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01/29/2003 Archived Entry: "Bomfog"

Bomfog...that is my response to Bush's State of the Union. It is the acronym that cynical journalists -- bless 'em!, bring 'em on -- applied to the speeches of Nelson Rockefeller. It means Brotherhood Of Man, Fatherhood of God. Bomfog. Also known as bomfoggery.

Bush promised tax cuts, a cleaner environment, better medical care, a reformation of medical liability, safety from terrorism, a noble war, security for pension plans, the blessing of God, more jobs, a $6 billion Bioshield to protect against bioweapons ....and every child will have a better education. Couldn't he leave even *one* child alone?

No wonder American consumer confidence is at a 9-year low.

I will be looking for insightful analysis...but I don't expect to be overwhelmed. Daniel Ellsberg, source of the Pentagon Papers, has an excellent interview on the irresponsibility of the American press. But there are glittering exceptions.

Here in Canada, the government is cautiously siding with France and Germany in requiring a UN declaration before embracing war. Will Canada send troops if the US goes it alone? -- the sycophant UK doesn't count. In answering this question, the Bloc Quebecois may be definitive. Canadians have a long history of politically pandering to Quebec and, in this case, Vive La Belle Province! Quebec doesn't want to jump through US hoops and the presence of Britain makes the Quebecois even more obdurant.

Ariel Sharon has won a "crushing" victory in yesterday's Israeli election. War, war, war...

For the "be careful what you believe" file...a spanking new urban legend is making the e-rounds. The petition opens, "Today 25 Congresswomen in the US House of Representatives walked out and refused to participate in the vote to give Bush war powers." Ignore it.

On the Personal/Movement Front:

The LA Times ran an "adequate" obituary on the wonderful Virginia Heinlein, which opened, "Virginia Heinlein, who gave her husband, science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein, the idea for his acclaimed 1961 novel "Stranger in a Strange Land" and inspired many of the strong female characters in his stories, died Jan. 18 at a retirement community in Atlantic Beach, Fla. She was 86." I offer my respects.

The enjoyable SF author Spider Robinson mentions "Ginny" in his Globe and Mail article on the recent Supreme court decision re: the Sonny Bono Act, which extends copyright protection by 20 years. I do not believe in copyright and patents as they currently exist...but the article is an interesting read.

A final word...for some while, I have been trying to find Maria Martinho who attended an IHS or Cato seminar about eighteen years ago. Maria is Portuguese, living in the US, and formerly employed by IBM (as I remember). I would appreciate any assistance in contacting her.

Stay safe and sane, my friends,
mac