Shocking evidence reveals that having a hard-chiseled body may not be entirely the result of healthy living, working out, eating right and Photoshop.

Hall-e-fucking-lujah!

The Sun: Wrestlers take drugs!

Jesus!

As if it's not bad enough that everybody in America is packing heat, now the latest FBI bulletin is cautioning law enforcement officers about the scourge of killer combs.

Talk about a hair don't!

Blessed be the Disco Goddess...

Jennif-HAIR!!!!, originally uploaded by Rob Thurman.

Day three -- and my ass is t-i-r-e-d. More importantly, previous engagements preclude me from attending any more of the hub-bub -- which makes me somewhat sad, somewhat happy. I can't run wild like I used to, which is a blessing.

Swinging in Skif, originally uploaded by Rob Thurman.

Opening night of St. Louis Fashion Week

U.S. President George Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon just got together for a private chit-chat on the proposed Security and Prosperity Partnership (also known as the North American Union).

Thing is -- a great deal of folks are extremely concerned about a policy that one commentator equates with (and I'm paraphrasing) "a Nazi Economic Program fusing political-military-industrial complex, Big Business interests and government".

Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read more from:

The 9/11 Truth Movement: Prison Planet
Conservatives: CNS News
Conservative Watch Dogs : The Harper Index
Libertarian Anti-Immigration Folks: Stop the SPP
The Christian Press: Crosswalk.com
Radicals: Dissident Voice
and protestors who where confronted by riot police [YouTube].

The winner of Taco Bell's "7 Layers of Love" contest is David Morrison, 23, of Richmond, Kentucky. Morrison, hoping to get "lucky in love," proposed to his girlfriend, Siobhan Raftery, via a virtual sign during FOX's nationally televised Major League Baseball game. The two met in 2004 during their freshman year in college and one of their first dates was at a Taco Bell restaurant, where they found a connection after discussing one another's likings for hot sauce. About six months ago, David gave Siobhan a "Will You Marry Me?" sauce packet as a joke.

Since we're thinking outside the bun, perhaps Ms. Raftery will spice up the honeymoon by getting her betrothed some of these to wear:

What a bunch of complicitous cowards, or in this age of newspeak, "kinder, gentler" Josef Mengeles.

Secret (and not-so-secret) arrests, imprisonment and torture have become the hallmarks of U.S. policy and the American Psychological Association has overwhelmingly agreed to professionally profit, implement and observe egregious human rights abuses.

Arguing that psychologists must be present during interrogations:

"If we removed psychologists from these facilities, people are going to die..." -- Army Col. Larry James, former chief military psychologist Guantanamo Bay.

Yes, Colonel James, they will.

They already are.

But let's not mince words: by acting as an agent to keep people just at the brink on death, you are simply aiding and abeting in keeping them alive to be continually subjected to criminal activity.

Under the concept of aiding and abetting, it is not necessary...that a defendant himself physically committed the crime with which he is charged. [It is an] association with the criminal venture, participating in something one wished to bring about, and sought by actions to make it succeed.

I suppose the public is supposed to take comfort that the American Psychological Association "opposes torture."

That sounds very nice, but that doesn't mean the group is doing a damn thing to prevent it from happening.

- - -

U.S. acknowledges torture: Forbes

Priests Expose Secret Cycle of US Torture and are Arrested: CounterPunch

Bush Administration Suppresses Red Cross report on torture: Jurist Legal News and Research

Psychologists charge $1,000 a day to implement and observe interrogations: Raw Story

I'll be posting more photos from the Veterans for Peace rally I attended today, but this one had to go up ASAP.

P.S. Adam Kokesh was dreamy. I stood behind him in the hotdog line.

Heh.

Me? Me! Me!?!?

- - -

To this day, whenever I think of blue glitter lipstick, I'll always remember Scissor Sisters' front man Jake Shears bellowing, "Finally, a Drag Queen," upon my stumbling stunning entrance into one of their concerts!

Oh, good Lord.

One search result fluke has turned me into a monster!

NO AUTOGRAPHS!

NEWS FLASH: Sarah Michelle Gellar brings her own shopping bags to Trader Joe's. Image: Ecorazzi.

Ecorazzi recently celebrated its one year anniversary. While I am sure there is much demand for a celebrity blog offering "the latest in green gossip," I cannot help but wonder the long-term impact of blogs (even well intentioned ones) that promote incessant surveillance of the picayune.

Because I am naturally pessimistic, I think the omnipresent celebrity-obsessed culture has further conditioned the public to accept an ever-watchful, and ever-judgmental gaze, not only by ourselves, but by our government.

Don't you expect to see photos, news stories or YouTubes of the latest Lohanical outburst, especially if it involves a police chase?

For years, we've accepted cameras in our public venues (banks, etc.) and the public overwhelmingly supports the installation of Big Brother style monitoring devices throughout our nation. They've also been completely receptive to the creation of new governmental programs that can be best described as the Departments of Somebody Else's Business (except Dick Cheney's).

While advocates for civil liberties bemoan the government's ever-widening use of citizen monitoring systems, I'm far more pragmatic in my criticism of these devices and the new safety programs spewing from the bowels of Bush.

For one, while cameras have provided more evidence to imprison offenders, there's no correlation that they stop crimes. Consider this: despite years of security cameras in banks: bank robberies have increased.

Secondly, government is, by its very nature, inept -- regardless of the political party in charge. When the Department of Defense spends $1 million of your money to ship 38 cents worth of ordinary washers, it's hard not to expect bungling, bureaucracy and bullshit from the powers-that-be.

They bungled Katrina. Our food's not safe. Your children are licking lead-laced lollipops. They bombed the wrong country and then they lied about it.

Do you really believe they will successfully implement a secure and sensible nationwide safety program to combat illegal activity?

To quote Nancy, "Just say no," and pass me whatever it is you're smoking.....

As long as individuals, neighborhoods and communities fail to address the problems in our own backyards (lousy schools, limited health care, shitty wages and affordable housing) -- hopelessness, ignorance and crime will remain unabated. How can they not?

We shouldn't expect the government to fix the problems that we, ourselves, have been too lazy, too cheap, too greedy, or too indifferent to do anything about.

During the recent National Night Out, my neighbor made a comment that resounded very deeply with me.

"Responsible citizens know their neighbors names, care about their well being, help them when they can."

That sounds a lot better than, "Hey, kids! Guess what? We just spent $500,000 to install brand new Dieblod CopCams™ in your neighborhood. We're going to watch you have crappy, unfulfilled lives before we send you off to be raped in prison!"

I suspect we'd have better results:

1. Spending $100,000 on providing extended hours at an established neighborhood clinic
2. Spending $100,000 to fix the roads to get there or expand public transportation services
3. Spending $100,000 to support sick and elderly folks with an established Meals-On-Wheels program
4. Spending $100,000 on school books and/or boost a few teacher's salaries
5. Spending $100,000 on something that actually might benefit the community -- you name it!

But that's just me...believing in compassion, action and results. A surveillance culture is only interested in watching, judgment and punishment.

We're so content to just sit, as flashes of light on a box tell us that things in our communities are shitty and that Buffy is purchasing some Three Buck Chuck.

That's not heroic behavior.

It's downright criminal.

A good, full year (or two) before the rancid cultural appropriator known as Madonna gooched Willi Ninja's style, Malcolm McLaren offered this lovely homage to the Paris that will, forever, be burning.

Ninja died last year, sadly, at the age of 45.

Turning 49 today, Madonkey keeps trucking on and shooting up, for what that's worth.

Oh, yeah.

About $850 million.

Deep In Vogue (extended remix) - YouTube

Leave it to Gawker to publish not one, but two posts about gigantic, shattered fat asses and bullshit next to an advertisement featuring an advertiser's fancy new bidet!

Contextual advertising, indeed!

This Week's Paranoic Outburst

Two fascinating trends in the U.S. government's approach to making America's youth:

1. more compliant and docile
2. obedient servants of the state

One approach limits the movement of college students -- the other, tracks and manages their experiences online.

Unrelated, yet equally frightening, our government has just expanded its power to kill Americans faster.

Happy hump day!

FBI to restrict student freedoms
US university students will not be able to work late at the campus, travel abroad, show interest in their colleagues' work, have friends outside the United States, engage in independent research, or make extra money without the prior consent of the authorities, according to a set of guidelines given to administrators by the FBI.

The CIA started Facebook
Facebook has 20 million users worldwide, is worth billions of dollars and, if internet sources are to be believed, was started by the CIA...There is a dark side to the success story that's been spreading across the blogosphere -- a complex but riveting Big Brother-type conspiracy theory which links Facebook to the CIA and the US Department of Defense.

The CIA is also using a Facebook group to recruit younglings for National Clandestine Service.

Coming to you from the Middle East - the battle of good versus evil featuring secretive behavior that doesn't involve warrantless wiretaps (or torture): The Secrets of Isis - now on DVD.

There's a great review from the Washington Post.

A few weeks ago, I wondered when and how this was going to happen.

From BBC News

Chinese toy boss 'kills himself'
The boss of a Chinese toy firm involved in a huge safety recall has committed suicide, Chinese media has said.

Zhang Shuhong, who co-owned the Lee Der Toy Company, was reportedly found dead at his factory in southern China.

About 1.5 million toys made for Fisher Price, a subsidiary of US giant Mattel, were withdrawn from sale earlier this month. Many were made by Lee Der.

His death leaves many questions unanswered.

As usual.

Parenthetical Remarks shares this campaign poster from Turkish politician Ufuk Uras.

I thought I'd share some information about the Veterans for Peace National Conference that is being held in St. Louis next week.

Yes, girls -- the dreamalicious anti-war protester and veteran Adam Kokesh has noted on his blog that he will be in attendance.

FREE ANTI-WAR EVENT:
Friday, August 17
7:00 - 10:00 PM

Centenary Methodist Church
Featuring presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich and a slew of impressive anti-war activists.

You...a sexy sergeant...a church. I know you've seen that porno.

There's also going to be a
March Through the Arch
Sunday, August 19th, 2007
10:30 am

Maybe if it's real hot, Adam will take of his shirt.

See you there.

Because you love America...and hot guys, too!

Giggle.

For 89 days, Pedro Guzman lived on the streets, ate out of trash cans and bathed in rivers near the Mexico border before United States Immigration officials arrested him.

Trouble is: Pedro Guzman is a mentally disabled American citizen, who was illegally deported in May by US Immigration officials after he was arrested for trespassing.

Huh? They do that?

In California they do.

Anyway, the State Department, US Immigration officials and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (who turned him over for deportation) have repeatedly refused to accept any accountability for their inhumane and illegal actions. Lest we forget, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department was very busy incarcerating/releasing/incarcerating Paris Hilton during this time.

Mr. Guzman's family have been desperately searching for him since he was ejected from America. His mother appealed to officials for help - and found nothing but silence and indifference. She quit her job, traveled to Mexico and slept in her car, hoping to find her son who spent the past three months walking more than 100 miles seeking assistance from US border authorities who repeatedly turned him away.

In case you're wondering how Mr. Guzman finally made his way home: the US border patrol arrested him for not showing up at the probation hearing for his trespassing violation.

Clearly, the authorities couldn't grasp that when you illegally deport a person -- and refuse that person entry into the country -- it's rather difficult for that person to ever appear in court.

*sigh*

If there's one good thing about this story, it's that Mr. Guzman is finally home.

If there's another: he has some kick-ass lawyers working on his case.

God bless the much-beloved crazy-ass known as Mia Farrow.

Not only has the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador been hollering about Chinese-funded genocide in Darfur -- she's also labeled Steven Spielberg a modern-day NAZI-esque propagandist for his participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Or the Genocide Olympics, as Ms. Farrow puts it.

Love it! Love it! Love it!

Today's news is equally exciting: Soon-Yi's Baby Mama has petitioned the president of Sudan to allow her (crazy-assed Mia Farrow) to trade places with Darful activist Suleiman Jamous, who needs medical treatment.

Mr. Jamous is holed-up in a U.N. hospital in Darfur and is afraid to leave because, quite frankly, the government will kill him.

So....Mia, who is in Paris(!), offers this plea from her website, "Take me! Take me!"

Love it! Love it! Love it!

The only thing that could be even better?

David Beckham is also a UN Goodwill Ambassador, and we all know he's just sitting on the sidelines raking in the cash these days.

Put him to work!

On second thought, "Take Posh, too!"

- - - -

Quick overview of the Sudanese conflict: Darfur

From Shorpy, a fantastic photo blog dedicated to preservation of vintage images.

- - -

New York City detective Mary Agnes Shanley pulls a pistol out of her handbag. Shanley shows what awaits a pickpocket. She had more than a thousand career arrests. From the New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, 1937.

Congratulations to Mister Bruce Trevorrow who successfully argued that the Australian government's 60-year-policy of taking Aboriginal children away from their families was, essentially, forced imprisonment (The story is here).

Trinity University offers a comprehensive overview of this Stolen Generation of brown people, in case you're feeling thirsty for knowledge on this warm summer's day.

The site offers a fascinating, dare I say appalling, explanation how a 400 year-old-nation (built by prison laborers and greedy gold rush enthusiasts) could deem themselves superior to the indigenous folks who'd lived there 40,000 years (or more).

But that's white people for you:

These days, half-nekkid, muscular white children in a tree-hut (with one brown girl thrown in for good measure) is the epitome of the aspirational WASP dream.

History reminds us, however, that half-nekkid brown people in the scrubby underbrush was an excuse for genocide.

Given the hoo-hah over Fischer-Price's recall of nearly one million Chinese-produced toys, China's insistence that '99 percent' of its exports are safe sounds lovely and reassuring.

But consider this: China exports $17,800,000,000 in toys annually, meaning:

$178,000,000 in toxic toys are still on the market (from just one year's worth of exports)

or

22,389,937

Toxic-As-Hell-Lead-Paint-Chipping-Elmos are still out there ready to kill your children.

Today's lesson: tell the younglings to read a book, ride a bike, climb a tree or play with fire -- Elmo is hazardous to one's health!

And if you're the Peking Pooh-Bah of Pre-School Production, so is the Chinese government!

Photo: Tony de Marco

Here's a fascinating set of articles about Sao Paulo, which is slowly removing all outdoor advertising: Design Verb.

By the clicking of my thumbs, something twisted this way comes:

TINKER TOYS
Wal-Mart plans to start carrying a faith-based line of toys (Spirit Warriors, pictured above) just in time for back-to-school shopping. Onward, Christian soldiers!

TAILOR THE MESSAGE
Public Relations pundits propose that pesky public policy that prohibits propaganda should be "pitched" out the window. At a cost of $400,000 - P.R. executives have concluded that the Smith-Mundt Act (which prohibits the U.S. government from directing propaganda at its own citizens, although it allows external propaganda efforts) is a real pain in the ass.

AMERICA'S ARMY
At a cost of $3 million annually, the Official US Army© online video game now has 8.5 million registered users, with 2 million missions "played" everyday.

THE RETURN OF G-MEN AND DOMESTIC SPIES
At a cost of more than $22 million, the FBI will train 15,000 "confidential human sources" to become the bureau's eyes and ears -- reporting to FBI officials anybody who is "suspicious."

- - - -

POST-LITERATE AMERICA

Iraq [is] a war based on a verbal parody of reality, with massive idioms of deception substituting for massive weapons of destruction.