We Are What We Watch by Karen Kwiatkowski

…Avatar’s militaristic state corporatism drew an angry response from some Marine Corps defenders, and The Hurt Locker simultaneously dehumanized and minimized occupied Iraqis even as it failed to address why Americans are in Iraq getting blown up in the first place.

We are concerned about the odd bacteria on a leaf of lettuce transported in record time across the country in refrigerated trucks, but not so much about the tons of depleted uranium dust we’ve blown into Iraq’s air, ground and water. We worry that there are deficiencies or dangerous additives in the pet food we purchase, but after seven years, we don’t mind that we still haven’t fixed the urban sewage systems in Iraq we had crushed…

We Are What We Watch by Karen Kwiatkowski

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This is one of the last interviews with Milton and Rose Friedman together.  Milton died in 06 and Rose just last year.     

That last part, about the war of aggression I found interesting.  And I wonder if he’d lived the last few years, he would have even further realized the futility of “winning.”

Also he settles the issues with Keynes, and with why the deficits were “under control” in the ‘90s (it wasn’t Clinton!) and what really killed the Republican party. 

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Memorial Day

I’ve been saving this for a year. I hope the statute of limitations has expired. In honor of Memorial Day, here’s the "extra footage" from this event. I like the questions at 2:25.

Soldiers "blown away" by Manteca welcome

This is from the "welcome home" party Manteca threw for the 118 Maintenance Support Group returning from "the war zone."

I'm a little cynical about these type of things usually. But I have to admit the appreciation to the people of Manteca seemed sincere. About 2/3 of the way through the video clip, Sgt Murile tells us how the soldiers were really impressed by the turn-out and the welcome Manteca gave them. "The whole town turned out!" said and she mentioned the "bikini girls" that lined the parade route. Sorry no video of that.

Also I hope the Manteca City Council notes she mentioned a that some soldiers didn't hang around in the evening but instead went out on the town to have a drink -- which she said was well deserved "after all they've been through." I couldn't agree more and I wish the Manteca City Council would bear that in mind when they are considering granting the liquor license at tonight's meeting. After all we just welcomed home these soldiers who fought in a place where all booze is outlawed. Has that made that country a nice peaceful place? No! And do we in America want to live under islamofacism or any other kind of religious dictates? No! Do we want the Manteca City Council to tell us if we can have a drink or not? I would say no!