Syria and the celebration of the obvious

Not that this fact is widely celebrated in Western media, but it should be more obvious by the day that Assad enjoys massive popular support.

Tony Badran is one of the more frequent commentators we see on American television when it comes to Syria. We are generally not informed that Tony gets his bread buttered at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy by the American taxpayer.

Tony is what we euphemistically refer to as a "democracy activist."

Nevertheless, Tony was spot-on in some of his early analyses of what we now refer to as the "Syria crisis."

Unfortunately, Tony and virtually every other pundit grossly underestimated the popular support for Assad.

Popular support... isn't that the essence of democracy?

Thomas L. Friedman burnishes his credentials as a complete PR hack

"The Yemeni Way" his latest bit of Pentagon PR is called.

And I have to apologize. Apparently those who live closer to the center of the universe were privy to Friedman's insights eight days ago.

Up here in the outer provinces we have to wait eight days for enlightenment.

But apparently Yemen is a textbook case in how to do democracy among the People of the Towel. Unlike some of those other Toweller states, in Yemen they are having extensive DIALOGUE.

Not only are the much-to-be-admired Yemenis much to be admired, they seem to have the benefit of American "democracy advisers" thick on the ground.

Hmm... dialogue, American advisers... what's missing from this story?

Well for one thing, Friedman has written an entire column about Yemen without once mentioning the word "drone."

A curious oversight indeed!

Storm clouds gather over America's forty-year folly

Storm clouds of common sense, and they are threatening to undermine the forty years of imbecilic futility we call "the war on drugs."

The Organization of American States is releasing a report that represents the most significant push-back yet by American allies in Latin America over the US-imposed drug war.

Recognizing that the human and fiscal costs of the drug war far outweigh the harm done by the actual drugs, America's allies are saying enough is enough.

But will their voices be heard in the US? A lot of law enforcement budgets rely on the status quo. The status quo also serves to mask aspects of racism and class war that society as a whole may prefer not to face.

So don't hold your breath.

Hells Angels

Ya, they're the most evil biker gang of all time, and they are determined to bring their evil to a town near you, yada yada yada...

The Angels make a convenient foil for any law-and-order politician looking for easy votes.

And the sycophantic media is right there to push things along.

Here's a typical media hatchet job. I especially like the part about the bikers "intimidating" the general populace.

Generally speaking, folks are about as intimidated by a convoy of "outlaw" bikers riding through town as they are about the circus coming to town.

This story is about a group of motorcycle-riding taxpayers taking umbrage because they were being singled out for harassment by the RCMP.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Trouble-shooting the Allis-Chalmers 480

Or maybe it's an 840. I have trouble keeping numbers in order. I think it's part of the Alzheimer journey.

Either way, there is an issue with the Allis. Namely, she won't start.

This wouldn't be an issue except that the Farm Manager has a couple of chores lined up that are gonna take me ten hours with a shovel or ten minutes with Allis.

So I'm highly motivated to get her fired up.

Spent the entire day on it today. Except for that little break in the afternoon when I headed out back to do a little fishing in the creek. Found out that the beavers moved their dam about a hundred yards downstream. That means the water is a bit deeper upstream of the dam. Had one of the hounds with me, and the first thing she did everywhere I wanted to cast a line was jump in the water.

Took away the element of surprise.

Still, it was a good afternoon.

More proof that the Olympics are bullshit

The other day when I was at the Tractor Supply Company store picking up one of those flame-throwers for the tent caterpillars, I noticed they had their air pistols on for half price.

Twenty-seven dollars for something that will kill a squirrel, scare a raccoon, and provide many hours of target practice plinking away at empty beer cans.

So today I'm sitting on the front stoop, and I've got various empty beer cans in the trees on the other side of the drive, and I'm engaging in random target shooting, when Junior comes out and gives me a look that says "aren't you a little too old to be playing with a toy gun?"

Well, maybe, but I know for sure what I'm too old for is taking attitude from Junior.

"Hey wise guy, did you know this is an Olympic sport?"

And it is. Air pistol is an Olympic sport. Wrestling is out but air pistol remains an Olympic sport!

And that's just bullshit!

Is Rob Ford Canada's Marion Barry?

One would like to think not.

Barry was the DC Mayor caught out in a crack-cocaine scandal, only to come back and be re-elected as mayor.

While we'd like to think this is not the fate of Ford, you must admit he has spent an inordinate amount of time around black youths.

An inexplicably large amount of time, if you know what I mean...

There are two at-risk groups get burned by the crack-cocaine flame.

Black youths.

Politicians.

Rob Ford may not be a black youth, but he is most definitely a politician.