16 December 2010

WikiLeaks: Liberty vs Tyranny in Real Life

Where does one start in this saga?  It is quite hard to grasp all the facts, simply because there are so many facts, and so many talking heads debating the facts.  With the twenty-four hour news cycle, it is easy to react and debate the rumors, only to have to recant and face the truths, or rather half truths. 

Obviously, over the past few weeks, we've seen calls for Assange to be tried for espionage, or even treason.  The calls for the whistle blowing website to be shut down, permanently, have resonated from a multitude of Washington officials.  We have even seen the CEO of WikiLeaks defended for his actions by people we wouldn't ordinarily consider as his supporters, including those whom often kill their political enemies with rare radioactive isotopes (speculative that is).  

So, how is it that one of the most noted libertarians in the US as well as one of the most noted totalitarians in Russia can be in agreement on the same subject?  Also, how is that foreign countries who were or are less free than the United States have leaders that sound more open towards freedom than our leaders?  These are the questions that should be asked and answered, not the "how do we charge this guy" questions that are being asked.

Consider this; a brand new law made to be able to prosecute Assange for his dissemination of the cables, despite the legal precedent and tradition of the freedom of expression offered in the USA.  Not to mention the fact that Assange is not a resident of the US nor has he stepped foot inside the country to commit any of his alleged crimes, there should be no over reach of sovereignty in this instance.  Even if the man behind the leaks had been a state sponsored conspirator, countries don't simply hand over their spies in an effort to save the spied upon country's face.  Not to mention that passing the SHIELD (Securing Human Intelligence and Enforcing Lawful Dissemination) Act and using it to charge Assange would be completely unconstitutional.

Not to worry, as it seems that law and justice are not something the US government bureaucrats are interested in any more.  Have we gone the way of the Romans?  An empire in such decline that we are witnessing the last gasp efforts to retain knowledge (which is power) in any and all efforts?

According to this guest post on Zero Hedge, that seems to be the way things are going.  If you read no other link from this post, or this blog period, you should read the one by Charles Hugh Smith.  His depth and brevity of the situation, and why there has been so much feigned outrage by the ruling elites, is 
spot on in my opinion (emphasis added).

A Recipe for Breda: Toliet Paper Casserole

Noted guns & butter, recipe master, Breda, could have a field day with the notoriously high in fiber, with extra protein dish that constitutes a customary shopping trip every time the "ZoMG! WHITE DEATH is falling from the heavens, SAVE US GOD!" 

Basically, if you are unfamiliar with Baltimore, nearly every time there is a snow storm, the TV stations will put out multiple reporters to various "live shots."  One of those live shots will invariably show the obligatory "empty shelves" of the grocery stores.  Of the empty shelves, the Baltamorons that are interviewed will be guaranteed to tell you that they have just bought milk, eggs, bread, and toilet paper.  This phenomenon has come to be known as the "casserole" effect, appropriately named by my grandmother. 

The reason being that those ingredients (milk, eggs, bread and TP) are the key necessary ingredients to making Toilet Paper casserole.  Though there is no known formal recipe, one can surmise that it would read something like this:

1 Forecast of at least 1" of ZoMG! WHITE DEATH (snow)
3 cups of Baltimore News Channel Reporter and TV Crew
3 tbsp of panic
1 closed school system (prior to the snow)
1" of snow
1 gal 2% milk
Doz & 1/2 large eggs
1 full loaf of Wonder Bread (white preferred)
1 Charmin value pack (8 rolls)

Take one mixing bowl and place the Baltimore TV weatherman's forecast of at least 1" of snow on the 6 PM evening news.  Watch this newscast until you hear the word "snow" repeated at least 6 times.  At which point we then shake in 1 cup of the Baltimore News Channel Reporter & TV Crew doing live shots before one flake of snow can even be seen.  This live shot may include canned footage of highway crews loading trucks with salt and placing chains on their tires. 

At this point, take one of the 3 tbsp of panic and use it in the mixing bowl of sensationalism.  Go to bed, and let the mixture percolate in the fridge over night.  At 5am the next morning, arise from bed and check the local news to see that the TV crews are still indeed doing their live shots from last night.  If they are, turn on your AM radio to 1090.  If at least one school system has closed, look out your window to confirm no snow is on the ground.  At this point, mix in the 2nd tbsp of panic, wake and dress the kiddies so you can get them ready to go to the store. 

While at the store, head straight for the diary case first.  Eggs and milk are the first things to be picked over, followed by bread.  Toilet paper will be the last product to be picked over of the four main ingredients.  Do not purchase any other products as this will prevent the casserole from being adequately formed.  Use the express lines in the grocery store, and chat with as many people as possible about the yet to occur storm in hopes you will induce enough panic to cause your sensationalism to build to ludicrous speed.

Exit the store to head home, but if you would happen to see any TV crews, make sure you stop and talk with them, mentioning the fact that you were fortunate enough to be the last person to get any of the key ingredients to make your casserole.  Safe guard these items with your life because if they should be stolen, your life will most certainly come to a screeching, panic induced end. 

Once at home, retrieve your mixing bowl from the fridge and let warm.  Once the TV crews report the first flake has hit the ground, you can then mix in 3cups of milk, and your remaining tbsp of panic.  Crack open 2 large eggs and place the remainder in the fridge.  Fold in one roll of toilet paper and 4 slices of bread.  Mix thoroughly until well blended. 

Poor mixture into one medium sized casserole dish (preferably Pyrex) and let bake @ 350 degrees until the end of the snow storm. 

Servings are variable by nature, and not known to contain any nutritious qualities. 

Happy Birthday Bill of Rights (A Day Late) and Boston Tea Party (today)

HOW did the entire blogosphere miss this one?  Happy Birthday to the Bill of Rights!  (Though I am a day late, but not quite a dollar short). 


On December 15th, 1791, the BoR was ratified by at least 3/4th of the several states.  The document that enumerates certain freedoms and guarantees their exists to the individual and the states, has turned 219 years old, and generally went unnoticed. 

A major H/T to krucam on the MD Shooter's board.  

Of course, we should also be saying Happy Birthday day to the Boston Tea Party today!  Let us all party like it's 1773!