pods.swedesforobama.com

August pods 1 <- 17/8

things to have a look at in august: allies & "allies sweden - where cons love the hybrid hillary & mccain signing statements the greys are coming the cyber war what do the swedes think politics of the british bust war on science: us last dan dennett speech myths about isarel-lebanon no culture war colbert: expert at anything american popculture owns the planet

- - 2006-08-31 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Church of Scientology - we've been straightening out actors for decades

Self-loathing is so sad.

Time for some Thom Hartmann classics. Thom talks to Don "Rainman" Alexander about Brokeback Mountain and "Adam and Steve" (funny stuff Don).

Part I (.mp3) - Gays and shellfish makes god angry. Incest and burning bulls not so much.

Part II - Don comes back for more, this time he has stories about his friends who are "former gays".

- - 2006-08-31 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Whistleblower on YouTube
(how 2006)

"On YouTube, Charges of Security Flaws" Washington Post

Video describing serious safety and security problems with the Deepwater Program - specifically the 123 class of patrol boats. This video is factual . I created the video and posted it hoping someone with the right connections sees it and can assist me in fixing the problems. While the DHS IG is currently investigating the issues the US Coast Guard has been stonewalling and not cooperating fully. As such the investigation cannot conclude. My hope is to instill a sense of urgency.

- - 2006-08-30 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Swedish HIV-vaccine
might be on the way

A new vaccine was presented at a HIV-conference in Amsterdam today.
The vaccine have been effective in activating the immune system against HIV in 90% of the tests conducted (so far on 40 people for 9 months). This was a "phase 1" study, to test for side effects.
The vaccine is a "DNA-vaccine" that contains part of the HIV-gene pool which helps the immune system against the ever changing HIV-virus.

This fall the vaccine will be tested in Tanzania and if it turns out to be working on a bigger scale it could be on the market in 5-10 years.

DN.se (in swedish)

- - 2006-08-30 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Frenchie doesn't
like "the Kraut"
(oh, we'll get e-mails about that headline)

SuperFrenchie have some problems with talking points burper Charles Krauthammer.

"Charles Krauthammer,
paranoid neocon!" SuperFrenchie

Nice nose job Charles

But we underestimated French perfidy. (Overestimating it is mathematically impossible). Once the resolution was passed, France announced that instead of the expected 5,000 troops, it would be sending 200...

As oppose to the American response!?!

...This breathtaking duplicity — payback for the Louisiana Purchase? — left the State Department red-faced. (It was offset somewhat when, last night, France agreed to send an additional 1,600 troops.)

Again with the numbers, the pundits really likes to use them when it's not the US.
How many people died in Katrina? "Eh, don't know?" How much money does the US owe the UN? "Hmmm, don't know?"

Maybe Charles should be more worried about the failures of the Bushies which have handed the Middle East over to Europe. Soon all that oil will be ours.

- - 2006-08-30 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Every day I love
you less and less

"Fox News' Ratings Take a Nosedive" Huffington Post

Love the photo the Huff is using, sweet t-shirt.

- - 2006-08-30 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Have I lost my mind?

"Rumsfeld Lashes Out at Bush's Critics" The Guardian

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday the world faces “a new type of fascism'’ and likened critics of the Bush administration’s war strategy to those who tried to appease the Nazis in the 1930s (like the Republicans, Henry Ford and his American big business pals??). In unusually explicit terms, Rumsfeld portrayed the administration’s critics as suffering from “moral or intellectual confusion'’ about what threatens the nation’s security.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a former Army officer and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in an interview Tuesday that “no one has misread history more than'’ Rumsfeld. `It’s a political rant to cover up his incompetence,'’ said Reed, a longtime critic of Rumsfeld’s handling of the war.

C&L has the video

- - 2006-08-29 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We (heart) narratives

FOX News employees = had no choice but to do what they were told.

Jill Carroll = slut who had it coming

UPDATE: Unlike the lazy, lazy M$M, the righties have come out against the FOX News boys. Life is so easy in black and white.

- - 2006-08-29 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Axis of Evil

A bit old, but still kinda relevant
(and funny)

"The fella with the turban thing. I call it a diaper-head really"

Surely you could edit together a video making anybody look like an idiot... surely.

- - 2006-08-29 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Joe-Hoe

If it acts like a desperate man and walks like a desperate man, chances are there's a desperate party out there looking for you.

"Local Republicans May Begin to Back Lieberman" PoliticalWire

- - 2006-08-28 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Emmy Winner(s)

The Daily Show won two and Colbert brought some truthiness to all the godless sinners of Hollywood.

C&L (video)

Also, the second greatest Finnish president ever and his Emmy intro.

How to be a great cable news host: "Was the opening skit insensitive? Now lets show it over and over and talk about it"

- - 2006-08-27 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sexin' it up in the
FOX News building

Poor Bill. We see words coming out of his mouth, but we don't care what they are anymore.

Conservatives seems to think about sex all the time, yet they're so far off with the numbers and the facts.
Maybe they're not doing it right.

"Kristol: College Guys Are Very Happy About Plan B Approval Because The Burden Is Totally Off Them" ThinkProgress

- - 2006-08-27 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The War On Journalism™

hey comrade, take it easy with what you say

Remember when the righties wanted to charge NYT reporters for treason when they reported the truth? Well they just did it, in Taliban-ish Sudan.

"Sudan charges Tribune ace with writing false news" CNN

Paul Salopek, 44, was charged in a 40-minute hearing with espionage, passing information illegally and writing "false news," the Tribune reported on its Web site. His driver and interpreter, both Chadian nationals, faced the same charges.
...
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who is in Africa on a two-week tour of several nations, is monitoring the situation and talking to the U.S. State Department, spokesman Robert Gibbs said from Kenya.

- - 2006-08-26 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

30 days wiped out 15 years

Daily Star

Lebanon's 15-year economic and social recovery from the Civil War was wiped out in the recent Israeli offensive against Hizbullah, the UN development agency said Tuesday.

- - 2006-08-26 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Guess who's back, back again.
Bill's back, tell a friend
Guess who's back,
guess who's back.
Guess who's back.
Guess who's back.

It's a double!
OneGoodMove - New Rules
OneGoodMove - Markos Moulitisas

It's nice to see Bill and Markos both hate the word "blog" and "blogger". Pods. rule!! Thank you Al Gore! Current.tv

From the same episod. Drunken Clinton-hater Christopher Hitchens flips off the audience who laughs at a Bush-joke. He should have just gone with the Geraldo-defense C&L

- - 2006-08-25 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

R.I.P. 1930-2006

"Pluto vote hijacked in revolt" BBC

Stern said like-minded astronomers had begun a petition to get Pluto reinstated. Car bumper stickers compelling motorists to "Honk if Pluto is still a planet" have gone on sale over the internet and e-mails circulating about the decision have been describing the IAU as the "Irrelevant Astronomical Union".

It takes american scientists to question how elections are handled.

- - 2006-08-25 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Driving While O'Reillying"

The police officer that stopped the Bill O'Reilly noise polluter goes on Olbermann. The interview is not really that funny, but it's still hard to stop giggling at the angry, angry O'Reilly-fan.

Video at OneGoodMove

- - 2006-08-24 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Some "Allies" Like
Freedom, Some Don't

Having US military bases in your country sure kick ass, or what say you Turkey?
Books about Pippi Longstocking (plus 54 other Swedish childrens books, 1208 copies in total) are held by Turkish customs. Since some of the documentation was faulty and they were translated to Kurdish, Turkish customs will now hire translators who has to look through the books to see if they contain any anti-Turkish writing or slander of Turkish "Dear Leader" Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (the translators will have to be payed for by the Kurdish organisation that sent the books, KOMAK). If they do contain "dangers to the Turkish state", they will be burned. If the documentation isn't fixed within three days, same thing.
Burning books! How 1630's.

SVT.se (in Swedish)

- - 2006-08-24 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

One Lousy Ship!

"Sweden to send ship to Lebanon" The Local

"Sweden is very active (militarily) in many different areas of the world," Waidelich said, but added that "we cannot send ... ground troops" to Lebanon.
According to the Swedish news agency TT, there are a total of 1,026 Swedish troops serving in peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo and Liberia.

"Paris commits more Lebanon troops" BBC

The Italian move, of offering 3000 soldiers, might have started a pissing contest.

- - 2006-08-24 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kick Ass Lib Song Of The Day

The Jam "Town called Malice"

This anti-Thatcher anthem was featured in Billy Elliot (movie and musical). The movie about the son of a coal miner who doesn't want to fight but just dance.
This one's for you Tucker! You big baby you.

Better stop dreaming of the quiet life -
cos it's the one we'll never know
And quit running for that runaway bus -
cos those rosey days are few
And - stop apologising for the things you've never done,
Cos time is short and life is cruel -
but it's up to us to change
This town called malice.

Rows and rows of disused milk floats
stand dying in the dairy yard
And a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts
Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry
It's enough to make you stop believing when tears come fast and furious
In a town called malice.

Struggle after struggle - year after year
The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice -
I'm almost stone cold dead
In a town called malice.
A whole street's belief in Sunday's roast beef
gets dashed against the Co-op
To either cut down on beer or the kids new gear
It's a big decision in a town called malice.
The ghost of a steam train - echoes down my track
It's at the moment bound for nowhere -
just going round and round
Playground kids and creaking swings -
lost laughter in the breeze
I could go on for hours and I probably will -
but I'd sooner put some joy back
In this town called malice.

- - 2006-08-24 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Straight Lying

John McCain sticks to the false Republican narrative about Ned Lamont and the ending of the occupation of Iraq.

ThinkProgress

Ned Lamont does not support immediate withdrawal. He has explicitly said that he would have supported the amendment proposed by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), which called for a phased withdrawal over the course of the next year.

How about this for a narrative: McCain is not only out of touch with mainstream America, he will say and do anything to be President.

- - 2006-08-24 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Transformers,
More than meets the eye!

Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons.

Transformers,
Robots in diguise.

Tranformers,
More than meets the eye.

Tranformers!

if only our dads were cool enough
to make us a custome like that

Were you a (nerdy) little boy in the mid-80's? Then check out these pictures from the filming of Transformers.
If you were (are) even nerdier than that, you can sign this online petition. We draw the line at posting a pod. that will get hits from searches like "transformers + pictures" and "transformers + mel gibson".

- - 2006-08-23 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Classic Bin Reilly

Marilyn Manson: 28
Bill O'Reilly: 0

Can hardly watch the clip. O'Reilly is really out of touch. It's just embarrasing and sad.

- - 2006-08-23 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Armitage outs x 2

- - 2006-08-23 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sweden is not the US
But it is Sweden

from left, the head of the Moderates, the Center party, the Christian Democrats and the Liberal Party

The conservative block, the Alliance, trying to beat the ruling left block in the upcoming swedish general election have presented their ideas on how to rule Sweden when they win (their "election manifesto").
Lower taxes is of course part of the manifesto, but there's also some differences from the US conservative platform.

"Alliance manifesto targets jobs and environment" The Local

...the Alliance also wants to see a coastal environmental strategy put in place by introducing a system of emissions rights for phosphates and nitrogen in the Baltic.
Another environmental proposal in the manifesto is a tax reduction of 10,000 kronor for anyone who buys an eco-friendly car.

Over here, conservatives love the hybrid car. But then there're a few things that's the same

The manifesto also includes a proposal for improving immigrants' knowledge of Swedish, although it stops short of requiring immigrants to speak the language before becoming a Swedish citizen.

Then there's the local member of the Christian Democratic Party who wants there to be porn on at weekends on national TV. To encourage people to make babies, to increase the birth rate.

"Porn appeal shocks Swedish conservatives" BBC

Ever heard of the Internet? "Wow, that girl has the biggest tubes I've ever seen"

- - 2006-08-23 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Political comb over

Foreign policies set up by Bill Kristol screwed up Iraq and made Iran even more powerful. What does he do about it? He goes on "that scientology chick's" show on FOX News and blames the French for not being though enough with Teheran.

FoxNews

BONUS: Dan Quayle really likes salad.

- - 2006-08-22 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sean kickin' it on vacation

USA Today issues correction after falling for a Al Gore hit job. FOX News does not.

ThinkProgress

The problem was the piece was inaccurate and USA today was forced to print a correction. That didn’t stop Rich Lowry, filling in for Sean Hannity, to repeat Schweizer’s false claims on Fox after the correction was printed. Lowry also took the liberty to add some new smears.

Sean Hannity wasn't there, that must be the reason why they fell for this obviously false story. Come back Sean, we need some truth! (ha ha haha haha ha)

- - 2006-08-22 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Once a blue, now a red
In our hearts you are dead

This old football "chant" has gone from being kind of a joke to the truth. When we fall...

"Independent Joe"

- - 2006-08-21 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This Ain't Funny Anymore

Seriously, do people still talk about a Iraq-9/11 connection? For gods sake! It's f**king shameful that a leader of a democratic country does not get called out more on this kind of BS!

QUESTION: A lot of the consequences you mentioned for pulling out seem like maybe they never would have been there if we hadn’t gone in. How do you square all of that?

BUSH: I square it because imagine a world in which you had Saddam Hussein, who had the capacity to make a weapon of mass destruction, who was paying suiciders to kill innocent life, who had relations with Zarqawi.
You know, I’ve heard this theory about, you know, everything was just fine until we arrived [in Iraq] and — you know, the stir-up-the-hornet’s- nest theory. It just doesn’t hold water, as far as I’m concerned.
The terrorists attacked us and killed 3,000 of our citizens before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East. They were …

QUESTION: What did Iraqi have to do with that?

BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?

QUESTION: The attacks upon the World Trade Center.

BUSH: Nothing. . . . .Except for it’s part of — and nobody’s ever suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack. Iraq was a — Iraq — the lesson of September the 11th is: Take threats before they fully materialize.

- - 2006-08-21 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Running For Years

Hillary is on the cover of TIME and McCain "only" get an NYT editorial. Since the narrative still is that Hillary is the Divider. We have to say the editorial was the better deal here.
But hey, everybody loves McCain! Right?

" Hillary gets ready to run"
CNN (TIME.com)

And offering his services for free is the best Democratic political strategist on the planet: Bill Clinton is "thinking about [her presidential prospects] all the time," says one of Hillary's advisers. "He's thinking about it and talking to a lot of people, promoting Hillary. This is something he is very focused on."

"McCain Mines Elite of G.O.P. for 2008 Team"
NY Times

But as he has tried to claim the mantle of Mr. Bush’s natural successor, Mr. McCain has expanded his orbit to encompass supporters who have been part of Mr. Bush’s circle, and others who have not previously backed the senator.
...
He is reaching out to Christian conservatives, who helped sink his 2000 presidential bid, by enlisting the aid of figures like Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. of Utah and former Senator Dan Coats of Indiana, both of whom have strong evangelical followings.

So basically Hillary will do anything to be president and McCain will do anything to be president.

- - 2006-08-20 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"How you like that Braveheart?"

Denis Leary is a bit drunk (we have to assume) at a Red Sox game and finds out that the first baseman is jewish (he didn't know?). Hilarity ensues.

Video at Alternet

- - 2006-08-19 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Happy Birthday To The Second Greatest Republican President Ever!!

- - 2006-08-19 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Signing Statements or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Trust the Bushies (and God)

Charlie Savage is based in Washington for the Boston Globe and recently wrote an investigative piece about the civil rights section of the Department of Justice, where he found that staffers with legal expertise are being replaced by conservatives with little experience but who promote right wing Christian values.
- NPR's Fresh Air, 14/8

MP3, 20 min 27 sec, 23,5 mb

- - 2006-08-19 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You say Macaque, I say Macaca,
You say Mullet-a, I say Mohawk-a,
Macaca, Macaque... Mullet-a, Mohawk-a,
Let's call the whole thing off!

Someone has just e-mailed me something that will, I believe, go a long way towards vindicating me. As you can see above, Macaca is a legitimate name. Ask David, Joana, or either Veronica if they would take offense if someone said, "Hey, you, Macaca!" or "This job calls for a Macaca!" Of course they wouldn't.

George Felix Allen

The Media Coverage Scoreboard
Hillary Clinton's "Plantation": 4275
George Allen's "Macaca": 12

- - 2006-08-19 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hates Freedom
Freedom-Haters

Only 200 French soldiers join the UNIFIL-observers. 1700 remain under French flag off the shores of Lebanon.

"That's not enough!!" cry the haters. Where have we heard that one before? "Not enough troops". Well, we didn't hear it. At least not from the same people as we do now. But there should already be enough troops in Lebanon anyway since most Israeli troops are still there and then there's the American soldiers... oh, that's right.

The Swedish soldiers first pledged to Lebanon have not been deployed and it looks like that won't happen either. Our foreign forces will stay in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Liberia (the Sri Lankan force have returned home).

...but then again, it's understandable we won't send troops to Lebanon (at this point). Remember, we are weak, hate freedom and don't support the War on TeRrRror™.

- - 2006-08-19 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bin Reilly moment of the day

Cop stops a man speeding and "breaking the noise ordinance" (??). Was he listening to Marilyn Manson or Ludacris? No. Creed? Nope. Air America? Hell no!

Raw Story (with video)

- - 2006-08-18 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pain at the (Iraqi) Pump*

"Iraq doubles funding for oil imports"
Local News Watch (AP)

"Iraq reels from acute fuel shortage"
Gulf News

"Security forces are unable to control the work in gas stations because the number of accomplices smuggling fuel from the stations to the black market is increasing, and I can honestly say there is a fuel smuggling mafia," said Ahmad Al Askari, a security officer at a gas station in Al Hurriya square in Baghdad. "Corruption has extended to security officers too, who assist these smugglers … selling fuel for double its price."

* Seriously, for a country that has really cheap gasoline (and a lot of money) the phrase "pain at the pump" is pretty stupid. But we'll use it anyway, cause that's the kind of people we are.

- - 2006-08-18 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Who's looking
out for himself?
(again)

Is Bin Reilly using the JonBenet Ramsey case to take a stab at the "liberal" media?
If he is, it would kinda prove some of their complaints about him, wouldn't it?

BillOreilly.com (hold your breath)

"The primary lesson we should all learn from the Ramsey case is that we can no longer trust either officials or the press to deliver accurate information (but you can trust Bill).
In my 30 years practicing journalism (haha), I have never seen things this bad - newspapers will print anything, the Internet is full of lies and misinformation (what could he possibly mean by that?), and many TV and radio people will put anything on the air."

ALSO: WWIII is put on hold for a few days as the Ramsey case unfolds.

- - 2006-08-18 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Grey is the new brown
(is the new pink)

"I want every single trucker tested for alcohol before they get off the ferry in the Stockholm harbor. If elected, I will make sure that families don't have to worry about getting run over when walking down the street with their kids"
- Leading Stockholm liberal (not that kind of liberal) who's taking a page from the US-conservative playbook.

Testing truck drivers for high alcohol levels sounds great. However, the only time the issue of drunk truck drivers is discussed, is when a eastern european one is involved in an accident. The greys are coming. Be afraid, be very afraid.

No word yet on how we will deal with Swedes who kill kids in Poland or Bulgaria when driving drunk on vacation.

ALSO: "Sweden could ban mobiles behind the wheel" The Local

Older pod. "Brown is the new pink" Bill Maher on Jay Leno

- - 2006-08-17 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

And all the HD owners
of the world wept...

Don't tell me that I'm crazy
Don't tell me I'm nowhere
Take it from me
It's hip to be square

More "vroom, vroom" news

"Cracks appear in NASCAR voters' Republican loyalty" Yahoo! News

August pods 1
<- 17/8