Thursday, December 18, 2014

Remember When Movie Theaters Were a Safe Place to Go?

                                        Good Day World!

Remember when movie theaters were a sanctuary? A place to escape reality and to be entertained?

Millions of Americans – for over a century – counted on going into movie theaters for a good time. They were safe places to go to watch adventures, comedies, and dramas. A treat for the whole family.

That, sadly enough, is changing for the worse. 

It was a year ago this week that the sickening sound of gunfire rang out at a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colo. The mass shooting reverberated painfully in Hollywood, and how could it not? It happened at the movies.

More recently…

Leading movie theater chains have pulled Sony's film "The Interview" from their lineups in the face of the threat of a Sept. 11-style attack against theaters who screen the upcoming movie.

Regal Cinemas, Cinemark, Cineplex and AMC Theatres will not show "The Interview" after Sony Pictures Entertainment hackers posted a message threatening movie theaters and moviegoers who attend screenings of the satire.

They join Bow Tie Cinemas and Carmike in deciding not to show the picture. More theater circuits are expected to follow suit.

Hackers who go by the name Guardians of Peace - backed by North Korea perpetrated an unprecedented act of cyberwarfare against Sony Pictures that exposed tens of thousands of sensitive documents and escalated to threats of terrorist attacks that ultimately drove the studio to cancel all release plans for "The Interview," the film at the heart of the attack.

I never thought I’d see the day movie houses would lose their magic and become targets for the insane. Targets for groups – and countries like North Korea -threatening action against movies they don’t want released.

Movie theaters becoming death traps, not escapes from the harsh realities of the world.

I can’t help wondering if this recent threat is going to become a common way to censor movies in America in the future. It’s a troubling thought.

Time for me to walk on down the road… 

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Brace Yourself! Bush Clan Seeks Return to Power

                                      Good Day World!

I had an uneasy feeling that after George Bush left office it wasn’t going to be long before another Bush clan member sought it. Now Jeb is seeking to restore the family’s dynasty.

I guess he was waiting until Americans memories got dim over the lousy job his brother did.

Memories can be short. I’m sure Jeb is counting on that. But it’s going to take more than eight years to forget the crap “Dubya” pulled. Even though the members of the United Nations want to try him (and Cheney) for war crimes, brother Jeb is still talking about running for president.

I’ll go so far to say that both Bush regimes thus far have hurt this country. Especially Dubya’s administration.

His time in office plunged us into a phony war and took away more of our personal freedom and rights than any president in history.

Remember, it’s a family affair, which means Jeb fell from the same tree as Dubya and we can expect a repeat of those dark years when he took the country to the brink of economic collapse.

I’m reminded of the family affair in North Korea.  Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un formed a dynasty that shows no signs of letting up. Take a look at life in that country. It’s not pretty.

The last thing our country needs is another Bush in the White House. With his family connections and wealth he’ll probably be the leading poster boy for the Republican Party in 2016.

The only way I see Jeb failing in his bid, is if there’s a great voter turnout among minorities. That’s the only hope against the vast political machine and major donors Jeb has access to.

So, it’s really going to be up to the voters who don’t believe the Republican lies that will be told in the purchased mass media.

If the Democratic Party wants to a chance to succeed in 2016, it better start reaching out to minorities right now. Today. Because the Republicans are already working at restraining voting access for minorities.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Congressmen proves he’s a sell-out by slipping Wall Street bailout into last-minute spending bill

Good Day World!

I thought I’d give a shout-out to second-term Congressman Kevin Yoder (R-Kansas) today. That’s his smiling face in the photo.

Yo Kevie boy!

How come your constituents are having a hard time reaching you lately? Could it be that sneaky little bill you introduced?

You know the one I mean. The one you introduced last summer. Don’t be shy now, everyone knows your largest contributors are in the finance industry. Are you going to make me spell this out?

Okay then. That piece of crap you introduced was literally written by Citigroup executives. Your thinly-veiled attempt to pretend it was your wording was laughable, but good enough to get it rolled into an amendment to a spending bill in a House subcommittee meeting.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Here’s what happened:

“The provision, which prompted a fiery speech by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), undoes a rule that prevents big banks from relying on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to bail them out if things go sour when they trade risky assets.

The rule was put into place as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law, which overhauled the financial regulatory system after the 2007-2008 financial crisis stemming from banks making extremely risky bets and losing. The government had to bail them out with taxpayer money, and Yoder's provision paves the way for another possible bailout.” (source)

So, my question now, Kevie boy, is why have you’ve been so quiet about about your deed? I haven’t heard a peep out of you about the spending package since it passed the House.

Like the media, and your constituents, I haven’t been able to reach you.

Your office hasn't responded to multiple requests for comment on why you slipped the Citigroup language into it. That’s odd, don’t you think? Those press statements on your website say nothing about the provision or the spending bill.

There are no posts about it on your Facebook page.

Nor was there anything on your Twitter feed. But, I did notice some of the comments on your Facebook page. You’ve got some explaining to do boyo! It seems Kansas voters have been getting wind of your sneaky little maneuver and they’re not happy campers! 

They’re joining the rest of the nation’s voters in universal condemnation of your underhanded action. Got a hunch your not going to have a long career wise guy!

Meanwhile, those good old boys at Citibank maintain the rule change is good for everyone. Everyone on Wall Street that is.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Saturday, December 13, 2014

High! High! High! Merry Marijuana Trees and the Holidays

Merry marijuana

(Plastic marijuana leaves light a Christmas tree as part of holiday display in a recreational marijuana shop in northwest Denver. AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Editor’s Note: I’m taking a blog break and will be back on Monday, Dec. 15th

Good Day World!

‘Tis the season…

for merry marijuana and the holidays!

It’s a trippy thing to see

a marijuana tree

at a party!

With the increasing acceptance of pot among the general public, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what you want to get those special stoners in your life for the holidays.

(Photo: Bud tenders from left John Satterfield, Maxwell Bradford and Emma Attolini decorate a Christmas tree in holiday display at a recreational marijuana shop in northwest Denver. AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Merry marijuana

From new marijuana strains for the holidays to gift sets and pot-and-pumpkin pies, the burgeoning marijuana industry in Colorado is scrambling to get a piece of the holiday shopping dollar.

Dispensaries in many states have been offering holiday specials for medical customers for years — but this first season of open-to-all-adults marijuana sales in some states means pot shops are using more of the tricks used by traditional retailers to attract holiday shoppers, according to a recent AP story.

Thinking about traveling for the holidays and want to know where you can get high without a big hassle? Go here for a list of pot-friendly countries.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Friday, December 12, 2014

A Poem: ‘We Brag That We’re Free’

America has it’s own royalty.

the reality

lies with presidential last names like Bush, Clinton, and Kennedy.

the fact that Americans embraced family dynasties is a mystery to me.

but “bundlers and donors” are changing that you see…

presidential candidates are growing on every tree.

our new election reality…

decided by a few billionaires, not by you and me.

nevertheless, when election times arrives, we brag that we’re free

voting for liberty.

Just repeat after me…

All hail democracy!

-Dave Stancliff

 

Dick Cheney should be tried for war crimes – not interviewed on Meet the Press

Good Day World!

Former vice president, Dick Cheney, should be tried for war crimes, not interviewed by the press ( he’s due to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday).

Thousands of American soldiers, and innocent civilians blood are upon Cheney hands for leading the country into a bogus war, based upon lies.

Cheney is a liar, and as long as someone gives him a platform, he’ll continue to spread lies.

Most recently, he’s lying about the CIA’s methods of torture. He claims a Senate report faulting the CIA for brutal interrogation tactics is "full of crap." In Cheney’s perverse universe, waterboarding is not a torture – despite the fact that United Nations officials have classified it as a torture.

Amazingly, Cheney told Fox News that torture "was something that we very carefully avoided." Say what?

How does he justify making a public statement like that when it’s obviously a lie?

Because he lives in a different America – one that you and I would reject. He called the report “crap.”

I beg to differ. Cheney is full of crap. The real bottom line is the CIA’s torture program didn’t work. The intelligence gathered from torture techniques was minimal at best, according to the report.

Cheney's name crops up 41 times in the report on the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation." Here are some of his noteworthy appearances:

1) Cheney personally worked to quash press coverage of the CIA's secret prison network.

2) Cheney attended a CIA briefing focused on justifying torture techniques.

3) Cheney reportedly did not know the specific location of a CIA black site. (He was reportedly lined up to help lobby the government of an unnamed country, but as with President Bush, the CIA aimed to keep Cheney in the dark so that he couldn't refer to the location of "a more permanent and unilateral CIA detention facility" in that country.)

4) After leaving office, Cheney declassified a CIA report arguing that torture worked.

5) Cheney blew off Senate leaders investigating the CIA interrogation program as early as 2005.

I’d like to see Chuck Todd expose Cheney’s many lies during the upcoming segment of Meet the Press, but I know that’s unlikely. I suspect that the program’s producers aren’t interested in holding Cheney to account…at least not at this time.

Cheney represents viewership via controversy. Which means money. Something Cheney himself appreciates.

Time for me to walk on down the road… 

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Boneheads from both sides in congress blocking marijuana legalization in Washington DC

Good Day World!

Both Republican and Democratic congressional leaders managed to agree on something recently. A Christmas miracle?

Not really.

It’s the same old shit according to the DC Cannabis Campaign and Drug Policy Alliance. Congress is playing the Grinch and blocking marijuana legalization in Washington DC.

BACKROUND

  • DC's legalization initiative got more than 69 percent of the vote in November. But ballot initiatives, like all DC laws, must get congressional approval to become law, and they can be blocked through congressional budgetary requirements.
  • DC's marijuana legalization measure would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and give marijuana to other adults 21 and older.
  • The measure wouldn't legalize, regulate, or tax sales, because voter initiatives in DC can't have a direct impact on the local budget.
  • Marijuana legalization will remain in place in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, since Congress doesn't have the authority to terminate those states' laws.

    HOW CONGRESS IS GETTING AWAY WITH IT

    Through the Home Rule Act of 1973, Washington, DC, can elect a sitting local government composed of a council, mayor, and other local agencies. But the Home Rule Act also made it so each law passed by the local government requires congressional approval — and Congress can still block DC's laws through budgetary requirements, as they are doing with the legalization measure.

    Congress previously used this authority to block DC from implementing a medical marijuana law for nearly 12 years. Federal lawmakers have also prevented DC from using local tax dollars to fund abortion services and life-saving clean needle exchange programs.

    Read more: 6 questions about Washington, DC, statehood you were too disenfranchised to ask.

    Time for me to walk on down the road…

  • Wednesday, December 10, 2014

    Study says male rats like tiny jackets on their girls – equates findings to men turned on by lingerie

    Rat lingerie

    Good Day World!

    Who pays researchers to study human sex habits by using rats as examples? 

    Really? Rats…

    (Photo by Gonzalo R. Quintana Zunino)

    Male rats that are turned on by female rats wearing tiny jackets, no less! Guess what? These brilliant researchers have concluded – based upon those tiny jackets – men associate sex with lingerie.

    Apparently the researchers weren’t aware of Victoria’s Secret, but I digress.

    In what can be generously called an unusual study, intrepid researchers allowed virgin male rats to have sex with females wearing special rodent "jackets."

    Later, when scientists gave the males a chance to mate again, they preferred to mate with jacket-wearing female rats rather than with the unclad ones. (Go figure)

    These earth-shaking findings suggest that male animals can learn to associate the sight and feel of clothing with sex. [51 Sultry Facts About Sex] Who would of guessed?

    In other words, male rats learn that "each time my partner wears lingerie [a jacket], I'm going to have sex," said study co-author Gonzalo R. Quintana Zunino, a psychologist working in the lab of psychologist Jim Pfaus at Concordia University in Montreal. 

    The findings were presented Nov. 17 at the 44th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Washington, D.C.

    Time for me to walk on down the road…

    Tuesday, December 9, 2014

    ‘Made to feel uncomfortable…Alive!’ Senior scares off thieves with walker gun, Chimps lose legal battle for ‘personhood’

    Paul Rosolie.

    Good Day World!

    Life is full of disappointments, but we still have to soldier on.

    (Conservationist Paul Rosolie holds one of the many anacondas he encountered in the amazon.-Discovery Channel photo)

    For example:

    On Sunday night, Discovery aired the highly anticipated "Eaten Alive" special, in which conservationist and filmmaker Paul Rosolie went head first into the jaws of a 20-foot anaconda — or at least that's what viewers were led to believe would happen.

    Maybe the show should have been called "Rolling Around in the Mud Alive," "Constricted Alive" or "Made to Feel Really Uncomfortable … Alive!"

    By the end of the two-hour event, one thing was clear: Rosolie, outfitted in a compression suit covered in a generous coating of pig blood, did convince the anaconda to go after him — but he was by no means eaten, alive or otherwise.

    -----------------------------------------------

    Just imagine the disappointment some thieves felt when they tried to break into the home of a A 68-year-old Gastonia man.

    Joseph Sapienza told The Gaston Gazette (http://bit.ly/1vx3JpO ) that he scared off two men in ski masks trying to break in his home with his gun that he keep on his walker. He flipped on a light, yelled he was armed and threw open the door.

    Afterwards he taped a note to his door saying if they try to break in his house again, he will be waiting on them!

    His message was loud and clear. You rock Mr. Sapienza!

    ---------------------------------------------------

    What a disappointment for Chimps worldwide!

    In the first case of its kind, a New York appeals court rejected on Thursday an animal rights advocate's bid to extend "legal personhood" to chimpanzees, saying the primates are incapable of bearing the responsibilities that come with having legal rights.

    The case is Nonhuman Rights Project v. Lavery, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, No. 518336.

    ---------------------------------------------------------

    Parting shot: Today is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day!

    Time for me to walk on down the road…

    Monday, December 8, 2014

    Happy Weird Holiday Ideas That’ll Thrill or Nauseate

    The 2014 Cult of Weird holiday gift guide will help you find the perfect gifts for the weirdos on your Christmas list!Good Day World!

    I’ve found my gift guide for the season!

    The sheer wackiness of it suits me to a tee.

    Find the perfect oddities to finish up your holiday shopping with the official Cult of Weird 2014 holiday gift guide, full of weird stocking stuffers, quirky novelties and macabre confectioneries.

    Whether you are looking to fill a cabinet of curiosities, or feed the insatiable human appetite for the unknown, there is sure to be something on this list to make someone happy (or nauseous) this holiday season.

    Thanks to Cult of the Weird for this nuttiness!

    Time for me to walk on down the road…

    Sunday, December 7, 2014

    Seasons Greetings from the Satanic Church, Festivus followers, Christians & more on display

    Good Day World!

    Are you getting that holiday feeling yet?

    The folks at Florida's Capitol in Tallahassee sure are.

    A Satanic Temple is set to accompany nativity scenes and other holiday decorations on the first-floor rotunda of the Capitol. The Florida Department of Management Services approved The Satanic Temple display (they rejected it last year) the Florida News Service reported.

    Two other displays, including one that celebrates Festivus, the fictional holiday from the sitcom "Seinfeld," are pending final approval.

    What a change a year makes.

    The temple was rejected a year ago after the department called it "grossly offensive." It features a banner reading "Happy holidays from the Satanic Temple" atop a diorama of an angel falling into hell.

    Although I’m not really comfortable with Satanism in the 21st century, I think it’s only fair to let people worship what they want as long as they don’t hurt others. I’m glad I can freely admit to not belonging to any organized religions.

    I’ve found that Festivus best suits me for the holiday season. My only concern, after being approved for a big public display in Tallahassee this year, is that Festivus goes mainstream!

    Time for me to walk on down the road…

    Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

    This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitu...