Outright majority

A new Pew poll shows that 54% of Americans support torture. This number has risen consistently over the last year in the Pew data; I speculate that this rise is related to the Obama administration's efforts to conceal torture evidence and refusal to allow investigations or prosecutions. In this way, the institutionalisation and normalisation of torture continues. Only 25% of Americans now say torture is never justified. Greenwald:

Just think about that. Torture is one of the most universal taboos in the civilized world. The treaty championed by Ronald Reagan declares that "no exceptional circumstances" can justify it, and requires that every state criminalize it and prosecute those who authorize or engage in it. But only 25% of Americans agree with Ronald Reagan and this Western consensus that torture is never justifiable. Worse, 54% of Americans believe torture is "often" or "sometimes" justified. When it comes to torture, the vast bulk of the country is now to the "right" (for lack of a better term) of Ronald Reagan, who at least in words (if not in deeds) insisted upon an absolute prohibition on the practice and mandatory prosecution for those responsible.

In other news, Bill Nelson (D-NE) plans to introduce a clone of the Stupak-Pitts anti-abortion amendment to the health care plan in the Senate. That'll be fun. Also, here's a really interesting article on Dubai. It was published last April, but I didn't see it until now. Pro tip: Don't be a foreign worker in Dubai.

Three links I stole from people

How web design goes to hell. (From telophase.)

This series of four James Lipton 'beard' commercials/PSAs made me laugh. (From gfish.)

Check out the customer-supplied photos for this (worksafe) product on Amazon. Reviews are funny too. (Also from gfish.)

Uganda update

Gay Uganda, a gay activist in Uganda, reports that the government is starting to feel some of the international pressure and that Cabinet Minister for Ethics and Integrity Nsaba Buturo has issued a statement on the GBLT extermination bill currently being debated in the legislature. GayUganda's summary:

Uganda is a democratic country, which has a democratic process, which allows the orderly presentation of a bill to kill some of her citizens. As long as they were born homosexuals, that is. And, the world must look on, and respect our sovereign sovereignty!

Had to beat. So, World, you must look on. As you looked on in Nazi Germany. Kosovo. Rwanda. Kenya. Cambodia.

We are a sovereign nation, and, you must respect our sovereign right to kill some of our citizens. Anal sex has no rights. These are just homosexuals. And, if you want to take our your money, then, well, why dont you...

US, continue giving us the PEPFAR dollars. Sweden, Norway, we deserve this money. Well, we have the children who are dying, and we have the women who have no antenatal care. And, you need to give us that money. But YOU MUST NOT DENY OUR SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO KILL OFF AND IMPRISON THOSE OF OUR CITIZENS WHO HAPPEN TO BE HOMOSEXUAL.

That is a worse sin. It is called neo-colonialism.

He also talks about how much dramatically worse things have gotten in Uganda in the last five years, and how Kenya and Tanzania aren't seeing this happen. He's expecting to be "hauled in" when - he uses the word when - the bill becomes law:

But, sometimes, sometimes it is actually worth the while to hang out ones neck. Afterall, I will only die once.... Gallows humour. But, better than nothing.

open mic on saturday

I'm gonna do the Soul Food Books open mic in Redmond this Saturday. I'm going to premiere the very difficult full-lyrics "Getting Away With It," which is possibly foolish - it's frankly quite hard to sing - but I don't want to wait until January. I'm also leaning heavily towards rolling in with the first of this year's NaNoteWriMo songs, "America in Amber," because I can. (But I might change my mind on one or both songs! Not sayin'!)

Come for the surprise, stay for the show. It runs 5:30 to midnight which really means 5:30 until when they get done which is often later, like 2pm. I won't know when I'm on until I get there! ARE YOU READY FOR THE RANDOM? Srsly, tho', it's a good open mic, and generally a lot of fun.