Poor Eric Carle. I’ll never read that children’s story the same way again!

Posted by: SimoneDB | May 7 2006 14:40 utc | 3

I am getting extremely tired of watching the DVD version almost every night, at my boy’s request. Perhaps I’ll turn the sound down and read billmon’s words over the video.

Posted by: folger | May 7 2006 17:08 utc | 5

And here I thought the Chinese version, Hao E de Maomao Chong, that my daughter loved (thank you New York Public Library) was the original. The things you learn.

Posted by: mats | May 7 2006 21:11 utc | 7

Judging by how quickly Able Danger has been stuffed into the
memory hole I’m inclined to give Weldon the benefit of
a doubt on that one (and being coupled with Cynthia McKenney
also helps his credibility there). Able Danger starts out
looking like a Clinton bashing conspiracy theory, but it
has not been pushed by the usual suspects with anything like
the expected elan. Why not? Even a corrupt and paranoid
congressman has, or can stumble on, real enemies.

Posted by: Hannah K. O’Luthon | May 8 2006 9:48 utc | 9

dan of steele – video here

Posted by: beq | May 8 2006 12:20 utc | 11

Able Danger fell away (if it has entirely, I am not sure) because it is basically of no interest to anyone except some pols trying to score points. It is one of the endless series belonging in chapter three (Warning Signs) of the imaginary book US Intelligence Incompetence. In this fashion, it reinforces the idea that the whole plot actually existed, and that possibly some US organisms goofed. Or even deliberately tried to hide something. This appeals to Vichy Democrats and Conspiracy Theorists and suits the incumbents wonderfully – more fuss and trouble, chop of some heads here and there, re-structure agencies, etc. It is striking that in all mainstream articles dates are incomprehensible or left out.
The facts of the matter are very confused. Able Danger was shut down in April 2000 (Wa Po, amongst others) just before Atta obtained his (alleged) first visa to the US (May). Previous to that, he had been busy with his thesis and family matters, but there are holes in his CV from 99 on. Before that, as well.

Posted by: Noisette | May 8 2006 17:34 utc | 13

Redecorating the Lincoln bedroom:
“The pièce de résistance, both decoratively and symbolically, will be a carved bed canopy in the shape of a crown. It too has been sent for gilding. When affixed to the ceiling, the crown will support yards of regal purple satin over white lace, both trailing to the floor.
(…)
“Decorating has been a no-win situation,” Bowman said, “if one hopes to impress the foreign dignitaries while suiting the tastes of the American public.”
WaPo
“Even now, the White House is being redecorated for President Bush’s second term — or at least one room, the Lincoln Bedroom. The famous long bed will remain; so will the original Emancipation Proclamation in its glass case. But dominating the room, above the bed, will be a large carved crown from which will flow, ceiling to floor, royal purple satin drapes. The crown has been sent to be gilded with gold in anticipation of Bush’s triumphant return from his campaign.”
Salon
Was discussed on MoA (scroll down):
MoA
Purple is loved by Koreans (afaik) because it is the dominant color of the Rose of Sharon, along whith white, which is also the color of Peace.
Well, that was the deco trivia dpt. Yet, these leaders many of us have are all nutty about arcane matters, portents, signs, esoteric bridges, the movement of the stars, hidden symbols, etc. It is their way of being in touch with each other and the U-ni-verse.
Nutty ‘spirituality’ figures big with them, they don’t like established religion because that has tradition and rules. They prefer what they see as linked as to Medieval overtones, with its mystery and domination… Some of them take to modern ‘religions’ – such as Scientology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, etc. For them, this nutty stuff represents the freedom to believe whatever goddam thing they like, they are not constrained by anything at all, and sharing those beliefs is heady ingroupy stuff. In a way, they try to emulate movie stars, who are famous for other reasons, and can blather about anything at all.
bit long – sorry –

Posted by: Noisette | May 8 2006 18:37 utc | 15

@ Noisette
Some sort of plot obviously did exist: the Twin Towers fell and the Pentagon was punctured. Who was doing the plotting and pulling the strings remains very much an open question. Abel Danger could very well have been like what often happens with CIA-Mossad drug trafficking when someone (“unwitting”) from the DEA or a local narcotics squad stumbles on something the insiders don’t want to see disturbed. All this is, of course, mere conjecture, but not, I hope, wildly unreasonable conjecture.
You are quite right that Abel Danger has become a minor
sideshow of little interest to all except a few fanatics, and that there is conflicting information about shut-down
dates and a generally garbled chronology. I am only guessing, but on the basis of the axiom that nothing hatched in the pentagon ever dies if it has garnered a few true believers, I would conjecture that it had to be shut down (by the “permanent government”) twice, once under Clinton and once under Bush.
It may be trotted out again in time for the November
elections (as proof that “it was all Clinton’s fault”), but
I remain puzzled why this slant isn’t already being cranked out by the complicit media.
Needless to say, I count myself among the conspiracy theorists rather than the Vichy Dems.

Posted by: Hannah K. O’Luthon | May 9 2006 5:45 utc | 17