Bushism of the Week

"I can look you in the eye and tell you I feel I've tried to solve the problem diplomatically to the max, and would have committed troops both in Afghanistan and Iraq knowing what I know today."

—George W. Bush, Irvine, Calif., April 24, 2006

Little Green Men Spotted in SF

Blognonymous: Kvatch's Kommandos Take Market Street

I loved this so much, I had to link it here.

Little Green Army operating under orders of a Little Green Frog on a very important mission. Great job, Kommander Kvatch.

Major hat tip to Elizabeth Branford, who clued me in on this.

War on Illiteracy

Courtesy of The Boston Globe-

WASHINGTON --Laura Bush announced an initiative Monday to combat global illiteracy, saying that more than 800 million people around the world can't read. Full story here.

I wonder if she can teach her husband how to read off a teleprompter without sounding like a buffoon.

Come on, you know I couldn't resist that one. I just about peed myself when I read it in the paper.

Quote of the Week

"Allow the president to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose - and you allow him to make war at pleasure."

- Abraham Lincoln

Click on President Lincoln's picture for a biography.

Billboard Justice

Photo credit: an unnamed CDC operative

This fine piece of artistic creativity was carried out by a group known as the California Department of Corrections. (Note: Their website is at Geocities and is more often unavailable than actually up and running.) This billboard is located at Seventh and Folsom Streets in San Francisco.

Here's what the original capitalist versions look like-------->

Many people thought, initially, that this was the work of The Billboard Liberation Front (BLF). It was discovered later that the CDC were the actual masterminds behind it. A statement released by the BLF stated simply, "We did not do this billboard, but we love it."

I am unaware if the billboard is still in it's "corrected" condition, or if the capitalist pigs at Clear Channel have returned it to it's original disgusting state of appearance. I'll have to drive by and take a look.

I love the connection between an oil company and the atrocities we've committed in Iraq.

This is just an example of why San Francisco is such a great place to live.

Hat tip to The San Francisco Bay Guardian where I originally saw the photo.

Bushism of the Week

"I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of Defense."

—George W. Bush, Washington, D.C. April 18, 2006

Perspective

Picture yourself standing somewhere inside your house and trying to imagine what it looks like from the outside. Think you have a pretty good view of what it really looks like to your neighbors? If you're blogging (or leaning) toward the left politically, then you're probably seeing it just as it is.

If, however, you're traveling through life with bush-colored glasses on, things may not be what they seem. You may have been sold a bill of goods from the same people who brought you the "fair and balanced" media option. If you chose this option, things look fantastic from the outside and if your neighbors don't like what they see, they can kiss your red, white and blue ass.

My Uncle "D" was kind enough to send me an article from the Sydney Morning Herald that pretty much sums up what all them "farinnurs" think about the way our government is run. And you know what? They're "right". Not right in the Hannity/Limbaugh sense but right in the old-fashioned difference between right and wrong sense of the word. A great deal of you so-called "freedom lovers" have forgotten the true meaning of that word, and falsely turned it into your rallying cry.

At any rate, here are some clips from the article. I recommend reading the whole thing. The key thing is, we desperately need to win the mid-term elections and get this moron IMPEACHED.


SYDNEY, NSW, is a long way from Washington DC but, even at this distance, it is clear that the Bush Administration is falling to pieces.
In recent weeks, scanning the political coverage in the mainstream US media and sampling the blogs has been to watch a flood tide ebbing to reveal a rotting, skeletal hulk. It is the George W. Bush ship of fools, stuck in the mud for the world to see in all its mendacity, its incompetence, its faith-based stupidity.

It is possible, at this late stage, that even Bush himself has begun to realise something is wrong. That oddly simian face is ashen, the eyes leaden. The voice is shrill and its tone defensive.

"I'm the decider and I decide what's best," he squawked to reporters in the White House rose garden the other day, as the screws turned tighter on his disastrous Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. Can you imagine Roosevelt, Eisenhower or Kennedy blurting something like that?

Full story here.

I believe this is the first photographic evidence of the old goat finally cracking a smile.

Well Worth Taking a Look At

I stumbled across a great post this morning before heading off to work.

Carbon Paper: REMEMBER

Pardon the Interruption

My apologies to my faithful readers. I barely have time to get this post out.

You see, a friend of mine opened up a dance studio and I offered my services in the way of painting, electrical upgrades, installing flooring and, looking at the leaky sink drain I found in the restroom today, plumbing has just been added to the list.

I hope to soon be back, bringing you the same high-caliber, cutting-edge blogging you've come to expect here at PTCruiser. Thank you for your patience.

Happy Easter

Bushism of the Week

"I strongly believe what we're doing is the right thing. If I didn't believe it — I'm going to repeat what I said before — I'd pull the troops out, nor if I believed we could win, I would pull the troops out."

—George W. Bush, Charlotte, N.C., April 6, 2006

Poetic Justice: Oppose Attacking Iran Petition!

Poetic Justice: Oppose Attacking Iran Petition!

Found this on Poetic Justice. If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to sign the petition. Thanks, poetryman.

This Can't Be Happening

By Sue Pleming - Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday the United Nations must consider strong action against Iran, such as a resolution that could lead to sanctions or lay the groundwork for force.

"I am certain we will look at measures that can be taken to ensure that Iran knows that they really have no choice but to comply," Rice told reporters.

"We are going to have to have a response and it can't be another presidential statement," said Rice, referring to a statement issued by the Security Council last month against Iran.
(Full story here.)

What in the hell are we doing? Starting the Crusades all over again?

I had a dream last night that when I woke up in the morning we would have already begun a military strike on Iran. I was relieved when I woke up and realized it was a dream, but I don't know how much longer I'll be able to simply look at it as just a dream. (Correction...nightmare.)

If this administration thinks that Iran is going to be as much of a pushover as Iraq was, they're in for a rude awakening.

Quote of the Week

"I have said it already, I am convinced that the way to build a new and better world is not capitalism. Capitalism leads us straight to hell."

- Hugo Chavez

Click on the top photo of President Chavez for a biography.

Patriot of the Month

Harry Taylor did us all proud last Thursday when he stood up and told the emperor exactly how he felt during a town hall meeting Bush officials organized in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Here is a transcript of the conversation between Harry (Q) and the emperor (THE PRESIDENT)? when it was Harry's turn to speak:

Q You never stop talking about freedom, and I appreciate that. But while I listen to you talk about freedom, I see you assert your right to tap my telephone, to arrest me and hold me without charges, to try to preclude me from breathing clean air and drinking clean water and eating safe food. If I were a woman, you'd like to restrict my opportunity to make a choice and decision about whether I can abort a pregnancy on my own behalf. You are --

THE PRESIDENT: I'm not your favorite guy. Go ahead. (Laughter and applause.) Go on, what's your question?

Q Okay, I don't have a question. What I wanted to say to you is that I -- in my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of, nor more frightened by my leadership in Washington, including the presidency, by the Senate, and --

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: No, wait a sec -- let him speak.

Q And I would hope -- I feel like despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been left far behind during your administration, and I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and the grace to be ashamed of yourself inside yourself. And I also want to say I really appreciate the courtesy of allowing me to speak what I'm saying to you right now. That is part of what this country is about.

Amen, Harry.
And thank you.

If you click on Harry Taylor's picture up above, it links to a good article written about him in the Charlotte Observer.

If you'd like to leave a thank you note for Mr. Taylor, please visit Thank You Harry Taylor.


P.S. This will mark my 100th post. I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who take the time to read my blog and occasionally comment on it. I'm glad for all the readers I have and that my 100th post was about this fine, upstanding citizen. He's a lot like us. Here's to the next hundred.

Bushism of the Week

"Wow! Brazil is big."

—George W. Bush, after being shown a map of Brazil by Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brasilia, Brazil, Nov. 6, 2005

Freewayblogging Vandal

I was headed to work yesterday morning when I spotted what appeared to be one of the Freewayblogger's signs on an overpass. I thought to myself, "Cool, he's been up this way again."

Upon closer inspection, I realized something was wrong with the sign. Someone had taken the sign and altered it. Horror clutched my heart as I swung the car over towards the next off-ramp and headed back to the offending overpass.

When I arrived, I parked the car and headed up the overpass to remove this hideous version of Scarlet's original words, "The War is a Lie. And you know it."

Feeling justice had not been sufficiently metered out for such an offense, I headed back to the car, retrieved one of my signs and posted it for all to see at the exact same spot. A sign just like this one..

"There, that's much better", I thought and off I went to hang one more exactly like it several miles up the road to get double coverage. I always feel good inside when I turn a negative into a positive, don't you?

And Scarlet, I hope you don't mind but I've decided to hold onto your sign as a souvenir. I think it'll look good up on the wall next to my anti-war rally posters.

Stick a Fork In It

If you have any dead horses that need to be beaten, I've got just the guy for ya.

Brian Sussman, part-time local San Francisco radio talk show gasbag and full-time racist, hate-mongering homophobe, decided to dedicate five full days of air time to the Cynthia McKinney story taking place in Washington D.C..

Why so much time on one story? Well, for one thing, she's a black woman in a position of leadership. For another, she has the distinction of being a Democrat. And if that wasn't enough, way back in April of 2002, Representative McKinney was quoted as saying, "I am not aware of any evidence showing that President Bush or members of his administration have personally profited from the attacks of 9-11. A complete investigation might reveal that to be the case."

Oh, and she hit a cop. Brian loves cops. Not in a gay way or anything like that. In fact, Brian only loves cops who are, to the best of his knowledge, heterosexual.

I am secure in my masculinity.

If you'd like to learn more about Brian Sussman, Spocko'sBrain has some really good posts on what an ass he is.

If you'd like to learn more about what a great leader Cynthia McKinney is, check out her website here.

Bush Needs Your Beads

Found this cool idea over at Spocko's Brain. Send Bush your Mardi Gras beads or write a blog on it. And no, you won't have to look at King George's tits. Just send the beads.

Making Beer

Sometimes I feel the need to take a break from all the politics, news, world affairs and such and simply relax my brain. Well, there's no better way to relax your brain than to make a batch of beer.

And it's not as complicated as you might think. I started homebrewing several years ago when I went to a brewing supply store called San Francisco Brewcraft on Clement Street to find out how to make mead (wine made with honey instead of grapes).

After making a few successful batches of mead, the owner of the supply shop suggested I try making beer. I thought, "Why not?". So the first batch of beer I made was an India Pale Ale (IPA). The name of the recipe was Nipples of Venus, and it turned out really good. So good, in fact, that I started making other types of beer. I tried a few Stouts and a California Common (Steam Beer) and entered a few of them in competitions. I didn't win any awards, but got some valuable feedback on how to improve on my brews.

And so, yesterday I found myself wondering what to do (or more precisely, what needed to be done) and realized that I had a container of Oatmeal Stout in the back room that needed to be bottled. Here's what it looks like in the secondary fermenter (carboy)....

Since my wife was off to the dance school with the girls and it was just me and my son, I figured I'd do the fatherly thing and teach him one of the most important of all life skills .... Homebrewing.

I started off by showing him the importance of sanitizing the bottles prior to bottling. I'm pretty anal when it comes to cleaning the bottles and equipment.

OK, anal is probably not the best way to describe bottle cleaning, but you get my point.

After being thoroughly washed and rinsed in piping hot water, I put the bottles on this tree to let the water drain out of them.

After draining, the bottles get placed in the oven at low heat for further sanitizing. Those are some clean bottles.

I should take a moment to point out what is probably the most important step in making beer, and that is popping open a bottle of the last batch of brew you made and enjoying it throughout the process.

Pictured above is a pint of IPA that I made last summer. Mmmm...beer.

OK, back to bottling. While letting the bottles warm up in the oven, I pour a little sugar syrup into the carboy and stir it to wake up the yeast and give them one final meal. They'll eat the sugar syrup inside the bottles over the next two weeks which will give the beer it's carbonation.

Here's a shot of the beer ready to be racked (siphoned) into the bottles.

As you can see on the counter, I'm already into my second IPA and looking forward to the day when this Oatmeal Stout will be ready to drink.

Last but certainly not least, here's my faithful sidekick, "Mini-me", learning how to operate the bottle capper. It takes a little effort to get the caps on, but he seems to be picking up the technique quite well. Go Mini-me, go!

When the weather turns more pleasant, I'll head down to the Brewcraft store once again and get supplies for another batch. I'll take pictures and post them here.

Well, that's about it. I hope you enjoyed reading about making your own beer as much as I enjoyed creating it. Thanks go out to Mini-me for most of the photography and for hanging out with his old man for the day.

Keith Olbermann Kicks Ass!

If you haven't caught "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" on MSNBC, you should. Keith is a sharp guy who delivers the news with a wry wit and plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor. Click on the picture to view a video clip of Keith discussing with David Brock what a tool Bill O'Reilly is.

Speaking of David Brock, he wrote a fantastic book that I highly recommend for PTCruiser fans. It's called Blinded by the Right. Brock was on the inside track of the whole Neocon Smear Machine back in the '80s. So, naturally the right wing despises him for switching from the Dark Side to the side where your head is not completely inserted into your rectum.