Friday Orchid Blogging

This is a harlequin type phalaenopsis. I don't know it's name, lost the tag when I bought it a few weeks ago, but it's a relatively new variety of Phal that has mutated, thus the funky spots. Once the first mutation of this kind happened, in I think 1995 or so, they started cultivating the plant for the mutation, and there are lots of varieties of spotted harlequins now. Though you have to be sure to get one you know FOR SURE is a harlequin - basically a clone or a plant that's already flowered and has flowered harlequin - otherwise you run the risk of the kids not being harlequins (genetics is a tricky thing).

Have always loved these, finally got one at a show in DC recentlty. Folks tend to either love or hate harlequin phals. Enjoy. Read the rest of this post...

Open thread

Off to grab a quick dinner Read the rest of this post...

Jesus hates me, yes I know, cuz the Bible tells me so...

Excommunicate this man immediately:

An African bishop has announced that he will not accept more than $350 000 of funding to help Aids victims in his area because it comes from an American diocese that supported the election of a gay bishop two years ago.

Read the rest of this post...

Randal Terry sings

First, Alan Colmes holds his own against Randall Terry, which is good. Then, Randall Terry sings at the Schiavo memorial service. Gag me. When did this wack-job become Mr. Suit and Tie Republican who sings sweet songs?

From CrooksAndLiars.com Read the rest of this post...

Open thread

What's up? Read the rest of this post...

National Press Clubs reinvites bloggers to watch GannonGuckert panel, so long as we promise to be good

Yes, so long as we promise to be good children, daddy will let us sit at the big table (wonder if we get a phone book?). Perhaps even more annoying is the comment from National Press Club vice president Jonathan Salant that I (John Aravosis) personally "can feel good about the fact that his [my] work on highlighting Gannon led directly to the NPC event."

Gee, thanks. I'd like to feel swell, but I don't.

You see, the thing is, I already knew that my work, and the work of other blogs like DailyKos.com, Eschaton, World O Crap, CrooksAndLiars.com, MediaMatters.org and countless other online gonzos, led to the NPC's panel on GannonGuckert. The problem has always been that the National Press Club never realized it - until now, so it would seem. It's hardly helpful to hear that our work actually DID lead to the panel happening, but that they're still excluding us from the panel itself.

Perhaps they thought we'd throw our peas.

I for one have no intent on watching some hooker-slash-plagiarist demean what's left of the National Press Club's, and the national press', credibility. The mainstream media represented by the NPC dropped the ball on this story for two months, and when they did deign to cover it, got the facts wrong and let GannonGuckert get away with whatever latest version of events he wanted to spew. Other than a select few mainstream media journalists like Eric Boehlert, Greg Mitchell, and Anderson Cooper, the MSM was abysmal at covering this story. I have no desire to watch the ongoing train wreck in person.

Have fun with your plagiarizing man-whore, guys. It only seems fitting, considering what you've become as a profession. Read the rest of this post...

Cable News Out of Control

The cable news channels are spinning out of control over the impending death of the Pope. He's dead...he's not dead...he's brain dead...it's a media feeding frenzy.

Damn, it really is gross. I didn't think they could do a worse job than they did on Schiavo, but that's what's going on.

I know it's pathetic to keep the t.v. on through all of this, but it is like watching a train wreck. These reporters are tripping all over themselves to get more scoop. And, there is a competition to see who can get the highest ranking Catholic and who can get the doctor who will say that the guy is on the way out. If you've ever met the pope, you can be on CNN now.

Basically, in cable news world, there is no other news today. Read the rest of this post...

Open Thread

The cable news channels are doing the papal death watch. What else is going on? Read the rest of this post...

Kennedy Asks DeLay to Renounce Violence

Senator Kennedy called DeLay on his remarks about judges and asked him to renounce violence, AP reports:

"I'm not sure what Mr. DeLay meant when he said 'the time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior,'" the Massachusetts Democrat said in a written statement. "But at a time when emotions are running high, Mr. DeLay needs to make clear that he is not advocating violence against anyone."

His spokesperson gave some convoluted response, but still waiting for DeLay himself to respond. DeLay's silence on violence speaks volumes.

Note to other Democrats in Congress: Don't let DeLay off the hook on this one. You should all be DEMANDING that DeLay renounce violence.

UPDATE: RawStory.com has a very strong letter from Senator Lautenberg to DeLay....says DeLay may have violated Federal Statutes prohibiting threats to Federal Judges. Read the rest of this post...

Another open thread

Cuz I'm running around. Gorgeous day here. Read the rest of this post...

God bless Eric Boehlert

One of the only journalists, along with E&P;, Raw Story, and a few others, who called this Terri Schiavo farce what it really was. The country divided? Yeah, 82% divided.

Here's his title and sub-title, just for flavor:

A tale told by an idiot
Wildly overplaying the Schiavo protesters, ignoring facts and giving Bush a free ride, the press was full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Read this. Read the rest of this post...

Morning open thread

I can't believe I'm awake. Read the rest of this post...

I got an email from John Ashcroft

Ok, it's not really John Ashcroft, but it's from some other nut who sounds a lot like Ashcroft. Enjoy. And, no, I'm not posting their email address, sorry - this person sounds like they don't need the extra pressure.

Subject: media
To: AMERICAblog

You people make me sick to my stomach. Your group alone is responsible for the decline in morality in America. Your group took advantage of the system, twisted it to suit the needs of every sick, perverted, & depraved person in America under the guise of "civil liberties" & "freedom 'from' religion". When the Bible was removed from our public school systems, a moral decline started in America like a snow ball rolling down a hill. There is so much moral depravity in America because of that. Put women in the workforce ... look at what that got you. A man can't get a good paying job ... it's called supply and demand. Give a woman a job for half the price and boot the man out. That is what "Corporate America" does & the government is forced to uphold that because you whiners sneak in with your "loop holes" & screwed America until it was morally bankrupt. God will judge your kind ... the Bible tells us where you're going, and I feel so sad for your soul. Please pray for God's guidance in your life because you need it.

Hey, you don't think this came from the National Press Club, do you? :-) Read the rest of this post...

World Bank screws another poor nation

No, the Wolfowitz issue is another problem. In this case, it is their decision to support and guarantee the $1.2BILLION hydroelectric plant in Laos. Putting aside the numerous environmental issues, this is without a doubt a country that cannot handle the burden of such a cost. I have spent a fair amount of time in Laos and these are among the poorest people in the world and most of the country is without electricity already and with this plan, they will be exporting the majority of it to Thailand. So where does the revenue go? Just as in the oil producing countries, it goes into the private bank accounts of the government leaders.

In Laos, you can always easily spot the communist officials because they are the (rare) ones driving the Mercedes or BMWs. (The NGOs seem to prefer the brand new, expensive Toyota LandCruisers.) They government doesn't give a rats ass about the people and only care about how much they have in their pockets. Most people in Laos live on about $1 per day so how could any international organization be so blind to the massive, unfair burden on a very poor population? What a bunch of blind assholes. Read the rest of this post...

Rent-a-cops coming to the Naval Academy

With the current strain on resources and failures in recruitment, this should not be much of a surprise but I find it pretty unsettling that we are outsourcing guard duties at the military academies as well as military bases to rent-a-cops. How can this be perceived as a good thing?

After being guarded by Marines for 154 years and two world wars not to mention the US Civil War, the Naval Academy will be guarded by low budget cop wanna-bes. These sure are desperate times. Read the rest of this post...

Mugabe opposition takes early lead in election

So far the results show 26 seats for the MDC versus just 3 for ZANU-PF, Mugabe's party. In total, 120 seats are being elected and Mugabe will automatically appoint an additional 30. It would be nice to think that this lead will hold but it's pretty doubtful due to voter intimidation and vote rigging. Read the rest of this post...

Another day, another accounting scandal

This time it's Delphi, the GM spinoff that is under investigation by the FBI for a simple $237M in accounting "error". Besides wondering about Delphi's own accounting team I can't help but wonder yet again what their outside accountants were looking at (besides the dollar signs for themselves) when they reviewed the books. Read the rest of this post...