Such honesty, I admire that.

Is there something you haven't told us AK?

Just wondering.

Doesn't everyone?

I wonder if the pizza delivery guy really was trapped by some pycho, or if this is some wierd suicide kind of act?

This post is a response to Puggs' comment that the Soviets made excellent submarines... I replied that while they made a LOT of submarines, they were not, by my standards, excellent. My standards involve getting your average crewman (me, for instance) back to the pier in one piece, and with the reasonable assumption of living for more than a few months or years after leaving the service.

Ship designs (as with all engineering projects) are a series of trade-offs. If you bulk up the armor, you have to reduce armament to maintain the same acceleration and top speed. If you go heavy on magazine space, you lose some independent deployment capability because there's not as much room for food. You install a kick-ass C3I (Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence) suite and now your budget won't allow for ice-cream machines in the Wardroom.

In the Soviet Union's case, they decided to skimp in three major areas in their nuclear sub program: design testing and proofing, crew training, and reactor safety. This allowed them to play to their strengths: mass production, a large pool of labor in the form of conscripted sailors, and a reckless disregard for human life, or for the safety of their own personnel and the general public.

Lack of concern for human life is deeply embedded in Russian culture. This a topic that is probably un-PC in the extreme, and deserves a post of its own someday. However, briefly: the peasant class of Czarist Russia were considered chattel (a possession that was a part of a particular property; much like slavery except that they couldn't be sold off to another owner unless the land itself was sold) until the mid-19th century. Even after their emancipation their prospects were poor, and they formed the bulk of Russian armies, in the feudal traditions of old. Plow fodder at home, cannon fodder in the field, their lot in life was suffering and misery. When the Czar was overthrown, the new Communist dictators essentially continued the system under a different name. The People were the property of the Party, and if thousands had to die to complete an objective, well, there were always more where they came from. This lack of concern, in my opinion, is the base cause of the Russian nuclear Navy's abysmal safety record.

"Reactor shielding? That's a lot of weight for a submarine. Cut it by half. And that whole emergency cooling system seems like a lot of extra money for an unlikely occurrence. What's that? Crew health? They're conscripts, who cares if their cancer risk is tripled and their life expectancy drops by a quarter? If we don't have these subs rolling out of the yards in a year, we'll all see the firing squad."

"Crew training? That's very expensive and time-consuming, and a lot of these guys won't have much education anyway, would they understand what the hell we're talking about? Just train up the officers, they can tell the crewmen what to do."

The US Nuclear Navy has never had a serious reactor incident in more than 50 years of operation. This is because attitudes like those above are the antithesis of what Admiral H. G. Rickover demanded of the officers, crew, and contractors who were a part of the Nuclear Program. He was an asshole and a martinet, but he was perfect for instilling the anal retentive, eyes-open, double-checking mindset the Nuclear Program needed to survive.

Nukes in the US Navy use equipment designed ten, twenty, some times forty years earlier, not because there isn't newer stuff available, but because the old design has been proven to work in all sorts of conditions. The Navy evaluates new designs for years; they test to destruction. Nuclear-selected officers and enlisted personnel are trained exhaustively for almost two years before they even see a ship. They are schooled in theory, then trained in practice, and tested continuously to ensure that they retain their knowledge and skills. Enlisted Nukes don't follow the orders of seniors blindly; they are trained never to do so. In fact they are encouraged to contradict an officer (politely, of course) if they know the officer's planned course of action is wrong. This can lead to friction between Nuclear-trained junior enlistees and non-Nuclear senior NCO's and officers, as the Nukes are wont to suggest improvements or question decisions in a way that seems insubordinate to people accustomed to hearing "Yes, sir" and not much else.

That culture of safety in design, training and questioning attitudes is what keeps the US Nuclear Navy running smoothly. Without it, we might well have had as many early accidents as the Soviets. We certainly wouldn't have had as many recently, because the program would have died in infancy.

Yes, the Russians had a lot of submarines. Yes, they may have been able to go fast, or dive deep, or shoot far. But the price they paid for those abilities is higher than any right-thinking Navy would have accepted.

The bodycounts gone up. A little history, lord the Russians need to give up on submarines. They make excellent ones, advanced designs, but their safety record is the stuff of nightmares.

These incidents are listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent incidents shown first.

July 4, 1961 - The Hotel-class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine K-19 suffers a major leak in the coolant system of its nuclear reactor. The contamination is so severe that the crew must be evacuated, and the K-19 towed home. The damaged reactors must be removed and replaced, taking K-19 out of service for two years. 8 men die of acute radiation poisoning. (Nilsen, pg. 4)

Maybe being a nuke Mollbot has some insight on this. Why do they suck so bad at safety? Every Navy has accidents, but this is way past average.

I own a Dell Inspiron 8200 notebook. It's one bad mother........board.

At least that is whats wrong with it. Can you say overheating trouble. I sure can.

And since I was a cheap bastard and didn't get the onsite repair service warranty when I bought it, it will take 3-5 business days to get it sent to the repair facility, fixed and returned.

But remember, that is what the tech support guy said. And if they are anything like the tech guys I've spoken to before, you won't see much of me for about two weeks.

So, needless to say there will be no Autoblog post this week. It resides on my hard drive which I was told to remove prior to shipping, lest the repairmen re-image it after they do the necessary fixin'.

I am able to post from from work during the week (where I'm at now) and will do so as time is available, but the boxes here work only half the time too, so we'll see how that goes.

Have a good week folks. And remember, never give away your desktop if you have not yet built a replacement. (Bangs head on wall)

Taiwan is the prize, if China is nuts enough to risk monsterous casualties, how well could they fight the only 21st century military? For a matter of pride like the Russian's, Chinese soldiers fight fanaticly for what they believe is home ground. Outside China, again like the Russians, their morale falls apart, and if they win, it's purely by weight of numbers. This is what they have by way of air defense, the technology is backward, but improving.

The mainstay of their fighter forces, the Mig-21 (fishbed), or J-7.

A 1950's design still in production. They are buying more modern aircraft from Russia, but in very small numbers.

The acquisition of Su-27, after China had attempted for years to develop the J-10 aircraft with equivalent technology to perform similar functions, demonstrates a lack of confidence in domestic industrial capabilities.

Their technology may be improving, but we all know their export stuff is crap. They have numbers, mostly in obsolete SAM's, and that makes them a threat. Gut's didn't save the Japanese, and it won't save China alone. So it all boils down to the skill and dedication of the people involved. We have experience, far better technology, and highly skilled people. They have dedicated people, and numbers, plus they have home court advantage.

I think we'd win, but not without loses to the huge numbers of SAM's. The tactics and doctrines are similar to the old Soviet ones, we know how to beat that. Most of our stuff is designed to do that. The end result would be hideous losses for China and a devastated Taiwan from artillery and missile strikes.

Wether we can avoid something like this depends more on Chinese desparation, than on US policy. The Chinese will have to democratize to end the threat, but I doubt that'll happen anytime soon.

More, or less, secure?

A Guardian columnists take on the heatwave deaths in Italy and France. His anguish is laudable, his solutions blow. The shame of it.

In France, things are even worse. More than 10,000 old people have died in the heat, and when their relatives have been notified of their deaths, many have chosen to delay the funerals rather than interrupt their holidays.

Abandonment by families is bad enough, his preferred solution?

The government now reluctantly admits that the family will no longer take care of its own. It promises a more proactive policy, saying social services will no longer wait to be summoned before checking up on the old. We will see if this makes any difference but, in any event, these are disillusioning times.

The nanny state again, another government this or that. How about something more immediately useful, like maybe,...........TELLING PEOPLE TO GET OFF THEIR DEAD ASSES AND CHECK UP ON THEIR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS. TELLING SONNY AND SISSY TO BUY MOM AND DAD A FREAKIN AIR CONDITIONER FOR CHRIST'S SAKE..................................IT AIN'T THAT HARD.

This is so stupidly useless, compassion is what they need, not another excuse to avoid responsibility. If they love their parents, why not check up on them?

Why, why, why, why, why..................

The Animal Liberation Front, heard of these guys? The FBI lists them as a domestic terrorist group. This is their handy work.

SULTAN, Wash. - Days after 10,000 mink were released from a farm in southern Snohomish County, hundreds of the animals not yet captured have converged on local farms in search of food.

"This has just devastated our chicken population. We are just so upset by this," Diane Sallee said. "The people who do these things don't think it through."

Nope, these guys don't think at all, ever. Might ruin their plans to actually consider the people and other animals they fuck over in their little emotional jihad. Their friends in the movement aren't even sorry their little rescuee's are ripping other animals to pieces.

Animal activists argue that while the farm animals' deaths are unfortunate, it proves minks raised in captivity can survive in the wild.

"The amount of suffering that has been prevented by releasing them from cramped cages and freeing them from an extremely cruel death more than justifies a temporary disruption to the ecosystem," said veterinarian Andrew Knight, director of research at the Seattle-based Northwest Animal Rights Network.

A spade is a spade, this hasn't got a damn thing to do with animal suffering. It's about their hatred for corperate farms and people who make their living with animals. 1000 starving minks roaming around and attacking anything they can. No humans in danger? Think again, how big is a two year old in a back yard? How large is an infant near an open window? They've attacked a dog, and geese are not that small. If one single child is attacked because these cockroachs think they get to make the rules cause they care more, then they should simply be shot on sight. Or fed to starving minks.

I could care less about fur, I don't believe in being needlessly cruel, but this is insane. They did nothing but put children in danger, cost thousands, and increase the level of suffering for a range of animals, including the minks. These retards are proud of themselves.

A personal message to ALF.

The Russian Navy has a checkered history, fearsome in appearence but found wanting by the Japanese, the Germans, and the US Navy. They still try, and I give them credit for that. Even if their Navy is still meat on the table for Mollbot's friends. So I'm sorry when they have this kind of thing happen.

A ten man crew, that suggests a non-combat sub. Possibly a research vessel, like their nuclear powered ice breakers. I believe we still have a conventional powered sub or two still in service for research, less they've been retired. Mollbot's turf, if their reactor was shutdown, it should remain intact even in deep water. Till it corrodes away in a few decades. Least that's what I heard from past accidents. But I expect them to try and recover the sub.

Pretty cool battle cry, if you ask me... who wouldn't tremble, faced with an angry German/Swede fighting in the name of Thor?

UPDATE: It has been pointed out to me that given recent world events, enemies might be more concerned were they facing an AMERICAN of German and Swedish ancestry who was fighting in Thor's name.

All I get is a piece of chainlink fence. Oh well, at least the only thing that will be spared is time.

Amazing, I suppose I should be ashamed of myself, should be,......but I'm not.

Not sure about the format C: part, but the meaty axe bit sounds pretty cool.

Hello to all you RNS readers! My name is Erik Moll but I go by the name Mollbot 'round these parts, by which I mean the Blogosphere. Having heard that I was unable to blog because my computer was packed up for a move, Nukevet, Puggs, and the Analog Kid graciously offered me the chance to write for RNS now and again. I was, and am, honored that they felt I would add to the flavorful mix that is RNS.

Read on if you dare...

A little bit about me: I'm 25 years old. I was born on the eastern side of Washington state but soon moved northwest and was raised in a town north of Seattle. I love the outdoors; I went on my first campout when I was about 5 months old, I think. I'm told I was very little help with the camp chores. I still love to camp, hike, hunt and fish. For fun I memorize Robert W. Service poetry and recite it around the campfire, following my father's tradition. I was a Boy Scout, and earned Eagle Scout in 1995. Now I am an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 70, Chief Seattle Council. I am an unapologetic Christian, a member of the Queen Anne United Methodist Church. I love reading, and devour books at a tremendous rate... my favored genres are Fantasy and Sci-Fi, especially Military SF, but I can find time for a good Mystery or nonfiction History book. I like tinkering with computers, surfing the 'net and I play a lot of computer games; I spend more time on a computer than is healthy, most likely. I also enjoy writing, mostly short fiction stories, and blogging, more recently. I am a Country music fan, classic Country and new. I also like Oldies and Glibert and Sullivan musical numbers. (Hey, I'm a man of many parts.)

I joined the US Navy after graduating from High School, and served six years in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, the last four of those years aboard the USS Enterprise, CVN-65. For you Nukes who happen along, I was an ELT. For non-Nukes, that stands for Engineering Laboratory Technician, and it means that I controlled water chemistry in the reactors and secondary systems and provided oversight for radiological controls operations. If you really want to know more about it, let me know, and I'll send you a link to a Navy recruiter; they're always trying to fill their quota of Nukes for the month.

I am currently a sophomore at the University of Washington. I haven't selected a major yet, I am tending toward a couple types of Engineering, but that may change.

I started a blog in the Spring of 2003 with my partner in crime and Navy buddy Captain Morpholine. We call it "What Hath I Wrought?" because we couldn't think of a catchier name at the time. Head on over, I've started posting there again, and maybe the Captain will grace the page with his words a time or two as well.

That's all for now, I am worn out and I have to work early again tomorrow. Glad to be here, I hope I can add something worthwhile to Random Nuclear Strikes.

Guess where I'm going on Sunday?

The Italian Concours d'Elegance.

Italian cars are fussy, finicky, and generally don't like to do things well in odd weather. But I love them. They do funny things to people. For some odd reason, the ones I have driven have a tendancy to compel certain women to raise their shirts at me. Oh well.

I'll be bringing pics. If any shirt raising goes on, I'll report that as well.

I'm sure you've all heard about the blackout in London yesterday, but have you checked your local Indymedia sites?

Portland IMC reprinting the BBC, "A power cut is causing major disruption on rail and Tube services in London and the South East."

And the poster comments:"So, Bu$h wipes out power in NY, and now he's messing with the grid in London...can you believe this guy?!"

Then along comes a commenter: "I don't think it's necessarily fair to pin it all on Bu$h; he's only a semi-moron figurehead after all. But I also think it's dangerous to "misunderestimate" him."

"I'm sure Tony Blair is in a TV studio right now reassuring the British public that it was definitely NOT the work of terrorists, by which they are meant to understand "bearded guys wearing turbans."

Remember, to the IMC crowd, the real terrorists are late boomer white guys in suits.

I wanna go here

"Shaped like a giant jellyfish and sheltered from the sun beneath its own artificial clouds, the world's first underwater luxury hotel is to open beneath the waves of the Persian Gulf within three years."

"For those worried about terrorist attack, it will boast a high level of security, including anti-missile radar. If disaster does strike in one section, it can be sealed off with watertight doors."

I found this over at the Grouchy Old Cripple's place. It is a list of pilot requests for maintenance (aka squaklists). It was so funny I just had to reprint it.

(P = The problem logged by the pilot.)
(S = The solution and action taken by the engineers.)

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget

While I pat this guy on the back.

Detroit - "A blind man reportedly shot at two men trying to rob him Tuesday night."

"The blind man was being questioned by police."

I hope the question is, "Do you have 'Spider-sense'?" But this being Detroit, I somehow doubt it.

Found at Right Thinking from the Left Coast.

Quiet reflection.

The AnaolgKid was kind enough to provide a link to Michele's 9/11 Project (Voices). A worthy and noble thing from Michele, and while I can't compete with the elegant words of others, I feel compeled to put my memories down. Maybe some of you will be moved to say as well what you remember from that day. It was a singular moment, never pray God to happen again, with faith in our men and women at arms, never again.

I briefly touched on it before, this merely adds detail. See if you too can remember the horror and not feel we are adavancing the cause of justice.

It was actually a dull morning for me, my sweet lady was out for the day, working as I recall, our daughter Amanda was with me, she was two and a half. My wife was pregnant with our son, he was to be born in November. The TV was on, Mandy was watching toons as usual, and between loads of laundry I slipped in some time to catch up on things at Yahoo news. The headline was small, and clipped, "Plane strikes World Trade Center." No details were up yet. I walked into the living room and against Mandy's protest, switched to MSNBC. The world will never be the same to me anymore. I have heard people say, they remember exactly where they were when they heard about Pearl Harbour, it's like that for me.

I saw it from the first hour on, the fire spreading, the smoke and flames, the people, Jesus God the people, falling, jumping, one shot detailed a couple holding hands as they jumped. I've barely every met a man to make me fear, not since I was a child, but I sat there and started to shake. Rage, anguish, frustration, sick to my stomach at the terrible, horrible loss. How could this happen? I started running everything I ever learned about flying through my head, desparately trying to put some reason to how such an accident could happen.

Then the second plane struck, the Pentagon was hit, flight 93 went down......

War....We're at War......God help us all, we at war again. Mandy walked over to me then, she knew daddy was upset, she tried to hug me, give a kiss to make it better. I pulled her in my lap and just held her, wondering if my wife was close to a phone. Knowing in my head we were probably safe where we were, but not in my gut. I started thinking of where to get a gun, wether the attacks would continue, wether martial law would be declared. I started wondering if the world had simply gone insane...........I sat, I watched, I held my little girl, and knew deep inside that this would be a fight to the death. No prisoners, no quarter, no mercy, not for us, and if I had anything to say, not for those bastards who planned this. I swore to myself to give what I had left, money, little extra that we had, my time, my faith, my words, and my will. I know many millions of us felt something much like that that day. Mandy doesn't remember it, our son is still too young. My wife came home early, and we kept our child close, watching, listening, we didn't turn off the news for days after.

The memorials began almost immediately, some organized, some not. Even in my tiny acre of the world, candlelight vigils were held as the survivors were dug out. Fireman, and Police Officers from the whole state volunteered to go to New York, many were accepted. Their stories from Ground Zero still haunt me. That's the word,......Haunted.

The dead are finally counted, and we lost far fewer than those bastards aimed to kill, but so many, so very many. I was no child, no naive boy fresh from the farm, I had seen the cold war, seen people die, lost many in my own family to fate of one kind or another. I've held someone close as they died screaming in pain, death and I know each other. But this shakes me to my soul as nothing else save the birth of our children does. I won't let go of it, I can't, I refuse,............I want to go to my grave still raging in my soul for those murdered people, those fallen heroes, and those that have taken the fight to the bowels of the beast itself. I'm one of millions and I know others feel the same. We'll win in the end, because people like me, like Neal, like Phil, like most of you will not forget, not let go....We'll finish it, however much the cost, however long it takes, we'll ride it to the end.

But you know something? I remember something else too. Heroes of every color and creed, men and women who just wanted to help, and became immortal. Living on beyond death, a shining testement to life and hope. Wether you share my faith in God or not, no one can be untouched by that day, by the sheer magnetude of the bravery and sacrifice shown by average people. It was our worst day, and also our finest.

In years to come, as we look back, I hope the image doesn't fade too much. We are our memories, our sorrows as well as our triumphs. This piece of time can't be lost, too much suffering, too much love and sacrifice given to allow that. The best Honor we can pay the heroes and victims of that day at the Towers is to remember it all. We owe them that, we owe ourselves that, we owe our children born or not yet born. Remember................

We cannot know all that lies ahead. Yet, we do know that God had placed us together in this moment, to grieve together, to stand together, to serve each other and our country. And the duty we have been given -- defending America and our freedom -- is also a privilege we share.

We're prepared for this journey. And our prayer tonight is that God will see us through, and keep us worthy. George Bush, President of the United Staes Of America at the first anniversary of 9/11.

This says more than I......

Came in so many colors?

Think that's an exaggeration? Quick, which of the following are clan(shouldn't that be Klan?) slogans, and which is the official motto of MEChA?

Your race is your nation
Race, Faith, and Homeland
For the race, everything. For those outside the race, nothing
Youth today, Leaders Tomorrow

Speaking of the 'racial supremacists", this is kind of disturbing.....

Heh.

to order a bunch of these.

But with news like this, I'm really glad the nuclear wife is no longer in graduate school at Cornell....

OK, I watched one of the few programs I can consistently tolerate on PBS last night - Nova. It was about the theft of US nuclear secrets from Los Alamos, and how the biggest spy of all was actually a guy named Theodore Hall. He got to live out his life in Britain because the US feared that exposing him would reveal that they had managed to break Russian encryption codes. The code breaking program was named Venona.

Actually, a pretty interesting story, all told. The things that intrigued me about the perspective of the program:

1) No mention was ever made of what, if any, financial incentives were offered to Hall for his espionage. They did allow his wife to go on about how Hall was his "own man" and any idea of him being coerced was ridiculous. She stressed over and over that everything he had done, he did voluntarily and of his own volition. But we never found out if he sold out his country for pure ideology, or for a little cold, hard cash as well. Ted Hall died of cancer before the documentary was made, although he did apparently try and justify his actions to a visiting journalist a couple of years before his death.

2) Hall's wife also had a little tantrum about how her husband was not a traitor. She rather emphatically (with flying spittle, even) described it as a humanitarian effort on Ted's part � all he wanted was to save the world by giving the Russians access to US nuclear technology.

Now, we can argue about how much better off (or not) the world would be if the US had never solved the secret of nuclear weapons. But I absolutely fail to see how you can call what he did anything other than treason. If you disagree with your government, then do what you gotta do. But be prepared to accept the consequences of your actions if you get caught. The Venona project was ended in 1980. I think we should have gone after Hall the minute it no longer became an issue whether or not the Russians knew we had broken their code. Actually, Venona became obsolete LONG before 1980, since a Russian agent within the program had reported the flaw in the coding system that the US was using to gather intelligence. Like I said, the story itself is fascinating. But I think Ted Hall was scum. Mrs. Hall apparently still lives in Britain, although the program didn�t actually say where she is now. I hope she stays there.

One segment of the program also deals with the Rosenbergs, and has one of their sons vehemently denouncing the US for the "killing in cold blood" of Ethel Rosenberg. While I think that Ethel probably did not deserve the death penalty, there is certainly every indication that she knew about her husband's activities and supported them, even if she did not engage in espionage herself. Again, it sort of goes down to that personal responsibility thing - if you don't want to get tried for treason and possibly executed, you probably shouldn't hang out with people actively engaged in said activities. Even if he's your husband.

MSNBC provides us with this handy table, just in case you are having trouble keeping up with the exact number of US servicemen and women killed since the end of "major hostilities" in Iraq. It shows 64 combat fatalities as of August 27th.

So let's see here, there are 150,000 US troops in Iraq. There are roughly 24 million Iraqis in Iraq (estimated because, you know, Saddam had a tendency to kill them off in large numbers and then hide the bodies). That's a 160:1 ratio of Iraqi to US military personnel. If the Iraqis REALLY hate the US, and want them out of their country as much as the WaPo and NYT and CNN (ad infinitum, ad nauseum) claim, wouldn't there be more than 64 combat casualties? I mean, there were 2079 murders in California in 2001 (you know, the state that Iraq is "roughly the same size as"; and 2001 was the latest year's statistics I could get for free). There seems to only be 2 possibilities:

1) US military personnel are even better than we thought, and are able to withstand 4 months of daily hostilities by 24 million Iraqis, suffering only minor losses in the face of overwhelming odds (RNS's personal favorite)

2) Most of the Iraqis DON'T mind the US troop presence an much as the major media reports, and you just have a lunatic fringe taking potshots at targets of opportunity.

Obviously, it is a combination of these 2 factors - the training, discipline, and preparedness of our troops and the fact that they are surrounded by a primarily non-hostile populous.

It makes me nauseous that the major media keeps track of the combat fatalities merely to prove how horribly things are going, rather than out of any concern for the soldiers being lost. All of our military personnel who die on foreign soil, whether it be combat related or not, deserve our respect and gratitude. They should not be used as chips in some kind of macabre poker game.

With my new little thingamajig that I got from Michele at A Small Victory.

It seems that Ms. Michele got the attention of some moonbat at the NYC Indymedia site. He posted about ASV being a site run by a 'Slandering Zionist Jewpropagandizer", and asked the other IMC'ers to help bombard her site and shut it down.

He also posted this tweaker message up on all the larger IMC sites nationwide. The Frisco site threw it in their 'hidden bin' because it contained a link to an 'enemy website'.

So from that, she can now deem herself 'An Enemy of Indymedia', and thus the creation of this wonderful mini-banner designed by the every lovely, ever helpful, web designeress extraordinaire, Sekimori. (who once took my ass to task for suggesting that Michele enroll her 9yr old son in Krav Maga classes to settle a bully problem)

I myself, have not been able to get many of the IMC'ers to follow me home here to RNS when I visit them. I don't know what scares them so much (I'm looking your way, Mr. Puggs). But after receiving a couple of e-mailed descriptions of some things that they suggest I do to myself, and one that I had to have 'the police state' help me with, I think I can safely consider myself and enemy of Indymedia.

Good Doktor Nuke, might I ask your assistance with hanging this upon the wall in the den?

Update: On a more somber note, as September 11th approaches, Ms. Michele is gathering personal stories of September 11th. This was her "No Ordinary Day" project last year. If you have something that you would like to contribute, please do. She also has links up that take you last years stories.

There is lots of drama. And there is also a lot in this piece by Egyptian columnist Fatma Abdallah Mahmoud.

"What happened to these American rulers � I refer to those descended from the original pirates, as this is their true and absolutely undeniable origin. What happened to the grandsons and sons of the original criminals, who plundered North America and murdered its original inhabitants, the Indians, to the last man?!!"

And that is just a paragraph from out of the middle of this screed. He accuses the US of cannibalism in the opening sentence.

And here's his closer,

"The fight against America will be continued, Allah willing, by the peoples waging Jihad against the original pirates and criminals [i.e. the Americans] � or, to be more precise, against the cannibals and the human corpse-disembowelers!!"

Oh how I'd like to live up to his acusations right about now!

No I haven't. I was just listening in on this conversation by six relatively conservative women talking about the fellas.

"KARINA ROLLINS: What is your overall assessment of masculinity today?"

"KATE O�BEIRNE: Generally positive�as it always has been, despite the efforts of the elites. And September 11 made it more difficult for liberals to criticize traditional male characteristics and virtues."

"ERICA WALTER: Manliness has experienced a renaissance for two reasons: The Bush/Cheney administration has set the tone for the political culture. And 9/11, of course. Why did America fall in love with soldiers and firemen and traditional male occupations? Because we realized we�re at risk. The comeback of manliness is here to stay as long as national security is an issue."

"JESSICA GAVORA: I am distressed by the degree to which feminism still carries political weight. Even under the current administration there is a continuing belief that groups like the National Organization for Women speak for women. And men are discriminated against in public policy, as in federal legislation like Title IX, the program to bolster female athletics in college. In the private realm we�re in better shape."

"MONA CHAREN: Women used to rely on gentlemen to protect them from louts and predators. Then feminists decided that sisterhood will protect women and give them power in the world, and they dumped all men into the �bad� category. That made it much harder for men to perform their traditional role of protectors of women. I was in college when feminism was reaching its apex. In the1970s at Barnard College, the kinds of young men one met there were confused. They had no idea what they were doing or supposed to be doing in regard to women. After college, I went to work at National Review and found that conservative men were not confused."

It gets even better. These ladies have no illusions of what feminism has tried to do to the American male. And they pull no punches when they go on to discuss chivalry, equality, and (gasp) virtue.

Go. Read. Now.

From Drudge. First, AL FRANKEN is an asshole, certified, point blank, no excuses, brain dead, self satisfied, I hope he eats shit, born again asshole. Just so you know up front what I think of him. This interview is almost painfull in it's repeated attempts to prove that he's not only smarter, but that he's really, really, REALLY funny. Honest Injun. If this doesn't scream "this guys a fucking asshole in ten foot letters" then nothing else does.

Franken even writes of baiting Barbara Bush, the former first lady, on a January 2000 plane trip, imitating her son's manner of laughing and suggesting that would be good fodder for comics -- until she dismissed him with a scowl.

Dickhead wasn't happy being a FUCKWAAH, (thanks Cait) no, he had to seek out an insult the man to his own mother in a private moment. But's it's funny you see, he's such a comic genious and all that stuff........If my mother was still alive and some asshole sought her out because he just fucking had to hurt her to jerk off his pathetic little pecker of an ego, I'd hack his balls off and force the fuck to chew them good and proper. How on earth can you be so fucking retarded and still be able to breathe. The Franken post that Neal gave, I commented that he was gentler than I would have been, but dammit if Franken is allowed to be "Mad", then I claim the same ground. Fuck him, his pissing in the fountain grin, and his mental health issues and his probable drug habit........My, now that wasn't fair was it,.......fuck fair. He wants war, he better buy vasoline, cause he's destined to get cornholed by people much brighter than himself, ......which seems to be everyone.

But in writing such a strident book, doesn't he risk being branded the sort of ideological warrior he spends so much energy attacking?

"First of all, I'm funny," Franken said. "It's done for comedic purpose. And I don't lie."

Oh well then shit, I take it allllll back, Al says he don't lie. That makes it carved in stone then doesn't it. Because he's funny, (so he says) he gets license to lie, distort, and defame, all in the name of humor. The President, networks and conservatives of every type spew lies at every turn according to him. everyone is a big fat liar, except him, cause he says so.

I'm so fucking glad he settled that, aren't you?

PS, Now that was almost theraputic, I feel better now.

Is black gold. These images are of an Iraqi fuel truck that was stopped and impounded for having improper licenses. Scrutiny of the truck revealed that it was filled with some kind of metal bricks. I can't personally vouch for this information (it was provided by a reader), but the accompanying narrative sure sounds authentic to me. If I get approval, I will publish the narrative and un-retouched photos. I have obscured faces/names unless/until the sender of the e-mail and photos gives RNS the go-ahead.

Some folks here may remember my conversation with Philosophy teacher, Mr. William Russell Payne, from last Friday.

Well, he wrote me a response. I'm not going to print it verbatim, but in a simple paragraph, he called me an arrogant ignoramus for thinking that no idea is worth more than any other.

I responded in kind by calling him arrogant for believing that because he went to school to learn how to think, he can do it better than the rest of us common folk. Oy, those crazy soft science majors.

I also included examples of opinions held by myself and opinions held by those who think differently than me. I went through and used the theories taught in his program and dissected them.

Oddly enough, the theories held by myself and those on the right stood the test, while those held by the lefty whackos broke like wet toilet paper.

I'll let you if he responds.

Just wanna say thanks. Thanks a lot.

We are justly proud of our men and women in uniform. We trust them to do the right thing when bullets are flying. This article may well be used to attack them, their conduct, their professionalism. Such an attack would be both a distortion and a fraud.

A distortion because of a few facts that will be all too easily skipped over in the rush by the radicals to paint us as the villans. The soldiers accused are being investigated by the military itself, not AI, not Human Rights Watch, not that Freakshow the International Criminal Court. By the US ARMY, and it's own Justice system. It's hard, fair, and not shy about convicting those who step over the line. I have faith that the outcome will be fair.

A fraud because out of 250,000 men who fought, four are accused, so far. Those kinds of statistics would be welcome in any major city, most especially in London right now. Our people have acted incredibly well, despite the temptations for revenge and lawlessness. I venture not too many other nations militaries could fair so well. Incidents happen yes, we still use humans, not the perfect socialist man created in the mind of Marx. But I defy anyone, anywhere to show how their people could do better.

The Russians-go ahead and roll your eyes, I know you want too.
The Germans-stop laughing, this is serious.
The French-well, if they can't stop packing field brothels with their army, I suspect the character of their troops is not very high.
The Chinese-uh huh, a bullet to the back of the head may end and issue, but it's not warm and fuzzy.
The Brits-well they are in it with us and their traditions are proud as well. Gold Star.
The Aussies-Gold Star.

But you see my point, as for the ones who'll march in the streets holding up placards screaming of Mi Lai's---------Since they were happy to allow the Saddamites to rule forever as long as it wasn't the mean old Uncle Sam dispensing the justice, their opinion has a hummingbirds weight. A moral whore shouldn't be in the business of finger wagging. Especially when they consider being told that firebombing buildings and relieving themselves on a sidewalk aren't acceptable the same as being "repressed". We've all had abject lessons in real repression, the cold war, and the third world version, little johnny getting thirty days for trashing a Micky dee's doesn't qualify.

Try again, getting tortured or shot would prove their point. Till then they should leave it to grownups to do the heavy thinking.

Oh, that's right - the leftists DO take him seriously. Really, really seriously. They even gave him a "peace prize", remember? In fact, anything out of his mouth - no matter how ludicrous - is accepted at face value, no questions asked.

On Wednesday, Arafat said he was ready to take action against militant groups if Israel halted missile strikes and other attacks on them.
�I am prepared to implement the law (against militants) on condition Israel stops its attacks,� Arafat said in an interview with Reuters, without elaborating on steps he would take.

So, does this mean that any time in the past he COULD have implemented the law against his terrorist murderers, and just chose not to? Don't bother answering - it's completely rhetorical on 2 fronts:

1) He no more has control over the terrorists in his organization that Abbas does
2) Arafat cares nothing about stopping the killing. He only cares about how much money he can skim off of the top.

Arafat said he wanted to embrace the road map, but blamed the collapse of the truce on Israel and called on Washington to restrain the Jewish state.
�Isn�t the road map binding on Israel too? We were in control many times including our success in reaching a cease-fire but it was violated many times in a persistent and rude manner by most Israeli political and military leaders,� he said.

It seems like the only side even trying to implement the roadmap to hell was Israel. I seem to remember a lot of Israeli citizens dying during Arafat's magical, mystical, mythical cease fire. I'm not sure what he means by persistent and rude - unless he is suggesting that the Israelis persistently and rudely tried to keep their citizens, especially the children, from being slaughtered.

�The security forces need to be consolidated under Prime Minister Abbas and (Palestinian security chief Mohammed) Dahlan,� White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said Tuesday.
�Clearly, by blocking the consolidation ... Arafat undercuts the fight against terrorism and further undermines the hope of the Palestinian people for peace and a Palestinian state,� she said.

Doesn't seem like a problem that can't be solved via an IDF sniper. That's all I'm saying.

As in, this guy needs an 'anchor' tied around his neck and take a long walk off a short pier.

"The loner who shot Ronald Reagan in 1981 is said by his doctors to have been cured of the mental illness that led to his assassination attempt."

"John Hinckley, 48, has been confined to secure wards in St Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington for more than 20 years after being found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity, but could soon be released without supervision."

No! No, no, no, no, no! There is no way this guy see the light of day as a free man. Day trips are one thing, letting him go out of state to visit his parents for over a week is entirely another.

Not only did this puke try to kill a sitting president to get the attention of a piece of ass who didin't even know he existed, he created the Brady Monster.

So he creates the Brady Bunch and they take away the gun rights of non-violent, non-criminal citizens, and then they release a guy who we know uses guns in a violent manner. Fuck no!

Where the hell are these peoples heads!?

Unless you're from france.

Lee over at Right Thinking on the Left Coast crunches the numbers and compares the french vs. the US death toll because of the 'heat wave'.

"According to the CIA World Factbook the population of France is roughly 60 million people. And, according to the US Census Bureau, the combined populations of Nebraska (1,713,235), Kansas (2,694,641), Missouri (5,629,707), and Iowa (2,923,179) total just under 13 million. The French heatwave produces 10,000 deaths, and the US heatwave has resulted in 2."

"The population of the four states is roughly a quarter than of France. To adjust the US population to match France we multiply by 4.6. Assuming roughly similar percentages of elderly in the population, this means that the US lost 9.2 people for France's 10,000. Rounding up to ten, this shows that France's health care system is approximately 1,000 times worse than that of the United States, at least as far as dealing with something as simple as hot weather."

The saddest part of the fiasco in froggy land is that the losses are in their elderly population. The folks who were around in WWII and are more likely to remember American's as liberators of their country. Unlike the current middle agers who only think of the US came into WWII for profit.

The Mood, His name is Bot,.......Mollbot. Dashing young man of action? Maybe.............maybe not, we won't tell. But like the Bond character, this young feller can count on heavy fire support when needed.

Welcome to the team Mollbot, relax, we've got eachothers backs here. Get comfy and enjoy the ride. I personally promise to make it as exciting as possible.

Oh, don't mind the blood trails when we drag a car...I mean a prisoner or two back for questioning. (Grin), My turn with the mop this time.

We all remember this tragedy, too bad Mikey won't go to Irag to film his next propaganda, oops, "documentary" opus....................

Fiction to follow....

"Jeez, it's hot, these patrols suck ass Sarge!" Looking down from his perch atop the turret, the sargent smiled. Yeah, but you know the drill." Suddenly looking up, snapping his fingers to alert the gunner, the sargent spots a bizarre sight. The gunner swings the turret to follow the sarge's gestures, bringing the 120mm main gun and co-ax to bear.

What the FUCK is that?........Sarge,.....Do you think it's friendly?

.

.

.

Shaking his head, "Not a chance pvt. that's the Joker in the deck, and he's packin." Sharply the Sargent orders, "Load HE, close range target, fire on command!..................

FIRE!,....RELOAD..............

Only the hum of the engine and crackling of flames can now be heard.....Looking shaken, the pvt. looks up again from his sights. Do you think it's dead?

"I"m pretty sure we nailed it clean, but just in case." Keying his mike, "Driver, run over the remains, then back up slowly, .............We're taking no chances on this. Freakin things are as hard to kill as vampires.........."

"Where the Hell is that garlic the First shirt's wife sent him anyway? Ask around, this one's not going going to reanimate!"

End fiction....

This little bit of theatre brought to you for no other reason than I found it an amusing thought. Stone me if you will, but I still think it's amusing.

Er, actually don't beware him, but welcome him instead. The Mollbot is between blogs right now (as you would know if you were a frequent reader of RNS, now wouldn't you?), and is going to crash at our pad for a bit. We hope he will continue to be a guest commentator even when he resumes regular posting to "What Hath I Wrought?" .

Damn, that head still looks fat, even on that body.

I just wanted to let you all into my mind for a sec here.

The other day when Judge Roy Moore was suspended for ignoring the order to remove his 10 Commandments monument from the courthouse he works in, I heard the update on the radio news. But not all of it.

It heard this: 'Moore has been suspended'.

So, of course, since I wasn't following the Roy Moore story too closely, I start thinking Michael Moore. And I start wondereing what this media darling could have done to warrant a suspension? And by whom?

So I gave up on that train of thought and wondered, 'maybe his knees gave out under all of his gargantuan weight and they had to hang his torso from wires on a mobile frame so that he could get around and flap his lips to sell DVDs."

Or maybe someone had invented the suit so he could hover around like the fat bad guy from Dune? Baron Harkonnen something or other. And not the Sci-Fi Channel version. I'm talking the sweaty/pimply fuck from the one that came out in theaters in the 80's with Sting in the cast.

Update: This guy

If only I could photoshop.

Oh no! What will the Iraqis do with more freedom? Why maybe they'll stop by and visit us.

"Iraqi Internet cafe offers surfing without scrutiny"

"People in Iraq enjoyed the Internet," Karim said. "But they always got an 'access denied' message across their screen because the Mukhabarat [Iraqi intelligence service] blocked any site that they found threatening to the regime."

"An hour's use sets you back a mere $2, and Bassam Bassim, 20, was there Tuesday to take advantage of the vast new array of information. "I want to check out sites about world history," he said. "The truth about history. Not what Saddam told us."

I understand completely Bassam. I felt the same way when I left high school.

And to any Iraqi citizens out there who might stop by, welcome.

From the Inoperable One and the Instaman. (If these guys were really superheros, do you think that they'd break the mold and actually wear their underwear inside their clothes?)

"The controller of BBC1 launched an unprecedented attack on Rupert Murdoch yesterday, calling the media billionaire a "capital imperialist" who wants to destabilise the corporation because he "is against everything the BBC stands for".

"Lorraine Heggessey said Mr Murdoch's continued attacks on the BBC stemmed from a dislike of the public sector. But he did not understand that the British people "have a National Health Service, a public education system" and trust organisations that are there for the benefit of society and not driven by profit."

All right. Everyone together now. 1,2,3 'Commie Bitch!!'

When I think of the phrase 'public schools' I remember that they are both government sponsored and funded. When I remember that little factoid I think "Hitler Youth".

It seems that I'm not that far off.

"Some parents in Farmington, Mich., are crying "anti-Americanism" over a high school international affairs class. The course is offered to juniors and seniors in the Farmington School District and focuses on America's role in the Middle East."

"Still, the school board stopped short of removing author Noam Chomsky's controversial book "9-11" � in which he writes about why he thinks the U.S. is a terrorist state � from the list of course materials."

And of course, since FOXNews is reporting this, the opposition to this class will be labelled part of the VRWC.

Not like he really needs the link from little old me or anything, but the not-so-recently-returned Mr. Spoons plays tee-ball with a BBC reporter who flew across the pond to insult we Americans and our 'gun culture'.

"I want to talk about the bint who wrote the BBC piece, Limey Reporterette Vanessa Collingridge (Nota Bene -- with that sentence, I've just broken 17 laws of the European Union, and have technically committed a war crime in Belgium)."

"Next time, pick up a map at the airport."

By the time he is done, about all I could say was "yeah, what he said!".

Wings of Honneamise

It's complex. and exotic, but very human. No mecha, no cutsey mascots or droids, no epic battles. Yet it traces the story of one man and the people around him as they journey from commonplace to heroic. The pursuit of a dream, and the way it transforms and converts all those involved until they attain imortality.

This is not sexy, hip, or filled with ironic humor. It succeeds wonderfully in telling a compelling story. A thinking man's anime. Mankind worts and all, set in another place and time, a fresh take, not dated at all by the passing of years since it was made. You may start to watch it for the beautiful animation, and find yourself spellbound as I was.

Cait from Caiterwauling has come up with a list of new names of interest. A sample.

Fuckachoo An idiot with hay fever
Fuckallueia A religious zealot idiot
Fuckknocker A Jehovah's Witness idiot
Fuckwaaah A whiny idiot crybaby
Fucklygamist A Mormon idiot

This lady has wit, as sharp as a kittens claws. Enter her lair, but bring a saucer of milk with you.

You have been warned, now go forth and tremble.

Puggs had an interesting definition of Terrain Mapping in the comments of this post from AK.

Just so you know what you're in for if you choose to accept such a mission:

Now THAT'S a defense minister!

The Flash Bang is the one grenade most people know from TV and the movies. It however isn't the one I remember, it wasn't in wide use in those days, reserved for the SAS and Delta. I trained with 4 types mainly.

M26 Fragmentation

M67 Fragmentation

AN-M14 TH3 incendiary hand grenade

M15 White Phosphorous grenade

The last the most fearsome of the lot. Yeah sure it's for smoke, that's what we'll say if the Geneva guys show up. It'll also empty a room faster than a Micheal Moore fart, kinda messy though. The grenade I mean. The other is even more terrible I have no doubt, but what do you think I am? Only a barbarian would make Mikey fart in a room. Grenades are a soldiers way of telling you to "go away, you bother me." The M15 is reserved for guys who REALLY annoy you.

This is what I have to sit through on part of my physical therapy. It blows, it's uncomfortable, frustrating, and tends to make me feel like I've been hit by a truck. Later this morning, then three times a week, till they tell me if it's working out. So far, I can't tell if it helps or not, too soon, no basis for comparison yet. I just know that if I could, I'd duck this, well actually, I'd whoop the guy doing it, then duck it. But that wouldn't be nice.

It's not constant tension, 30 seconds of trying to pull my head off, the 30 at rest, thinking thoughts of homicide. I try to be philosphical about it, (sorry AK, bad word) but it feels like penance. God knows I've earned my time in the pit, but I was hoping not to have any small samples till the moment of passing. Then it's a matter of intimidating the devil, not that I would try, nooooo, not me. But I digress, I wish I could say it's a learning experience, that I take away some form of hidden kowledge, but I can't. It's just a matter of mechanics, I suffer a little now in the hope to avoid suffering more later. But it's a gamble. I hate gambling. I approach everything (other than people) as if I was born to own it, to dominate, to work my will. Nature is teaching me that that approach has limits, I can't change the laws of physics, bend them all to Hell sometimes, but not change. The Doctor says don't, and sometimes I do anyway. The cost is very high, but I get my self respect back in return, a fair trade. If the easy path is to ask everyone for help, to sit back, not do it because it's hard, then I don't want my life easy. I keep my dignity, if nothing else, because when my day is done, I want my children to say he's my father with pride, not with shame.

A humble ambition, but in the end, my fondest one.

I found this at Emperor Misha's place yesterday. And while I agree that Sharon should just sign it and send it UPS to the 'palestinians', I don't think Bush will let him. And I am still working on why.

"Memo from Israel to Palestine"

"As you know from our repeated meetings over many years, we have repeatedly done our best to accommodate your incessant demands regarding employment, compensation, housing allowances, health benefits, and other items of mutual interest as we have endeavored to work together on "Project Peace in the Middle East."

"From time to time we have accepted your written word that, given adequate resources, you would be working to resolve "your issues." We note, for the record, that at no time has your word proven to be worth the paper which we both so ceremoniously signed. Indeed, it has been our bitter experience that the working out of "your issues" most often involves explosive episodes on the streets of our country."

Go read the rest. I'm pretty sure you'll agree with the Emp and I.

I think I just found a rival for Frank J's Condi. And a love interest for his Rumsfeld.

"Anyone who says America's European allies have no stomach for action has never flown with Norway's defense minister, Kristin Krohn Devold."

"So why do top Pentagon officials, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, spend so much time conferring with Devold, praising her initiatives and quietly promoting her candidacy to take over the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?"

"As it happens, small nations like Norway have been assuming disproportionately large roles in global affairs since 9/11, one of the many unexpected consequences of the new new world order. ''During the cold war, when there was a bipolar massing of vast military establishments, the contribution of small nations was negligible,'' explains Loren Thompson, a military observer at the Lexington Institute in Washington. ''But today the nature of the threat is so different and diffuse that a country with special competencies or positioning can have huge leverage.''

The guy who wrote this got to fly in one of Norway's helicopters with her. She asked her pilots to take this guy 'terrain mapping'.

Lucky bastard.

As if there weren't enough reason to dislike MoveOn.org or to prosecute them for working towards the downfall of the US Government, there's this.

"The grass-roots Internet group MoveOn.org said today it expected to raise $1 million to support 11 Texas Democratic senators who fled to New Mexico over a redistricting fight."

"The liberal, Web-based group, which has helped raise millions of dollars for Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean, launched the campaign earlier this week that will produce television ads and radio spots to criticize a White House-backed plan to redraw Texas congressional districts."

While the Houston Chronical takes the unusual step of labeling MoveOn as 'liberal', there is no way in hell that they are a 'grass roots' organization.

It's wabbit season, and Hamas gets the gold booby prize for being target of the hour. Enjoy the honor quickly you fucks, it's got a short self life,..........strangely like yourselves.

In Gaza City, witnesses said Apache helicopters fired at least three missiles at a group of armed men sitting near a crowded beach front Sunday evening, killing four members of Hamas' military wing and wounding more than a dozen bystanders.

"The first missile hit the car, four people fled the car and then three more missiles were fired at them...it was difficult to look at the scene," said Abdel Salam Abu Askar, a Palestinian journalist and witness

No shit Abdel, not as warm and fuzzy as the scenes of dead Jews now is it? Wanna make it stop? Tell Arafat to eat a bullet, and get Hamas to stay out of your towns.

Israeli security officials said they had been tracking one of the dead, Ahmed Aishtawi, for some time. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Aishtawi was a top operative who had planned and executed attacks in Gaza and the West Bank.

A Hamas spokesman said Aishtawi was the leader of a unit that had pioneered the firing of homemade rockets into Israel and at Jewish settlements in Gaza.

Like the V1 and V2 missiles in WWII the Pali rockets have NO military use, they are purely to kill civilians and spread terror. Rest in pieces Aishtawi, may your soul rot in Hell. And if some lingering sympathy still survives in some misguided person over Arafat?

The Palestinian leadership, meanwhile, was in crisis after Yasser Arafat clashed with his rival, U.S.-backed Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, over Arafat's refusal to relinquish control over security forces.

Abbas and security chief Dahlan have said they need control over all armed men to confront the militants. But Arafat still controls the key Palestinian security forces.

He likes the carnage, the killing. That tired old rat bastard is wallowing in it and refuses to end it, won't even consider ending it. Who,...WHO can still believe that goat loving mouthbreather isn't in it up to his greasy eyeballs?

I'm sure the Israeli's can spare another Hellfire, (God I love that name.) to retire Arafat to the fat old murderers tenth level of Hell. Bunk him with Amin, I hear roast Arafat smells like chicken...............

While we're on the subject of guns I must absolutely own someday, I want to post this pic.

Your basic standard M14, but with an 18 inch barrel. Making it the near perfect Squad Auto Weapon. Think the WWII BAR, but light enough that you can carry two. Here's a link to Springfield Armory, where I got this pic.

But before I get to own one of these, I need to replace this.

Dang it, Puggs! Why did you have to give me a Big Mac Attack?

While I do like the simplicity of the M3 Grease Gun, I absolutely love the MAC10. As you can see, it is very versatile. It came in 45ACP. The MAC11 came in 9mm and 380ACP (in 380, it fires at almost 1150 rounds per minute!)

And when equipped with a suppressor, it was called whispering death.

Go here for all you MAC10 questions.

I'm swinging closer to Neal's view on this, alot closer. Forget for one second who the victim was, and look at the horrific manner of the murder.

BOSTON, Aug. 24 -- John J. Geoghan, the former priest and convicted child molester killed in a Massachusetts prison Saturday, was followed into his cell just after lunch by a fellow inmate who bound and gagged him before strangling him with a bed sheet, according to a union representative for prison guards.

The attacker, whom authorities identified as Joseph L. Druce, jammed the electronically operated cell door to prevent guards from opening it. He tied Geoghan's hands behind his back with a sheet and gagged him. He then repeatedly jumped from the bed in the cell onto Geoghan's motionless body and beat the defrocked priest with his fists.

This was a thrill killing, a brutal execution, planned and carried out ruthlessly. I don't need to know who the victim is to know that the inmate who did it, should be put down like a mad dog. Death is a sanction not to be used lightly, but he's a proven killer who has strangled before. Frankly with no death penalty to face, what in God's name can they do to prevent his looking for another chance to indulge his personal tastes in sadism? Take away his cookie at lunch?

State sanctioned execution is unpopular with some, but with due process, and time for appeals, it's as fair as it probably can be. The state doesn't bath in blood or relish the death, it doesn't crave more victims or plan the next one. What state execution does is solve a problem, as safely for the majority as it can. Some will kill because they like it, period. The death penalty removes their choice, and instates ours. They kill no more. No more inmates, but no employees or guards as well. Their joy ride ends the only way it can end. But this way they don't get to take more people with them in the process.

Well, then try the HK UMP.

That insomnia sucks?

Insightful look at the day to day life of patrols in Iraq. Nothing eye popping till the end. My God, the humanity of it all.

To their credit, soldiers like Grado and Capt. Mike McBride are able to find humor in the dangerous and austere lives they lead in Baghdad's streets. Recently, Captain McBride says, neighborhood councils in the areas his men patrol voiced concern over the illegal liquor stands that pop up along sidewalks each evening. As a result, soon Grado's platoon will take on a new role as the enforcers of a street-side prohibition.

"If we confiscate it [the liquor], the people will just think we're going to get drunk," he said. The solution: pour it out on the spot. "I'm going to have soldiers on their knees crying as the beer goes flowing into the Tigris," he says with a sigh.

Damn these inhuman Saddamites, damn them all................................

We had a small debate a while back on the M-16 vs. the AK-47. The AnalogKid's opinion seems completely validated by this article. Score one for the home team, and for the common sense exhibited by our soldiers in making do with the tools at hand.

Maybe the military loves the assault rifle too much, maybe we have a need for a short range submachine gun as was used in WWII and Korea. The Thompson may have been too heavy, but what about a newer version of it's successor? The M3A1, my father swore it was the best, he was a radioman with the 4th infantry in Austria during the early fiftes, he carried it sometimes, and he really hated the M1 carbine. While I've fired the AK and the M1 carbine, I've never handled a sub machine gun. The MP5 may be the weapon commonly used by special units, but I don't trust the 9mm round. A hit from several 45 cal. rounds and you are going to the promised land. Being sure is a good thing.

What do you guys think?

Go visit ISM Central

The stated purpose: A skeptical look at the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement

Hosted by Tal G. in Jerusalem

Via LGF

Keep up the good work!

Unbelievable. Trying to protect a terrorist bomb making facility. Of course, by the time they get around to posting their version of events, it will be transformed into an orphanage full of kids whose parents were killed by the IDF.......

So, what do you do with guys like this? They are dead if they are left in the general prison population, but I'm sure someone would scream "cruel and unusual punishment!" if he were placed in solitary for his entire sentence.

It seems to me that prisoners should get some level of protection - you shouldn't get raped if tou're not strong enough to defend yourself, you shouldn't get killed when you weren't given the death penalty. Or, am I completely missing the boat, and we should be happy that some monstrous pedophile is no longer costing taxpayers money. I think John Geoghan was scum. He certainly ruined enough lives, maybe it's appropriate that his was ended by someone who very likely suffered from a similar abuse as a child.

Brake Systems Part 1-A : Intro

Your brakes suck. You can go to a dealership first thing tomorrow morning and lay down $60,000 for a brand new BMW 5 Series. And guess what? You�re brakes will still suck. Mr. Glenn Reynolds, with your brand new RX-8, your brakes suck.

The vast majority of the stock brake systems released by the automotive manufacturers are just about worthy of criminal charges. Most are barely better than a �Run-away Rollercoaster of Death� (RRD). There are no real standards set by the government for stopping distances. As long as when you put your foot on the pedal and the car stops eventually, the feds are happy. Nice to know that they care so much, huh?

The only things that keep the manufacturers competitive with each other are the market place and the court system. If you read up on your new cars out there, you will find a 60-0 braking test. This is where they measure the distance a vehicle takes to come to a complete stop from 60mph. Almost every car, in my mind, fails this test, as they just take too much space to stop.

People actually read and absorb this information. And not just wrench turning, knuckle-heads like me. Soccer moms and refrigerator salesmen read this stuff when they are looking to buy a car. You might not. But you should.

While I don�t give a second thought to losing a reader because they disagree with me, or they take offense to something I say, I would hate to lose one, even temporarily, to something as avoidable as an auto accident. Which is why I have decided to share my knowledge of making cars safer (and faster, but we�ll get into that later this fall) with you.

I am a notorious �late-braker�. That means that I have a tendency to wait until the very last second to apply pressure to the brake pedal to slow my vehicle down. I not only pull away from other vehicles as I accelerate, I also see them fall back as we enter a corner together. I have utter and complete trust in myself and my vehicle�s brake system. I�d better, I put it together myself. I do this to every vehicle I own. Why? Because I like to brake late. That and the wife tailgates like a madwoman.

I have beaten lesser drivers in faster vehicles by entering the corner faster, hitting the apex of the turn at a faster rate of speed, which gave me the ability to exit the corner at a higher speed. All this helps me fit my exit out of the turn into my cars �powerband� and continue on. Two-Bit Charlie back there thinks I�m crazy, but he is still only able to see my taillights. He may have dumped a few grand into his engine. But he forgot that to be able to kiss the pretty girl at the end of the track, he is going to have to stop first. And unless I screw up or have a mech-fail, taillights is all he is going to see.

I own a 1997 Ford F150. With an aftermarket canopy and bedkit, it weighs just shy of 5,000lbs with a full tank of gas. I have made, what I consider, the necessary improvements to its braking system, and it now stops, from 70mph, in the length of a semi, with a full length trailer plus 5ft. And with what I will describe in these posts, you can get just about any vehicle to do the same or better.

So here we go.

Part 1-B : Brake Systems (hit the more button)

There are two major types of braking systems in use today:
The drum brake,

And the disc brake.

I�m just going to start off here and let you know that drum brakes are horrible. Unreliable and pathetic in their use of mechanical hydraulics, they should be outlawed on all newly manufactured vehicles. They are not even worthy of trust in use as a parking brake.

Drum systems use a wheel cylinder that contains opposing dual pistons to push two brake shoes, with friction surfaces on their outer edge, against the inside walls of steel cup (or drum, hence the name) which is connected to your wheel. When pressure is applied to the brake pedal, the wheel cylinder expands and pushes the pistons out. Which spreads the brake shoes and pushes them against the drum? Halting the motion of said drum, stopping the wheel and tire.

Drum brakes require almost constant maintenance to keep them working properly. Unless you feel like tuning up your brake system on a weekly basis, this style of brake will cause your car 1. To take forever to stop, and 2. Will cause your car to swerve, sometimes uncontrollably to a crooked stop. You have a greater chance of losing control and, more than likely, you will end up sliding out of your lane of travel. And remember, if your car careens out of your lane, you run the risk of colliding with oncoming traffic or going off the road completely.

Disc systems consist of a caliper that contains a piston and opposing clamp. When pressure is applied, the piston pushes out and draws the clamp in, causing them to work together to clamp down on the disk which is connected to your wheel, stopping the wheel.

Disc brakes also require maintenance to work at maximum efficiency, but nowhere near as much as drum systems. They also use the power of mechanical hydraulics more efficiently.

Most vehicles today are equipped with front disks and rear drums. Halfway to decent. We will do what we can to make you safe. But your standard equipment is lacking and there is only so much we can do to improve it. But have faith; we will get you taken care of.

If you own a sports car or even a �sporty� car (yes, there is a difference) you probably were given 4 wheel disc brakes. Congratulations, you have the least crappy brake system on the road. Follow the instructions here and you too will see the promised land of high safety.

If you have an older car with 4 wheel-drum brakes, whip out your wallet. There are conversions for most of the popular muscle cars for 4 wheel discs, but they aren�t cheap. But you probably already knew this if you�re serious about older cars.

This week I am going to cover brake fluids, brake fluid lines, and their maintenance.

Part 1-C : Lines, fluids and their maintenance.

When you push on your break pedal you are using the hydraulic pressure from your brake master cylinder (MC) to stop your vehicle. The pressures and temperatures involved here would make you cry if you knew just how vulnerable you are to failure in this regard. But that is what I am here to help you through. So go get the Kleenex and we�ll get our toes wet together.

When the fluid leaves the MC it travels through steel lines to within usually 12-18 inches of your wheel. Because of the turning and/or up and down motion needed of your wheel, it switches to a flexible hose to continue the flow of fluid to your respective caliper or wheel cylinder. This hose is, unfortunately, usually made of rubber. This rubber, over time will deteriorate, leading to leaks and loss of pressure. It is the weak point of your brake hydraulic system.

Which is why you need to junk them and get a set of these?

Braided steel brake lines.

Why? When the pressure is sent through the system to you brakes, the wheel cylinder or caliper is going to push the fluid back at the same rate, if not more. Remember Newton? The pistons don�t want the fluid, the MC doesn�t want the fluid back and the steel portion of your lines won�t expand. But your rubber hoses will. Think of how many times a day you press on that pedal. Each time you do you are expanding that little hose. Over time the hose won�t even put up a fight when asked to expand. This leads to a squishy pedal feel and then to no pedal feel. Once this happens, you are one emergency stop away from a ruptured line.

But the steel braided lines expand so little because, well, they�re wrapped in steel. This also gives them a much longer usable life. They aren�t very expensive and are made for almost all vehicles. Here is a Google search for �Steel Brake Lines�. Take a look around. Or head off to your local auto parts store.

You should get your brake system inspected at a respectable shop a minimum of every 20,000 miles. Make sure they check all parts including these lines. There is no repair available for worn lines. Replacement only.

The government standard for brake fluid is called DOT 5. This designates the minimum level of consistency in the fluid in order to make the brake system function. You can buy this stuff off the shelf at just about any hardware or auto parts store. But don�t. It is junk.

Braking occurs because of friction. Friction causes heat. Heat sucks. If you stay up and watch a night race, say the 24 Hours of Le Mans, you will see something spectacular. Their brake discs are glowing. Red, orange and yellow circles can be seen inside of their wheels. This rise in temperature is transferred throughout the whole braking system. Including the fluid. I have seen DOT 5 boil in a reservoir. This is scary. Remember the rubber brake lines?

Also, standard brake fluids are silicone based. This gives them a non-hydroscopic problem. Non-hydroscopic means that it will not mix well with water and will give you a fluid/water/fluid situation. Bad, bad, bad. The competition fluids are of a poly-glycol base. They will mix OK with water, but the presence of H2O will lower their boiling point drastically.

If you have ever seen standard brake fluid you will see that it has the consistency of soda pop. What you want to do is switch out this fluid for something with more thickness. Something like a good maple syrup would be nice. Molasses would be better. The more pounds per square inch (PSI) you can get to you brake pistons with the least effort the better.

There are many performance grades of fluid. From a DOT5.1 to a racing grade DOT 3. These different grades have different consistencies and boiling points. I use 5.1 in the wife�s car, but I won�t endorse the grade I use in my truck. Can�t give away all my secrets here. Check with a mechanic or two before going above 5.1. Here is a link to a Google search for �Brake Fluid Racing�. Take a look around.

I wouldn�t suggest you switch to a heavier fluid until you upgrade your brake lines, which is why I listed them first. Also, NEVER COMBINE BRAKE FLUIDS! That is a big no-no. Beep-boop-bop-boop-beep, Hello trouble?

You can get both of these upgrades done at a reputable shop. It is best to do them both at the same time. Save up for each step if you have to. I cannot insist enough on doing this.

Please, always refer to a qualified shop before trying out any suggestions stated here. Trying to do this yourself could lead to serious problems. Thanks and be careful out there.

Last week, Ms. Michele over at A Small Victory had a 'Worst Album Ever' competition. She then banned the winners to different leves of Hell. The qualifiers were; it has to be a band that you actually like, but they waited multiple years and released an album that sounds like it took them 2 hours to make.

When my favorite whacked out pixie from Iceland, Bjork, made it onto the second level of Hell with her album 'Homogenic', I could have been knocked over with broken wind.

There are many things that I could say about this. Most of them are insulting. References to 3-chord music and people not buying singles and remixes are among them. But I wll refrain from that and instead have Bjork name my post titles for me.

I would suggest this album to anyone who has never heard of Bjork. It is one of her best. Beats and strings. You can't go wrong with beats and strings and a little whacked out pixie in the snow.

Mars.

t 4:51 a.m. Aug. 27, an event will happen that hasn�t happened in almost 60,000 years and won�t happen again for

The next time this alignment will happen: Aug. 28, 2287.

We need to go there, and somehow, someday, we will. It'll be a Hell of a story.

Hamas Calls Bush 'Islam's Biggest Enemy'

Well good, that means he stuck a pin in a soft spot. Does poor widdle baby kwiller man feel the pinch? If Saddam came out of enforced retirement for one minute to do one thing to buy his way out of going to Hell, it should be to drop this guy in a woodchipper. Wether it's Bin Laden or Abdel Aziz Rantisi, they are the same breed of vermin. They butcher for power and pleasure, and they can't die enough times to pay for their crimes.

From Drudge.

Having read the AnalogKid's insightful piece Philosophy , I was reminded of some thoughts that have lingered off and on over the years. Philosophy is exactly what Phil says it is, a guess, but also a snapshot, a window into the prejudices and politics of the thinker. I admit that I've dabbled a bit among some of the works considered classics, I love mental exercises, but forming a view of life from another's experiences is not productive. I think that regular people have something better than some misty overly pretentious theory by which to guide their lives. Academics have philosophy, we have something more real, more true.

People often live by a code, never written, sometimes barely recognized, but always there. Traditions of Honor, sacrifice, denial of self to a greater good, devotion, valor, bonds of blood and family, of friendship. Knowing what is right, what is good, not because Plato said it, but because your father did. Because your mother taught you that certain things are false, that being a good man, a good woman is hard, and the easy path is hardly ever the best one.

The code is more clearly visible among the military, but it's not confined to them. They are after all largely representative of us as a people. The code shows among Firefighters, police, doctors, humble teachers, but also among factory workers, waitress's, contracters and deliverymen. When you work hard for an honest dollar, work hard to feed and care for those you love, instill in them what you know is right and just, you exhibit the code. When you live your life what was said by a professor at a university matters less than dust. What the voices of your ancestors tell you through your parents counts for everything.

The code we live by is slightly different for everyone, changes bit by bit from generation to generation, but the core remains true. The people who held Little Round top aren't so different from the ones who fought to the end on Flight 93. Heroes are the finest example of this, quiet and unassuming ones, the most special, the most loved. This man had a code, and we are blessed that he did. He probably didn't see it as such, but when it mattered he stood tall, some part of him would not allow what was to happen. He wasn't alone......

While I do not believe much in philosophy as a discipline, I do value the insight of thinking men long gone. Wisdom is elusive, knowledge is easy, bought for the price of a book. Wisdom is however there if you look hard enough.

Knowledge and Wisdom, far from being one,
Have oft-times no connexion. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men,
Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
- William Cowper, Task (bk. VI, l. 88)

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for the new Auto-Blog feature.

I know that automotive brake systems sound boring as hell, but I will make sure that you laugh while reading.

Either that or you will be scared to leave your driveway on Monday morning.

I didn't get my own pics of the GWB visit (so I have to borrow from the ones posted on the Seattle IMC site) because, get this, they were only letting protesters onto the motorcade route and they were afraid of violence if they let Bush supporters there. I was told to go to an area almost 2 miles away from the motorcade route where the pro-Bush folks were.

And the anti-Bushees still have the audacity to claim that their freedom to assemble was violated.

Typical.

A real group of winners.

Oooh Boy! Puppets.

I'd like to see the study that led to this conclusion.

I think this guy should stop going to protests and seek therapy.

Child Abuse. Plain and simple.

This is sad, really. Look at the guys hat. He should know better.

Through the 'newswire' of the Seattle IMC, we find that Mumia Abu-Jamal's health is in danger because he's lazy.

"It is with great concern that we report to you that Mumia has developed a potentially serious health condition affecting his feet, which have swollen painfully, making him unable to walk. Mumia suspects it may be due to blood clotting, a situation which can be very dangerous."

Gooooo Clots!

So you leave your home country, Venezuela, for a new life in Canada (1st mistake). You fail to complete your residency paperwork (2nd mistake). You try to fight your deportation by saying that if you are sent back, you will be persecuted. For being fat (what?).

"A Venezuelan woman's claim for refugee status because she is overweight has been denied by the Immigration and Refugee Board, which ruled her size did not qualify her for special status under its Gender-Related Persecution guidelines."

"The Vancouver-area resident claimed she was a refugee in need of protection as a member of a group facing persecution in her homeland, namely overweight or obese women."

Be careful where you plant your boot, Canada, when you kick her fat ass out. You may get it stuck.

I found this post on the Seattle IMC. It is a reprint of the 'America's Philosophers are against Bush's War' article from the beginning of the year.

If you read the comments, I go and call philosophers 'professional guessers'. This pissed one Willian Russell Payne off. He sent me his course materials from the 'Philosophy course' that he teaches at a local college (here, here and here) and asked me to look them over and 'tell me what this has to do with guessing'.

Here is my response.

Mr Payne,

Phil (analog kid).

Let me know what you think. I ask that since I cannot take his e-mail out of his course materials, please forward and messages for him to me and I will send them to him. Thanks

Educational............

Straight talk or nothing for CNN's Dobbs
Retired Gen. Wesley Clark was a long-time CNN military analyst but there's one cable network host he didn't impress: Lou Dobbs. Clark was a guest on Dobb's business show during the Iraq war and the host felt the former NATO boss seemed to push his own political agenda rather than provide the straight military skinny on the Pentagon plan, reports our Mark Mazzetti. The result: Dobbs, who hosts "Lou Dobbs Tonight," told a conference of reporters and military brass last week that he barred Clark from his show for the remainder of the war. Of course, he might not have know that CNN had moved to do the same thing when it came to using the likely Democratic presidential candidate as an impartial war analyst.

Another voice that peaceniks love to qoute, see, he's on our side and he's a big general and stuff, you have to take his word on stuff like war,.....cause he's on our side see!

(Yawwwwwnn), Well that's the thing isn't it. Patton was the finest assualt commander we ever had, he was also border line insane. MacArther was also brilliant, but a meglomaniac and insurbordinate, refusing decisions from civilian command. The whole arguement from the left is this, veterans can only speak when they back us up, no matter how few or why. Veterans that oppose us are tools of the military industrial complex and should be ignored. Granted a check from a defense contracter would be greatfully accepted, but I take my position without being paid for it thank you. This is what happens when the near entirety of one side in a debate has no idea what the military is, what it does, what it is bound by, or why.....

I'm a vet, I'm proud of that, but my voice is merely one from millions. Vets cover the spectrum, from a few lunatic lefties to the overwhelming moderates to a few hardcore neo-nazi's. You judge people on individual merit, you don't jump in bed with the first person to say, "hey, me too. Wesley's an ass, and should be treated as such, regardless of the new political friends he's found.

From Drudge.

From Drudge, the Hollywood left is hyperventilating, absolutely distraught that (shudder) a republican of Arnie's stature may take the governors mansion. I thought Tim Robbins said they were being repressed, silenced and brushed aside?

Too much to hope for, the trendy lefty in Hollywood is on the march. Heh, I guess we're supposed to be impressed. Speilberg and Hanks may think this way, but aren't nuts enough to broadcast it publicly. The Asner's and Sheen's can scream all they like, they help us more than they hurt.

And Woody Harrelson? He's in it too.

Along with Hanks, pot-loving actor Woody Harrelson is set to join the fight against Schwarzenegger. "Woody is diametrically opposed to Arnold Schwarzenegger's political positions," a spokesman for Harrelson told PAGE SIX. "He does not support the candidacy."

Would that be his pro-choice position or his gay rights one? Maybe he means the strong national defense idea that has taken root since,....oh, ...you remember Woody. When 3000 of us were brutally murdered! Let the haze clear for a second, that's a good Woody, here, have a Milkbone..........Now go lay down and take a nap, don't overtax the half dozen brain cells you haven't flushed yet.

"That would be the worst tragedy in the history of California," Shepherd hyperventilated to "Access Hollywood."

"I think that we are the laughing stock of the world, with Arnold Schwarzenegger running [for] governor," Shepherd said. "I think he's a real hypocrite. I think he has a past that is going to come out, and I'm not going to mention what it is, but it's not going to be pretty."

Threats? From a overaged cheerleader with a publicly known habit of nymphomania? Oh, OK, it's don't air your views and run for office , or we'll smear and destroy your life!..........................
She did say "hypocrit" didn't she? Wonder how many she did the football team stories are floating around? I'm not going to mention what it is, that would be nasty and evil wouldn't it Cybill? Unfair, meanspirited, beneath contempt? Low as you can get?......sure is..

She really did say "hypocrit" and didn't get struck by lightning,....amazing.

A word from our sponsor.

We need to keep our prioities and necessities in proper order. Crippling America's very dedicated SpecOps guys should not even be on the table.

"According the Washington Times, the Senate Intelligence Committee is working on legislation to hog tie our special-operations forces' activities with miles of red tape."

"Tomorrow night Saddam and OBL could be sitting on the beach in Latakia, Syria, roasting marshmallows and having a cappuccino, talking about how to get back at the Great Satan. The guy looking through the periscope of the Navy nuke boat offshore calls the boss at CINCLANT, and suggests, how 'bout I put a coupla boats full of SEALs in the water, and go catch or whack these guys? Yeah, ok, so it's Syria? So what? Yeah, but boss�"

Call. Write. E-mail. Whoever you can. Stop this now. As Mr. Babbin says in this article "Acting and reacting quickly, doing things that others can't because they are not limited by their operational doctrines, the whole spec-ops community � Army Rangers and Green Beanies, Navy SEALs, Marine Recon, and Air Force forward combat controllers � are the point of our very sharp spear. Without the ability to deploy right now, without waiting for Washington to debate for hours or days, that spear point could be blunted."

Especially when laid by idiots.

"Universities across the nation incessantly call for strong cultural and ethnic diversity on campus, yet the universities most committed to Affirmative Action admissions policies have some of the least ethnically diverse student bodies. These colleges have dedicated entire administrative and educational departments to further diverse climates on their campuses. They have even tried to convince the Supreme Court of the United States that racist admission practices are necessary to provide a diverse campus experience. Yet despite their rabid clamoring for diversity, these institutions of higher learning have nowhere near the ethnic diversity of the communities they serve, let alone the racial mix that makes this country so great."

You've got to go read the rest of this. It lays out national census stats and them compares them to leading colleges. Good stuff.

Floating around in their brains.

It seems that the tin-foil brigades are trying to keep track on our military's readiness and equipment.

It sounds almost like treason when you put it like that.

"Twenty people from Texas, New Mexico, and California gathered at the Peace Farm near Amarillo, Texas, from August 1 to 3, for a weekend workshop called Weapons Check. Workshop participants toured the perimeter of the Pantex Plant, joined in discussions about nuclear and conventional weapons, and left with ideas about creating a Southern Military Watchdog Network."

"The Military Documentation Project and Peace Action Texas, along with the Peace Farm, organized the weekend's activities, which will be used as a model for similar events in other Texas cities. Plans are already being developed for Weapons Check II and Weapons Check III in San Antonio and Dallas."

I wonder if the military would mind laying random minefields around their facilities. I just want to see how far one of our new anti-personell poppers could launch a hippie.

I understand Misha's fury at GWB yesterday, but this has to make up for a little of it.

"President Bush will sidestep congressional opposition by making a recess appointment today of a controversial Middle East scholar, Daniel Pipes, to the board of directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace, an administration official said."

"Although the position is largely honorary, Muslim organizations and some Jewish groups have campaigned vigorously since April against Pipes's nomination to the federally funded foreign policy think tank, which has 70 staff and 15 board members."

While I would enjoy nothing more than to see Israel set loose like a pissed-off pitbull in a daycare, I believe that the holding back of Israel is part of a bigger plan. I haven't quite figured out all the dynamics of said plan, but I'll fill you in when I crack it open.

You're in a place that is very hostile to your presence. You need security.

Do you:
A. Bring your own
B. Hire locals. But only after doing a very thorough check on their history.
C. Hire anyone off the street who volunteers.

The UN chose C.

"American investigators looking into the suicide bombing of the United Nations compound on Tuesday are focusing on the possibility that the attackers were assisted by Iraqi security guards who worked there, a senior American official here said today."

"The official said that when investigators began questioning the guards, two of them asserted that they were entitled to "diplomatic immunity" and refused to cooperate. Diplomats working in foreign countries are often entitled to immunity from prosecution by local authorities, but the official said the two guards could make no such claim."

The UN is so Keystone Cops.

Found at the Inoperable One's who found it at the Blogfather's.

Apparently, while I was on vacation, Larry Elder interviewd this guy from Denver who wants the city government to adopt a "Public Peace Initiative" to "Reduce Society Wide Stress".

He has gotten enough signatures on an initiative to get it put up for a vote this upcoming November.

Here is part of the interview,

Elder: "Why is it the city's responsibility, and taxpayers' responsibility, to reduce stress?"

Peckman: "All the city officials are required to uphold the U.S. and state constitution, which calls for providing for the common defense, which really means public safety, and for ensuring . . . domestic tranquility, which means peace. You could consider it an environmental health hazard, just like different kinds of pollution. . . ."

Elder: "If the president . . . issued an edict that everybody meditate for an hour, September 11th wouldn't have happened?"

Peckman: "I don't know. Depends upon what kind of meditation they were doing."

This guys brain must be responding from lack of oxygen. Being in Denver and all.

While surfing the Google Image search engine I stumbled across what I think, is some Danish college site. No expert on Europe, I have deduced some things from stumbling around here. They're even stranger than I feared. For example, this page in their gallery seems devoted to candy.

Lets review.
1. chocolate
2. chocolate, yawn.
3. ? either someone dipped some Milton Bradley game pieces, or someone has had too many wet dreams about dairymaids.
4. chocolate, (druming fingers).
5. - 15. run of the mill kiddy fodder. (nodding off), though 6. looks lethal.
16. Necco? I HATE NECCO, NUKE THE FUCKS BEFORE THEY BREED.GAHHHHHHH!
17. - 22. Still average, yet the colors are becoming......disturbing.
23. HEY, the nipple guy's back. And his girlfreind must be anemic!
24. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese candy? Noooo,.... really? Nah, it's gotta be the lack of sleep, please tell me it's the lack of sleep..........please?
25. Gummi O-Rings?
26. Gummi something.......

I think 3. is definitely the winner. View image
There's lots at this site to make you go hhhmmmmmm, trust me. The cafeteria food I found makes me pine for the ol' chow hall. I never thought anything on earth could do that, but then I've never been tramatized by Danish food either.

A harmless waste of time, but lets peek at that number 3. again.......

equal Palestinian Apologist?

Oh, right, the head of ISM is also Jewish.

Can't quite place who Abe Greenhouse is? Let RNS help.

Thanks to LGF for making the connection.

What a smug, self-important little weenie this guy is:

Greenhouse, who�s been over in Israel for about month and has joined the International Solidarity Movement, Rabbis for Human Rights and the Israeli Committee Against House Demolition since the start of his visit.

"The bombing tonight made me want to remain here in working through this peace effort. My efforts are more important now than ever."

Apparently he couldn't stop his autofellatio and preening long enough to comment on the murder of Jewish babies.

I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it.
Garrison Keillor

I really, really do NOT like Garrison Keillor. His homespun homilies and crackerbarrel charm is as phoney as his deep concern for the common man. Just to show that when you are a zealot, that consistency is your enemy, and because I wish to give Garri the finger, I present this little study in contrast.

From the current issue of Time.

Of course, the Terminator is no Jesse (the Body) Ventura. The Body was a troubled soul who, we discovered in the course of four years that got longer and longer, truly despised politics and the limelight and growled and ranted and threw snits and went and sulked in his tent. He was like the turkeys that are bred for white meat and grow enormous chests and are unable to walk around on their little ankles and have to be kept in hammocks and fed through a tube. He was something of an embarrassment. The Terminator is a charming man with a geezer brain trust of Warren Buffett and George Shultz, and the three of them may give Gray Davis, who was too clever for his own good, his comeuppance. But I doubt the Terminator would win if he were running in Minnesota. We've seen that movie already, and we wanted to leave after the first 20 minutes.

From a Wellstone lefty screed.

(Jesse Ventura, of course, wouldn't have been caught dead blathering at an F. Scott Fitzgerald dinner about how proud we are of the Great Whoever-He-Was and his vision and his dream blah-blah-blah, and that was the refreshing thing about Jesse. The sort of unctuous hooey that comes naturally and easily to Norm Coleman Jesse would be ashamed to utter in public. Give the man his due. He spoke English. He didn't open his mouth and emit soap bubbles. He was no suck up. He had more dignity than to kiss the president's shoe.)

Time.

You go for a walk on a summer night and notice the little ramps carved into curbs at street corners. People sat through a lot of meetings to get that accomplished. It was a boon to the wheelchair crowd and also to parents pushing strollers and kids riding bikes. It made life slightly more civil and friendly. Government works through small, incremental changes, and action heroes are much too high and mighty to take notice of these or other small details, but the changes are real, and in the end, we prefer government to heroism. My 5-year-old daughter can look forward to opportunities larger than those her grandmothers enjoyed, in a world in which men and women move freely as equals. No hero strode upon the scene and brought that about; it happened through politics. It wasn't based on anger toward men but on the love of liberty. You will never hear about it on Fox, but that's the truth, baby.

The Black Flag.

It was a dreadful low moment for the Minnesota voters. To choose Coleman over Walter Mondale is one of those dumb low-rent mistakes, like going to a great steakhouse and ordering the tuna sandwich. But I don't envy someone who's sold his soul.

He's condemned to a life of small arrangements. There will be no passion, no joy, no heroism, for him. He is a hollow man. The next six years are not going to be kind to Norm.

Well, cough, which is it Garri? Arnie shouldn't win because we don't need heroes in politics, Coleman should have lost because we do. While we're at it, are you schizo all the time, or just this time?

The Black Flag.

Norm got a free ride from the press. St. Paul is a small town and anybody who hangs around the St. Paul Grill knows about Norm's habits. Everyone knows that his family situation is, shall we say, very interesting, but nobody bothered to ask about it, least of all the religious people in the Republican Party. They made their peace with hypocrisy long ago. So this false knight made his way as an all- purpose feel-good candidate, standing for vaguely Republican values, supporting the president.

Time.

You don't hear this from AM radio, which is packed with angry men with chain-saw voices chewing into liberals 24/7, or from Ann Coulter, who is selling the old Stalinist line that dissent equals disloyalty. Or from the aging adolescents at Fox News, who enjoy peeing in the political swimming pool. But when you get among the real people who are actually engaged in public life, they tend to be well-mannered and respectful of the process and the humanity of those who take part. That's the difference between entertainment and politics. Of course, the Terminator could choose to go this route, and if he did, he could be a good Governor and make up for all the god-awful movies. There is always that hope.

I am willing to be lectured on political hygiene from several people, about proper and respectfull debate. Garrison (The Republicans will get you) Keillor is not only not on the list, I feel like I need a shower after reading his swarmy ,heh, wisdom. Having a soft monotone voice may get you on MPR, but it's hardly proof of intelligence, let alone wisdom. I resent being talked down too, I resent hypocrisy for a quick partisan shot, I resent being taken for a boob by a guy who probably let himself get chased home from school everyday, and I resent that he spouts this crap unmindful of the fact some of us can remember what he said the day before yesterday.

Stick to kiddy books Garri, you aren't very talented at this.

Two versions, first the MSNBC one, then the purely honey covered BBC tribute on the same story. Hugo Chaves is exactly as he portrays himself, a hard left Castro best bud, with delusions of being a game show host. Even the EU is breaking with Castro, much as it pains them. Not Hugo though, him wanna grow up n be big and stwrong wike his hewro.

The gardening advisers are only one of several groups of Cubans here. There are also Cuban doctors living and working in Caracas's poorest neighbourhoods, and other Cubans assisting with a nationwide adult literacy programme. Altogether, more than 1,000 Cubans are said to be here working with government-organised programmes.

The opposition has another view.

Chavez critics charge that the Cubans' true goal is to teach communism, spy or even provide paramilitary training to pro-Chavez guerrilla organisations.

"[The Cubans in Venezuela] are persons prepared to indoctrinate," said retired Vice Admiral Rafael Huici, founder of an organisation of retired military officers.

Now considering that not too many nations call on the Cuban's to provide "advisers" since Angola, you gotta wonder if Hugo doesn't really have something unpleasant in mind for the 70% who went against him in the last survey. How does the BBC describe the fact that most of Venezuela wants the Cuban's gone?

Dr Fernandez said he and the other Cubans are well aware that they are in Venezuela thanks only to Mr Chavez, and that if he falls, the Cubans will surely go, too.

"We came here to help these barrios," Dr Fernandez said. "If we get kicked out, then [the barrio] will remain like it was before - marginalised. Because no Venezuelan doctor ever comes here."

Well darn, it's all about decent affordable healthcare! Never mind the secret police and instructers in Marxist dogma, it's the little people Hugo cares about....

If Cuban medicine is the same as Soviet, that means it's good for bandaids and condoms. For heart surgery you go elsewhere. But really, if Hugo wants his country to enjoy the fruits of quality medicine why put import controls in place like this?

The government�s response to the crisis�importing foods, in some cases with help from Cuban state importing company Alimport�has only escalated opposition cries that President Hugo Ch�vez�s goal is to install Cuban communism in Venezuela. There are already many Cubans here, teaching everything from urban gardening to sports, and Ch�vez�s recent announcement that he would bring in Cuban literacy instructors, despite high unemployment among Venezuela�s own teachers, raised protests that the Cubans are here solely to indoctrinate poor Venezuelans. A referendum on Ch�vez�s rule could take place as of Aug. 19.

Ingrid del R�o, 47, walks from pharmacy to pharmacy around Caracas carrying an empty bottle of her husband�s respiratory medicine. She had already visited five drug stores in vain, searching for a refill. �My husband takes it every night before going to sleep,� she says. �There are similar [medicines], but one wants the right one.�

It's obvious what Chaves is doing, to everyone except the BBC. Typical..........

"Mad' Madeline Albright opens her mouth once again. And the ever fawning AP/WaPo prints every word.

"Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright says President Bush's foreign policy has driven away moderate Arab leaders and created the potential for a dangerous rift with European allies."

You mean the 'allies' that decided to continue stuffing their wallets rather than do the right thing? And I think that the 'moderate arab leaders' would rather deal with America now than later, you double bag bint.

"Albright, writing in the current issue of Foreign Affairs quarterly, criticized Bush as using "the shock of force" rather than relying on alliances in ways that fundamentally depart from more than a half-century of U.S. foreign policy."

She can write? Jeez, judging from her past foreign policy measures, I thought that she couldn't read or something. Because she sure never read any history.

"Albright, a Democrat who headed the State Department in the Clinton administration, said Bush was rejecting the advice even of his father, former President George H.W. Bush, that the United States should not go it alone in the fight against terrorism "or in anything else, for that matter."

That 'unilateralism' bit is getting quite old. But the again so is she.

"She quoted the son, the current president, as declaring before going to war with Iraq that "at some point we may be the only ones left. That's okay with me. We are America."

The AP/WaPo is trying very hard not to even mention GWB's name. It's so cute how they do that. Like it will conjure an evil spirit or something.

"Albright said she would applaud Bush's "admirable definition of spine in confronting those who threaten the safety of the American people ... if only those policies were safeguarding U.S. citizens more effectively."

Hmmm, I don't remember getting attacked on our own soil since September 11th. Anyone else?

"Specifically, she said the Bush administration's decision to shift its focus from opposing the al-Qaida terror network to invading Iraq and threatening military action against others caused popular support for the United States among Europeans to drop sharply."

I don't remember anything in the US Constitution stating that there was an index comparing our approval rating with the Euros that said how good a job a president was doing. In fact, if you go through, I think that the general concensus was that we should give less than a shit.

"The ouster of Saddam Hussein in Iraq has made the world a better place, Albright wrote, but it also cut into the support the administration needs to discredit and dismantle al-Qaida."

On the first point, Maddie, I'm glad someone on your side of the fence is finally admitting this is true. On the second point though, I don't think that any country with a semi-cognizant leader is going to pick al-Qaida over the US.

"The Iraq war and the subsequent U.S. occupation of Baghdad, the capital of Islam during that faith's golden age, have made more difficult the choice Islamic moderates and others around the world must make," Albright said."

Oooh, wrong again, Maddie. Remember the 'They are either with us or against us' thing. Sorry, try again next time.

"Instead of asking them to oppose al-Qaida, Bush also asked for support for the invasion of an Arab country and endorsement of the doctrine of pre-emption, all in one package, she wrote."

Yep. You see this way, we don't need to worry about having to come back and grovel for support. They know our position right up front. And we know theirs. No If's, And's or But's.

"Even more remarkable than Arab leaders deciding they did not want to be with the United States even though they opposed al-Qaida, she said, was the reaction among the closest U.S. friends in Europe."

The Axis of Weasel's decision-making prowess is not something I would call remarkable. But I understand why you would.

"It was a war of choice, not of necessity," Albright wrote, and "it was initiated by the Washington in a show of dominance prompted by a sense of vulnerability that most Europeans do not fully share."

If the first half of this century haven't proven to you the utter lack of understanding of world affairs by the Euros, then I guess the Soviet occupation of eastern Europe doesn't stand a chance of sticking to the inside of your skull.

"Albright said differences with Europe can be narrowed. "The American people, with an assist from Secretary of State Colin Powell and other voices of reason, will not let the administration go too far."

Sadly, Powell's common sense is MIA. Too bad the rest of his State Department cannot do us all the same favor.

"Albright said the United States must be relentless in shaping a global consensus that terrorism is always wrong, and there can be no excuses for it."

I think that our current actions are working to sink that message in. Hows about you use your former 'superstar' status and go ask the Imam's to stop recuiting jihadis.

"Reflecting on her experiences as secretary of state, she said she rarely received a satisfactory answer from Arab leaders when she made the point repeatedly."

Oh yeah, those folks whose culture you see as equivalent to America's, well they don't listen to a thing a woman says. Something about women being property or something.

"Most of them would condemn terror unconditionally "except where it was most regularly practiced, namely in and against Israel," Albright said."

So they want a 'Grandfather Clause' for killing Jews, huh? Nuke the fucks. That'll teach them.

"To this day, it remains the majority Arab view that the militarily overmatched Palestinians are justified in fighting Israelis with whatever means they have," Albright wrote."

Maddie, I knew that before you even took office. But thanks for the update.

This is just a repost of my earlier 'Fish On' theory for someone I have invited over. You can read on if you like.

I believe that GWB is more like Reagan than most realize or give him credit for.

1. He is vehemently hated by the left. So was Reagan.

2. He knew that cutting taxes was the only way to make America function well. So did Reagan.

3. They both had large adversaries. Reagan had the USSR. Bush has the socialist Democrat Party.

4. He will get rid of the Dems the same way Reagan got rid of the Soviets. He will spend them to death.

I am just about tired of hearing folks on the right whine about how �Social� Bush is with our money.

Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest Presidents America has ever seen. Why, because he saw the threat to America posed by the USSR and grabbed it by the horns and kicked it in the nuts.

Reagan recognized what made America great, the almighty dollar. Money makes the world go around folks (well, that and momentum). And he harnessed the power of the dollar to smother the Soviets.

Yes, they were stumbling all over themselves under their own weight by the time he got into office. They were broke, bedraggled and busted but not out. And he was not going to let them get up off the mat to get a second swing at America.

Reagan knew he could use America�s economic strength to take the arms race to a whole new level and that the USSR would try to follow us. And when they did, they would have to begin to shed their excess baggage. The eastern bloc of Europe was their last stronghold and when the Berlin Wall fell, we had them because without those satellite countries, the USSR had even less of a base of people (read: free labor) to work with.

George W Bush is doing the same thing with the Democrats.

They start barking about increases for Medicare/Medicaid,

He says �OK, How much?�,

They say �$10 Billion�,

He says �How about 12�.

The Dems then only have one option. Since they aren�t allowed to agree with him, they can only say that it should have been bigger. But everyone in their right mind in middle class America knows we couldn�t even afford the increase in the first place. So they ask �Where would this money come from?�. And the Dems can only say �More Taxes� which is a horrible thing to have to run an election on. Look at Mondale.

Or, the Dems say that we have to take money out of the defense budget. And again, no one in their right mind in middle class America wants to do that when you have millions of religious zealots out there who want to either convert of kill Americans.

So what happens, the Dems get stuck with a rising star like Howard Dean who starts to shoot his mouth off over and over all the while looking like the spokesman for the Democrat Party. This turns most of middle class America away from the party and the only votes that the Dems will receive are from toe-tag Democrats, those folks who voted for Nader last time around, and anyone else who hates the image created by the Dems of GWB enough to get off their ass and get to a voting booth. Not exactly a large group of people.

You also have a large number of older Dem Senators who are starting to retire with no clear Dem replacement. 2004 could be a very good year for the Republicans, as long as they don�t step on their balls like they have a tendency to do.

We need not worry about Bush�s social spending just yet. The debt is not yet in line to be too big for us to step out of. Remember the howling that went on during Reagan�s era? They actually put up an electronic billboard in Times Square that was counting the debt and then dividing up how much each person who looked at it was responsible for. What a freak show. And notice how it started being ignored after the swearing in of a Democrat?

If you look closely you will see medium sized numbers of libertarians leaving their party and becoming Republicans. These folks are young and are full of ideas of what the government should (defense) and shouldn�t be (education, transportation, medicine, retirement, etc.) be involved in. Within 10 years after minimizing of the Democrat Party, we will start shedding social programs. And lower taxes will follow.

What a wonderful life.

Can you?

I knew you could.

"PARIS - France's biggest funeral parlor chain said Wednesday it counted 2,600 more deaths this month than in the same period last year, raising the prospect that thousands more people died during Europe's heat wave than officials estimate."

"Shortly after OGF issued its projection, the prime minister issued a statement calling for "prudence" about vague estimates."

Why do I doubt that I will ever see a newspaper headline saying "Chriac Knew!!"?

I may have to lay off the news for a while. If I keep laughing this had, people will think I've gone insane.

"Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton stiffed a Manhattan travel agency out of almost $200,000 after giving them "fraudulent credit-card information," the agency says in a lawsuit."

"Alpha International Travel Agency claims they took care of travel for Sharpton and his National Action Network between May 1, 2001, and Aug. 3, 2002 - before his presidential campaign officially launched - and set them up with "airline tickets and hotel services."

"In that time, Sharpton and the NAN ran up a $193,131.97 bill. They've refused to pay it, and so far the only thing they have given Alpha is the bogus card information, the suit says."

I'm torn between calling him a criminal and wanting to donate just to keep the comedy from the Democratic Party up at a decent level.

I just don't want to believe it.

"Cynthia McKinney, the feisty former 4th District congresswoman, is headed for the Ivy League."

"Officials at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., confirmed that McKinney has been named a visiting professor at the institution. Under her contract, she will serve as a guest lecturer for three years, beginning this fall."

This woman is so wacked in the head, there should be an investigation done to see if how often her mother dropped her on her head as a baby. If it determined that her mother never dropped her, we will have to try and see if dropping her as an adult (from a very tall building) will cure her lunacy. Twice if necessary.

It looks as if the UK paper, The Sun, has decided to do some very good follow-up journalism. You may remember Brendon Fearon as the burgler shot by Mr. Tony Martin (see the doc's post below).

Well, the criminal Fearon filed a $150,000 lawsuit against Mr. Martin for the injuries he sustained when he was wounded by Mr. Martin. This has happened before in America. Sadly, the criminal was successful. Another reason for constant firearms practice.

And The Sun gets Fearon good with their cameras.

"Lying crook Brendon Fearon has been seen by The Sun effortlessly riding a mountain bike � even though he claims he was crippled by freed farmer Tony Martin."

"He showed no signs of struggling to push the pedals with either leg."

Wasn't a better shot. But I guess 1 out of 2 ain't bad.

What's really amazing is that the leftists have been falling all over this con-man, trying to turn him into some kind of national hero for getting shot while committing a robbery, while Tony Martin got to spend 3 years in jail for being a "danger to burglars". Think that's being a bit melodramatic on my part? Read this and get back to me.

Even though the UN turned down coalition recommendations on security, it's still our fault they got attacked:

Annan said he was surprised to hear reports that the United Nations turned down an offer of security from U.S.-led coalition forces. He stressed that security was the responsibility of the United States as the occupying power and if it was needed, the United Nations shouldn�t even have been asked.
�I don�t know if the U.N. did turn down offer for protection, but if it did, it was not correct, and they should not have been allowed to turn it down,� Annan said in Stockholm, en route to New York. �That kind of decision should not be left to the protected. It is those with responsibility for security and law and order, who have intelligence, which determines what action is taken.�

Hey, Kofi, just once I'd like to hear you admit that the UN screwed up. About anything. Ever.

JC Adams a drink.

Recently, 74-year-old J.C. Adams was confronted by armed robbers in his Atlanta convenience store. As he did last year in another robbery, the Korean War veteran grabbed his 12-gauge shotgun and -- using one hand to steady himself on his walker -- fired, again with fatal results. This is what Adams had to say to other criminals: "Go to work and make your own money. Quit trying to take mine."

we all scream for ICE CREAM!

2 scoops of Iraqi Road, please.

Or maybe I should get I hate the French Vanilla?

a hate crime?

Heh.

Via Seamole's.

A statistical look at who's being killed in the "middle east conflict".

For constantly updated statistics, look here.

Go here to read the full report. It's long, but very interesting.

Bottom line: Israelis target combatants, Palestinians target randomly - preferring to go after "soft" targets like women and children.

UPDATE

Don't believe me? Then what about this?

Make Al Franken a lying liar who tells lies?

And, politics aside, has this guy ever done anything that anyone found to be even remotely funny?

UPDATE

OK, so I was taken to task for failing to have a sense of humor over the "Fibbin' Franken" affair. One critic, Al Barger, even wrote a piece defending Fraken for Blogcritics, suggesting that anyone reading the letter should have known is was a joke, and doing his best to give Franken a free pass.

Go read the letter, and decide for yourself. Was it all just good, clean fun by Franken? Or a deliberate attempt to gain personal and intimate information for the sole purpose of embarrassing Ashcroft by, you know, lying? I think the signature says it all:

Al Franken
Fellow, Shorenstein Center for Press and Politics
Kennedy Center of Government
Harvard University

As a side note - using university letterhead for personal/political reasons is a cause for dismissal where I work. Universities tend not to have too great a sense of humor about such things.

Mr. Bill Whittle has written another one, titled 'Responsiblity'.

While I will have to wait to get off work before I can read it all, I would wager that the quality will equal his other works.

I found this at the Emperor Misha's place.

It should be required reading for any Idiotarian who thinks that the 'palestinians' are 'suffering under Zionist oppression'.

"This is an automated reply from the Bullshit Detector at Little Green Footballs. Your recent post contained troll-like characteristics which resembles the type of message sent by spoiled ISM members on summer holiday, college students who have recently inhaled Noam Chomsky�s foul rantings, Adam Shapiro wannabes, Nazi sympathizers, or genuine Koranimals."

Go. Read. Good.

I know that this report contains a conclusion we all know to be true, but it is still a good read.

Western Culture is Superior by Mona Charen

"Two recent news stories illustrate one of the unmentionables of modern life -- namely, that Western culture is superior to others. As the United States is now engaged in a protracted and expensive effort to remake the Middle East, we ought to be clear about what we are doing and why."

Harmonia, wherever he/she/it is these days, must be so proud of her Palestinian heroes for killing dangerous Jews like this one.

How can anyone defend these murdering bastards? The left gets all weepy about Palestinian "children" (apparently this term still applies to Palestinians in their mid-20's) that are killed by Israelis, but not one shout of outrage over atrocities like this.

After something like this, I would punch this numbnut in the nose, if I could find him.

This situation is acutally taking place in Vancouver, B.C.. But their laws are more in line with California, where minority groups are given 'special rights' instead of 'civil rights'.

Women's group fined for barring transsexual. Caught in 'rights' dilemma, charity insists it can choose workers.

"A rape crisis center that supports "transsexual rights" finds itself in a dilemma after suffering a record fine for rejecting a male-to-female transsexual who wanted to volunteer with the women's group. Vancouver Rape Relief of British Columbia, Canada, insists it has the right to choose its own members, but also maintains it is not pitting itself against transsexuals, the Canadian Press reported."

This is not the part I'm laughing about. I firmly believe that employers should be able to pick and choose who they hire. If a business gets the reputation of not hiring a certain group of people, they will pay for it in the marketplace. Or if they are a charity, they will pay for it in loss of donations.

Here's the part I'm laughing about.

"Spokeswoman Suzanne Jay explained the group advocates for the rights of transsexuals but not at the expense of women's rights, which it doesn't believe are fully established yet."

Oooooh my sides hurt. I think that maybe she wants the legal right to kill males without consequence.

I guess some peoples rights are more important than others. Hmm, telling.

I'm sure you've all heard the line 'America has the largest imprisonment rate in the world" touted in the media. The line is being used as some sort of factual evidence that we are uncivilized, unjust to minorities, or backwards.

But Lowell Ponte over at FrontpageMag.com has a different take on the idea.

"U.S. HAS HIGHEST ADULT IMPRISONMENT RATE in the world,� screamed the headline of a story in Monday�s Chicago Sun-Times."

"What instead stimulates the Pavlovian salivation of such journalists seems to be their eagerness to use this study as yet another stick with which to hit and harm the United States."

OK, Saddam kills a few hundred thousand Iraqis, and some countries condemn the US for attacking him and removing his regime. But, when Saddam's cronies blow up a few UN bureaucrats, they get all indignant and start screaming about "crimes against humanity". Typical bureaucrats, don't care how many "common people" die, but get all pissed of if someone starts taking swings at them.

"Acts as odious as this can only prompt indignation and unreserved condemnation," French President Jacques Chirac (search) said in a message to U.N. Secretary General

"This is a criminal attack, clearly carried out by forces that do not want the rebuilding of Iraq to take place in peace and freedom," said Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (search) of Germany, which joined Russia and France in opposing the invasion of Iraq.

My favorite, though, is this one:

Mexico's President Vicente Fox, whose nation has a seat on the U.N. Security Council and opposed the Iraq war, said the attack "clearly demonstrates that terrorism continues to constitute a threat for all member countries of the United Nations."

Hmmmmmmmmm. So, does this mean that Bush DIDN'T lie? And that we need to prosecute the war on terrorism as aggressively as possible? By the phrasing "continues to constitute", does that mean that it was a threat to every nation in the UN before the war as well. And, if that is true, tell me again why you opposed said military action?

3,000 Americans die - no big deal, they had it coming. A few hundred thousand Iraqis die - no big deal, it's all America's fault anyway. A few UN staffers get killed (and I'm not belittling the loss of these individuals to their families and friends, just the hypocritical UN response to those losses), and that suddenly underscores the fact that terrorism is a threat to the world. Unbelievable.

It's starting, the cries of murderers and worse. The international press is OFFENDED that Mazen Dana was shot by mistake. Cry me a freakin river. To his family and friends it is a tragedy, to the world at large, it's nothing but business as usual.

Death
comes
for
far
too
many

For the media;

Yes, all this information comes from the media. They sell death like Kellogg's does cereal. But it's in the manner of a scientist studying ants, detached, like somehow you are unaffected by what you show. Normal people die, not the tellers of truth. What this is, sadly, is the hard lesson that a child learns from playing with fire. But we can't die, it's not fair, you HAVE to protect us, we're special, we tell the world..............

Well guess what, the world is shrugging it's shoulders, it has enough dead already. The media needs to get over it's fixated navel gazing about it's importence and look around. Death, disease, famine, war, torture are what the human condition seems to be. You get no "get out of jail free card" in this game, no dispensation for doing good deeds. You weren't robbed, or cheated somehow. It was and is an accident, a wrong place at the wrong time event. You will never sit in a news room and gain a hundreth of the respect that US soldiers have earned through blood and fire. One out of a thousand of you has the courage to cover war from the field, don't wrap yourselves in that cloth, it won't fit.

Dana's death is a sorry event, but predictible. The so-called journalist with him makes statements wildly out of synch with what's reported. The troops at the prison knew who you were, how does that translate into the lead tank of an approaching convoy knowing the same thing? You guys wear bits of uniforms, carry heavy shoulder mounted equipment, and like to peek out from around corners. Smells like enemy sapper to me.....

Do what the Army you loathe so much does, back up, study, and learn from your mistakes. If you want no more Dana's you will. But somehow I don't think that's on your agenda in the media,......... is it?

I woke up and saw the Doc's post about the 'threat of exposure' he got.

Hummph.

Blackmail is a crime. Criminals don't get sufficiently punished by the system, in my opinion. But I will give him an electronic pat on the back for handling it the way he did. I am, sadly, a bit more rash.

And I see that my good man puggs has decided to show himself as well. He gets one too. Unfortunately, I don't think I want to follow in their footsteps right now.

Sorry folks, but I'm enjoying the whole 'semi-anonymous' thing way too much right now. The internet is a tool. Use it. If you want to know who I am, you'll have to work for it.

But I'll get anyone who cares started. My first name is Phil. I work for the largest trash and recycle hauler in the Seattle area. If you feel the need to tell my boss I wrote something offensive here, go right on ahead. I say some very offensive things to him on a daily basis. No shit.

And now, on to more news-like items.

I would like to put my personal policy on threats on the table right now though.

To anyone who wishes to make threats, no matter how light, in my general direction, this is your warning. I don't take threats lightly. I have a tendancy to not like to have to worry about things. So be careful what you ask for. The creep who threatened me a while back said something very bad for his general well-being. He earned himself a very unpleasant night in a county jail. The night in jail was free. The unpleaseantness cost me less than dinner with the wife.

Speaking of the wife, any threat directed towards my household will, of course, be taken as a threat to my wife. And she is one of three people on the planet for whom I would bring an end to an entire bloodline. Men, women, children. You do not want to test me on this.

Previous to the creep, I'd had about a half a dozen other people tell me something to the order of 'I should join the military so I could get shipped off to Iraq and get shot'. I don't consider these so much a threat as just a poorly thought out idea. These folks received my first name and a phone number, along with an offer of a duel of sorts. I even bent the rules in their favor, letting them pick the weapon, the place and the time. Sadly, I've gotten no takers so far.

Ever hear of Strong-Bad? If you love anime, you have got to see this. I've been here before, but never really checked it out before now. Relocated from a tip from Curmudgeonly & Skeptical.

I bookmarked the homepage, so be warned...............I have access to bent humor and I'm not afraid to use it.

Curmudgeonly & Skeptical has a handle on this report. Some may have heard of Mrs. Mayo before.

Frankie Mayo has a mission � to cool the air for as many U.S. soldiers in Iraq as she can by sending them as many as air conditioners as she can lay her hands on. What started with a single air conditioner sent to her son at the end of June has grown into Operation Air Conditioner, with tons of units being sent to the troops. It is more than just providing them a touch of comfort or a taste of home, it is about helping them avoid heatstroke and providing them comfortable sleeping conditions. But, Mrs. Mayo had 302 new air conditioners waiting to go on Friday, when the U.S. Postal Service pulled the plug.
-------------------------------------

Local and regional postal representatives ducked our inquiries yesterday. But at 4:50 Friday afternoon, Mrs. Mayo was told by a bureaucrat in an air-conditioned office at Delaware's Wilmington Distribution Center that it would no longer ship the air conditioners because they contain freon, which is listed as a class 2 compressed gas.

Now this is outrageous, what dimwit in the Postal Service came up with this piece of pure hatefullness? How low an IQ do you need to be a bureaucrat? How much do you like being a perfect horses ass to think this up? Ok, this needs fixing, fast. I suggest a presidential order.

Impress the offending crackhead into the US Army, put him in BDU's, ship his butt to Bagdad and let him fill sandbags in the 100 plus degree heat while hoping that maybe someone will let him sleep inside a cooled building or tent. Public service will take on a whole new meaning to his unworthy ass. Maybe too he'll learn that playing Scrooge is an evil thing when it's him that suffers.

God, I could strangle this clown.

This from American RealPolitik. The article listed is here.

Remarkably, some of the most vocal critics of Operation Iraqi Freedom are the same progressives who throughout the 1990s championed the idea that the United States had a purely humanitarian obligation to deploy its military around the world to stop genocide and other crimes against humanity. Yet when US-led coalition forces (now representing 30 nations) went to war to end the 30-year reign of terror of a monstrous dictator who made Slobodan Milosevic look like an amateur thug, these same people generally stood by silently, or made a show of wringing their hands over the sanctity of Iraqi sovereignty and the integrity of the international system.

Of course, progressives are not alone in taking offense over how President Bush has governed. Some conservatives too have been dismayed, particularly by what they have derisively referred to as Bush's ``big government conservatism.'' Yet as his administration makes its mistakes, rolls with the punches, and adapts to changing circumstances, the president reveals himself to be a pragmatic conservative who knows in his gut that it is a liberal welfare state that he wishes to reform, and to conserve. This will continue to discomfit purists on both sides. And it may prove attractive to a majority in 2004, not only in the Electoral College but in the popular vote as well.

Some pause, hardcore social and religious conservatives distrust him as well as the liberal progressives do. That would make him closer to the center and more electable than his critics dare admit. But the comparisons to Hitler, and the slurs over selling out to the left hardly ring true. Barring any unforseen event, he is the man to beat in 2004. Calling a man people have come to trust a monster will make them question your motives, not his. Don't think so?

I notice that Reagan is still loved, and who was that Fritz guy again?

I saw this at Four Right Wing Wackos.

The ULTIMATE personality test.

From Quizilla.

I don't know about all that, but it's a fun little piece of ego stroking. I think it's as close as any online test I've seen to an accurate match. The trick at quizilla is separating the wheat from the chaff. I don't normally have that kind of patience.

Thanks to Raging_Dave.

Last words of the pilots of doomed aircraft.

Via Reflections in D Minor

The Enola Gay is going back on display, intact this time. It's history, and while I do not believe in candy coating the past, I do believe in context. The harshest critics of this exhibit want it to be all about Hiroshima, the bombing victims, and how it relates to the evil militaristic culture of the United States. Intelligent people just want a balanced nonpartisan view of history. This round up of news articles says alot.

The BBC...........
More than 140,000 people were killed as a direct result of the bombing. Many more suffered radiation illness, raising the eventual death toll to more than 220,000.

The CBC.............
The bomb killed more than 140,000 people and left tens of thousands suffering from lingering radiation illness.

The Enola Gay was then used as the advance weather reconnaissance aircraft for the follow-up attack on Nagasaki that killed 70,000 people.

The Australian...............
The display makes no reference to the devastation inflicted by the atomic bomb dropped from the bowels of the B-29 on August 6, 1945, which instantly killed 80,000 people, a quarter of the population of Hiroshima.

Three days later the same aircraft checked the weather for a sister plane to drop a bomb on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 people. The radiation sickened or killed many more Japanese in subsequent years, leading to an estimated total death toll of at least 200,000.

The first two were slanted enough, but the Australian can barely contain itself.

Mark Selden, a sociologist at Tufts University who was involved in the debate in the 90s, said of the new display: "I think it is the opposite of helpful to have such an exhibition.

But the planners were unapologetic at their decision to leave the victims out of the discussion. Museum director Jack Dailey portrayed the aircraft as a "machine", a display of technological genius that "played a decisive role in bringing World War II to an end".

Karl Heinzel, a specialist who contributed to the 300,000 hours it took over two decades to restore the aircraft, said: "It's not the museum's place to tell people what to think."

"I would have to say that the developments since September 11, in particular the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Bush foreign policy, make this all the more inconceivable."

Sigh,.....It goes on, and on. The constant fight over what happened and why. Mark Selden has an agenda, so any presentation of history that doesn't support it is a bad thing. The Soviets and Chinese played around with changing history to suit the moment, and that worked out so well for them, didn't it?

The Enola Gay is a lightning rod for those who hate where our nation is headed. Too bad, the funny thing about democracy is that if you inhabit the fringe of thought, you will lose, and lose, lose again, lose tomorrow, the day after, and on and on forever. I would think an Einstein sociologist like Selden would have gleaned that by now.

Which may explain the hatred some elitists have for democracies.

This article from the Mercury News is good. The bombing of the UN compund in Iraq shows the difference in concepts of reality between the US and Iraqi security forces, and those thumbsuckers from the UN.

WASHINGTON - Fearing deadly car bomb attacks, U.S. forces in Iraq just weeks ago began erecting more barriers around potentially "softer" nonmilitary targets.

But United Nations officials in Iraq decided on a lower level of security to provide a more welcoming image to Iraqis, American military officials said.

So welcome that somebody left a gift basket at their door. You don't face down a rabid dog with a liver treat and a smile. Unless,... you like surgery and shots. The mindset of the UN is why they consistently fail, you have to use a fist sometimes, if it's beyond them to do it, then leave the blue helmets home. Their families would appreciate it.

OH, BTW.............puggs, Mark, or that __________ (fill in the blank). Whatever works for you. I'm easy,... well no, actually that's a lie. I'm an unmitigated bastard, but the name things ok.

Run away. Now.

I get a fair bit of e-mail about RNS. Most of the negative comments have to do with 1 of 3 things:

1) What complete wankers we are for believing in the right to bear arms, going to war with Iraq, taking a stand against affirmative action, etc. These are by far and away the most hilarious, and the most nasty.

2) The fact that it is difficult to take someone too seriously if they are posting anonymously (or even pseudo-anonymously, as in my case)

3) The fact that I have too many misspelled words in my posts.

I'm not about to change my worldview one little bit, but I figured I would try and address the "anonymous" and spelling points. From here on out I will be posting under my "real" name, and will start trying to filter my posts through Microsoft Word to catch my more egregious spelling mistakes. AK and Puggs can do whatever they want to with respect to these 2 issues. I think there are a lot of very valid reasons to post anonymously, both from a personal and professional standpoint. I guess what really got me thinking on this was an e-mail that basically threatened to "expose" me if I didn't retract a statement I made about a certain "peace" movement. I guess it was supposed to scare me, but it just pissed me off.

Now I just need to find a stick on badge that says:

Hi, My Name is Neal

Demonstrations in support of Saddam and his regime. How shocking it is to find out that the Ba'ath party paid the demostrators. Almost as shocking as the fact that some og the Ba'ath party officials have fled to France to get out of paying their bills.

"We are in a tight spot," says Ahmad al-Najdawi, a party leader. "People don't understand that no more money is flowing [from Iraq]."

Two prominent Lebanese pan-Arabists have fled to France to avoid paying the mobs they hired for pro-Saddam demonstrations in Beirut last winter. And other pro-Saddam Ba'athists are facing unpaid bills for anti-war demonstrations they organized in Morocco, Algeria and Egypt.

This is a bit of a redux of AK's post on Ba'athist bankruptcy, but it is still pretty damn funny. Do you think anyone on the left will be even a little bit chagrined that they were "duped"? Don't hold your breath.

On Monday, Michele over at A Small Victory posted about a documentary coming out on the Weather Underground. There is one line from the linked article that I found that particularly pissed me off.

Mark Rudd, WU Founder - "When Vietnam comes up, my students will ask me: 'What did you do in the 60s?" Rudd says. "Well ... I helped found an organization dedicated to the violent overthrow of the United States government."

First off, why is puke teaching anything but sewing to death row inmates? And according to the article he is a math teacher. Just when do 'The 60's' come up in math class?

I have no problem with folks being unhappy about their government. I don't even have a real problem with people wanting to overthrow the government. What I do have a problem with is the type of government they want to replace it with when they're done (if they've thought that far ahead).

The WU members weren't just protesters mad about the Vietnam War. They had participated in non-violent protests before forming the WU. They wanted to stop the war by scaring it's supporters through violence. Just like the 'palistinians' they were too chicken-shit to go after true military targets and instead brought bombing to Main Street.

I will say once again, I am seeing a WU/SLA movement beginning. And I don't mean through the likes of ELF/ALF (or whatever the new offshoot is calling themselves). The folks at ANSWER are riling up an entirely new crop of morons who think they know how it should all be run (as told to them by the new socialists).

These newbies aren't yet organized enough to be effective. But watch after the 04 election. Things may start popping. And as ignorant as this sounds, I want them to. My reason for wanting this is purely irrational and mostly homicidal (hey, at least I'm honest). But I just never got the opportunity to leave a trail of Marxist corpses ever since Reagan took care of the larger problem. I think it is only fair that myself and my generation should be allowed to eradicate the communist fucks from American soil once and for all.

This Friday, GWB will be stopping in Bellevue, Washington for a fundraiser. And the local foil-hatters are in such a tizzy that they can bearely get organized to protests this. It is so 'Keystone Cops', I'm in pain from laughing.

I will try to swing through and get some pics, but my work schedule will be changing when I go back on Wednesday. Which means I will have to change my sleeping habits. So we'll see.

I'll wait until I read them myself, but this sounds promising.

"A six-year study of Supreme Court cases has found scores of "forgotten decisions" affecting the "highly contested" constitutional right to keep and bear arms."

"The authors also show how the Supreme Court has recognized and supported armed self defense "with personally owned firearms" and that "an ancient 'duty to retreat'" from a threat "is not obligatory."

"Duty to Retreat', my ass. Advance and fire!

I think Patton had the right attitude in this argument, "I don't want to get any messages saying that, 'We are holding out position.' We're not holding anything! Let the Hun do that. We are advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding on to anything except the enemy. We're going to hold on to him by the nose and we're going to kick him in the ass; we're going to go through him like crap through a goose." -- George S. Patton

But I thought we were all greedy SOB's?

"In Spite of Slow Economy, Americans Set Generosity Record"

"Across the country, average Americans are getting a bad wrap from liberal politicians, newspaper editorial writers and leaders of publicly funded nonprofits."

"But a recently released study by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel (AAFRC) Trust for Philanthropy shows Americans are voluntarily parting with more of their own money than every before, and doing so in spite of the recent slow economy. Leading the way are traditional taxpayers such as individuals and corporations. Falling behind are non-taxpaying, nonprofit foundations."

At Tocquevillian Mag.com

The truth really does hurt, no matter how much vaseline is used.

While I was on vacation, I guess there was some kind of derogatory attitude towards bloggers put out by the likes of Rush Limbaugh. I don't really care what he thinks as long as he keeps it business and doesn't get personal.

But it looks as if GWB is taking the opposite attitude.

"President Bush's campaign will unveil a Web site today that allows proprietors of online journals -- Blogs or Web logs -- to "get the latest campaign headlines and inside scoop posted instantly to your site through a live news feed from GeorgeWBush.com!"

You think that Gore would have set the mainline Dems up something like this, since he discovered the internet and all.

Yet another unexpected good thing to come out of the war in Iraq.

"Barring a last-minute miracle, the pan-Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party, one of Jordan's oldest political organizations, is expected to file for bankruptcy within the next few weeks."

"The party's headquarters in Amman is a scene of daily demonstrations by creditors waving unpaid bills."

"We are in a tight spot," says Ahmad al-Najdawi, a party leader. "People don't understand that no more money is flowing from Iraq."

Oh sure, blame America.

Because I am banging against a brick wall!

"Students returning to the University of New Hampshire next month will be greeted with a blizzard of posted warnings about a man who has snuck into Durham homes at night and removed or cut clothing from sleeping coeds."

"He hasn't demonstrated violence, but when you enter someone's home like this, the potential for violence escalates,'' said Durham police Chief David Kurz."

No shit! Did you learn that in Chief school?

And I can guarantee you that if a right thinking, over-21 co-ed wanted to protect herself from this creep with a pistol she'd be denied the opportunity.

It didn't happen here first.

MELBOURNE, AU - Childcare centres have banned crime-fighting superheroes.

The centres claim superhero costumes transform children into super villains by encouraging aggressive play such as wrestling, hitting, karate kicking and jumping from heights.

IE 'Normal Child Activites'.
Lemme guess, the person(s) who thought this up probably think that feminine shaving (legs and armpits) is a conspiracy of the male-dominated society.

You are scanning the streets, buildings and vehicles as your Abrams approachs an intersection. At about a hundred plus meters you spot this figure. You study him for a split second, and see he's tracking you...........Shit, fire, dammit, fire.....

Normal reaction, is to light his ass up. You're gonna eat an RPG in about a second. You been dodging RPG's since you got here, and goddamn it you aren't gonna wait to duck another. You ain't planning on dieing today.

You fire and the target goes down. Others run up to the fallen figure and you see somethings not quite right.

Then you realize this is what happened.

This is the guy you shot.

It happens, it's sad, but frankly the cameraman should have made sure he was recognized before he started tracking them with the camera. At over a hundred meters you can't see things full scale. You can't see detail, I'm betting the small image is exactly as how the Abrams crew saw him. I also can't say in that situation I wouldn't also have fired.

Before the recriminations of the Media elite go in into full screech mode, they need to understand two basics. First, that it's a war zone, boppin round the block and provocative moves will get you killed. Second, there was no neon sign with a big friggin arrow saying "journalist" flashing over his head, in an area where the bad guys fade in and out of the woodwork.

I shrank down that image to illustrate a point that most soldiers know. Target recogniztion is difficult sometimes. Mistakes happen. It's not evil, or sloppy, it happens. You learn and move on.

I wouldn't lay odds that the media will accept that they played any part in this. Arrogance may get you a Pulitzer, but it can get you killed too.

Food for thought.

Update....A further illustration inspired by Tim.

simple enough.

Not so simple anymore.

Not when the cameraman wear's a flak jacket and helmet. and doesn't make his intentions clear.

Again, I'm sorry it happened. But there's little blame here for the troops. He picked a profession as dangerous as this, he knew the risks. So should the rest of them. If not, they need to find another job, rather than whining for special status.

Bigger and Badder,
Leaner and Meaner,
Downright Evil and Ornery,
And with a fresh new scent!

Howdy all.

Thanks for the kind words while I was visiting Big Sky Country. I'm back in the land of 1,000 hippies and I'm not happy about it. While I was in Montana I was job hunting. But unfortunately, there aren't many open jobs there. And patience has never been my strong suit. But I'll keep looking and venturing back there if I get wind of employment.

Anyway, I came back with a few goodies. One of them being this.

$35 at a garage sale (guns not included). Except that now its empty. Oh no! I guess I'll have to fill it.

I didn't get to cruise the 'sphere much while I was there since I was dealing with the dial-up connection from hell. Heck, I could barely stay connected long enough to read what my good man puggs and the doc posted.

Sorry about the pause, I had to take a bite of my Bison burger. I snagged 5lbs of ground Bison on my way out of town. Screw Cambell's soup, this is mm-mm good. And in Montana it costs the same as average grade ground beef.

Damn, I need to move there.

P.S. And I need to request that you all tune in on Sunday. Even though I didn't get many responses on the post I put up, I will be starting a weekly auto-blog post on Sundays. We'll be dealing with brake systems the first couple of weeks. I will be opening the entire brake system up into at least 2 posts over the same amount of weeks. Trust me, when you find out how crappy your stock brake system is, you'll wonder why you ever leave the driveway.

"**The "Stonethrower" animation is an attempt to redefine what has become a negative media image of Palestinians into a positive icon. No offence is intended"

Here's a thought. How about you quit blowing up innocent people as a way to redefine that "negative media image" of Palestinians. Maybe you could give us a nice flash animation of an al aqsa martyr running into a pizza parlor and blowing up a Jewish mother and her children. You know, let people write their messages on the headbands these guys wear, and then send them off into a place populated by innocent civilians to become a martyr for Allah. You won't even have to change your disclaimer very much:

The "Splodeydope" animation is an attempt to redefine what has become a negative media image of Palestinians into a positive icon. No offence is intended.

In France. From a heat wave. And, no doubt, a lack of breathable air.

If 5,000 of them have died from a heat wave, it's probably a good thing they didn't contribute forces for the invasion of Iraq. Who knows how many would have died in the horrible heat there. Not to mention from the bullets. And RPGs. And from people calling them mean names.

Almost 100 times more people dead from a heat wave in France than combat casualties in Iraq. Remind me again why we are supposed to believe that everything is totally fubar'd during the reconstruction? France, a civilized country, can't provide services for its people in need. But somehow the coalition is supposed to provide water, electricity, air conditioning, food, and everything else under the sun while people are either sabotaging their efforts, or shooting at them. Anything less than absolute perfection and total, instantaneous restoration of an infrastructure that has been raped and pillaged for 12 years is deemed "failure" by some.

This article via Instapundit is funny, but there are some sobbering parts at the end. It's understandable, but maybe the combat troops should listen a little closer to the psy-ops guys. Marginal at best.

This part is pretty good on a different matter.

RPG alley

While that has had some success in recent weeks, now Lieutenant-Colonel Russell is turning to the poster campaign to see if he can taunt Saddam loyalists into showing their faces.

I suspected that every story that ran "One US Soldier Killed Today" was only giving half the news. Like leaving out any mention of wether our guys even managed to shoot back or kill the attackers. They have been, which may explain why the attacks have started slowing down. Smaller pool of men to draw from since we're killing them during their attacks. But to mention that it's really a fight and not a random slaughter of our men wouldn't play to the opposition mantra as well. The stop the baby killers marchs failed, so now we hear that the opponets only want our men home safe.

Excuse me will I spit..........

The Weekly Standard has a fascinating article on the BBC doings. My favorite bit.

While Damazer graciously admitted that the BBC "make[s] mistakes," most of those mistakes were distinctly unfriendly towards the coalition. For example, on April 3, after U.S. troops had taken control of the Baghdad airport, Andrew Gilligan (remember that name) reported on the BBC World Service and on the BBC website, "Within the last 90 minutes I've been at the airport. There is simply no truth in the claims that American troops are surrounding it. We could drive up to it quite easily. The airport is under full Iraqi control." That was Gilligan's story, and the BBC was sticking to it--until another correspondent pointed out that Gilligan was not, in fact, at the airport, but U.S. troops quite clearly were.

Two days later, on April 5, Gilligan reported, "I'm in the center of Baghdad, and I don't see anything. But then the Americans have a history of making these premature announcements." At roughly the same time, CNN was broadcasting pictures of the 3rd Infantry driving through the center of Baghdad. By April 11, even the intrepid Gilligan could no longer maintain that the coalition was not in control of Baghdad. So instead he argued that Baghdadis were experiencing their "first days of freedom in more fear than they have ever known before"--that is, that they felt less safe than they had under Saddam. The prime minister's office shot back, "Try telling that to people put in shredders or getting their tongues cut out."

How can anyone believe that ass Gilligan after preformances like that? We're talking Fisk levels of buffoonery, and this is the man who will bring down Blair with his intrepid reporting? This guy couldn't poor piss out of a bucket with the directions written on the bottom, and people still pay him for it.

I used to think PBS was bad, but jeez, it could be worse.

I've rarely looked at Mother Jones, like the Nation, it's politics and views are so far left of center I'm surprised they don't need a trail of bread crumbs to find their way home at night. Their spin on the BBC scandal is predictable, and distorted.

In the past few days of British lawyer Lord Hutton's inquiry into Kelly's death, Gilligan has stood by his story and received backing from his editors and one notable colleague, Susan Watts. While maintaining that she felt pressure from her BBC bosses to reiterate the findings of Gilligan's report, Watts, who also used Kelly as a source in her reporting, validated some of Gilligan's most controversial claims against the MOD.

It blatantly overlooks the fact that her testimony also painted Gilligan as an irresponsible hack, careless and very loose with facts and detail. But this line at the end says a lot about their way of thinking.

In the midst of the media mayhem, one wonders if the inquiry's true focus is on the British government's case for war -- and if so, what it would take to get an inquiry started in the US.

Boohoo,...sniff, nobody is listening to them. If the idea that suddenly people will have a slap the forehead moment and proclaim, Gee, all those idiots on the fringe were right all along! then they need to take better drugs.

I wonder if they still do articles on growing your own pot?

Zero hour, 0700 hrs, Monday morning.....Nothing like starting out the week on a high note. Truthfully, after the lab people lost my X-rays for three weeks this last time, my eyes glaze over when someone in the medical profession starts telling me about modes of relief. Drugs(yea......), acupuncture( blow me nice medical lady), physical therapy( shit, shit, shit, shit...), electrostimulation( I've seen One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, fuck you very much), surgery( better drugs, but no, I think not). Am I being just a little grumpy, a big baby? Damn straight............

My mind works like this, acupuncture,

You do that to me, I'll do this to you,

Update,....

seems completely fair don't you think?

I've had puncture wounds from minor injuries, and they suck, I do not trust mystic medicine. Not that I'm unreasonable or anything, or a horrible patient, but if I were a canine, and the good angel of mercy Nukevet were treating me?

I'd end up muzzeled and darted. Grrrrrrr.................

I so am not wanting to do this. Sigh.............OK,,.... do your worst minions of the inquistion, I'll never talk. Just keep in mind I know where to find you later.

-----------
It's over, and it was better and worse than I imagined. The electro massage thing was actually not bad, since large sections of my left shoulder blade area are numb I didn't feel most of it. The therapist, (an older gentleman, thank God) was gentle. The traction I didn't expect, a cervical collar thing hooked to a machine that pulled my head up 30 seconds, rest 30, then back again. Twenty life draining, soul crushing minutes later, I'm done. Till Wednesday anyway.

Seems there's a nerve pinched in my neck that's causing minor paralytic effects in my left arm and hand. Comes and goes, has for the last couple of months. They hope the traction works, otherwise I may have to see a surgeon.

My wife's a lot more fearfull of surgery than me, my wounds have always healed fast. But I really have no enthusiasm for that option. The failure rate for those kind of surgeries is much higher than I'm comfortable with.

So, blog a little while doing some laundry. Grab a nap, and off to work. If the kids let me sleep that is.

HEATHER MALLICK, again, I know I shouldn't peek at her online PMS, but she so approachs self parody sometimes, I can't help but look.

It was amusing until I crunched the numbers and came to a horrible realization: My personal Most Wanted Index makes Chief Fantino's look like his mailing list for Cops are Tops Day. How did the guy stop at 400? I'm beyond that and I'm only up to J.

I had the time to start counting up all the people I really can't stand because I was up on the roof of the garden shed on Sunday morning, scraping the lichen off the cedar shingles and staining the roof in bilious Manet sea green while certain people were out buying groceries. (I have a touch of obsessive-compulsive paint disorder and am officially banned from using.) So I was working fast. Also, I was wearing those foam kneepads that give your legs gangrene if you don't watch for signs of numbness.

HaaHaahaahaaaha.......Sigmund you and I have to talk. Too easy. She has an uncontrolable urge to get on her knees alot,............Well shit, she wrote it somewhere. I'm just pointing it out.

Woman who gave me bad (or good, depending on attitude about staying awake for three days) meths in heavy-metal bar toilet, 1978.

Neurotic and a drug user, the explaination just gets better and better.

Huge hulking Prince William, using a spear to kill a dik-dik, a tiny antelope about the size of a four-month-old baby. Its predators are every other animal in Africa bigger than itself, i.e., every other animal in Africa. How William's gentle mother would have suffered knowing she had spawned not nice boy but inevitable sadistic royal oik -- 'twas all for naught, 2003.

I thought African culture was exempt from the morals and tastes of western decadence? The prince was doing what his African hosts requested of him. They set it up. You can't bitch about tolerance, then complain when they practice their culture. You're in PETA, aren't you? Again, instability showing.

Here's the embarrassing part: I have the evil eye. I'm sorry, but I do, as Dame Edna Everage would say. People I dislike meet with misfortune. When I was younger, I took an active role, wrote the name of the person on a slip of paper, spoke certain words and put the paper in a desk drawer.

Lord, why don't she just paint the words, Me disturbed. on her forehead?

So I've gone passive now. I hold 712 grudges in my head. These are just the ones I thought of while flinging aquamarine stain atop my little hut. I hope that overwrought cop will show equal restraint.

OK, to sum it up, she's an unstable neurotic drug user with uncontroled sexual issues and a streak of paranoia, fueled by a belief in personal mystic powers...............

Why does the left seem so pitiful at this moment?

Nukevet's post just below really got me fired up. So I followed his link to Veterans for Peace. Everything you need to know about them is right on there on their "About us" page. Ramsey Clark had better watch out, these guys out do him in the I hate my country, and am gonna apologize till the end of time mantra.

They sell a book named War is a Racket by Maj.Gen. Smedley Butler , well peace doesn't seem to pay badly either check out this page. Push a little further, and what do you find? Not all their members are veterans.........WHAT A FRIGGIN SURPRISE! Lets see, 3100 members and you just know that hardcore leftwing anti-US vets got to be scarce, so how many really are veterans? One or two, a dozen? Maybe even 100, but out of millions of vets this den of cracksmokers is as representative of vets, as Karl Marx was of the oppressed worker masses.

Losers, looking for a racket, and a fall guy.

Your moderators are Wilson (Woody) Powell, VFP Board member
Peter Shaw, VFP Board Member
Lee Vander Laan, VFP Board Member

Woody, Peter, and Lee, OK, make a good living at this guys? Pimping must pay you some decent money, and all of it goes to the cause right? No fancy hotels, or big salaries are there? Liar's and conmen. Why can't you guys just steal outright, like a selfrespecting crook?

Sorry if I jumped piggy back on you work Nukevet, but I have a yearning for those three and a locked room. I may be a broken down Grizzly bear, but I am still.......a Grizzly.

OK, I was going to make some smartass comment about the blackout all being Pugg's fault while he was trying to increase the power output to his prototype star wars like death laser. But I decided to do a little housekeeping first, and came across a comment from this post by yet another barking moonbat type. Monbiot would be so proud......

Anyone that believes in George W Bush is a fucking moron. He WAS AWOL from his last 18 months in the military, and it is well documented...he did a kick-ass job of keeping the NVA out of north texas, I must admit...but that`s what you expect from a spoiled brat rich kid cowboy.He also got into the Texas Air Guard 24 hours after applying, in spite of a 2 year waiting list for us normal folk. If you like the rape of the Constitution, then you will love Bush. I dare any of you Bushites to do a google search (spelled GOOGLE)and type in "documented lies by George W Bush"...thats B-U-S-Hit...If you like what happened to Enron, you will LOVE what Bush`s gestapo(an organization supported by brave georges ancestors in business and blood...) is doing to our country.You brave bastards must also loved the proposed $150 PAY CUT Bush has proposed for the soldiers in the war zone...More repub "support" for our troops...what do I know right?...Bush sucks, that`s what I know. Fortuneately, he is a finished president...gone for sure in 2004 if he is not in prison by election day...oh yeah, the last election...smooth as silk, right?...enjoy your day, busIThlovers...it is almost over...we will save our country, in spite of you idiots that believe in the biggest loser in U.S. history...Bush can eat shit and choke on it.And so can all 9 of his followers...PEACE assholes, from a volunteer infantryman, 1971-1974 1st & 16th (Rangers) First Infantry Division...no where near north texas during the war...but 32 months, all overseas serving while he was snortin coke...

There you have it, guys and gals. Every single bit of delusional claptrap about Bush rolled into one neat, tidy little package. I wonder if he really is a veteran, or just another one of those guys who like to claim they were in "the war". Apparently he has difficulty telling the difference between a Presidential decision and a DoD decision when it comes to pay cuts, pay cuts the White House has said will not happen.

Since he's a big google fan, perhaps he can use it to find professional help. Speaking of Google searches - if you use the search string suggested by our anonymous rainbow warrior, the top 5 hits you get are from:

Bushwatch.com
pearly-abraham.tripod.com
uggabugga.blogspot.com
oreilly-sucks.com
infernalpress.com
awolbush.com
counterpunch.org

Ohhhhh, yeah. Lots of "documenting" going on those sites, that's for sure. Here's a tip, Angry Peace Vet, maybe actually read something other than crazy democratic underground lunacy, and then get back to us.

The only real news site to even make the top 20 is the Christian Science Monitor, which has an article on how facts get "distorted" in war, and how it is something that all war-time presidents have been accused of. This article is almost a year old, and actually deals with Gulf War I.

UPDATE

Someone using the same e-mail address as our anonymous troll posted this letter to the "Veterans for Peace" website. I don't think he gets to bash anyone for typos - hopefully they were fixed before it was sent of to the Baltimore Chronicle (or not). The guy obviously has a lot of "passion" when it comes to the subject at hand. And he is right in one regard - if you don't like the current President, then work to elect someone else. But it doesn't seem to do the organization "Veterans for Peace" too much good in the PR department to be publishing letters from someone who is out trolling and equating Bush to Hitler, etc. I have always deferred to those of you with true "military experience" about these kinds of matters, and was actually willing to give Veterans for Peace the benefit of the doubt - as I thought their members certainly had a perspective that I didn't to justify their opposition to war. But then you read crap like this, and it makes you wonder if they aren't just another lunatic fringe group after all. I mean, how many veterans are there in the US, and this group only has 3100 members? OK, so it's a "grass roots" movement. But here is another type of grass roots movement, one I'm much more likely to endorse. As for our Rainbow Warrior - the Presidency is up for grabs in 2004. Take it, if you can. And please keep making these reasoned, well thought out, cohesive arguments in your quest to do so.

UPDATE UPDATE

Cait of Chapel Perilous (heh - Caiterwauling, good name) suggests that the PeaceWarrior start here for a good explanation of the "soldier's pay" distortion.

The voters of California have decided to have a recall election, that means they all get to vote, democracy rules right? Not so fast, say civil rights groups and one Federal judge. You know I could believe this was about fairness, about inclusion, if it weren't for the simple fact that the same people who tried to strangle the recall petition are high fiving eachother over this. For all the whining and complaining about rich special interests controling our elections, a few groups always seem to escape notice. Noteably ones tied to the democrats. Public employee unions, civil rights groups (which always seem to be against any reforms), Federal judges that treat Americans as chess pawns in their grand plans to remake the country to their liking.

Democrats say republicans buy elections, fair enough. That shows their contempt for the average voter, too dumb to not be swayed by pretty ribbons.

Republicans face a more invasive problem. All levels of government are infested with bureacrats who don't think they can breathe the air unless democrats get elected. They don't want reform, change or any of the things that may be what the voters want. Voter fraud was invented and patented by the democrats, Chicago comes to mind, and Florida. So now we see that what voters want is meaningless to them. Stall, delay, stall some more, accuse, delay and back to stall.

God help us if the election is close in California, because the recount screams will begin again. Count, count, keep counting until at last you can manipulate the outcome to be what you want. Then hope everyones so sick of it by then they let you get away with it. Step back, thump your chest and expound on the glories of democracy...................................They failed in Florida, but you know that won't stop them from trying again. The nice thing about being a democrat seems to be that the ends ALWAYS justifies the means.

The Russian maker of the "IGLA" shoulder fired anti-aircraft missile named in the sting had this to say as reported at the Gateway to Russia website.

"Our weapons must destroy combat aircraft, not airliners, and we design them correspondingly," Alexander Smirnov, a department head at the KBM design bureau which devised the Igla, told Reuters. "As far as commercial airliners are concerned, most have several engines and the loss of one of them does not entail the loss of the whole craft.

"Also, the amount of explosive matter in a rocket is such that it cannot cause disintegration of the craft's body, which is a reinforced structure. That is why it is impossible to shoot down a big airliner with a single rocket," Smirnov said.

Do I believe that the FBI and Russians were grandstanding a little, sure, but the sting illustrates a vulenerability to the easily obtained missiles. The manufacter is correct that the design was not to kill large slow aircraft, he's kidding himself if he thinks we can just wave it off because the airliners have a good chance to survive a hit. Good isn't certain, and how many hundreds of passengers would have to die in how many attacks before he would consider the threat unacceptable? I think he's more concerned over the ending of his overseas sales than of the threat to the airliners in the world. Somebody hasn't been watching where these IGLA's end up very well when even Gateway admits something like this.

The fall of the Soviet Union and disintegration of its armed forces have created a huge black market for arms on the territory of the former empire. A series of deadly rebel attacks on Russian helicopters in separatist Chechnya, in which Iglas were used, have forced the Defence Ministry to order exhaustive checks of all missile storage facilities.

Uh huh, nope, don't peek at the man behind the curtain. Nothing to see here!

One last note, yes jumbo aircraft are very tough, but if one missile can't do it, how about 4, or 6? If the terrorists get a hold of a signifigant number, such an attack would be easy. You can't corden off the approachs to all airports out to 3 or 4 miles, and the jumbo's don't fly above 10,000 ft to land. They are vulnerable, much as the Russian happy fun missile salesman says they aren't.

I fall back to my original position on terrorists, better to hunt them, then be hunted. If you play purely defense you have to be perfect, every single time. They only need to get lucky once to cost you thousands of dead. Better to run them to ground before they get in the game.

A Russian Arms manufacter online? Why not, they aren't communists anymore. But strangely they never come in for the kind of criticism that American firms do.

Anyway, here's a peek at the kind of stuff the Russians are selling.

Anti-tank
Anti-aircraft
light anti-vehicle
Antitank

Considering what the FBI just turned up in their sting, the Russians need to watch these guys better.

Heel to ya swabs, it be "Talk like a Pirate Day", on the 19th. Do ye bit for God and King, ye do love ye king,....don't ye? Practice on ye old pirate songs, me favorite, 15 men and a big girl's chest! Matey ye need ta be ready for the kings service.......

Aye....and any gratuitous referrences to "Blow me down" while be duly noted and the guilty one flogged to within an inch of his worthless life, blast his scurvy hide....AARRR...

This bit of marieners wisdom brought to ye from Evil Pundit of Doom, From his mentor in Piracy the dreaded Black Captain Tim Blair.

Ya know, I never thought much about past life regression until this very minute...But it would explain a lot.

Update.........

It's on the 19th of September, not August. My mistake, no excuses. I'll severe a finger tonight. The Evil Pundit of Doom pointed out my error. Much booty to him, plunder and wenchs for the taking, Aaaaarrrrrrrrrr............................

EXTRA UPDATE!

Our esteemed Friend Mollbot also pointed my mistake, and was actually first on it. That's two fingers now. Good thing I started with thirteen, huh?

This post is starting to feel like trying to pick up your keys off the ground while you keep bumping them away with your foot. AAARRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrr....rrr....r.....

Didn't really do too much today. Trying to keep the activity levels low due to the smokey conditions caused by the forest fires. The conditions I described the other day from my trip to Missoula have gotten worse there and have creeped into Helena. You can smell the smoke in the air and there is ash on the ground.

Some of the folks in the Montana National Guard have been called up for duty to help with spotting, fire suppression transport, etc. I tried to get some pics of the fire suppression aircraft taking off from Helena Airport, but as yesterday with the names, my camera sucks.

My mother worked for the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources for 20 some odd years. As soon as I was old enough, I convinced her that I would be ok working on a fire line and she got me signed up. I worked two fire seasons before almost getting s'mored and my mom begged me to not re-up.

It is as close to true hell as you can get. It's hot, and difficult work. The fire seems to have a mind of its own. It will try to rope-a-dope you. And as effective as axes, pick-axes, and shovels may be against carbon based lifeforms, but when you get caught in a draw and then the wind shifts, they are useless.

If you pray, please do for the brave men and women on the line and in the aircraft. And also for rain.

An interesting little story for the "Bush Lied" group to ponder. Of course, I'm sure there was a perfectly logical explanation for missile parts to be labeled as water purification equipment.

That's the party line right? Western bad bad, non-western is good virtuous and beyond reproach. Our colleges and media are filled with this, how our irredeamably imperialist ways taint us in every respect. How if we really want to repent, we should LISTEN to what non-western nations are telling us.

What are they telling us? That they like poaching endangered species and will pay top dollar to get the skins, meat and bones.

The report says there is also an illegal trade in live leopards and in body parts including teeth, meat and bones: these are used in traditional Asian medicine.

I found this at the Voodoo Lounge, and I understand what the good Dr. meant. That conservation groups are lamenting the danger to snow lepards now that the diligent Taliban aren't in charge any more. What are a few thousand dead Americans, or a population enslaved compared to saving the pretty kitty cats? But I also noted the disconnect, between what the save the earth types and leftists say to us......and what they do in the third world. They treat poor nations as if they were errant children, too dumb to come in out of the rain. Winters coming and you have refugees? Forget that, how about getting protection for this sweet little kitty, you heartless cad! The Afghans don't have the luxury of taking care of wants, they have to address needs first.

They hold up our cultures in the west, the US in particular, as if it were so much roadkill, so decadent and overly agressive. But in the third world they lecture the poorest of nations to protect snow lepards no matter what, when they can't even feed all their own people. This statement says everything.

"They sell for up to $1,000, and hunting has gone up sharply since the Taleban went. Before that, there was no market for the skins.

"Every pelt offered for sale is another nail in the snow leopards' coffin, especially if it's from a breeding female. That's why this report is so disturbing."

You see it's our fault, the Taliban were earth friendly. Aparently only non-human breeding females are of concern with this group. I'd hate to see what these people would say if it was revealed that Hitler was a conservationist. 12 million dead in the camps, 6 million of them Jews, but hey! Look how well the deer are doing in the Black Forest! Those Nazi's know how to conserve........Also, if they actually believed their own rhetoric they would be pushing us to allow the sale of banned animal products to asia. Since they are so much wiser and in tune with Gia. There's not much use for powdered lepard dick in the west, modern drugs like viagra and all. The demand for the banned animal parts is coming from the same people we're supposed to emulate for their virtureous stewardship. Asians are human, just like us, being outside the west doesn't mean they are any better, or wiser, just different. We offer the third world democracy and trade, that's about as good a gift as we know how to give. The conservationists offer them bribes and lectures to protect an animal, while complaining how the last government was better for that very same animal, forgetting the executions and terror. I only wonder why the Afghans didn't just hang the nitwit.

They damn us and patronize the rest, all for the sake of an animal that would eat them just as readily as any other lower form of life. Conservation is a good idea, but when you push it to the point where animals are more valuable than humans, you are unworthy of any consideration. Save maybe as cat food.

Also at Ft. Harrison is a memorial garden to the men from the State of Montana who have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Please take some time and go to the U.S. Army Center of Military History web site and read the stories of these eight individuals.

Here in Helena, Montana there is a place called Fort William Henry Harrison. It was the training grounds for the First Special Service Force, a joint American-Canadian elite fighting force. The predecessor to the modern day Special Forces.

I have pics of the the names of those fallen in the service of their country, but I am unable to make the names readable. If you would like me to send them to you to have a go at them, let me know.

Keeping up with all of those Democratic candidates for president? The Lemon offers a handy voting guide.

OK, I am the avowed resident atheist of RNS. But shit like this really pisses me off. It is amazing to me that some whiney little leftist fucknut sees this as some kind of social commentary.

I assume he stopped by the dome of the rock and left a similar message for the islamic fundamentalists. You know, something like "stop blowing up innocent people". Oh, that's right - Jews and Americans aren't innocent.

Oh, yeah - is it just me, or is the guy in the photo some kind of pin-head dwarf mutant? Just asking.

Fucktard.

Found via LGF

Horribly dated by todays standards, Battlestar Galactica was my favorite show in the seventies. For more details on it for the youngsters, go here. If you loved the show as I did, you'll be glad to know that Adama's fleet is returning to television. Battlestar Galactica 2003 is at first glance better acted, with far better FX, and much more realistic in the human sense then it was.

Edward James Olmos, OOOHHH yeah, and the old stand up villans, the Cylons? Well they get updated as well, ala the terminater school of camoflage. Wether I get to see the show all the time or not, I'm gonna tape the premiere. I don't have great expectations, just great hope that I'll really like this show. Other than news and channel surfing, I don't watch TV, it's the domain of my wife and kids. If I ever see another episode of SpongeBob Squarepants, I'm gonna scream.

I'm so looking forward to December.

I stumbled on this page and thought that my esteemed team mates might find it of interest. I would like to hear AK's take on it, though him being on the road, I'll understand if that comes later. Nukevet has shown an interest in the subject, so have at gentlemen if you care to. I liked the M-16, I just wish it was of a heavier caliber.

Irony, it's lost on little children, the ignorant, and the true believer. I think Dennis has two out of three covered.

Kucinich's communications director, Jeff Cohen, sent out the call for supporters to make the donations early Friday afternoon. "As a father, I am writing you about Dennis Kucinich. Some of us have just received child tax credits from the IRS and others will be receiving their checks in the coming weeks, up to $400 per child," Cohen said.

Cohen urged supporters to "invest" in the campaign and "pass all or part of (the tax credit) on to Kucinich."

My wife and I just got a check for $800 from the IRS. It's going to help pay towards dental work she needs. If Dennis wants it, he can just stick his hand out........Of course the hand he pulls back will be just a tad,....altered. Actually it won't be a hand anymore. A hand has fingers. I do not give money to politicians, ever. Let alone some pasty faced, Ben&Jerry;'s socialist toad with a bad Moe haircut.

Don't you just love it when Holy'er than thou lefties get caught in their own web? Kinda like classic poetry, it just feels right.

I detest rap, hip hop music, never listen to any of it. So I have nothing to say about this other than my vote would go to the Sex Pistols as the worst band ever. However realizing that many younger people do like some of it I wonder, who do you guys and gals vote for as the worst?

Or, who do you like the best? I like many so I don't really have a favorite.

As a follow-up to this post: up to 3,000 deaths from heat wave in France.

What the journalists said about their statements,

WASHINGTON � They wanted their message to be clear: It�s possible to support the troops and not support the war they�re fighting.

Several family members of U.S. troops in Iraq spoke out Wednesday against what they see as shortsighted policy on the part of the Bush administration.

What they actually said,

Warning, salty veterans type discourse to follow............

Bring Them Home Now is a campaign by Military Families Speak Out, which Lessin said was started in 2002 and boasts 600 families, and Veterans For Peace, which has hundreds of chapters in America, said member Stan Goff.

�Then they turn around and accuse us of being unpatriotic,� Goff said. �That is truly Orwellian.�

Nuh uh Goff, I'm calling you a cocksucker, a lefty suckhead without enough voltage running through your head to fire up a lightning bugs ass. After all the shit over the build up and the war, the aftermath, he still thinks it's about construction contracts? Why not drag in the black helicopters and the illuminati as well dickcheese? Let us not forget the alien prescence at Area 51.............All part of the VRWC to put a couple of mill in the pockets of the good ol boys.....

AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.................................

Look dicksmoker, did you finish your time in a VA mental ward? Grieveing families, fearing families OK. I can allow them the right to speak their mind, they have motive. I think they're wrong, but oh well. Not you Goff, you pay full fare. Think being a vet excludes you from being unpatriotic? How patriotic was Oswald you fuckwad? Or the Oklahoma City bomber, he was a vet too. No one has more respect for service than I do, but you aren't given a free pass to ram your head up your ass forever after because you did your twenty........UNDERSTAND!

You want to have a rational arguement, than start by being rational, start by finishing a public statement not designed to point out your mental defects.

I'm having a bad night, so Goff gets the payoff. And I meant every single fucking word of it. Turn in yer nuts Goff, ...oh ,....never mind.

Choad.

Asspilot.

Boil sucking asswit.

This is,.....unsettling to say the least. I won't pretend to understand the subject of stem cells, though I understand that it may lead to a cure for diseases like the one that killed my father. But creating human/animal hybrid embryos is frightening. True they were destroyed with no intention of bringing them to term,.........yet. But the possiblities are clear, and what if some deranged tyrant considered creating semi-human soldiers, or slaves. Are we ready for mutiple species of human to walk the earth? Before mankind travels very far down that road, maybe a little reading is in order, I suggest Mary Shelly.........

"It was a strong effort of the spirit of good; but it was ineffectual. Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction."----------Mary Shelly, Frankenstein.

Click here for large pic.

There is not much that I can say about the trip we took down the Missouri River through 'The Gates of the Mountains' today, as I am still in awe.

If you are at all interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition (or even if you are not) this is a must do trip. The scenery is absolutely stunning and the history is essential. I saw more Bald Eagles than I could count on my fingers. Unfortunately, my digital camera doesn't do well with shots of wildlife. So I can't give y'all any pics of them.

I think that when I come back out next year, I'll be making this a multiple day trip. There are boat rentals and campgrounds along the river. And just for the Doc, I saw a 16in Rainbow Trout caught by a guy standing on a boat moorage dock. Sorry that the wife had the camera at the time, Doc, but it is probably for the better now.

Click here for large pic.

Stopped and took some pics at the capitol building in Helena, Montana today. When you visit MTPoitics, this is the building that houses the folks he is speaking of.

Marc Racicot (pronounced Roscoe) held the office fo Governor here in Montana. You may recognize his name since he was, until yesterday, the Chairman of the Republican National Party. If I remember right, he was also Bush's first choice for the post that Mr. Ashcroft holds. Yesterday he was tapped to lead the 2004 Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.

I feel success already in 04 with Racicot at the helm.

SULAIMANIYA, Iraq (news - web sites), Aug. 11 In much the same way as the Russian invasion of Afghanistan (news - web sites) stirred an earlier generation of young Muslims determined to fight the infidel, the American presence in Iraq is prompting a rising tide of Muslim militants to slip into the country to fight the foreign occupier, Iraqi officials and others say.

Recent intelligence suggests the militants are well organized. One returning group of fighters from the militant Ansar al-Islam organization captured in the Kurdish region two weeks ago consisted of five Iraqis, a Palestinian and a Tunisian.

It seems that every neo-caveman in the Muslim world has found a new playground. Wether the actual Iraqi's in question want them there or not doesn't seem to matter very much. I don't want us to lose anymore people, I don't want the Iraqi's to fail in the rebuilding, but I wonder? We are far better able to kill them when they come at us, when they concentrate in one area. As miserable as this is, if they weren't moving into Iraq, where else would they be ploting and attacking? Speaking only for myself, if I was still in, I would much rather fight them there, then worry that my wife and kids were in danger here. So overall, this actually may be to our best advantage out of a list of poor choices.

I believe the logic behind this arguement is flawed, overly concerned with maybes. Besides, maybe Nukevet would like one for Christmas. Just the thing for scratching that hard to reach itch!

It's nice that the Dem candidates are at least acting as if they care about the vast part of the country between the coasts. This is enlightening though.

The panel was moderated by Kelly Ogle of KWTV in Oklahoma City and Terry Hood of KOTV in Tulsa, who asked the candidates how they would have responded differently following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Each candidate criticized the Bush administration for not involving the United Nations and other countries in the post-war building of Iraq.

�I will say what I believe is right for America�s future,� he responded.

If Lieberman won, I would feel at least a responsible guy was in charge. If Kucinich,(hmmmmmmmm, Bwhaaahahahahah...) won, well Jesus, might as well say what if Ralph Nader won. Beyond the faintest, merest glimmer of a remote snowballs chance in Hell.

Americans can be stubborn, contrary, but not insane. Casting a vote for Dennis the Menace would be like saying you want to be dragged in an alley and sodomized. "Hurt me big arab guy, I deserve it.."

I'm sorry, is my contempt showing?

We visited the city of Missoula today. We wandered around downtown, hit the U of M, saw some friends that had moved from the Seattle area to western Montana, etc. I also picked up some info for Doc on float and fly fishing around here (also some bear, goat, sheep and moose for myself).

The town was blanketed in smoke from the forest fires in Glacier. If you were standing at the letter 'M', you wouldn't have been able to see across the town.

We also stopped into the town of Rock Creek. Next month they'll be having their 'Testicle Festival' which celebrates the "Rocky Mountain Oyster'. Here's the 'Testy Festy' website. Go take a look.

Tomorrow we will be taking a boat trip to something called 'The Gates of the Mountains'. From what I've been told the scenery is gorgeous. I'll be taking pics and posting them late tomorrow or early Thursday.

Talk to you all later.

No, I doubt that it can, it can be learned, but not taught. Given knowledge is one thing, 2+2, the capitol of Texas, the distance to the Moon. But courage is different, a partly emotional response, but largely an unthinking one. Fight or flight is something that you just do. The thinking is never that clear. I don't believe wholely in genetics, experience and the lessons you draw on your own determine wether you are capable of courage. It has nothing to do with physical size, it's what's in your heart. This article is what makes me go there today.

You can't give something to someone unless they are prepared to accept it. Experience clears those decks.

Seems there was a border incident in Afghanistan, our troops were on patrol, were fired on, and pursued the attackers back to the Pakistan border. Where it's reported we killed two Pakistani soldiers. It's still under investigation.

A couple of things, the history of the Taliban is Pakistans history as well. They originated in the religious schools there, were funded and allowed to operate out of Pakistan during the Afghan civil war in 95. The Pakistani's intelligence services were and continue to be sympathetic to them. We put the Pakistani governments back to the wall, making them choose, us or destruction. A chunk of their military and security forces never joined in that arrangement. The aftermath of the Afghan War is one where the remaining Taliban play a hit and run game, ducking back and forth across the border to attack, then seek sanctuary on the other side. US troops patrol heavily those areas but the Pakistani's just pay lip service to stopping the insurgents, never seriously hunting them.

Well, the report is maybe exactly as it appears, but considering the history, it maybe something else too. It's entirely possible that the Pakestani troops took part in the attack on our men. Running back across the border and trying to play innocent. It's possible that the Pakistani's merely got caught in a crossfire. One other thing could be at work here as well. A message.

Shut down your border problem, or get it done for you. End of message. As blunt as a broken nose, but the Pakistani habit of playing to us while playing footsie with the Talibans in their midst is growing tiresome, and maybe, just maybe, someone on our side has had enough of the double game. Enough to put the lesson that we have teeth right in their face.

Food for thought.

It's easy to laugh, make light of something you don't know about. Everyone know's the Army's history, the Marines, the Navy. But the only contact most have if they ever do with the Air Force's own infantry is that prick at the gate with the beret. So a brief lesson is in order.

During the Korean War, several incidents occurred which called attention to the small arms training provided to Air Force personnel. The most significant was the tragedy at Kimpo Air Base Korea, which was overrun by a numerically superior Chinese communist force. The Air Police Squadron was so overwhelmed that they basically fought a rear guard action before being annihilated. The general base population was then easily defeated before reinforcements arrived to drive the enemy back. The remaining personnel found alive by the Chinese were hung in the main hanger on Kimpo. This hanger still stands today as a memorial to those who died without a chance to fight.

The legend has it, to this day, SP working dogs will not enter that hanger. They didn't just hang the living, the bodies of the fallen AP's were mutilated and hung on hooks. A testement to the price they exacted from the enemy.

We were born from that day at Kimpo, standing on the shoulders of our brothers, we became what we now are. This is a good source for our contributions in Vietnam. Our numbers will never be as great as the Army, or Marines, we are never remembered except by each other. So be it. But how many husbands and fathers made it home because of us? How many didn't die because we were very good at what we do? Many of us identified with Marines because of a simple fact, we were expendable, to the last man if necessary. There were evacuation plans for bases, for equipment, personel, but not for us, never for us. Hold until relieved was our religion, no matter the cost. Retreat was for everyone else. In that sense we are unique among combat units.

A personal note in history, FE Warren AFB, 1981. President Reagan had been shot, we went on full nuclear alert, never before has the DEFCON status been so high. We were told it was a possible decapitation shot by the Soviets. We armed and went to prepared positions to counter any possible attacks on the ICBM force on the ground. About two hundred Warsaw PACT intelligence operative's were known to operate in the region. Do not say there was no threat. I cannot say how many of us there were, I'm bound by my oath, but is was alot less than that. We went out and waited, thankfully the Soviet's weren't the source of the attack. But we couldn't know that then. Imagine sitting on ground zero for 12 hours, not knowing if you would be alive tomorrow. The Soviets used warheads in the megaton range, there was no chance of survivng a strike. Imagine you're 21 and guess what kind of emotions that will bring..........Imagine knowing if the launch order had come, everyone else would evacuate, everyone except the Command Post, the missile crews, and you. They were in deep bunkers, we sat behind sandbags. We would have stayed, and died, that was the mission, hold your ground.

The tradition continues, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in every flea bite godforsaken chunk of rock that our father who art in Washington decides to send the Fighters and bombers. I haven't been in the ranks for nearly two decades, but once, for a time, I was graced....I would go again if I could, I feel shame that I cannot. But I know these men, and they will keep faith with the mission. They will not run, no matter the cost.

Someday, I'll buy that ring. When the children are grown and we are free to spend a little on ourselves. Someday, and when I pass on, I'll leave it to my son. A reminder that once upon a time there were Dragons to be slain, and walls to be held. I pray that it's just history to him, of a dangerous age that passed before he grew.

I write this not in anger, but as a way to show my pride, and let go. The torch has long been passed, and I trust the men and women who now serve in all the services. Broken down, and tired, but never yielding, I keep faith in my own way, still holding my own line.

I was reading over at our new regular reader Interested-Participant's weblog when I saw this. I had to do a little research to even understand what he was refering to. Flash Mob? I had never heard of it before that moment. I can only say that I find it,.....disconcerting, to be kind. To not be kind, it's just dumb, not funny, not ironic, not a social statement. It's like the absurd behavior I expect from my children (both under 5 years old). What it is also is disturbing, for this reason.

A mob is by definition is an unthinking beast. It eats and makes noise, and vents, that's all it does. To join a mob is to surrender judgement to the group and simply follow like a sheep. Why in the Hell would any thinking person want to do that? This is as alien to me as it could possibly be.

I hate crowds, drive solo on the freeway, avoiding groups of vehicles. I go to work and enjoy brief talks with friends, but do not join in clicks or groups of self separated people. I buy what I like, irregardless of trend, teach my children as I was taught, without pop physcology magazines to help. I'm a loner by choice, like the sheepdog on the hill. The only time I ever was part of a whole was in the service, and even then I was different, staking my claim to individuality when possible. It's not that I don't like people, generally, it's that I value independence over most anything else. If my humor falls flat, OK, if my arguement is unimpressive, so be it. But I make my mark on my own, without the groupthink approval of sheep. Americans have never been good at being sheep, a few stumble, but thats Darwins law in effect. I'm just glad this movement is still limited.

I will never be convinced that this is just harmless. Giving up individuality should never become a habit. These kids are playing with fire.

Dennis Kucinich, candidate for president. No really, he's actually serious. His website though makes for some sidesplitting humor. Too bad he doesn't know we're laughing at and not with him. A few examples.....

Ohio Congressman Kucinich campaigns in Beaver
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7/30/2003

Well Hell, if ya got to, ya got to.........(for the younger readers, ask an uncle what "Beaver" used to mean.)
-----------------------------------

Dennis Kucinich, the vegan who would be U.S. president
The Hill, 7/23/2003

Kiss off the Montana vote.
--------------------------------------

Kucinich Challenges Cheney in Iraq Flap
Associated Press, 7/22/2003

Mr. Foreman, Pee Wee Herman would like a word with you..
-----------------------------------------

Kucinich, former intelligence officials question Bush administration
Associated Press, 7/15/2003

Does that mean he used to be intelligent too? What, a head injury?
-----------------------------------------

Nader urging Democrats to back Kucinich in '04 primaries
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/11/2003

Vermont's Poet Laureate Backs Kucinich
Barre Montpelier Times Argus,
7/11/2003

Two, two kisses of death. He'd a made it a trio but Saddam is indisposed right now.
-----------------------------------------

Kucinich Challenges Democratic Candidate Dean's Positions for Not Being Progressive Enough
Associated Press, 8/8/2003

How the Hell do you get to the left of a vegan pacifist socialist with no ambition to raise above garden slug on the food chain? And why would you want too?
--------------------------------------

Oh, and let us not overlook his proposed department of hurt feelings either.

Would anyone really ever vote for a guy who looks like a demented alternate universe Moe Howard for president? You could hang his picture in a barn to scare rats......

Hockey loses a legend.

What happens when you have money, get bored, and have had a few too many with the guys? Yep, you guessed it, a Yeti hunt. (excuse me a second),.......

Mmmmmm...mmmm...mmmmm........................................aw, but Honey......

OK, I asked my wife and she said no I can't go too. Damn. I so would like keeping one of those as a pet. Jehovah Witness's might not be ringing my doorbell as much. I'm running out of places to stash the evidence.

Hey Hairy, get the door please...................................

Oh, one other thing do NOT under any circumstances type the word "yeti" into Google's image search unless you care to be educated in the baser forms of sexuality, safe search doesn't help...MY EYES, JESUS CHRIST, SOMEBODY BUY THAT GAL A RAZOR, MY EYE SOCKETS ARE BLEEDING..whimper,sniff..........sobbing............

Oh, the humanity.....

I having a good time on vacation here, and I wanted to get a question I've been thinking about for a couple of weeks out.

I was wondering if anyone out there in the readership would enjoy a weekly auto-blog post? It would be geared more towards the explanation of different automotive systems and it would include safety and performance informational tips. And of course I'll keep it interesting.

Let me know what you think and things you like to hear about.

We were running around 90 some odd degrees for most of the day until about 3:30 this afternoon when the rain, thunder and lightning rolled on in. Nice and refreshing, although a little scary since it has been dry here for a while. The Glacier Nat'l Park forest fire flared up overnight and they had to evac a bunch of folks out of there. That and the smoke is helping create 'micro-burst' tornados just north of where I'm at.

Oh well, that just means I get to test my theory of being able to stop a tornado using force of will.
Just kidding.

I went looking for information on military exosuits, and this is some of what I found. Imagine a soldier who could easily carry armor thick enough to repel anything short of anti-tank weapon. A soldier lugging a 20mm cannon like it was a SAW. Imagine leaping twenty foot ravines, running at Olympic speed while fully loaded....

Science fiction currently, but the first steps have begun. The problem isn't nearly so much the exoskeleton, as it is the power source. Small, light, long duration, easily recharged, and cheap enough to produce in numbers. Research is continuing in those directions as well. This is part maybe of a possible solution. But limited in utility, maybe something more like this? These things aren't going to be there tomorrow, maybe not for decades, but the future of war continues to evolve, and we continue to exploit that as our strength.

Nanotechnology, superconducters, new style computers, materials science, medicine, energy weapons, smart camoflauge, in a few years even Star Trek will seem dated.

If any nation on earth has to have this kind of power, this sort of possible future, this giant responsiblity....................................Aren't you glad it's the US?

OK, according to numbers from August 8th, there have been 119 US deaths since the end of "major hostilities" in Iraq. Less than half of these (53 as of August 5th) have been combat related. As you long term readers of RNS know, we are very pro-military in this bunker, and I'm not trying to minimize the loss of even 1 US military life. But I think it is amazing to read people talking about how "horribly" the reconstruction of Iraq is going - especially when you can read about civilian casualites on par with that occurring in supposedly civilized countries with a full and functioning infrastructure. By way of example, I offer this:

At least 50 people have died of heat stroke in Paris in just the last 7 days. Some Parisian physicians say the toll is much higher, and actually accuse the French government of refusing to respond to a "crises".

The [French - ed] government said Monday it was difficult to determine if the deaths were weather-related, because it is often not clear whether patients admitted to hospitals suffer only from heat or from other ailments.

The government acknowledged an increase in the number of elderly being treated at hospitals, but said it was unclear if the heat was to blame.

Notice that the death toll may actually be much higher than 50 - especially since the numbers provided are for Paris alone. Who would have thought that is was more dangerous to be an inhabitant of Paris that to be a US soldier in Iraq?

I read this article with some enthusiaism, it covers so much ground that I feel I could get about three posts from it. I'll restrain myself to a couple of key passages, and let everyone draw their own lessons.This first excerpt from an Iraqi officier says it all.

Typical of the erratic orders were those imposed by Qusai upon a Republican Guard unit outside Baghdad. As American forces approached the city in late March, the unit received a new order every morning to reposition its tanks. Each order contradicted the one before, infuriating local commanders, Col. Raaed Faik recalled.

"These were the orders of an imbecile. Qusai was like a teenager playing a video war game," Faik, 33, said in the cool reception room of his Baghdad home, gesturing to his teenage son banging away on a computer combat game.

Nothing taken from the courage and skill of our military, but the Iraqi's frankly never stood a whisper of a chance. The resistence that continues is also explained to an extent.

The only forces that stood and fought, soldiers said, were Fedayeen Saddam militiamen and 4,000 to 5,000 guerrillas recruited from other Arab countries, who were armed chiefly with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Some of these fighters detained � and threatened to shoot � deserting Republican Guards, soldiers said.

These fighters, along with former Baath Party militiamen, are behind most of the ongoing attacks against U.S. forces, according to the former soldiers. They said the current guerrilla campaign was not planned but emerged as these fighters regrouped after Baghdad fell.

And various news reports say that the foreign arabs continue to flood into Iraq. Dreaming to wage Jihad against the American infidels. This fact rather easily ignored by some of those critics who say a groundswell of Iraqi citizens are rising up to expell the invader. Which makes me wonder, if thousands of Swedes and Swiss had crept into Germany at the end of WWII to continue a gurella war against the allies, would that have made the war against the Nazi's wrong headed? No? Then the Fisk's of the world need to start actually thinking and stop knee jerking their way through life. The process in Iraq will take time, money, and unfortunately, blood. But that hardly means that it's wrong, or not necessary.

Here's a taste of the kind of zealots we're up against.

After U.S. tanks smashed through southwest Baghdad on April 5, killing nearly 1,000 Iraqi soldiers according to U.S. commanders, Fedayeen militiamen claimed victory and celebrated downtown. They displayed charred corpses they claimed were bodies of U.S. soldiers, Faik said.

"I looked closer and saw they were Republican Guards, still in their uniforms with insignia," Faik said. "I spent 12 years in the Republican Guards. I know the difference between a Republican Guard soldier and an American soldier. I was appalled."

Too bad Fisk wasn't there to happily pass on the bad news. The fact is that this lack of intelligence on the part of the bad guys doesn't really matter to someone willing to believe the worst of us and the best of the enemy. The foriegn arabs and the Fedayeen greatly complicate matters, but they can't stop the rebuilding of Iraq. Next year the first of the new Iraqi army units will start to appear. Iraqi police weeded of Uday's goons are coming out now in small numbers. Gradually the Iraqi's themselves will take over the fight against these bastards in their midst. Already they are starting to provide a lot more information, coming to realize after the embassy bombing that these "resistence fighters" are quite happy to butcher Iraqi's along with Americans. It's their fight as well. It will be a long time till Iraq is quiet, but we're moving forward and we won't turn back now.

As to the recruiting of foreign arabs to go fight the evil Americans? Maybe we need to lean VERY friggin hard on the Gulf States, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon to let them know that Prayer Time at the local Mullah's should not include a call to Jihad in Iraq. With the government of every arab state controling their media, how hard are they really trying to stop this practice? Maybe a little prompting will get them enthusiastic, I favor a bayonet, but whatever works is fine.

Human shield, is there anyone one left who doesn't roll their eyes at the mere mention? Anyone who doesn't think that anyone who would supposedly "risk" their life to protect a torturer and murderer by sitting on targets we publicly said we wouldn't hit isn't a sanctimonious moron?

I found this article, and I think it raises a couple of points.

In her response to the charges, she wrote the government that "if it comes to fines or imprisonment, "please be aware that I will not contribute money to the United States government to continue the buildup of its arsenal of weapons." Since she won't pay, she said, "perhaps the alternative should be considered."

She is demanding to be imprisoned, hoping for it, dreaming of it. She wants her 15 minutes of fame by proclaiming herself a political prisoner. That is what she wants, it's painted all over her statements. Aside from the obvious question of wether her pointy head can really understand what a real political prisoner is....referrence Cuba, China, Sudan and pre-war Iraq......not paying a fine for breaking a law, and daring the government to lock you up isn't the same as being hauled out by your hair in the middle of the night for weeks of torture followed by as grim an execution as possible, now is it. Thankfully, someone for once is paying attention in government and refuses to play by her fantasy gameplan.

If Fippinger does not pay, the fine may increase, and the money will be drawn from her retirement paycheck, her Social Security check or any of her assets, officials said.

Poorer, and not a penny wiser. 62 makes her about right to have been a hippy protester in the sixties, while it doesn't say if that is her background, I would bet it is. I don't have a single shred of sympathy for this harpy, it would be just fine if she immergrated to the outer fringes of some socialist utopia. Just someone tell me which country so I can dig out a compass and face the right direction when I give her the finger.

Hardcore lefties consistently hi-jack the concept of dissident protest. They don't risk jack in a western democracy, and they freakin well know it. They are punished halfheartedly to the extent that they break the law. Which incidentally is the same for everyone, not just aimed at them. For real risk, you have to protest an Islamicist government, or a dictatership, and heaven forbid, an actual workers paradise.

So if I hear the words jailed dissident, I want them to mean something other than a trailer park socialist got jailed for shitting on a public sidewalk. Activist, protester, contrarian....selfloathing idiot with an attitude, but not dissident. Too many actual heroes have bled, suffered for decades, and died to grant some social reject the dignity of that word. Dissidents have earned that much respect at least, if not from the legions of clowns claiming that mantle in the west, then from the rest of us.

I have arrived safe and sound in the capitol of Montana. As you can see from the splatterform art piece on the front of my truck, a few dozen insects did not.

I drove through the area near the forest fire in Glacier National. Distance of vision was reduced to less than head lamp lighting distance and the smell was horrible. I pretty much had the road to myself. After dropping down the east side of Lookout Pass, I saw less than 10 vehicles in the east bound lane.

Oh, and just for the hippies, I got almost 22 MPG out of my V8. And that is with going over four mountain passes. One of them being the contiinental divide.

I'll talk to y'all later.

This transcript of a lecture by of all people, a German, is fascinating reading. I can't recommend it enough. Courtesy of Occham's Toothbrush.

These two reasons help to explain why 'hard' balancing-alliances and war-has not set in against the American �ber-Gulliver. But remember the 'no, but�'. The 'but' is a shorthand for saying that 'soft balancing' against Mr. Big has already set in. Is there a date? Yes, it is Christmas Day 1991 when the hammer-and-sickle flag over the Kremlin was hauled down for the last time, when the Soviet Union committed suicide by dissolution. From this point onward, the structure of international changed from bipolarity to unipolarity. Gulliver's power was no longer neutralised and stalemated by another player of equivalent weight. The ropes were off, so to speak, and that had political consequences

My take on it is slightly different than the comments at Occham's Toothbrush. I'm thinking back to a not so long ago time, it was a period after Vietnam, but before Reagan. A time when the Soviets seemed ten feet tall, and all our major media told us so. A time when defeat, decay, and systematic breakdown seemed inevitable. When there was little reason it seemed to believe that we even had a hopeful future. Our military was in crisis, our government in chaos, our culture bound up in cocaine and decadence. And everything seemed worse, our future, our expectations. Even dreaming that it could get better was so very hard.

Against all that emotional termoil, my generation came of age. Some of us took a step widely ridiculed by many from the Vietnam age, we enlisted. We swam against the tide of dispair that seemed to engulf our times. We didn't know if we would make a difference, we hoped we would, but who could predict what was to follow. We weren't alone, People from all over, people of all kinds decided that we might not know the outcome, but no matter what, we would fight against what was said to be impending defeat. We held the line in the cold war till the Soviets finally broke of their own weight. It wasn't just the Soviets, but our society as well, we kept building joined by following generations and the ones from before Vietnam who could still dream that we could make things better. I'm approaching middle age now, and looking back I can't help but think maybe we should remember to be just a little bit humble. When some of us can remember a time when our current state wasn't even a dream, wasn't even conceived of, when we could see the edge of the pit.

Times, they indeed are a changing..........

Also from Instapundit, first a taste, then the entree.................The entirety of the relevant passage.

WASHINGTON -- Former international weapons inspector David Kay, now seeking Iraqi weapons of mass destruction for the Pentagon, has privately reported successes that are planned to be revealed to the public in mid-September.

Senior officials in the Bush administration believe Kay's weapons discoveries should have been revealed as they were made. However, a decision, approved by President Bush, was made to wait until more was discovered and then announce it -- probably in September.

Professor Reynolds says it's evidence of Bush pulling a rope a dope on his opponets again. I wouldn't be that kind. He's held firm, allowed them free reign to foam and froth, chew up the carpet and raise the volume to a fever pitch.

Now it's almost time to drop the 900lb. Acme anvil on them. If this evidence is substantial it will totally discredit everyone who has been screaming liar for the last three months. Expect a pause, about oh maybe ten minutes before the accusations of planted evidence start after that. The public will believe him, and his haters will once more be left in the cold.

May they never learn to stop underestimating him.

From Instapundit, Protesters demand U.S. withdrawal from Iraq

SAN FRANCISCO -- A group of about 600 peace activists and veterans marched through the streets of San Francisco today demanding that the U.S. government pull all its troops out of Iraq immediately.
--------------------------------------------

"It went great," said Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange. "We are rebuilding the anti-war movement into an anti-occupation movement. We've dissolved the whole issues of being for or against the troops. Now we are with the troops and we all want them to be brought home."

Today's rally was smaller than pre-war rallies before the Iraq War started. Benjamin said the movement is still rebuilding. She said it will be difficult to draw attention to the anti-occupation movement in Iraq because the public is preoccupied with the recall of Gov. Gray Davis.

Considering the tens to hundreds of thousands before the war, this is pathetic. 600, might as well be 6....................For that's exactly how much interest that generates. San Francisco, and they can't stir up more than six hundred faithful.

Winston Elstob of Monterey was one of the veterans who marched with the protesters. He said he thinks quite a few veterans agree with the demonstrators that the troops should be pulled out of Iraq.

Another veteran, John Amidon of Albany, New York, said the number of veterans joining the anti-occupation movement is growing every day. Veterans for Peace alone has 3,100 members.

Some basic math, for the ex-KP master Amidon. During the Vietnam period ten million people served, and since 75, with a force of over two million active duty and reserve tens of millions more have passed through the ranks in the 28 years since. His group is 3100? Oh please, even going conservatively and only saying that there are maybe 15 million vets alive, that's like picking 3 guys out of a division and saying they represent the majority opinion. His group is no more worthy of note than any other band of social rejects.

Professor Reynolds is right, they are in serious decline in the anti-war movement. And on a personal note, I bet Amidon didn't have too many friends while he was in either.

There's a time for feelin' as good as we can
The time is now, and there's no stoppin' us
There's a time for livin' as high as we can
Behind us you will only see our dust.

'Rush 1975'

OK, so I'm actually heading east. Sue me

We're off to Montana for the week. I've got the truck gassed up and loaded and the suspension set on 'cushy'. We're leaving Seattle at 8pm PST and hope to arrive in the capitol at around 6am MST.

I'll be posting updates with pics on the happenings and the sights, along with any news items I find interesting. I hope you all have a good week.

HEATHER MALLICK, is a Globe and Mail columnist, America hater, Blair hater, all things not hard left and secular hater. I read some of her sqwacking or the last year, and this piece is as moderate as she gets. When I say America hater, some may roll they eyes, don't bother. She has admited it in the past, and no doubt will again.

Churchists see a chink in the Canadian secular armour. The Pope has actually ordered Catholic MPs to vote against a bill allowing gays to marry, and some of these MPs, who ran for office without mentioning they had a secret boss and it wasn't voters, are going to obey. What grubby little people we elect: Obsessed with sex, they don't realize that marriage is so much more. It's companionship, it's support, both moral and fiscal, it's backup, it's "the smile of Garbo and the scent of roses," it's these foolish things that remind me of you.

I've said before I'm uneasy with gay marriage, but that's all. I see that it's coming and can accept that. But I'll tell you this, Mallick isn't convincing anyone, she's screaming in the mirror. She goes on about glorious beautifull multicultural tolerant Canada, then launchs into one of the most bitter, cynical, braindead anti-religious rants I've ever read. Of limited interest I know, but I had to stick a pin in this bag of hot air up north or I was gonna start pinching the heads off any passing asshats. She's an idiot, because you can't bitch that "God bothers" shut up and never ever talk about their religion, then get all huffy about "without mentioning they had a secret boss and it wasn't voters, are going to obey.

What she's saying is if you believe in God you have no right to serve in government. So much for tolerant multicultural Canada...................

I found this at the Globe and Mail.

Not many college kids I know have summer jobs like this any more. They're too busy tutoring inner-city children, or doing research to help find the cure for cancer, or otherwise saving the world and building up their resumes. And that's too bad. A stint of manual labour gives the children of the middle class a first-hand look at how the other half live. For most of them, it's the only look they'll ever get.

I sometimes wonder if it's not explicitly true, that college kids are greatly in tune with pop culture, but have zero apreciation for what it's like to actually sweat for a dollar. To drag themselves in to work when they're sick, or hurt, because they simply can't afford to miss a day's pay. When punching a time clock feels more like a prison sentence than a vocation. Doing a job that ensures you have to put up with every kind of human virtue, and failing,......always the failing. Some of them no doubt do understand, but I fear they are the minority. How else to explain the propensity of rich kids for social work and activism, the left in general. While poor and working class kids go on to productive lives. ......Yes I mean exactly that, I do NOT consider an activist or social worker productive.

More often than not social wokers are merely caretakers, and activists generate more problems than they ever solve. Maybe they'd do better if they had waitressed for a couple of years first. Or broken their back doing twenty of heavy lifting. Humility is a virtue little understood by someone who started near the top of the ladder. Likewise a healthy dose of respect for those who do manage to succeed eludes them. Maybe they wouldn't be so quick to discount and confiscate from others if they simply did what we all do............get a job.

Let's see now, Israel kills 3 people in a raid on a Hamas bomb making facility. This after Palestinian gunmen attack a Jewish mother and her 3 kids, killing 1 of the children. But somehow it is Israel that is threatening the peace process?

Two of those killed in Friday's raid on a bomb lab by Israeli troops were members of the Islamic militant group Hamas. An Israeli soldier also was killed.

Troops were searching for Hamas fugitives when they came under fire in the Askar refugee camp near Nablus (search), the Israeli military said. One militant was killed in the ensuing gunbattle; another was buried under rubble after an explosion tore through the building the military said housed the bomb factory.

Oh, yeah. Notice how it was the Hamas guys who fired FIRST? Arafat needs to go. His own people should do the deed, because otherwise there will never be a "peace process" - just more of the same rope-a-dope while the Palestinian terrorists look for new ways to kill children and college students. And disco attendees. Let's not forget how important a military target the discos are.

It seems that the loopy loons over at MoveOn.org are unhappy with the Wall Street Journal. I mean more than usual.

Mr. Taranto elaborates,

"Oh dear, now the Angry Left is angry at us. The Wall Street Journal has been hit by a mass e-mail campaign, spurred by our Tuesday item in which we characterized MoveOn.org as a "far-left, pro-Saddam group." The summer intern who's filling in for the Journal's vacationing letters editor reports that the messages started rolling in shortly after 6 p.m. EDT yesterday. In the first 15 minutes, 200 to 250 messages arrived; by 7 p.m. the count was over 600. As of early this afternoon, it was approaching 3,500. At least 1,200 messages have also gone to a Wall Street Journal Online customer-service mailbox."

"One enterprising chap even tracked down our home number and phoned to express his outrage that we accused MoveOn of being (his word) "extremist." Later in the conversation he informed us that Saddam Hussein's regime posed no threat and that George W. Bush isn't really the president."

Why don't they ever call me?

It was brought to our attention that the female readers of RNS are neglected in the eye candy department. So without consulting my esteemed teamleader and team-mate, I offer a little turn about in fairness. I've always been of the opinion that getting a lady to smile is one of God's higher callings.......

For anyone with a taste in bodybuilders, here's a sample of that.

For the fans of trim, yet not over developed, there is this display

No explicit full monty, for that.....you'll have to find your own pics. I hope I haven't annoyed anybody, but please, it's harmless fun for the ladies and any gentlemen who go that way. I feel that if I like to admire the curves of a pretty lady, then I can be completely comfortable with a woman's tastes as well.

Fair is fair.

It seems that those boring Brits are coming up with some good ideas when it comes to beating the heat. Maybe they ain't all that bad?

Possibly NSFW

I found this post by The AnalogKid fascinating. I brushed it off at first glance as being just the ravings of an anti-semite, till I read deeper. At which point I found this little gem. Look, I've been a smoker for over twenty years, but I never in any sense thought it was good for me. This guy thicks it's a freaking barrier to radiation sickness.

And Nukevet, being an expert on cancer, I'm sure you will find his views on it,........interesting.

Oh, let's not pass up our mind control experiments either, Joe Vialls is kind enough to explain that as well. I am torn as to wether it's just very wierd parody from a bad comedian, or wether this really is the rusty cogs of a disturbed mind at work.

I vote rusty cogs, because there's just too much hate for mere parody.

Many thanks AK for pointing my humble self in that direction. The worst of these guys discredit themselves, we barely have to coment.

Update..........

Somebody may wish to alert the Aussies about this one. Tim Blair, have I got a tidbit for you.

Schieffer may not have liked the remarks, but they were made by an elected Australian politician within the Australian Parliament, and thus were none of his damn business. Most Aussies are generally aware that their politicians do exactly what they are told to do by the American or Israeli ambassadors, but do not like having this unpalatable reality rammed down their throats on nationwide television by a middle-ranking American bureaucrat.

You think Americans are bad when they get pissed? Well now, Joe has insulted the Aussies now, he's toast!...................

They're just dumb animals?

I would like to know if anyone else feels insulted by this crap put out by Tom Atlee of the 'Co-Intelligence Institute'?

"In early July my partner Karen Mercer and I were investigating the nonviolence used by eighteenth century American colonists. Sharp's classic and highly readable trilogy THE POLITICS OF NONVIOLENT ACTION was especially valuable to us. We found considerable evidence that the colonists were close to getting their demands met through nonviolent tactics like
- boycotts
- street demonstrations
- petitions
- strikes
- noncooperation with authorities (including tax resistance)
- citizen diplomacy with Britain and France
- creating and using parallel governance structures
- creative group discipline and peer pressure
- street theater (e.g., the Boston Tea Party)
- public relations, stressing the reasonableness of their demands and their fellowship with the British, despite their strong disagreements with the actions of King George, Parliament and certain colonial
authorities
- subversion of colonial bureaucracies (e.g., Sam Adams was a tax collector who fudged his job in ways that supported the colonists)
- powerful pamphleteering and speech-making
- organized networking and information sharing
- careful collective strategizing, progressing to ever-more potent actions
- developing and spreading inspiring ideas (especially about liberty)
- dedicated nonviolence
-- even when the British soldiers shot
colonial demonstrators

Few US schools teach American history that way. If they did, knowledge of the power of nonviolence would be widespread and used often to further the common good and popular aspirations. Perhaps even more importantly, the United States of America might today be living out a very different story on the world stage.

I just don't know what to say about these pukes.

"Zionists Threaten Freedom of the Press: Verizon Communications Suspected in Conspiracy to Disrupt Internet Access to La Voz de Aztlan"

"Los Angeles, Alta California - September 23, 2002 - (ACN) Our readers and subscribers who have been with us since we first published our premiere issue on January 1, 2000 are well aware of the numerous attempts by Zionists to permanently silence La Voz de Aztlan. These extraordinary efforts by U.S. based, as well as by Israeli, Zionists are a consequence of our editorial policy that questions U.S. military aid to Israel provided for the purpose of enforcing the brutal occupation of Palestine. We are sad to report that their efforts to deny us our First Amendment Rights, as written in the U.S. Constitution, may have taken a more sinister approach."

"In addition to all of the above, the Zionists have made a lot of trouble for us with our various Internet Service Providers and Web Host Providers requiring us to move our accounts around costing us great expense, effort and time. This they do by sending out "fake" e-mails in our name which causes unsuspecting Internet users to complain to our Internet service providers. One incident occurred with a Web Hosting Service named Hostex. The Chief Executive of Hostex demanded that we removed two articles from our website that pointed to who the Anthrax terrorists may really be. At that time, the Zionist media was blaming "Islamic terrorists" but we wrote an article "Anthrax Terrorists May Be Zionists" which questioned this premise. The Chief Executive of Hostex demanded that we remove this and another article or face the cancellation of our account. At the same time, Hostex was over-billing our account and utilizing other pressure techniques requiring that we move to a more friendlier Web Host Provider. The Chief Executive of Hostex stated to us that he was being pressured in turn by his "upstream Internet provider" to cancel our account."

The cost of their therapy drugs per month must be more than my utility bills. It's a pity that they don't take them though.

Jumpin' Jesus H Christ on a freakin' pogo sitck, why is it still illegal to crucify these hateful bastards?

"Bomb in Jakarta Hotel Was American/Israeli"

"By now we have all been saturated with the standard �War on Terror� blurb about the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in downtown Jakarta on 5 August 2003. Speaking with a single corporate voice, the western media stated surprisingly quickly that the bomb was the work of a lone suicide bomber working for the �feared terrorist organization � Jemaah Islamiah, which allegedly and very brazenly drove a Toyota van up to the front of the hotel, where the Toyota obligingly and predictably exploded with a loud and unmistakable bang."

"Alas, the corporate media was lying through its teeth as usual, with none of its �facts� standing up to even the most casual of scrutiny. The first Mega clue to the deception was the magnitude of the blast, which blew the windows out of all 25 floors of the condominium building next door. Do you have any idea how much overpressure in p.s.i. is needed to shatter reinforced laminated glass more than 450 feet away from ground zero? Adding to this huge problem was the reinforced concrete slab roof of the hotel lobby, through which the shock wave first had to travel before it could even begin to affect the tall condominium building."

Please, can someone tell me why I shouldn't hunt this cracksmoking anti-semetic whore down and 3-point nail him to a couple of posts?

This time, smuggled out to the mother of a Russian detainee.

�I am terribly scared of a Russian prison or Russian court for my son,� Amina Khasanova was quoted as saying by Gazeta newspaper on Friday.
�At Guantanamo they treat him humanely, the conditions are fine.�
Her son Andrei Bakhitov is one of eight Russian detainees, and the newspaper quoted a letter he wrote to his mother.
�I think that there is not even a health resort in Russia on the level of this place,� the letter said.

But I'm sure Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch will continue to scream.

The War in Iraq was necessary, I say that up front. But it wasn't cheap, for us or the Iraqi's. A hard thing, a just thing, but we should take just a moment and be greatfull for this boy's recovery. I don't believe any of us wished him harm, nor his family. I'm thankful he'll get the treatment he needs, and greatfull too he seems to lack the bitterness of so many who didn't suffer at all. He was the UK Mirror's poster boy for anti-war, anti-US propaganda, a living totem to the folly of war as a tool of state. Except that as moderate as this piece may seem, go back and remember the hysteria of the Mirror over the war. Which continues.........As I said, my heart goes out to the boy, but while our hands may not be pure, the blame is not ours. There is much to go around. From the mincing Axis of Weasals to the clown circus marching in the streets, if they had shown one tenth as much ferver in backing the US in the UN, in backing the very mandates they say they supported, then maybe the war wouldn't have been necessary. But every whiney cry of imperialism just served to make Saddam more defiant, more convinced we wouldn't act. He was a butcher with a hunting license, granted to him by the same people who apposed us. As horrible as Ali's case is, it would be good to remember that he wasn't alone, Saddam was averaging 200 of his own people a week killed or disappeared. Here's one account of what it was like. They screech that we tar them as traitors and Saddam lovers, but when the effect of your actions give aid and comfort to him, how exactly is that a false charge? Either they supported him on purpose, or they just allowed themselves to be used. Which is it, criminal or just stupid?

Going back to Ali, yes it tears at my heart, it sickens me he had to suffer. What I ask in return from the peace camp is simple, why didn't this.........

bother you enough to march against Saddam with the zeal you marched against Bush with? Why?.......................................

I cry in my soul for all the innocents killed by whatever cause, but I realize something fundamental, Saddam will create no more Halabja's. Ali's pain is real, but what of the hundreds of thousands of other relatives? What of their pain? Is it not worthy of notice because it wasn't your favorite villan, the US that did it? Examine your soul, if you still have one, and tell me that there's some kind of difference between Ali and those other children.....

It's not those who supported the war who need examine their motives nearly so much as someone who would have let Saddam go on, and on, and on........

Arnold Schwarzenegger, it's official, he's in the California Governor's race. While I can't begin to guess how it will end up, the very idea of democrats falling all over themselves trying to deal with Arnie just brightens my day. Imagine the press reaction, well, this would be a cool exchange. Download file.

It should be illegal for me to enjoy it this much, but what the Hell, a guy's gotta have some fun. The cool Arnie file came from a fan site I discovered on Google.

Please Please Please!!!

"Liberal MP Dennis Mills has one last mission if he's re-elected next year: he wants to convince the United Nations to move its headquarters to his riding in Canada's largest city."

"We are peacemakers," he said, citing foreign policy "from Pearson to Trudeau, to Chretien's special respect (for the UN) in the latest international war we had in Iraq."

I pledge to you, the readers of RNS, if this twit manages to get the UN to move to Canada, I will not only learn the words to N'SYNC's song "Bye, bye, bye", I will learn the dance and perform it live via webcam.

So go tell the UN where to go.

Found at Right Thoughts

I could never see a Democrat ever proposing this.

"A proposed law that would prevent the taxation of Internet access is headed to the Senate. Lawmakers will vote on the Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act, which was approved on Thursday by the Senate Commerce Committee.
The Commerce Committee approval sends the measure to the full Senate for a vote."

"The moratorium prohibits taxes on Internet access, discriminatory taxes on purchases made over the Internet and the double-taxation of Internet commerce (by two different states, for instance). It doesn't, however, outlaw the collection of sales taxes on items bought in Internet transactions."

They'll have to vote for it. Even though it'll break their little hearts to not get that revenue. Eat it Dems (hence the title of this post)

Does something here sound familiar?

SEOUL (Reuters) - "North Korea said on Monday that polls in which voters gave leader Kim Jong-il 100 percent support showed the communist state was "firm as a rock" in the face of economic woes and isolation over its nuclear ambitions."

I seem to remember someone else getting 100% voter approval?

I wonder what ever happened to that guy?

My G*d. Will it ever end?

From the PowerLineBlog.com in FrontPageMag.com
"In yesterday's Washington Post, media critic Howard Kurtz headlined "a new Harvard study [which] says the conservative editorial pages are more intensely partisan, and far less willing to criticize a Republican administration than the liberal pages are to take on a Democratic administration." The "Harvard study" was done by Michael Tomasky."

"And what of Mr. Tomasky himself? If we are to give any credence to his paper, we must have confidence in his selection of "comparable" issues and his subjective classification of "positive," "negative" and "mixed" editorials. Well, for starters he is a columnist for the left-wing American Prospect magazine. Here is one of his recent columns, titled: "Prevaricating President: Why Democrats Need to Seize on Bush's WMD Lies."

Go read the rest. This 'Study' is about as mentally stable as the one out of Berserkley comparing conservatives to hitler.

Time to take Flashbunny up on his advice and 'Nuke Berkeley'.

"Susanna Klein, a UC Berkeley student, was attending her class in Iraqi Arabic this week when her instructor, Iraqi Abbas Kadhim, alluded to the Protocols of Zion in class as being a real document written by Jews. The Protocols were long ago proven to be a fraud written by the Czar's secret police. In the Arab world it they are taught as fact and have even created a popular mini-series on Eyptian television produced by (you guesses it!) the Saudis. What is even more fascinating is Khadim is an ex-Iraqi soldier who fought our soldiers on behalf of Saddam Hussein in the first Gulf War, was captured and imprsioned in Saudi Arabia for two years then allowed to come to the United States to become a teacher at UC Berkeley! Wonder who paid for all that? UC Berkeley has become one of the most corrupt campuses nationwide regarding Saudi and Arab influence designed to export the Arab world's propaganda against Israel and the West. Below is Susanna's letter to the campus administration. DAFKA urges all readers to write Chancellor Charles Berdhal at the University of California, Berkeley, 100 California Hall, Berkeley, CA 90042 and demand the immediate dismissal of Khadim. Berdhal has taken expense paid vacations in Saudi Arabia courtesy the Saudis and even set up a special Mideast Studies Department on campus (despite one already in existence) which was then financed by Al Qaeda sponsoring sheiks from the royal family. Berdhal also sponsored and welcomed "warmly" Edward Said to campus to give a two hour diatribe against Israel last year."

Go read her letter to the Dean, and if you care to, write.

Why oh why does the governement let this go on?

From Greg Yardly at FrontPageMag.com,
"Communist fronts linked to the government of North Korea. Maoists specializing in disorderly street rallies. American allies of Palestinian terrorist groups. Demonstrators on behalf of cop-killers and thugs. Violent 'direct action' environmental activists. What do all these groups have in common? You can donate to each and every one of them, and claim the deduction on your income tax return. They'll take the money you give them, and they'll use it, tax-free. Surprised? You've got a right to be. All of this activity is against the law - but the law's not being enforced."

"The radical left gets away with their tax-free status thanks to inadequate enforcement of the laws governing non-profit organizations. In America, these laws are enforced by the Internal Revenue Service, which formally classifies non-profits as public benefit corporations, and grants them tax-exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The designation is so common "501(c)3" has become shorthand for referring to a registered non-profit. Establishing one is relatively easy - it only requires a few hundred dollars in filing fees, a high tolerance for paperwork, and a demonstration that you are, indeed, providing a public benefit. This can be anything from obvious acts of charity to publishing educational materials and holding public meetings. Many non-profit political organizations justify their own non-profit status through their educational publications."

If the Bush Administration ever cracked down on these pukes, we would hear screams of 'silencing of dissent' and 'persection'. But if the Klan had a 501(c)3 front group, these same folks would have a field day.

Make the French cry.

"On May 22, by a vote of 302 to 123, the House passed an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill (HR 1588) to lower the required rank of the defense attach� to France."

"This amendment will repeal the statutory requirement that an officer in our Armed Forces, in order to be selected for assignment as the Defense Attach� to France, must hold the rank of brigadier general, or—in the case of a Navy officer—rear admiral lower half," said Rep. Jim Saxton (R.-N.J.), the sponsor of the amendment."

Next year, we should drop the status below officer rank. We should make it E-3 or lower and use it as a form of punishment for AWOL'ers.

And while I'm freestyling here, I've been listening to my usual dose of talk radio. Both left and right and even some sports. I'm getting a bit fuzzed on the whole 'Kobe Bryant Case'.

As I have mentioned before, I don't care how this turns out as long as justice is done. But I hear people on both sides talking about his freakshow, and they're starting to get me worried. It came to head last night on the Larry Elder Show replay.

I don't know if his screener was just trying to be funny, but Larry talked to a string of younger sounding callers who were just clueless. They all spoke of how they 'felt' on whether Bryant was guilty or the girl was a publicity whore/gold digger. But when pressed on why they felt that way, none of them were able to explain their 'feelings'. They could show no critical thinking skills.

Has anyone else run into this? And does this scare anyone else?

I would like to thank all of you for reading and responding to the 'Fish On' entry. I don't want seem to be begging for links, but if you like it, please send it around. I have started to do so (based on the suggestions in the comments), but those folks get literally hundreds of e-mails a day. If they keep getting the same one over and over it will have a better chance of getting their attention. I will take on all criticism, left, right or center. If for no other reason than to get help with poking holes in the theory so I may make it stronger.

Never get into the train of thought that the election isn't until next November. The election is tommorrow, and the next day, and all next week, etc. If the party that you most identify with does something you don't agree with, (ie perscription drug benefits) let them know. Everything I write here, plus some things that don't get put here, that is critical of the Republicans gets copied an e-mailed off to my Representatives and the party. Writing it on a blog is fine, but it in no way means that it will be read by someone who can do anything about it.

Unless you're Glenn Reynolds.

Again, thanks for responding and get it out. I'm feeeeeling very fiesty on this topic.

In a recent comment someone qouted Noam Chomsky fondly. No really he did. And since He expressed some contempt for the beloved 40th president, let me just point out something. We won the cold war, Chomsky can cut his wrists now, since his mission to undermine and distort reality seems to have so graphicly failed......................

To long time readers, you know saying anything nice about Chomsky isn't a good way to be my friend. Pooh,..................I was hoping to find a reasonable lefty. you know, one who thinks we aren't the manifestation of evil on earth?

Oh well, the search continues.

Why does everyone of the Guardian's columnist's look like he just woke up from a three day binge? Hey Foot, quick what's yer name again?..................No, erh, ummmm doesn't qualify for any answer, off to rehab with you..

The sophisticated warmongers of a few months back are regrouping. "The case for war revisited," proclaims the cover of the thinking man's warmonger, the Economist.

As opposed to what? The nonthinking man's cowards are us, the Guardian? It just gets deeper after that. You just know this fellow cries himself to sleep everynight dreaming of a world where the Soviets won, and the Sandinista's are still happily shooting peasant landowners for the unspeakable crime of owning property. Just when you begin to think communist sympathizers are dying out, some more stick their heads up.

Who is this mad admiral? He is John Poindexter, former head honcho of President Ronald Reagan in his hysterical and violent campaign against the people of Nicaragua and their elected government. So corrupt was Poindexter, such a compelling liar, that he was an obvious choice for a top job in the Bush administration

Well I guess we can see which side he was on during the cold war now, can't we. Aside from the fact that Nicaragua never had a free election untill Reagan forced one on it, at which point the people promptly tossed the communists out on their ass, he can't resist using the word hysterical. Projection methinks.............

I added the Guardian columnist page to my bloggroll for a simple reason. Truth can't rise up on it's own. When we allow the pinheads of the left any unrebutted time, truth suffers at their hands like a mouse under the eye of a cat. This Foot has a right to be an unrepentant fool, a joke of a columnist, what he doesn't get is a license to rewrite history to suit his whims. A game socialists and communists have always played. So from time to time, I'll shine a light on idiots like him. I'll defend what I say, and not hide behind a general email address as he does so those rude yanks across the pond can't hurt his feelings.

For all the cries of repression and censorship of debate, the left is really not able to engage in it, not in an open manner. Laziness, cowardice or just indignity at being challenged, the result is that any lack of debate is of their own doing.

I found this article on Google News. Fairly standard piece, surprisinly positive in tone as they point to areas of progress. I guess VOA doesn't accept the same sort of people that NPR gets. One small piece I haven't seen before stands out.

Mr. Bremer added that he was disappointed by the Arab League's refusal to seat an Iraqi representative because the Governing Council was appointed and not elected. Mr. Bremer called the move shortsighted. He says the Governing Council is the most representative government Iraq has ever had.

Hello!.........Was the Royal Saudi representative elected? The Syrian, Lebanonese, Yemeni, or even the Egyptian? Were any of them?..............This isn't even worthy of Orwell, if he wrote it people wouldn't buy someone was as stupid as that. This is nothing more than tribal exclusion, because Iraq is now tainted by us evil Americans. What will be the next excuse? After the Iraqi's get their representative government, what new reason will they have to keep the Iraqi's out. Make no mistake, that's the signal they are sending.

I suggest we send a single of our own, one by one, start by disabling a nations refineries when the Iraqi's come on line. Hurt something even they value more than false pride. Cost them money. How hard will quelling the uprisings be when the soldiers aren't paid and the Princes can't afford to fly to Paris to spend and whore? The Saudi's and others can try surviving when the cash cow goes dry.

Which oddly enough, may be part of the game plan anyway.

I never really expected a reply from the gentleman at Groupthink, people who share his views rarely do. Snarky, yes but I reclaim the higher ground and post my reply to his here. I feel free to do so because he left the same message in the comments of my earlier post. He used the same in public and in private. I've never fenced, but if I were to engage in swordplay the weapon I would choose would be the saber. Less finese than a foil, but more elegant than a broadsword. Well suited to an aggressive posture, well suited for attack, well balanced for defense.

En Garde...

>
> Here's a copy of the message I left on your oh-so-clever post:
>
> You know, when I was in fourth grade, my friends and I were big fans of the
> board game Stratego. For me, the game was nothing but innocent, childhood
> fantasizing. But I never would have thought that Stratego could provide the
> basis for one's political worldview as an adult. That is, until I stumbled
> upon your most excellent blog.
>
> Warm regards,
> Yuval Rubinstein
> > Yuval;

Here's my reply.

You know, when I was in fourth grade, my friends and I were big fans of the board game Stratego. For me, the game was nothing but innocent, childhood fantasizing. But I never would have thought that Stratego could provide the basis for one's political worldview as an adult. That is, until I stumbled upon your most excellent blog.

Posted by Yuval Rubinstein at August 6, 2003 09:30 AM

I never played Stratego, I learned a different game. It was called the watch my brothers back and get home without getting jumped by a half a dozen game. When you're working class the stakes are higher than a board game loss. Our world view is realistic, I'm sorry but I don't consider yours as anything but a richmans indulgence, and that's what progressive politics are. Playing games with the "little" peoples lives.

So your Stratego referrence is more telling than you know.

Posted by puggs at August 6, 2003 12:57 PM

----------------------------------

I can apreciate a dry wit, accept that good people can disagree on the fundemental points, even so I replied in a manner reflecting the anger I felt at some of your posts. I am capable of civil behavior, if I'm not being insulted. If you wish to spar I can do so, since our views on each others humor is roughly the same it would seem pointless however. I don't wish you harm Yuval, but I'll fight your poitics tooth and claw. From your posts it's obvious we inhabit entirely different worlds, your's of higher education and law, mine of lower middle working class. It's not your skin or religion I do not trust, but your ideas. I served in the cold war, and starting a family late am unwilling to engage in a crap shoot on my childrens future. You offer a gamble, I prefer a near sure thing.

I offer this in a more, reasoned tone. Not every republican is the cartoon character you seem to think. Not all of us are religious, or even social conservatives, in fact the majority are not. I was glad when Buchanan left the party, glad when Bush governs from nearer the center. My wife being a conservative democrat is perfectly happy with my views, even if we don't always vote the same.

By the same token, I accept that democrats aren't all eager to crush free enterprise and engage in a social Jihad to tear everything down. Simply replacing one set of wrongs with another. Not all of you anyway. But I'm quite serious when I say Kucinich is considered lunatic fringe. For that I offer no apology. You acknowledge yourself that you know you have no chance of regaining power with the mood of the country as it is. So why back someone who will fail in such a spectacular manner?

Don't bother to reply if you don't care too, no minds will be changed here. Before you delete this, ponder this question. When you condescend so badly to your fellow American's for being racist, or ignorant, or just less intelligent than your enlightened self, who is kidding who? Being an elitist may be fun for you, but it ensures no one really cares what you believe in the rest of America. It ensures you continue to frustrate yourself by assuming that somehow, us hicks can be brought around. My education wasn't as formal or extended as your's but it cost more. Blood and tears are a poorer mans coin, and my education is no less valid than yours for that.

I stand by my views.
Puggs,

I found this at the Toquevillian Mag.com and am reprinting it in whole as anything less would ruin it. Please also read below and tell me what you think.

"We, the members of the New Republican Party, believe that the preservation and enhancement of the values that strengthen and protect individual freedom, family life, communities and neighborhoods and the liberty of our beloved nation should be at the heart of any legislative or political program presented to the American people.... Our task now is not to sell a philosophy, but to make the majority of Americans, who already share that philosophy, see that modern conservatism offers them a political home. We are not a cult, we are members of a majority. Let's act and talk like it. The job is ours and the job must be done. If not by us, who? If not now, when? Our party must be the party of the individual. It must not sell out the individual to cater to the group. No greater challenge faces our society today than ensuring that each one of us can maintain his dignity and his identity in an increasingly complex, centralized society. Extreme taxation, excessive controls, oppressive government competition with business ... frustrated minorities and forgotten Americans are not the products of free enterprise. They are the residue of centralized bureaucracy, of government by a self-anointed elite. Our party must be based on the kind of leadership that grows and takes its strength from the people. Any organization is in actuality only the lengthened shadow of its members. A political party is a mechanical structure created to further a cause. The cause, not the mechanism, brings and holds the members together. And our cause must be to rediscover, reassert and reapply America's spiritual heritage to our national affairs. Then with God's help we shall indeed be as a city upon a hill with the eyes of all people upon us." - Ronald Reagan

I believe that GWB is more like Dutch than most of us realise or give him credit for.

1. He is hated vehemently by the left. So was Reagan.

2. He knew that cutting taxes was the only way to make America function well. So did Reagan.

3. He and we have a common enemy. Reagan had the Soviets, we have the socialist Democratic party.

4. We will get rid of them the same way Ronnie got rid of the Soviets. We will spend them to death.

For my explanation look below.

I am just about tired of hearing people whine about how 'Social' Bush is with our money. Please put that thought away for a moment and let me tell you a secret.

Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest Presidents in American history. Why, because he saw the threat to America posed by the USSR and grabbed it by the horns and kicked it in the nuts.

Reagan recognized what made America great. The almighty dollar. Money makes the world go around folks. Well, that and momentum. And he used that single-most power of the dollar to smother the Soviets.

Yes, they were stumbling and falling all over themselves by the time he got into office. They were broke, busted and bedraggled but not out. And he was not about to let them get up off the mat to get a second shot at hurting America.

He knew that he could use America's economic strength to take the arms race to a whole new level and that the USSR would try to follow us. And when they did, they would have to start to shed excess weight. The Eastern Bloc of Europe was their last stronghold. And when the Berlin Wall fell, we had them.

George Bush is doing the same thing to the Democrats.

They say they want increases for Medicare/Medicaid.

He says 'ok, how much?'

They say '$10 Billion'

He says 'How about $12'

When it hits his desk it sits at $12 Billion. He signs it.

The Democrats then have only one option. To say that it should have been bigger. But everyone in their right mind in middle class America knows that this was more than we could afford and immediately asks, "how?" And the Democrats can only say 'More Taxes" which is a horrible thing to run for office on. Look at Mondale.

Or the Dems say that we have to take money out of the defense budget. And again, no one in their right mind in middle class America would want to do that at in times like these.

So what happens, the Dems get stuck with a rising star like Howard Dean who starts to shoot his mouth off over and over again, and at the same time looks to be the spokeman for the Dems. Which turns most of middle class America away from their party and they're stuck with only a few toe-tag Democrats and the folks who voted for the Green party last time around.

You also have the older Dem Senators starting to retire with no clear Dem replacement. 2004 could be a very good year for the Republicans if they don't step on their balls like they have a tendancy to do.

We just need to not worry about Bush's social spending just yet. And for G*d's sake don't vote third party. We need a strong showing in this election. Forget winning 49 states, were going for the big 5-0.

Remenber Reagan's increase in defense spending and how some people were howling that he was 'taking us down the long dark road of debt'. I firmly believe that this, or something very close to this, is his plan to minimalize the Democratic party into obscurity.

And don't worry about the debt. If you look closely, you will see medium sized numbers of libertarians leaving their party and becoming Republicans. These folks are young and full of ideas of what the government should not be involved in. We will start shedding social programs in less than 10 years, and lower taxes will follow.

It can be done. I know it can.

You would not believe how much the teachers in this story whined about 'We are Microsoft Country. Why don't we get new comuters every two years?'. Now they have them, but they aren't smart enough to know how to use them.

"When kids go back to school next month, odds are good that their classrooms will have computer technology in them. But odds are equally as good that teachers won't be prepared to effectively use that tech."

"Great strides have been made in outfitting classrooms with PCs and Internet access since the first NetDay in 1996. That seminal event put volunteers in schools around the country to wire classrooms to the Web. Combined with local technology levies and federal E-Rate discounts for Internet connectivity, the absence of an Internet- connected PC in a classroom today is unusual. Washington schools boast 3.5 students per PC�and 8.6 students for each computer located in a classroom instead of in school libraries or computer labs. Statewide, 93 percent of schools had classroom Internet access in 2002, according to research firm Market Data Retrieval. All are slightly better than national averages."

My opinion on this may not sit well with some parents, but that's just too bad.

Millions upon millions of kids who are now adults made it through school with out 'desktop internet access'. It was called an "Encyclopedia". All kids need is a damn word processor. And that isn't until junior high.

"But my child will need computer skills to be able to get a job!", I hear parents scream. Well then tell your district that you want classes on those subjects. Or maybe your district can team up with local businesses for some type of 'Off Campus Schooloing'. This is how I started in the automotive field. We didn't have enough money for our own auto-shop facility. So I started doing oil changes at a lube shop. Credit for school plus minumum wage. Talk about a sweet deal.

Otherwise, all your doing is wasting money. For one, the 'computer skills' your child is learning will be out of date by the time your kid graduates. And two, what do you do at work with internet access? That is all your kid will be doing when he/she is supposed to be paying attention.

I'm sure we've all heard the saying 'If you aren't a liberal when you're 18, you're heartless. And if you're not a conservative when you're 30, you're stupid" (or something to that effect).

Well, it seems I can't be calling all hippies stupid anymore,

SUMMERTOWN, Tenn., Aug. 2 — "Three decades after the golden age of the hippie, about 200 of them are still thriving in a self-supporting commune some three hours east of glitzy Graceland. Known simply as The Farm, the sprawling collective operates, among other things, a midwife service, a soy products company, a mushroom grower and a factory producing personal radiation detectors."

"The early days, which Gaskin says were guided by agreements ''looser than handshakes,'' made it though tough times. Some bad investments and an equally poor national economy in the late '70s put The Farm about $400,000 in debt, says Douglas Stevenson, a Farm resident since 1973."

"What resulted was ''the changeover'' in 1983, which Stevenson described as the decision to make ''every adult responsible for bringing in some cash.'' Part of The Farm remains collectively held — the land and the commercial buildings remain owned by everyone — but all residents must work."

I wonder how many folks left the commune when it was decided, most likely through 'democracy', that you had to hold your own to stay.

Oh the humanity!

"New Jersey is legally entitled to continue its policy of denying additional welfare benefits to women who have babies while on public assistance, the State Supreme Court ruled today."

"In a unanimous decision released today, however, the State Supreme Court ruled that the policy simply placed welfare families "on par with working families," which do not automatically receive wage increases when they have children."

Wwwwhat? No special treatment for people with fewer brains than morals?

While browsing over at the Voodoo Lounge I joined in a small debate going back and forth at one of dr. dna's posts. It got me thinking of some things that sometimes surface for me. The anti-war crowd and the leftists engage us in arguement over the moral rightness of Iraq, and before that Afghanistan, ultimately ending up at 9/11. As if this was all just some petty missunderstanding that a good handshake could solve. Intelligent people know better.

The picture is of the county courthouse in my hometown. The granite slab in front is the Ten Comandments, untouched yet by the "tolerant" left. But this isn't about religion, it is however about faith. Faith in a good people, faith in a just cause, faith in our ability to find the right path for both ourselves and the people who's lives we affect with our power. It's not a blind faith, far from it, it's a comfortable belief that though we may stumble sometimes we are a force for good in the world. A force for change to people and cultures that may hate us, may loath us, but without us would be mired in the sixth century till the end of time. It's a battle not just of good and evil, it's also a fight between the worst of human history and the hope of a better future.

It's a small thing, freedom, we wear it like an old jacket. So familar that we sometimes don't think what the original cost was. The cold war was over, the end of history, or so we were told. No big fights left, the other side had just gone home. It was cool here that day, My wife was seven months pregnant with our son, and was away that morning. I was there at home watching our little girl, and had opened the browser to yahoo, when I first learned of it. I turned on the TV and sat though the worst day I can remember, watching all those poor people die, and holding my daughter as if she were the last sane thing left in the world. Our daughter and son are both beautiful and healthy now, and I want this over before they are old enough to feel what it is. Before they face a choice like I did in my almost forgotten past. My wife understands, she knows me far better than anyone. But my blood runs like fire, for justice and for an end. I can't fight anymore, nature has stripped me of the choice. But I can lend my voice, give comfort where I can, give my heart to those that need encouragement. I won't quit, won't give in, won't allow others to surrender in my families name. No, this is too important to be left to the voices of doubt and fear. Too important to let what if's cause us to pull back. We've already seen the cost of holding back.

For many of us this is the greatest conflict man is likely to see for a very long time. We have men of courage, women of valor to fight for us, and we pray for their safety. Long for a time when they can come home. Because that's the goal, the most important one missed by our most vocal critics. We want to be left alone, free to pursue our lives at home, and abroad without the constant fear that some lunatic will quest for his 72 fresh ones today. We want the murdering thugs to simply die quickly if we can arrange it, slowly if nescessary. We want a real peace, one free of death and fire. Not the quota peace where a few thousand here and there is just too bad, and we al just need to get along. That's the peace Stalin offered, Hitler, Mao, and Saddam. Just bleed them, they won't fight back, drive them home, where we'll still attack them, kill them and they'll just take it. If they had studied our history a bit, they would maybe have known better.

I end up coming full circle now back to that old courthouse. It's a pretty place, almost serene in it's common place sameness with the many thousands of other quiet peacefull places in the US and the world at large. It stands in place of the first courthouse destroyed by fire in 1875, we rebuilt then, and we are still rebuilding. New York will have a hollowed shrine, but it belongs to all of us now. Our humble granite building isn't anything special in the bigger picture, but it says much. We are survivers, builders and we stand without breaking. We will win, because we can't do anything else, can't be anything but what we are. We offer the world a place like this of their own, free of fear, free of slavery to someone elses version of paradise. We offer, and in the end they will come to us. When we part to come home, we won't need worry that they will return. We need only to finish what was started for us.

Heritage, we have the quiet strength from our past, we remember our dead and those who risk everything, and begin to build again.

Found at National Review Online

MUDDY DONKEY by Peter Robinson
A friend who is studying Creole (it's a long story) just today learned a proverb that reminds him, as he puts it, of "those pesky Iraqis:"
Ti bef ou wete nan labou a se li k bat ou. ("It is the donkey you drag from the mud that kicks you.")

Yep.

I don't know exactly what to think about this.

You were Victoria!

You were born in 1819, the only child
of Duke Edward of Kent. Your father died when
you were a child, but Prime Minister Lord
Melbourne treated you as though you were his
own child. You became Queen in 1837, when your
uncle died without any legitimate heirs. You
were advised by Melbourne never to read
"Oliver Twist" because it dealt with
the harsh realities of life, from which he
tried to shelter you. In 1839 you fell in love
with your cousin, Prince Albert, and married in
1840. You ended up having nine children.
Attempts at assassination were made on you in
1842 (twice), 1849, 1850, 1872 and 1882.
Albert died of typhoid fever in 1861. In your
day, the sun was said to never set upon the
British Empire. Indeed, Britain ruled
somewhere in just about every time zone in the
world. You finally died in your own home in
the Isle of Wight in 1901.


Which Leader Were You in a Past Life?
brought to you by Quizilla

Found at Right Thoughts. He's Confucius.

I doubt this Yuval Rubinstein is going to be happy about this, but this really pissed me off. I actually stumbled across a lefty who supports Kucinich! No lie, he claims 100% convergence of views. I came back to the bunker to see if Nukevet left any stray tactical devices laying around loose. ...........dummm, dummmdummmdmm,mmmmmm............................................aha, found one in the 250 kiloton range. The doc may smack my fingers and ground me for this, but I feel the need for a little exercise.

I'm sure his blog title is meant as an insult, but it seems more indicative of his lefty politics than our right, libertarian ones. So if you see rubble if you stroll over,...............

I've been a very bad boy today.

Sorry, can't resist. It's just too sweet when the bad guys get hoisted by their nuts. It's from the Afghan War last year, and while it may be a done deed, I think that a valuable lesson was learned here.

Don't give us the finger unless you want it returned through your large intestine with attendant flash burns.

Have a nice day.

Gore is about to address the peace group MoveOn.

A Gore spokeswoman insisted, "Truly, honestly, he's not planning on getting back into the race," but the former vice president's speech to the organization MoveOn should only fuel the speculation.

Bully for him, so he starts off by addressing a group that thinks 9/11 is just a reason for extensive dialog. MoveOn huh, well lets just creep on over and have a peek inside their little den of righteousness shall we? Hmmmmmmm,...crap, crap, more crap, some other crap, crap not fit for dog entertaining, crap to line birdcages.........Ah, here we go, lefty braindead crap.

Help launch hard-hitting WMD ads
July 21, 2003
The campaign to get to the bottom of the Bush administration's distortion of evidence on Iraq is really taking off. Over 330,000 of us have signed the petition asking Congress to investigate -- already one of our largest petitions ever. We know many House staff are excited and moved by what MoveOn members have sent. And since Thursday, 11 Representatives have become co-sponsors of legislation for an investigation.

Eleven, out of cover 400. my now that's a ringing endorsement of your position isn't it. You could get 40 just by bringing up a bill to make bacon the national breakfast standard, try again.

From: Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org
Subject: National Conference on Media Reform
Date: July 30, 2003

This November 7th through 9th in Madison, Wisconsin, Free Press will
host the National Conference on Media Reform, a watershed forum on how
to build a better media system in local communities, in Washington,
and across the nation. It is an event for people who want to take
action and actively join the media reform movement. I hope you'll be
able to make it.
-------------

Scarey enough, they don't think the media is lefty enough....

Over the event's two days, conference participants will enjoy access
to all panels, plenaries, keynote speeches and workshops, performances
by internationally famous artists, and an opportunity to meet with
other activists to build a stronger and more effective grassroots
network.

Confirmed speakers already include: US Senator Russ Feingold; US
Representatives John Conyers, Jr., Jan Schakowsky, Bernie Sanders,
Sherrod Brown, and Tammy Baldwin; FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and
Jonathan Adelstein; Entertainers Don Henley, Billy Bragg and DJ
Spooky; Writers Barbara Ehrenreich, Naomi Klein, Free Press founders
Robert McChesney and John Nichols; AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; and
Amy Goodman of Democracy NOW!

And this pack of clown rejects and unreformed flower children is gonna reform the media? How so pray tell, maybe burn FOX to the ground and hang Murdoch? Can't have anyone countering their message, people get confused by the truth and must be led in ball and chain to our position. That anyone considers Conyers anything but a Castro flack is disturbing, that they think he should decide how we get our news even more so.

Gore's time is over, wether he retires with grace and a shred of pride, or goes out with one final Jihad against the EVIL Bush regime is irrelavant. I personally wouldn't mind seeing Bush put Gore's dick in the dirt one more time. That he starts his quest with this pack of fools tells us exactly which way he's going. Circling the rim without realizing he's about to take a journey down the sewer pipe. Because you all know how well the hard left and peace movements play in real America. Most of America wouldn't trust them to shovel shit for a living, so why would their endorsement be a plus? If he thinks it is, he's really even more out of touch with reality than we previously thought.

Again, via Drudge and the New York Post.

The US dozen't use napalm anymore, we use something else similar it seems. My reaction, .......yawn.................. Look, if it keeps more of our troops alive than otherwise, I"d sanction the use of VooDoo Dolls. I came of age when Vietnam was ending, when napalm got as much footage on the evening news as Cronkite did. It's just another tool of war, more effective than most, but just a tool. A tool is neither moral, nor immoral, it just exists. It's the use to which it's put that beggars the question. Bridge approachs are legimate targets, as are troop formations. Orphanages are not, but when the worst thing said is that we used it on troops shooting at Marines my sympathy for the target is less than noticable. Piss poor luck on their part wasn't it? They shoulda ran, or surrendered.

Fire is deemed immoral by some as a tool of war because people fear it more than anything else. I ask you this, is death by dismemberment in an explosion any less horrible? Is death by gunfire, with the resulting massive compression trama prettier? People who want this banned want something unattainable. War is terrible and the way to lessen the horror is to win as fast as possible. If fifty men burned to ash cause an enemy divsion to break when the assualt comes, then it's a valuable thing. Would not using it, and absorbing the extra casualties to achieve the same goal make you like yourself better? How do you explain to the parents of dead Marines that they had to die because you are squeamish about the weapons used. You balance humanity against practicality in war, sometimes the humane thing up front, isn't the best way to lessen suffering. If by doing so, you prolong the war then you have served no moral purpose other than a self righteous indulgence.

When the cost is in piles of dog tags, you have no right to make that judgement.

Via Drudge.

This rocks...................When as a child I thought of travel to Mars, it was with the limited technology of the day. Disposable boosters and chemical rockets. When mankind finally does step foot on Mars you can bet on two things. One, it'll be an American who does it, and two, it'll probably be from a vehicle powered and driven by something like this.

Electrical power sources for the VASIMR engine could include such things as a nuclear power system or solar panels. For long-range flights, Chang-Diaz said, the best option is nuclear power. "Nuclear power is definitely a must if we're going to go to Mars," he said. This means that VASIMR could be integrated with NASA's recently announced Project Prometheus proposal to develop nuclear power generators for spaceflight.

We probably won't have to wonder what it was like in Spain in 1492 in just another decade or so. The possiblities are vast, the risks aren't bad, but the payoffs..........Mankind will finally be able to leave the cradle, to take the first tenative steps into another age. I may never leave this world, but my children may very well get the chance to explore options that would stagger the mind.

Although VASIMR is still years away from being used in space, Chang-Diaz said that it has already shown great promise during tests on Earth. So, it is entirely possible that the engine that will carry the first person to Mars is already running in a laboratory on Earth.

Not such a long wait, we've broken so may barriers as a species that a decade or two is a mere blush of a moment. We will have the solar system, it's our birthright as humans. As for the rest of the galaxy, well, we have designs on that too......

A picture really is worth a thousand words

Sometimes two thousand.

Found at Cox & Forkum, of course.

Wow, Look at this headline from Automobile News Daily:

"Mazda reports sales of RX-8 skyrocket on news of Reynolds purchase. Micky Kaus still silent."

In related news:

"Nike announces signing of Glenn Harlan Reynolds to multi-year endorsement deal"

"This is a dream come true for Nike", said spokesperson Claire Macarena. "Nike is always looking for the biggest and best in every field, and we feel that Glenn has proven himself to be the at the very top of his game for quite a while now". Nike plans to launch its "be like Glenn" campaign by changing their logo from the well known "swoosh" to one more identifiable with Instapundit. "When you land a star of Glenn's calibre, you do everything possible to maximize market visibility and media presence" said Macarena. The new line of products, named "Instagear", should be available in major retail outlets before the Christmas holidays.

Who would have thought that a simple blogger would become such a hot endorsement prospect?

If you breaks the law, you goes to jail.

"A federal judge sentenced a man to a year in prison Monday for creating an anarchist Web site with links to sites on how to build bombs. U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson sentenced Sherman Austin to more than the prosecutor had recommended under a plea bargain."

And the IMC crowd is screaming over this. Check here.

"Austin, 20, pleaded guilty in February to distributing information related to explosives. Austin told the judge Monday he "wasn't really thinking" when he created the Web site. "I'd be devastated if someone used this information to harm others," he said."

Unfortunately for him, I know he's lying. And so did the judge. To be able to get to the area where the bomb making info was at, you had to wade through a list of "Things That Should Be Blown Up"

"Austin admitted posting links about bombs to enable people to build and use them during demonstrations against interstate and foreign trade. He told FBI agents he wanted the Web site to teach people about police brutality."

And FBI buildings (addresses listed) were on the aforementioned list.

The Boss is Back!

After taking a few self-imposed exile years off, the man who taught white boys about ass has returned and he's gonna turn you all in for fibbin'.

"I had a lot of ladies saying to me, 'You have all these songs about t--ties and asses, but what about us?' " Mix-a-Lot said, explaining "Big Johnson," his new ode to measuring up. The raunchy song about how most men fib about what caliber pistol they're packing was inspired by a heated debate with an old friend."

"I had checked out bands like Nirvana and it was about people, not who had the biggest necklace and wheels," he said. "Bragging about wheels? I had two Lamborghinis before brothers could even spell it. I was doing that 15 years ago!"

He ain't lying about his cars. The man has a garage with more square footage than my house. Damn.

And oh yeah, it will someday be Sir Mix-A-Lot week here at RNS

Flashbunny has returned to the land of the living after a 2 month hiatus.

And he didn't comeback emptyhanded. He's got two new shits.

Are you a Heartless Conservative or a Heartless Libertarian?

If you haven't stopped by Flashbunny's store, now is as good a time as any.

Although these are the domestic variety.

What a bunch of pathetic losers.

As you know, CentCom has released photos of Saddam that have been digitally altered to show how he might look if disguised. You've probably seen "white haired Saddam":

And "bearded Saddam":

These images, however, are merely part of a disinformation campaign mounted by US intelligence services. We want Saddam to think that we are so far off track in our quest to hunt him down that he drops his guard. We know, for instance, that Saddam has not grown a beard, nor dyed his hair black. Our reliable middle eastern sources tell us that we should be focusing all of our efforts on finding this guy instead:

But I've been too busy to post this until now, and am still to busy to do give it a proper write-up. So all I can say is:

Go here, read this.

Then live by our laws. Just because the father doesn't see what he did as child abuse, doesn't mean it wasn't. It makes me crazy to see these kinds of things - people feeling "persecuted" because what was normal in their society in another country isn't accepted/tolerated here. If these guys are so worried about being "falsely accused", perhaps we should arrange for them to return home. But only after securing asylum for their kids in the US, that is.

Puggs, this is in your part of the country, so you will have to take the lead in mobilizing the RNS storm troopers to deal with the situation. If necessary, the use of tactical nukes is, I repeat IS, authorized.

Via LGF.

in their "holy quest" to unseat President Bush.

OK, so which Democratic candidate will be the first to declare a jihad against Bush? I'm betting Kerry, since he already advocated regime change......

And that is what I have to say about this,

Some 300 Marine reservists yesterday returned to Long Island from Iraq amid a carnival of red, white and blue and a heroes' welcome from more than 1,000 friends and relatives.

Ribbons adorned trees on the streets around the Marine training center in Garden City, where the troops, who spent the past five months near the city of Nasiriyah, pulled up in 10 buses.

Families wore T-shirts decorated with photos of their heroes, waved flags and garlands and were ready with cakes, cookies and lasagnas to welcome their loved ones back to America.

I think we found us the right man for the job.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - "Bernard Kerik was dubbed the "Baghdad Terminator" after he summarily dismissed a newly reinstated Iraqi official who turned out to be a member of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. A British journalist happened to be there and the ex-New York police commissioner had a new unofficial title."

"If you're going to criticize me for terminating Baath Party members go ahead. I like that," Kerik tells an Associated Press reporter accompanying him on his day's rounds. "You can't please everyone. We're in Iraq; this is a war zone. Perhaps you can do things nicely, but there's times you can't."

How much you want to bet the journalist still didn't understand?

"Kerik says he is unfazed by the magnitude of problems facing the U.S.-led interim administration: sabotage, guerrilla attacks, the heat, decrepit electric and water systems - and the impatience of Iraqis and the rest of the world."

"It took eight years and I had every resource available - information technology, a readymade staff - I had everything you could imagine and it took eight years. We've only been here for 100 days and you want what? Come on!"

I now believe that it is time for some type of judicial replacement on the SCOTUS. I think it is called impeachment, but I could be wrong.

This is just sick. (explicit language filled rant in the 'More' section)

"WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is looking beyond America's borders for guidance in handling cases on issues like the death penalty and gay rights, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Saturday."

"Ginsburg said Saturday that the Internet is making decisions of courts in other countries more readily available in America, and they should not be ignored. "While you are the American Constitution Society, your perspective on constitutional law should encompass the world," she told the group of judges, lawyers and students. "We are the losers if we do not both share our experiences with and learn from others."

Fuck you and your 'international law perspectives'. I don't pay you to give a rat's ass what Belgium thinks about race relations and college admissions. Your job is to interpret the constitution with a unprejudiced mind. You cock-smoking 'living document' bastards are driving me up the damn wall.

Do you call the French courts before issuing a ruling, too? No. So why should you care what the opinion of the socialist fucks across the pond think. They may see us as backwards, but or economy is improving while theirs is not. Our military is strong while they're weak. Our crime rate is going down, while theirs is climbing.

They are losers. Do you know who likes a loser? No one, except other losers. And I don't want America to be liked by losers. Extend your right thumb and fore-finger and put your hand to your fucking forehead Ginsberg. You are a fucking loser, you shit-eating revisionist monkey. Your opinion is no longer worth the 10lb bond it's written on.

Listen up, fuckface. If American's gave a half a shit what 'the world' thought about our Constitution we wouldn't need you. Your mind is soiled with prejudices so vile that you should retire out of guilt. Go live with the hop-swilling Huns.

But before you go, don't forget to stop by Seattle to kiss my ass in apology.

Or something. No sober person would be able to think up this crap.

Oh, wait! He's the son of a poverty pimp. How bad of me to forget.

"So far this year, dozens of constitutional amendments have been proposed by our lawmakers. A few interesting examples include an amendment "to abolish the Federal income tax," one "to protect the rights of crime victims" and another stating that "marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman."

"What changes is the brash young congressman proposing? The new Jacksonian Constitution would guarantee "the right to public education of equal high quality," "the right to health care of equal high quality," "equal rights for women," "the right to decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing," "the right to a clean, safe and sustainable environment," "the right . . . to full employment and balanced economic growth," "the explicit fundamental right of citizens to vote" and an amendment "regarding taxing the people of the United States progressively."

What a sick fuck. Daddy raised a good little socialist.

Found at the Daily Pundit

I wonder if Bush is taking resumes?

WASHINGTON - "Secretary of State Colin Powell and his top deputy have told the White House they will not serve a second term if President Bush is re-elected, The Washington Post reported."

Next up, the rest of the treasonous state department flunkies.

Quagmire.

To the left it is the 'Q-word'. In their minds, they see Rumsfeld's jaw clinch whenever the word is mentioned. But Victor Davis Hanson points out here, that there were other conflicts that better qualified as 'quagmires'.

"Poor Abraham Lincoln, during the late spring and early summer of 1864! There was talk then of an endless quagmire, of a Copperhead presidency under McClellan with the specter of a brokered armistice. Grant was bogged down in a slugfest in northern Virginia; Sherman's long supply lines were being shredded by Nathan Bedford Forrest and his own sort of Fedayeen."

"Suddenly Sherman took Atlanta, and then took off through Georgia and the Carolinas. In consequence, Lincoln was reelected � and never looked back. The fa�ade of southern resistance cracked, exposing the impotency of the plantation class, and the war was over in under six months. That one-trick pony, George McClellan (the Howard Dean of his age), who neighed and stomped in June, by December was out to pasture."

I think history shall be repeating soon.

Besides showing disrespect to the police and firefighters of NYC, the junior Senator from the State of New York also forgets about the service men and women of Queens.

"IF SEN. Hillary Rodham Clinton runs for the presidency in 2004, 2008 or the year 3000, she will do so with a bunch of Queens veterans angrier than a pit bull with a toothache."

"The whole matter would have been put to rest if the proclamation was issued." He never got a reply. Eleven days ago, he sent off another letter. Again, no reply. "My letters probably found the garbage pail," O'Sullivan said."

I guess selling and signing her book "Ignoring History" (that is the title, right?) is more important than hanging out with vets.

The Democrats and the left can say whatever they want about Bush's landing on the Lincoln, etc. But when it comes down to it, the vets know he respects them.

Oh no, the SFGate doesn't like this idea.
Found @ Judiciious Asininity via the Inoperable one

"Inside one of Oakland's largest public housing complexes, tenants opened their rent bills this week and got a surprising notice. Starting in October, a new federal law requires them to volunteer in the community eight hours each month or risk eviction."

Eight freakin' hours a month? That's it? How about 8 per week for those who don't work, and we'll work our way down from there.

"Intended as a way to improve struggling neighborhoods and introduce nonworkers to career possibilities, the law exempts seniors, those working full-time, mothers participating in welfare-to-work programs, students and the disabled. That leaves about 370,000 out of the 2 million Americans living in public housing, said Donna White, spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development."

"While many Oakland tenants said Friday they liked the idea, the new law raises some prickly issues about the rights and responsibilities of those living in public housing. Some charge that it's free labor and discriminates against the poor."

Oh, really? Well you living in government housing disriminates against people who pay taxes.

"Local housing authorities, including those in San Francisco and most Bay Area counties, will be responsible for making sure residents do the work, a lofty goal but a bureaucratic nightmare, said Sharon Harrison-Brown, who oversees 3,300 public housing families as deputy executive director of the Oakland Housing Authority. "The government is not giving us any money to implement this mandate, so I don't think this will be high on our list of priorities," Harrison-Brown said. "I don't think any court in California and particularly in the Bay Area is going to evict a family because they have not met a community service requirement."

Then they should be fired. You're in California, you'd just waste the money on something else and come crying for more.

"But the majority of Peralta Villa residents who spoke to The Chronicle were in favor of the new law. Many older tenants said it might encourage those who hang out all day to get off the street corners. Others said it was a small price to pay in exchange for affordable living."

"Public housing is supposed to be a temporary place, where you go to pay your dues until you can afford to move out and get your own place," said her 27-year-old sister, Taneka. "It's a give-and-take situation, so you can't complain about having to do volunteer work."

Isn't it funny how the folks actually being made to do the work det it, and those who give away the tax dollars don't.

While spending my pre-teen years in a county housing project, I saw the government's 'helping hand' be used, abused and confused. We lived there for almost 4 years while my mother went to school and worked part-time. We left as soon as she got a job that payed enough to make a mortgage payment.

I know of someone who still lives in the same damn apartment she was living in in 1980. She is not disabled. She is not unemployable. She just doesn't mind living there. And she is not expected to do anything but find $350 a month for rent and utilities.

Truly sad.

I found this on my local IMC site and followed it home. Where is it's home you ask? Why, none other than the People's Weekly World.

I'm including my normal "clear your area of all things breakable" warning for this one.

"No war against North Korea!" By Karen Talbot

"The burgeoning peace movement � appropriately referred to as �the other superpower� by The New York Times � is faced with an urgent new task: preventing a new war against the Democratic People�s Republic of Korea (DPRK)."

Wouldn't want to lose any funding now, would you?

"The Korean peninsula has run red with the blood of millions. The war against North Korea led by the United States in the early 1950s � a so-called UN �police action� � resulted in four million Koreans killed and the deaths of nearly 37,000 U.S. troops."

The pennisula is still running red from the victims of Kim Jung Il. And before that, his father. And those mean old Americans let the people of South Korea actually vote for their governement. The nerve! They didn't even object to the winner who ran on a platform of anti-Americanism.

"Countless civilians were victims of atrocities carried out by U.S. soldiers in both North and South Korea. In a number of articles, the Associated Press (beginning Sept. 29, 1999) revealed massacres of civilians at No Gun Ri and at several other locations in the south, confirmed by various U.S. veterans who had taken part in these killings. Napalm and germ warfare, along with a �scorched earth� policy, were employed by the U.S. and the South Korean forces it commanded."

Countless civilians are still being massacred by Kim Jung Il, dear. And as for atrocities, I would understand your wanting to forget what the onse committed by the Communist forces. I would hate to have to support a group who would kidnap entire villages at gunpoint and make them work in a Korean winter with no food or living quarters.

"July 27 marked the 50th anniversary of the armistice ending the fighting in that war. The U.S. refused to sign a peace agreement, which means that technically it is still in a �state of war� with North Korea."

I hate to break your heart, here girly, but that agreement was mutual.

"Due to the increasingly hostile policies of the Bush administration toward North Korea, the Korean people are facing the renewed threat of pre-emptive, and possibly nuclear, war. That menace extends to the region and the entire world."

Hmm, let's if I can correct this? Due to the increasingly hostile policies of the government of Kim Jong Il toward the U.S., the American people who live in the western states including Alaska are facing the a new threat of pre-emptive, and possibly nuclear, war. That menace extends to the region and the entire world.

Remember the " I will turn America into a Sea of Fire" comment, hon?

"In 2002, President-select George W. Bush abandoned the accord so critical to international peace and security, the ABM Treaty."

Hey babe, that 'Select' comment is out of touch with your politcs. The Socialist Party candidate actually took votes from Gore. So no bitchin'. Mm-Kay. And are you babbling about that out of date document we signed with a country that no longer exists (much to your chagrin, I'm sure)?

"He then proceeded with plans to build the National Missile Defense system and to deploy theater missile defenses, which the ABM treaty had proscribed. Bush and his entourage particularly used as their key justification for these moves an alleged nuclear threat from North Korea."

Well ,if Kim would just STFU about how 'strong' he is now that he has nuclear weapons, maybe we wouldn't be having to worry.

"During his 2002 State of the Union address, Bush singled out North Korea along with Iraq and Iran as belonging to an �axis of evil,� accusing the DPRK of arming itself with missiles and weapons of mass destruction."

I wonder where he got that idea from?

"Later he unveiled his doctrine on pre-emptive strikes, directing the Pentagon to be prepared to use nuclear weapons against seven countries: Russia, China, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya and Syria."

If they want to piss with the grown-ups, they have to learn not to dribble on their own shoes.

"High among Washington�s pretexts for waging pre-emptive war is �to eliminate weapons of mass destruction.� As we know, this was the excuse used for the war against Iraq, yet no such weapons have been found."

You context is a liitle messed up the darlin'. It should say 'No such weapons have been found yet'. Small matter, really.

"With each passing day the Bush administration�s claims about Iraqi WMDs are being exposed as fabrications. Nevertheless, having been through this fraudulent justification for the �shock and awe� invasion and destruction of Iraq, causing the deaths of countless thousands including many children, we are being barraged with the same kind of rationalization for war against Iran and North Korea."

Countless thousands? What? Can't you count to 6? 6000 is the highest estimate I've heard.

"The U.S. has been building up its military presence in and around the Korean peninsula for a number of months. General Leon J. LaPorte, U.S. commander in South Korea, recently announced an $11 billion �force enhancement initiative.�

Apparently you can't read either. The 'enhancement' is the moving of the troops to the south, tootsie.

"At the same time, Washington has been exerting heavy pressure on the Republic of Korea (ROK) government to increase its military budget."

And the 'increase' in their budget is for a Korean 'Tripwire' to replace the American one.

"Recently, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz indicated that American troops would be withdrawn from the demilitarized zone, which The New York Times described as a move �to take them out of easy range of North Korean artillery, and theoretically position the United States to mount a pre-emptive attack against the North.�

Oh, so I see you have read the report on 'troop enhancement.' I see where you got confused, you read it in the NYT. "All the news that is fit for puppies to piss on".

Yes, we move father away so we can attack pre-emptively. I see...

North Korean Artillery! Oh, that's funny. We can fly a missle into a toilet bowl, and they're still playing with artillery.

And just what does the NYT know about military stratagey, anyway?

"Pentagon officials have recently made clear that the changes were being made with the possibility of war in mind. This is in spite of the request by ROK President Roh Moo Hyun that the Bush administration postpone any redeployment of the Second Infantry Division until �after the nuclear issue has been resolved.�

After talking all that smack about the US during his election campaign, he doesn't want to have to defend his own country. Typical.

"North Korea �is teetering on the edge of economic collapse. � That, I believe, is a major point of leverage,� the Associated Press quotes Wolfowitz as saying."

You say that like it's our fault that they broke their own bank arming themselves. I mean Carter gave them a power plant for free. You know, the one he is admitting to getting his nuclear bomb making matierial from.

"If this were not enough, the most recent issue of U.S. News and World Report reveals the details of a draft of a new Pentagon war plan � Plan 5030 � calling for provocative actions against North Korea. This includes conducting maneuvers and holding surprise military exercises in order to compel North Korea to place its troops on high alert. It also speaks of using spy planes to fly directly up to the border to force the DPRK to scramble its jet fighters. The aim is to strain the North Korean military�s scarce resources and to sow confusion. The very disclosure of plan 5030 is designed to further undermine the possibilities for a negotiated settlement."

And just what is wrong with planning? We want to win, remember? Oh, that's right, you don't want the US to win.

"Coupled with this is another publicly-known U.S. war plan � OPLAN 5027 � for launching a pre-emptive strike against the Yongbyon nuclear complex and other military targets."

That plan was thrown out years ago. We now just plan on making North Korea a parking lot for Seoul.

"Meanwhile, the backdrop to the heightened war-mongering includes the ongoing presence of more than 40,000 U.S. troops and 97 bases and military installations in South Korea; regular U.S.-led war games; daily target bombing for 50 years at the bombing range near the village of Maehyang-Ri; crimes by members of the U.S. military against Korean citizens that go unpunished; and environmental destruction caused by these military forces, including the dumping of toxic wastes into the Han River, the drinking water source for millions of people. The U.S. continues to act as a virtual occupying force in South Korea operating under the Status of Forces Agreement."

Gotta stay busy somehow. Idle hands and all.

"The DPRK has been under direct nuclear threat longer than any other nation. During the Korean War, Gen. Douglas MacArthur had to be prevented from unleashing atomic bombs on North Korea. Throughout the Cold War, the DPRK faced the threat of U.S. nuclear weapons and up to 100 tactical nuclear warheads stationed south of the DMZ."

And I sometimes still have thoughts that Doug was right on the ball.

"Yet in recent years, after decades of unremitting struggle for democracy, peace, and reunification in South Korea, along with unprecedented massive general strikes by the labor movement, significant gains have been won. These include the election of governments considerably more answerable to the populace than the extremely repressive regimes of the past. Both President Kim Dae Jung, who projected his �sunshine policy� towards the DPRK, who met in the historic summit with President Kim Jong Il of the DPRK, and who, himself, had been a political prisoner, and the current President Roh, have supported implementation of the North-South Declaration in spite of strong pressures from Washington."

A declaration that included capitulation by the south. I wonder why the US would be against that after losing 37,000 soldiers there?

"During the Clinton presidency, according to then-Defense Secretary William Perry and Assistant Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, an attack on the Yongbyon facility in the DPRK was being readied even though they acknowledged that the price would be very heavy, including for South Korea. �The intensity of combat would be greater than any the world has witnessed since the last Korean War.�

Yeah, so what? We currently have plans of what we are going to do if we need to invade the UK.

"Kim Young-Sam, then-president of the ROK, recalls, �At the time the situation was really dangerous. � The Clinton Government was preparing for war.� As American forces mobilized for an assault, Kim warned U.S. Ambassador James Laney that South Korea would not move �even a single soldier� in support of the U.S. war. Kim then phoned President Clinton and told him �there would be no inter-Korean war while I was president.�

Lazy bastard.

"Former President Jimmy Carter, who was alarmed over the dangerous march toward war, boldly intervened and made an unofficial trip to Pyongyang. He was instrumental in bringing about negotiations and created a fait accompli, which Clinton could not overturn. This ultimately led to the 1994 DPRK-U.S. Agreed Framework."

And we are currently dealing with the mess he made with that agreement. He would rather be blackmailed than stand up for what is right. Not that he would know what is right if it walked up and kicked him in the balls. Mr. du Toit, your name is now 'Mr. Right'.

"Under the Agreed Framework, the U.S. pledged to build one or more light water reactors in the DPRK and to supply much-needed �heavy oil� to that country to meet North Korea�s electricity and heating needs. In exchange, North Korea agreed to decommission its graphite moderated reactor program. The U.S. has effectively reneged on the agreement, creating enormous hardship for the people of the DPRK."

The US has reneged on the agreement because Kim Jong Il is using the light water reactors to build nuclear weapons, you stupid bint.

"This led the DPRK to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to end the freeze on its reactor at Yongbyon and its program to construct of two more reactors. In so doing, they pointed to Article X, which stipulates: �Each party shall in exercising its national sovereignty have the right to withdraw from the Treaty if it decides that extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of this Treaty, have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country.�

I guess that making nuclear weapons was a good point to use to withdraw? But you keep saying 'supposed nuclear weapons'. Make up you dammed mind woman.

"Meanwhile, the U.S. possesses by far the largest arsenal of nuclear armaments � 8-12,000 warheads, many of which remain on hair-trigger alert. It has failed to abide by Article VI of the Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT), requiring the nuclear weapons states, including the U.S., to accomplish the total and unequivocal elimination of their nuclear weapons. Washington is maintaining a double standard by demanding other nations respect the NPT while it possesses this vast arsenal and proceeds to develop new nuclear weapons."

Part of the the treaty that you don't seem to comprehend is that now 'new' nations can build weapons under the treaty. That is why it is called a 'proliferation' treaty. Are you sure you can read?

"Under these menacing circumstances, the DPRK is asserting its right to possess nuclear weapons to ensure its security if the U.S. continues threatening it."

We weren't the ones doing the threatening. But I suppose that America's very existence is a threat to you and N. Korea.

"Nevertheless, the DPRK reiterates its determination to seek a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue, through negotiations. This is a goal shared by the government and majority of people of the ROK as well. Indeed, vast multitudes around the globe yearn for a peaceful resolution of this perilous confrontation."

The DPRK's idea of a 'peaceful settlement' is nothing but blackmail. Meawhile, they will not agree to a treaty unless it contains a loophole they can use to build their nuclear weapons anyway.

"If the U.S. had lived up to the Agreed Framework provisions, the current dangerous crisis could have been avoided."

Oh, you mean if the US had decided that letting N. Korea use the new reactors to build bombs was OK, this could have been avoided.

"The people of North Korea would not be suffering so desperately from the lack of electric power, which is key to agricultural and industrial production � a hardship that was acutely exacerbated by a series of unprecedented natural disasters of flooding and drought. The economic suffering has been caused in no small way by the ongoing economic sanctions against the DPRK, imposed by the U.S. for years."

They don't need electric power for 'agricultural production', you dumbass. How did the gotdam Mesoptamians grow food with out electricity? Please tell me. And their 'industrial production' doesn't seem to be effected. they have been shipping missles to the Arab states non-stop for the past 10 years.

"Public opinion in the U.S. has shifted dramatically in response to the untruths used to justify the war against Iraq. This should lead people to question such allegations with regard to North Korea and to reject fraudulent accusations about weapons of mass destruction used as pretexts for waging new wars."

What fucking 'fraudulent accusations' are you talking about? He is declaring he has them. He is even issuing public threats to use them.

"The peace and justice movement in the U.S. and worldwide is raising the demand to prevent war on the Korean peninsula based on the following essential steps: (1) The U.S. immediately should resume negotiations with the DPRK, in good faith; (2) Return to the pledge contained in the Agreed Framework to renounce the threat or use of nuclear weapons and conclude a non-aggression pact; (3) Respect the will of the Korean people for the full implementation of the North-South Declaration of June 15, 2000, for achieving peace, reconciliation and reunification on the Korean peninsula."

Before any of that should happen, the 'Peace and Justice Movement in the US' should agree to kiss George Bush's ass.

"In accordance with the Agreed Framework, North Korea agreed to freeze its graphite-moderated reactor at Yongbyon and halt construction of two more reactors, to be monitored by the IAEA. The U.S. agreed to �undertake to make arrangements for the provision� to North Korea of a light water reactor (LWR) project. Thereby this would quell any notion that plutonium extracted from the Yongbyon facility was being utilized in the development of nuclear weapons, even though there had never been any evidence to that effect. Upon completion of the LWR project, the DPRK agreed �to dismantle its graphite-moderated reactors and the related facilities,� according to Article 5 of the Agreed Framework."

Too bad Kim went around your 'Article 5' and used the plutonium from the light water reactors. Which is what got us where we are now.

"While the light water reactors were under construction, the U.S. was obligated to supply North Korea annually with half a million tons of heavy oil for heating and electricity production. These shipments were intended to serve as partial compensation to North Korea for being forced to abandon efforts to meet its energy needs critical to its economic development."

And we did so until we saw what was going on.

"Furthermore, the Agreed Framework called for a �move to full normalization of political and economic relations.� And Article 3 states, �The U.S. will provide formal assurances to the DPRK, against the threat of use of nuclear weapons by the U.S.�

As soon as he stops threatening us. You stupid shit eating bint.

We may be about to see the first major schism of the 21st century, the splitting of a major denomination in two. Episcopalians are as alien to me as Muslims. I was raised a Seventh Day Adventist, which is a tale in itself, but I understand bitter division on religious matters as my fathers family was Church of God. Putting my too grandmothers together in a room would have ended in nuclear fission. They hated that much. What the Episcopalians are doing is foolhardy on several counts. The biggest one is that the conservative half may just walk, and take their money and property with them. Shattering the denomination into fragments that frankly may not recover. Another is that the liberal half is taking a giant gamble on opening the floodgates, over an issue where the bible is quite clear. They have pop culture on their side, not scripture.

I am not saying gays have no place, what I am saying is that by tagging someone as the "gay" bishop they are doing the same as electing an "adulteress" one by electing a man who openly cheats on his wife. I personally don't know God's current opinion, he doesn't return my calls. But neither do the two sides here. The liberals are emphasizing the sin, not the man. The conservatives are only seeing the sin period, while they do have scripture on their side, they need to not act rashly.

This is so convoluted, can't they just elect the guy without dancing a jig over the fact that he's gay, everyone involved already knows it. By doing so they are rubbing it in the nose of those that disagree, which is fine in politics with a multiparty system, but this is a church. They are supposed to be all on God's side, not their own. By the same token, the conservative side has a valid point. When a church openly ignores what the bible says in favor of a social cause, why are they even in the church to begin with, when in the process of changing it to suit themselves, they destroy it? It raises questions about the falibility of the Bible, about faith, about the concept of a church existing to whorship God rather than serve man. The debate is opening a Pandora's box of tough questions that may drive many followers elswhere.

In the end, the victory of electing the first openly gay Bishop may taste of ashes. If they had taken the time to make friends, to convince, to embrace rather than gain a bare majority and ram it through, the victory might have been a lasting one. As it is, it looks like it'll be a bitter divorce.
--------------------------------------------------------------

If any gay readers find my views offensive, well, I fall into the majority of Americans. I use the word sin, because that's what it is in the bible, if it's any consolation, I consider every human drawing a breath a sinner, so don't feel too special about it. I bare no malice against gays, live your life, be happy, grow old like everybody else. Just don't ask me to like you because you're gay. If you try, you may find that I can be your friend without the sticker. The hyphens can come later, when they don't matter. There is no such thing as a gay friend, nor a straight one, there is just,...a friend.

And that my brothers and sisters, is the only sermon this descendant of a Calvinist Preacher is gonna give. My Great, great, great, great grandfather. A distinctinion I share with several thousand other Americans. I also bare the surname. I point this out not because of any claims to granduer, but to say that preaching seems to be in my blood. For which I heartily apologize................

Why do folks who hate capitalism engage in it? Probably so that when they fail they can say 'I've tried capitalism and it just doesn't work'.

"Nancy Owen owns Alegra's Bridal & Invitations in the Tarrytown Shopping Center. She has an ant problem. "I'm standing at the counter, and ants are walking over my order forms while I'm trying to write an order for my customers," Nancy said. "It got to where I didn't even want to come to work."

"At least three businesses � two restaurants and a grocery/deli � have left the mall over the past few years because they were selling meat and Daniels wouldn't allow it."

Now, while I do agree that it is her property and she has the right to make up the rules of what goes on in her property, I doubt that she will see that it was her rules that will cause her property to go down in value.

Found at A Small Victory

I followed Interested Participant back to his blog after reading his comments. Where I found this post, "A Note of Thanks". It's a letter written by a Christy Ferer, a 9/11 widow about her USO tour. It's an incredibly moving letter, and I can't recommend it highly enough. He found it at Absinthe & Cookies, and Mickey's Musings. Posted at the Air Force Personnel Center

A Note of Thanks to Those Who Serve
by Christy Ferer

Some were blunt. "Why are you going there?" They could not understand why it was important for me, a 9/11 widow, to express my support for the men and women stationed today in the Gulf.

Please, read it. And thank you again Mike, it was a treasure.

Global warming is a touchy subject for me. Not least because having come of age in the seventies, I've seen the Armagedon is the day after tomorrow crowd mutate and change it's story time after time. Never explaining why yesterdays theory isn't just wrong, but why we should listen to the new improved the sky is falling rant. Steven Milloy sticks some pins in this well deserving target, the rush of hot air is greater than all the hysterical warnings issued by the so called "experts".

Satellite and weather balloon measurements of atmospheric temperatures since the 1970s actually indicate slight cooling to no change. To the extent any significant warming may have occurred during the 20th century, most occurred before 1940, while most greenhouse gas emissions (search) occurred after 1940 -- so there�s no apparent cause-and-effect relationship.

When the quest for money degenerates into the scare of the month, when careers and research grants are the stuff of nightmares cause that's where the money is....The whole process is called into question. Climate science is rapidly becoming like astrology and palm reading, only saps will pay real money for it.

I'm not saying go forth and pollute, far from it. I want my kids to live in a clean world too. But we are doing better than we were, far, far better. I haven't heard of any rivers catching fire lately, as one did in the seventies. Like the ice age theory in vogue in the seventies global warming has the feel of the snake oil salesman reaching for your wallet. It also has it's zealots and fanatics shrilly screaming and pointing fingers at those they deam responsible. A big segment of academia has long had a problem with the money and status of businessmen. It seems so unfair to them they they are deprived of the their just rewards by the capitolist money grubbers. Convienent isn't it that the theories that evolve about global disaster always seem to involve reigning in these people? I don't much believe in conspiracies, but I know oppurtunism and bias when I see it. Global warming is the junk science money tree right now, and the result is predictable.

The myth of the dedicated scientist only interested in scientific truth, is just that, a myth. They bring the same human weakeness and failings we all have. The same prejudices, the same need for rationalization. To swallow their theories at face value because you grant them credibility by default isn't thinking.

It's just habit.

And the hunt continues......

It does, however, seem a little funny that the Swedish researchers are waiting until their book and TV deals are done to release the information. Seems a little mercenary - but I guess you gotta do whatever feels best to you - and perhaps making tons of money is what feels best.

Like I've maintained all along - anyone who believes Saddam never had WMD's is a fool. The scariest thing about not finding them in Iraq is that means there is at least the possibility that they have been exported elsewhere.

I stopped by FARK and found a link to the coolest toumstone I've seen (except for the one I found with my name on it in Everett, WA.)

I seriously need to get me one of these.

"Abandoned missile silos become safe homes"

KIMBALL, Nebraska (AP) - "In an era of rainbow-colored terror warnings, the underground home of Don and Charlene Zwonitzer makes duct tape and plastic sheeting seem like the first little pig's house of straw."

"The Zwonitzers figure they could hold out a year without having to leave their home in an Atlas E missile silo."

I wonder if they can get pizza delivered?

Alrighty folks, hope you had a good week over last week? It's now time to change the band of the week.

I was having difficulty deciding who was going to replace Rush. I was having such a good time going through all the albums I was very close to keeping them on for another week, but decided against that. For the sake of variety, I had nominated Thelonious Monk, Ray Charles and James Brown. I decided to wait until later in the summer for Brother Ray, and I just wasn't up to par on my Monk skills, so I ended up deciding that the Godfather of Soul was going to be the one.

Daaaam, I knew I didn't have all of his albums, but daaaam. I was unable to find a complete discography for Mr. Brown, and until I do he will be on deck. But while I was looking for the discography, I found this,

I found it at the 9th Infantry Division's website "Old Reliable.org". Please stop by, and make sure to click on the 'Medal of Honor' link on the left hand side. The description of events are truly amazing.

So, I have decided that since I'm going on vacation soon and will be busy at work with working ahead and training a temp that I will just do something easy. Primus will be our band this week.

They barely beat out Alice In Chains and Soundgarden for the honor. Mostly because Primus is another excellent three piece band and because they opened for Rush, once upon a time. I hope to not have to make it Les Claypool week, but if I find a Flying Frog Brigade, Sausage, Oysterhead, etc. tune that I think fits the bill, I may use it.

And for those of y'all who don't know no Primus, where you been, pork chop?

And I will listen to suggestions for future bands, so feel free to speak up.

Sat Aug 2, 7:05 PM ET

Palestinian children dressed as suicide bombers of the radical Hamas movement and carrying mock rockets participate in a demonstration in the West Bank city of Nablus.(AFP/File/Pedro Ugarte)

Question, after seeing how the supposedly peaceful Palestinians dress their children as bombers and thugs, give them fake guns and bombs then parade them through the streets, how exactly does this demonstrate a willingness to reach a peace with Isreal? I see this and think, what pack of retards can see this and say the Palestinians want peace.

Oh, it must be this pack "O" retards.............International Solidarity Movement (ISM), terrorist lovers and enablers. Lefty gutter trash from the finest new age diploma mills in the western world. Where blowing up jews is a consequence, but building a fence to stop same is an act of imperialist aggression....

Yes these retards.

I love my president, but he's wrong on this issue. The Israeli's building a fence is the only sensible thing left to them, the only other option is genocide, but the Israeli's are better than that. When they openly teach their children to hate, to prepare for martyr status, then any sanity the Palestinians may have had is long dead. They are sacrificing the seed corn, burning up the coming generations in a pointless blood fued with no end but extermination. When this is what so called "refugee" camps harbour, then the talking is over. When braindead international anti-semites set up camp and join in demonstrations but aren't roundly condemed by the world press, the talkings over. The butchers have great PR people in the BBC, in leading universities, in most of the worlds governments.

Israel can take heart in this however, Americans genuinely like Israel. This isn't just a casual friendship, but a special one, akin to the one we enjoy with Britain. We may disagree on details, but there will be no recrimnations, no blaming, no punishment. Because when Americans feel the lose of bombing victims in Tel Aviv as if it were in New York, there is no backing away. We are the greatest power to ever grace the world in all of human history, and we call Israel a true friend. This isn't a small thing. We hold death in our pocket, and we know who the enemy is. The enemy of Israel is our enemy, he wears the same mask, speaks the same langauge, dreams the same dreams of death. Some of us shrink from it, but they are the same. And our war will not be over till they are all buried.

The Palestinians can still reject the blood path, but isn't this their last chance really? If they reject a peacefull democracy, reject stopping the bombers, reject the teaching of hate, then they consign themselves to eternal refugee status. Forever without a state, because they can't be trusted with one.

After yesterday's news about coming 'surprises', this news makes 2004 look even worse for the Dems.

"Finding weapons of mass destruction now ranks only third with Americans when it comes to top priorities in Iraq, according to a new FOX News-opinion dynamics poll out today. Forty one percent now say establishing a new government should be the top priority for the U.S. in Iraq, followed by finding Saddam with 25 percent, with only 12 percent putting finding WMD first."

And if some people say "Well it's a Fox poll. What do you expect?" Just remind them that the Fox viewers (aka The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy) actually have their priorities in the proper order.

The Grouchy Old Cripple is dealing with an infestation of french folks over at his electric abode. He's got his shoe out and he's squashing them like so many cockroaches.

"E. J. posted: Hum, I am a little confused. I am french and I dont see what you want to demonstrate. Maybe that the american is superior to the french, as did Hitler with the Jews?? Maybe you are just dumb, maybe xenophobic, maybe both??"

"Well, yeah. America is superior to France. We have more freedoms. We are wealthier. We are more powerful. Dumber? No. America leads the world in technology. And as for xenophobic, we do not have a Ministery of Culture whose main job is to try to keep French culture and the French language 'pure'. Now that, mon ami, is an example of xenophobia. And your Ministery of Culture is gonna be working overtime on that Muslim time bomb that's ticking away. Good luck. No on second thought, get fucked!"

Ooooh, that had to hurt.

"OK mister I-forgot-what-is-the-country-the-USA-should-owe-forever-for-being-freed-from-the-english-crown-while-asking-nothing-in-return ?"

"The only reason France helped us was because France was in a war with England. If not for that, France wouldn't have done squat. And we paid you back in WWI. So maybe what-is-the-country-France-should-owe-forever-for-being-freed-from-the-Germans-twice-while-asking-and getting-nothing-in-return-and-also-protecting-against-Soviet-expansion-while-asking-for-a-little-help-and-getting-none is a little pissed at you assholes."

Ka-thump!!

It only gets better from there.

For your daily hair pulling exercise.

"Believing the term "food stamps" carries such a stigma that it's making people reluctant to partake in the program, the state has commissioned an advertising agency to find a new term. However, it is unclear whether these new names will be implemented, because of differing reports from state and federal agencies."

"The state's Department of Health and Family Services, which spent $10,000 to have a Madison firm craft the new name, had hoped to introduce it soon in brochures, TV advertisements and other promotional materials. The business - Knupp and Watson - has been running several possibilities by focus groups."

I have never done this. I've never even seen it happen. I don't even know why it is done.

STURGIS SD � "While the competition gulped water, Kelly Kaufman bulled his way to One Eyed Jack's Rocky Mountain Oyster Championship last night with sips of beer."

"But I don't know if I like them any more," he added, politely hiding a healthy belch behind his oily hand."

There are so many one-liners here, but I'll leave those for you all.

Whenever I end up talking with someone who is a supporter of socialised medicine, I always end up using the 'DMV Scenario'. I'm sure that most of you already know where that road goes.

Well, I've got another example to use,

"Efficiency commission report to be late"

"HARTFORD, Conn. -- A new panel charged with finding ways to make Connecticut government run more efficiently will release its report six months later than scheduled."

Oh, my sides are splitting.

I haven't seen it yet, but what's the take on this movie? Any good, or just wait and snag it on DVD for the kids?

I liked his comics, read everything from 76 through to about 80. Sparadic since then, and I hated the TV series. I hope it's as good as Spiderman, but we'll see.

The National Post has an editorial that actually makes sense, God knows it couldn't come from the Tronto Star.

This sequence of events typifies the international community's standard operating procedure when it comes to humanitarian emergencies. It waits for the United States to agree to do the heavy lifting, and then parcels out the less onerous tasks. But U.S. manpower, capital and political will have limits. Washington cannot be expected to bear the burden of intervention during every crisis.
-----------------------------------

Today's burden shirking may exact a high price tomorrow. Isolationism always has a significant constituency in the United States. And if ordinary Americans gets the sense that their country's goodwill is being exploited by other nations, they will retreat from trouble spots like sub-Saharan Africa and the Balkans entirely -- emerging only to fight wars that suit Washington's self-interest. The better strategy is for Europe and Canada to ante up now, before it's too late

I bet this editorial pissed of more than a few lefty Canadians. That alone is worth a smile. Still the point is valid, for all the international moaning and groaning over every humanitarian crisis, the world doesn't do jack about them. Unless the US leads. That says much good about us, but it's much less flattering for the rest. Do we really have to hold the worlds hand every time they go to the bathroom?

When will the toilet training end?

From the public statements I'd thought the Norwegian troops where there to help rebuild Iraq. But it seems they're just tourists. It's a very short piece so here's all of it.

2. August 2003
Norwegian Soldiers Mistaken For Brits

(NRK)

In other words, PLEASE DON'T SHOOT ME! SHOOT HIM INSTEAD! ..........

So why does anybody want them there? Since dead Brit's seem a small price to pay for being liked and all. They go to great pains to say they aren't part of the occupation, (thank God), and yet they work closely with British troops. Hoping that they don't catch any lead meant for some poor Tommy.

I'm sorry, but does anyone else find their attitude repugant? I'm not saying they should hope to get shot, I'm saying that they're acting like cowards....

And yeah, I really believe that.

Whatever your stand on gay marriage,(I'm not at all comfortable about it), this is just funny. That A Norwegian socialist is "shocked" that Bush might not think it's a good idea. Really? I'll bet Bush's views on gun control would make him faint into a coma. But this is the really good part.

�I encourage Foreign Minister Jan Petersen to take up the issue in political discussions with the American authorities. He can tell them that Norway has very good experience with offering homosexuals the opportunity to enter into domestic partnership arrangements offering the same legal rights that marriage provides for heterosexuals,� said Halvorsen to Nettavisen.

You just do that Kristin old buddy, that'll get your foreign minister sandwiched in between the former ambassador from Iraq, and the PETA spokesman. Right after Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

He greatly over estimates Norway's pull in Washington, don't ya think?

Did you know Saddam has daughters? His oldest gave an interview in Jordan. Leaving aside the notion that she and her sisters had no role in the regime, and may have lived in fear of making 'daddy' mad, consider this statement.

"It was a big shock ... With regret, those my father trusted, whom he had put his absolute confidence in and whom he had considered on his side ... betrayed him," Hussein's daughter Raghad told Al Arabiya television from Jordan, where she has been granted asylum.

"This is an act of treason. If somebody doesn't like you, they should not betray you. Betrayal is not a trait of Arabs," she said.

.........................Bwhaaaaahhaaaaaaaaaahaaaahaaaa.....haaaa..haaaaaaa.. That ranks right up there with French war hero, and Honest Swiss banker as true turds of wisdom.

Look over to the right,

See any similarities?

"Today, as America faces unprecedented threats, this historic symbol of our founding has emerged as a reminder of our origin and true courage. The Secretary of the Navy, Gordon R. England, has ordered all U.S. Navy ships to fly the First Navy Jack in place of the Union Jack for the duration of the Global War on Terrorism. In a memo to all ships and stations, England explained, "The temporary substitution of this Jack represents a historic reminder of the nation's and Navy's origin and will to persevere and triumph."

"In a speech preceding the commissioning rite of the USS Ronald Reagan, Vice President Cheney addressed the continuing threat of terrorism: "The Ronald Reagan sets sail in a world with new dangers�. In the life of this carrier, as in the life of its namesake, the enemies of freedom will fall away and the realm of freedom will expand further across the face of the Earth."

The Tocq has a link where you can purchase a 'Jack'. Just click on the link under the pic.

I like surprises. Don't you?

"David Kay, a special adviser to the CIA, said solid progress was being made, but would not be drawn on whether any actual weapons of mass destruction (WMD) had been found."

"People "should not be surprised by surprises", he said."

GHWB went into Kuwait to kick out Saddam on my birthday in 1991. That was a surprise. I wonder what kind of surprise these guys have in store for me?

'Tailfins? Those aren't tailfins.'

"At least one Cold War-era MiG-25 interceptor was found when searchers saw the tops of its twin tail fins poking up from the sands, one Pentagon official familiar with the hunt said."

"Our guys have found 30-something brand new aircraft buried in the sand to deny us access to them," Goss said. "These are craft we didn't know about."

"Pre-war intelligence estimates from earlier this year said Saddam Hussein's regime had about 300 combat aircraft, all of them survivors of the Gulf War. Most were ageing Soviet-era MiGs, Sukhois and older French Mirage fighters. The best are MiG-29 Fulcrums, one of the most advanced fighters produced in the Soviet era."

And who was it that was against the invasion? Hmmm, I'm trying to remember?

I found this artice by Lloyd Evans over at Samizdata. Lloyd goes and mingles with the red commie bastards of the UK with some funny and some scary results.

The sad part is that while people like the folks in this article think that it would be a good thing for the people to rely on the hand of the government, they never figure out that the hand is always also a fist.

"I engaged in the debate. My objection to Marxism is simply this: lovely design, lousy building. I quizzed my fellow Zapatistas on the practicalities of a socialist paradise. How would those who exchanged goods for profit be punished? Is collective decision-making feasible? Under Marxism, would there be opposition parties, parliaments or even nations? Though I limited myself to these basic issues, all my queries were greeted with a baffled shrug. �Never thought about it, really,� was a typical answer. Or I was offered dreamy soundbites: �Oh, but Marxist society won�t be organised along those lines.�

"I asked a young woman from Nottingham if there would be money after the revolution. �Gradually, eventually it�ll die out, hopefully,� she said. She�d just qualified, she told me, as a human-rights lawyer. So did she favour a maximum wage? The idea had never occurred to her. She frowned a bit. �Yeah. About �40,000.� �OK,� I said, �but then everyone earning more than that will emigrate.� �Good,� her boyfriend chipped in, �get the fuckers out.� Which concluded our seminar on wage control."

I wish the liberals, oops I mean 'progressives', of America had enough balls to stand up and say that they believe in ideas such as that. It would take the guesswork out of voting for the average American.

it seems that people entering Israel who are with the 'International Solidarity Movement' are being picked up at the airport as they enter and being sent back. Kind of like the 'palestinian' police force's "Terrorist Catch and Release Program'. Except this one will actually stop terrorism.

"Michael Sheikh, a student from Australia, and a former media officer for the ISM at the time of Rachel Corrie's death in March, has been detained at Ben Gurion airport and awaiting deportation as a "security risk," the second such "risk" to arrive peaceably and openly at Ben Gurion in less than 24 hours."

In case you haven't already heard about the newest activity in the ISM "get yourself beaten by the IDF, no matter what the cost workout program" it includes attacking the security fence while screaming "from the river to the sea, palestine will be free". I hear it is a great cardio workout.

Found @ LGF

Bill at Bloviating Inanities wonders what we'd do with Hussein if we were able to take him alive. As opposed to making him a human icicle like we are doing with tweedle-dead and tweedle-deader.

"Would we toss him in with Manuel Noriaga? It would be like we were starting a little dictator collection. But then I thought, is being ugly and silly looking a prerequisite to becoming a dictator? It certainly seems that way."

Go take a look at his examples.

Something I just want to get off my chest;

I wonder when folks both around the world and here in America will realize that calling someone a 'Cowboy' is a compliment and not an insult?

And also, go wish The Ville safe passage. He is taking a week off to go to the Sturgis rally (lucky bastard). I have co-workers who are vacationing in Sturgis as well (lucky bastards) and I hope they all have a wonderful time in the Black Hills of South Dakota (lucky bastards).

I, myself, am still 3 years away from the end of my maritally imposed ban on owning anything with a 0-60 under 7 seconds and driving anything with one under 5 seconds. And that includes any motorcycle worth the rubber it sits on. Since my wife wasn't too thrilled with a little high-speed, high-drag incident I had a little while back, she decided that I should keep the forward movement at a reasonable rate. And now I own a truck. It's handy, but I like being wrapped in steel and carbon fiber. Time for some more velocitherapy.

Did I mention that they're lucky bastards?

AKA: F*ck tha Police-The British Version

This fall, BBC2 will be running a series of specials on the subject of the gang violence that is over-running their country. They will be focusing on the new 'gun culture' with programs titles like "Gun Traffic", "Sons and Guns" and "Guns and Rap" because if it isn't the inanimate objects fault it must be the music's fault.

"This autumn BBC TWO tries to better understand and reflect the world around us with some insightful documentaries about the harsh realities of the modern world."

"There's also Guns And Rap, which asks if there really is a link between guns and hip hop music, and Sons And Guns which follows two courageous women venturing into the dangerous world of street crime and gangs in Boston in order to better understand the rise of gang-related shootings in their home town of Manchester."

Do you like the way they just kinda slide the propaganda and distortions right on in there?