You won’t see these clips on your sanitised nightly TV News bulletins. This is the reality of the so-calledWAR on TERROR in Iraq. Real people being killed with real bullets and real bombs everyday.
It’s hard to know how to describe the FACES OF THE FALLEN website, produced and maintained by the WASHINGTON POST newspaper. In one regard, it’s a brilliant, well designed tribute to the men and women, many of them just 18yo and 19yo, who have been KILLED while on military duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. On the other hand, that such a site has a need to exist makes it sad and depressing.
As of today, March 31st 2007, there have been 3597 officially killed in action. That’s 2.5 per day since beginning of the US led invasion of Iraq in March of 2003. And lets not forget, this is just the figure for the USA military forces. The number for the Iraqi’s killed is estimated to be just over 30,000 by the Official US Military sources. Others such as the UN and UK’s Ministry Of Defence estimate that over 34,000 Iraqi’s were killed in 2006 alone, and cite an approximate figure of closer to 350,000 dead since March 2003.
I hope it’s all been worth it. Luckily the world no longer has to worry about the Weapons Of Mass Destruction that were the justification for invading Iraq in the first place. Oh… wait a minute… we all seem to have forgotten that there WERE NO WEAPONS EVER FOUND. That the whole fear factor and scare campaign was possibly even fabricated by those with a vested interest in creating an ongoing military action in Iraq under the guise of a "war" so they can sell their weapons, munitions, supplies and support services to the military, and get paid in full, on time with giant cheques signed by the US Congress and funded by the US taxpayers.
I urge you to spend 5-10 minutes clicking on some of the FACES OF THE FALLEN and relate their stories to the people in your life of similar age and circumstance, and ponder what it must mean for the 3597 families, and those of countless number on the Iraqi side.
Lets wrap up for now with these thoughts… The official end of "Combat Operations" in Iraq was May 1st 2003. George W Bush and his people marked the occasion with a staged publicity stunt we all still remember. You know, the one where George lands on an aircraft carrier in the back seat of a military jet, then gives his speech in front of
Have a look at this graph of total USA casualties, and note the number since the "end" of the "war" May 2003. Can you can see what’s wrong with this picture ? What’s even scarier (for the USA) is they are now sending MORE people over to Iraq.
Saturday’s MOTD takes us back to the glory days for Aussie pop/rock band INXS. In this live 1984 performance filmed in NARARA, NSW of ORIGINAL SIN from the album THE SWING, we get to see the late MICHAEL HUTCHENCE’S bad-80’s-hair in all it’s boofy glory.
I only ever saw them live once myself with Mikey at the helm, and I only went to that concert to see the support band, Urge Overkill, but I have to say… INXS really tore it up and the tight on-stage musicianship of the Farris Brothers led group is world class.
Larry has not left his bed, let alone his fifth floor apartment in over ten years. Weighing a colossal 320kg, Larry is too big even for robes or gowns, let alone clothes. Instead he spends his days virtually naked, slowly eating himself towards death. Larry is addicted to food, consuming over 14,000 calories in an average day. More than six times what is recommended for an adult male. You have to watch this story (below) to truly appreciate how seriously MESSED UP this whole situation is.
The man is clearly being mal-treated by his carers, yet they seem almost as oblivious to the issues as Larry himself. Or at the very least, afraid to confront him about them. Probably afraid of being SAT on. At one point his family tries to shock him by showing him the total amount of food he eats in a day (a whole table FULL of food) . Larry just laughs, saying he used to eat TWICE that amount when he was young, and proceeds to sit down and scoff the lot.
After watching the story I have some questions of my own that were not covered by the reporter:
Where does the MONEY come from to PAY for all this food ?
How STRONG is the TOILET in Larry’s apartment ?
How does Larry even REACH around to wipe ?
When was the last time Larry saw his FEET ?
When does this situation go from being just a "funny" story with giggling relatives to a MEDICAL and HUMAN WELFARE issue.
When does someone step in and say "Enough-is-enough, I cannot stand by any longer and watch you people KILL this man. He needs medical help to treat a serious addiction."
Society chooses to treat it’s alcoholics. Society chooses to treat it’s narcotics users. Society chooses to treat people with mental and psyhcological illnesses. Society chooses to enforce this treatment against the will of the patient when it’s considered by Society to be "for their own good".
So, WHEN does somebody in the Society of Larry’s life decide that Larry needs involuntary medical treatment "for his own good" ? If Larry were an animal, say a horse, or cow, then Society would have stepped in long ago and put a stop to this ridiculous farce, for the welfare of the individual.
A big THANKS to everyone who joined the WIGGUMDAILYAFL TIPPING COMP for 2007. Round 1 action is under way and some interesting results so far. Results and the WD Tipping Leaderboard will be available the day after the completion of each AFL round by clicking the
As I already mentioned, the final breakup of prizes is yet to be finalised but will appear in an update here on the front page, as well as on the AFL TIPS pages. It’s not too late to join and share in the AUD$100 prize pool. Entry is FREE and you can join by clicking THIS LINK to take you straight to the official AFL Tipping Website. Full details on the AFL TIPS page.
It still FRIDAY FUNDAY at WiggumDaily and here’s one of my favourite things on the internet from recent times. Our MOTD is actually the "rap" from a low budget TV commercial for one of those discount furniture warehouse complex dealy’s. This is GREAT and worth watching several times. The song really gets stuck in your head, but it’s not a bad thing. Once you get that beat pattern into your brain, you’ll start talking and thinking things using the same style.
It’s a beautiful thing. And I urge you to also learn the Mini-Mall Dance.
The ad is actually for FLEA MARKET - MONTGOMERY in Alabama, USA. Originally the spot rose to fame being billed as "Worst Commercial Ever" which I think is hugely unfair. There are PLENTY of ad’s out there, FAR more terrible that this. The mini-mall ad stars the large and ample frame of the owner SAMMY STEPHENS who also wrote the words, and music for the flea-market rap. At least he’s DOING stuff and putting himself out there to support his business… and have some fun at the same time.
Keep an eye out for "Harry High Pants" and the "Bug Eyed Monster" who also "appear" during the commercial. I’m never growing tired of this.
"...stunning movie featuring Jupiter and moons recorded last Thursday from the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. In fact, three Jovian moons and two red spots are ultimately seen in the full video as they glide around the solar system’s ruling gas giant."
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