Open Thread and Diary Rescue

post from Daily Kos on 01 December 2006 11:26:16 PM. © Daily Kos

(Tonight’s diaries are brought to you courtesy of the Rescue Rangers. SusanG)

Today, many kossacks shared their thoughts on World AIDS Day. Despite advances in medical science, the epidemic has worsened, killing tens of millions of people and it may surpass the 14th century Black Death as the deadliest disease outbreak in human history. This week, 3,500 people will die from HIV-related illness in Zimbabwe alone. Please read sobermom's suggestion on how you can help end this epidemic.

This evening's Rescue Rangers are vcmvo2, Got A Grip, buhdydharma, srkp23, ybruti, paragraph and Patriot Daily as editor.

DKos has an impact on Africa (and beyond) is an inspiring account by wclathe about his experience with microlending, helped greatly by his three-year-old daughter. (ybruti)

Izzzy provides a personal perspective on how many people died Before they called it AIDS..., while in World AIDS Day -- December 1, RH Reality Check reminds us that decades later infection rates continue to rise amidst the use of right-wing sex policies by an unaccountable government. (Patriot Daily)

In WORLD AIDS DAY December 1st 2006, refinish69 writes a beautiful, heart-breaking remembrance of his dear friends, David and Keith, and his lover Don, "light of his world." (srkp23)

sfbob, who tested positive in the 1980s, writes My Personal World AIDS Day Story about his efforts to raise thousands of dollars by riding his bicycle for AIDS. (ybruti)

Doolittle's Your Leaders are Trying to Kill You takes a look at a crucial case before SCOTUS concerning global warming which examines whether the EPA should regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. (srkp23)

Tula Connell writes an important diary on the struggle of coal miners to unionize for the health and safety of miners and the public in Peabody Coal Miners Struggle for Justice. (Patriot Daily)

ingmarz rants on what happens when one man's environmental activism becomes corrupted by corporate greed in Atomic Porker Strikes Indian Point. (Got a Grip)

Who Is Rich Masters? Mad Mom answers the question by identifying the "Democratic" strategist, who criticized Jim Webb on Scarborough's show, as a registered lobbyist for Saudi Arabia. A fascinating read. (vcmvo2)

Spinning it as a national economic security interest, Tasini informs us how corporations want regulations to facilitate The Dawn Of The Next Great Corporate Crime Wave. (Patriot Daily)

NicolausCopernicus's President Bush "Did not Mean It" wonders if BushCo's aversion to literal language isn't a straight path to impeachment. (srkp23)

Ret. Commander Jeff Huber examines BushCo's "faith-based warfare" in Iraq: More Bush Bunker Bunk. (srkp23)

Nick Stump describes the view of the war from Booneville, Kentucky in Iraq War Hits Hard in the Heartland. (paragraph)

Mote Dai has a drink and a nosh with this year's Nobel science award winners, making science junkies everywhere jealous and sharing the details in Four Nobel Laureates walk into a bar.... (Got a Grip)

msobel walks us through some of the oddball questions in the new Citizen Test Designed like the Secret Memo – Think you would pass? (Patriot Daily)

Ambrosius has Top Comments, Red Ribbon Edition.

Add your favorite diaries from the past 24 hours and use as an open thread.

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Late Nite FDL: Some Helpful Espionage Tips from
The Spy Who Billed Me

post from Firedoglake on 01 December 2006 11:06:44 PM. © Firedoglake

And we're just going to run with this topic tonight.The Spy Who Billed Me reports:UPDATE: The online edition of the British newspaper the Telegraph is now reporting:The senior government source, who is aware of the discussions of [...]

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rom-the-spy-who-billed-me/

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Friday Orchid Blogging

post from AMERICAblog on 01 December 2006 10:53:00 PM. © AMERICAblog

Phragmipedium Lynn Evans-Goldner

This little guy is one of my plants, currently in bloom. The flower is less than 2 inches from tip to tip, and it may be slightly fragrant (hard to tell). I love this plant. It grows relatively small, and for me at least, it seems to stay alive (which for orchids, is a big deal). It likes a good deal of light, likes to stay relatively moist, and blooms about once or twice a year. This bloom is being followed by a second bud as well on the same spike (stem). All in all, this is a nice one.

For the geeks among you, this plant is a schlimii crossed with a Barbara LeAnn. And Barbara LeAnn is besseae x fischeri. You can see that this got a lot of the besseae in it, and the fischeri color and size.

Enjoy.

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An Open Letter to Presidents Ahmadinejad &
Chavez

post from Gun Toting Liberal on 01 December 2006 10:46:00 PM. © Gun Toting Liberal

Dear Gentlemen:It appears to me that the recent elections here in the U.S. have bolstered the spirits of both of you. Please allow me to explain the election from the perspective of an ordinary American.True, it was a rejection of many things. The majority..not all, but the majority were dissatisfied with President [...]

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http://guntotingliberal.com/archives/361

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C&Ls Late Nite Music Club with David Oistrakh

post from Crooks and Liars on 01 December 2006 10:35:16 PM. © Crooks and Liars

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (3rd Mov.)

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http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/12/01/cls-late-nite-music-club-with-david-oist
rakh-2/

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This, Mitt Believes (Volume 2)

post from Jesus' General on 01 December 2006 10:33:00 PM. © Jesus' General

There is nothing more sacred to Mormons than our temples. It's where we are sealed (married) to our partners. It's also where we perform marriages and baptisms for the dead so they can be saved. Most importantly, it's where we receive the endowments, or tokens, we'll need to get into the Celestial Kingdom (heaven). What are these tokens? Well, let's take a look at the script for the temple ceremony:

THE FIRST TOKEN OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD
ELOHIM: We will now give unto you the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name, and sign. Before doing this, we desire to impress upon your minds the sacred character of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign, as well as that of all the other tokens of the Holy Priesthood, with their names, and signs, which you will receive in the temple this day. They are most sacred, and are guarded by solemn covenants and obligations made in the prescense of God, Angels and these witnesses to hold them sacred and under no condition, even at the peril of your life, will you ever divulge them, except at a certain place in the temple that will be shown you hereafter.

The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood is given by clasping the right hands and placing the joint of the thumb directly over the first knuckle of the hand, in this manner.

(The Officiator, representing Elohim, takes the right hand of the male witness, who represents Adam at the alter, and demonstrates the token. The male witness, who remains kneeling, is obliged to raise his hand above his head while receiving the grip, thus enabling the patrons to view the manner in which the token is to be given.)

[...]

SECOND TOKEN OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD

PETER: A couple will now come to the altar. (The witness couple kneels at the altar as before.) With the robe on the left shoulder, you are prepared to officiate in the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood. We will now give unto you the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name, and sign. This Token is given by clasping the right hands and placing the joint of the thumb between the first and second knuckles of the hand, in this manner.

(The Officiator and the male witness joins hands in the token, and slightly raise their hands to demonstrate in to the patrons.)

[...]

FIRST TOKEN OF THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD OR SIGN OF THE NAIL

PETER: We will now give unto you the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or the sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name and sign. This token is received by bringing the right hand into this position: the hand vertical, the fingers close together, and the thumb extended; and the person giving the token placing the tip of the forefinger of his right hand in the center of the palm, and the thumb opposite on the back of the hand of the one receiving it, in this manner. We desire all to receive it. All arise.

(After Officiator and male witness demonstrate token at the altar, temple workers circulate around room to administer this token to the patrons.)

[...]

SECOND TOKEN OF THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD, THE PATRIARCHAL GRIP, OR SURE SIGN OF THE NAIL

PETER: We will now give unto you the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or the Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign. This token has reference to the crucifixtion of the Savior. When he was placed upon the cross, the crucifiers drove nails through the palms of his hands then fearing that the weight of his body would cause the nails to tear through the flesh of the hands, they drove nails through his wrists. Hence, in the palm is the sign of the nail, and in the wrist, is the Sure Sign of the Nail, or the Nail in the Sure Place. This token is given by clasping the right hands, interlocking the little fingers, and placing the tip of the forefinger upon the center of the wrist, in this manner (The Officiator demonstrates this token with male witness.). We desire all to receive it. All arise.

(As the witness couple returns to their seats various temple workers administer the token as before, and each patron sits after receiving it.)

As I said at the beginning, you can't get into Heaven, or as Mormons call it, the Celestial Kingdom, unless you know these secret handshakes. Obviously, you wouldn't want to screw up at the Pearly Gates, so the temple workers give you an opportunity to try your new skills in a dry run held at the end of the ceremony:

CEREMONY AT THE VEIL.

(At this point, a temple worker motions to the patrons, row by row, directing them to the various Veil segments. A worker stands at each segment to introduce the patron to "the Lord" who is on the other side of the Veil. The worker gives three distinct taps with the mallet.)

LORD: What is wanted?

WORKER: Adam, having been true and faithful in all things, desires further light and knowledge, by conversing with the Lord, through the Veil.

LORD: Present him at the Veil, and his request shall be granted.

(The Lord gives the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood through the opening in the Veil.)

LORD: What is that?

PATRON: The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.

LORD: Has it a name?

PATRON: It has.

LORD: Will you give it to me?

PATRON: I will, through the Veil. (The patron gives the New Name).

(The Lord gives the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.)

LORD: What is that?

PATRON: The Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.

LORD: Has it a name?

PATRON: It has.

LORD: Will you give it to me?

PATRON: I will, through the Veil (The patron gives the first given name of the person for whom the temple work is being done).

(The Lord gives the First Token of the Melchizedeck Priesthood.)

LORD: What is that?

PATRON: The First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or Sign of the Nail.

LORD: Has it a name?

PATRON: It has.

LORD: Will you give it to me?

PATRON: I will, through the Veil--the Son.

(The Lord gives the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood.)

LORD: What is that?

PATRON: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure sign of the Nail.

LORD: Has it a name?

PATRON: It has.

LORD: Will you give it to me?

PATRON: I cannot. I have not yet received it. For this purpose I have come to converse with the Lord through the Veil.

LORD: You shall receive it through the Veil.

(The Lord and the patron, still holding the grip. The patron's left arm goes through the mark of the compass, and the Lord's left arm goes through the mark of the square.)

LORD: This is the name of the Token--"Health in the navel, marrow in the bones, strength in the loins and in the sinews, power in the Priesthood be upon me, and upon my posterity through all generations of time, and throughout all eternity."

LORD: What is that?

PATRON: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail.

LORD: Has it an name?

PATRON: It has.

LORD: Will you give it to me?

PATRON: I will, through the Veil.- Health in the navel, marrow in the bones, strength in the loins and in the sinews, power in the Priesthood be upon me, and upon my posterity through all generations of time, and throughout all eternity.

LORD: That is correct.

(The Lord and patron break the ceremonial embrace, and the temple worker gives three taps with the mallet.)

LORD: What is wanted?

WORKER: Adam, having conversed with the Lord through the Veil, desires now to enter his presence.

LORD: Let him enter.

(The Veil is now parted and the Lord takes the patron by the right hand, and pulls him gently through the Veil into the Celestial Room.)

Wow, there's a part of me that thinks God's going to have me clipped for revealing this.

Read The Full Article:
http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2006_11_26_archive.html#116504852957904251

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Mort Kondrackes wankery

post from Crooks and Liars on 01 December 2006 10:05:59 PM. © Crooks and Liars

The "blame the American people" crowd is gathering…Josh Marshall:Let's first take note that the 'blame the American people for Bush's screw-ups' meme has definitely hit the big time. It's not Bush who bit off more than he could chew or did something incredibly stupid or screwed things up in a way that defies all imagining. [...]

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If You Can't Find a Real Controversy...

post from Daily Kos on 01 December 2006 10:05:22 PM. © Daily Kos

Oh sure, you can always kick off a chorus of "We Hate Hillary," or all seventy five verses of "Democrats are Traitors," but face it: without fresh sheet music, the mighty off-key Wurlitzer of Right Wingnuttery starts to get a little creaky.

During the election season, they were able to distort John Kerry's joke about Bush into an attack on the troops. That's a Republican twofer, scoring on both the "Kerry's a Doofus" and "Democrats Hate the Troops" charts. But since then conservatives just haven't found that seasonal ditty that lets them sip their eggnog with a dash of smarmy self-righteousness. Even O'Reilly's "War on Christmas" rag is sounding a little tired.

So where does the right look for a fresh source of hate? How about Representative-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN)? He's a Democrat, he's the first Muslim elected to congress, and he's an African-America. That's a rightwing triple play of detestability!

The attempt to demonize Ellison started with steaming loads of push polls during the campaign. After Ellison's win, CNN's always slimy Glenn Beck was quick to greet the new congressman with the respect that Republicans always hold in such esteem.

... you are a Democrat. You are saying, "Let’s cut and run." And I have to tell you, I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, "Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies."

And if you thought the right was going to back away from Beck's McCarthyite tactics, that was just the start. Wingnut of the air, Dennis Prager, has been advancing the cause of Ellison as the next boogeyman of the right.

Right-wing radio host Dennis Prager wrote a column earlier this week claiming that Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim elected to Congress, had "announced that he will not take his oath of office on the Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran." Prager claimed this "act undermines American civilization," and compared it to being sworn in with a copy of Hitler’s "Mein Kampf."

There are several problems with Prager's hissy fit. Not least among them, he made the whole damn thing up. For one thing, the Bible – or any other religious book – isn't used in the swearing in ceremony. Any pictures of a congressperson waving a Bible after their oath of office were simply publicity shots. The Bible is not, and has never been, used to swear in congressmembers. Like everyone else, Ellison will take his oath with his right hand raised, and that's it.

But as a typical member of the right wing community, Prager's faith in his own self-created fantasies outweighs puny facts. He's insisted that he will "keep up the pressure" on Ellison, even though Prager admits that forcing Ellison to use a Bible in the ceremony "may will be unconstitutional."

"I'm not arguing legality. I'm arguing what you should do," he said, saying that even though he is a religious Jew, he would take an oath of public office using the Christian Bible, which includes the Old and New Testaments.

"The New Testament is not my Bible but it is America's Bible," he said, noting that Jewish officeholders who had insisted on the Hebrew Bible were "secularists" who didn't believe what was in it anyway.

He aims at a Muslim, and gets a shot in at fellow Jews. Is it any wonder this man is a darling of the right?

Prager started off with a lie, leveraged it into a paranoid fantasy, and has moved on to using his own bit of make-believe to promote a violation of the constitution. But hey, at least he's given wingnuts someone to hate for the holidays, and that's the gift that they were all waiting for. (Whoops. Sorry, Bill, I said the "h" word.)

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More on Polonium-210

A reader has written in to clear up some of the mystery around polonium-210 for us.Firstly, Po210 does not require a reactor to be made, in fact, it doesn’t need to be made at all as it is a decay project of natural (not depleted or enriched) U238.[...]

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http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/01/more-on-polonium-210/

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Loving your neighbor

Our Savior's followers respond to the Bastard Fairies video I linked to earlier:

solidnem (1 day ago) Those parents should be shot in the face for teaching this little idiot to speak out what she thinks is a natural cause of human misery, violence in religion? That may be true, but the last thing this god forsaken earth needs is another emo driven kid growing up to build a concentration camp

CaptainGhrei (4 weeks ago) She's doomed to destruction unless she can get away! 8 yrs old? Insulting people? cursing? taking the Lord's name in vain? I feel sorry for this child! I just pray she can get away from the monsters who are raising her and soon! Or it will be too late for her.

hairdye (3 weeks ago) That little girl needs to be slapped on the mouth.

kungfujesus (3 weeks ago) The teachings of christ are peaceful. BUT HE CAN KICK OUR ASS.

kingofallhacks (3 weeks ago) Shut the F#%K up, you liitle brat.

BuddyGz (3 weeks ago) The parents should be beaten.

hairdye (3 weeks ago) She probably doesn't have parents. That's why she's become a little tramp.

haterdrinkinhaterade (2 weeks ago) She dresses like one of those emo kids who are known for being homosexuals, alcoholics, and drug addicts at an early age. Nice way to raise your kid loser.

haterdrinkinhaterade (2 weeks ago) Those monitors behind her actually suck they are Behringers. Seems like that's a Mexican family who made it big selling watermelons on the street corner or something so they turn to "creative expressionism" via hatred towards religion, pathetic 'unique' clothing (like the little girls), and he probably creates hiphop on Reason and posts it on his myspace trying to get popular. Hahaha, what a Mexican loser.

TanzMan6 (3 days ago) This little chink should shut the fuck up. We should have killed her parents in Viet Nam when we had the fucking chance.

Burn the bitch.