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January 29, 2003

Can’t…stop…self…must…don…tinfoil…hat:

(1) Prominent Republican Thomas Kean, former governor of New Jersey, is the new chairman of the 9/11 commission.

(2) Kean is also a director of petroleum company Amerada Hess.

(3) In 1988, Amerada Hess formed a joint venture with Saudi company Delta Oil.

(4) One of Delta Oil’s backers is Khalid bin Mahfouz, who is—here’s where you need to clap your hat firmly to your skull—married to one of Osama Bin Laden’s sisters. And suspected of financing Al Qaeda. Oh, and named in one of the lawsuits brought by 9/11 victims. Did we mention that he’s also been involved in deals with the Carlyle Group, the ultra-secret investment group that includes, among others, George H. W. Bush? And also in deals with—yes, your tinfoil hat, properly adjusted, plays 1980s popular music!—BCCI?

(5) Three weeks before Kean’s appointment, Amerada Hess severed its ties with Delta.

Source: Fortune magazine.

I realize that only unreasonable people would make anything of the above. Why would anyone possibly worry about the fact that every time we turn around another prominent Administration member turns out to be up to his ass in business connections with shadowy Al-Qaeda supporters? Certainly I’m not worried. That would be tinfoil hat stuff. Not for me! I dismiss my misgivings with a stern flick of my Rational Mind! Also, monkeys fly out of my butt.

[04:58 PM]

Welcome to Electrolite's comments section.
Hard-Hitting Moderator: Teresa Nielsen Hayden.

Comments on Can't...stop...self...must...don...tinfoil...hat::

Teresa Nielsen Hayden ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 05:04 PM:

I deeply resent the way this administration makes me feel like a nutbar conspiracy theorist.

Jaquandor ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 05:13 PM:

Thanks a lot. On your instructions I quickly put on one of my tinfoil hats, realizing too late that it was the Republican one. I've spent the last five minutes hatching Vince Foster conspiracy theories. Ugh!!

Xopher ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 06:07 PM:

I use only the finest Reynolds Wrap (tm) for my hats. Heavy duty, oven-tempered (for flexible strength!) Reynolds Wrap. (If it's owned by some Al Qaeda hanger-on, I don't want to know it.)

It would be better, of course, to use hematite, but that stuff's expensive, and I don't know where to get it since they stopped having Gem Shows.

A simple necklace of hematite and crystals, alternating, will make the gummint mind readers scream, claw off their telepathy helmets, and need treatment for 2nd-degree burns on their input leads.

A nice model is available from Black Ice For Your Brain, who unfortunately have no website, since that would allow the gummint to watch them...I understand that they're considering establishing blackiceforyourbrain.mil, however.

spacewaitress ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 07:06 PM:

I'm investing in aluminum futures.

My tinfoil-hatted fear of the moment: Diebold voting machines and rigged elections

Zizka ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 07:31 PM:

I've been collecting this kind of stuff at my site (slogan: "Sensible Conspiracy Theories").

Bush / Bin Laden

Stefan Jones ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 08:20 PM:

Al Gore's comment on the War on Iraq ("Well, of course it's just a distraction. Nothing more.") makes more sense than ever:

http://www.rushkoff.com/2003_01_01_archive.php#90200694

FYI, aluminium foil hats work much better if you ground them. Try: Tape the exposed ends of two braided copper wires to the temples, then run them into your collar, down your shirt and pants, and then around your sneakers.

Mary Kay ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 09:38 PM:

Christopher: Hmm. Hematite and crystals you say? I've just been learning beading, I'll bet I could come up with a really spiffy headdress to wear while I perform that vodoo rite we spoke of elsewhere...

MKK

Scott ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 10:33 PM:

It just could be that Bin Laden has enough sibs that noone in any corporate hierarchy has more then two degrees of separation. The man comes from a gi-normous famdamily.

Or the shrub administration is in cahoots with the anenome and was trying to discreditate descenters subliminably.

Lonewacko ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 10:54 PM:

Al Gore? Sense? Same sentence?

BTW, grounding tin foil hats doesn't work. What you need is to create a magnetic field to fully block both the rays from coming in and your thoughts from going out. Create a wire coil from about 100' of bell wire and attach it to the top of your foil hat. Then, plug the ends of the wire into the "mains."

Glenn Hauman ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 10:55 PM:

"I deeply resent the way this administration makes me feel like a nutbar conspiracy theorist."

See, and here I was appreciating how sane and rational and plausible this administration make all my conspiracy theories sound.

ScottB ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 11:06 PM:

Good gravy. How is it that no one screams loudly about this sort of thing in the national media.

Wait, I should know better than to ask such an obvious question.

[adjusts tinfoil had] Real conspiracy theorists use these:

Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie

Zizka ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 11:06 PM:

Aluminum foil doesn't work. That's everyone's big mistake. You need tin. "Tin cans" don't work either.

kelly ::: (view all by) ::: January 29, 2003, 11:12 PM:

And I was gratified that the Revelation of John seemed so much more likely. It may even be the blueprint. Kind of inscrutable, but the tinfoil hat helps for sure.

Randolph Fritz ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 02:49 AM:

Well, but isn't Usama bin Laden one of 69 siblings--dad having more than one wife, yes? My guess is that any high oil-industry connection is likely to bring one into contact with one of the bin Laden clan.

greg ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 02:58 AM:

Noelle Bush is actually adopted. She's OBL's biological niece. (grrr the hat is just a little too tight tonight)

Keith Thompson ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 02:59 AM:

Aluminum foil doesn't work. That's everyone's big mistake. You need tin. "Tin cans" don't work either.

Yes, tin foil works better than aluminum foil, but what you really need is a bunch of those high-strength aluminum tubes.

Lonewacko ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 03:12 AM:

I don't know the exact number of OBL's siblings, but there are a lot of them. Supposedly, he's the wacky black sheep of the family and is not invited to any of their reunions. Some of the BLs left L.A. for safety in England right after 9/11, with U.S. help.

It's not the marriage part of #4 I'd be worried about so much as the rest of #4. However, this lib paranoid fantasy doesn't go into detail on those links. Are they incidental links, or actual close ties? Start here: http://www.paranoiamagazine.com/followmoney.html

Jay C. Smith ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 08:43 AM:

Another helpful tip for when you must leave the house and can't wear your hat: If you wear a tie that has been lined with tinfoil you can still hear the voices but you don't absolutely have to do what they say...
Jay Smith

Matt Weiner ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 08:56 AM:

Um, Lonewacko, the fact that the Bin Laden family was spirited out of the U.S. immediately after 9/11--making it impossible to question any of them, as opposed to thousands of Arabs and Muslims with no ties to OBL at all--is one of the things that makes us put our tinfoil hats on.

I've read that the family says they don't talk to Osama, but that some may still be in touch.

Anyone named "Lonewacko" would be able to get into the spirit of the thread, you'd think....

Les Dabney ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 09:58 AM:

Why should this suprise anyone? My god, they put Henry "You better not ask me about war crimes" Kissinger in charge of this investigation as their first pick. So now they pick a lower rung member of the Bush Evil Empire. Why the surprise?

Les Dabney ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 10:04 AM:

Since someone mentioned the voting scam check out this:

http://www.blackboxvoting.com/

Les Dabney ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 10:17 AM:

One more just for kicks and giggles:

http://www.thehill.com/news/012903/hagel.aspx

"An official at Nebraska92s Election Administration estimated that ES&S machines tallied 85 percent of the votes cast in Hagel92s 2002 and 1996 election races."

"Hagel, who was reelected last November by a lopsided majority, declined to comment on the ethics filing matter."

Chris Quinones ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 10:36 AM:

Patrick, all I can say is, welcome to my world.

Patrick Nielsen Hayden ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 10:39 AM:

Although I've done it myself plenty of times, I'm beginning to think that the "why the surprise?" gambit is one of those tics of Internet conversation that should be responded to with powerful jolts of electricity. Its primary purpose seems to be to preen: "Ha ha, foolish you, I figured this out already."

As a matter of practice, it seems to me that when people who didn't previously agree with me decide that the evidence now supports my position, it would probably be in my interest to be pleasant to them, rather than snotty. I admit I'm not always this sensible. The urge to preen is as strong in me as in anyone else.

the talking dog ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 11:49 AM:

Patrick, baby:

Who BENEFITS from the increased aluminum foil sales? ALCOA-- ex-Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil's company! This Administration even looks out for its deposed members!

That said, my own cospiracy investigations go a bit farther: George W. Bush's OWN partner in "Arbusto" was one Salem (big brother of you know who) bin Laden; the conspiracy theories abound here: http://www.thetalkingdog.com/December%202002%20Archive.htm#dec1602a

Patrick and Theresa: you are superstars, and friends of freedom. God bless, and Godspeed!

Chris Quinones ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 12:09 PM:

I apologize if you got the impression that I was gloating, Patrick; I meant it more ruefully than that.

To go a speck further, I want to say that you know, I'm sure the administration could have found someone to head the 9/11 commission that didn't have associations with the oil industry or Bin Ladens if they really wanted to look completely devoid of any unsavory appearances. Hell, I know I have no relationship with the oil industry (well, OK, my ex-employer traded in bulk plastics -- full disclosure), or with anyone named Bin or Laden. Make me chairman!

But I suspect that's not really the point.

Les Dabney ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 12:28 PM:

eeek...I like electricity but not that much. I did not mean to offend and I will beat my head on the floor until forgiven.

Patrick Nielsen Hayden ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 12:34 PM:

Please don't beat your head against the floor! As I said, I do this annoying thing myself. I was just now realizing how annoying it is, but I claim no moral superiority whatsoever.

Xopher ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 12:48 PM:

Please don't beat your head against the floor!

Indeed not. That might mar the cedar-inlaid-with-mother-of-pearl floors of Electrolite's luxurious offices. Aluminum foil scratches!

OTOH, no such problem would exist in the marble lobby of the gleaming Electrolite Tower. But as anyone who has ever banged his head on marble knows, that has its own problems...

Honestly, Patrick, I don't know why you're surprised (yipe!) that Les wanted (eek!) to beat his head on the floor (ow!). (Damn, those shocks hurt! But why (yelp!) am I surprised?) :-)

Lydia Nickerson ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 12:52 PM:

On the "why be surprised" stuff: Often when you post something appalling, you aren't surprised, you're outraged. Having someone come along and say, "Why surprised?" makes it sound as if they are belittling your outrage. In turn, the person who says that is often trying to commisserate, trying to say something along the lines of "I agree that this really sucks, and it's even worse than it appears." The mix-up between "surprise" and "outrage" is the key, I think. The world-weary "Why be surprised?" comment may be another form of outrage, but there's meaning slippage because surprise can also imply naivete9. I don't need to be surprised to be outraged. I'm _still_ outraged at Watergate. Just because things that have always been in the world still have the power to appall me doesn't mean that I'm naive, or hadn't noticed them before. It just means that I'm still willing to fight.

Kathryn Cramer ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 12:57 PM:

Never mind the tin foil hat. Take some Zyprexa (an antipsychotic). A high dose for a couple of weeks. Stay indoors with the televisions off. You should probably leave your computer and radio off too.

When you come out you will find on a the ground a slip of paper on which is written George W. Bush. Someone else entirely will be President.

Stefan Jones ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 12:57 PM:

I am shocked, _shocked_, that no one is concerned about the fate of the monkeys that flew out of PNH's butt.

Are they being properly fed and sheltered?

Patrick Nielsen Hayden ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 01:00 PM:

On my desk here at work is a scrap of paper reading "Kathryn Cramer." Uh oh.

Kathryn Cramer ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 01:08 PM:

>On my desk here at work is a scrap of paper >reading "Kathryn Cramer."

...next to the one that says "hot dog stand."

hamletta ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 01:14 PM:

Y'all might want to loosen up those hats a wee bit: That story about the Bin Laden family is false. They didn't leave till after the flight ban, and they were questioned.

From the Urban Legends Database:

Bin Laden family members were not allowed to slip out of the USA "over the objections of the FBI" or before the FBI had an opportunity to "interrogate" them, as nearly every news account of these flights mentions that the FBI questioned the departing Saudis, grounded their planes, and supervised their departures.

I'm not sayin' take 'em off, I'm just sayin'.

Barry ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 01:23 PM:

The standards for >1,000 random muslim/arab men were: detained without access to lawyers, their names not released, released (or deported, or charged) after months, if not still in secret detention.

Kathryn Cramer ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 01:36 PM:

"I am shocked, _shocked_, that no one is concerned about the fate of the monkeys that flew out of PNH's butt."

They are being kept captive in the area of the Tor offices formerly known as the Asssistants' Pit and forced to read slush and write Elizabethan drama. They have been denied access to their lawyers and their names are not being released.

You got a problem with that?

John Farrell ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 02:09 PM:

They are being kept captive in the area of the Tor offices formerly known as the Asssistants' Pit and forced to read slush and write Elizabethan drama.

Man, I hope that ain't where my MS ended up....

Kevin Andrew Murphy ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 02:16 PM:

Big-money families in Saudi Arabia seem about as incestuous as science fiction fandom. Hell, given the number of Bin Laden siblings and their kids, and the rather large number of them who've been over here going to college, we've probably got a few in fandom too--and we never knew it!

I'm more concerned about the fact that until three weeks ago, the company had big deals with a major company in Saudi Arabia, which likely has a quite a few more people giving money to OSL than just his sister.

How about naming someone to the commission who's had no business dealings with the Middle East? Or is the logic that if you want to get answers, you need to pay for them, and its better to get someone who's an old hand at greasing the palms of Saudi oil barons?

If that's the case, and this guy actually does get some answers (useful ones), I'm ready to pet Patrick's butt monkeys.

Don ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 02:24 PM:

I think the following is an appropriate article to quote at this point;

Analysis of Bush presidency suggests a nation overthrown

Consider this: An inarticulate, politically inexperienced man with family links to a previous national regime comes to provincial leadership. Subsequently he gains the highest national office without winning the popular vote. The election in which he was declared the victor is considered compromised by his brother's province. He appoints a chief law enforcement officer who has repeatedly called for constitutional revisions. Regulatory agencies are filled with those previously regulated. Soldiers patrol transportation centers. International treaties are abrogated. International legal organizations are shunned. Roles of police and military are blurred. Law enforcement agencies are centralized. Individual civil rights are reduced. A "shadow" government is created.
Domestic surveillance is increased. People are encouraged to spy on each other. Military budgets are increased. The military establishes a disinformation program. Media access to government is limited. Consultations with the legislative branch decline. Connections to corrupt corporate sponsors are disavowed. Efforts to further plunder natural resources for profit are initiated. Access to past administrations' documents is limited. A war mentality is established with imprecise enemies. Nebulous fear- inducing alerts are periodically released. National level profiling is introduced. People are imprisoned without public charges and unknown others are "disappeared." Does the word "coup" come to mind? --Bill Petz

By Asheville Citizen-Times
POSTED: Aug. 9, 2002 2:35 p.m.

Xopher ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 02:25 PM:

If that's the case, and this guy actually does get some answers (useful ones), I'm ready to pet Patrick's butt monkeys.

I know your comment was serious, but this bit of it made me see this:

Patrick [in a heavy artsy German accent]: Would you like to touch my monkey?

You [petting it]: This is amazing! Where'd you get him?

Patrick: He flew out of my butt after I flicked my rational mind.

You: Excuse me. [runs off to wash hand]

Kevin J. Maroney ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 02:37 PM:

Underscoring the earlier points about the family Bin Laden (or Binladen, as they are also known): Yes, Osama has a lot of siblings--the number that comes to my mind is 51, but I don't feel like Googling it. The family is unbelievably rich; they're the richest family in Saudi Arabia outside of the royal family itself. It's not at all surprising that an Arab investor in an oil venture would be married to a bin Laden.

As Patrick points out, though, it would be nice if the current administration didn't rub our faces in the fact that everyone they hire is an oil crony of the bin Bush clan.

Here's a Get Your War On which makes the point rather more emphatically.

Zizka ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 03:09 PM:

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attack the Bin Laden family members did not leave before the flight ban. However, it seems that they did get special treatment. They certainly were not held and questioned at any length. Considering that some individuals have been held incommunicado for months in this case, this is very gentle treatment indeed.

In what I cite below it seems that the FBI were helping evacuate the Bin Ladens, rather than interrogating them. The Snopes Urban Legend people deal with this piece by impugning the source without giving any reason.

In another case (Bush's "Who cares what you think" quote) The Snopes people appended a paragraph of gratuitous editorial comment to their summary of their investigation. (They didn't think it was nice to confront Bush.) I think that they have a centrist bias which can cause them to be unfair to views that seem extreme to them.


"Bin Laden Family Evacuated

Sept. 30, 2001

(CBS) Two dozen members of Osama bin Laden's family were urgently evacuated from the United States in the first days following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, according to the Saudi ambassador to Washington..... The young members of the bin Laden family were driven or flown under FBI supervision to a secret place in Texas and then to Washington, The Times reported Sunday."

Bin Laden evacuation

99% of Americans have never had any contact (friendly or otherwise) with any of the Bin Ladens, with Saddam, with Kim Jong Il, or with the Taliban. But the big policymakers in our government seemingly **all** have buddied up and done business with these guys.

Policymakers' Dirty Hands

--k. ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 06:37 PM:

See, I was going to be all smug about having remembered my recent blogdex history (why be surprised?) and ask Patrick what became of the bird of paradise (wasn't Hope the last thing to fly out of Pandora's Box?), but my first Googling ("monkey trousers paradise") turned up a list of Bruce Springsteen lyrics ("Paradise" - "Prove it all Night," inclusive). I was--understandably--a little rattled.

Maybe my hat needs some adjustin'?

Emma Goldman ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 06:49 PM:

Paul Krugman coined the phrase "the Pitt Principle" to describe this fox-guarding-the-henhouse strategy. It seems that the administration sticks with it because it continues to work. And in fact, who can keep up with every stinkin new appointment. The sheer volume means that some--like Kean--are inevitably slipping through.

Emma Goldman ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 06:51 PM:

Which is why, I forgot to mention, that it's wonderful bloggers like you are keeping your eye on the ball. Kudos.

James D. Macdonald ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 07:55 PM:

Here are some wonderful instructions for folding a hat. Practice up with paper to get the right size before you try it with aluminum.

http://www.herzogbr.net/fun/hat.htm

Father Bojangles ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 09:15 PM:

Keeeeerist!

I'm buyin' a pub in some small burg in Scotland. I'm going to sit in a dark corner and drink Scotch all day. I'll park the Harley out front and everybody will be so scared of me, they won't dare come near me...I'll have to do it soon, though...before Scotland closes its borders to Americans...I wasn't fast enough for Canada....

Good stuff, Patrick...thanks

Avedon ::: (view all by) ::: January 30, 2003, 10:07 PM:

Hey, sugar, congrats on this post spreading all over the place. I was gonna blog it myself but it's already everywhere. Atrios and Tom Tommorow. Wheeee!

slacktivist ::: (view all by) ::: January 31, 2003, 03:28 AM:

Zizka is being a bit kind about the Snopes folks "centrist" bias. It's a great site, but they sometimes seem like part of Bush's PR team (pouncing with particular fervor on any perceived criticism of GWB, editorial commentary, etc.).


Adam Rice ::: (view all by) ::: January 31, 2003, 03:05 PM:

Here's a more extensive article on the Kean/ObL connection:
http://www.freezerbox.com/archive/article.asp?id=257

I have two tinfoil hats, so I'm living in stereo.

alan ::: (view all by) ::: January 31, 2003, 05:47 PM:

I'll admit being clueless, so please fill me in on this "slip of paper" thingy. You've got my address. Thanks
(I think I understand about the monkeys)

Patrick Nielsen Hayden ::: (view all by) ::: January 31, 2003, 06:07 PM:

It's a reference to a science fiction novel by the late Philip K. Dick, Time Out of Joint, in which the protagonist has a series of experiences of objects mysteriously vanishing and being replaced by slips of paper with the name of the object on them.

As sometimes happens on Electrolite, the science fiction people are trading cryptic jokes and references that kind of whizz by everyone else. Oops.

(The monkeys, or course, are from Jules Verne's groundbreaking work, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Captain Nemo.)

Zizka ::: (view all by) ::: January 31, 2003, 06:25 PM:

Slacktivist, you really know how to hurt a guy.

alan ::: (view all by) ::: January 31, 2003, 06:29 PM:

Thanks for the explaination. I totally understand and relate. I have a piece of paper on my desk that says "Snickers".

Kathryn Cramer ::: (view all by) ::: January 31, 2003, 06:52 PM:

I just got some political spam, austensibly (and probably really) from the Joe Lieberman campaign.

I read it, hoping for some encouraging democratic opposition to the Bush administrations higher weirdness. Instead, it's filled with crap like:

The State (Columbia, South Carolina):
.
"S.C. Democratic leaders say Lieberman's deep religious faith could prove to be a political plus in a state like South Carolina, often called the buckle on the Bible Belt."

and

Robert Robb, Arizona Republic:
.
"Lieberman certainly is part of a new hawk wing of the Democratic Party, and that is what most distinguishes him from the rest of the Democratic presidential field."

Although I can't tell you how much I dislike Bush as President, at least I can be glad that Lieberman is not Vice President.

_What_ are they thinking?

Robert Anton Wilson for President, I say!

Alantex ::: (view all by) ::: February 01, 2003, 02:34 AM:

What is it with "tin" foil??? I'm 56 years old and I've __never__ seen any "tin" foil. Was "tin" foil used by my parents' generation before WWII? I've seen some copper foil (not available in supermarkets) and some lead foil (which, given its radiation-blocking abilities, might be the thing to use for these particular hats). I've even seen some gold foil, but I've never seen "tin" foil or heard of anyone who has.

Bob Webber ::: (view all by) ::: February 01, 2003, 03:05 AM:

According to About.com, aluminum foil replaced tin foil starting in about 1910, with the first manufacture of aluminium foil taking place in Switzerland.

So probably your grandparents rather than your parents, though probably foil made from Sn was still used by folks out of preference or unavailability of the new-fangled stuff.

Dennis Slater ::: (view all by) ::: August 05, 2003, 11:30 PM:

Does it matter what brand of tinfoil you use? I use the Wal-Mart brand. All I hear is Ross Perot. If Ross will let me I am going to try using a Saran-wrap liner in my tin-foil hat to see if I can pick up Larry King at the same time.

It would be better, of course, to use hematite, but that stuff's expensive, and I don't know where to get it since they stopped having Gem Shows.

There is plenty of hematite on Mars. It may be difficult to bring it back because there is now a 10 day waiting period for hematite buyers. That's what shut down the Gem Shows.

Or you could find an old diver's helmet. They are primarily made out of hematite. Those might work if you cover up the windows and plug up the breathing tubes holes. A friend of mine has one and he picks up nifty old Al Gore campaign speeches on it. Or is it Forest Gump? He can't tell unless the voice say "the richest 1%" or loudly sighs a couple of times then he is pretty sure it is Al.

aimai ::: (view all by) ::: October 01, 2003, 02:36 PM:

Oh my god, you've hit the nail on the head. Every few days I go in to a gym and harangue some guy who I pay to force me to lift weights with the political news of the day. Its nothing special, just what I'm reading on the bloggs. It started slow, my original trainer was a sweet know nothing palestinian christian from texas so I just had to tell her a thing or two. It escalated from there. Now I find that I'm not having to explain simple things like "who is president Bush"--to a Texan!--but more complex things like what the Christian reconstruction movement has to do with Diebold. Now I my ability to tie one thing to another, and one obscure person to another, is making me sound like a complete and utter lunatic. At times I catch myself and think--even *I* think this is insane. And then, alas, I realize its just that truth is stranger than fiction.

Dave G. Comment Spam Destroyer ::: (view all by) ::: January 04, 2004, 09:55 AM:

comment spam above

clark e myers ::: (view all by) ::: January 04, 2004, 05:09 PM:

tin continued to be used for toothpaste tubes for quite a long time.