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This section will deal primarily with American society. I am posting news stories that enforce my belief that the moral, physical and environmental decay of our society is fully underway. My comments are in yellow, the articles are in grey.

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July 2004

Linda Ronstadt kicked out of a casino for "espousing" a political view. According to the report, we find that 25% of the crowd was offended. They, "spilled drinks, tore down posters and demanded their money back". First of all, what are the christain right wingers doing at a casino? What are they doing at the "Mecca" of all sin, where temptation, gluttony and nearly all other vices govern? Who are they to protest anything but their own overt hypocrisy? If they are genuine supports of the administration, then they must be genuine lovers of "freedom" and the "liberation of Iraq". That being the case, why are they not sending all that disposable income to charities to help rebuild Iraq, or to the soldiers as care packages? Secondly, since when was voicing an opinion contrary to that of the government punishable? Another example of this administrations double speak. We (after all of the original reasons were bogus), justified the Iraq war as a war of liberation, a war to free the Iraq people. What about our constitutional right to free speech here at home? Either through the patriot act or dedicating a song to a filmmaker, it appears our current administration is out sources not only jobs, but our freedoms as well.

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Singer Linda Ronstadt was thrown out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas on the weekend after dedicating a song to liberal filmmaker Michael Moore and his movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," a casino spokeswoman said Monday.

Ronstadt, who had been hired for a one-show engagement Saturday night at the Las Vegas Strip casino, dedicated a performance of "Desperado" to Moore and his controversial documentary, which criticizes President Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

That dedication angered some Aladdin guests who spilled drinks, tore down posters and demanded their money back, said casino spokeswoman Sara Gorgon.

"We had quite a scene at the box office," she said.

About a quarter of the 4,500 people in the audience got up and left before the performance had finished, Gorgon said.

Before her concert, Ronstadt had laughingly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she hoped that the casino performance would be her last.

"I keep hoping that if I'm annoying enough to them, they won't hire me back," she was quoted as telling the newspaper.

A statement issued by the Aladdin said Ronstadt had been "escorted out of the hotel" just after her performance and said the performer would "not be welcomed back."

"Ms. Ronstadt was hired to entertain the guests of the Aladdin, not to espouse political views," the casino said.

Ronstadt was not immediately available for comment.

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March 2004

Tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers, some American but mostly Iraqi, are dead. All in defense of the imminent threat posed by Saddam Hussian's WMDs. No WMDs have been found which, by nature, would lead an independant observer to conclude we initiated a war based on lies. These lies led to the death of thousands of people who today would otherwise be alive. Is there any humor to be found in this situation? According to the man who made the decision to wage this war... there is.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush poked fun at his staff, his Democratic challenger and himself Wednesday night at a black-tie dinner where he hobnobbed with the news media.

Bush put on a slide show, calling it the "White House Election-Year Album" at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association 60th annual dinner, showing himself and his staff in some decidedly unflattering poses.

There was Bush looking under furniture in a fruitless, frustrating search. "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere," he said.

There was Vice President Dick Cheney, a frequent butt of gentle Bush ribbing, holding his fingers a few inches apart. Bush said, "Whenever you ask him a question, he replies, 'Let's see what my little friend says."'

And there was Bush again, in an odd contortion in front of his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice. He said he was trying to explain to her the foreign policy of Democratic challenger John Kerry.

Bush showed himself playing cards on Air Force One and cracked that he was on his way to an international summit and using a special deck to help him bone up on the names of the leaders he was about to meet.

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March 2004

Has the real cost of whole sale destruction of Earth's resources finally been passed on to the consumer? No. But as seen in the article below the fact that we cut down finite hardwood for toliet paper and completely rely on a finite energy source to make it is being realized. The last of the old growth forest are being harvested so Americans can blow their noses on disposable tissues, at a discount price. Forget about the consequences. Forget about the fact that the stands of old growth forests filter air, produce oxygen and regulate climate. Forget that the soil erosion resulting from desforestion will never regenerate in a time measurable in human time, if ever at all. Forget about the fact that rivers and lakes are permanently destroyed as unstable mountainsides wash into them. Forget about the impact on local indiginous people whose culture, history and livihood depended on the forest. Forget about all that, so long as Americans have pretty white disposable towels at a discount the economy is sound and all is well in the world. Well, these externalized costs are starting to factored into the price of our disposable, consumer culture. Perhaps when our disposable society can no longer afford itself we will, albiet by necessity, return to a more sustainable, practical, fair and justifiable lifestyle. Although a 6% increase is modest, hopefully this will only be the start of fair pricing for our gluttonous and unsustainable culture.


	The American Alternative \| home Biography \| Philosophy \| Facts & Figures \| NEWS \| crimes against nature \| Acadiana Center \| Photogallery \| favorite links \| Contact Me NEWS This section will deal primarily with American society. I am posting news stories that enforce my belief that the moral, physical and environmental decay of our society is fully underway. My comments are in yellow, the articles are in grey. ------------------------------------------------ July 2004 Linda Ronstadt kicked out of a casino for "espousing" a political view. According to the report, we find that 25% of the crowd was offended. They, "spilled drinks, tore down posters and demanded their money back". First of all, what are the christain right wingers doing at a casino? What are they doing at the "Mecca" of all sin, where temptation, gluttony and nearly all other vices govern? Who are they to protest anything but their own overt hypocrisy? If they are genuine supports of the administration, then they must be genuine lovers of "freedom" and the "liberation of Iraq". That being the case, why are they not sending all that disposable income to charities to help rebuild Iraq, or to the soldiers as care packages? Secondly, since when was voicing an opinion contrary to that of the government punishable? Another example of this administrations double speak. We (after all of the original reasons were bogus), justified the Iraq war as a war of liberation, a war to free the Iraq people. What about our constitutional right to free speech here at home? Either through the patriot act or dedicating a song to a filmmaker, it appears our current administration is out sources not only jobs, but our freedoms as well. LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Singer Linda Ronstadt was thrown out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas on the weekend after dedicating a song to liberal filmmaker Michael Moore and his movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," a casino spokeswoman said Monday. Ronstadt, who had been hired for a one-show engagement Saturday night at the Las Vegas Strip casino, dedicated a performance of "Desperado" to Moore and his controversial documentary, which criticizes President Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. That dedication angered some Aladdin guests who spilled drinks, tore down posters and demanded their money back, said casino spokeswoman Sara Gorgon. "We had quite a scene at the box office," she said. About a quarter of the 4,500 people in the audience got up and left before the performance had finished, Gorgon said. Before her concert, Ronstadt had laughingly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she hoped that the casino performance would be her last. "I keep hoping that if I'm annoying enough to them, they won't hire me back," she was quoted as telling the newspaper. A statement issued by the Aladdin said Ronstadt had been "escorted out of the hotel" just after her performance and said the performer would "not be welcomed back." "Ms. Ronstadt was hired to entertain the guests of the Aladdin, not to espouse political views," the casino said. Ronstadt was not immediately available for comment. ---------------------------------------------------------- March 2004 Tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers, some American but mostly Iraqi, are dead. All in defense of the imminent threat posed by Saddam Hussian's WMDs. No WMDs have been found which, by nature, would lead an independant observer to conclude we initiated a war based on lies. These lies led to the death of thousands of people who today would otherwise be alive. Is there any humor to be found in this situation? According to the man who made the decision to wage this war... there is. WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush poked fun at his staff, his Democratic challenger and himself Wednesday night at a black-tie dinner where he hobnobbed with the news media. Bush put on a slide show, calling it the "White House Election-Year Album" at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association 60th annual dinner, showing himself and his staff in some decidedly unflattering poses. There was Bush looking under furniture in a fruitless, frustrating search. "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere," he said. There was Vice President Dick Cheney, a frequent butt of gentle Bush ribbing, holding his fingers a few inches apart. Bush said, "Whenever you ask him a question, he replies, 'Let's see what my little friend says."' And there was Bush again, in an odd contortion in front of his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice. He said he was trying to explain to her the foreign policy of Democratic challenger John Kerry. Bush showed himself playing cards on Air Force One and cracked that he was on his way to an international summit and using a special deck to help him bone up on the names of the leaders he was about to meet. ------------------------------------------------------------------ March 2004 Has the real cost of whole sale destruction of Earth's resources finally been passed on to the consumer? No. But as seen in the article below the fact that we cut down finite hardwood for toliet paper and completely rely on a finite energy source to make it is being realized. The last of the old growth forest are being harvested so Americans can blow their noses on disposable tissues, at a discount price. Forget about the consequences. Forget about the fact that the stands of old growth forests filter air, produce oxygen and regulate climate. Forget that the soil erosion resulting from desforestion will never regenerate in a time measurable in human time, if ever at all. Forget about the fact that rivers and lakes are permanently destroyed as unstable mountainsides wash into them. Forget about the impact on local indiginous people whose culture, history and livihood depended on the forest. Forget about all that, so long as Americans have pretty white disposable towels at a discount the economy is sound and all is well in the world. Well, these externalized costs are starting to factored into the price of our disposable, consumer culture. Perhaps when our disposable society can no longer afford itself we will, albiet by necessity, return to a more sustainable, practical, fair and justifiable lifestyle. Although a 6% increase is modest, hopefully this will only be the start of fair pricing for our gluttonous and unsustainable culture.