Happy Birthday Sesame Street!!

I couldn't let one of the few tv shows I was allowed to watch growing up without even commemorating its' Anniversary, now can I? Most of us enjoyed learning to sing the alphabet, count with the count, watch how Cookie Monster would always get more cookies all over the place than actually eating them.

The anniversary will be commemorated with Michelle Obama, planting a garden with Elmo and Big Bird tomorrow. I would imagine an effort to teach kids the values of being green. She will be the fourth First lady to appear on the show. Good on her.


However, all has not been A-OK with Sesame Street over the years. Yes, in a country with right wingnuts, an innocent TV show where pre-schoolers can actually have fun learning to count or sing along to the Alphabet was not without controversy. It had received criticism from paranoid parents scared that in promoting sharing, Sesame Street was indoctrinating Socialism.


Even a kids show is indeed not spared from the Right/left debate.  Here is one Right Wingnut's take on those evil Communist muppets and their 'indoctrination' of innocent school children. After reading from that wingnut, I can see how Obama speaking to school children would be frightening to these individuals.


Another controversy was a change to Cookie Monster's character. They decided to promote healthy eating and thus, scrapped the cookies. Inspite of good intentions, it was felt that Cookie Monster lost his identity.


My favourite character had to be Oscar the Grouch, who for some reason, changed colours over the years, it would seem. He ate trash, his favourites  would be things like spinach sundaes and pickle juice.  His pet was Slimy the Worm. Like myself, he was forever cranky. According to this blog, the controversy with Oscar was that he made folks feel depressed.


According to this opinion piece, however, quirky characters like Oscar the Grouch and the short tempered Bert served to show children tolerance to different temperaments.


The latest Oscar the Grouch scandal has got to be when, you guessed it! The Show took a jab at Fox News. Below, is the controversial skit. I think it's cute but it's getting right winged pundits in a  snit to say the least!

This of course, has got all the right winged bloggers in a tizzy. They're all fit to be tied!


The good folks of Sesame Street and PBS believe that this was  "just another one of the many parodies that 'Sesame Street' has done over the years."  At least, they're not running apologizing to Fox News like Desperate members of the GOP seem to keep doing.


Of course, Michelle Obama's guest appearance, planting that agrarian garden is also causing no shortage of grief for this idiotic blogger. OK, Ass-hole Adam Baldwin, time to dislodge that conservative coin from up your ass. Just because you're frustrated with your life is no need to take away the fun of learning from kids.


Sadly, it seems more and more obvious things will not continue to be A-Ok anymore as Americans go more and more to the right, what would their kids be allowed to watch? 


Happy Birthday Sesame Street! Thanks for those fun formative years!!

Wingnut Vs Wingnut

Orly Taitz - Response to Bill O' Reilly's smears 
"It is time to protest FOX NEWS"



Well, Well, Two of America's biggest Neo-con factions are at war it would seem. It's Orly Taitz v Bill O Reilly. 




Who will win?

Stevie's Misadventures with the Boob Tube

The following video is dated: it was done when Georgie was still running the show in the U.S. It was submitted to Youtube before the last federal election to warn us of what would surely have been had Stevie won a majority then.


I had an amusing time reading the Toronto Star article about how Ol' Stevie's  Harpercons' feigned shock over his revelation that he prefers to watch American news over Canadian news. Why so shocked, boys??


As soon as I first read the story, this video was the first thing that came to mind. I thought I would post it to my page.



Of course, much has changed since then. A Democrat is running the show and has pretty much made it clear to Ol' Stevie that while he acknowledges his existence, Obama was not going to be his buddy. No matter, I'm sure Ol' Stevie is tuned into the likes of Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity and cheering in front of the ol' boob tube everytime he hears those buffoons knock Obama and talk of him being gone before 2012. Yes, he's indeed counting down the days until a GOP rules the land again and all will be as right as rain again.


He wouldn't specify what American news channel he watches. Gee, let me see now, Hands up if you all believe it's Faux News?? With Glenn Beck and/or Sean Hannity no less?? I seriously doubt he would be tuned into the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC.


He does, however, claim to watch Canadian shows like CTV's Corner Gas, but let's not forget, he did have a cameo on that show, and CTV is a conservative channel. Certainly never thought he would tune into Little Mosque on the Prairie.


I always knew Stevie loved all things American Neo-Con. I have written about them in previous posts. Buckdog's posting from a few years ago is a fairly complete illustration of how Ol' Stevie not only disliked Canada but envied Georgie and Dickie's America. 


In spite of the fact that President Obama is in power and is trying to steer the U.S. somewhat toward the centre or centre-left,  nothing changes much for Stevie. Let him loose with a majority, and it will become Georgie & Dickie American mimicked.


Anyone notice that Ol' Stevie seems to be lost without his ol' buddy, Georgie?

The Sweetheart of "Faux" News &the Darling of the American Right...The Lies Continue

Well, she's baaack!! That's right America's Right Winged Darling was being interviewed on Faux news. Inspite of the fact no one says she would have died & that Doctors who have been interviewed said that no one dies of the is condition; she still maintains that would not have survived had she waited in Canada.


What's worse (not that I'm surprised) is how biased Faux News (took the nick name from A Creative Revolution) is. They also had T.R. Reid, the author of  The Healing of America-The Search for Better, Cheaper & Fairer Health Care & he must be wondering why they even had him on. Clearly the host wanted nothing to do with him, while not letting him get a word in or interrupting him while he does. An example of this is when Reid cited info from the John's Hopkins School of Medicine declaring that more Americans Go To Canada for treatment, he was dismissed while the host turned immediately to Shona Holmes. Yes, after all, she is their star & they certainly can't have an American of reason stealing her thunder now can they? While T.R. Reid mentions a study done at a reputable U.S. medical school; Shona refutes that arguement citing absolutely no facts & no study, yet she has more credence than Reid. Yah, REAL Responsible media.


You can read an article by T.R. Reid debunking a few myths in the Washington Post  on August 23, 2009.



Shona Holmes also states that it's absolutely untrue that Americans come to Canada for health care. Well, Shona, meet Kathleen & Maureen, two American women living in B.C. who as much as they would like to go back state side, they can't. Gee, I wonder why?? 




What's even funnier is in August, before this little smut fest, I wrote a letter to Shona Holmes (you can find a copy of my letter here), I did send her the link to this second video featuring Kathleen & Maureen. 


I know that at the very least, my letter was read by her husband, David given that he had already attempted to to antagonize me online,  along with Mario Coluccio,  the managing director of CMPI, a public interest group lobbying against President Obama's health care reform.


Another thing that pisses me off about Shona Holmes is that she presumes to speak for all Canadians, particularly sick Canadians. NO, she means Rich Canadians. 


What is ironic is that the American Health Insurance industry that Holmes so vehemently defends would refuse her coverage due to a pre-existing condition.  Had she been living state side, she would still have had to take out a mortgage on  her house. If Canada adapted this American Health Care system, she would still have to mortgage her home. Under both those circumstances, she would never be able to sue her government.


What is hypocritical is that she & her merry band of Conservatives, like Canadian Constitution Foundation don't believe the Government should be involved in health care; that the Free market should take over health care & yet they`re suing the Ontario Government. Well, isn't this lawsuit essentially asking for Government to get involved??


You can hear an interview done on CBC's The Current with Kathleen Kelly yesterday here. It's under the heading Medical Exile - Patients First. 


Apparently, a hearing is supposed to begin soon in the Shona Holmes' law suit & let's all hope & pray that OHIP & the Ontario Attorney General have their shit together. A  win for Holmes & CCF would indeed be very damaging to Canada's Universal Health coverage whether or not ol' Stevie ever gets a majority government as I`ve already illustrated in a previous posting. 


Affordable & quality health care should & must be available for ALL. This is one thing where Capitalism should play no part in.

Smart & Stupid Media: Fun Map Games: YAY Socialism! Sunday Brain Drain Fun

Now For Some Sunday Brain Drain Fun

Well, I was going to start a series stemming from last Saturday night's blog & call it Saturday night Brain Drain Fun, but due to other obligations, I had to put it off to today & make an exception & call today's second week, "Sunday Brain Drain Fun". Where I would collect some really silly quotes, videos & pictures & accompany it with some commentary.

Speaking of which, the American Right wing movement seems to be the gift that keeps on giving to progressive bloggers. So today's posting will continue with the American Right.

Remember the Tea-bagger's hit parade where they were protesting Gov't run programs, taxes & everything else that stands for any improvements??

Well, as Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) as their spokesman, they were whining about the Government run Washington Metro system just wasn't up to their standards. Ed Schultz from MSNBC's The Ed Show had something to say about this one in the video below:

 

Oh, & there is the sighting of the first Black woman in this  Tea-Party. Of course, she may well have been hired by any one of those same PR firms that sent plants to instigate riots at those town hall meetings over the summer to show everyone they're really not racist.
As anyone can see, Ed Schultz is certainly on the right track here.
Let's go further & have these tea-baggers & other Neo-Cons sign this pledge, courtesy of PZ Myers of  scienceblogs.com

The Teabagger Socialist-Free Purity Pledge

I, ________________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following:

I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights.

I will complain about the destruction of my 2ndAmendment Rights in this country, while I am duly >being allowed to exercise my 2ndAmendment rights by legally but brazenly brandishing unconcealed firearms in public.

I will foreswear the time-honored principles of fairness, decency, and respect by screaming unintelligible platitudes regarding tyranny, Nazi-ism, and socialism at public town halls. Also.

I pledge to eliminate all government intervention in my life. I will abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following:

•  Social Security 
•  Medicare/Medicaid
•  State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)
•  Police, Fire, and Emergency Services
•  US Postal Service
• Roads and Highways
• Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA)
• The US Railway System
• Public Subways and Metro Systems
• Public Bus and Lightrail Systems
• Rest Areas on Highway
• Sidewalks
• All Government-Funded Local/State Projects (e.g., see Iowa 2009federal senate appropriations--http://grassley.senate.gov/issues/upload/Master-Approps-73109.pdf)
• Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!)
• Public and State Universities and Colleges
• Public Primary and Secondary Schools
• Sesame Street
• Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children
• Public Museums
• Libraries
• Public Parksand Beaches
• State and National Parks
• Public Zoos
• Unemployment Insurance
• Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services
• Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, Stateor Federal Government (pretty much all of them)
• Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them)
• Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions)
• Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD's ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking
• Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies
• Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies
• If a veteran of the government-run socialist US military, I will forego my VA benefits and insist on paying for my own medical care
• I will not tour socialist government buildings like the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

I pledge to never take myself, my family, or my children on a tour of the following types of socialist locations, including but not limited to:

• Smithsonian Museums such as the Air and Space Museum or Museum of American Histor
• The socialist Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments
• The government-operated Statue of Liberty
• The Grand Canyon
• The socialist World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials
• The government-run socialist-propaganda location known as Arlington National Cemetery
• All other public-funded socialist sites, whether it be in my state or in Washington, DC

I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare.
I will oppose and condemn the government-funded and therefore socialist military of the United States of America.
I will boycott the products of socialist defense contractors such as GE, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Humana, FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, and hundreds of others that are paid by our socialist government to produce goods for our socialist army.
I will protest socialist security departments such as the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Department of Justice and their socialist employees.
Upon reaching eligible retirement age, I will tear up my socialist Social Security checks.
Upon reaching age 65, I will forego Medicare and pay for my own private health insurance until I die.

SWORN ON A BIBLE AND SIGNED THIS DAY OF ____________ IN THE YEAR ______________.___________________________ ___________________________
Signed Printed Name/Town and State

I'm wondering if I should have made the font red when I copied & pasted this? Speaking of the colour red,  anyone ever notice the colour of the Republican party is exactly the same colour that represents communism? Makes one think, doesn't it??


 Remember on Friday, CNN's Rick Sanchez confronting Fox News? Here's the video from   Unrepentant Old Hippie's Blog

Notice how Rick Sanchez says CNN  reports the news & not promote it? Well, it appears a producer from Fox News was caught on camera leading the tea-bagger rally on!

Isn't this an example of Promoting the event rather than reporting it? The girl in the green sweater with her arms up in the air is an assistant producer of Fox News. 
The picture is from Huffington Post. Two videos are also available on their page.


Now, Joe Wilson (R for Redneck from Sath Carolanee) who is REALLY lying now?? 
Rachel Maddow points out that it is the great liar's state who can stand to benefit from health care reform the most in her little game of :"Magic Map trick"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Poor Doggy! You could probably read the stimulus better than your master! Hey! Isn't forcing stupidity on a dog cruelty to animals??