Valentine's Day. Stella. Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet.

Need I say more?

Health Care That Works: France

Jon Walker at FDL tells us What a Functional Health Care System Looks Like in France. If you saw Michael Moore's Sicko, you already had an idea; this is just one more example.

Pakistani Drone Victim Seized, Tortured, Released, Threatened With More

You can't convince me this happened without Pakistani and US government knowledge. Kevin Gosztola:

A drone victim, journalist and activist who has spoken out against drone strikes in Pakistan, who was abducted from his home over one week ago, has been released.

Drone strikes vehicle

Kareem Khan, who has been pushing a legal case against the CIA and Pakistan government for killing his son and brother with a drone in December 2009, was abducted in the early hours of February 5 by at fifteen to twenty men. Some of them, family members said, were wearing police uniforms.

According to the human rights organization, Reprieve, Khan was taken to a cell in an “undisclosed location.” Later that day, on February 5, he was “blindfolded and driven for approximately 2-3 hours to another undisclosed location where he remained until his release.”

“While detained, Mr Khan was interrogated, beaten and tortured. He was placed in chains and repeatedly questioned about his investigations into drone strikes, his knowledge of drone strike victims and his work advocating on their behalf,” Reprieve reported.

Khan was driven to the Tarnol area nearby Rawalpindi, where he lives. His kidnappers threw him from the van and warned him “not to speak to the media.”

Prior to his abduction, Khan was due to fly to Europe and address German, Dutch and British parliamentarians about his experience with drone strikes and the work he has done as a journalist investigating strikes in the region. Also, according to Al Jazeera, he was to speak to “UK legislators in London and the International Criminal Court in The Hague.”

...

Parodying the late great Tennessee Ernie Ford,

...
If the drones don't get ya, then the state thugs will.
Ya dodge sick tin drones...

We are going through another of those periods in which it is dangerous to life and limb to be a journalist, especially a war journalist... and the dangers are not limited to the weaponry, or to the troops of just one side. And I wouldn't bet on its being confined to Pakistan in the long run.

Obama Targets Another American Citizen For Assassination By Drone

From Dennis Trainor Jr. at FDL, we learn that he's doing it again:

...

Two recent stories that shed new light on how the Obama administration utilizes drones in the war on terror came to light yesterday. First, Glenn Greenwald and Jeremy Scahill, via their new venture First Look revealed that:

... [please read the quotations for particulars — SB]

In a related story, the Associated Press reported on the “case of an American citizen and suspected member of al-Qaida who is allegedly planning attacks on U.S. targets overseas underscores the complexities of President Barack Obama’s new stricter targeting guidelines for the use of deadly drones.”

The AP was complying with a White House Request not to release the country where this American Citizen was located because this country, which the Los Angeles Times later revealed to be Pakistan, was not friendly to US Military intervention...

...

I'm sorry, but this is not the procedure our nation's founders envisioned for dealing with even the most vicious American criminal.

Obama's action is, on its face, unconstitutional: he is playing the roles of judge, jury and (virtual) executioner for an American citizen who has had no trial for the crime of which he is accused. That practice should be unacceptable to every American who ever (in any context) took an oath to that Constitution, and it is certainly unacceptable to me.

I am relieved that my late father did not live to see the day that a president... indeed, a Democratic president... took it upon himself to play all those roles in any case whatsoever. Lots of controversial terms for such a president come to mind, but I don't want to feed the right-wing noise machine...

‘... They're Taking My Rights Away’ — Laura Troth, 80‑Year‑Old Texan, Denied Voter ID

Via karoli at Crooks and Liars, we have Lisa Falkenberg at the Houston Chronicle (damned subscription required) writing about 80-year-old Texan Laura Troth. Here's karoli quoting Falkenberg:

I wonder what Cathy Engelbrecht from True the Vote would say to this 80-year old woman who just wants to cast her vote the way she has in every election before the last one.

Both times she tried, she was told there was something else, another document, another piece of proof she needed to convince the clerks that she's the woman pictured in her expired Texas driver's license.

"I just don't understand why they're trying to keep me from voting," says Troth, a former licensed vocational nurse who considers herself an independent. "To me, they're taking my rights away."

The feisty mother of seven - grandmother and great-grandmother to many more - doesn't take kindly to such things. Her ordeal started last year, when Troth says she was turned away from her voting precinct because she had only her voter registration card, not a photo ID.

Determined to vote, Troth says she had a friend of the family drive her to the DPS office that day to get a Texas ID. She presented the woman at the front desk with various forms of identification - her old driver license, her Social Security and Medicare cards - but was told she needed her birth certificate.

[...]

Troth says the same "rude" woman was at the front desk and, this time, the woman told her the birth certificate wasn't good enough because the name on it differed from her married name.

"I told them I didn't get married out of the womb," Troth says.

The elderly widow was instructed to come back with her marriage license. And not only that. Because she lives with her other daughter, Alana Troth, that daughter would have to come in person to verify her mother's residency.

Goddamned Republicans have a lot to answer for...

Robert Burgess Lynn (1930—2014)

My teacher, valued musical colleague, frequent ensemble conductor, thesis committee member, scholar of international repute, and dear friend, Dr. Robert B. Lynn, died yesterday. He was 83. Though not unexpected, his passing saddens me tremendously.

While I mull over what to say of this most influential person in my life, I'll simply quote the Pastor of the church at which Dr. Lynn directed and conducted performances of the Bach Society choir and orchestra:

Robert Burgess Lynn , born in Colorado Springs on St. Cecilia’s day in 1930, passed away February 11, 2014. A musicologist, organist, and harpsichordist, Robert’s BA degree (Phi Beta Kappa) was from Colorado College, followed by an MA in Organ from the Juilliard School of Music, and a PhD in Musicology from Indiana University. He was a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists. A Danforth Associate and Fulbright Scholar, he studied organ in Denmark with Finn Viderø. His studies in Denmark were postponed for several days when the family’s ship, the Stockholm, collided with the Andrea Doria, which sank.

Robert taught musicology for many years at Allegheny College and at the University of Houston where he also directed the Collegium Musicum, and the Graduate Studies Program. Named Professor Emeritus at the Moores School of Music in 1997, he was also a visiting professor at Rice University, Indiana University, and the University of Siegen. He was involved in the Houston Harpsichord Society. From 1982 to 2004, he was the founding director of the Houston Bach Choir and Orchestra at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Robert served as Director of Music and Organist at St. Francis Episcopal Church for 25 years, and also as interim organist at St. Christopher’s, and many other Episcopal and Lutheran churches which were blessed by his gifts.

Robert was a kind, quiet, brilliant person who loved words. His dry sense of humor lives on in his children. He loved learning, reading books in Danish and German, and traveling in Europe where he leaves many friends.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Geraldine and Harold Lynn, and his brother, Harold Lynn. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Steele Lynn, with whom he shared a hospital nursery at birth, and who was his sweetheart since 9th grade, including 62 years of marriage. Their children are Michael Lynn of Wellington, Ohio; Lisa Bailey of Denison, Texas and her spouse, Alvin; William Lynn of Houston and his spouse, Maria; and Sarah Elaine Lynn. Grandchildren who treasure their memories are Jeffrey and Robert E. L. Lynn, Christopher Bailey, Taylor Durr, Rachel Lynn, and Sarah Elizabeth Lynn. Robert always enjoyed the presence of children, including great- grandchildren Eric and Nicky Lynn.

The Rev. Dr. Robert G. Moore, Senior Pastor

Christ the King Lutheran Church

Robert B. Lynn, R.I.P. Those choirs of angels had better be well in tune...

(Try as I might, I cannot find a picture of Dr. Lynn online, or at hand around home. When I find one, I'll post it here.) My thanks to Lisa [Lynn] Bailey for kindly sending me the photo above.

Kitty News

This is about our visit yesterday on behalf of Esther's health. Referred by our regular veterinarian, we took her to a veterinary "clinic" (don't be fooled; the thing was a veritable hospital, in size, scope and prices) for a visit with a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Esther extends a foot in greeting

Esther, usually the most sociable of cats (with us and even with visitors to the house), had begun sticking tenaciously to her favorite place in the music room... moved from there by Stella, Esther would promptly return there. Looking for a cause, Stella noticed that one of Esther's eyes has some milky-cloudy spots in it. Our regular vet (actually her assistant vet) was somewhat concerned, but said their general-practice clinic did not have the necessary equipment to make a determination, other than to eliminate a few simple things by blood work.

The clinic/hospital didn't have that problem. They had special cameras to photograph Esther's eyes and lights to shine in them (both much to her annoyance). They had an ophthalmologist who IMHO was very impressive in the depth of her knowledge and her ability to express it.

So we started on a prioritized sequence of tests and treatments, prioritized starting with the least drastic in terms of difficulty of test, severity of disease, and cost of everything. It's a multi-week, multi-visit process. At the least (and most hoped for), it's some sort of inflammation that should be alleviated by a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory ointment (think: ibuprofen in an ointment) which Stella is applying this week; at the worst, it could be feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is fatal and incurable. Only time, preliminary treatment, and the application of large amounts of money will tell.

Tuesday Cat Porting; Chris Hedges Interviews Lynne Stewart

We are headed out in this awful weather to take our kitty Esther to... get this... an ophthalmologist. The problem with going to a high-priced veterinarian is that they feel free to refer to high-priced specialists located far from home. But it's Stella's kitty and Stella's decision. I'm along for the ride to comfort the cat, and of course Stella.

Lynne Stewart

While I'm gone (most of the day), please read Chris Hedges's article/interview of famous civil liberties/rights activist lawyer Lynne Stewart, who is just recently out of jail after four years of a ten-year prison sentence, released because she has terminal breast cancer. Bluntly speaking, she was imprisoned for doing her job, defending her client in the face of impossible odds and in the face of the PATRIOT Act. She failed to win her case in 1995, but after the infamous 9/11/2001 that was not good enough for John Ashcroft, George W. Bush and their unsavory crew when they came into office: Stewart's client was "Omar Abdel Rahman, an Egyptian Muslim known as 'the Blind Sheikh,' who was convicted in October of that year for alleged involvement in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center."

Stewart's crime, in short, was mounting a vigorous defense of Abdel Rahman when the government was determined to put him away for life... which they did. Stewart was sentenced to 28 months. When Barack Obama was elected president, "a federal appeals court under the Barack Obama administration demanded that the district judge reconsider her sentence. She was handed a new sentence by Koeltl—10 years." Message received: the right to trial by jury no longer extends to everyone, and if our government dislikes the accused, they have no problem taking revenge on his attorney. In this case, the government even used taped conversations between Stewart and Rahman as evidence against Stewart, a practice now legal but previously considered a blatant violation of attorney-client privilege.

This is a story to make you despair for the legitimacy of the judicial system in America. And when the courts become a tool of the executive, there is no more separation of powers... and we have no nation as our founders conceived it.

Glenn Greenwald Appears To Have Moved...

... to The Intercept, along with a dozen other stellar lights. Nothing fancy there, just a much-needed group of genuine reporters. See blogroll.

Yet Another NSA Lie: Despite NSA Claims, Metadata, Cell Phone Tracking Technology Used For Drone Strikes

Via DSWright of FDL, we have Jeremy Scahill and Glenn Greenwald:

...

According to a former drone operator for the military’s Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) who also worked with the NSA, the agency often identifies targets based on controversial metadata analysis and cell-phone tracking technologies. Rather than confirming a target’s identity with operatives or informants on the ground, the CIA or the U.S. military then orders a strike based on the activity and location of the mobile phone a person is believed to be using.

...

This is bad enough in itself... people use other people's cell phones all the time... but think about it: As various American police departments and other law enforcement agencies deploy drones within the United States, do you doubt for a moment that they will ultimately apply the same approach? Somewhere, the shade of J. Edgar Hoover is smiling his twisted smile...

[Muslim] Terrorist Hijacker Redirected To Different Airport, Foiled By [Orthodox Christian] Security Team

No big deal, right? Happens all the time, right? OK... now SWAP THE TWO BRACKETED DESCRIPTIONS IN THE SUBJECT ABOVE. THAT'S WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. The obvious point: "bad guys" are not always Muslim; Christians are not always "good guys." This should surprise no sensible American... but the operative word is "sensible."

GOPer Governors Just Can't Help Themselves

One would think Chris Christie's raw treatment of officials of communities that didn't support his run for governor would be burden enough for the GOP. But noooo... as Becky Bohrer at TPM/AP tells us,

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell said Friday that he wasn't threatening the Ketchikan Gateway Borough when he said its lawsuit against the state over school funding could "shade or color" reaction to the community's requests for state money to fund infrastructure projects.

Riiiight, no threat at all there; move along, folks...

It appears threatening tendencies are a character flaw that is damned nearly a requirement for leadership in the GOP. Why anyone would vote for people like this is a mystery to me.

(Maps not to relative scale.)

Are You American? If So, Please View...

... this cartoon strip. It says a mouthful, actually, an ink pen full.

All The Chocolate You'd Never Want To Eat!

 
For your morning smile, please see the full-size photo accompanying the article, Pope Francis Meets Giant Chocolate Pope. At least two commenters offered the quip, "Cuckoo for Cocopopes."

Pete Sessions (R‑TX) Teaches Us About Morality — Rand Paul (R‑KY) Teaches Us About Service

Both of these gentlemen might better be labeled (R-Hunger) because they believe it is "immoral" (Sessions) and a "disservice" (Paul) for the government to prevent the longterm unemployed and their families from starving. But I am willing to accept the "(R)" as a valid indicator of who they are and what they believe.

If by chance you believe otherwise, and you are a citizen of either Kentucky or the appropriate US House district in Texas, you can contribute to the moral education of these gentlemen, or do them a service, by unemploying them when their terms expire. After all, there is no teacher like experience!

GOPers Can't Even Decide What They Want For Christmas Debt Limit Increase

Sahil Kapur of TPM:

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) told reporters on Tuesday morning that the GOP conference still hasn't settled on what they'll demand from the White House in order to raise the debt ceiling.

He said GOP leaders have spoken to members and while there are "a lot of opinions about how to deal with the debt limit, no decisions have been made."

Republicans are considering options such as repealing the "risk corridors" in Obamacare and forcing President Barack Obama to approve the Keystone pipeline. But they're struggling to get the necessary votes for any approach.

...

The robber on the street walks up to you, puts his gun to your head and shouts, "Gimme something, uh, I don't know what! C'mon, give it to me! NOW!"

Awright, mothersticker...
this is a fuckup!

As for me, standing in amaze as once again the House GOP are about to make damned fools of themselves, I know what I say: "Go ahead. Make. My. Day!"

Food Stamps Cut By $8 Billion

We're supposed to be grateful: the GOPers wanted to whack $39 billion. I wonder how many of the Tea Party Starve-The-Poor caucus actually opened their Bibles to find out how Supply-Side Jesus told them to justify what they did. Failures as human beings; that's what they are... just plain evil, not merely ignorant.

BTW, altogether too many Democrats voted for the farm bill in spite of the food stamp cuts in it. Shame knows no political party.

Sherlock Lovers Take Note

The "No P•lice Like Holmes" panel near the bottom of the page is filling up quite nicely. It's not scholarly; it's just my personal impression of a great variety of Sherlock Holmes-related material, some of which you may find interesting if you like Holmes. See the blogroll index near the top of the left sidebar; click the silhouette of Holmes, and enjoy!

Kansas Attempting To Block City Broadband Internet Access Programs By State Law

This is hard to believe, but there it is, on Daily Kos:

... but not in Kansas!

... the state of Kansas Legislature[] took on a new target: Stop Google Fiber.   And not just google fiber, make sure that cities cannot invest in any broadband network technologies.

http://www.muninetworks.org/...

(1) Offer to provide to one or more subscribers, video, telecommunications or broadband service; or
(2) purchase, lease, construct, maintain or operate any facility for the purpose of enabling a private business or entity to offer, provide, carry, or deliver video, telecommunications or broadband service to one or more subscribers.

...

This is almost beyond comprehension, until you read the one-line postfix:

7:40 PM PT: This piece of legislation may be coming to a state near you. It's an ALEC proposal.

It is still a puzzle. Surely all broadband providers would be overjoyed if cities, towns and counties invested in their services. It must be something about the Internet itself: does ALEC perceive lefties as better than righties at using the Internet for political purposes? Do fundagelicals perceive the 'net as the devil's handiwork? C'mon, there's got to be a reason...

I know Texas has done some crazy things (e.g., from the state textbook committee), but I can't imagine any state where the employer base is highly dependent on 'net technology... and believe me, that describes the "awl bidness" in Texas, packed full and running over... would tolerate this kind of restriction. Can anyone inform me on just what aspect of full‑blown right‑wing bat‑shit craziness this reflects?

AFTERTHOUGHT: Reading the link pointed to by Kos (see above), which includes a quote from the law stating its purpose, leaves me even more puzzled. This is just plain nuts!

Obama's 'Imperial Presidency', Says GOP? He's Issued Fewest Executive Orders Since Grover Cleveland

Dylan Scott at TPM has the chart... and the baldfaced lie the GOP is telling about it.

Paul Simon

I am no fan of Obama, but hey, GOPers, you could at least complain about his legitimate failings instead of making shit up. But that's what GOPers do. Why, they even lifted the chorus from Paul Simon's famous song, The Boxer, for their own theme song:

"Lie, lie lie; / Lie, lie lie lie, lie lie lie; / Lie, lie lie..."

(Do click through to this Paris performance. They don't make 'em like Paul Simon anymore, and he's getting a bit old, but it certainly doesn't show in his live performances...)