Cheap Blogging Crutch 08.14

False ‘Death Panel’ Rumor Has Some Familiar Roots
The New York Times takes a look at the origins of the 'death panel' lie. Turns out it didn't spring forth from the bubbling foul stench of Satan's black cauldron. It actually came from right wing editorial boards and from long time anti-health reform advocate Betsey McCaughey, a woman who would stab you in the gut with a Bowie knife if she thought it would make a nickel for a corporation. May God reward them with a gift of flaming rocks from the sky.

Six Lobbyists Per Lawmaker Work on Health Overhaul
You know ho many lobbyists there are for each elected representative? Yeah, it is six. How'd you know? You read the headline? Get fucked, smart guy. Still six per lawmaker and over a quarter of a billion spent on lobbying just this year. You do have to marvel at the effort to make sure we all get fucked just as roughly crudely as we all deserve. They aren't even going to leave a buck on the dresser. We're giving them a freebie. Feel good about health care reform yet?

Progress Over Perfection
Paul Begala begins the first of many steps that people are taking to convince everyone that the big shit sandwich that we're all about to bite into is a delicious and nutritious first step. He gives two examples: the severely lacking elements of original Social Security bill and his own failures during President Bubba's attempt to pass health care. Good points to be made, but it still doesn't make me understand why we should all be so excited and thankful that the people we supposedly elected to do this specific thing are so willingly and freely giving up the store for no discernible return.

NASA Wants To Move The Earth
So there are three ways to stop global warming. 1) Curb the burning of fossil fuels and pollutants that are spewed into the atmosphere. 2) Drop a large ice cube in the ocean ala Futurama. 3) Move the earth away from the sun, possibly to a gated community far away from the more ethnic and swarthy looking planets. You'll be happy to know that NASA is making plans to follow idea #3. It involves rockets, comets, and "basic rocket science". Maybe you're overstepping your bounds here, NASA. Want to work on getting back to the moon first?

Opening up the BBC’s natural history archive
The BBC's Natural History Unit, the group that produces pretty much anything worth watching about the planet, is finally moving their copious archives, programs, and video online. Sure it lacks the pizazz of shark themed weeks or documentary gawking at American brood mares and their possum like litters of children, but give the Brits a chance and I'm sure you'll like their stuff.