...and other lovely linkies.
The University of Colorado men's golf team went to a strip club. SUSPEND THEM!!!!
Bizarre. Yesterday at the local YMCA there was a sign inviting kids to come back on Saturday to get their picture taken with "The Bunny". And then there's the fact that we are the first nation on Earth to ever have its flag banned as being "divisive". What the hey?
This is the problem: Iran Threatens to Close Strait of Hormuz. The problem is not an Iranian nukes launched at Tel Aviv or Brussels or Miami -- it's Iraninan nukes emboldening them to cut off oil out of the Persian Gulf.
Toleja.
Related: What if?
---
Democrats aim to destroy Michael Steele: Poll Finds Steele May Be Magnet for Black Voters, just like they said they needed to do with Latino nominees for the Federal Bench -- they lose their stranglehold on blacks and Democrats are dead. DEAD!
Michelle Malkin says "fly our flag high" to protest illegal immigration. I decline. Too many good men have died in defense of our flag to use it as a mere hammer to bludgeon immigrants. Enforce the law, fix INS, secure the borders, but don't wave our flag as an insult to somebody. And no - that's not at odds with decrying bans on the flag. Were I school principal, I'd not ban the flag but instead educate young people about how using the flag as a means to infuriate people insults the flag and all those who have fought to defend it.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Random news
Tom DeLay is stepping down. Yay. Now, if only we could get the Dimocrats who sucked up money from Jack Abramoff to step down......... 'cause there would be a whole lot of Dimocrats out of office if they held themselves to the same standards they demand of Republicans.
But I forgot, the Dimocrats only hold OTHER people to standard, never themselves. That way, when they get caught being hypocritical shits, they can whine and say "Well I never said I was going to be like that!"
Trent Lott opens his mouth and shoves his foot in it again.
Uh huh. Hey there, Mr. FORMER Majority Leader, there's a reason you got booted out of your seat. I'm glad to see you reaffirm that Republicans did the right thing back then.
Oh, and from that same link: Dimocrats are fillibustering a bill that would prevent felons who are in this country illegaly to become citizens.
That's right - Dimocrats are trying to give illegal aliens who are already felons the right to become citizens. Wouldn't you just love to have a person like that move in next door to you? But then, the Dimocrats are increasingly desperate to get new voters on their rolls by any means necissary, I guess.
And last, but I'm loving it:
The Dimocrats and their whores in the media will continue calling the war a failure and a quagmire, even if we find OBL, dismantle Iran and Syria, and bring all of our troops home in the next year. We could single-handedly bring peace to the Middle East, and the Dimocrat controlled MSM would be shrieking about "Failure" and "Rush to war", and "Quagmire", and "Incompetance".
So I wouldn't expect that failure theme to be retired any time soon. It's too valuable for the drones and robots of the Left.
But I forgot, the Dimocrats only hold OTHER people to standard, never themselves. That way, when they get caught being hypocritical shits, they can whine and say "Well I never said I was going to be like that!"
Trent Lott opens his mouth and shoves his foot in it again.
I'll just say this about the so-called porkbusters. I'm getting damn tired of hearing from them. They have been nothing but trouble ever since Katrina.
Uh huh. Hey there, Mr. FORMER Majority Leader, there's a reason you got booted out of your seat. I'm glad to see you reaffirm that Republicans did the right thing back then.
Oh, and from that same link: Dimocrats are fillibustering a bill that would prevent felons who are in this country illegaly to become citizens.
That's right - Dimocrats are trying to give illegal aliens who are already felons the right to become citizens. Wouldn't you just love to have a person like that move in next door to you? But then, the Dimocrats are increasingly desperate to get new voters on their rolls by any means necissary, I guess.
And last, but I'm loving it:
DEAR NEW YORK TIMES: When the largest single fatality-causing event for your (well, our) soldiers in recent months is a single vehicle wreck, isn't it officially time to retire the theme that we're losing the war?
The Dimocrats and their whores in the media will continue calling the war a failure and a quagmire, even if we find OBL, dismantle Iran and Syria, and bring all of our troops home in the next year. We could single-handedly bring peace to the Middle East, and the Dimocrat controlled MSM would be shrieking about "Failure" and "Rush to war", and "Quagmire", and "Incompetance".
So I wouldn't expect that failure theme to be retired any time soon. It's too valuable for the drones and robots of the Left.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Perfect As The Enemy Of The Good
Republicans "Spending like drunken sailors". The horrors of Pork in the Federal Budget. "Record budget deficits." Failed Social Security Reform. Conservatives pissed off by an "ineffective Republican majority". All hyperbole, emotionalism, and misunderstanding. This is not to say that Social Security reform is not important. It is the number one issue concerning the growth of federal spending. Nor is it to say that congress could not reduce spending. They can. It is to say that the way in which these issues are being discussed is counter productive and invevitably self defeating.
What is "pork"? It's the term for items in the federal budget that were put there by elected representatives in an effort to bring home the bacon (hence the name) in the form of tax revenue collected by the federal government. The voters of the locality that elected that representative will decid whether they are happy or unhappy with the bacon brought home. If one wishes to nationalize the issue, one should push for responsible reform of the process by which such spending items find their way into the budget. The federal government has a legitimate interest in maintaining an efficient and functional infrastructure in the states for purposes of transportation, military presence, economic prosperity, and other matters relating to standardization, efficiency, prosperity, and security. It is up to the representatives of each state to address the concerns of their constituents and square them with the objective interests of the federal government. So while the process itself is legitimate, abuse can occur in it's practical application. It should be our goal to specifically and comprehensively define what constitutes abuse and advocate those reforms. Instead we invest ourselves in scare politics. According to Citizens Against Government Waste's "Congressional Pig Book":
And conservative pundits of all stripes shout - "TWENTY SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS!!!" That number is often included in rants about how "Republicans spend like drunken sailors". What is never mentioned is what a miniscule portion of our $2.4 TRILLION federal budget or our $12.7 TRILLION GDP that amount actually constitutes. As a percentage, the CAGW-CPB's $27.3 BILLION is 1.3% of the federal Budget for 2005, and .2% of our GDP for the same time period. A literal mountain made out of mole hill.
The same tactic is used to describe recent budget deficits as "records". If that were the measure, the budget deficit for almost every year of the past several decades has been a "record". What matters is what percentage of our GDP the national debt and budget deficits comprise. Look at our recent budget deficits and national debt in it's proper historic context:
Luckily, Bush was successful in implementing the Jobs and Growth package of 2003 which accomplished it's goals, exceededing the expectations of it's architects and defying it's ignorant critics. Unemployment - low. Stock Market value - Up. Housing value - Up. Business Investment - Up. Dividend payments - Doubled. Most importantly - GDP - UP! And to those imbiciles who asked "how will Bush pay for his tax cuts" - They pay for themvelves! - Tax Revenue UP! Which means - Deficits - DOWN!
What about spending? From the article above at Real Clear Politics:
These are but of a few of the accomplishments that the GOP congress and the President have willed into existence that go uncelebrated. It's like I tell people who harp on federal spending - You must look at the entire picture in order to fully understand what you have to lose. Our elected Republicans have enacted legislation that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits by people who blame THEM for crimes involving guns. If you think that isn't currently an unspoken target of the power-mad DNC, you're out of your gord. And this medium I'm using to communicate with you now - they HATE it. This is us bypassing the DNC infested MSM. They'll set to work crafting legislation to protect you from reading this type of stuff as soon as they get that power they've been lusting after. Humorously, you hear Democrats harp on the budget deficits and federal spending. They aren't going to spend less. In fact, they propose MORE spending with their next breath. They aren't going to worry about the deficit, they have votes to purchase with "the government's money" and dependency to enshrine. Social Security reform did not fail for lack of trying. It failed because of an obstructionist minority:
They need 41 to filibuster.
The answer to your frustration with the status of the conservative agenda is 2 fold - 1) Advocate advocate advocate. You have the facts on your side. Push them! Talk loud and talk often. We don't have the DMSM on our side. In fact they work against us. We choose the hard way because it's also the right way, so our positions require more than appeals to the lowest parts of human nature. Everyone wants something for nothing. Understanding why nothing is free tasks the intellect. Fight! 2) If you live in Lincoln Chaffee's district and you are frustrated with what you percieve as a stalled conservative agenda, BOOT THAT MOTHER OUT! Get a real Republican in there. You have nothing to lose. If you live in Rick Santorum's district, consider the opposition. Your agenda sure won't get anywhere by allowing them to win.
Vote Smart and Fight Hard. And watch out for rhetorical pit falls like the ones highlighted here in. Your goals are good and there are a lot of good people working to advance them on your behalf. They aren't perfect. Not one of them. But Democrats don't hold their representatives to such high standards, or any at all it seems. At least none they're willing to talk about publicly.
What is "pork"? It's the term for items in the federal budget that were put there by elected representatives in an effort to bring home the bacon (hence the name) in the form of tax revenue collected by the federal government. The voters of the locality that elected that representative will decid whether they are happy or unhappy with the bacon brought home. If one wishes to nationalize the issue, one should push for responsible reform of the process by which such spending items find their way into the budget. The federal government has a legitimate interest in maintaining an efficient and functional infrastructure in the states for purposes of transportation, military presence, economic prosperity, and other matters relating to standardization, efficiency, prosperity, and security. It is up to the representatives of each state to address the concerns of their constituents and square them with the objective interests of the federal government. So while the process itself is legitimate, abuse can occur in it's practical application. It should be our goal to specifically and comprehensively define what constitutes abuse and advocate those reforms. Instead we invest ourselves in scare politics. According to Citizens Against Government Waste's "Congressional Pig Book":
The 2005 Pig Book identified a record 13,997 projects in the 13 appropriations bills that constitute the discretionary portion of the federal budget for fiscal 2005, costing taxpayers $27.3 billion.
And conservative pundits of all stripes shout - "TWENTY SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS!!!" That number is often included in rants about how "Republicans spend like drunken sailors". What is never mentioned is what a miniscule portion of our $2.4 TRILLION federal budget or our $12.7 TRILLION GDP that amount actually constitutes. As a percentage, the CAGW-CPB's $27.3 BILLION is 1.3% of the federal Budget for 2005, and .2% of our GDP for the same time period. A literal mountain made out of mole hill.
The same tactic is used to describe recent budget deficits as "records". If that were the measure, the budget deficit for almost every year of the past several decades has been a "record". What matters is what percentage of our GDP the national debt and budget deficits comprise. Look at our recent budget deficits and national debt in it's proper historic context:
Well, let’s take a look at the Reagan legacy on federal spending and deficits. In 1980, the last year of Jimmy Carter’s presidency, government outlays were running at 21.7% of GDP and the budget deficit was 2.7% of GDP. (The economy was also a basket case, which is when you would expect budget deficits to be at their worse.) In 1988, Reagan’s last year in office, outlays as a percent of GDP were running at 21.3% with a deficit of 3.1% of GDP. The budget deficit over Reagan’s eight years averaged 4.2% and ran as high as 6.0% in 1983.
Bush entered office with an economy that was booming: in 2000 government outlays ran at 18.4% of GDP with a budget surplus of 2.4%. But the stock market implosion, 9/11 and the war quickly changed the budget dynamics and the surplus switched to a deficit of 3.5% in 2003 and 3.6% in 2004. In 2005, the budget deficit came in at 2.6%, with government outlays running at 20.1% of GDP.
Luckily, Bush was successful in implementing the Jobs and Growth package of 2003 which accomplished it's goals, exceededing the expectations of it's architects and defying it's ignorant critics. Unemployment - low. Stock Market value - Up. Housing value - Up. Business Investment - Up. Dividend payments - Doubled. Most importantly - GDP - UP! And to those imbiciles who asked "how will Bush pay for his tax cuts" - They pay for themvelves! - Tax Revenue UP! Which means - Deficits - DOWN!
What about spending? From the article above at Real Clear Politics:
Conservatives may harp on President Bush for increasing government outlays from 18½% to 20%, but the increase is almost exclusively spending on defense, homeland security and the war - all of which is a response to 9/11. The growth in non-security discretionary spending has been cut every year of the Bush presidency.
These are but of a few of the accomplishments that the GOP congress and the President have willed into existence that go uncelebrated. It's like I tell people who harp on federal spending - You must look at the entire picture in order to fully understand what you have to lose. Our elected Republicans have enacted legislation that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits by people who blame THEM for crimes involving guns. If you think that isn't currently an unspoken target of the power-mad DNC, you're out of your gord. And this medium I'm using to communicate with you now - they HATE it. This is us bypassing the DNC infested MSM. They'll set to work crafting legislation to protect you from reading this type of stuff as soon as they get that power they've been lusting after. Humorously, you hear Democrats harp on the budget deficits and federal spending. They aren't going to spend less. In fact, they propose MORE spending with their next breath. They aren't going to worry about the deficit, they have votes to purchase with "the government's money" and dependency to enshrine. Social Security reform did not fail for lack of trying. It failed because of an obstructionist minority:
March 10, 2005 The Washington Post newspaper has surveyed the Senate's 44 Dems and Jim Jeffords, and they've determined that 42 to 44 rabidly oppose private accounts.
They need 41 to filibuster.
The answer to your frustration with the status of the conservative agenda is 2 fold - 1) Advocate advocate advocate. You have the facts on your side. Push them! Talk loud and talk often. We don't have the DMSM on our side. In fact they work against us. We choose the hard way because it's also the right way, so our positions require more than appeals to the lowest parts of human nature. Everyone wants something for nothing. Understanding why nothing is free tasks the intellect. Fight! 2) If you live in Lincoln Chaffee's district and you are frustrated with what you percieve as a stalled conservative agenda, BOOT THAT MOTHER OUT! Get a real Republican in there. You have nothing to lose. If you live in Rick Santorum's district, consider the opposition. Your agenda sure won't get anywhere by allowing them to win.
Vote Smart and Fight Hard. And watch out for rhetorical pit falls like the ones highlighted here in. Your goals are good and there are a lot of good people working to advance them on your behalf. They aren't perfect. Not one of them. But Democrats don't hold their representatives to such high standards, or any at all it seems. At least none they're willing to talk about publicly.
Welcome to Crazyworld
Oy!
A "version of patriotism". I LOVE IT!
And:
wnbc.com - News - Judge Says Dancing Not Constitutional Right
Students at Shaw Heights Middle School are no longer allowed to wear anything that's patriotic, including camouflage pants, because they have become a political symbol for a version of patriotism.Tensions Change Dress Code At Local Middle School
A "version of patriotism". I LOVE IT!
And:
A state judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit that sought to force the city to allow private, social dancing in restaurants, clubs and bars. State Supreme Court Justice Michael Stallman found that the city's license requirements for cabarets -- places that have food and drink and allow personal recreational dancing -- are constitutional.Please email if you know what that means.
wnbc.com - News - Judge Says Dancing Not Constitutional Right
Lovely Linkies
Oliver Stone feels he has been slandered.
Sure, let's be more like Germany.
"I paid a LOT of money to make this darned movie and no one is showing up to see it! I need someone to blame! Waaaaaah!"
Staging the news again.
Sure, let's be more like Germany.
"I paid a LOT of money to make this darned movie and no one is showing up to see it! I need someone to blame! Waaaaaah!"
Staging the news again.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Army and National Guard meet recruiting goals
Commentary from the very dangerous Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette.
Why Bush is polling low.
And it's got little to do with how he's really doing. Instapundit has a couple of emails from people with the thought that Bush is loosing this part or that part of his base, or maybe it's the base that's the problem. But there are two emails that are closer to the truth.
The Lame-Stream Media translates "Republicans" in "Bush". Sorry, that won't fly, especially since Bush really isn't all that conservative. Hell, at this point the Republicans aren't all that conservative. They're the majority because the Dimocrats are just that much worse.
But the Republicans, the congresscritters, have finally managed to piss off their base.
Here's something most news outlets won't tell you. Yeah, Bush's poll numbers may be down compared to last year, but compared to the average congresscritters poll numbers Bush looks like a great shining beacon. Bush may be polling in the low 30% range, but the congresscritters? Try 12%. 8%. Congress has, for the last four or five years, managed to take the Republican majority and do what with it, exactly?
Nada. Zip. Zero.
We wanted the tax cuts made permanent. Has that happened yet? No. Why not?
We wanted the Social Security problem addressed. Hell, we'd be happy if it were just talked about in a rational fashion! Has that happened yet? No. Why not?
We want the borders secured. Not amnesty for illegal aliens. Not a "guest worker program" that's just amnesty dressed up all pretty. We want a fence put up along our Southern border so that people can't just stroll across. We want to make sure Kalid-Achmed-Death-to-America-Muhammad isn't coming into this country with a fucking suitcase nuke. But until recently, the Republicans haven't even touched that issue. Why not? Why the hell did it take five years of a Republican majority to even get this issue on the table?
We want the government to spend LESS of our money, not more of it! I'm quite happy to see my tax dollars going towards another bomber or tank, thankyouverymuch, but let's start cutting the social entitlement spending that's bankrupting our country. Do you realize that defense spending accounts for less than 20% of our budget right now? Just keep that in mind when someone screams about how the military is going to bankrupt America. And Congress just keeps on spending more and more and more and more and more. What's the point of electing Republicans when they just go and act like Democrats?
So that's one reason Bush's poll numbers are down. Because support for congressional Republicans is in the toilet. And I'm talking waaaaaaaaaaaaaay down in the toilet. And the media translates that into low numbers for Bush.
Now also keep in mind that poll questions can be manipulated into saying anything you want them to say. Most polls from CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, NYT, yada yada yada are going to be so biased as to be completely worthless. Here's a real crude example for ya (crude in the sense that it's blunt and simplistic, but gets the point across). Let's say that someone came up with the following poll, and asked you this question:
And there were three possible answers:
Now, let's say that our hypothetical crowd was evenly split, giving us 33% of responders checking each answer. The New York Times takes those answers and puts out the front page with a headline screaming
Now, the poll is technically correct. There are 66% of Americans who don't like what they see, but only 33% disagree with the actual war. The other 33% thinks that we need to be busting a few caps in some terrorist ass, and doing it rightfuckingnowthanks.
But the NYT ain't gonna tell you that part. They're just gonna scream "BUSH FAILING IN IRAQ" or "MAJORITY OF AMERICANS DISAGREE WITH WAR" or the old standby "AMERICANS TIRED OF QUAGMIRE IN IRAQ" when in truth, given the fact that the majority of pollers either liked what they saw or thought we needed to be tougher, those statements are flat out lies.
This is why the NYT put out poll after poll saying Kerry was going to win, Bush was going to lose. And then in Nov 2004, Bush won, Kerry lost, and all those liberals who read the NYT were stunned and wondered "Just how could this happen?"
Because biased polls put out by biased media organs don't tell the whole story! Gosh, who woulda thunk it?
So anyways, I don't know about you folks but when my primary ballot comes in (I gotta vote absentee) I'm going to find out who the incumbents are for each seat. And then I'm going to check the opponent's box. There's no way in hell I'm voting for a Dimocrat this year, but I'm going to do all that I can to ensure that the Republicans in congress get moved around and switched out.
I'd love to see Arlen Specter or McCain or a few of the other RINO's get tossed out on their ass. And if the congresscritters can't remember why we elected them, they deserve to get shitcanned.
My problem is with the Republicans who don't back Bush. They didn't back him on Social Security, they don't seem to be backing him on immigration, & I don't think they are stepping up to the plate & backing him on the war.
The Lame-Stream Media translates "Republicans" in "Bush". Sorry, that won't fly, especially since Bush really isn't all that conservative. Hell, at this point the Republicans aren't all that conservative. They're the majority because the Dimocrats are just that much worse.
But the Republicans, the congresscritters, have finally managed to piss off their base.
Here's something most news outlets won't tell you. Yeah, Bush's poll numbers may be down compared to last year, but compared to the average congresscritters poll numbers Bush looks like a great shining beacon. Bush may be polling in the low 30% range, but the congresscritters? Try 12%. 8%. Congress has, for the last four or five years, managed to take the Republican majority and do what with it, exactly?
Nada. Zip. Zero.
We wanted the tax cuts made permanent. Has that happened yet? No. Why not?
We wanted the Social Security problem addressed. Hell, we'd be happy if it were just talked about in a rational fashion! Has that happened yet? No. Why not?
We want the borders secured. Not amnesty for illegal aliens. Not a "guest worker program" that's just amnesty dressed up all pretty. We want a fence put up along our Southern border so that people can't just stroll across. We want to make sure Kalid-Achmed-Death-to-America-Muhammad isn't coming into this country with a fucking suitcase nuke. But until recently, the Republicans haven't even touched that issue. Why not? Why the hell did it take five years of a Republican majority to even get this issue on the table?
We want the government to spend LESS of our money, not more of it! I'm quite happy to see my tax dollars going towards another bomber or tank, thankyouverymuch, but let's start cutting the social entitlement spending that's bankrupting our country. Do you realize that defense spending accounts for less than 20% of our budget right now? Just keep that in mind when someone screams about how the military is going to bankrupt America. And Congress just keeps on spending more and more and more and more and more. What's the point of electing Republicans when they just go and act like Democrats?
So that's one reason Bush's poll numbers are down. Because support for congressional Republicans is in the toilet. And I'm talking waaaaaaaaaaaaaay down in the toilet. And the media translates that into low numbers for Bush.
Now also keep in mind that poll questions can be manipulated into saying anything you want them to say. Most polls from CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, NYT, yada yada yada are going to be so biased as to be completely worthless. Here's a real crude example for ya (crude in the sense that it's blunt and simplistic, but gets the point across). Let's say that someone came up with the following poll, and asked you this question:
Do you think Bush is handling Iraq in the right way?
And there were three possible answers:
1) No, we need to be tougher on the insurgents.
2) Yes, we're doing fine
3) No, we need to leave now!
Now, let's say that our hypothetical crowd was evenly split, giving us 33% of responders checking each answer. The New York Times takes those answers and puts out the front page with a headline screaming
NEW POLL! 66% of America Disagrees with Iraq War!
Now, the poll is technically correct. There are 66% of Americans who don't like what they see, but only 33% disagree with the actual war. The other 33% thinks that we need to be busting a few caps in some terrorist ass, and doing it rightfuckingnowthanks.
But the NYT ain't gonna tell you that part. They're just gonna scream "BUSH FAILING IN IRAQ" or "MAJORITY OF AMERICANS DISAGREE WITH WAR" or the old standby "AMERICANS TIRED OF QUAGMIRE IN IRAQ" when in truth, given the fact that the majority of pollers either liked what they saw or thought we needed to be tougher, those statements are flat out lies.
This is why the NYT put out poll after poll saying Kerry was going to win, Bush was going to lose. And then in Nov 2004, Bush won, Kerry lost, and all those liberals who read the NYT were stunned and wondered "Just how could this happen?"
Because biased polls put out by biased media organs don't tell the whole story! Gosh, who woulda thunk it?
So anyways, I don't know about you folks but when my primary ballot comes in (I gotta vote absentee) I'm going to find out who the incumbents are for each seat. And then I'm going to check the opponent's box. There's no way in hell I'm voting for a Dimocrat this year, but I'm going to do all that I can to ensure that the Republicans in congress get moved around and switched out.
I'd love to see Arlen Specter or McCain or a few of the other RINO's get tossed out on their ass. And if the congresscritters can't remember why we elected them, they deserve to get shitcanned.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Officer urged not to sue Rep. McKinney
Peep it:
I guess as to why: Politicians like to rail against racial profiling in every corner of America except that little niche where absence of profiling puts them at greater risk. I bet Capitol Hill police have SPECIFIC instructions to be wary of people who possess certain physical characteristics (such as dark skin) and the Congressfolk know about it and don't want it to become common knowledge after most of them have publicly stated their disdain for such "profiling" at airports and on highways.
Watch.
The Capitol Hill cop Cynthia McKinney punched has been ordered by higher-ups not to sue/press charges. Not going down well with many.The Corner on National Review Online
I guess as to why: Politicians like to rail against racial profiling in every corner of America except that little niche where absence of profiling puts them at greater risk. I bet Capitol Hill police have SPECIFIC instructions to be wary of people who possess certain physical characteristics (such as dark skin) and the Congressfolk know about it and don't want it to become common knowledge after most of them have publicly stated their disdain for such "profiling" at airports and on highways.
Watch.
Seattle Shooting
So, in case you missed it, there was a shooting in Seattle last weekend. A man walked into a party and starting blasting away at people, killing quite a few. As expected, the anti-gun crowd is using this incident to press their agenda.
But Analog Kid has a few facts that the GFW's won't tell you. Like the fact that the partiers and shooter both had come back from a rave where people were dressed as zombies.
Ever been to a rave in Seattle? AK nails it with this:
To which I would add the drugs Crystal Meth, Crank, Crack, and Heroin. I provided security at a concert which was a rave dressed up for polite company back when I first moved to Seattle. The headliner of the night was a group called Crystal Method. Take crystal meth, add an O.D., and you've got Crystal Method.
Security? We didn't provide much security in terms of who we let in, because we were too damn busy walking through the crowd and grabbing the people who were O.D.ing before they got trampled. We turned the shipment dock into a medical area, and had ambulances running back and forth between my place of business and the hospital for hours. And this was at a public venue! We prevented as much illegal drugs from coming in as we could, so people would shoot up, smoke up, or snort up right before they came in. They would have one or two minutes of lucidity with which to get past the security guards, and once they were on the dancefloor they would be drugged out of their skulls.
Drugs are so accepted and so frequent in Seattle that I have no doubt both the party-goers and the shooter from this weekend were high as a kite on at least one, but probably two or three different drugs. Raves are not clean-cut parties where little boys and girls drink soda-pop and listen to top-40 hits.
So, you think that drug use combined with people dressed as zombies might have contributed to this tragedy? Hmmmmmmm?
But Analog Kid has a few facts that the GFW's won't tell you. Like the fact that the partiers and shooter both had come back from a rave where people were dressed as zombies.
Ever been to a rave in Seattle? AK nails it with this:
Raves are notorious for drug use, yet no toxicology reports have been released for either the shooter or the victims, but I will place $20 down right now that the shooters comes back with one, if not more of the following drugs: Speed, Cocaine, LSD, MDMA (aka Ecstacy).
To which I would add the drugs Crystal Meth, Crank, Crack, and Heroin. I provided security at a concert which was a rave dressed up for polite company back when I first moved to Seattle. The headliner of the night was a group called Crystal Method. Take crystal meth, add an O.D., and you've got Crystal Method.
Security? We didn't provide much security in terms of who we let in, because we were too damn busy walking through the crowd and grabbing the people who were O.D.ing before they got trampled. We turned the shipment dock into a medical area, and had ambulances running back and forth between my place of business and the hospital for hours. And this was at a public venue! We prevented as much illegal drugs from coming in as we could, so people would shoot up, smoke up, or snort up right before they came in. They would have one or two minutes of lucidity with which to get past the security guards, and once they were on the dancefloor they would be drugged out of their skulls.
Drugs are so accepted and so frequent in Seattle that I have no doubt both the party-goers and the shooter from this weekend were high as a kite on at least one, but probably two or three different drugs. Raves are not clean-cut parties where little boys and girls drink soda-pop and listen to top-40 hits.
So, you think that drug use combined with people dressed as zombies might have contributed to this tragedy? Hmmmmmmm?
This is torture
After two weeks of wireless internet access, I'm back to dial-up. If I could get broadband on post I would, but we're stuck with the crappy PRTC service.
Last night I connected, and do you know what my speed was? 4.2kb/sec.
Yeah. I almost vomited.
I can't wait for Adelphia to get off their ass and offer cable internet on post. Mebby I need to start screaming at them a bit more.
Last night I connected, and do you know what my speed was? 4.2kb/sec.
Yeah. I almost vomited.
I can't wait for Adelphia to get off their ass and offer cable internet on post. Mebby I need to start screaming at them a bit more.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
You know what?
I'm not buying it. I've seen the tapes of Jill Carroll now that she's been "released", and the tapes of her "pleading" for her life, and I smell a rat.
U.S. Reporter Released by Captors in Iraq - Yahoo! News
UPDATE: I ain't the only one.
U.S. Reporter Released by Captors in Iraq - Yahoo! News
UPDATE: I ain't the only one.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
For Sale on eBay
Flooded Buses
Check out the name of the President of the New Orleans School District. Yep, she is Senator Mary's aunt.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Oh, and by the way...
Sharon Stone - if I ever wanted any more proof that Hollywood is so far removed from reality that it would take the gravitational force of a black hole to bring it back within range, your comments about Hillary Clinton are perfect.
OK, all you gentle folks, scroll down to the next post if you can't handle strong language, because I'm gonna be rude, crude, and blunt. I ain't gonna be pleasant.
.....
.....
.....
All you not-so-gentle types still here? Good.
We can prove that Hillary Clinton had sex one time, and one time only. Looking at Hillary, there's probably a good debate as to whether she actually had enjoyable sex or was simply inseminated like a farm animal, sort of like "Take one for the team, Hill!" However, I have a good theory that her leathery, acidic labia were sewn up right after Chelsea was born, and she hasn't put out one single bit of poon since then. Let's face it - Bill didn't get a hummer from a fat intern because he was satisfied with his love life, OK? The thought of Hillary having sex is rather repulsive, almost vomit inducing, like when I was 12 and realized that my parents still had sex. Nowadays I high five Dad and give him a little wink-wink-nudge-nudge you old dog you act, but at the age of 12 it was a rather disturbing revelation. My disgust with Hillary hasn't faded however, and I can't imagine anyone or anything cuddling up to that power-hungry model of Leftist values.
You've heard of Coyote Ugly? No, not the bar, the condition of finding yourself in bed with a woman resting her head on your arm who's so damn ugly you'd rather chew your arm off rather than pull away and wake her up. Hillary is beyond coyote ugly, folks. That hag stirs interest of only the most lunatic sort, as her tirades through the years and the people who respond to them have proven. I suppose if a shrill, bitter bitch with a pussy like week-old dead fish is your thing, then Hillary would fit your bill. But even if her championing of a failed ideology didn't turn me off straitaway, if her total lust for power at the detriment of everything else didn't set me off, the thought of cuddling up to that man-hating used up hag makes me want to approach her only after donning a full set of riot gear, complete with baton and riot shield.
Those waves you see coming off of Hillary Clinton isn't sex appeal, it's the stench of communism and the aroma of the complete lack of moral values, coupled with the need to enforce her will on everyone else, enhanced by elitism that even John Kerry could envy. The only thing that gives Hillary that 'ol funny feeling is the thought of America turned into her communist shithole dream state, with her on top directing us plebes on how to do her bidding.
She makes me vomit. Clinton has no sex appeal. Neither of them. A former coke-head buffoon more interested in blow jobs than national security, and a woman with a face like a two-month old lemon. Yeah, I can see how you could mistake that for "sex appeal".
Well no, no, I couldn't see that. Nevermind.
And Sharon Stone? Lessee here, a woman who's famous for her tits and flashing her pussy on the big screen. Yay. Here's a hint Sharon - there are women better looking than you, even with all that plastic surgery you've had. And there are women who's pussies haven't been rented out like a Singapore whore during fleet week. When I want political advice, I will not go to a woman who's only claim to fame is that she flashed her bearded clam during a scene in a bad movie. Somehow I think I put the opinions of actual educated people such as her or her or her or her well ahead of the opinions that spew forth from some slutty Hollywood cocktease.
Shut the hell up and act, Sharon. Thinking isn't your strong suit. Come to think of it, acting isn't your strong suit either, as anyone who's seen a recent movie of yours can attest to, but at least you're better at letting people put words in your mouth than coming up with your own.
Stone says, "I think Hillary Clinton is fantastic. But I think it is too soon for her to run. This may sound odd, but a woman should be past her sexuality when she runs. Hillary still has sexual power, and I don't think people will accept that. It's too threatening."
OK, all you gentle folks, scroll down to the next post if you can't handle strong language, because I'm gonna be rude, crude, and blunt. I ain't gonna be pleasant.
.....
.....
.....
All you not-so-gentle types still here? Good.
We can prove that Hillary Clinton had sex one time, and one time only. Looking at Hillary, there's probably a good debate as to whether she actually had enjoyable sex or was simply inseminated like a farm animal, sort of like "Take one for the team, Hill!" However, I have a good theory that her leathery, acidic labia were sewn up right after Chelsea was born, and she hasn't put out one single bit of poon since then. Let's face it - Bill didn't get a hummer from a fat intern because he was satisfied with his love life, OK? The thought of Hillary having sex is rather repulsive, almost vomit inducing, like when I was 12 and realized that my parents still had sex. Nowadays I high five Dad and give him a little wink-wink-nudge-nudge you old dog you act, but at the age of 12 it was a rather disturbing revelation. My disgust with Hillary hasn't faded however, and I can't imagine anyone or anything cuddling up to that power-hungry model of Leftist values.
You've heard of Coyote Ugly? No, not the bar, the condition of finding yourself in bed with a woman resting her head on your arm who's so damn ugly you'd rather chew your arm off rather than pull away and wake her up. Hillary is beyond coyote ugly, folks. That hag stirs interest of only the most lunatic sort, as her tirades through the years and the people who respond to them have proven. I suppose if a shrill, bitter bitch with a pussy like week-old dead fish is your thing, then Hillary would fit your bill. But even if her championing of a failed ideology didn't turn me off straitaway, if her total lust for power at the detriment of everything else didn't set me off, the thought of cuddling up to that man-hating used up hag makes me want to approach her only after donning a full set of riot gear, complete with baton and riot shield.
Those waves you see coming off of Hillary Clinton isn't sex appeal, it's the stench of communism and the aroma of the complete lack of moral values, coupled with the need to enforce her will on everyone else, enhanced by elitism that even John Kerry could envy. The only thing that gives Hillary that 'ol funny feeling is the thought of America turned into her communist shithole dream state, with her on top directing us plebes on how to do her bidding.
She makes me vomit. Clinton has no sex appeal. Neither of them. A former coke-head buffoon more interested in blow jobs than national security, and a woman with a face like a two-month old lemon. Yeah, I can see how you could mistake that for "sex appeal".
Well no, no, I couldn't see that. Nevermind.
And Sharon Stone? Lessee here, a woman who's famous for her tits and flashing her pussy on the big screen. Yay. Here's a hint Sharon - there are women better looking than you, even with all that plastic surgery you've had. And there are women who's pussies haven't been rented out like a Singapore whore during fleet week. When I want political advice, I will not go to a woman who's only claim to fame is that she flashed her bearded clam during a scene in a bad movie. Somehow I think I put the opinions of actual educated people such as her or her or her or her well ahead of the opinions that spew forth from some slutty Hollywood cocktease.
Shut the hell up and act, Sharon. Thinking isn't your strong suit. Come to think of it, acting isn't your strong suit either, as anyone who's seen a recent movie of yours can attest to, but at least you're better at letting people put words in your mouth than coming up with your own.
Heading Home
The Raging Mrs. and I head back to Puerto Rico tomorrow. I'm kinda mixed on it. On one hand, I want to sleep in my own bed. I want to cook in my kitchen. I want to be able to sit down on my couch, watch CSI reruns on my TV and drink beer in my livingroom. I want my vehicle back. I want my dog back.
On the other hand, all of those things are still in Puerto Rico, when I would much rather have them somewhere back in the civilized world.
Look, don't get me wrong. Puerto Rico is beautiful. The beaches are great. The scenery is spectacular. The wildlife is pretty damn cool. But it's corrupt as hell. There are over 20 politicians from the past four administrations sitting in the federal jail. That's for an island of 4 million people measuring 100 miles by 35 miles. We're not exactly talking about Texas here. Hell, we're not even talking California. But it's corrupt to the bone.
Gun laws are outrageous. Just to own a pistol and take it to the range requires three different permits, all of which cost over one hundred dollars. Now I don't know about you, but I don't have $300+ just sitting around right now. And unless you know someone in the local police (also highly corrupt) you don't have a chance in hell of getting a concealed carry permit.
Crime is sky high. Murders occur at a rate that makes Washington D.C. look like Grand Forks, North Dakota. There are bars on every window. The only time I see a yard without a complete fence around it and a gate just to get into the driveway is in the remote mountain areas. I want to be some place where it doesn't look like one big jail cell of a neighborhood. Note that whenever gun laws are oppressive, crime is high. Maybe not as high as San Juan, but high nonetheless. Compton, anyone?
I've got a couple more years left, assuming that my unit is even activated, which at this point may or may not happen. We don't have people, we don't have equipment, and our activation date keeps getting pushed back because of those two facts. Right now I'm not even working at my company, because not only do they not have any equipment for me to work on, they don't even have a motorpool that I could be busy in.
For a year, I've been telling myself that Puerto Rico wasn't all that bad. And then the Mrs. and I come to San Antonio, and it's a huge culture shock. People are polite! HOLY HELL, PEOPLE ARE POLITE! Cars stop for us as I wheel my wife's wheelchair across the road! Hell, cars stop for us just so that I can wheel my wife across the road! I don't have to play some insane game of chicken just to go from one street corner to the next! In San Juan, I feel like I'm playing Frogger, but instead of a little green pixilated blob on a TV screen, I'm the one out there dodging trucks and cars, going "Slow, slow, slow, slow, SHITFASTFASTFAST!"
Doors are opened, and when I thank the person they smile and say "No problem"! That doesn't happen much around San Juan, folks. I've held doors open for people and they thank me! They don't give me the evil eye and mutter in Spanish!
Traffic isn't a "Deathrace 2000" remake featuring live cars and live people. The drivers here in San Antonio know how to merge. They know how to use their turn signals. They stop at red lights and stop signs. They know what to do at a yield sign. All of these important functions of driving are either forgotten or simply unlearned in Puerto Rico. The one lesson that Puerto Rico seems to have learned is to always talk on your cell phone while making a left turn without looking first. Oh, and either drive 25 in a 50mph zone, or drive 50 in a 25mph zone. And that part of the road that we in American like to call "the shoulder"? You know, that area beyond the white line that disabled cars pull off to? Don't even think about it in Puerto Rico. They consider that to be just another lane for their driving pleasure. If I ever got a flat tire in Puerto Rico, I would just drive home. I don't care if my rim dies and I have to pay to get it replaced, that's better than trying to change a tire and having some dope-smoking asshole with a cellphone grafted to his ear wizzing along the shoulder at 75mph+ turn me into road pizza.
And the medical....... Don't even get me started on the conditions of medicine in Puerto Rico. My wife's primary care physician is good, but he's a general practice doctor in one of the most advanced clinics in Puerto Rico. The rest of the medical on the economy is a crap shoot between some voodoo witch doctor or some guy who acts like he got his degree out of a cracker-jack box. If the medical services in Puerto Rico were halfway adequate, my wife and I wouldn't be sitting in San Antonio right now.
So, I guess that we head back to Puerto Rico and pray for the next two years that neither my wife or I get seriously ill. And if we do, I'll put my wife on the first plane back home as fast as I can send her. The thought of a Puerto Rican doctor cutting my wife's back open scared the shit out of me. The thought of more medical down there isn't any better.
Now, I will admit that I've met some good people in Puerto Rico. And I would even recommend that people go there for vacation. Spend a week, get out and about, experience the Caribbean. Just don't live there. Like I have to.
Who would have thought one year ago when I happily took the position in PR that I would be saying all this? Not me. Hell, I thought it was going to be like Hawaii, with less people.
Boy, was I wrong.
On the other hand, all of those things are still in Puerto Rico, when I would much rather have them somewhere back in the civilized world.
Look, don't get me wrong. Puerto Rico is beautiful. The beaches are great. The scenery is spectacular. The wildlife is pretty damn cool. But it's corrupt as hell. There are over 20 politicians from the past four administrations sitting in the federal jail. That's for an island of 4 million people measuring 100 miles by 35 miles. We're not exactly talking about Texas here. Hell, we're not even talking California. But it's corrupt to the bone.
Gun laws are outrageous. Just to own a pistol and take it to the range requires three different permits, all of which cost over one hundred dollars. Now I don't know about you, but I don't have $300+ just sitting around right now. And unless you know someone in the local police (also highly corrupt) you don't have a chance in hell of getting a concealed carry permit.
Crime is sky high. Murders occur at a rate that makes Washington D.C. look like Grand Forks, North Dakota. There are bars on every window. The only time I see a yard without a complete fence around it and a gate just to get into the driveway is in the remote mountain areas. I want to be some place where it doesn't look like one big jail cell of a neighborhood. Note that whenever gun laws are oppressive, crime is high. Maybe not as high as San Juan, but high nonetheless. Compton, anyone?
I've got a couple more years left, assuming that my unit is even activated, which at this point may or may not happen. We don't have people, we don't have equipment, and our activation date keeps getting pushed back because of those two facts. Right now I'm not even working at my company, because not only do they not have any equipment for me to work on, they don't even have a motorpool that I could be busy in.
For a year, I've been telling myself that Puerto Rico wasn't all that bad. And then the Mrs. and I come to San Antonio, and it's a huge culture shock. People are polite! HOLY HELL, PEOPLE ARE POLITE! Cars stop for us as I wheel my wife's wheelchair across the road! Hell, cars stop for us just so that I can wheel my wife across the road! I don't have to play some insane game of chicken just to go from one street corner to the next! In San Juan, I feel like I'm playing Frogger, but instead of a little green pixilated blob on a TV screen, I'm the one out there dodging trucks and cars, going "Slow, slow, slow, slow, SHITFASTFASTFAST!"
Doors are opened, and when I thank the person they smile and say "No problem"! That doesn't happen much around San Juan, folks. I've held doors open for people and they thank me! They don't give me the evil eye and mutter in Spanish!
Traffic isn't a "Deathrace 2000" remake featuring live cars and live people. The drivers here in San Antonio know how to merge. They know how to use their turn signals. They stop at red lights and stop signs. They know what to do at a yield sign. All of these important functions of driving are either forgotten or simply unlearned in Puerto Rico. The one lesson that Puerto Rico seems to have learned is to always talk on your cell phone while making a left turn without looking first. Oh, and either drive 25 in a 50mph zone, or drive 50 in a 25mph zone. And that part of the road that we in American like to call "the shoulder"? You know, that area beyond the white line that disabled cars pull off to? Don't even think about it in Puerto Rico. They consider that to be just another lane for their driving pleasure. If I ever got a flat tire in Puerto Rico, I would just drive home. I don't care if my rim dies and I have to pay to get it replaced, that's better than trying to change a tire and having some dope-smoking asshole with a cellphone grafted to his ear wizzing along the shoulder at 75mph+ turn me into road pizza.
And the medical....... Don't even get me started on the conditions of medicine in Puerto Rico. My wife's primary care physician is good, but he's a general practice doctor in one of the most advanced clinics in Puerto Rico. The rest of the medical on the economy is a crap shoot between some voodoo witch doctor or some guy who acts like he got his degree out of a cracker-jack box. If the medical services in Puerto Rico were halfway adequate, my wife and I wouldn't be sitting in San Antonio right now.
So, I guess that we head back to Puerto Rico and pray for the next two years that neither my wife or I get seriously ill. And if we do, I'll put my wife on the first plane back home as fast as I can send her. The thought of a Puerto Rican doctor cutting my wife's back open scared the shit out of me. The thought of more medical down there isn't any better.
Now, I will admit that I've met some good people in Puerto Rico. And I would even recommend that people go there for vacation. Spend a week, get out and about, experience the Caribbean. Just don't live there. Like I have to.
Who would have thought one year ago when I happily took the position in PR that I would be saying all this? Not me. Hell, I thought it was going to be like Hawaii, with less people.
Boy, was I wrong.
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Illegal Marches
So, there were marches all over America by illegal immigrents this weekend. Yay for illegal immigration. I'm sure you've all seen the pictures of masses of people crowding the streets and waving flags.
Mexican flags.
Here's my question - if you're in America, and you want to stay in America, and you want to prove that you're just as American as people who actually did the paperwork to come here WITHOUT breaking the law, well then....
WHY THE HELL ARE YOU WAVING A GOD-DAMNED MEXICAN FLAG?!
I mean, think about it! What kind of message did all those flag-waving non-english-sign waving people send to America? Did they send a message that said "Hey, we like America, we want to stay in America, and we want to become Americans!"
Or did they say "Screw you, we're Mexicans, just shut the hell up and give us our welfare and free medical services! Gimme your tax dollars you greedy gringos!"
Here's my advice to all those illegal immigrants who are demanding the benifits of being an American citizen without doing a damn thing to BECOME a citizen - if you want the majority of Americans to welcome you into this country, there are a few things you can do:
1) DON'T ENTER THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY! FOLLOW THE DAMN LAWS!
2) Barring that, when you get there, don't hold huge rallies with Mexican flags and signs written in Spanish. Try learning English. Try appreciating the country that you broke the law to get into, rather than demanding that WE, the country you've just illegally entered, cater to your illegal ass.
3) If you want to stay here, then join OUR culture. Don't come in and sneer at us gringos and demand that we do the hat dance for you. We gringos live in and make this country such a wonderful place. And if you don't think that this country is wonderful, why are you here? If you don't like America, LEAVE! We won't punish you if you decide that you want to live somewhere else!
Gah. At this point, I say build the damn wall. Lock the border down hard. And then start deporting anyone who broke the law while entering this country.
Let them get back in the legal way. And make sure they have a tax registration number when they come back in.
Mexican flags.
Here's my question - if you're in America, and you want to stay in America, and you want to prove that you're just as American as people who actually did the paperwork to come here WITHOUT breaking the law, well then....
WHY THE HELL ARE YOU WAVING A GOD-DAMNED MEXICAN FLAG?!
I mean, think about it! What kind of message did all those flag-waving non-english-sign waving people send to America? Did they send a message that said "Hey, we like America, we want to stay in America, and we want to become Americans!"
Or did they say "Screw you, we're Mexicans, just shut the hell up and give us our welfare and free medical services! Gimme your tax dollars you greedy gringos!"
Here's my advice to all those illegal immigrants who are demanding the benifits of being an American citizen without doing a damn thing to BECOME a citizen - if you want the majority of Americans to welcome you into this country, there are a few things you can do:
1) DON'T ENTER THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY! FOLLOW THE DAMN LAWS!
2) Barring that, when you get there, don't hold huge rallies with Mexican flags and signs written in Spanish. Try learning English. Try appreciating the country that you broke the law to get into, rather than demanding that WE, the country you've just illegally entered, cater to your illegal ass.
3) If you want to stay here, then join OUR culture. Don't come in and sneer at us gringos and demand that we do the hat dance for you. We gringos live in and make this country such a wonderful place. And if you don't think that this country is wonderful, why are you here? If you don't like America, LEAVE! We won't punish you if you decide that you want to live somewhere else!
Gah. At this point, I say build the damn wall. Lock the border down hard. And then start deporting anyone who broke the law while entering this country.
Let them get back in the legal way. And make sure they have a tax registration number when they come back in.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Afghan Christian freed
Milestone in societal evolution or did Condi just make Karzai crap his pants?
This is just a test.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was inserted into orbit on March 10, and has returned its first test images. Apparently, it's working--resolution is 8 feet per pixel. But wait, there's more! After 6 months of aerbraking, and descent to its science orbit, resolution will drill down to 11 inches. That gives us ample capability to spot any pesky Martians who might be tampering with our stuff or endangering future human exploration of the planet. ((That's what this program is really all about.))
click for huge magnification
click for huge magnification
Friday, March 24, 2006
Mexicans march....
...to protest American immigration laws that would send them back to Mexico.
I swear to God I may be the only sane person left.
School Walkouts Protest Immigration Proposals - Los Angeles Times
The atmosphere was festive as 500 Huntington Park High School students waved Mexican flags, held balloons colored green, white and red, and periodically broke into cheers of "Mexico! Mexico!"You got that? They're protesting the possibility of being sent back to Mexico by cheering "Mexico! Mexico!"
I swear to God I may be the only sane person left.
School Walkouts Protest Immigration Proposals - Los Angeles Times
The difference between Liberal and Leftist.
From the the Chattanoogan.com:
Desmond T. Doss, Sr., the only conscientious objector to win the Congressional Medal of Honor during World War II, has died. He was 87 years old.
Mr. Doss never liked being called a conscientious objector. He preferred the term conscientious cooperator. Raised a Seventh-day Adventist, Mr. Doss did not believe in using a gun or killing because of the sixth commandment which states, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Doss was a patriot however, and believed in serving his country.
During World War II, instead of accepting a deferment, Mr. Doss voluntarily joined the Army as a conscientious objector. Assigned to the 307th Infantry Division as a company medic he was harassed and ridiculed for his beliefs, yet he served with distinction and ultimately received the Congressional Medal of Honor on Oct. 12, 1945 for his fearless acts of bravery.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, time after time, Mr. Doss’ fellow soldiers witnessed how unafraid he was for his own safety. He was always willing to go after a wounded fellow, no matter how great the danger. On one occasion in Okinawa, he refused to take cover from enemy fire as he rescued approximately 75 wounded soldiers, carrying them one-by-one and lowering them over the edge of the 400-foot Maeda Escarpment. He did not stop until he had brought everyone to safety nearly 12 hours later.
When Mr. Doss received the Medal of Honor from President Truman, the President told him, “I’m proud of you, you really deserve this. I consider this a greater honor than being President.”
Desmond T. Doss, Sr., the only conscientious objector to win the Congressional Medal of Honor during World War II, has died. He was 87 years old.Mr. Doss never liked being called a conscientious objector. He preferred the term conscientious cooperator. Raised a Seventh-day Adventist, Mr. Doss did not believe in using a gun or killing because of the sixth commandment which states, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Doss was a patriot however, and believed in serving his country.
During World War II, instead of accepting a deferment, Mr. Doss voluntarily joined the Army as a conscientious objector. Assigned to the 307th Infantry Division as a company medic he was harassed and ridiculed for his beliefs, yet he served with distinction and ultimately received the Congressional Medal of Honor on Oct. 12, 1945 for his fearless acts of bravery.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, time after time, Mr. Doss’ fellow soldiers witnessed how unafraid he was for his own safety. He was always willing to go after a wounded fellow, no matter how great the danger. On one occasion in Okinawa, he refused to take cover from enemy fire as he rescued approximately 75 wounded soldiers, carrying them one-by-one and lowering them over the edge of the 400-foot Maeda Escarpment. He did not stop until he had brought everyone to safety nearly 12 hours later.
When Mr. Doss received the Medal of Honor from President Truman, the President told him, “I’m proud of you, you really deserve this. I consider this a greater honor than being President.”
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Peaceful people rescued by violent men
And that's not all.
Michelle Malkin: TALK ABOUT UNGRATEFUL
British officials in Baghdad said those freed were Canadians James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32; and Briton Norman Kember, 74. The men - members of the Chicago-based Christian Peacemaker Teams - were kidnapped on Nov. 26 along with their American colleague, Tom Fox, 54, whose body was found earlier this month.Now that's something to be thankful for -- imagine the intellectual quandary one would find one's self in if one's pacifist anti-war colleagues were rescued by gun-toting soldiers acting, well, warful.
Speaking in Toronto, Doug Pritchard, co-director of the group, said no shots were fired during the operation and that the kidnappers were not present when the U.S.-British force freed the hostages.
Michelle Malkin: TALK ABOUT UNGRATEFUL
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
What a flaming crock of s**t
Go check out the new UN anti-racism poster over at the Rott.
I think that bulldozing the UN right this very second seems like a good idea. But then, I've thought that for years.
I think that bulldozing the UN right this very second seems like a good idea. But then, I've thought that for years.
Huh...
Go figure. Are you trying to say that running the National Forests according to some dope-addled eco-freak's wet dream isn't profitable? Gosh, who woulda thunk it? I mean, it's not like the eco-freak movement would actually HURT a forest, would it? Golly, why would legislation forced through by uneducated hypocritial shitstains hurt a forest?
Good! Sell it all! Since the tree-hugging crowd has gotten it's way, the National Forests have been left to rot. The largest single land-owner in the USA is the Federal Government, and if there's any better way to ruin something than let the Feds get their hands on it, I haven't seen it. Maybe if we let citizens own the land instead of a group of mush-brained beurocrats who allow themselves to be let around by another group of drug smoking leftist anal warts, we can bring back the timber industry in this country and put more people back to work. And wouldn't it be nice to have paper grown, harvested and produced in the USA? I mean, what would those leftists think if they knew that their paper was grown in Canada or Russia?
Oh, right, Leftists don't think. And in order to actually LEARN about the products they use, Leftists would have to put aside their blinders and take a good hard look at reality, and we KNOW that'll never happen. Leftism means never have to learn, and never having to apologise for that fact. And to any leftist who gets upset by that, fuck you. It wasn't conservative ideals that gutted the timber industry in this country. It wasn't conservatives who ruined the National Forests. Leftism, in all it's glory, exposed as nothing more than a hollow ideology, filled with nothing but hot air and bullshit. I don't think anyone to the Left of Ronald Reagan should ever be allowed to set policy for timberland ever again.
In short, to all those red-diaper-doper-babies living in the cities? Yeah, fuck you. Let the people who live in the forests deal with the forests, and all the over-pampered eco-freak shitclumps can shut the fuck up and go back to sucking on your bong.
I can hear it now. "EEK! EEK! RAGING DAVE, HOW CAN YOU BE SO MEAN?" Because I lived among the over-pampered eco-freak shitclumps for years, and I know exactly who I'm talking about, that's why. Fuck 'em all. Maybe when they stop living in WOODen-framed houses reading socialist propaganda in newsPAPERS and magazines made out of PAPER, and stop making PAPER-mache puppets for their demonstrations that they advertize on PAPER flyers, and stop using CARDBOARD and WOOD for their signs, then I'll take them seriously. But until then, they can go take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut. I don't think my disgust with the ecological movement and truly be put into words. The English language doesn't have the vocabulary needed to explain how much I loath the eco-freaks.
They're just marxists and communists using the government to get what they want. And anyone who doesn't understand that sentance, go read what the eco-freak movement writes. On PAPER.
Fuck 'em. Bleah. I need a cigar.
A recent U.S. Forest Service study predicted that more than 44 million acres of private forest land, an area twice the size of Maine, will be sold over the next 25 years. The consulting firm U.S. Forest Capital estimates that half of all U.S. timberland has changed hands in the past decade. The Bush administration also wants to sell off forest land, by auctioning more than 300,000 acres of national forest to fund a rural school program.
Good! Sell it all! Since the tree-hugging crowd has gotten it's way, the National Forests have been left to rot. The largest single land-owner in the USA is the Federal Government, and if there's any better way to ruin something than let the Feds get their hands on it, I haven't seen it. Maybe if we let citizens own the land instead of a group of mush-brained beurocrats who allow themselves to be let around by another group of drug smoking leftist anal warts, we can bring back the timber industry in this country and put more people back to work. And wouldn't it be nice to have paper grown, harvested and produced in the USA? I mean, what would those leftists think if they knew that their paper was grown in Canada or Russia?
Oh, right, Leftists don't think. And in order to actually LEARN about the products they use, Leftists would have to put aside their blinders and take a good hard look at reality, and we KNOW that'll never happen. Leftism means never have to learn, and never having to apologise for that fact. And to any leftist who gets upset by that, fuck you. It wasn't conservative ideals that gutted the timber industry in this country. It wasn't conservatives who ruined the National Forests. Leftism, in all it's glory, exposed as nothing more than a hollow ideology, filled with nothing but hot air and bullshit. I don't think anyone to the Left of Ronald Reagan should ever be allowed to set policy for timberland ever again.
In short, to all those red-diaper-doper-babies living in the cities? Yeah, fuck you. Let the people who live in the forests deal with the forests, and all the over-pampered eco-freak shitclumps can shut the fuck up and go back to sucking on your bong.
I can hear it now. "EEK! EEK! RAGING DAVE, HOW CAN YOU BE SO MEAN?" Because I lived among the over-pampered eco-freak shitclumps for years, and I know exactly who I'm talking about, that's why. Fuck 'em all. Maybe when they stop living in WOODen-framed houses reading socialist propaganda in newsPAPERS and magazines made out of PAPER, and stop making PAPER-mache puppets for their demonstrations that they advertize on PAPER flyers, and stop using CARDBOARD and WOOD for their signs, then I'll take them seriously. But until then, they can go take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut. I don't think my disgust with the ecological movement and truly be put into words. The English language doesn't have the vocabulary needed to explain how much I loath the eco-freaks.
They're just marxists and communists using the government to get what they want. And anyone who doesn't understand that sentance, go read what the eco-freak movement writes. On PAPER.
Fuck 'em. Bleah. I need a cigar.
Still busy as hell
But the Raging Mrs. and I have found some time to enjoy a little bit of San Antonio. We went to SeaWorld S.A. on Sunday, which brings me to the subject I'm about to expound on.
Anyone who knows me knows that I don't like Budweiser beer. I refer to it as "Clydesdale Piss", and avoid it whenever possible. However, Anheuser-Busch owns more than just breweries. Busch Gardens, anyone? Yep, same people. And Anheuser-Busch also owns the SeaWorld parks, as well as a few others.
And for anyone in the military Anheuser-Busch is offering free tickets for the military menber and their families. You only get the free tickets once, but you can take a family of four to Busch Gardens, Seaworld, or any of the other parks that Anheuser-Busch owns.
And I think that's pretty fucking cool.
So while I still won't be drinking Budweiser, I've found another beer produced by A-B that I think is decent, and I'll be buying that when I see it. Money talks, I I think that supporting companies that support our troops is the right thing to do.
Anyone who knows me knows that I don't like Budweiser beer. I refer to it as "Clydesdale Piss", and avoid it whenever possible. However, Anheuser-Busch owns more than just breweries. Busch Gardens, anyone? Yep, same people. And Anheuser-Busch also owns the SeaWorld parks, as well as a few others.
And for anyone in the military Anheuser-Busch is offering free tickets for the military menber and their families. You only get the free tickets once, but you can take a family of four to Busch Gardens, Seaworld, or any of the other parks that Anheuser-Busch owns.
And I think that's pretty fucking cool.
So while I still won't be drinking Budweiser, I've found another beer produced by A-B that I think is decent, and I'll be buying that when I see it. Money talks, I I think that supporting companies that support our troops is the right thing to do.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Yo Dave
Richard Belzer sez you're unscholarly, can't find other employment, and don't read enough newspapers.
STRONGLY suggest you either:
a) take it as a compliment, or
b) down a couple sedatives and a bottle of Robitussin before watching the video, lest your ears burn clean offa yer head.
STRONGLY suggest you either:
a) take it as a compliment, or
b) down a couple sedatives and a bottle of Robitussin before watching the video, lest your ears burn clean offa yer head.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
One question was EASY
"Upon what does climate depend?"
Why, gluttonous oil consumption in America, of course.
Duh.
Why, gluttonous oil consumption in America, of course.
Duh.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
So riddle me this....
Jay Bennish says Bush is "like" Hitler, calls America the worst country in the world. But suggest that an art class do studies that may include nudes, and you're gonna get fired.
Yeah. The Department of Education needs to be abolished. Now.
Oh, and if you need more reasons to blow the Dept. of Education sky high, go check out this test, from the 7th and 8th grade, in 1895. I know that I couldn 't answer half the questions on that test. But gosh, I was educated in the public school system.
Having been in the system, I think I'm qualified to say that the public schools in America aren't fit to teach anyone how to wipe their own ass.
Yeah. The Department of Education needs to be abolished. Now.
Oh, and if you need more reasons to blow the Dept. of Education sky high, go check out this test, from the 7th and 8th grade, in 1895. I know that I couldn 't answer half the questions on that test. But gosh, I was educated in the public school system.
Having been in the system, I think I'm qualified to say that the public schools in America aren't fit to teach anyone how to wipe their own ass.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg
Evil Leftist witch or just bat-shit crazy?
Go read, and you decide.
At this point, I prefer her sleeping in court, rather than enforcing her tranzi positions on the US.
Go read, and you decide.
At this point, I prefer her sleeping in court, rather than enforcing her tranzi positions on the US.
Gosh, I wonder why the MSM isn't running this story?
I mean, they all say their objective, right? So why haven't I seen this in the NYT?
Just remember, when I call the Has-Been Media a group of Dimocrat whores, harlots selling their newspapers for failed ideological pipe-dreams, traitors and parasites who suck the life from this country in their pursuit of their statist dreams....
I'm being nice.
It goes on. Directorate 9, we discover, "is one of the most important directorates in the Mukhabarat. Most of its work is outside Iraq in coordination with other directorates, focusing on operations of sabotage and assassination."
The document also discusses the Mukhabarat's Office 16, set up to train "agents for clandestine operations abroad." The document helpfully adds that "special six-week courses in the use of of terror techniques are provided at a camp in Radwaniyhah."
Got that? Terror techniques.
Just remember, when I call the Has-Been Media a group of Dimocrat whores, harlots selling their newspapers for failed ideological pipe-dreams, traitors and parasites who suck the life from this country in their pursuit of their statist dreams....
I'm being nice.
Economy Schmiconomy. You people forget....
...the markets are artificially high due to unfair windfall robber baron worker gouging profiteering by You Know Who.
Sorry ---- i couldn't resist tossing in that last one.
Sorry ---- i couldn't resist tossing in that last one.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Heard about the ecomony lately?
Just a reminder - tax cuts work.
It's taken years to undo the damage done by Clinton and Bush Sr. You would think, after three perfect examples of lower taxes=more tax revenues, that the dumbfuck Dimocrats would see the light.
But then, in order for that to happen, the average Dimocrat would need a functioning brain, and that just ain't gonna happen in the next few years.
And of course the Media, being nothing but a gaggle of whores for the Dimocrats, ain't gonna tell you a damn thing about the economy when it's roaring in top gear. Unless they just lie again and say that it's not that good.
We're at 4.7% unemployment, the DJIA is over 11,000, and the S%P is going higher. Keep that in mind the next time the Dimocrats whine about the economy and jobs. Dimocrats, as usual, are full of shit.
Upbeat reports from the Federal Reserve and DuPont Co. lifted stocks for a second day Wednesday, pushing the Standard & Poor's 500 past 1,300 for the first time since May 2001.
The industrials, materials and transportation sectors led the market higher, allowing the S&P 500 to finally pop above 1,297, a ceiling the index has not been able to cross since November.
It's taken years to undo the damage done by Clinton and Bush Sr. You would think, after three perfect examples of lower taxes=more tax revenues, that the dumbfuck Dimocrats would see the light.
But then, in order for that to happen, the average Dimocrat would need a functioning brain, and that just ain't gonna happen in the next few years.
And of course the Media, being nothing but a gaggle of whores for the Dimocrats, ain't gonna tell you a damn thing about the economy when it's roaring in top gear. Unless they just lie again and say that it's not that good.
We're at 4.7% unemployment, the DJIA is over 11,000, and the S%P is going higher. Keep that in mind the next time the Dimocrats whine about the economy and jobs. Dimocrats, as usual, are full of shit.
Feingold's censure motion
All you need to know about the Democrat's motion to censure President Bush can be summed up in one paragraph:
Feingold: I say we censure Bush!
Frist: OK, fine. Let's vote on it right now!
Reed and other worthless Dimocrat fucksticks: HOW DARE YOU MAKE US VOTE ON IT RIGHT NOW!
Well, either you want it or you don't. This is nothing more than another political ploy by a political party that is so bankrupt of ideas that all they can do is whine and seeth and attack a president who won't even be running for re-election. They STILL have no ideas. They STILL have no plans to improve this country. All they have are socialist ideas that have been proven failures, and a pathalogical hatred of President Bush.
Way to go, Dimocrats. I'm sure that'll win votes in November.
Feingold: I say we censure Bush!
Frist: OK, fine. Let's vote on it right now!
Reed and other worthless Dimocrat fucksticks: HOW DARE YOU MAKE US VOTE ON IT RIGHT NOW!
Well, either you want it or you don't. This is nothing more than another political ploy by a political party that is so bankrupt of ideas that all they can do is whine and seeth and attack a president who won't even be running for re-election. They STILL have no ideas. They STILL have no plans to improve this country. All they have are socialist ideas that have been proven failures, and a pathalogical hatred of President Bush.
Way to go, Dimocrats. I'm sure that'll win votes in November.
A view from inside
I know that I haven't mentioned socialist healthcare in a while. After reading this piece by a doctor in Great Britain, I think I may have to talk about socialist healthcare a bit more often.
And spare me the comments of "It's 'Universal' Health care!" or "It's Single-Payer Healthcare!" Please. Get a fucking clue. It's a socialist program, and I'll call a spade a spade. All you have to do is look at the fucking FACTS coming from Canada or Great Britain or any other country that has allowed the government to take over their healthcare system to see that GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE IS A FAILURE! And everytime I hear a politician talk about "free healthcare" or the non-existant "right" to healthcare, I want to beat them over the head with a fucking lead pipe.
Go read the article. And ask yourself if that's how you would want your loved ones to be treated.
And spare me the comments of "It's 'Universal' Health care!" or "It's Single-Payer Healthcare!" Please. Get a fucking clue. It's a socialist program, and I'll call a spade a spade. All you have to do is look at the fucking FACTS coming from Canada or Great Britain or any other country that has allowed the government to take over their healthcare system to see that GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE IS A FAILURE! And everytime I hear a politician talk about "free healthcare" or the non-existant "right" to healthcare, I want to beat them over the head with a fucking lead pipe.
Go read the article. And ask yourself if that's how you would want your loved ones to be treated.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
The day in contrast
Today, salon.com published a bunch of "devastating scenes" from Abu Ghraib. They cite cBS News leadership to explain why this was such a very important thing to do, but neglect to mention that cBS has just suffered a two year, $27 billion viewer tune-out and corporate banishment from their parent company. Lefties will never comprehend the blowback from constant investment in failure.
Meanwhile ...
Greenspan Not Invited
Today, both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Standard & Poor's 500 Index marked their highest point in 5 years. Analysts credited the rally to the Federal Reserve's abandonment of the former demented chairman's economy arresting policies.
I celebrated by purchasing a few shares of General Electric Co. Interestingly, GE was among the 1st few companies chosen to represent American industry in the DJIA, and the only one with the distinction of remaining there to this day. Let's hope they are still keeping the gears greased.
((Tip: DJIA = 14,000 by November, 2008. You heard it here first.))
Free Speech on Campus?
I don't think so.
DAILY ILLINI editor Acton Gorton has been fired. His offense? Publishing the Muhammad cartoons.
Something tells me that if he published a few cartoons showing Jesus Christ as an adulterous pedophile, he'd have been lauded as a magnificent talent by the oh-so-tolerant left. But do something that goes against Leftist ideals, and you're expunged from the rolls.
As colleges have become bastions of Leftist thought, actual thought has been restricted. Free speech isn't, if you're on a college campus. The trials of former Harvard President Larry Summers should prove that going against the Leftist groupthink will get you canned. Step on inch out of the allowed groupthink, and you're toast.
Remember, the next time some Leftard tries to tell you that the "progressives" want free speech, laugh in their face. Actions speak louder than words.
Found via Instapundit.
DAILY ILLINI editor Acton Gorton has been fired. His offense? Publishing the Muhammad cartoons.
Something tells me that if he published a few cartoons showing Jesus Christ as an adulterous pedophile, he'd have been lauded as a magnificent talent by the oh-so-tolerant left. But do something that goes against Leftist ideals, and you're expunged from the rolls.
As colleges have become bastions of Leftist thought, actual thought has been restricted. Free speech isn't, if you're on a college campus. The trials of former Harvard President Larry Summers should prove that going against the Leftist groupthink will get you canned. Step on inch out of the allowed groupthink, and you're toast.
Remember, the next time some Leftard tries to tell you that the "progressives" want free speech, laugh in their face. Actions speak louder than words.
Found via Instapundit.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
A true gentleman
While the Mrs. was recouperating in our room on Saturday, Cap'n Jim was kind enough to drive all the way from Galveston to San Antonio to take me to a much needed range session.
No, I won't show my targets, because I'm too damn embarassed. To say that I'm out of practice is the understatement of the year. I shot like hell. Meanwhile, Jim was punching itty-bitty little holes in his targets with five and six shot groups.
My grouping improved as my body remembered how the hell it was supposed to function, but I still didn't obtain anything resembling my groupings before I left for Puerto Rico. It doubled my resolve to find some way to get to a range in San Juan. If I'm there long enough to get the multiple permits I need just to buy a gun and bring it home.
Anyways, after the range we picked up the Mrs. and headed out to Club Humidor, where we all enjoyed a good cigar and some coffee. The Mrs. snapped a photo of Jim and I making our selection.
I had to wipe the drool off my chin just walking into that humidor. There are cigar shops in Puerto Rico that are smaller in total size than that humidor. After picking my jaw up off the floor and selecting a Hoyo de Monteray robusto, we retired to the lounge area to light up and enjoy. After our cigars, we headed to a local restaurant for some cajun food.
All in all, it was one hell of a good day, and I don't think I can thank Jim enough for taking the time to drive 250 miles each way just to show the Mrs. and I around San Antonio. So Jim, thank you once again.
As for the Mrs., she's recovering as good as can be expected given the circumstances. Her walking is still limited, and she uses her wheelchair about half the time. But it's an improvement from pre-operation, so we'll take it. As her back heals more, she'll be able to do more activity, but it'll take about four to six months for her to return to full strength.
And I'm already reminding her on an hourly basis to not overdo it. I think she's gonna kill me soon. And as she does, I'll be screaming "DON'T STRESS YOUR BACK! DON'T HURT YOUR BACK!".
Ah, the joys of living with someone who doubles as Xena.
No, I won't show my targets, because I'm too damn embarassed. To say that I'm out of practice is the understatement of the year. I shot like hell. Meanwhile, Jim was punching itty-bitty little holes in his targets with five and six shot groups.
My grouping improved as my body remembered how the hell it was supposed to function, but I still didn't obtain anything resembling my groupings before I left for Puerto Rico. It doubled my resolve to find some way to get to a range in San Juan. If I'm there long enough to get the multiple permits I need just to buy a gun and bring it home.
Anyways, after the range we picked up the Mrs. and headed out to Club Humidor, where we all enjoyed a good cigar and some coffee. The Mrs. snapped a photo of Jim and I making our selection.
I had to wipe the drool off my chin just walking into that humidor. There are cigar shops in Puerto Rico that are smaller in total size than that humidor. After picking my jaw up off the floor and selecting a Hoyo de Monteray robusto, we retired to the lounge area to light up and enjoy. After our cigars, we headed to a local restaurant for some cajun food.
All in all, it was one hell of a good day, and I don't think I can thank Jim enough for taking the time to drive 250 miles each way just to show the Mrs. and I around San Antonio. So Jim, thank you once again.
As for the Mrs., she's recovering as good as can be expected given the circumstances. Her walking is still limited, and she uses her wheelchair about half the time. But it's an improvement from pre-operation, so we'll take it. As her back heals more, she'll be able to do more activity, but it'll take about four to six months for her to return to full strength.
And I'm already reminding her on an hourly basis to not overdo it. I think she's gonna kill me soon. And as she does, I'll be screaming "DON'T STRESS YOUR BACK! DON'T HURT YOUR BACK!".
Ah, the joys of living with someone who doubles as Xena.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Diane Fienstien just wet herself
And she's trying to figure out why.
BwaHAAAAA! I love it! The colors aren't really my thing, but hey - to each their own, right?
BwaHAAAAA! I love it! The colors aren't really my thing, but hey - to each their own, right?
Iraqi Civil War That Wasn’t – Micro to the Macro
CIVIL WAR!!!!! Phonly we had listened to Mogadishu Murtha! Right? Bullshit. “Civil War” is the new hope of the terrorist-leftist nexus, created when the Sunni Arabs in Iraq, on December 15th 2005, chose the ballot box over bloody war. As predicted, al Qaeda (who care nothing for the muslims they slaughter and claim to fight on behalf of simultaneously) has not relented in their attacks. But they have found their attacks less and less effective against coalition troops, so they focused more on killing Iraqi men women and children. But they knew that was a losing battle. And the key to success for the enemies of freedom, as stated by Abu Zarqawi in a letter he sent to al Qaeada in February of 2004 (read the whole thing) is:
Also regarding why they must incite a Civil War, Zarqawi said:
Yet Democrats and their Media handlers have yet to acknowledge what Zarqawi recognized 2 years ago. Once united and self determined, Iraqis would turn on them and their campaign of terror in Iraq would bear no fruit.
On February 22nd 2006 terrorists destroyed the Golden Dome Mosque in Samarra in a dramatic effort to incite a war between Shiite and Sunni muslims in Iraq. This is indicative of utter desperation on the part of al Qaeda. Pause and consider what they are attempting to do. Shia and Sunni Muslims have existed throughout the mid east since right after the death of their Prophet Mohammed. It was the choice of his successor that created the split. That has resulted in minor cultural differences over time, but they are all still muslims. So when you hear the hope dripping from the fingertips or the mouth of Zarqawi and/or the global left that Iraq’s new Constitutional Democracy will devolve into a bloody Shiite Sunni Civil War, know that they are basically saying that the Muslim religion is about to implode in sectarian violence. Such violence would spread throught the mid-east where the greatest concentration of Muslims exist. A fact I am sure that Muslim leaders throughout the region are well aware. Is this something they want? Highly doubtful. And they will take ever opportunity to see that it does not transpire. So now that we have all the recent hysterical reports of “civil war” from the Democrat Media in proper context, let’s examine what happened in Iraq starting with the bombing of the Golden Dome Mosque. First from an Iraqi blogger at Iraq the Model:
But the Democrat Media want you to believe it was ordinary Iraqi Sunni Arabs because that fits with their and Zarqawi’s “civil war” wishes.
So who did Iraqis blame? Iraqis blame “foreigners”:
Immediately, Sunni and Shia Iraqi leaders condemned the attacks. More from Iraq the Model:
Iraqi Security forces moved in quickly to maintain order. From Iraq the Model on the day of the bombing:
From reporter Ralp Peters in Iraq:
What about ordinary Iraqis? How did they react to the bombing of the Golden Dome Mosque? Again from Iraqi the Model the day of the bombing:
More from Gateway Pundit on February 24, 2006 -
More from an Iraqi camerman working for NBC news:
The coverage from the Democrat Media was, as it always is, SICKENING (check the Time Magazine cover at that link). When they err, they do so on the side of making the situation look as bad as they possibly can. Take the death toll from the “civil war” for example:
The Washington Post claimed 1300 were killed. However, on March 3rd 2006, the top U.S. commander in Iraq declared an end to a 10-day wave of sectarian violence that killed an estimated 350 civilians, asserting that many reports of violence were "exaggerated." Ralph Peters, reporting from Forward Operating Base Loyalty, where he's been riding with the 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, reacts to the “civil war” meme that the Democrat Media pushed:
And then there’s the stuff the Democrat Media would rather not report:
Micro to Macro – This whole “civil war” tripe being pushed by the MSM helps fuel the moral of Abu Zarqawi and al Qaeda in Iraq. They are the ones that want a civil war. Not the Iraqi people. Not the Iraqi leadership. And this entire “mini-crisis” has once again exposed the Democrat Media’s play-book on Iraq. Inflate the bad news, suppress the good news, and embolden the enemies of freedom and democracy at the same time that America’s finest are giving their lives and shedding blood to ensure our success. To end this on a positive note. The parallels between the “civil war” that wasn’t and the overall view of our mission in Iraq are similar in this respect as well – The enemies of freedom/the terrorist leftist nexus FAILED to incite a civil war in Iraq. They will likewise FAIL at destroying the Constitutional Democracy we’ve sacrificed soo much to create. A fact Abu Zarqawi has recognized, but Democrats and their Media refuse to. Their lust for power will be satiated at any cost.
The Shi'a in our opinion, these are the key to change. Targeting and striking their religious, political, and military symbols, will make them show their rage against the Sunnis and bear their inner vengeance. If we succeed in dragging them into a sectarian war, this will awaken the sleepy Sunnis…..
Also regarding why they must incite a Civil War, Zarqawi said:
if we fight them, that will be difficult because there will be a schism between us and the people of the region. How can we kill their cousins and sons and under what pretext, after the Americans start withdrawing? The Americans will continue to control from their bases, but the sons of this land will be the authority. This is the democracy, we will have no pretext.
Yet Democrats and their Media handlers have yet to acknowledge what Zarqawi recognized 2 years ago. Once united and self determined, Iraqis would turn on them and their campaign of terror in Iraq would bear no fruit.
On February 22nd 2006 terrorists destroyed the Golden Dome Mosque in Samarra in a dramatic effort to incite a war between Shiite and Sunni muslims in Iraq. This is indicative of utter desperation on the part of al Qaeda. Pause and consider what they are attempting to do. Shia and Sunni Muslims have existed throughout the mid east since right after the death of their Prophet Mohammed. It was the choice of his successor that created the split. That has resulted in minor cultural differences over time, but they are all still muslims. So when you hear the hope dripping from the fingertips or the mouth of Zarqawi and/or the global left that Iraq’s new Constitutional Democracy will devolve into a bloody Shiite Sunni Civil War, know that they are basically saying that the Muslim religion is about to implode in sectarian violence. Such violence would spread throught the mid-east where the greatest concentration of Muslims exist. A fact I am sure that Muslim leaders throughout the region are well aware. Is this something they want? Highly doubtful. And they will take ever opportunity to see that it does not transpire. So now that we have all the recent hysterical reports of “civil war” from the Democrat Media in proper context, let’s examine what happened in Iraq starting with the bombing of the Golden Dome Mosque. First from an Iraqi blogger at Iraq the Model:
February 22nd 2006 – “I believe there are foreign terror groups behind this attack and I don't think local insurgent would do such a thing, simply because this particular shrine had been in Sunni territory for a thousand years and the residents of Samarra had always benefited from the movement of religious tourism and pilgrimage. The quality of the target and the timing of the attack were chosen in a way that can possibly bring very serious consequences over the country. “
But the Democrat Media want you to believe it was ordinary Iraqi Sunni Arabs because that fits with their and Zarqawi’s “civil war” wishes.
So who did Iraqis blame? Iraqis blame “foreigners”:
February 23, 2006 - The foreign fighters must have been stunned when Shiite and Sunni leaders rushed out statements saying they knew that the takfiri (i.e., those who accuse other Muslims of being infidels, a code word in this context for the foreign extremists) were behind the attack, and they would not let this act of brutality divide Iraq. In an announcement on his website, Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali Sistani blamed “takfiris [who] meant to foment sedition among the Iraqi people, thus fulfilling their malicious goals.” He added, “we urge everyone not to be dragged into committing acts that would only please the enemies, namely, the sectarian sedition which they have long attempted to push Iraq into its furnace.” Shiite radical Muqtada al-Sadr — remember him? — blamed the attack on the takfiri, Saddam loyalists, and “the occupation.” “We should not attack Sunni mosques,” he said on al Jazeera. “I ordered [his militia the] Al-Mahdi Army to protect the Shiite and Sunni shrines and to show a high sense of responsibility, something they actually did.”
Immediately, Sunni and Shia Iraqi leaders condemned the attacks. More from Iraq the Model:
“Vehicles with loudspeakers roaming the streets calling on people to shut their stores in the name of the Hawza and join the protests after the noon prayer to condemn the attack on the holy shrine. Ayatollah Sistani reacted quickly to the escalating anger by issuing a fatwa that forbids his followers from "Taking any action against Sunni sites" obviously to discourage his followers from carrying out retaliatory attacks on Sunni mosques. [Muqtada] al Sadr cut his tour in Lebanon and is heading back to Baghdad, he called on his followers from Beirut to "have self-control and refrain from violence". Both Sunni and Shia mosques are condemning the attack through their loudspeakers. President Talabani promises to make rebuilding the shrine his personal responsibility and to donate the required money from his own. Head of the Sunni endowment sheikh Ahmed al-Samarra'I announces that he will allocate 2 billion dinars ($1.4 million) for the rebuilding of the shrine from the treasury of the Sunni endowment. The top 4 Shia Ayatollahs hold a meeting at Sistani's home to discuss the situation. The Association of Muslim scholars and the Islamic Party condemn the "criminal act". Jafari in a press conference calls for national unity and the leaders of the UIA hold a meeting.
February 26, 2006 - THE movement of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, alleged to have played a role in the anti-Sunni violence over the last few days, publicly made peace with political and religious Sunni leaders overnight. Four sheikhs from the Sadr movement made a "pact of honour" with the conservative Sunni Muslim Scholars Association, and called for an end to attacks on places of worship, the shedding of blood and condemning any act leading to sedition. The agreement was made in the particularly symbolic setting of Baghdad's premier Sunni mosque Abu Hanifa where the Shiite sheikhs prayed under the guidance of Sunni imam Abdel Salam al-Qubaissi. The meeting was broadcast on television and the religious leaders all "condemned the blowing up of the Shiite mausoleum of Samarra as much as the acts of sabotage against the houses of God as well as the assassinations and terrorisation of Muslims". The statement made reference to the key concerns of both communities with the violent aftermath to the attack on the Samarra mausoleum which saw more than 119 people die.
Iraqi Security forces moved in quickly to maintain order. From Iraq the Model on the day of the bombing:
Heavy deployment for the police and other security forces with more frequent checkpoints that are stop-searching cars more often than they usually do.
From reporter Ralp Peters in Iraq:
And the people here have been impressed that their government reacted effectively to last week's strife, that their soldiers and police brought order to the streets. The Iraqi army deployed over 100,000 soldiers to maintain public order. U.S. Forces remained available as a backup, but Iraqi soldiers controlled the streets. Iraqi forces behaved with discipline and restraint - as the local sectarian outbreaks fizzled, not one civilian had been killed by an Iraqi soldier. Time and again, Iraqi military officers were able to defuse potential confrontations and frustrate terrorist hopes of igniting a religious war. Forty-seven battalions drawn from all 10 of Iraq's army divisions took part in an operation that, above all, aimed at reassuring the public. The effort worked - from the luxury districts to the slums, the Iraqis were proud of their army. As a result of its nationwide success, the Iraqi army gained tremendously in confidence. Its morale soared. [T]he truth is that we're seeing a new, competent, patriotic military emerge.
March 4th 2006 - The commander of Iraq's ground forces, General Abdul Qadir, is an armor officer with extensive battlefield experience. Qadir stood up to Saddam, stating that his adventure in Kuwait was destined to fail. He was sent to prison for seven years. Only his history of combat valor saved him from death. Now Saddam's in prison and Qadir's determined to build a better Iraq. In his office in the Defense Ministry - an ornate building whose marble halls and crystal chandeliers predate Saddam - Qadir beamed with pride at the performance of his troops over the previous 10 days. "Not one unit had sectarian difficulties," he stressed. "Not one. And when we canceled all leaves after the mosque bombing - we expected trouble, of course - our soldiers returned promptly to their units. Now it is as you see for yourself: Iraqis are proud of their own soldiers." Asked when he thought American troops should leave Iraq, Qadir said, "We must not be in too great a hurry for you to go," stressing that patience and cooperation were crucial to ultimate success. American troop levels could be reduced in the next few years, but with over 40 years of military service - and as a member of an old Sunni-Arab military family - Qadir has no illusions about the challenges ahead. Iraqi combat units have made significant progress, but sustaining that success depends on building a reliable logistics infrastructure, on building up communications and intelligence capabilities and on developing a training system that aims at Western standards. Given the mess Saddam left behind, Qadir's mission is formidable. And the progress to date is impressive to any knowledgeable observer.
QADIR'S principal American adviser, Col. Tom McCool, said of the recent mini-crisis, "It's a good-news story. The Iraqis performed every bit as well as we expected." A firm believer in the general's vision and abilities, McCool stresses that Qadir's a "true soldier," not a political hack, personally incorruptible. Paraphrasing one of his own U.S. Army superiors, McCool said, "The Iraqi army has to build an airplane while it's already flying. And they're doing it amazingly well." If Qadir and McCool are confident, so is Brig.-Gen. Dan Bolger, our Army officer charged with "assisting the Iraqis in forming their military." On the day of the Samarra bombing, Bolger expected trouble and headed out into the streets with the Iraqi military. Instead of widespread strife in the districts of Baghdad he visited, he found "the most average day in the world." Bolger has a distinguished career behind him as an Infantryman. But he's also written a rucksack full of superb books ranging from military history to fiction, and he's one of the most respected thinkers-in-uniform of his generation. He's the right man for his assignment. Bolger stressed that the coverage of the past few weeks - and of the Iraqi army overall - had been just plain inaccurate. Building a military from scratch and changing its culture profoundly is incredibly difficult, yet Bolger's impressed that, after some undeniable birth pains (before Bolger's tenure), the Iraqi army's development is accelerating impressively. "We bail the Iraqis out less and less," he told The Post, observing that the Iraqis want to do things by themselves - although they'll need some U.S. support for the next few years. "They want us to make a long-term commitment," he said, referring not to a heavy U.S. troop presence, but to a mutually beneficial strategic partnership. Sitting behind his desk in a Spartan office in Baghdad, Bolger exploded another myth - that the new Iraqi military's been infiltrated by militia members. "It's actually hard to penetrate the army," he said. "They're not garrisoned locally, but mixed into truly national units and deployed around the country." In the recent flare-up, sectarian issues had not been a problem in a single Irai unit. Bolger mused about the terminology Iraqi officers employ. They refer to terrorists as "terrorists," but call the native insurgents "criminals" and despise them. He stresses that the Iraqis have it right: "The criminal element is an underestimated element in the violence. A lot of these people are just predators." Bolger believes that, if we have a reasonable amount of patience, the new Iraqi military will emerge as the best in the Arab world - and a firm ally in the region.
What about ordinary Iraqis? How did they react to the bombing of the Golden Dome Mosque? Again from Iraqi the Model the day of the bombing:
“Ordinary Iraqis turned out in the streets to condemn the violence and call for unity. Huge demonstrations in many of Iraq's provinces including Samarra and Mosul where thousands of people condemned the attack.“
More from Gateway Pundit on February 24, 2006 -
Many Iraqi cities witnessed large demonstrations after Friday prayers (yesterday). These demonstrations were calling for national unity, not being pulled into civil war after attacks on Sunni mosques as retaliation to the bombing of the samara Shiite shrine. In Mousul 500 people demonstrated in Bartila (north west of the city). The demonstrations were lead by Sunni & Shiite leaders to condemn all bombings and call for a unified line and not be pulled into a sectarian war. Another demonstration started from the offices of the high council for Islamic revolution (Shiite). The demonstration was lead by Sunni and Shiite religious leaders. Banners condemned attacks on mosques, shrines and churches the banners also condemned terror also no to Saddam yes to Islam. In Hillah over 3000 demonstrated after Friday’s united prayers (Shiite & Muslim together) at the Haytaween mosque. The united prayers were lead by Sheik Mohamed Alfateh (Sunni) and Sheik Jasim Alkalebi (Shiite). The two speakers called for Muslim unity and denounced all terror activity as unIslamic and asked for keeping unity. In Al-Koot hundreds demonstrated after Friday prayers protesting the bombing of the samara shrine and the attacks on the Sunni mosques. Unified Friday prayers in Al-Koot were held at the large central mosque in the city. Speakers at the prayers call for rejecting sectarianism. In Amarah over 15,000 demonstrated after Friday prayers condemning the samara bombing and attacks on Sunni mosques. Banners read, Sunnis & Shiites are like Hassan & Hussein (referring to two grand children of the profit Mohamed), banners also read that Muslim references (Shiite religious leaders) condemn terrorism in all its forms. In Karbala Sheik Abdulmehdi Alkarblaa’i (representative of Sustain) in his Friday after prayers speech at the Hussein Shrine called for peaceful and brotherly coexistence, condemned violence and called for national unity. He added; "We know the nature of this crime and the ones before it, we also know these crimes are not of Sunni doings, but they are the deeds of the enemies of Sunnis & Shiites". In Basra over 10,000 demonstrated with banners asking to form the new government as quickly as possible. Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during a protest rally in Mosul, 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq Friday. Religious leaders summoned Iraq's Shiites and Sunnis to joint prayer services Friday amid an extraordinary daytime curfew aimed at halting a wave of sectarian violence that has killed nearly 130 people since the bombing of one of Shiite Islam's holiest shrines. We have much more evidence of a strong national unity movement in Iraq. This is exactly the opposite of what the bombers of the samara shrine (Alzarqawi’s group is a strong suspect) wanted to achieve. This attack was supposed to plunge Iraq into sectarian mayhem and senseless massive killing. This did not happen. A few over zealous individuals attacked Sunni mosques (8-11 Sunni mosques burned and small arms fire hit about 100) and killed Sunnis (120-160). There is no excuse for these retaliations; they are exactly what the enemies of democracy and freedom in Iraq want. It is playing into their hands. Let us remember that Iraq is the size of California and has over 25 million people. Every neighborhood has at least two mosques. Considering this the retaliations are small while tragic. Demonstrations in Baghdad (in spite of the curfew) called for national unity. Combined Sunni & Shiite prayers were held all over Iraq. This is a sign of a people united not divided. A people with a common cause (defeating terrorism), a people with a common goal (self rule through democracy, rule of law & freedom). The terrorists are bringing about their eventual demise by uniting Iraqis. We witnessed this effect on 9-11. Americans were united and developed the strong resolve to fight terrorist. Let us not forget that we were attacked not so long ago.
More from an Iraqi camerman working for NBC news:
the direction of the anger has changed. A year ago everyone was angry at the Americans. Everyone thought they were responsible. But that is not the message I am getting on the street now. People know these attacks are being carried out by the extremists.
The coverage from the Democrat Media was, as it always is, SICKENING (check the Time Magazine cover at that link). When they err, they do so on the side of making the situation look as bad as they possibly can. Take the death toll from the “civil war” for example:
The Washington Post claimed 1300 were killed. However, on March 3rd 2006, the top U.S. commander in Iraq declared an end to a 10-day wave of sectarian violence that killed an estimated 350 civilians, asserting that many reports of violence were "exaggerated." Ralph Peters, reporting from Forward Operating Base Loyalty, where he's been riding with the 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, reacts to the “civil war” meme that the Democrat Media pushed:
The other day, I drove another 30 miles or so on the streets and alleys of Baghdad. I'm looking for the civil war that The New York Times declared. And I just can't find it. Maybe actually being on the ground in Iraq prevents me from seeing it. Perhaps the view's clearer from Manhattan. It could be that my background as an intelligence officer didn't give me the right skills. And riding around with the U.S. Army, looking at things first-hand, is certainly a technique to which The New York Times wouldn't stoop in such an hour of crisis. Let me tell you what I saw anyway. Rolling with the "instant Infantry" gunners of the 1st Platoon of Bravo Battery, 4-320 Field Artillery, I saw children and teenagers in a Shia slum jumping up and down and cheering our troops as they drove by. Cheering our troops. All day - and it was a long day - we drove through Shia and Sunni neighborhoods. Everywhere, the reception was warm. No violence. None. And no hostility toward our troops. Iraqis went out of their way to tell us we were welcome. Instead of a civil war, something very different happened because of the bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra. The fanatic attempt to stir up Sunni-vs.-Shia strife, and the subsequent spate of violent attacks, caused popular support for the U.S. presence to spike upward. Think Abu Musab al-Zarqawi intended that? In place of the civil war that elements in our media declared, I saw full streets, open shops, traffic jams, donkey carts, Muslim holiday flags - and children everywhere, waving as our Humvees passed. Even the clouds of dust we stirred up didn't deter them. And the presence of children in the streets is the best possible indicator of a low threat level. Southeast Baghdad, at least, was happy to see our troops. And we didn't just drive past them. First Lt. Clenn Frost, the platoon leader, took every opportunity to dismount and mingle with the people. Women brought their children out of their compound gates to say hello. A local sheik spontaneously invited us into his garden for colas and sesame biscuits. It wasn't the Age of Aquarius. The people had serious concerns. And security was No. 1. They wanted the Americans to crack down harder on the foreign terrorists and to disarm the local militias. Iraqis don't like and don't support the militias, Shia or Sunni, which are nothing more than armed gangs. Help's on the way, if slowly. The Iraqi Army has confounded its Western critics, performing extremely well last week. And the people trust their new army to an encouraging degree. The Iraqi police aren't all the way there yet, and the population doesn't yet have much confidence in them. But all of this takes time. And even the police are making progress. We took a team of them with us so they could train beside our troops. We visited a Public Order Battalion - a gendarmerie outfit - that reeked of sloth and carelessness. But the regular Iraqi Police outfit down the road proved surprisingly enthusiastic and professional. It's just an uneven, difficult, frustrating process.
So why were we told that Iraq was irreversibly in the throes of civil war when it wasn't remotely true? I think the answers are straightforward. First, of course, some parties in the West are anxious to believe the worst about Iraq. They've staked their reputations on Iraq's failure. But there's no way we can let irresponsible journalists off the hook - or their parent organizations. And the Iraqi stringers have cracked the code: The Americans don't pay for good news. So they exaggerate the bad. And some of them have agendas of their own. A few days ago, a wild claim that the Baghdad morgue held 1,300 bodies was treated as Gospel truth. Yet Iraqis exaggerate madly and often have partisan interests. Did any Western reporter go to that morgue and count the bodies - a rough count would have done it - before telling the world the news? I doubt it. If reporters really care, it's easy to get out on the streets of Baghdad. The 506th Infantry Regiment - and other great military units - will take journalists on their patrols virtually anywhere in the city. Our troops are great to work with. I'm just afraid that some of our journalists don't want to know the truth anymore. For me, though, memories of Baghdad will be the cannoneers of the 1st Platoon walking the dusty, reeking alleys of Baghdad. I'll recall 1st Lt. Frost conducting diplomacy with the locals and leading his men through a date-palm grove in a search for insurgent mortar sites. I'll remember that lieutenant investigating the murder of a Sunni mullah during last week's disturbances, cracking down on black-marketers, checking up on sewer construction, reassuring citizens - and generally doing the job of a lieutenant-colonel in peacetime. Oh, and I'll remember those "radical Shias" cheering our patrol as we passed by.
And then there’s the stuff the Democrat Media would rather not report:
Earlier in February the Karabla tribe in al-Anbar province, an al Qaeda hotbed, announced they would take up arms against insurgents from abroad. In the al-Anbar capital of Ramadi, once a Zarqawi stronghold, open warfare has erupted between the local insurgent groups and the foreign fighters, particularly after the assassination of respected local tribal leader Sheikh Naser Abdul Karim al-Miklif. And recently eight major western Iraqi tribal chiefs met with General George Casey and Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to discuss ways to work together to stabilize the province. This is a welcome and long overdue recognition of the decisive role Sunni tribal leaders must play in resolving the insurgency.
Some large Sunni tribes in have declared war on al Qaeda. The resistance, they say, should be an Iraqi-only affair. "All those who offer shelter to terrorists will be treated like terrorists," they add. Tell me again why the media thinks Zarqawi is making progress?
March 9th, 2006 - Residents reported curious declarations hanging from mosque walls and market stalls recently in Ramadi, the Sunni Muslim insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad. The fliers said Iraqi militants had turned on and were killing foreign al-Qaida fighters, their one-time allies. A local tribal leader and Iraq's Defense Ministry have said followers of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, have begun fleeing Anbar province and Ramadi, its capital, to cities and mountain ranges near the Iranian border. Al-Jadaan, the Anbar tribal leader, looked confidently to the future and — if his prediction comes true — what likely will be a hero's role in the eyes of the U.S. military. "Under my leadership and that of our brothers in other tribes, we are getting close to the shelter of this terrorist," al-Jadaan said of al-Zarqawi. "We will capture him soon."
Micro to Macro – This whole “civil war” tripe being pushed by the MSM helps fuel the moral of Abu Zarqawi and al Qaeda in Iraq. They are the ones that want a civil war. Not the Iraqi people. Not the Iraqi leadership. And this entire “mini-crisis” has once again exposed the Democrat Media’s play-book on Iraq. Inflate the bad news, suppress the good news, and embolden the enemies of freedom and democracy at the same time that America’s finest are giving their lives and shedding blood to ensure our success. To end this on a positive note. The parallels between the “civil war” that wasn’t and the overall view of our mission in Iraq are similar in this respect as well – The enemies of freedom/the terrorist leftist nexus FAILED to incite a civil war in Iraq. They will likewise FAIL at destroying the Constitutional Democracy we’ve sacrificed soo much to create. A fact Abu Zarqawi has recognized, but Democrats and their Media refuse to. Their lust for power will be satiated at any cost.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Can the NYT be indicted for accessory to murder?
Wafa Sultan is being hunted by Islamic terrorists, so naturally the New York Times draws a roadmap to her house, and basically tells the world where her husband works, and where her three kids go to school. You may recall that these are the same people who put Abu Grahib photos on their front page and kept the story there, above the fold, for three months straight, and reported on the Danish cartoons without publishing the cartoons saying to do so "could incite violence." If Mrs. Sultan or any of her family die, will the NYT editors be tried as accessories to murder? If not, then why not?
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Break out the bubbly
My only gripe is that the UN dicked around for so long that he was never convicted of his crimes. But then, Milosevic's trial was the perfect example of why the UN shouldn't be trusted with any task harder than picking their noses.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Surgery results
The Raging Mrs came through just fine. In the words of her doctor, "Everything was the way I said it was, was where is was supposed to be, and everything happened the way it was supposed to happen." So that's good. Now it's a matter of keeping her from doing anything stupid while she heals.
That's harder than it sounds, when you have a wife who's used to being able to do anything short of benchpressing a car. But we'll make it happen.
Couple of things I've been mulling over while I've been here - The Dubai Ports World deal. All the congresscritters are up in arms, and now the deal has been blocked. But where were the congresscritters when a state owned company from CHINA took over the Long Beach port?
Hmmmmmmm......
(crickets chirping)
That's what I thought. The DP World Port Snort is nothing but political grandstanding during an election year, and the damage from our congresscritters being dumbassed fucksticks is going to be seen down the road. Instead of well thought out debate, we got hysterical shrieking from both sides of the isles. The congresscritters have shown once again that they aren't worth a squirt of piss in the wind.
Jay Bennish - the Colorado teacher who went on a forty-minute unhinged, loonyville, Leftard rant in a classroom. While he was supposed to be teaching.
He was suspended while the school district tried tocover their ass see if he broke any rules. It seems that everything is peachy, because he just got reinstated. I guess once the district found out that they couldn't lose any money by keeping him, they decided that having a complete and total leftist nutjob teaching in a school, passing out wildly biased partisan bullshit as "facts", and torturing his students with unhinged, unintelligent rants about how Bush is Hitler and America is the worst country in the world is just peachy keen!
What a crock of shit.
Bennish is just another example of an over-privileged loser indoctrinated by other over-privileged losers, who have never had to work a real job for one fucking day of their lives, who run around chanting "Down with the man! Stop the oppression!" when they've never come close to actually SEEING the man, and who would run from trying to stop REAL oppression just as fast as their little greasy feet could take them. Notice how the worthless little asscannons practically give people like Mao and Che and Castro a tongue-bath, and those are some of the people with the worst human rights records in the world! But to a brain-dead fucktard like a liberal, they're just hunky dory, man! It's AMERICA that's the problem, man! Yeah, man! Pass the dope, man!
Fuck it. Just another reason why school vouchers should be implemented IMMEDIATELY!
GAO. That's all for now. I'll post later when I can.
That's harder than it sounds, when you have a wife who's used to being able to do anything short of benchpressing a car. But we'll make it happen.
Couple of things I've been mulling over while I've been here - The Dubai Ports World deal. All the congresscritters are up in arms, and now the deal has been blocked. But where were the congresscritters when a state owned company from CHINA took over the Long Beach port?
Hmmmmmmm......
(crickets chirping)
That's what I thought. The DP World Port Snort is nothing but political grandstanding during an election year, and the damage from our congresscritters being dumbassed fucksticks is going to be seen down the road. Instead of well thought out debate, we got hysterical shrieking from both sides of the isles. The congresscritters have shown once again that they aren't worth a squirt of piss in the wind.
Jay Bennish - the Colorado teacher who went on a forty-minute unhinged, loonyville, Leftard rant in a classroom. While he was supposed to be teaching.
He was suspended while the school district tried to
What a crock of shit.
Bennish is just another example of an over-privileged loser indoctrinated by other over-privileged losers, who have never had to work a real job for one fucking day of their lives, who run around chanting "Down with the man! Stop the oppression!" when they've never come close to actually SEEING the man, and who would run from trying to stop REAL oppression just as fast as their little greasy feet could take them. Notice how the worthless little asscannons practically give people like Mao and Che and Castro a tongue-bath, and those are some of the people with the worst human rights records in the world! But to a brain-dead fucktard like a liberal, they're just hunky dory, man! It's AMERICA that's the problem, man! Yeah, man! Pass the dope, man!
Fuck it. Just another reason why school vouchers should be implemented IMMEDIATELY!
GAO. That's all for now. I'll post later when I can.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
What's wrong with this picture?
Welcome to Enceladus (EN sell odd us). It's a 300 mile diameter moon orbiting Saturn and the brightest planetary body in the solar system. That's because it is completely covered with snow. And not just some cruddy Vermont refreeze. This is fresh, clean, highly reflective powder.
Today the media, new and old, was flooded with headlines from JPL announcing that Cassini had discovered "Potential Liquid Water" on Enceladus. They had a breathless podcast. Drudge linked it. Rush chatted it up. Glenny thought it was "very cool." Although I was exposed to a number of different types of water as a chemist (heavy-, distilled-, waste-, gaseous-, etc.), I never discovered any potential-water. But that's not the worst of it.
You see, the image above was made in 1982 by Voyager 2. That's 24 year old news. At that time, NASA knew that Enceladus was spewing snow. They knew from the huge linear fissures that it was geologically active. They knew that another moon named Dione perturbed its orbit, subjecting it to tidal movement. They knew these tides were causing elastic deformation in the ice pack. And internal heating. And they figured it was probably melting some of that ice.
So where's the news? It's right here.
In the spring of 2008, scientists will get another chance to look at Enceladus when Cassini flies within 350 kilometers (approximately 220 miles), but much work remains after Cassini's four-year prime mission is over.
Enceladus has just become an anti-discovery, welfare entitlement for an army of aeronautical engineers, planetary scientists, and < hirp > astro-biologists. This was a great mission, but it's time to move on before they start making the Shuttle Program look good.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Blog Post of the Day
Blaming the Media, by the Opinionated Bastard who compares media coverage of the Rodney King trial to coverage of recent events in Iraq.
Best Editorial: Ben Stein's "Missed Tributes."
There are moral consequences to standing at the sidelines as well as moral cost of taking action.It disgusts me, too. Why can't they just give me the news - tell me what's going on without trying to tell me what to think? Why do they feel the need to make shit up? Is there not enough happening in the world?
There are also moral consequences to cheerleading violence. I see the media cheerleading failure, cheerleading terrorism, and cheerleading civil war. It disgusts me.
Best Editorial: Ben Stein's "Missed Tributes."
The brave guy in Hollywood will be the one who says that this is a fabulously great country where we treat gays, blacks, and everyone else as equal. The courageous writer in Hollywood will be the one who says the oil companies do their best in a very hostile world to bring us energy cheaply and efficiently and with a minimum of corruption. The producer who really has guts will be the one who says that Wall Street, despite its flaws, has done the best job of democratizing wealth ever in the history of mankind.
No doubt the men and women who came to the Oscars in gowns that cost more than an Army Sergeant makes in a year, in limousines with champagne in the back seat, think they are working class heroes to attack America — which has made it all possible for them. They are not. They would be heroes if they said that Moslem extremists are the worst threat to human decency since Hitler and Stalin. But someone might yell at them or even attack them with a knife if they said that, so they never will.
San Antonio
ain't too bad a place. The first thing I noticed is the smell. I don't know if it's mesquite or what, but it's this fresh, kinda pine scent. It's rather nice.
The Raging Mrs. is going under the knife on Friday. Normally, this would scare the shit out of both of us, but after two months of her captivity in a wheelchair, it was more of a relief than anything else. If there's anyone out there who prays, could you spare a few seconds for my wife? I have all faith in the doctor, but there is a reason why doctors practice medicine.
One other thing - go check out this letter by a man named Jim March. It is one of the best anti-guncontrol letters I've read in a while. Well stated, articulate, and backed up by tons of fact filled links. I found it while reading Random Nuclear Strikes.
That's it for now. By the way, I've finally joined the modern age, and purchaced a laptop computer with WiFi capabilities. It's not the fastest, most shiniest piece of electronic equipment you've ever seen, but it's the best computer I've ever owned, so I'm not complaining. And the wife will be thrilled to have all of my "crap" (as she calls it) off the home computer. Graphics, army crap and all that. She'll have that computer to herself, and she's singing Hallelujia.
I'll keep you all updated. I'll hopefully be meeting with a few people from this area, including a few bloggers you might know. If I meet people, I'll do my best to post pictures.
Oh, that's another thing that came under the "Let's make the wife feel better and buy her something" fund. A digital camera. Kodak Easyshare or something like that. She picked it out, and it's HER camera. I get a dirty look from her if I even glance in the camera's direction. Ah well, I have all my fancy gizmos, she deserves her own. But since we have it here, I may just be able to get a few pictures from it.
If she doesn't bite my fingers off for touching it.
The Raging Mrs. is going under the knife on Friday. Normally, this would scare the shit out of both of us, but after two months of her captivity in a wheelchair, it was more of a relief than anything else. If there's anyone out there who prays, could you spare a few seconds for my wife? I have all faith in the doctor, but there is a reason why doctors practice medicine.
One other thing - go check out this letter by a man named Jim March. It is one of the best anti-guncontrol letters I've read in a while. Well stated, articulate, and backed up by tons of fact filled links. I found it while reading Random Nuclear Strikes.
That's it for now. By the way, I've finally joined the modern age, and purchaced a laptop computer with WiFi capabilities. It's not the fastest, most shiniest piece of electronic equipment you've ever seen, but it's the best computer I've ever owned, so I'm not complaining. And the wife will be thrilled to have all of my "crap" (as she calls it) off the home computer. Graphics, army crap and all that. She'll have that computer to herself, and she's singing Hallelujia.
I'll keep you all updated. I'll hopefully be meeting with a few people from this area, including a few bloggers you might know. If I meet people, I'll do my best to post pictures.
Oh, that's another thing that came under the "Let's make the wife feel better and buy her something" fund. A digital camera. Kodak Easyshare or something like that. She picked it out, and it's HER camera. I get a dirty look from her if I even glance in the camera's direction. Ah well, I have all my fancy gizmos, she deserves her own. But since we have it here, I may just be able to get a few pictures from it.
If she doesn't bite my fingers off for touching it.
Monday, March 06, 2006
On The Road Again
The Raging Mrs. and I are headed out today. We'll be gone for about a week. I've emailed the people who emailed me, so hopefully I'll have a chance to meet a couple of folks.
I may be able to post on the road, I may not. We'll find out. If not, I'll see ya all next week.
I may be able to post on the road, I may not. We'll find out. If not, I'll see ya all next week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)