise it at will, just be prepared to accept the consequences of your actions.

Worship as you please.

Vote as you please.

Walk down the street wearing a loaded handgun.  Get hassled?  There are plenty of good people who will come and back you up.

Travel within your own nation without permission.  It is getting tough to get out or get back in, which is getting stupid, but we can address this and change this as a nation if enough people get upset.

I could go on and on and on I'm sure.

So for just a moment, can we please focus on any freedom you have enjoyed and maybe even pushed a little to it's utmost?  You know what I do, and how I enjoy my freedoms and rights.  What do YOU do?  Post pics, push the envelope here...  just don't knock another's rights for just a moment.  We all enjoy the same Constitutions (state and federal) and the same protections therein.  It's a sunny day, let's have a sunny rights thread!  If nothing else, consider how wonderful Olyblog is, that we can freely publish on topics that would get us arrested elsewhere...

Then we can return to our regularly scheduled "What is screwed up and how to fix it conversations" :-) 

Very un-February weather we are having today. Am up at TugBoat Annies having a brew and food and enjoying the view...

Also enjoyed taking off my Carhartt coat and walking around Seattle and Oly today unfettered if you get my meaning...