@corporatenewsmedia:

Oh Media! Media! Come here girl and let me give you want you want. Here is a story that is both compelling (i.e. a money-maker, wink-and-gun), and relevant. It may rival the brawls at the Korean National Assembly Building. Okay, maybe not as movie script-worthy sensational, but intriguing, surely. It'll make for a tasty treat!

(note: I hope people can see through this transparent, politically-driven, pathetic excuse for legislation. WATCH the video and pay particular attention to the Senator from the 27th District--Holla Middleton, WI! Unlike some of the more dramatic speakers, he was succinct and thorough in his disapproval of the bill that would basically secure the positions of those members up for recall and make voting tougher for members of particular demographics.)

http://www.progressive.org/kemble051911.html

WATCH THIS!!!

By now many people would equate the term "investment banker" as a modern euphemism for "doer-of-dastardly-things". They did risky things without thinking about the consequences. HUMAN consequences. MAJOR economic consequences. But, I'll admit I was a bit fuzzy about how this all worked out (or didn't, rather). Though this is an unsophisticated take on how the drama unfolded, it helps clarify a few connections.

Robinhood's Evil Twin Has Brief Identity Crisis

I hate to use the word "heroic", but I would say it would be a relatively appropriate term for Eric Cantor. I say this because I believe he must be a relatively high-ranking and respected figure as the House Minority Whip. So regardless if it was a slip of the tongue, the present day incarnation of what would be Robinhood's eternal foe (or at least one of the "un"merry men) took an ironic position recently. He grudgingly conceded to the fact that Bush tax cuts exacerbate the deficit problem. This is a sentiment that most conservatives would balk at, considering they are trying to extend the cuts, such as Marco Rubio.

More sadness...

The recent coal mine explosion has shed light on a recent trend.

So, it's not that I am really surprised--more like appalled--that industry insiders (think health care, agi-biz, the financial world) have repeatedly been put in government positions of "oversight". I have mistakenly thought, on occasion, that one of the downsides to living in Korea is the lack of adherence to a set of logical principles.

--from Brad Johnson:

Before yesterday’s tragic explosion, there have been three fatalities at Massey’s Upper Big Branch-South Mine in the last twelve years — one each in 1998, 2001, and 2003. Massey’scorrupt CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce board member Don Blankenship, has previously told employees that it was more important to “run coal” than follow safety regulations.In 2002, President George W. Bush “named former Massey Energy official Stanley Suboleskito the MSHA review commission that decides all legal matters under the Federal Mine Act,” and cut 170 positions from MSHA. Bush’s MSHA chief, Dick Stickler, was a former manager of Beth Energy mines, which “incurred injury rates double the national average.” On October 21, 2009, the Senate confirmed President Barack Obama’s choice to replace Stickler, Joe Main, a “career union official and mine safety expert.” Massey’s Suboleski is still an active review commissioner.

Sad...

If this isn't a good enough reason to leave, I don't know what is...

Massacre Caught on Tape: US Military Confirms Authenticity of Their Own Chilling Video Showing Killing of Journalists

The US military has confirmed the authenticity of newly released video showing US forces indiscriminately firing on Iraqi civilians. On Monday, the website WikiLeaks.org posted footage taken from a US military helicopter in July 2007 as it killed twelve people and wounded two children. The dead included two employees of the Reuters news agency, photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen and driver Saeed Chmagh. We speak with WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange and Salon.com blogger Glenn Greenwald. [includes rush transcript]

MUST SEE TV

politics aside, probably one of the most awesomely hilarious segments i've seen.

i'm starting to realize why i didn't blog much during my last tenure in the homeland...or maybe i'm just using my recent exhaustion to justify my lack of commitment to document my experiences last year. this year, i may explore a new route to do so. maybe i'll have more time to do so considering my relationships here have changed slightly. more on that later.

night 2=groceries, dinner alone, buying food garbage bags, mcchesney podcast, and then it's straight to bed, mister.