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Last week I posted a sample letter for people to send to their Congresspeople about the mosques on U.S. soil, funded by the Saudis, where publications are sold and distributed urging people to hate and kill Americans.
I sent it to my own Congresspeople, including Barbara Boxer.
Today I got this absurd response via email:
Dear Mr. Rubenfeld:
Thank you for contacting me regarding abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. I appreciate hearing from you about this most disturbing issue.
I didn’t contact her about that issue. And I don’t appreciate her agreeing with points of view of mine which are not in fact mine.
I have viewed photographs from the Department of Defense displaying the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. The brutal images I saw sear the soul and in no way reflect the values and ethics of our country.
The details of this abuse are shocking. Upon learning of the horrendous abuse of Iraqi women prisoners, including sexual humiliation and maybe even rape, I wrote to both Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz asking that they investigate and find out exactly how many victims there are. I also stated that restitution, including counseling and support services, must be provided to those victims.
This scandal undermines America’s standing in the world. Because of this, I have called on President Bush to take charge and reprimand all of those responsible, including those at the top of the chain of command.
Furthermore, I cosponsored and supported passage of Senate Resolution 356, which condemns the abuse of Iraqi prisoners and expresses sorrow for the humiliation suffered by the prisoners. Recognizing that the perpetrators of this abuse are not representative of our U.S. troops, the resolution also expresses support for all Americans serving nobly in Iraq.
Thank you again for contacting me about this issue. Rest assured that I will do everything in my power to see that such actions are not repeated and that those who are responsible are held accountable.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer United States Senator
That’s our tax dollars at work right there.
The effort to save the LA County Seal has so far collected 160,000 of the 170,606 signatures needed to place the issue on the ballot for a possible November vote:
Cross backers say they’ll meet signature quota
Thursday, February 10, 2005 – A petition drive for a ballot measure to restore the cross on Los Angeles County’s official seal appears likely to collect enough signatures by the March 1 deadline, organizers said Thursday.
And a county election official said if the organizers meet the deadline, their measure could be in a November special election that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to call.
“We’ve collected at least 160,000 and probably a lot more,” said campaign leader David Hernandez, who said volunteers are delivering several thousand more daily. “This is an issue that has unified so many churches of different faiths behind a single cause, including synagogues.”
The campaign needs at least 170,606 valid signatures of voters by March 1. Based on projections and petition- signing events being held this month, organizers expect to easily surpass that, Hernandez said.
If that occurs, the measure could go on the November special election ballot Schwarzenegger has insisted will occur this year, said Kristin Heffron, chief deputy in the Registrar-Recorder’s Office.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt a new seal, replacing one that had a Christian cross on it, after the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California threatened to file suit last year against the decades-old emblem.
David Hernandez is doing an amazing job of running this effort. He emails:
...don’t let up, don’t be over confident, don’t be fooled! You can and will make this happen!
Check out the revised web site for petition signing events, let us know if you have one scheduled so we can post it.
22 signature petitions can be picked up in two locations. 1. Campaign office of Angel Granados 541 No. Maclay Ave. San Fernando, CA. 91340 2. Los Angeles County Republican Party Headquarters 6055 E. Washington Blvd, Suite 228, City of Commerce.
If you are going to mail in the petition, do so now, but no later then 2-23rd. We will be open late the week of 2-21 for you to bring in or pick up petitions.
Be ready for large petition signing events on the 20th in Inglewood at the Forum and other locations as they are set.
Hmmm… somehow this story sounds familiar….
Robotic ball that chases burglars
A large black ball, originally designed by Swedish scientists for use on Mars, could be the latest weapon in the war against burglars.
The device, developed at the University of Uppsala, acts as a high-tech security guard capable of detecting an intruder thanks to either radar or infra-red sensors. Once alerted, it can summon help, sound an alarm or pursue the intruders, taking pictures.
It is capable of travelling at 20mph, somewhat faster than a human being. Even worse for intruders, the robot ball can still give chase over mud, snow and water.
What could it possibly remind me of? Could it possibly be… this?
Writing in Variety, Peter Bart asks if anyone cares about a new James Bond film:
IS THE WORLD REALLY READY FOR the 21st James Bond?
Word filtered out recently that the affluent and rather haughty proprietors of the Bond franchise had hired a director, Martin Campbell, and are scratching around for a new star. According to the Bond rumor mill, Pierce Brosnan, who’d weathered four Bonds, had priced himself out of the market (his proposed compensation package would total out north of $40 million). Sony, which inherited the franchise with the acquisition of MGM, understandably favors Clive Owen as his successor.
But does anyone care? London’s Guardian delivered its vote recently, recounting Judi Dench’s quote as M in “Goldeneye” that Bond is “a sexist, misogynist dinosaur”and observing that the public’s “tolerance for snobbery had withered.”
(Here’s the link for the article, but be careful about reading it because at the end of it for some reason he gives away the ending of Million Dollar Baby.)
One objection to this point of view about the Bond films is that the last one grossed over $280 million worldwide at the box office.
As for who’ll play the part, I think Hugh Jackman is an even more interesting choice. He’s also considered a frontrunner.
I thought the most recent Bond film had one of the best scripts in years for the series. I’m personally looking forward to seeing the next one.
This site has moved to a new web host, with page loads about twice as fast as the old one.
