Mickey Mouse, football and the United States.

As I walked throught the parking lot of my employer, I saw these three social golliaths afixed to a parked car covered with new rain.

A pair of black foam mouse ears and a foam football hung off the radio antenna of the late model sedan. A U.S. flag decal sat in the corner of its rear window.

Cars as billboards for a consumer culture masqerading as a free country.

As things continue to get scary in the Middle East, it's important that we not forget the behind-the-scenes machinations of the WTO and IMF. These organizations are responsible in their own way for a great deal of the terrorism-inducing poverty that exists in the world. By loan-sharking money to third-world countries and enforcing globalization - these organizations are helping create a new feudalism of frightening proportions.

The 1998 WTO protests in Seattle saw some of the first strong U.S. reactions to this. The 2001 G8 Summit in Genoa, Italy saw another uprising - with over 200,000 showing up to protest. Very little coverage of the violence and repression by police - as well as the subsequent rioting and death - was seen in the United States. But tonight, at the Clinton Street Theater, you can catch a two-hour documentary (Berlusconi's Mousetrap) of this historic protest.

To all who were arrested or stood in harms way last night...

Thank you for having the courage to take this anti-war movement to the next level. Instead of letting the power that has been generated fade away, your actions have made Portland proud again!

Please keep this energy going! The more people that see the truth and dignity in standing up against tyranny via protest and civil disobedience - the more will join the fight. Even in my 9-5 gig, I am seeing usually non-political people openly debating the wisdom of our government. I'm not saying they will be blocking bridges any time soon, but these are the people that we need to turn the tide. The moral compass of many is being tested in the light of this struggle, so the more we engage in direct action - the more people will be pushed to examine their conscience.

As someone who felt police wrath when George W. Bush's daddy was in town plugging Bob Packwood's candidacy - I understand and sympathize with those who actively engaged the police on the Steel bridge. In my opinion, riot gear and "nonleathal" response tactics only throw more fuel on the fire - rather than serving to defuse the situation.

My only word of caution to those on the front lines - is that we not resort to the same violence that is being brought to bear on us. Sit down, resist and force their hand. Make them move or arrest you. That is how we will win this phase of the struggle.

Once again, thank you all for standing strong. I will see you in the streets.

So, it's begun.

Without international support - and against the will of millions of Americans, we are at war. Is this any suprise? From the beginning, this U.S. led campaign has had it's eyes set on war with Iraq. Diplomacy was never really an option, only a delay of the inevitable.

Remembering back to the early days of the Bush administration, you can hear the echo of our current course.

The Axis of Evil. Iraq, Iran and North Korea.

Never mind the fact that these countries have done nothing to provoke the United States. On the contrary, we are seeking to bring them to war. Considering the leadership and location of these countries, the selection is not a suprise. They are led by easily demonized despots - some of whom found themselves in power as a result of previous U.S. foreign policy. The vicious cycle of our history is coming back to haunt us.

All along, the issue of profit keeps raising it's ugly head. It's painfully obvious that this war is less about Saddam as it is about the emergence of U.S. imperialism - driven by the interests of corporations and the military industrial complex. Money is about to be made on the backs of our troops, and it is their blood that will be on the hands of those chickenhawks in power who have abandoned reason for war.

As Senator Byrd said in Congress yesterday: "Today, I weep for my country."

Time flies.....so much has happened in the past week - I don't know where to begin.

The good news....we're not at war. Yet.

This Saturday (March 15th) you have yet another opportunity to voice your opinion on our militaristic foreign policy in Iraq. All across the United States this weekend, people are gathering to protest this "war".

What might prove to be the largest anti-war protest in the history of Portland will be staged at Waterfront Park, starting at 2pm. For all of you radical folks, there will be a feeder march forming the North Park Blocks (next to Burnside) at 1pm, that will be joining the main peace rally.

It's time to stand up and be counted!

More silly-ass behavior...

Police arrested a man in a New York mall after he refused to remove a "Give Peace a Chance" t-shirt at the request of mall security. What's more, he bought the t-shirt in the mall he was arrested at! In response to the incident, protestors are marching on the mall - as well they should.

In other news....

The U.S. is denying all allegations of surveillance on the U.N. Security Council. Big suprise.

also...

California's cruel and unusual Three-Strikes law has been upheld in the Supreme Court. This means that you can be given up to 25 years in prison for a minor felony - assuming it's your third. You can almost hear the growing prison industrial complex rubbing its hands with glee.

and finally....

If you live in Portland and you have an evening to kill - check out the mini-festival of banned war cartoons being shown at the Clinton Street Theater (which ends tomorrow night). Where else can you see Donald Duck dressed as a Nazi?

If this doesn't change your mind.....

In the latest outrage of the Bush Administration, an email from the NSA was leaked which detailed stepped up surveillance of U.N. Security Council members- especially poorer members - who might swing the vote over to the Coalition of the Coerced.

Believe it. This is what democracy looks like.

Also....

Get ready for more arrests. CIA agents claim to have a top al-Queda official in custody - and have been interrogating him using "all appropriate pressure" (torture, maybe?). Expect the Feds to start rounding up more people in the name of Homeland Security.

This guy is the "suspected mastermind" behind 9-11. So why haven't we heard about him? I thought Osama Bin Laden was the mastermind? Where did he disappear to? Do we even care about him - or is it really all about Saddam?

Hmmm....

And finally,

So, the allergy drug Claratin becomes an over-the-counter drug - which theoretically would make it cheaper, right?

Instead of paying a $5 - $10 co-pay for a 30 day prescription, people are now forced to shell out $6 - $12 for a ten-day supply. Who benefits? Health insurance companies. And the result? Increased theft of Claratin from the shelves.