Don Parker, Ink.

Obama Speaks to Children in Congress, Adults in High School

2009-09-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

This week, in a nationally televised event, President Barack Obama addressed children on the brink of adulthood, urging them to work hard, set goals, stay at it when things get tough, and assured them that one day they would be able to help solve the nation's challenges.

On the previous day, he gave a speech at Wakefield High School in suburban Virginia, which was televised to the nation's students.

Wakefield students were far more polite, respectful, and civilized in their treatment of the President of the United States than were many of the Republicans in his address to a Joint Session of Congress.

No student yelled at him, calling him a liar. Students didn't hold up signs and papers objecting to the points he was making. And none of the students booed him.

The same cannot be said of the Republicans posing as adults in the nation's capital.

Those Republicans chose to follow the lead of the sputtering ruffians who disrupted last month's town halls with angry threats and behavior that makes European soccer fans seem mild mannered. In the august setting of the United States Capitol, they showed the whole world their childishness (my apologies to actual children), their lack of ideas, and their refusal to work for solutions. They just don't know how to play nice.

The dwindling number of adults in the Republican Party can only hope that some day their colleagues will learn from the high school students, grow up, and at least act like they're civilized.

Maybe it's time for remedial kindergarten lessons for Republicans. Or take away their hall passes and send them to detention.

Originally posted at: HuffingtonPost.com/don-parker/

Republicans Demand Equal Access to Schoolchildren

2009-09-04T23:55:00.000-07:00

Amid the uproar over President Obama's grand scheme to use subliminal brainwashing to mesmerize and indoctrinate America's schoolchildren into his cult of personality, Republicans today demanded equal access to young minds so they could counterbalance the president's dangerous message.

The RNC gained an advance copy of President Obama's speech in which he will urge students to work hard at school, do their homework, stay in school through graduation, and set goals for their work and their lives.

"We can't allow him to advance this insidious, socialist agenda," said a Republican House Member from Minnesota speaking to this reporter through thick glass and a peep hole from her asylum. She asked to remain nameless and added that House Minority Leader John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are wrapped in an epic battle to be the messenger.

"We Republicans will make our stand in opposition to this Kenyan-born/illegal-alien/Manchurian-Candidate and save America's most precious resource," said the representative, holding her slit wrists together.

"The Republican message, of course, is to tell kids to not work hard, don't do your homework, don't stay in school, and don't set goals.

"Only then can we expect a new generation of Republican voters."

Originally posted at: HuffingtonPost.com/don-parker/

'Outlaw Mother's Milk' Says Drug Czar

2009-08-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

[Author's note: this was originally posted at The Huffington Post. It has since popped up all over the 'net. And apparently many people don't understand satire, because many of the quotes I made up for the Drug Czar have been reprinted as if he actually said them. For the record, the words in the very first quote in the first paragraph are his actual words, as are the words in the last quote, in the penultimate paragraph. The others come from my twisted sense of humor. --Don]

After declaring on Wednesday in Fresno that "marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit," Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy said the next target will be "the biggest gateway drug of all, mother's milk."

While ramping up efforts to ensure that no human suffering can be relieved by doctors prescribing marijuana, Kerlikowske said his office will soon begin two new initiatives: first, to outlaw breast feeding and baby formula; and then a campaign to urge teenagers to avoid marijuana by increasing their use of alcohol and tobacco.

"It is the strong belief of the current White House Office that the Bush Administration's opposition to so-called science was well founded." Kerlikowske said. "We will soon publish evidence that gravity is a myth, water runs uphill, and hot air doesn't rise.

"We're also reexamining dubious and ridiculous claims that the earth allegedly revolves around the sun," said Kerlikowske, known affectionately as the Drug Czar. "And, contrary to popular opinion and centuries of scientific evidence, we know the earth is flat.

"Furthermore, the moisture some call 'rainfall' is actually God's tears."

A reporter pointed out to the Drug Dictator that marijuana has been found to have many medicinal uses by the Institute of Medicine, American Nurses Association, American Public Health Association, American Academy of HIV Medicine, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Lymphoma Foundation of America, and numerous other medical and scientific research organizations.

"Poppycock and balderdash," Kerlikowske sputtered.

"Who are you going to believe? Me, a lifetime cop, or a bunch of wimpy doctors and nurses and pantywaist scientists in frilly white lab coats?" asked Kerlikowske, who was the Seattle Police Chief before being named as Drug Despot by the president.

"All patriotic, red-blooded Americans should ignore the medical research of the federal government and the private sector."

Asked why the Drug Tyrant would recommend teenagers should use more alcohol and tobacco, Kerlikowske said he believes marijuana must be stamped out at any cost.

"Yes, it's true that each year hundreds of thousands of Americans die from using alcohol and tobacco and no one has ever died of an overdose of marijuana," Kerlikowske said. "But if you factor out drunk driving auto accidents, hardly any of those dying from alcohol and tobacco are teenagers. It's mostly middle-aged and older people. And hell, they were going to die eventually anyway.

"And yes, we will propose legislation to outlaw breast feeding and baby formula. Mother's milk and formula are both gateway drugs. It's been proven that almost all heroin, cocaine, and crystal meth addicts started out on either mother's milk or formula as babies. Formula is the methadone of baby nutrition."

Asked about widespread efforts in many states to legalize or decriminalize marijuana and to tax it, Kerlikowske told a reporter from the Fresno Bee, "Legalization is not in the president's vocabulary, and it's not in mine."

Kerlikowske added that other words not in his vocabulary include compassion, pain and suffering, the scientific method, and evidence.

Auto-Tune the News

2009-05-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

These fun videos are from the Gregory Brothers via the "Rachel Maddow Show."

Auto-Tune the News: Obama Flashback

Miss California! Gay Marriage! Weed! Auto-Tune the News!

Early Susan Boyle Recording: "Cry Me a River" (1999)

2009-04-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

Like millions of people around the world, including Simon Cowell, I was stunned and inspired by Susan Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent. She talks like my Scottish grandmother and sings like an angel.

Now we can hear an earlier, jazzier Boyle. According to The Daily Record, a Scottish newspaper, she sang this version of "Cry Me a River" for a charity CD in 1999. The Daily Record also reports that Menagerie Entertainment, an American company run by a Scot, has offered her a recording contract in the United States. She said it's too early for that and she wants to take "baby steps."

I've often wondered what the world was like for artists -- actors, dancers, singers, writers, directors -- before the 20th century brought movies, radio, and television. Each town or village had their own performing artists or ones who traveled from nearby towns. Many more people found acclaim even if only in a smaller realm. But mass entertainment makes huge celebrities of a few and relegates many others, often just as talented, to lesser notice.

Susan Boyle, and Paul Potts before her in the 2006 Britain's Got Talent, remind us that talented people are everywhere. And I hope they inspire many of us to take the plunge and put ourselves out there with whatever talents we've hidden or let wither.

When I win the Pulitzer Prize and later the Nobel Prize for Literature, I'll thank Susan Boyle in my acceptance speeches.

Until her first album comes out, which Cowell has already predicted will be number one in America, we can enjoy this earlier recording.

Perfected: The Ann Coulter Song

2009-04-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

After seeing that she had been fooled on April Fools Day (see below), I was reminded again that the ever gracious Ann Coulter only wants for each of us to be like her ... perfected. Here's a tribute from Barely Political to that search for perfection, featuring singer/songwriter Leah Kaufmann, who was also the voice behind "I Got a Crush on Obama." (And yes, for those of you who saw this a long time ago, I'm painfully behind the times, but I still think it's great.)

Media Matters - April Fools: Ann Coulter falls for fake Obama NASCAR story

Source: mediamatters.org

Ann Coulter fell for a fake April Fools' Day article by Car and Driver that claimed President Obama ordered GM and Chrysler to cease their participation in NASCAR because it is an "unnecessary expenditure."

Her Morning Elegance

2009-02-24T22:26:00.000-08:00

My favorite video of late, from Oren Lavie. I discovered this ... just after waking from a series of delicious dreams ... at a lovely blogsite: Life at Willow Manor. Willow discovered it via another beautiful site: The Clever Pup. So thanks Oren, Willow, and Clever Pup. All three are well worth spending time with.

Now, join the nearly four million people who have viewed this video. And read the lyrics below.

Her Morning Elegance
by Oren Lavie

Sun been down for days
A pretty flower in a vase
A slipper by the fireplace
A cello lying in its case

Soon she's down the stairs
Her morning elegance she wears
The sound of water makes her dream
Awoken by a cloud of steam
She pours a daydream in a cup
A spoon of sugar sweetens up

And She fights for her life
As she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain
As it pours
And she fights for her life
As she goes in a store
With a thought she has caught
By a thread
She pays for the bread
And She goes...
Nobody knows

Sun been down for days
A winter melody she plays
The thunder makes her contemplate
She hears a noise behind the gate
Perhaps a letter with a dove
Perhaps a stranger she could love

And She fights for her life
As she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain
As it pours
And she fights for her life
As she goes in a store
With a thought she has caught
By a thread
She pays for the bread
And She goes...
Nobody knows

And She fights for her life
As she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain
As it pours
And she fights for her life
Where people are pleasantly strange
And counting the change
And She goes...
Nobody knows

A Homecoming (Drag) Queen? 2009? or 1967?

2009-02-20T22:56:00.000-08:00

George Mason University elects a Homecoming (Drag) Queen. Sign of the times? Evidence of a new acceptance of diversity, as the new queen says?

Well, harken back to 1967 when TCU students elected a homecoming queen named Mason Dixon. A male homecoming queen. 1967? Texas! Christian! University!

Ryan Allen, who performs as drag queen Reann Ballslee in DC area clubs, is making headlines and being featured on news shows across America this week. I say more power to both Ryan and Reann.

I wasn't at TCU in 1967 so I don't know the details. And okay, maybe a man didn't win. Maybe he was just a candidate. But don't spoil my story with facts. What I know is that his name was Mason Dixon. He caused a stir and became legendary.

By the way, George Mason? Mason Dixon Line? Mason Dixon, Queen? Two degrees -- or lines -- of separation.

And I wouldn't have remembered the year, but I Googled it and sure enough it was a trivia question in The TCU Magazine's Winter 2008 issue.

If you're really bored, you can see the full quiz here. I'm betting on mouse (aka kimy) and her mousemate (aka f) to know some of the answers. But here are a few of my favorite questions in the quiz: (the answers are here)

The TCU You May Not Know Quiz
By The TCU Magazine staff

1.Which former TCU gridiron star played the lead role of Ranger Tom King in a serial Western titled "King of the Texas Rangers?"
a) Davey O'Brien
b) Jim Swink
c) Sammy Baugh
d) Bob Lilly

9. When early TCU officials were searching for an appropriate mascot back in the late 1890s, the runner-up to the Horned Frog was what?
a) Prairie dog
b) Cactus
c) Fire ant
d) Bullfrog

15. In 1949, TCU became the first university in the nation to offer a four-year degree in:
a) Physical Therapy
b) Ballet
c) Astrophysics
d) Photojournalism

21. What TCU football legend went on to a career in the FBI?
a) Davey O'Brien
b) Jim Swink
c) Sam Baugh
d) Rags Matthews

Libraries, Erasmus, and Gutenberg

2009-02-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

Speaking of the wonderment of libraries, as many are today, I remember one of my favorite quotations:

When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.
--Desiderius Erasmus, 1466-1536

And remember, when he said this books were as new and revolutionary as the Internet is to us today.

So today especially, let us salute Johannes Gutenberg who made all these books possible by inventing movable type and the printing press. (Wikipedia's entry on Gutenberg gives a brief, fascinating look at his life and his influence on the Renaissance, in the context of that amazing time.)

On the other hand, his inventions probably cost the jobs of many scribes who had been painstakingly copying every book by hand until then. I wonder if their guild transitioned them into making movable type and running the new printing presses.

Gutenberg. The first union buster?

Aerosmith, Rep. Cantor, Hookers, and Hypocrisy

2009-02-16T22:09:00.000-08:00

After Rep. Eric Cantor, the House Republican Whip, released an ad touting the Republican "victory" over the Democrats in the battle over the stimulus legislation, Aerosmith sent Cantor the following letter thanking him for promoting "Back in the Saddle," their song about hookers in a saloon town:

Dear Rep. Cantor,

Thanks for promoting our song about the hooker Sukie Jones. You and Sukie are made for each other. You've moved up from being the Chief Deputy Whip to Republican Whip in the 111th Congress. And her speciality is whipping bad boys like you.

Yeah, you and your Republican friends outflanked the Democrats in the stimulus battle. You showed them what a real stimulus plan should be about, didn't you, Mr. Republican Whip? Hookers, right?

I'm back
I'm back in the saddle again
Ridin' into town alone
By the light of the moon
I'm looking for ole' Sukie Jones
She crazy horse saloon
Barkeep gimme a drink

You left no doubt where your mind is when you picked our song. Maybe your constituents can't hear the words. But we know you like any song about a saddle-sore cowpoke riding into a saloon town of soakin' wet girls to get some time in the rack with his four-bit hooker.

Umm...come easy, go easy
Alright 'til the rising sun
I'm calling all the shots tonight
I'm like a loaded gun
Peelin' off my boots and chaps
I'm saddle sore
Four bits gets you time in the racks
I scream for more

Fools' gold out of their mines
The girls are soaking wet
No tongue's drier than mine
I'll come when I get back

And, we bet we're not the only ones who thought it was funny when your staff sent out the old AFSCME ad with the bogus sound track full of obscenities. Pretty funny. You, the bastion of conservatism who always defends America against swear words. I bet your constituents in the Bible Belt got the joke.

Hope you don't bleep all the good parts in our song when you find out what we're singing about. But, hey, you won't. That was your point, right?

I'm back in the saddle again
I'm riding, I'm loading up my pistol
I'm riding, I really got a fistful
I'm riding, I'm shining up my saddle
I'm riding, this snake is gonna rattle

Of course, we almost forgot. Your friend, Sen. David Vitter, has probably introduced you to ol' Sukie. He knows all the hookers from New Orleans to Washington.

And just imagine what you and Vitter get into on your foreign junkets. (Junkets? Where do you guys come up with these words?) I bet the taxpayers are glad to pay for all that. You guys need a break now and then.

You're known for going on the House floor to rail against swear words and how they're destroying America. But with Sukie, you can say all the bleeped words from the ads you and your staff promote. She'll spank your skinny butt every time you yell one. She'll even dress like your mother if you like that better than her leather boots and metal-studded pants suit. Or ... is that what your mom wore, too?

So, get back in the saddle again, Mr. Whip. And beg Sukie to whip you. Harder. Make it hurt. You're a bad boy, Eric.

Your buddies,
Aerosmith

Princess of Hearts

2009-02-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

This Valentine's Day art is by Kylie Shea, who is five years old and in her kindergarten year of a fellowship at the Beall Elementary School, College of Fine Arts. This piece and her earlier work are currently on exhibit in a one-woman show at the Great Falls Gallery in Rockville, Maryland, under the curatorship of Brad and Julie Parker. For future exhibition dates or to request a personal viewing, please contact her agent, Don Parker.

Only in Hawai'i - a Red Tornado

2009-02-12T15:53:00.000-08:00

It's rare to see a tornado in Hawai'i. I lived there twice and never saw one, but I saw many in my years in Texas.

But you have to hand it to Hawai'i. When they have one, it's a beauty. Only in Hawai'i do they have red tornadoes. (Or is it tornados? Does anyone have Dan Quayle's phone number? Or Louis Armstrong's? "You like potato and I like potahto, You like tomato and I like tomahto. Potato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto, Let's call the whole thing off.)

Watch this for a minute or so and it gets redder. And there's a second one behind it and to the left.

And here's a rougher, but closer, view:

Please Don't Divorce Our Families

2009-02-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

If you can watch this video with dry eyes, you're tougher than me. It has beautiful music and lots of beautiful people who just want to stay married and keep their families despite the hate-mongering of Ken Starr and Proposition 8.

Courage Campaign | Watch "Fidelity" and sign the letter to the state Supreme Court

Source: www.couragecampaign.org

We, the undersigned, share President Barack Obama's view that "for too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live ...

Comcast's Snarky Assessment of Sully and the Flight 1549 Crew

2009-02-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

Here's how Comcast describes the Letterman show tonight, word for word. Personally, I could do without their snarky, judgmental assessment of these fine people at the end of the listing. (And they misspelled Sully's first name.)

"Late Show With David Letterman
Tue, Feb 10, 11:35p - 12:37a
029 WUSA
New, (2009) Capt. Chelsey Sullenberger, pilot of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, which landed safely in the Hudson River. Also: copilot Jeffrey Skiles and flight attendants Sheila Dail, Donna Dent and Doreen Welsh; Heartless Bastards. (Talk)"

Kellogg's Insider on Phelps: Corporation More Concerned About Chemical Delivery Than Marijuana

2009-02-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

As a photo of Olympian Michael Phelps apparently smoking marijuana has stirred up a national discussion, an inside source at Kellogg's has revealed that the company dropped Phelps as their spokesperson not because of potential damage to its corporate image but for undermining its true corporate mission - to keep as many Americans as possible addicted to certain synthetic chemicals, food dyes, and artificial sweeteners.

Kelloggs announced they had terminated the endorsement contract because the photo of a bong-wielding Phelps was "not consistent with our image." But an unnamed Kellogg's source, speaking with this reporter off the record, said company executives were worried that the emphasis on Phelps and marijuana might divert attention from the true goal.

"Let there be no mistake, marijuana is a gateway drug leading to far worse substances. Like tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, and trans fats. But it's not the marijuana we worry about." said the source. "It's the short-term memory loss. What if a kid gets high on marijuana and then reaches for fruits or vegetables or mixed nuts? What if they forget our products and they go for Doritos or beer or Oreos? What good would that do our stockholders?

"We don't want kids thinking they can swim 50 miles a week, win gold medals at the Olympics., then relax with a bong hit. They need to keep their eyes on the prize - consuming our chemicals," the source said.

"To maintain our stock dividends, we brew synthetic chemicals in large vats and we have to keep it moving. We've created several chemical delivery systems to maintain the addiction to and consumption of pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamin hydrochloride, BHT as a preservative, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, niacinamide, red dye #40, blue dye #2, yellow dye #6, zinc oxide, annatto color, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, enriched flour, salt, palm kernel oil with TBHQ for freshness, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate, and artificial flavors.

"We owe it to our stockholders to ensure that kids - and adults -- consume these substances. To make it easy for parents to be sure their kids will continue to get these vital ingredients Kellogg's has created several chemical delivery systems and you can see our ingredients on our boxes or on our website, including: Kellogg's® Froot Loops® cereal, Famous Amos® Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Sunshine® Cheez-It® Pepper Jacks, and our all-time favorite Kellogg's Frosted Flakes® cereal.

"Our chemicals! They're GGGGGRRRREEEEEAAAATTT!!!" said the source with a maniacal grin as this reporter closed his notebook.

Another reason to love “30 Rock,” Tina, and Alec

2009-02-07T16:25:00.000-08:00

Their potshots at celebrities.

January 15, 2009 episode:

Elisa (Selma Hayek): I have to go back to work. I have another patient on my off days. He's a sweet old man with advanced dementia. Totally disconnected from reality.

Jack (Alec Baldwin): Oh, that reminds me. I owe Lou Dobbs a call.

Pope Ratzinger To Canonize Tomás de Torquemada, His Predecessor as Inquisitor General?

2009-02-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

According to a highly placed source who can see the Vatican from his front porch, Pope Benedict XVI plans to extend his "big tent" reconciliation reunion tour by launching the canonization process for Tomás de Torquemada, the 15th century Inquisitor General.

Last week, the pope reversed the excommunication of four bishops of the ultraconservative Society of St. Pius X, who were consecrated without papal consent in 1988, including British Bishop Richard Williamson, who has denied the Holocaust occurred and speculated that only 300,000 Jews were killed during the Nazi regime, not six million.

According to the source, it occurred to the pope that if Pope Pius XII, referred to by historians as "Hitler's Pope," is to be canonized and a Holocaust-denying bishop can be reinstated, why not reach back in history and honor the efforts of Torquemada by making him a saint?

"Sure, Torquemada was instrumental in the Alhambra Decree, which expelled the Jews from Spain in 1492. But he only burned a few thousand heretics, and that was to save their souls." the source said. "If the Holocaust maybe didn't happen, what's a little Inquisition here or there?"

And if George W. Bush can sum up his presidency by saying he was "disappointed" that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, the pope can be disappointed that the Inquisition has received bad press through the centuries, the source said.

The current pope, the former Cardinal Ratzinger, previously served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a successor office of the Inquisition.

Bush Vows Retaliation Against Canada, UK for Goose Downing of Flight 1549

2009-02-03T17:18:00.000-08:00

Within minutes of US Airways Flight 1549's crash landing in the Hudson River, a little known terrorist cell of Canadian geese took credit for the near tragedy and President George W. Bush, despite his lame goose status, waved his bloody sword at Canada - and even the United Kingdom.

Bush warned Prime Minister Stephen Harper that Canada must take swift action to scatter the terrorist geese, or America will.

"If Canada continues to give these geese a safe nest, the United States will consider our neighbor to the North a terrorist regime. You're either part of our flock or you're birds of a different feather," he told Harper.

"This goes for the Queen of England, too," Bush said. "Queenie, your kid brother can no longer hide behind your royal skirts. If Canada allows these terrorist geese to roost near our homeland and you protect Canada, America will invade Ottawa and we'll dive bomb London.

"If you think this former fighter pilot won't take flight in my last days in office ... go ahead, make my day," Bush said.