Pecas

2004-01-07T04:02:00.000-08:00

OMG! I'm offended!
I have mixed feelings on this.
On one hand, I don't believe a company should promote or require others to appreciate particular lifestyles. Basically I don't think a company should require anything of you personally, but rather require that you dress in an acceptable fashion, show up on time, etc. My employers have generally told me to leave my personal life at the door. No one cares! Your co-workers don't want to know.
On that note, part of being a person is understanding that other people will not always like you. You cannot live in reality without being offended and disliked. Also, if it's not harrassing or threatening speech, it should be acceptable, shouldn't it?
However, I think he should have responded to the person who wrote the memo, asking to be removed from the mailing list, instead of sending his complaint to the whole company.
Oh the wide world and its senselessness. I'm sick of people who are out looking to be offended. I'm sick of this PC kick. I'm sick of people who think they're disliked because they're black or white or gay or straight or... Sometimes they're right, but most of the time they're disliked because people don't "just get along."

2004-01-07T03:40:00.000-08:00

Don't be such a boob, Bush.
Bush wants to grant amnesty to illegal workers, then give them even more benefits if they return home after a few years.
Even worse, Bush also is expected to broadly discuss giving workers from some countries expanded access to Social Security benefits, sources said.
Seriously. Is there any benefit for anyone besides Bush getting more votes? Yes. The employers of these illegals who don't have to worry about INS catching them anymore. Besides that... we're letting more people in legally for longer periods of time. We need to tighten our borders, not loosen them. I thought Bush was serious about the fight against terrorists, now he wants to keep illegals here? Granted most of them are illegal Mexicans working construction, but anything making it easier to cross our borders which are already pathetic is disgusting.
I wish a Libertarian candidate had a chance because I'm sick of Bush (who has never vetoed a bill!) and I sure as hell don't want a Democrat, especially Dean.

2003-12-14T09:22:00.000-08:00

2003-12-14T09:14:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, we got him.

An Iraqi journalist weeps for joy upon learning that Saddam was found, hiding in a hole.

The Scotsman has a timeline of Saddam's actions while on the run.

This is a wonderful moment for the people of Iraq, and their neighbors.

2003-11-24T19:17:00.000-08:00

Wow kids. Wow. Gun control sucks more than you could ever imagine.

I just finished my 15 page paper on gun control. I had to do a lot of reasearch. A lot. Even I was surprised at the weakness of their argument. Their argument only looks nice if you disregard common sense, logical thought and all knowledge of history.

Diane Feinstein has a concealed carry permit and regularly packs a .38 revolver. Sarah Brady, yes, Brady as in Brady bill, bought her son a rifle for Christmas. Rosie O'Donnell has at least one armed guard. The list continues.

The bottom line is, criminals have guns and the police can't protect you, so buy a gun and learn how to use it.

And yes, that's right, the police can't protect you. The courts have ruled over and over that they're not responsible to you, they're only responsible to the community. This means if your stalker is outside and they don't show up he may kill you and it won't be their fault. In other words, buy a gun and learn how to use it.

2003-09-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

I've said it before: Affirmative Action is insulting and detrimental, not helpful.

Southern Methodist University shut down a bake sale Wednesday in which cookies were offered for sale at different prices, depending on the buyer's race or gender.
The sale was organized by the Young Conservatives of Texas, who said it was intended as a protest of affirmative action
...
A black student filed a complaint with SMU, saying the sale was offensive.

A minority student was offended by a simple example of how affirmative action really works. Nothing more needs to be said.

2003-09-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm definitely interested in knowing more about this, from Colin Powell in 2001.

[T]he sanctions exist... not for the purpose of hurting the Iraqi people, but for the purpose of keeping in check Saddam Hussein's ambitions toward developing weapons of mass destruction. We should constantly be reviewing our policies, constantly be looking at those sanctions to make sure that they are directed toward that purpose. That purpose is every bit as important now as it was ten years ago when we began it. And frankly they have worked. He has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors.
...
May I just add a p.s. that if I was a Kuwaiti and I heard leaders in Baghdad claiming that Kuwait is still a part of Iraq and it's going to be included in the flag and the seal, if I knew they were continuing to try to find weapons of mass destruction, I would have no doubt in my mind who those weapons were aimed at. They are being aimed at Arabs, not at the United States or at others.

2003-09-10T12:50:00.000-07:00

We should be deporting them
not giving them licenses. Giving licenses to illegals is stupid.

2003-09-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

Terrorism, Al-Qaida, and Iraq
Exhibit A
Exhibit B

2003-09-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

2003-09-08T07:22:00.000-07:00

Supported by the Commission to remove Gray Davis.
From Davis himself:
"you shouldn't be governor unless you can pronounce the name of the state."
From Davis spokesman Pete Ragone:
"the real question is, is Arnold sorry for the way he's talked about women over the past 20 years? Is Arnold sorry for his support of Prop. 187?" Ragone asked.
What is Prop. 187? Did Arnold vote for it?
Schwarzenegger, who came to the United States from Austria during the late 1960s, has acknowledged voting for Proposition 187, the 1994 initiative that denied some social services to illegal immigrants but has since been mostly voided by the courts.
What the hell is wrong with people? It's bad to deny illegals social services? They're illegal! They shouldn't be here in the first place! Come legally or don't come at all.
Of course, this is from the state giving them licenses and allowing them to vote, no questions asked.
Oh, and as far as I can tell from this article, Arnold hasn't actually said anything against women. Ragone is just referring to Arnold's wild youth.
These quotes from the Fox News Article.

2003-09-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

At least I'm not the Johnny Depp who'd rather live in France because America is a big, dumb puppy.

You Are Ichabod Crane From "Sleepy Hollow."

You're a deep thinker - most times logically. You're a bit of a neat freak and a wuss (hey, you do faint a lot!) but you do have the ability to overcome your fears and come out stronger in the end. And you never lose your head over things. (Gufaw gufaw!)

Take The Johnny Depp Quiz!

2003-09-04T19:42:00.000-07:00

Next step: Outlaw stupidity
Judge Sweet ruled against fat people suing McDonald's, again.

The ruling marks the second time U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet dismissed the case brought on behalf of two youngsters who blamed their obesity, diabetes and other health problems on Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets.

Too bad the ruling was due to lack of evidence and not blatant stupidity and disregard for personal responsibility.

2003-08-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

Fatties
Read all about it!

Obesity and overweight account for $93 billion a year in U.S. spending on medical care, a major new study found.
How much money do all the studies cost?

Parents are "crying out for help, information and alternatives to come to terms with the challenges of childhood obesity,"
How about cutting out McD's and learning to cook? It's cheaper.

Nearly 60 percent said they liked the idea of banning foods such as soda, chips and candy in schools and 58 percent backed limiting television advertising for "unhealthy" foods.
My mom decided what we ate, not me. I might ask for unhealthy food, but she didn't have to give it to me. When she did, she limited my intake ("just one cookie dear"). And how about making your child's lunch at home? It's cheaper, healthier, and yes, they can learn to do it.

So many "crises" have such simple solutions if people weren't so pigheaded. Sure some cases of obesity are genuinely linked to genetics and are more difficult to deal with, but I would venture that the majority of cases today are people who just like their Twinkies and don't feel like exercising.

2003-08-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

Ha. Ha. Ha.

The Republicans sent a "care package" containing diapers, baby rattles, child leashes and pacifiers to the 11 Democrats staying at the Marriott Hotel in Albuquerque.

The Republican Party says they are only responding, albeit tongue-in cheek, to the pleas of the Democrats.

2003-08-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

Shoot 'em up!

Thanks Rachel for this link.

67 year old man defends home, family and neighborhood from drug dealers, with guns! "I told the police, 'Bring the coroner and body bags the next time you come out here,' " he said. "Nobody is going to run me out of my home."

2003-07-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,93135,00.html

http://www.nationalreview.com/impromptus/impromptus072903.asp

2003-07-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

So, so dumb.

NEW YORK — The city is opening a full-fledged high school for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students -- the first of its kind in the nation, The Post has learned.

This is a public school. The city's using 3.2 million dollars to renovate it.

New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long's comments:
"Is there a different way to teach homosexuals? Is there gay math? This is wrong. This makes absolutely no sense," Long said. "There's no reason these children should be treated separately."
"What next? Maybe we should have schools for chubby kids who get picked on. Maybe all kids who wear glasses should have special schools. It's ridiculous," he said.

Once again, liberals are separating minorities to make things "more fair" or "more pleasant" when actually they're discriminating. Remember integration? Remember separate but equal? Remember we determined that separate is inherently unequal?
Essentially they're saying that gays are different. So different they should not have to attend the same schools as straight kids.
If nothing else this is a waste of money. What bothers me most is that this is going to be a public school.
The only special schools should be for those who are learning disabled or gifted. Really you can often effectively separate those within the same school.

2003-07-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

News and links

Bush awards Heston the National Medal of Freedom. It was also awarded to Julia Child, so what exactly is the basis? I need to research.

This guy is offensive and nutty. Holding a very strong anti-porn stance, many might be first inclined to agree with him, but continue reading. If you're not offended or at least in disagreement, we shouldn't be friends.
- I thought at first it was a joke, but I can find no evidence that it is. If you do, please e-mail me. (Click the bottom of this post or see the sidebar).

2003-07-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

News of the day

Rachel has already said everything there is to say about this story. The short of it is this: a man is being punished for shooting a burglar.

The asshats who sue gun manufacturers for gun crime may not have such an easy time doing so in the future.

Since 1998, more than two dozen cities, counties and states have sued gun makers, many claiming the manufacturers allowed weapons to reach criminals because of irresponsible marketing.

Many suits have been dismissed or dropped, but Congress is considering legislation backed by the White House and the NRA to protect gun makers and sellers from lawsuits arising from the criminal or unlawful use of their products.

My thought: Guns don't kill people, I kill people.

Food suits may not work.

"Big Food" is not the culprit. The discrepancy is an issue of causation vs. correlation. Although the prevalence of fast food has increased in tandem with American obesity, this is by no means proof of causation. In fact, as fast food has grown healthier with the addition of salads and other healthier alternatives, Americans have continued to gain weight. That may be because during the same period, Americans have grown drastically more sedentary. Finally, the study suggests that with the loss of structured workdays, the rise of telecommuting, and increasingly hectic evenings, more Americans are forced to snack instead of eating full, healthy meals. Obesity is the result of an overall lifestyle change.

...

So far, most of the suits have been dismissed, if not laughed out of the court. In one decision U.S. District Court Judge Robert Sweet wrote that: "If a person knows or should know that eating copious orders of supersized McDonalds' products is unhealthy and may result in weight gain (and its concomitant problems) because of the high levels of cholesterol, fat, salt and sugar, it is not the place of the law to protect them from their own excesses. Nobody is forced to eat at McDonalds. (Except, perhaps, parents of small children who desire McDonalds' food, toy promotions or playgrounds and demand their parents' accompaniment.) Even more pertinent, nobody is forced to supersize their meal or choose less healthy options on the menu."

I'm happy to know some bits of humanity still use their brains to make decisions and not the "I want" factor.
I sincerely believe that most of our problems, the reason we're heading towards socialism and the law doesn't force us to take responsibility, is because many parents don't raise their kids anymore. They give them what they want all the time and they never discipline. I think if I had that upbringing I'd weigh 300 pounds and sue McDonald's, too.

2003-07-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Random news bits
A palm pilot in your shades - cool.

Once again, is Bush still a conservative? Rachel pointed this article out. I'm disgusted by it. They're going to pay women on welfare to get married. There are too many problems with this to even start.
Another good article about the Bush administration's "conservatism." Lots of facts and details.

Finally someone is trying to again make us legally responsible for ourselves: It's not McDonald's fault if you're fat!

2003-07-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

More illiterate each day.
Cathy Travis of Jonesboro Ark. is "translating" the Constitution for dumb kids. Nevermind teaching them the vocabulary, let's just dumb it down.

Example
Article 1, Section 9: "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed."
Translation: "Congress cannot pass a law to declare someone guilty of a crime. Criminal laws passec by Congress can be applied only from the time they are passed."

Once upon a time the Catholic clergy had total control of Catholics because there were the only ones who knew latin, the language of the Bible. The clergy told the people the Bible said whatever they wanted it to say. This is the path we're taking. Deifying those in power by dumbing the masses. If no one knows what rights we have, no one will notice when they're impeded upon.

Bottom left corner, today's Commercial Appeal (Memphis paper).

2003-07-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the heart and the nightmares
From the Discovery Channel: organ donors get more than just the organ, they also get the donor's memories.
Catherine Beckman received a heart from an 11-year-old boy, but ever since the surgery she claims she's been aware of a "dual energy."
Are we seriously giving credit to this? I put this on the level of tea leaves and psychics. Sounds like a dirty hippy wants to be on t.v. to me.

2003-07-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Read the whole article
A good rule overall, but sometimes absolutely vital, such as with this article.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is trying to blame higher incidents of violence and discrimination against Muslims and Middle Easterners on the U.S. government's crackdown on terrorism, saying that it has increased since September 11. Of course it's increased since September 11! Muslims and middle easterners were the ones who committed the atrocities that day. They make up a disproportionate number of the terrorists who attack the U.S. and its interests.
I do not agree that anyone should attack random people who look middle eastern for these reasons, but you cannot blame the crackdown on terror for the hate crimes. Ignorant people who lump all middle eastern looking people together are to blame for the increase in crimes.

2003-07-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

Does Al Sharpton have a chance?
My wonderings after this article tell me I should know more. For example, does the gay vote count for much? I don't know, but I hope not. Many of them will support Al Sharpton.

Seven contenders in the Democratic race for president told the nation's largest gay rights organization yesterday that they strongly embraced the goal of equal rights and equal protection for gays. Three of them said they support same-sex marriage.

...

Sharpton brought a thunderous round of applause when he said that asking him if he supports gay marriage "is like asking me if I support black marriage or white marriage. The inference of the question is that gays are not human beings and cannot make a decision like other human beings."

...

Supporting only civil unions, he said, "is like saying you have the right to shack up, but not to marry. I would use the bully pulpit of the White House to set a tone. . . . Congress must vote in a climate that's different."

...

The candidates all said that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that silences gays who join the military is wrong...

What does the President have to do with gay marriage anyway? It's a state affair.

2003-07-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

Kiss the Girls
Stories like this make me fearful of going out without a gun or a bodyguard. I'm glad they're trying to charge him so heavily.

2003-07-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

This story is just unnerving

In case you're not familiar with this story yet, a 12 year old girl met a 31 year old man on the internet and run away with him. The most disturbing part to me is what her parents said:

They said they saw her last at 7:30 a.m. Saturday when she told them she was meeting friends.

"She went to the door, said 'bye,' and that was the last we saw of her," said her father.

The girl's cell phone was switched off and she had taken a school bag with her passport and some clothes.

A 12 year old goes out no questions asked??? My mother would probably have gone with me, or made sure a responsible parent she knew was with us. She definitely would have known who I was going out with, where we were going, and when I would be home.
I do feel sorry for these parents. I know they are in absolute turmoil, but seriously, how irresponsible can you be? I'm shocked.

This reminds me of some words of wisdom from DarthBeckMan, on assuming people have an inherently good nature: if people are naturally good, then they won't feel the need to teach their children how to be good people. Why teach what comes naturally?
The whole speel is excellent. He discusses other consequences of believing the world is an evil place that creates monsters of people who were born so pure-hearted and sweet.

2003-07-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

Things that suck:
Homeland security (the lack of it) - thanks Rachel
Stupid lawsuits - thanks B

2003-07-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Scary!
From Rachel Lucas, this story, about a man who just jumped right in with reporters and White House staff - unnoticed.
I've always been paranoid anyway. I think I'm going to die from a brutal murder (yes, I'm probably crazy, and yes, I've watched Kiss the Girls by myself, alone, at night). This incident does not ease my mind.
Updated: Now shoe bombers can leave their shoes on! No sense in checking those.

2003-07-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

Conservative?
Is it bad that I'm having doubts about the President? He's been supporting a lot of things I would consider liberal lately. He seemed satisfied with the Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action, he's going for the medical bill for seniors, we may be going to Liberia on a U.N. peacekeeping mission, recommendation of Kofi Annan, this picture (see top of article) really irritates me. Peace is good and all, but flashing the peace sign is just above wearing patchouli.
I'm sure I'll still vote for him. He'll certainly be more my type of candidate than the democrat, and I wouldn't want to split the vote by voting for the third party. Still, I hate playing "Who's the lesser of two evils?"

2003-07-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

The Dixie Chicks can eat my Freedom Fries
and so can the ~~Senate Committee on ChangingThingsAsWeSeeFit~~ Senate Commerce Committee.
The whole deal is stupid, stupid, stupid. A radio station responded to the protests of its listeners and turned off the Dixie Chicks. Demand was gone so supply went. Welcome to the wonderful world of capitalism and free market econcomies.

2003-07-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

Oh how lazy I've been!
My brother just warned me that I might get some readers from the wonderful Frank, told me of Frank's blogiversary and warned that I must link to the almighty Frank!

Unashamed Frank adoration: Frank's personal makes me want to convert to Catholicism and move to Florida.

Do you guys like how I linked to the almighty Frank six times? Happy Blogiversary!

2003-06-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

Political Correctness=Cultural Marxism
Perhaps a little radical, but Bill Lind has some great points.

2003-06-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

WMDs do exist you asshats
Thanks to Robert Kagan of the Washington Post for the article A Plot to Deceive?
Fact:
The Iraqi government in the 1990s admitted to U.N. weapons inspectors that it had produced 8,500 liters of anthrax and a few tons of VX.

He goes into much more depth, but I'm feeling lazy.

2003-06-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

Disenchanted.
I'll update when I'm ready.

2003-05-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

Uday might surrender
...but the US doesn't care because they'll find him anyway.
The article.
Link stolen from Frank.
Cannibalism! Eek.
Other tribes are hunting and eating Pygmies in Africa. Maybe it's silly, but such things still surprise me. That those beliefs are still around. The Pygmies are considered subhuman by the other tribes. It is believed that their flesh can confer magical powers.
The article.

2003-05-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

UN lifts sanctions on Iraq
The vote was unanimous: 14-0. Syria did not vote.
The article.

2003-05-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

Ode to Frank #3 (or 4, I'd really have to go back and check)
Frank explains the varying levels of homeland security, first giving a basic explanation, then detailing what to do in certain situations, depending on the current security level. I have picked a few of my favorites, please see his post for the full joy of Frank's homeland security levels explanation. Okay, after reading through each one, i've realized they're all hilarious. Make sure you read the full blog. You'll pee your pants. I did.

First, here is what the alert levels mean in general:
*Green (Low): All evil had been destroyed. The world is now a peaceful utopia.
*Blue (Guarded): There's still the occasional pickpocket, so show a little caution.
*Yellow (Elevated): Terror lurks in the shadows; be wary.
*Orange (High): The terrorists are out there and they are coming for YOU!
*Red (Severe): The world is exploding around you. The only law is your own gun.

To be more specific, here is how you should you act in different situations based on the alert levels.

I hear a noise at night.
*Green: That's just the house settling; go back to sleep.
*Blue: Probably nothing, but you better check it out.
*Yellow: Grab your gun and call 911.
*Orange: No time for police; run through your house shooting anything that moves.
*Red: Initiate the house's auto-destruct sequence; leap out window.

You see a hippy.
*Green: Punch him.
*Blue: Kick him.
*Yellow: Punch him then kick him.
*Orange: Punch him then kick him and then stomp on him.
*Red: Strangle him.

You realize the person you are talking to is a Communist.
*Green: Kill him.
*Blue: Kill him.
*Yellow: Kill him.
*Orange: Kill him.
*Red: Kill him and burn his body.

2003-05-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

Bad journalism
Title of the article: 2 Iraqis Killed in Shooting Incident Involving US Troops
Is it just me or does the title make it sound like US troops just decided to shoot up some Iraqis? It certainly doesn't make things seem like the Iraqis were at fault in any way. However: news reports qoted [sic] residents as saying the shooting erupted after gunmen fired anti-tank rockets at a U.S. armored vehicle.
I hate journalists sometimes, and their editors.
The article.

2003-05-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

Tax cut update
House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on a tax-and-spending package totaling $318 billion over 10 years
$318! From more than $7 billion! Once again: How pinche ridiculous!
The article.
UPDATE: According to Fox, it's $350 and the president is happy with it. Maybe he shot for $7 hoping for about half? Who knows.

2003-05-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

Democrats and Moderates Ruin Bush's Tax Cuts.

The House and Senate Republican leadership Wednesday announced an agreement on the final form of a $383 billion tax cut package. However, it remains unclear if GOP and Democrat centrists will accept the terms of the tax cut, which exceed levels key moderates said were the most they would support.

It exceeds levels key moderates said they would support?!? It's already little over half of Bush's initial proposal. I wish I could remember who said it first, but what's going to happen is they're going to knock the tax cut down so far it will have little effect on the economy. Next they're going to blame Bush for the lack of improvement in the economy.
Oh how I loathe idiots.
The article.

2003-05-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

From SFGate.com,
Demos[Democrats]: Out Of Touch, Or Out Of Their Minds? VIEW FROM THE RIGHT
Excerpt:

In order to be a real Democrat, you have to believe that:

1. The most preventable disease, the AIDS virus, is caused by a lack of federal funding.

2. Social promotion in schools is good, and tests are either discriminatory or don't measure anything.

3. Global temperature changes are due not to cyclical, documented changes in Earth's climate but to too many yuppies driving SUVs.

4. Capital punishment is wrong but abortion on demand is the cat's meow.

5. Businesses are mean spirited and create oppression, and big governments are honest and create prosperity.

6. Hunters and farmers don't care about nature, but designer-suited environmental lawyers do.

7. We should change all our foreign policy to appease the terrorists to protect ourselves from their bombings.

8. Our taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

9. Standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides aren't.

10. Millions of illegal aliens are good for our economy, but the businesses that hire them are bad.

OUCH! The author says democrats won't be making a comeback anytime soon because of such beliefs. I hope he's right.
- Thanks to JamesKPolk of Livejournal for finding this first.

2003-05-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Homeschool
I was homeschooled until the 8th grade. When I enrolled in public school I made honor roll every grading period. I was at the same level or a higher level as my classmates. And whiny liberals are trying to restrict homeschooling. One suggestion is to require homeschoolers to use public school books and lesson plans. WHAT? If I have children, I'm homeschooling them for many reasons, one because the books suck. The curriculum sucks. In California, homeschooling is technically illegal. I understand the need for some guidelines, let's make sure these kids are learning, but choose their books? Make it illegal? Come on folks. Homeschooled kids are generally better educated and more polite. Homeschool is a positive thing.
Get this: "Homeschooling is a social threat to public education," Chris Lubienski, who teaches at Iowa State University's college of education, told Time magazine. Why? "It is taking some of the most affluent and articulate parents out of the system."
Homeschooling is threatening because the smart, rich parents choose it. That's just funny.
The article.

2003-05-17T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hazing update
There were charge with a misdemeanor, as adults (good!). Maximum sentencing is 364 days in jail, minimum is court supervision. Their principal wants to expel the suspended students. This would keep them from school activities, but not from a diploma.
These kids are nasty, dangerous little brats. They deserve the punishment they get, and probably more than what they will get.
The article.

2003-05-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

Yet another ode to Frank
Thanks to Frank of IMAO for his support of Americans owning assault rifles.
The edited list of reasons why:
6. If we're not allowed to have assault rifles, that will make us mad and we have other guns.
3. What if dragons are real and one tries to mug you in a dark alley.
And the number one reason regular citizens should be able to own assault rifles...
This is America; we don't have to give a g'damn reason for owning something.

2003-05-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

Hazing story
Another story you already know, this one about the female high school seniors beating up on underclassmen. If you've seen the video, you know how brutal this "hazing" was. Criminally abusive. These girls have been suspended, recommended for expulsion and will probably be charged criminally. Good.
Here's the really disgusting part to this story: a lawyer defending one of the hazers, one of the assaultants, argues "You are entitled to an education so when someone takes that right from you without giving you due process, they have violated (your) due process rights." Oh, no. If this lawyer runs with that and tries to argue that schools can no longer suspend students without due process, our society will have dropped its values yet again. If punishment were swift and severe in the U.S. we would never have had such an incident in the first place.
The article.

2003-05-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

Phony reporter
You've all probably heard about Jayson Blair, the lazy reporter who "worked" from his Brooklyn apartment to fabricate stories, pretending who was in other cities investigating those stories.
The latest news, from Rock 103's Bad Dog: Blair wrote for Baghdad Bob.

2003-05-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

Exams...
start this week. Don't expect anything until Friday.

2003-05-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

Iron ~~will~~ guts
If you like chest-hair-and-cheap-steak tough, you'll love this guy. Aron Ralston went hiking and somehow got his arm pinned beneath a 1,000 pound boulder. After five days he ran out of water and determined the situation was pretty serious. So he amputated his arm with a pocket knife and rapelled to the floor of the canyon. Yes, he amputated his own arm with a pocketknife. Oh, and he's 27. He walked himself into the Emergency Room.

from park ranger Steve Swanke:
“I’ve never seen anybody who has the will to live and is as much of a warrior as Aron is, and I’ve been doing this for 25 years...
from Brion After, manager of the Ute Mountaineering store in Aspen where Ralston works:
"To be honest, sometimes we get pretty scared with some of the things he’s doing.”

The article.

UPDATE: The link has been changed. Sorry it took me so long to realize it was faulty.

2003-05-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

Gay marriage legalized in British Columbia.
I'm guessing a few Americans will be moving this summer (the law goes into effect in July).

2003-05-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

The women and children enslaved to sex trafficking cry: "Protect us from the exploitation and torture by the pimps and brothel keepers

Solution #1:
Take away the social stigma.

if "sex workers" feel better about themselves they will be more "empowered," and consequently able to resist violent pimps, traffickers, and men who force them to have sex without condoms.
[This supported by the] Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP), an international organization working for the "rights of sex workers." They reject the label "victim," even for women and children who have been raped and tortured, on the grounds that talking about "victimization works against empowerment."
The group also opposes the anti-trafficking movement that is trying to liberate women and children from sexual slavery, claiming that it is "repressive" because it will limit women's ability to "migrate for sex work" — their euphemism for sex trafficking. .

Solution #2:
It’s all inevitable anyway, and it’s probably immoral for us to try to stop it. Let’s just give them condoms and healthcare.

In the belief there is nothing they can do — or possibly should do — about sexual slavery, they ignore the violence and enslavement. This is the stance of the International Center for Research.
Gupta [this group’s leader] ignores the fact that most "sex workers" are — or originally started out as — trafficked women and girls. She also puts a higher priority on the public good than on the rights of women and children to be free: "We cannot and must not allow our misguided morality, or for that matter our politics, to stand in the way of public health imperatives."

A little reason:

To decide which solution is best, we above all need to listen to the voices of the victims entrapped in sexual slavery.
In Bombay, India, on International Women's Day this March, a fair was held by 1,200 women from an organization called Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking. A delegation of women spoke to the Joint Commissioner of Police, and told him what they wanted: "Protect us from the exploitation and torture by the pimps and brothel keepers… We wish to get out of this hell… Cooperate with us at every step so that we can find our way out."

Solution #3:
Report and rescue. Imagine that.

Advocated by Laura Lederer, a political appointee at the U.S. State Department and executive director of the Senior Operating Group on Trafficking in Persons, report and rescue puts the safety and freedom of women and children first. This approach does not accommodate traffickers, pimps, or exploiters. Instead, it builds responsibility into aid work by requiring personnel to report the abuse and enslavement of women and children to the appropriate authorities…Moreover, under this approach aid workers have a duty to catalyze a rescue. They can do so through the official report, or by notifying a nongovernmental or faith-based group that specializes in rescuing enslaved women and girls.

What to do?

Now, these policy pronouncements [report and rescue] need to be backed up with a shift in the flow of money — from the old, accommodationist groups to organizations willing to fully engage in the report and rescue of victims of trafficking and sexual slavery. Women and children are waiting.

I could not be more disgusted by the first two solutions. I suppose it's better than doing nothing, but if you're going to do something, do the right thing. You're already spending the time and the money, why not actually do some good? Why not actually help these slaves?
The article.

2003-05-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

Political correctness is worse than a honky in a trailer park
Rachel Lucas has all the details in a great blog. Basically, California, and probably others, are trying so hard to be PC and not offend anyone, they're distorting and destroying history.

2003-04-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

Progress: Lower incidents of terrorism over the past year
The numbers:
last year there were 199 terror attacks worldwide, a drop of 44 percent from the 355 attacks recorded in 2001.
One reason:
many potential terrorists have been jailed as a result of their arrests following the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and more countries have started paying attention to terrorists in their midst.
The list, and another reason:
The United States once again branded seven countries as sponsors of terrorism: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Sudan. As members of the list, the countries are banned from receiving U.S. weapons, barred from U.S. economic aid and effectively prevented from receiving World Bank loans.
Why is Iraq still on the list when Saddam is out?
a government must be in office in Iraq in order for the state to be removed from the list.

The article.

2003-04-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

Update on Mohammed Odeh Al Rehaief
the Iraqi lawyer who helped save former POW Lynch

Mohammed has accepted a job offer from Washington lobbying firm The Livingston Group days after the United States granted him asylum.
Also, Mohammed was injured during several risky treks up and down a road that came to be known as "ambush alley," in an effort to transport information on the Nasiriyah hospital were Pfc. Lynch was held to U.S. Marines stationed outside the city. Because of these injuries, Mohammed will be undergoing surgery next week. A surgeon has volunteered to perform the operation at no cost.

Although I'm very impressed with what the U.S. and many of its citizens have done for this wonderful, brave man, I do wonder about the others who helped. According to this article, one was paid for his aid but is still in Iraq. Is that by choice? Is he safe?

More on our favorite Iraqi:
Al-Rehaief is considered a hero by many Americans and the U.S. military for making a series of trips between Saddam Hospital in Nasiriyah, where Lynch was being held, and U.S. forces several miles away. He had to walk through dangerous enemy territory each time he made the trek.

The article.

2003-04-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Reading it a second time won't hurt you.

"It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."

This has traveled through e-mail forwards anonymously. If anyone knows who wrote it, please contact me.

2003-04-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

The U.S. thanks Mohammed Odeh Al Rehaief

Al Rehaief [the Iraqi lawyer who helped find Jessica Lynch - known previously as only Mohammed] was granted asylum Monday in Arlington, Virginia, which allows him to work in this country. He can stay in the U.S. indefinitely and can eventually apply for U.S. citizenship.

The article.

2003-04-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Frank is angry, and it's funny
In this writing, Frank is the President speaking to the anti-war protestors:

just like you wouldn't want some KKK member's opinion on the subject of race relations, we don't need the input of assclown pacifists on the debate of foreign affairs.

...

If some of you still don't get the point, then, next time I hear one of you retards complain about your "speech being oppressed," I'll send some thugs to murder your family, burn down your house, and then drag you out in the street cut out your tongue. Then tell me (or, I guess, sign to me) whether you can't tell the difference between that actual suppression of speech and what you thought was oppression before.

The article.

2003-04-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

Bush meets with Iraqi immigrants: they love him.

President George W. Bush told a cheering, chanting crowd of Arab-Americans today that the United States would stand with the Iraqi people as they rebuild their war-shattered country and create a democratic government.

"America pledged to rid Iraq of an oppressive regime, and we kept our word,” he said. "America now pledges to help Iraqis build a prosperous and peaceful nation, and we will keep our word again.”

When Bush quoted one Iraqi-American as telling him she never believed Hussein would be gone, a member of the audience shouted, "He's gone!” and another cried out, "Because of you, Mr. President!”

One man in the crowd, Mohammed Alshara, showed up draped in a full-size American flag, which he raised high over his head when Bush entered the hall. "This is to show our appreciation to him for making Iraq a free country,” said Alshara, 33, a construction worker who said he emigrated to Dearborn in 1992 after his father was killed in the 1991 Shiite uprising against Hussein.

Bush responded with equal emotion, quoting an Iraqi woman as telling him her family only felt safe talking about Hussein with the windows closed. "The windows are now open in Iraq,” he said. "The days of repression from any source are over. Iraq will be democratic.”

One Iraqi-American at the meeting, lawyer Mark Dickow, told the president he was looking forward to a second Bush term in the White House. "Forget that, please,” Bush responded. "Let's just make sure Iraq works.”

I love news like this. It warms my kind, sweet, little heart. Wouldn't it be lovely if those who have protested the war since its onset paid attention to this? Weighed and considered it? Realized they are so wrong?
If you disagree with the war, and you're an intelligent, thinking person with a good basis for you opinion, please contact me (see sidebar) and tell me about it. I'm genuinely curious. Is there a single rational basis for the opposition to the war?

The article.

2003-04-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

North Korea Update
After accusing the U.S. of a hostile attitude, they offer a deal: they get rid of their weapons and the U.S. normalizes relations, gives them economic assistance, etc. Powell says we're considering it. Here's my proposal: We don't bomb beat them like Saddamis, they quit their WMD programs.
The article.

2003-04-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

More evidence of what you already knew.

western journalists in Baghdad claimed to have discovered documents which provide the first clear evidence of a link between Iraq and Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terrorist network.

According to files found in the abandoned Iraqi intelligence headquarters, a representative of al-Qaeda visited Iraq in 1998 to set up a meeting between bin Laden and Saddam’s regime. If the discoveries are proved to be genuine, they would support the two key elements in the argument for invading Iraq and help to vindicate President George Bush and his main ally, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

...

initial reports suggested the weapons site discovered by US special forces east of Bayhi, about 130 miles north of Baghdad, could be the "smoking gun" that proves an Iraqi chemical weapons programme.

The article.

2003-04-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ahh... Sunday
~~Day of rest.~~ Day of homework.

2003-04-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

Is celebs' eccentric naming of their children cruel?
David Koeppel, of Fox News, says yes, and diagnoses such celebrities with Chronically Stupid Name Syndrome -- the growing fondness celebrities have for bestowing unusual, offbeat and downright dumb names on their helpless children.

The worst name: Speck Wildhorse (John Mellencamp's son)

My favorite part:

At The Institute for Naming Children Humanely, Michael Wintry accuses celebrities of a variety of naming transgressions.

Wintry divides offenders into "bad name categories" like "The Scrabble Draw," "Named Him After My Favorite ..." and "I Found It on This Here Map" -- like Ireland Baldwin (daughter of Alec and Kim Basinger), Lourdes Ciccone (Madonna's daughter) and Paris Jackson (Michael's daughter).

"Since American children can't even locate the U.S.A. on a map, the child will feel dejected and angry they had to be the ones saddled with geographical names," writes Wintry.

Other instances of such cruelty are also available from Drake and Zeke of Rock 103.
Example entry: The Bad Baby Name for 4/23/03 is: Dorkina Valincia Tart

2003-04-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

U.N. proclaims "Saddam violated human rights!"
Apparently they just noticed. Libya heads the committee for Human Rights. They know all about violations.

2003-04-25T19:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome new visitors!
Since Frank linked me, my visitors have increased exponentially. Thank you for visiting. You adore me. You will return daily.
Also, I'd like to share the love: while browsing, drop in with my brother. He introduced me to Frank, he's almost as cool as I am, and I'm pretty sure he hates monkeys.

2003-04-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

Napster may not have died in vain
A federal judge recently ruled in favor of software sharing companies.
Sweet!
Remember: CDs are merely promotional for musicians, who gain nearly all their proceeds from concerts, t-shirts, and the like. So take the music, burn the CDs, and go to the concerts wearing one of their shirts.

2003-04-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

Alice in Wonderland Revisited:
Alice goes to Vietnam and is attacked by the Caterpillar's many children.

a plague of...black, seven-centimetre-long caterpillars in Central Vietnam.
No, really.

2003-04-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love Frank
Frank and Rachel are my first blog addictions. Well, right after my brother.
Frank's explanation of governments. This is even better than the Bovine explanation (I'll have to find the Bovine explanation again - don't have it right now).

Update: Frank linked to me. Thank you Frank!

Update: The Bovine explanation I mentioned above.
The Bovine Model of Governments (this link in PDF format)
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and as many eggs as the regulations say you should need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you.
MILITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it. After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures. The press dubs the affair "Cowgate."
BRITISH DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. You feed them sheep brains and they go mad. The government doesn't do anything.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. After that it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to kill you and take the cows.
CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
HONG KONG CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with associated general offer so that you get all four cows back with a tax deduction for keeping five cows. The milk rights of six cows are transferred via a Panamanian intermediary to a Cayman Islands company secretly owned by the majority shareholder, who sells the right to all seven cows' milk back to the listed company. The annual report says that the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. Meanwhile, you kill the tow cows because the fung shui is bad.
EVIRONMENTALISM: You have two cows. The government bans you from milking or killing them.
FEMINISM: You have two cows. They get married and adopt a veal calf.
TOTALITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned.
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: You are associated with (the concept of "ownership" is a symbol of the phallo centric, war mongering, intolerant past) two differently aged (but no less valuable to society) bovines of non-specified gender.
COUNTER CULTURE: Wow, dude, there's like...these two cows, man. You got to have some of this milk.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

2003-04-25T06:31:00.000-07:00

Spreading Frank J.'s Filthy Lie
I'm a few days late on this, but I'm trying. Reported first April 19, from Frank J. of IMAO - Glenn Reynolds puts puppies in blenders! Fight the good fight. Drop Glenn Reynolds and visit Frank. Frank wakes up each morning with the dream of keeping at least one puppy out of a blender.

2003-04-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Heh. Cool.
I took the ecological footprint quiz. My results: IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 7.1 PLANETS.
I feel evil. I like it.
My brother's post on this topic - Eco Footprint from Thursday, April 24, 2003.

2003-04-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

Some Mormons upset over Santorum's inclusion of polygamy

Owen Allred, 89, head of the United Apostolic Brethen, a polygamist sect in Utah said of Santorum,

"He is absolutely right. The people of the United States are doing whatever they can to do away with the sacred rights of marriage," Allred told The Salt Lake Tribune.

But Allred said Santorum's inclusion of polygamy in his list tarnishes a religious tradition whose roots are traced to biblical figures such as Abraham, Jacob and Moses - defiling them as "immoral and dirty."

The article.

2003-04-24T12:04:00.000-07:00

North Korea comes out of the masocism closet

As the second day of talks wrapped up, Pyongyang said the situation on the peninsula was "so tense that a war may break out any moment due to the US moves".

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that three-way talks between North Korea, China and the United States had ended a day earlier than expected and warned Pyongyang that Washington would not respond to threats.

Mr Powell said the talks had "concluded" and that while US and Chinese officials might hold talks on Friday, the North Korean involvement was over. Three days of talks, from April 23 to 25 had been scheduled initially.

While announcing the end of the discussions, Mr Powell delivered a strongly worded warning for North Korea not to make threats as Pyongyang ratcheted up its rhetoric.

"They should not leave this series of discussions that have been held in Beijing with the slightest impression that the United States and its partners and the nations in the region will be intimidated by bellicose statements or by threats or actions they think might get them more attention or might force us to make a concession that we would not otherwise make," he said.

"They would be very ill-advised to move in that direction," Mr Powell said after a speech to the US Asia-Pacific Council.

I'll be interested to see what happened exactly. I don't think that information is out yet.

The article.

2003-04-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

Health Studies
Health studies inspiring articles such as "Being overweight linked to dying of cancer" and "Poorly nourished mothers may be prone to premature deliveries" may lead to the eventual discovery that a healthy diet accompanied by regular exercise is good for you. Then again, maybe not.

2003-04-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

Restoring my faith in humanity
Okay, maybe not, but I definitely enjoy Rachel's posts. Like this one in which she explains why it's ok for us to pick on the free-speech-utilizing asshats. Why? Because we have free speech, too.

2003-04-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

The latest "I'm offended!" uproar - gays react to the misquotation of Senator Rick Santorum
The correct quote:

"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."

The quote that has circulated and caused so much uproar added the word gay so that the quote read:

"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual [gay] sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."

Notice that gay is within brackets. In journalism and writing, this means the reporter added the word or phrase, the person did not actually say it. This is often done to keep the message clear without quoting a lengthy passage. This is not the case here. Santorum is concerned because he believes if the Supreme Court allows for complete privacy, beyond traditional, heterosexual relations, it will allow for any consensual activity within the home. This would allow for the practice of polygamy, incest, adultery, bigamy, and, yes, homosexual relations. We have no right to privacy because what you do in your home does effect the society. Consenting adults are not allowed to sell drugs within their home. Would you change that in the name of privacy? Santorum is not a bigot. He is simply concerned about the morality and danger inherent to these issues.
The article from his office further explain his comments.

2003-04-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

One more reason to love my brother -
because he finds lovely things like this:

"Teetotalers may be the spine of the nation, but drinkers are its heart and balls." -- Camille Paglia

And then correlates them to Chef:

"There is a time and a place for everything, children, and that place is college."

As always, the archives aren't working. Go to his site and look for "New Favorite Quote" from April 23, 2003.

2003-04-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

Supreme court and Affirmative Action
The court has yet to rule, but Peter N. Kirsanow of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has a good commentary.

2003-04-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

This guy should become a human shield along with Columbia's Mogadishu-wishing professor

Gary Kamiya, executive editor of the left-leaning Internet journal Salon (www.salon.com), confirms what some Americans have only suspected: Liberals were cheering for the enemy in Iraq.

With that introduction, let's get the message straight from Gary:

"I have a confession: I have at times, as the war has unfolded, secretly wished for things to go wrong...an easy victory will ultimately result in a larger moral negative — four more years of Bush, for example, with attendant disastrous policies, or the betrayal of the Palestinians to eternal occupation, or more imperialist meddling in the Middle East or elsewhere"

The Washington Times article noted more specifically that he said "More casualties would have been a preferred alternative to the 'larger moral negative' of a victory that boosted President Bush's chances for re-election."
This article, from the Washington Times.

Another article says dear friend Gary wrote this in the April 11 edition of Salon magazine. I think you need a subscription to read it though, as I do not have one and could not find it with the search Salon webtool.

I am both amazed and disgusted by the complete lack of morals among some extremists like Gary. Go become a human shield. Go actually do something about what you believe in, if you actually believe in anything. Better yet, find some humanity within yourself and get back in touch with it. Essentially calling for death to (possibly) prevent the re-election of a poltician you disagree with is despicable. The "great moral negative" is some crock little Gary made up.

The Columbia professor Mogadishu story, in case you missed it while vacationing in a cave.

2003-04-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

Haha PETA News
PETA offers the city of Hamburg $15,000 for the schools, paid for in veggie patties, if the city will change their name to Veggieburg. Although PETA spokesman Joe Haptas said his organization is "serious as a heart attack," Hamburg Supervisor Patrick Hoak "immediately declined."
PETA made a similar offer to the city of Fishkill, hoping that the city would change its name to Fishsave.
The article.

2003-04-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

Update on U.S. plans for military bases in Iraq
According to Rumsfeld, the story concerning a long-term use of military bases in Iraq is "flat false."

Rumsfeld said those bases are being used now by coalition forces for humanitarian and stabilization efforts, but he said that was the extent of any plans for the bases.

"The impression that's left around the world is that we plan to occupy the country, we plan to use their bases over the long period of time, and it's flat false," Rumsfeld said at Monday's Pentagon briefing.

The article.

2003-04-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

Double homicide charges anger the pro-choice nazis of the National Organization for Women
Scott Peterson allegedly murdered his wife Laci. Laci was eight months pregnant at the time of her dissapearance, and her body and the body of her unborn child have recently washed up near Scott's fishing spot - the spot he was fishing at when she dissapeared. An important part of this case, is the fact that Scott Peterson is being charged with double-homicide. This means the court is recognizing the eight-month old unborn baby (also called a fetus) as a viable, legally protected human being. Cases such as this one could have a great impact on the legality of partial-birth abortion, a practice with which I vehemently disagree. The National Organization of Women agrees with my opinion of this case's potential effects. What's the big deal? From Rush: What the liberals would ordinarily call an "unviable tissue mass" in the womb has been humanized.

2003-04-21T15:54:00.000-07:00

The U.S. plans up to five military bases in Iraq
Why? For defense of Iraq, for the reconstruction of Iraq, and to pressure Iran and Syria.

"There will be some kind of a long-term defence relationship with a new Iraq, similar to Afghanistan," a senior Bush administration official said*.
The bases would be used primarily to help with reconstructing Iraq. But their proximity to Syria and Iran could help the US to apply added pressure on those countries.

The article.
*Which official?

2003-04-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

Israelis kill Palestinians
Be careful just reading headlines. The 5 Palestinians killed were all militants. "Hamas flags covered four of the bodies and the flag of another militant group, Islamic Jihad, covered the fifth corpse." Israeli soldiers also killed a teenager, after he threw petrol bombs at Jewish settlers' cars.
The article.

2003-04-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

Baghdad Bob writes for North Korean papers
Okay, not really, but it sure sounds like it:
"If enemies invade our inviolable sky, land and seas even an inch, destroy the aggressors with merciless annihilating blows."

2003-04-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

Update on the Tommy Lee lawsuit
The jury took less than 3 hours to reject the wrongful death charge against Lee. The moral of the story is this: even if you're rich and have nannies, your children are still your responsibility. Imagine that. Dr. Laura'd love this.

2003-04-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Whew!
I have been mad crazy busy and I'm just now back to blogging. I did read some interesting news during my down days, and I'd like to post that, even though it's a little outdated and someone somewhere's already blogged it.

2003-04-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

Going back to the UN?
Maybe. Why? Because the oil revenue needed to rebuild Iraq and improve its economy is legally trapped. The UN controls it.

On the basis of current resolutions, the only legal mechanism by which the Security Council can terminate the binding sanctions regime is if Iraq is certified by UN arms inspectors to be free of weapons of mass destruction. That would require sending Dr. Hans Blix and his team back into post-Saddam Iraq in order to complete their work. Blix, who is scheduled to brief the Security Council on Tuesday, has urged the coalition to allow his team to resume its work, in order to give any findings greater credibility.

The Bush administration has thus far shown no inclination to invite the UN inspectors back into Iraq. Instead, the U.S. military has been sending its own inspection teams to scour the country for banned weapons, and has even reportedly tried to recruit some of Blix's staff to help.

Read the article.

2003-04-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

It gets worse and worse.
Mass graves in Northern Iraq, the Kurdish area.
Two of the graves have been dug up, and some local officials say they may contain the remains of Kurds killed in the 1980s by Saddam Hussein's regime. Others say the site could be a military cemetary.
The article.

2003-04-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

No that's not Saddam
Walking around Baghdad the day the city fell? No. Not even. That footage is not Saddam.
The article.

2003-04-18T06:18:00.000-07:00

Michael Moore's Oscar should be taken back
Why? Because he received an award for a documentary. The Academy's rules specify that a documentary must be non-ficition (duh) yet Moore's Bowling for Columbine is full of strategically edited footage and completely fabricated "facts."
Check out the site Revoke the Oscar for information on exactly what Moore did, and exactly how you can contact the Academy about getting his Oscar revoked.
I'm not sure this will actually work because Hollywood and its celebrities have proven that 1. they don't care for public opinion and 2. they don't care for integrity, but I do think it's worth telling them Michael Moore sucks, and they suck for awarding him for being a liar.

Thanks again to Rachel Lucas.

2003-04-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

Sure am glad we've already harvested the oil.
Rachel Lucas posted this first.

Marines attacked a military intelligence building for three days to get to the underground bunkers below. In the bunkers?

The Marines found 123 prisoners, including five women, barely alive in an underground warren of cells and torture chambers.

Severely emaciated, some had survived by eating the scabs off their sores. All the men had beards down to their waists, said onlookers.

Hundreds of anxious locals wait for word of their family, relatives and friends, some of whom were taken away more than 10 years ago.

This hellhole is believed to be one of many for Iraq's political prisoners. Thousands may still be behind bars though the regime released many criminals from prisons before the war.

Rachel closed her blog with a letter to the pacifists. Very good. Check it out. I'm not even sure what to say here. This is so disturbing.
Read the article.

2003-04-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

The U.S. is lawsuit happy
I worked at a horse camp for girls last summer, and I remember the incredulity of our foreign staff during the serious talk of how to and how not to help a girl mount a horse. The talk was in hopes of avoiding law suits, which we did. But isn't that ridiculous?

And now, parents are suing Tommy Lee Jones because their son died at his son's birthday party. He had no lifeguard, and because of that, it must be his fault. Lee was just so careless. These are the parents that didn't even go with their son to the party. They sent him with the nanny. So if anyone should be sued for carelessness it should first be the parents and second the nanny. Since you can't sue yourselves, and the nanny doesn't have as much money as you do, much less more than, you sue the richest guy around instead. Tommy Lee told jurors that adult guests were responsible for watching their own children at the party and laid the blame for Daniel's death with the nanny caring for him that day. Responsible for your own children? That's just ludicrous.
Read the article.

And a black woman is suing Southwest Airlines because the stewardess used the rhyme "Eenie, meenie, minie, moe." She was reminded of the older version of the rhyme, and hearing the rhyme caused her to be bedridden for three days and suffer from "unexplained memory gaps." According to at least one word and phrase historian, the original rhyme using the n-word dates back to about the mid-19th century. The 1850s kids. This isn't the kind of trauma that Jewish Holocaust survivors sometimes experience when they hear German or see Nazi symbols. This is gold-digging induced.
The lawsuit has provided critics of the American legal system more ammunition for their tort reform battle.
"Seems sort of a ridiculous lawsuit, but this is the rise of this litigious culture, where people look to sue at the most insignificant remark," said Steve Lilienthal, spokesman for the Free Congress Foundation (FCF).
Read this article.

And a lawyer is suing Delta Airlines for allowing a fat man to take up 1 and 1/3 seats, causing him embarrassment, discomfort, mental anguish and emotional distress.

2003-04-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

France kicked directly in the tourism, then karate chopped in the commerce. France is currently in serious condition in the E.U. Brown-nosing is hoped to heal her wounds.

After 14 years in second place, Spain has replaced France as the United Kingdom's favorite holiday destination.
The French president's anti-war stance and the "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" factor in the United States has also caused a decline in the number of U.S. tourists.

The "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" factor. I love this site! It’s World Net Daily’s news section.

Read the article.

Protests against France provide further evidence of their growing unpopularity:

"This is not a pro-war rally. Just anti-French," said Gavin Spittle, program director for KXNT-AM radio.

In case you don't know why we're so angry:

"We've bailed them out time after time, but the only time I remember them being there for us was the American Revolution," Tony Sager told the Associated Press.
"The whole thing just mystifies me," said Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J. "When they were in need [in two World Wars], we were there to help. A lot of American blood was lost on French soil defending that country. ... We and other countries should expect help from allies whom we have helped in the past."

One guy did point out that the boycott of French products may harm the people rather than the government. Actually, it will hurt both. The lack of income from trade and tourism will cause loss of jobs and loss of revenue. Also, a Frenchman at France's embassy argued that "Everything's different [than what it was when Americans died for French freedom]." Well, yeah. Now we're asking for your help to guard our freedom. That is different.

Read this article.

In related news: Although U.S. citizens hate Germany and France, they still prefer them to Iran, Iraq, and North Korea.

2003-04-16T19:36:00.000-07:00

Another one bites the dust...
Iraqi information minister Muhammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, known lovingly as "Baghdad Bob" is reported to have committed suicide. This clown has risen to stardom by consistently giving reports so erroneous the French had to pretend to believe them.

Read the article.

Baghdad Bob is so amusing an entire website has been dedicated to him and his tall tales. A few quotes from Bob:

"There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!"

"Our initial assessment is that they will all die"

"I blame Al-Jazeera - they are marketing for the Americans!"

"God will roast their stomachs in hell at the hands of Iraqis."

"They're coming to surrender or be burned in their tanks."

"We are not afraid of the Americans. Allah has condemned them. They are stupid. They are stupid" (dramatic pause) "and they are condemned."

"I triple guarantee you, there are no American soldiers in Baghdad."

"They will be burnt. We are going to tackle them"

My personal favorite:"We made them drink poison last night..."

2003-04-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

The list
There is none, officially. There is none of the sort the liberals would tell you exists. They wish to promote the idea that there is a list of "next to attack." Rather there is knowledge of who should be next to work with: Syria, North Korea, Libya, Iran, Saudi Arabia.

Two excellent articles from National Review discuss the differences between these countries and Iraq, and the possiblity of diplomacy versus warfare. We know that with Bush in office we won't stop short of military action if it is necessary, but, according to the second article, success for diplomacy is much more likely in other countries than it was in Iraq.

In his first speech after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush said he would not differentiate between terrorists and governments that provide haven to terrorists. Syria’s recent actions place it in both categories, along with Iran and North Korea.

All three support terrorism, seek to develop weapons of mass destruction and practice a foreign-policy belligerent to Washington. All are being urged through diplomatic channels to modify their behavior. The extent to which they do so likely will determine whether they become targets of the U.S. military.

Washington has appealed to the United Nations regarding North Korea, but help seems unlikely. Regional diplomacy, however, may prove more promising.

Help from the U.N. unlikely? No. What is this guy reading? [Blatant sarcasm here.]
Read the article.

Why was military action in Iraq more likely than it is in other countries?

There will be no new target because Iraq was a unique case.

Although most regional regimes have varying records of brutality, Saddam Hussein's regime stood in a category all its own. It was the only regime that tried to wipe a member state of the United Nations off the map. It was also the only regime since the First World War to use chemical weapons not only against adversaries in a war but also against its own people.

The key reason why Saddam's regime was unique, however, lies elsewhere.

His was a regime that could not develop any mechanism for change.

Amir Taheri, the author of this article notes that the possible "nexts" have regimes that allow for changes in policy and leaders. Because of this reality, military action may not be necessary. Saddam could not change his policy, and we could not allow him to keep it. However, these other regimes are organized differently. They allow for change. When threatened by big, mean, evil U.S. [more blatant sarcasm] they very well may make the wise choice to comply.

Read the article.

In related news, this article identifies Saudi as an enemy and calls on them to make their allegiance obvious.

2003-04-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

Hippies aren't so bad after all...
Just kidding.

2003-04-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Update on North Korea
N. Korea has officially agreed to multilateral talks because they're scared of the U.S. who recently beat up the entire dictatorious Iraqi regime.
The article.

2003-04-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

Ignoramuses should be hit pegged with ABC gum.

Mr. Powell sought to quell fears that...Syria might be next on the list for military attention after Iraq.
"There is no list," he said, "there is no war plan right now to attack someone else either for the purpose of overthrowing their leadership or for the purpose of imposing democratic values."

So cool down and shut up folks. Powell, Rumsfeld, Bush and all the other U.S. and coalition officials understand that military action is a last resort. We will probably not need it in many countries because of Iraq. North Korea, for example. Still in shock and awe, they've settled down quite a bit.
We don't want oil and we're not trying to democratize every nation of the world. Shut up and realize there is a reality beyond your cozy, paid for by parents, college life.
The article.

2003-04-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Dependable and Honest
Congruent with his aim at improving the economy through tax relief expressed in the State of the Union address (“Jobs are created when the economy grows; the economy grows when Americans have more money to spend and invest; and the best and fairest way to make sure that Americans have that money is not to tax it away in the first place”), Bush is trying to pass, over the next decade, "tax cuts totaling at least $550 billion."
Why tax-cuts?
"American workers and American businesses need every bit of that relief now, so that people who want to find a job can find one, so that people looking for work are able to put food on the table for their families."
The difference between democrats and conservatives is that democrats take your money so that the government can provide you with services and make you dependent, while conservatives never take your money in the first place so that you are independent and can pay for the services on your own.
The article.

2003-04-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Watch for this new duo on the ban lists

2003-04-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Ed Gernon Dixie Chicked: fired by CBS for Bush:Hitler analogy

CBS officials were said to be upset that Gernon appeared to equate Hitler with Bush by drawing parallels between Germany in the 1930s and contemporary America.

So what exactly did he say?

"It basically boils down to an entire nation gripped by fear, who ultimately chose to give up their civil rights and plunged the whole world into war. I can't think of a better time to examine this history than now," he was quoted as saying in this week's TV Guide.

The article gives the next quote with less confidence. Did he say it or didn't he? They list it as a direct quote from a Times story, but say that it was exagerrated. Let's just look at the quote, to be sure we don't exaggerate.

Gernon had said Bush should be looked at "through the prism of Germany's psychopath."

Ooh. That does his statement is rather severe. Although I disagree completely with the idea of an official blacklist, stations do have the right to fire those that may harm their ratings, or to fire them for a multitude of other reasons.

How many Peter Arnetts and Dixie Chicks will there be before they learn? Voicing an opinion is perfectably acceptable, but severely attacking an individual or group is not the best career move in our current climate.

Read the article.