I can't believe it's not a democracy!

So I am thinking about getting a smart phone.

Don't know what I will get, but I know what service provider I WON'T be using: SPRINT.  I have Sprint with an "older plan," which apparently ended but no one told me.  I almost never use the phone, but I had to last month because of a family emergency (my nephew broke his leg in three places and had to have surgery). The one time I really needed it, after being a subscriber for 14 years, and for reasons no one can explain, I was charged international roaming charges, and a 27 minute call from Brooklyn to New Jersey cost $99.  And the reps keep acting like it's my fault because of the towers in my neighborhood and because I am on an older, discontinued plan.  No one told me that my old plan doesn't exist any more of whatever.  Not even this past weekend, when I went to the Sprint store to see about upgrading to a smart phone and the clerk asked for my cell phone number to check out my plan.  No, not even then. 

Ok, Sprint is out, which means Virgin and Credo too.  Great.  So what's left that isn't the sociopathic assholes at AT&T (they allowed the government to put equipment in a "special room" to datamine all our communication) or the assholes at Verizon?

I am so glad I never voted for this monster:

President Obama will take the "political risk" of formally proposing cuts to Social Security and Medicare in his annual budget in an effort to demonstrate his willingness to compromise with Republicans. No risk to Obama, he's in his second and last term. The fucking congressional democrats, on the other hand, had better stop this or the republicans might win when democrats don't show up in 2014.

And I don't care if this is a fucking trial balloon. No democrat should ever allow cuts to social security or medicare to be offered to make a deal. No doubt this is part of Obama's 11th-dimensional chess and we are too stupid to see how brilliant this plan is--that is what his fanbots are saying, I'm guessing. Here's what I think it comes down to: Obama is in the big leagues. After his second term, he will make millions giving speeches and doing "good works"--and I mean real millions, like more than $100 million, and in short order. He will be going to resorts we don't even know exist. Rubbing shoulders with the rich criminal families of Europe, Asia, North and South America, and African despots. He and his wife and kids will never wont for a thing. So why should he care if his social security check is a little smaller? And yes, I don't think he or his circle understand just how important this is to the average joe. Sadly, I don't think they give a shit either. They are taken care of.

Meanwile, in Afghanistan...

Afghan suicide bomber kills anti-terror chief. I recall seeing the same headline a few months back. Apparently the Afghan anti-terror chief du jour is the twin of Al Qaeda's number two. You know, the guy who gets killed by the U.S. military every four months or so.

And why are we there again? I recall hearing about a pipeline that was supposed to go from Whereverthefuckistan through Lawlessratholeistan and deliver some fossil fuel to an awaiting tanker, but surely our media would tell us whether "Operation Destroy the Earth so a Handful of Fuckers Can Own Everything for Five Minutes" was on track. Let me check Yahoo's! front page. Hmmm, Italian tourist arrested for forgetting wallet at NYC steakhouse, ideal time to book flights, Lindsay Lohan says "no" to Dancing With the Stars....

Extent of parasitic activity in the UK revealed:

Secret papers show extent of senior royals' veto over bills; Court order reveals how approval of Queen and Prince Charles is sought on range of bills. That this parasitic family is ceded authority to do anything other than decide which car window they will use to wave to the masses is a fucking insult. I hope the Brits are appropriately outraged and kick this unless institution to the fucking curb. Getting people to accept that some people are breed to rule because a super special sperm met a magical egg is exactly how we get to the lack of prosecutions with the Goldman designed financial crisis. Some people are too special to prosecute. Some people must be consulted before bills may advance. What a shame that the French Revolution and the end of the Romanov family didn't send a strong enough message to these filthy self-appointed elites. They never learn.

Don't blame me, I voted for Jill Stein, M.D.:

Monster in the white house wants you to live like a pauper in your old age. And why not? He'll never have to rely on social security, and neither will his kids. Oh, and according to the comments, that old multi-millionairess Nancy Pelosi is cool with it. And why not, she'll never have to rely on social security, etc. You know what? Next time I may not even vote. Someone tell me why I should bother. No, really.

The thing that would not die:

Italian prime minister intends to resign: Hours after former PM Berlusconi announces comeback bid, Mario Monti says he will leave office after budget is passed. Meanwhile, Italy's uber rich monsters laugh and remind themselves to send a few Euros and a thank-you note to their pals Mario and Silvio. Well done, lads!

A national disgrace:

Court hears of Bradley Manning's treatment in custody. Notes the Guardian: Military commanders at the marine base in Quantico in Virginia kept Bradley Manning, the WikiLeaks suspect, on extreme suicide-prevention measures because he engaged in "erratic dancing" and played peek-a-boo, the soldier's court martial has been told. The measures were likened by the UN to torture.

Click the link and read the whole thing. It isn't long, but it's brutal. Bradley Manning is a hero. He tried to get someone to act to stop the criminal behvior he saw when in Iraq, and when all the official options were exhausted, he gave damning evidence to Wikileaks. No doubt the assholes guarding him at Quantico got bonuses and commendations. In a just world, Eric Holder would have to live the rest of his miserable life in Manning's former cell. Instead, I have no doubt that his corporate masters will reward him for looking the other way during his tenure as AG. I thought Fredo was awful, but this guy is worse. Meanwhile, Obama's administration continues to go after the whistleblowers, while stroking the criminals on Wall Street. And etc.

Arrested? He deserves a fucking medal:

Greece arrests editor for 'Lagarde list' leak. Detained journalist defends publishing list of well-known Greeks who allegedly use Swiss banks to evade national taxes.. (Mostly) Everyone knows that (most) governments exist at/for the pleasure of the obscenely rich, but with Greece on edge, you would think the "leaders" would at least put on a show and praise this guy while letting their uber rich go unmolested. But the uber rich and their whores never know when to stop. And so the people will have to determine when that happens.

Filthy fucking financial fucks:

Do you have any idea how to trade the next war? Find out!. Some blogger at marketwatch, a douchebag named Coddy Willard, actually wrote this shit:

A lot of folks out there think that war with Iran is a matter of when, not if. Do you know the best way to trade a war? What have stocks done historically when war breaks out? Let me start by stating my utter disdain for war, how vocal I have been and remain in fighting the warmongers from the Republican/Democrat Regime, and how any soldier can get all of my services for free, including the new game, by emailing us at support@tradingwithcodycom. Despite all of that, I spend my career helping people navigate such realities.

Aw, how big of him. Cody disdains war, but wars happen, so someone should make a buck off of them, no? So, do I know how to "trade the next war?" No, but I know who I hope is named as the first casuality. Take a guess.

A: Professional Courtesy!

Q: Why did the TSA hired a defrocked priest without a background check? I'll be here all week.

Thanks to JDM for the link.