Political Relevancy

An amusing example of the political relevancy of the increasingly misnamed 9/11 Truth movement.  A recent news report showed that the petition on the official White House site to have the US build a Death Star, has reached the 25,000 signatures needed to receive and official government response.

It is a period of civil war. Rebel pranksters, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the forces of Taking White House Petitions Too Seriously. Specifically: They have secured the 25,000 signatures necessary to get a formal response from the White House to their call for America to build a DEATH STAR.
"Those who sign here petition the United States government to secure funding and resources, and begin construction on a Death Star by 2016," the petition reads.

I couldn't even find a truther petition on the White House site for comparison as they have not reached the required numbers, but the AE911 Truth petition has only 16,000 signatures, after 5 years of trying.

Good News On Cancer

The largest study of its kind finds no clear link between exposure to the pile and cancer:

Over all, there was no increase in the cancer rate of those studied compared with the rate of the general population, researchers concluded after looking at 23 cancers from 2003 to 2008. The prevalence of three cancers — multiple myeloma, prostate and thyroid — was significantly higher, but only in rescue and recovery workers and not in the rest of the exposed population. But since the number of actual cases was small and the subjects of the study may have been screened more frequently for cancer than other people on average, the researchers noted that it was too early to draw any correlation to time spent at ground zero.

 In one of many counterintuitive findings, the incidence of cancer was not higher among those who were exposed more intensely to the toxic substances than among those who were exposed less.

 Needless to say, I expect the Truthers to greet this news with huzzahs of joy.  They're all about the first responders, amIright?  Well, no, they're convinced this is bad news, but they hold out hope:

To make any clear determinations about the cancer-causing impact of the WTC on 9/11, it is still wait and see.
With such a long gestation period for many of the 'expected' cancers, this study needs to be kept current.

And:

 Cancer only. Not looking at respiratory problems? Or association with carbon-nanotubes?

If only they had that kind of skeptical attitude all the time.

Troofers Gain Mainstream Credibility....

Wait for it, wait for it....

In the Onion.

But today, Santa would like to tell you all about something very naughty, something very, very naughty indeed. Dear children, have you not heard? Why, 9/11 was an inside job! Oh, ho, ho, my, yes it was!

I mean, look at the facts, boys and girls! We already know the Bush administration was itching to go to war in Iraq, now, don't we? Yes, indeed we do, my darling ones! The Downing Street memo proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Then you look at the Presidential Daily Briefing of Aug. 6, 2001, the one headlined "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." Ignored! Why, children, they threw that briefing aside like used wrapping paper on Christmas morning, didn't they?

Now, it's a singularly unfunny article repeating many of the usual nutbar talking points--jet fuel can't melt steel, nano-thermite, the BBC reported that Building 7 collapsed before it did, etc. To be honest, I don't know why the Onion posted it, unless, well, maybe it was to see the buffoonish reaction of the Truthers.

what a great christmas present . this should be on the front page

Is this an omen that the "establishment" is ready to face 9/11 truth? We can hope.

BTW, the Onion did a terrific parody of a talk-show debate between a Truther and an Al Qaeda member a few years back.

I love the "talking to you is like talking to a goat" line; talking to Truthers is indeed like talking to a Petgoat.

Box Boy's Biggest Deal Ever!

If the Truthers think we insult their intelligence (and we do!) check out Gage's latest offer.

AE911truth must grow and change in order to create and handle the realities of the forthcoming critical mass of public awareness.
That’s why we are inviting you to play a key role by becoming a valued Member of AE911Truth today.

 He's created a dozen different levels of membership; from the Student Level at $30 a year to the Diamond Circle of Torchbearers at a whopping $50,000 per annum.  In return, he's giving out lots of goodies, like a Tee shirt, a coffee mug, and a signed copy of one of his posters.  At the higher levels, you also get Plaques of Appreciation, and the privilege of picking up the phone and dialing Richard, or one of the board members.  Such a deal!

I particularly like the neato graphic that Gage included to demonstrate the "tipping point":

You can tell this is a serious organization dedicated to the lives we lost on 9-11.

Here's a Good Idea

A Troofer decides to send certified mail letters to the heads of all the insurance companies involved in the WTC claims:

9/11 Truth activist Mark Graham sent a letter to the 12 insurance companies for the airline defendants sued by Larry Silverstein informing them about evidence of controlled demolition of the Twin Towers and Building 7 and offering to put them in touch with building experts who could provide expert testimony.

Why do I approve? Because at least somebody is putting his money where his mouth is. Certified mail letters cost a couple of bucks apiece (at least, the last I priced them). What's more, I can't imagine anything more amusing than Richard Gage trying to pass himself off as an expert witness in high-rise office buildings before a court of law. Not that I think it will ever come to that.

But I do think Graham will get some sort of response to his letters. When I worked for a big insurance company, they had a policy of answering every letter, so it will be interesting to see if there is any followup about the responses.