Miraclo Miles

Mixed Messages Fellow Legendaire, artist, writer and creator of Gapo the Clown (see his site for more), Tony Miello , has pieces on his site referencing a special tribute book for the troops serving in the Middle East . Additionally, he's running an auction of the page he's submitted for use in the book, as the tribute book is a not-for-profit venture intended to be distributed free of charge to the troops and needs donations to turn it into a reality. This is one of those situations where I'm convinced that all involved are doing this in the purest and noblest spirit - much like the troops themselves - but I keep drawing back because I cannot morally support the "mission" they've been sent on. Also, I strongly expect that many of the pieces submitted for this book (a series of single and multiple panel pages in a variety of comics art styles, intended to convey a "thank you" message to the troops) will be unable to steer clear of glorifying the ...

Maybe it was the Red Kryptonite Ale? Shabby Superman goes berserk! "I guess this young man jumped in the back seat of the victim's vehicle and just started hitting him and when the victim attempted to call using his cell phone, (Superman) grabbed the cell phone and he stomped on it," said Sgt. Angella Abrams, of the Ann Arbor Police Department. Perhaps he'd have gotten more respect if he'd accessorized with the right boots . I especially like the "budget superhero" category, which helped me quickly imagine how catty it likely gets when these superheros get a little time to gossip and critique costumes... (Thanks to Tammy for passing these links along.)

Take a deep breath, New York... Finally, some information appears to be coming to light concerning some of what was in the air following the 9/11 attacks . This being the Bush administration, though, the sport comes in seeing how Whitman and company will attempt to avoid blame. There's plenty of money and oh so many willing accomplices, I'm sure the defenses will include statements that the true danger thresholds are much higher than the standards, along with misdirection in the form of noting more dangerous items in the air on a city street, and charges that this is somehow just another partisan attack, as if that invalidates the charge. Then again, they can also do what they've often done and try to ride most of it out in silence. If any of this reflects badly on the Bush administration chances are all the people who get their news from FOX News and Rush Limbaugh will hardly be aware of it.

Saudi Oil Declining?      Here's a report on warnings being spread concerning indications that the Saudi oil reserves may be reaching their end . Unfortunately, a jaded U.S. public - for whom such dire warnings were a staple in the middle to latter 1970s, and have since become more a matter of pop cultural kitsch  and camp - could easily choose to ignore it as nothing more than an excuse for profiteering by the oil producers and their cronies. The simple, inescapable fact, however, is that such ancient reserves are a finite source - they will be depleted - it's all a matter of timing. That the Saudis and other nations for whom oil is their primary, even sole, source of income would try to hide signs that the end is coming, while getting the most for their product and investing as much of that money as they can in more enduring assets such as real estate and investment in the defense industry of the U.S. (a gold mine in an age of a never-ending War on Terr...

Bush & the Abortion Issue     I was aware that the Bush campaign, as the election grinds closer, has been downplaying the issue of abortion except, perhaps, in targeted messages to the anti-abortion portion of his constituency.  The angle being played, of course, is that the anti-abortion groups are getting wink from the Shrub, but no one wants to scare away the potential Bush voter who happens to be pro-choice. So, of course, it's all the more important for us to make sure that none of the swing voters forget that this is an issue that's high on his agenda. If, in some cases, that leads to some more votes for him -- so be it. At least it would be an honestly won vote, which is otherwise going to be a rare one for the Bush camp this year.  What brought this back to mind, though, is a piece concerning suppressed allegations that Dubya was party to an abortion back in 1970 -- when it was still illegal. It's an interesting journey...

The first of the scheduled captures?     While it's not confirmed, there's a report that Abu Masab al-Zarqawi (the head of the group responsible for, among many things, some recent kidnappings and beheadings) has been captured in Western Iraq.   As noted back on July 8th , strong reports were going around concerning what amounts to orders being placed for the capture of high profile terrorists before the November elections, especially during key periods such as during the Democratic National Convention.   Update: Depending upon how one chooses to interpret the reports, it may have been Ahmed Khalfan Ghailan , not al-Zarqawi, another of the "most wanted" al Qaida figures, and the capture took place in Pakistan, not Western Iraq... and apparently it was accomplished a little ahead of the order the Bush administration placed. The report is that he may have been captured as early as this past Sunday, but, well, these things must be held until it's time...

Michael Moore's speech in Boston (Thanks to Brad Ingle for pointing the following link out to me.)  The following is in reference to  a speech Michael Moore gave in Cambridge, Massachusetts this past Tuesday, July 27th. It's a speech more people should hear for various reasons, and I'm hoping Moore gets around to as many college campuses as he can between now and November to deliver the gist of it. For now - especially now, with the Dem's convention reaching the point of Kerry's formal acceptance - the one item of supreme focus in the speech, is this: "What the Democrats should be doing, and I have heard Kerry say this, is we need to give, we need to give those who are thinking of voting for Ralph Nader, a reason to vote for John Kerry. That is the right answer."  The broad thrust of the Democratic push thusfar has been, unfortunately, the message that "Bush must go." I don't disagree with the message - it's both true an...

More of the Bush Administration's wall of lies. This time it's the deficit.     Courtesy of the invaluable Daily Mislead .   Among other things, testimony from the White House Budget Director concerning the effects of this administration's failed fiscal policies: "...even if we had never been attacked, and incurred no costs of war or recovery from September 11th, and no tax relief had become law, we still would have gone into deficit." - Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. Director of Office of Management andBudget, testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee.

Well, I have to give the guy points for actually going through with burning ice cream rather than finding some easier way      I was aware of TrueMajority 's PantsOnFire Mobile , but this is the first time I've chanced on some reaction to it. This is from down in Kentucky . There are several gems in the piece, including the former store-owner (who appears to still be making decisions for the store) deciding that Haagen- Dazs is "more American."   That some would describe Dubya as "leader of the free world" never fails to chill my blood a little, though, and I certainly feel sorry for 2 year old Cheney Harris for being saddled with that name.

That's no space station... The Cassini probe continues its tour of the moons of Saturn, and has revealed a shot of the 250 mile wide Mimas that will look eerily familiar to Star Wars fans .