There's no justice in the world

Let me get this straight: Madonna is going to be inducted into the Rock Music Hall of Fame, but the Moody Blues have never been inducted?

Clearly, artistic achievement is less important than how many records you sell.

Pelosi knew about waterboarding

It was reported yesterday that Nancy Pelosi was notified way back in 2002 on the CIA's plans for using torture against terrorism suspects. According to a "congressional source", "Pelosi did not raise objections at the time."

This is one reason why I will be voting for Cindy Sheehan's independent candidacy in her race against Pelosi the 2008 Congressional election.

Global math

As a recent AP report puts it,

The Bush administration's position, that technology, private investment and economic growth - rather than mandatory emissions cuts - will save the planet from global warming, is taking a beating this week at a U.N. climate change conference in Indonesia.

There's a slight problem with the current US position on this issue. If emissions have to be cut by a certain amount in order to save the planet from the disastrous effects of global warming, then the only way that "technology, private investment and economic growth" would be effective in combating global warming is if those efforts cut greenhouse emissions by at least as much as what the mandatory emissions cuts would require. And if "technology, private investment and economic growth" don't lower greenhouse emissions by at least as much as mandatory emissions cuts would require, then they are not going to be effective at combat global warming. Either way, as the rest of the industrialized world understands, the current US policy is completely bogus.

But then, you knew that.

Letter to the Editor

A letter in today's San Francisco Chronicle:

In your Dec. 4 editorial ("Rein on his reign") regarding Venezuela's recent vote on constitutional reforms, you expressed gratitude for Venezuelans' not giving up their voices in voting down reform measures. You did give President Hugo Chavez credit for conceding defeat, although you somehow felt the need to insult him at the same time. And you either failed to see or failed to concede what is most significant about the election: that this election proves democracy is alive and well in Venezuela.

It is time for the corporate media and the United States government to start acknowledging that Venezuela has a vibrant democracy, that freedom of speech and assembly are both alive and well and that the electoral process is free and fair. Above all, it's time for the United States government to stop interfering in Venezuela's democracy.

GEORGE FRIEMOTH

Inverness

When is the last time the United States has conducted a nationwide referendum on anything? Can you imagine George Bush subjecting himself to a recall election like Chavez did a few years ago? With Bush's 30% approval ratings, I don't think he'd win such a vote, as Chavez did. Maybe the United States is not always the best qualified to judge how democratic other governments are.

Takes me back to Eighth Grade

Not only do I actually remember this promotional ad for two short lived television series in 1972, but I remember watching both of the shows: