New Blog In Town

As regular readers of Marc Cooper's Blog will Know, "PJ" is frequently there as a commenter.

Well, PJ has a new blog here and it's called Gaze Theory; What I'm Watching and Why. Go read the blog, it's a whole new experience for me in as much as I tend to stick to political blogs.

Good Job PJ

Can Freedom Be Far Behind?

Fear:

A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger.

A state or condition marked by this feeling: living in fear.

A feeling of disquiet or apprehension: a fear of looking foolish.

Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power.

A reason for dread or apprehension: Being alone is my greatest fear.

Freedom:

The condition of being free of restraints.

Liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression.

Political independence.

Exemption from the arbitrary exercise of authority in the performance of a specific action; civil liberty.

Exemption from an unpleasant or onerous condition.

There is a consensus among many that United States policy as it is being implemented in the Middle East, especially in Iraq, is wrong and wrong headed. The storyline was often "Arabs aren't ready for democracy" or perhaps "can't handle democracy." In some circles, the worry was a mass uprising of the "arab street" that would show the American Neo-Con Warmongers exactly what pan-arabia thought about Americans in general and American Policy (read Bush policy) in particular. None-the-less, Bush pushed ahead believing that all peoples would savor freedom given half a chance.

To date, Bush seems to have the better of the argument. From the New York Times (No kidding?...ed.) comes this:

In Cairo, more than 30 truckloads of riot police blocked the downtown streets around the Supreme Court. In a swift maneuver, plainclothes officers dispersed the first demonstrators to arrive by forcing taxis to halt, shoving the protestors inside and ordering the drivers to move along.

In response, some 200 participants, including a smattering of well-known Egyptian writers, filmmakers and politicians, regrouped on the front steps of the nearby Journalists' Syndicate. They stood hemmed in by the police for more than four hours, chanting anti-government slogans including their trademark catchphrase of "Kifaya!" or "Enough!" in Arabic. This refers to their primary demand that President Hosni Mubarak step aside after 24 years in power.

In Lebanon, Michael Totten has been reporting a lengthy series of articles the most recent of which is this poignant description of Beirut. Indeed, the much vaunted "arab street" is described by Totten as "Our Friend, The Arab Street:"

"Right now we're seeing two revolutions at once: a literal revolution by the "Arab street" against a dictatorship, and an intellectual revolution in the West about what "Arab street" means in the first place."

Totten has it right. Freedom is busting out all over. Lest we be overly zealous in our rejoicing however, there remain dangers and setbacks in the future. As the NYTimes reported:

"Egypt's fledgling movement for political reform tried to extend its reach nationally today by organizing demonstrations in 14 major cities from Aswan to Alexandria, but a major deployment of riot police and scores of detentions drastically minimized the effort."

The urge to repress is rampant among the powers that be in much of the Middle East. In part that is our fault, meaning the West in general, and the US in particular for shoring up many of these dictatorships and oligarchies. We too can be faulted for not doing something "more" about the mullah's in Iran and their devotion to islamo-fascism and support of terrorists; and this fault goes back decades - it is not a recent development.

Carter blew it in Iran when he didn't take out Kohmeni in '79 following the act of war commonly called the "Embassy Hostage" crisis. Reagan screwed the pooch for not responding more aggressively when the Marine Barracks was bombed. Bush père didn't complete Gulf War I and Clinton tossed munitions at empty tents and camels.

Of course 20/20 vision in hindsight is a wonderful thing. It allows us to see what whe should have done but didn't; and for reasons that seemed fairly cogent at the time.

That was, as they say, then and this is now. Today, we have not only a strategic reason to support the democracy movements in the Middle East, but also a moral reason and that reason is simple: Free peoples seldom make trouble for other free peoples.

If the Middle East is ever to realize its potential, freedom must ring out loud and clear, and all the nay-sayers, all the pundits, all the doubters need to get behind the freedom movement and PUSH.

Open Letter to John "Do You Know Who I Am?" Kerry

Dear Senator Kerry, I know you probably have a few things on your mind that are, for you, weighty matters. Things like "How do I torpedo Hillary's run for what should be my office?" and "Damn, who put that promise to sign a 180 in my talk?"

I know that you are doubtlessly bitter about the recent election in which your spouse, you know, what's her name, oh yes, TERR-AY-ZUH griped because some church folk felt like not voting for you because of your stand on abortion.

I'm also sure that you probably believe that all those rotten folk who ridiculed you for "flip-flopping" all over the political landscape had a hand in your recent defeat. After all, they couldn't know that you are steadfast in your convictions, rock solid in your beliefs and determined that you are destined to be President.

However, Senator Kerry, this letter is not about that, this letter is about your promise to sign the Standard Form 180 - Request Pertaining To Military Records which, for your convenience, you can find here.

Now, Senator Kerry, please don't be upset with me for reminding you. I'm only doing this as a public service because I really, really, really want to see you capture the nomination in '08. All that stuff to the right about me being pro-bush, pro-life, pro-evangelical, pro-republican is really only a smoke screen to hide my true allegiance to you sir! After all, I know that you, despite all the evidence really did spend Christmas in Cambodia taking a super-secret CIA agent into the fray and delivering weapons to the Khmer-Rouge - after all, you said on the Senate floor that that memory was "Seared, Seared" in your memory didn't you? You wouldn't lie to the Senate about something like that would you? I know that you, despite all the evidence, really didn't fall while snow-boarding and that you were pushed by that damned Secret Service guy. After all, the Secret Service is "controlled" by the White House and that nasty "W." I know too, that you really did try to keep your "magic hat" secret in your briefcase that you just happened to have when a reporter just happened to ask about it. I mean, after all, don't most people carry around an almost 40 year old war "souvenir" in their briefcases?

I'm in your corner Senator, no, really I am. I just want you to autograph that Form 180 for me. I'll handle everything else, really, I promise!

Oh, and Senator Kerry, if anyone tells you not to trust me, that I'm really a conservative Republican and that I'm trying to make fun of you, well, just don't believe them. OK? Please? I really do want to see you in the White House. No, really! Just think what TERR-AY-ZUH could do with the curtains and china. Just think, hot pink damask on the walls of the Oval Office, her telling reporters who ask her embarrassing questions to "shut up" and all that. Why, it'll be more fun having you in the White House than it was having Bill what’s-his-name... you know, the one that married that Senator friend of yours from New York... Hillary, yeah, her!

Well, I have to close now Senator, I've got a few papers to grade and some averages to calculate so that my students at the university will know where they stand.

Oh, one more thing before I close. Will you go here, here and here on the net and check out what other people are saying about you? Thanks Senator, I know when you say that you'll do something you will. You are known as a man who keeps his word. No, really, you truly are. Just ask your first wife!

UPDATE: Decision '08 has an update on the efforts for a signed 180:

a pen has been procured from a Walmart on the outskirts of Little Rock "for substantially less than the $12,000 budgeted";

a special committee has been formed to discuss the best way to remove the cap from the pen;

a copy of the notoriously difficult to obtain form has been located on eBay and bidding is underway; and

a "Dinner With John" fundraising extravaganza is in the works to obtain the necessary postage to mail the signed form, should such a step be required.

John told me to tell you guys to keep up the good work, he appreciates all your efforts to help him get that pesky 180 signed.

HT to Powerline and a special Thanks to "Too Many Steves" for the pointer.

What A Bunch Of Cowards You Are!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The best of times? Easy, Republicans have the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The worst of times? Again, easy! The Republicans are too stupid to capitalize on their gains.

The Democrats threaten to shut down the Senate if the Republicans change the Rules of the Senate to end the "Gentleman's Filibuster." The Dems cry out how "dare" you end the constitutional protection of the minority. They argue that it is a "power-grab." They yell about their Danish. Whoops, wrong argument!

How then, about this argument from Kevin Drum?

"I shot my wad on the narrower question of judicial filibusters a couple of months ago in the Washington Post, arguing that the real issue was Republican hypocrisy in systematically dismantling Senate rules that they themselves had used with eager abandon back when Bill Clinton was president:

There are powerful arguments that these arcane Senate rules are fundamentally undemocratic � arguments to which I am sympathetic. But it's harder to see any good argument for allowing the rules to be cynically changed based solely on who's in power. If one blue slip is the rule when your opponents hold the presidency, then that should be the rule when your own party holds the presidency. Ditto for the rules on reporting nominees out of committee.

Read the whole thing if you're interested in the entire glorious panorama of Republican hypocrisy on this issue."

Now, I like reading Drum from time to time, he's somewhat of a fruitcake about liberal politics, but this time he is not only a fruitcake, he's so far out in left field, he's dropped off of the continental shelf. Hypocrisy? Whom is Drum kidding? The Democrats griped (well, the most appropriate word here would start with a 'B' but this IS a family site) when Clinton was in office and the Republicans wanted to use the filibuster and threatened to do so. Then it was Byrd, Ried, Boxer, Schumer, Leahy and a whole panoply of Democrats saying "Change the rules, give us an up or down vote" and equally "disingenuous" comments; though I acknowledge the Republicans tended to hold up the nominations in committee.

Yeah Drum, hypocrisy rules.

Now the Democrats want to "compromise." Gee Fellow Senators... if you will promise NEVER to use the constitutionally approved recess appointment we "promise" (yeah, that's the word and they are sticking to it!) to allow a vote after a lengthy debate, and more debate, and more debate, and more debate, ad infinitum, ad nauseum, and eventually, eventually (yeah, that's another word and they are sticking to that one too.) it will come up for a vote ... Say around December, 2008?

If anyone believes that "compromise" agreements by EITHER party when they are attempting to gain a political advantage, is going to be kept... well, I have a delightful ocean front property in Manitoba to sell you.

The only reason the Democrats are willing to compromise is that they are deathly afraid that Frist and Co. will push the button on the dreaded "nuclear option." Then, if that happens they will be forced to "shut down" the Senate (assuming they really can) and the country will see them for the obstructionists they truly are.

The Republicans on the other hand have all the intestinal fortitude of an earthworm (That much? ... ed.). They are deathly afraid that if they call for the "nuclear option." they will lose the vote because of a few namby pamby, panty waisted, girlie men by the name of McCain, Voinovich, Chafee, Snow and perhaps a few others. They are also worried about having to abide by the "new" rule when they are out of power as they will sooner or later be (unless the Democrats continue to act like the children they are in which case the Republicans may be there a very long time.)

What courage the Republicans have. What stalwarts they are! What ... ahhh, NUTS!!!

Look folks, the “gentlemen’s� form of filibuster is a sham enacted by lazy senators to give the illusion of filibuster. But it’s BS. I mean that in the kindest way of course. You want the filibuster? Fine, then by gosh have a real, honest-to-goodness filibuster. Get some clown (Byrd will do just fine - even Hillary would suffice) and filibuster away. Read the Readers Digest condensed books into the record, quote from the New York Phone Directory, stay stuck to the floor till you give out and make everyone else stay there and listen to you drone on and on and on. Then vote for cloture.

But this chicken flavored gentlemen’s filibuster? What a bunch of cowards you all are. Yes, you, all 100 of you for not having the courage of your convictions.

I'm sick of the bunch of you and I'm sick of the whining that changing rules made by the senate is a disaster when the other guy wants to do it but a good thing when your side wants to do it. You were all elected to serve the people of this country. Ladies and Gentlemen, you have failed miserably.

MoDo Strikes Again - And As Usual Misses Widely!

Skimming through some of my very most favorite bloggers I came across this entry by Dr.Sanity regarding the ultimate (and hopefully soon) demise of Fidel Castro. I read the comments and came across this entry from Maxed Out Mama with a really good article on Maureen Dowd. Go read it. It's really good.

The Meaning Of The Medals

A friend (HB over at Shades of Gray) sent me a photograph of a number of [UPDATED INFO] Chinese Peoples Republic of (North) Korea (As Tad noted in the comments that is two lies out of three) Generals VIP's(?) but with no caption as to what the medals stood for. Using Google and other resources, I was able to discern the true nature of the majority of the medals and I have noted them below and have indicated what they are as a public service.

KORECTION: The Tienamen Square medal is actually crowd control at 4th And Rhee streets in Pyongyang. Following the brave correction of my friend Daisy Cutter below, I must confess my manifest errors and throw myself on the mercy of the blogosphere.

Video

America, We Stand As One!

Watch it here.

Corney? A little! A Great Truth Underlying The Concept? Absolutely!

Ter-ay-zuh Speaks, The Rest Of Us Yawn!

Eric Heyl writing in Pittsburgh Live notes that Teresa Heinz believes that were it not for the Catholic Church, she would be hanging new curtains in the White House.

Heyl quoting Heinz noted:

"You cannot have bishops in the pulpit -- long before or the Sunday before the election, as they did in Catholic churches -- saying it was a mortal sin to vote for John Kerry," she said. "The church has a right and obligation to teach values. They don't have a right to restrict freedom of expression, which they did."

Uh, Ter-ay-zuh, isn't that what they were doing, teaching the core values of their faith? Lets see now...

"Last summer, American bishops received a letter from the Vatican advising that Catholics who condone abortion are committing "a grave sin." ... "The letter was written by the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. At the time, that was a fellow named Ratzinger -- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, named Tuesday by the College of Cardinals to succeed the late Pope John Paul II."

OK, I have it now Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI) said that condoning abortion was against the rules of the church and Roman Catholics who listened and voted their conscience violated voting rules by not voting for Kerry?

Gee Ter-ay-zuh, you don't suppose it had anything to do with your hubby's penchant for flip-floping do you? You don't suppose it had anything to do with his inability to connect with people do you? You don't suppose it had anything to do with him being noted for his initials JFK which many that knew him said stood for the phrase Just For Kerry do you? You don't think it had anything to do with "I don't fall down, that son-ov-a-b**** pushed me." do you? Lastly, you don't think it may have had anything to do with your foul mouth, condescending attitude and use of your money to lord it over "the little guy" that you purported to be for do you?

Nah, it couldn't have been any of those things, it had to be the church. Just had to be.

A tip of the Roper Chapeaux to Smarter Cop

Whither Education? Part II

Whither education? Or should that be wither education? There has to be something deeply wrong when the National Education Association (AKA the LTO - Leftist Teachers Organization) is suing to prevent No Child Left Behind Act (popularly called NCLB) from being enforced. Now, this appears to be quite a conundrum, teachers not wanting to have teaching enforced.

Oh, I know the typical leftist cant -- "you got it wrong Roper, we want to teach, but this law is flawed, unconstitutional, terrible, and most of all wanted by Bush." In reality, as Eduwonk has noted:

"the core of the lawsuit boils down to the contention that No Child Left Behind is forcing school districts (and by extension states) to spend too much on education. This is, to put it mildly, a novel argument from the NEA."

This may require a bit of rethinking. My daughter belongs to one of the Teachers Unions, ATPE (Association of Texas Professional Educators) but is decidedly conservative in her politics.(Additional Bragging Rights = She was just elected "Teacher of the Year" for her school) The district she teaches in is something around the neighborhood of 90% at risk students. Minorities in a poor area, the very children NCLB is meant to aide.

Jenny D, has a good MARVELOUS posting up calling the NEA on their tactics:

"The one thing Robert F. Kennedy wanted from ESEA and Title I was testing and accountability. He wanted to use test scores a lever to force educators and schools to do a better job educating poor and minority kids.

If he were alive today, he'd probably be blasting the National Education Association--the national teachers' union--which yesterday joined in a lawsuit with school districts to fight No Child Left Behind. (See articles and posts here, here, here, here.) In effect, the teachers' union has decided the best use of its resources is not to work to improve teacher knowledge, or teacher practice--but instead to hire lawyers to fight in court. Instead of taking a long look at the racial achievement gap, or the struggles of poor kids, or anything that might improve the professional knowledge (and ultimately the reputation) of teachers and teaching, they're going to wage a public relations war in federal district court."

If the NEA is successful and the amount of funding is cut for educational purposes (but not, one would think, for administration, football, other sports, and of course organizing) these are the types of students that would be hurt the most. Has the NEA really thought this through?

Now, Eduwonk isn't letting Bush off the hook either:

"Overplaying the funding hand by pushing it in this high profile/high stakes way may be still yet another way to make President Bush appear better on an issue than he really is. In addition to the aggregate funding levels, because it's his secretary of education getting sued, he'll be perceived as standing up for the kids in the public debate. This tact also further obscures the areas where the Bush Administration may be meeting the legal definition of a "funded" mandate but is still not promoting good public policy. For instance, in the case of assessments where more funding can help stave off a race to the bottom on quality."

None the less, by going after the funding aspects, the NEA is in essence saying we don't want school districts and states to spend money on minority and at risk children - those very children that NCLB is meant to help. As Eduwonk noted

"NCLB, though not without its flaws, is a law aimed at forcing states and school districts to do right by poor and minority kids. In the long run, does the NEA really want to be remembered for having gone to court to stop that?"

Just as the International Buggy Whip Makers of the AFofL finally bit the dust, so too does the NEA need to bite the dust. Then maybe Johnny will learn to read.

Thought For Today

W

hy does there always seem to be enough time to do things over, but never enough time to do them right in the first place?

Daisy Cutter Confesses

If you read the corrections page at the NYTimes you will occasionally see them correct something fairly insignificant. You will rarely see them correct an error of importance.

Daisy Cutter however, steps up to the plate and notes a significant "error" in ... well, I don't think he made an error in this posting. In fact, I'd say DC was on the money. The only real error I could discern is that the caption should have read:

"Moby Teddy ... the Democrats' spiritual leader gets ready for a big sporting day."

The photograph accompanying the caption was this one:

The Bolton Witch Hunt

Dredging up
someone's prom date, or a co-worker from ten years ago - come on!

The Washinton Dispatch carries a solid post on the "John Bolton Witch Hunt." Yet, many denizens of the left do not see it as such, much as the residents of Salem did not, and truly innocent people were hounded, sometimes to death.

Bolton's persecutors on the Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations include Boxer, Hagel and Voinovich. Voinovich? Yeppers, he of the lion heart (kitty heart is more like it...ed.) waited 'til he saw which way the wind blew before he voiced reservations. Brave man that Senator.

Boxer, well, what can I say about anyone who dredges up the kind of calumny that she is famous for.

Good people on the left (what, there are good people on the left?...ed) are salivating at the prospect of damaging Bush through the process of attacking Bolton. A real circus folks, a real circus.

In a previous post (immediately below) Tish of The World According To Tish took a light hearted look at this sad state of affairs and noted:

"Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, Libertarian or Green Party, the direction of these proceedings has taken a ridiculous turn, wouldn't you agree? Dredging up someone's prom date, or a co-worker from ten years ago - come on! Who doesn't have those types of skeletons in their closet? Mother Teresa, maybe, but I am sure someone would bash her for the whole 'poverty' thing."

Those attacking Bolton on anything besides policy or interpretation of policy are no better than poodles to the left. If you don't like Bolton's policies fine, argue that. Arguing something said (or not...ed.) from ten years ago is infantile. But that is what the Senate has devolved into.

Capital Hill Hearings

Tish Sharp of The World According To Tish is up for 3rd Grade PTA. The only problem is her past as Boxer, Hagle and Voinovich are way to quick to point out. Tish endures the "politics of personal destruction" pretty well though. On the other hand, Senator Hillary hasn't been heard from yet. Tish, prepair for the deluge!

Whither Education? 11 years and out?

HB over at Shades of Gray has some interesting thoughts about education. From a former teacher no less. As a college "professor" I too am concerned about the ability of High School Grads to function at the college level. Go read it all.

Update: The Case Against College has good information about post secondary education as does Success Without College

Andrew Sullivan - One Track Mind?

Professor Bainbridge calls Andrew Sullivan an Ass. Now, I'm not sure I fully agree with the good professor, I've been reading Sullivan about as long as I've read anybody in the "net" and I really like the guy and the vast majority of his postings. But, as the good professor says, sometimes "Andrew Sullivan is an Ass."

Please read the Professors entire post as well as that of Mr. Sullivan and make up your own mind. I will note also that the good professor has over 48 trackbacks to his post. That dear friends is awesome and is a comment sufficient unto itself as to the regard that the blogosphere holds for the good professor.

Light Posting

Light posting over the next few days while I tie up some loose ends and get my classes ready to take their final exams. I'll post when I can.

Thought for Today

The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

Freedom's Chances

Surfing the internet can be daunting, boring and sometimes exhilarating! This morning, while surfing I went to one of my daily reads (Ogres Politics and Views)and came across his entry on a new blog showcase. One of the blog titles seemed to be a title of interest and I went over there to discover a new blog (well, to me at any rate) One Billion Red Chinese And A Dog Named Liberty. Now, it wasn't just the title of the blog that interested me, though I would have gone there on that basis alone, but also the title of the posting Incremental Freedom.

Liberty Dog, the nom de blog of the author discusses the use and value of compound interest and ties it directly to the compound interest of investing in FREEDOM. What a concept.

If you are interested in the growth of freedom, this is a must read. It is so good, that the Carnival of Capitalism cited it as the Editor's Choice. Having read the entry and gone back and read the blog over a number of entries, I'd have to agree. This is one blog to keep your eye on and it is therefor enshrined in Newly Discovered Blogs.

Narcissism

Dr. Pat Santy, a Psychiatrist writing at Dr.Sanity has a trio of articles on Narcissism and Society. If you would like to know where some of the "evil" in our world comes from, go there and learn. As a psychotherapist with some 35 years experience I stand in AWE of this lady. She is damn good!

Welcome Back Bear

N.Z.Bear is back from his honeymoon in Hawaii. My wife and I went there in 99 and it was a terrific place. The Bear has posted some terrific pictures, go and see some of God's paradise.

Humor Break!

Daffynitions as given by kids. You can tell where either the "look" of the word or the sound of the word threw the child off.

ABORIGINES, a system of mountains.

ALIAS, a good man in the Bible.

AMENABLE, anything that is mean.

AMMONIA, the food of the gods.

ASSIDUITY, state of being an acid.

AURIFEROUS, pertaining to an orifice.

CAPILLARY, a little caterpillar.

CORNIFEROUS, rocks in which fossil corn is found.

EMOLUMENT, a headstone to a grave.

EQUESTRIAN, one who asks questions.

EUCHARIST, one who plays euchre.

FRANCHISE, anything belonging to the French.

IDOLATER, a very idle person.

IPECAC, a man who likes a good dinner.

IRRIGATE, to make fun of.

MENDACIOUS, what can be mended.

MERCENARY, one who feels for another.

PARASITE, a kind of umbrella.

PARASITE, the murder of an infant.

PUBLICAN, a man who does his prayers in public.

TENACIOUS, ten acres of land.

Tip of the GM Chapeaux to English As She Is Taught

Taste The Pain

A bottle of Blair's 4AM Hotsauce. This is one of only 999 bottles made and is for sale at Taste The Pain for only $900.00.

ONLY $900.00?

Now, I like peppersauce/hotsauce/spicy foods as well as the next guy, but paying $900.00 for the privilege seems a bit outlandish, even if the bottle is cool looking.

Stink-Stank-Stunk

Tish of the World of Tish has performed a public service in describing the three levels of stink. She begins:

"Maybe you aren't aware of the new federal regulations regarding foul odors. I think the legislation was sandwiched between a new tax on liposuction and cosmetic surgery, but I feel it is my civic duty to enlighten everyone to the new offensive aroma guidelines."

She ends with:

"We here at the Anti-Stank foundation hope that this information will assist you in making responsible decisions when it comes to exposing yourself or loved ones to potential life threatening aromas."

In between is PURE FUNNY! SMELLY Actually, that probably should be PURE SMELLY FUNNY!!!!

Thanks Tish for your public service.

Opportunistically Pipelined Extensions

There I was in Grad School, puzzling through what seemed journal after journal for a lengthy paper on Systematic Desensitization using journals from around the world for a course in Behavioral Therapy. I remember falling asleep night after night with phrases dancing in my head such as:

"The model for our heuristic consists of four independent components: simulated annealing, active networks, flexible modalities, and the study of reinforcement learning" and "We implemented our scatter/gather I/O server in Simula-67, augmented with opportunistically pipelined extensions."

The above was taken from a scientific article titled "Rooter: A Methodology for the Typical Unification of Access Points and Redundancy" accepted by the powers that be for presentation at the World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics (WMSCI), scheduled to be held July 10-13 in Orlando, Florida.

No doubt the paper, submitted by Jeremy Stribling and two other MIT graduate students sounds learned, erudite, or even titillating to some. Unfortunately for the powers that be for the WMSCI, the paper is a total fake.

The paper was generated by a computer program that generates "research papers complete with "context-free grammar," charts and diagrams." In other words, gobbledygook. Oh, wait, not in other words, in that word EXACTLY. Gobbledygook!!!

Stribling and his co-conspirators believed (accurately it turns out) that the standards for papers called for by the powers that be for WMSCI seemed a little loose and left something to be desired. They used their program to cobble together a number of "papers" for submission and were surprised to find "Rooter" was accepted.

This confirms what I have often thought, some folk are so in love with high powered words, that it really doesn't matter what the words mean or even imply.

Good on you Mr. Stribling. You made me smile.

A tip of the GM Chapeaux to Eugine Volokh.

The UN Outlaws Nuclear Terrorism: And The World Is Safer?

There is the old story about the fellow sitting on the curb of the street hitting himself in the head with a hammer. A friend walks up and says "Why are you hitting yourself like that?"

"Because it feels so good when I stop," said the fellow.

Useless actions that makes one feel good. Yeah, that's the ticket and once again the UN makes as much sense. In yesterday's Washington Post we are reliably informed that the

"The 191-member U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday unanimously approved a treaty outlawing the use of nuclear weapons by terrorists and their supporters."

Oh yes, I feel safer already. The UN General Assembly wastes time on passing a treaty that it has absolutely no intention of enforcing let alone monitoring.

According to the WaPo:

"The treaty, which governments will begin signing at the General Assembly session in September, criminalizes the possession or use of radioactive material or a nuclear device "to cause death or serious bodily injury." It also makes it a crime to use a nuclear device to damage property or the environment or to attack a nuclear facility."

The "treaty" will require 22 member states to ratify before it becomes "law."

"It's a good thing" that they are making a concerted effort to grapple with the threat of nuclear terrorism, said Charles D. Ferguson II, an expert on terrorism at the Council on Foreign Relations. "But the bottom line is, it's not going to stop it."

Let me repeat that: "It's a good thing..." but "The bottom line is, it's not going to stop it." Oh, yes, I feel safer already.

Does it not strike any of the august members of the UN that a member state that supports terrorism (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, North Korea anyone?) has no intention of signing the treaty? Or, if they do, they have no intention of following the treaty they signed?

One only has to look at the sterling performance of the UN in regards to Security Council resolutions re: Saddam's Iraq, Sudanese slaughter, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, etc., etc. to recognize the futility of passing laws that no one intends to enforce or even pay attention to.

Passing a law against looking crosseyed at transvestite girth challenged elephants makes as much sense. Actually, that law would make more sense.

If the UN wants to ACT like a REAL United Nations, lets start with the things it CAN do. Clean up the corruption, fire Kofi, stop the slaugter in Darfur, stop letting France and China ignore Sudan because they have extensive oil interests in Sudan, etc. Then maybe they will have the credibility and the juevos to back up their useless, senseless propagandistic "treaties."

Dr. Pat Santy over at Dr.Sanity says that she won't be surprised if

"When the UN actually does something--no matter how feeble, even like this example where they passed a resolution--all you have to do is just wait for the other shoe to fall. Soon they will be declaring that along with Israel, the United States meets their definition of being a "terrorist" and must unilaterally disarm."

Dr. Pat, I won't be surprised at all; I promise!

Tip of the Chapeaux to Dr. Sanity

Middle East Blogs

There are an increasing number of Iraqi blogs and blogs from Iran and other parts of the middle east. I've collected a few here. Visit all of them and see what they have to offer. I'm willing to bet even the skeptical that they will find a lot of information here that you just won't find in the MSM. Each blog has a set of links also, follow them as well and see how much a difference really has been made.

Friends Of Democracy

Iraq The Model

Hammorabi

Diary from Baghdad

Free Iraq

Free Iraqi(Iraqi Liberal)

Healing Iraq

Blog Iran

All Iranian Website

Iraqi Information Network

MEMRI~The Middle East Media Research Institute

An Example of what you havn't heard much about is below, the Marsh Arabs returning to the Marsh after Saddam practically wiped out that ecosphere.

Men Are Just Happier!

A friend sent me this, I'm only reporting so don't shoot the messenger.

40 reasons men are happier people!

1. No one expects much from such simple creatures.
2. Your last name stays put.
3. The garage is all yours.
4. Wedding plans take care of themselves.
5. Chocolate is just another snack.
6. You can be President.
7. You can never be pregnant.
8. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
9. You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
10. Car mechanics tell you the truth.
11. The world is your urinal.
12. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
13. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
14. Same work, same pay.
15. Wrinkles add character.
16. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
17. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
18. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
19. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
20. One mood all the time.
21. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
22. You know stuff about tanks.
23. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
24. You can open all your own jars.
25. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
26. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
27. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
28. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
29. You almost never have strap problems in public.
30. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
31. Everything on your face stays its original color.
32. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
33. You only have to shave your face and neck.
34. You can play with toys all your life.
35. Your belly usually hides your big hips.
36. One wallet and one pair of shoes one color for all seasons.
37. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
38. You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
39. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
40. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes. No wonder men are happier!

Viet Pundit is BACK

After more than a month taking care of some important business, VietPundit is back in action. He needs a while to get up to speed, but go welcome him back.

This is a Good Guy in the Blogosphere!!!

BASEBALL WARS

Oh my, the WORLD CHAMPION (I bet that was fun to type...ed)Boston Red Sox took on the New York Yankees in Fenway Park for the first home game of the season, and handed the Yanks a bitter loss. From the New York Yankies OFFICIAL website comes this bon mott:

"Before Monday's Fenway opener, the Red Sox received their 2004 World Series championship rings. Then Boston went out and played like champions, handing the Yankees an 8-1 loss in the first of three games between the two rivals."

Ahhh, the sweet smell of Victory!!!

Game 4: 8-1 RED SOX
Yankees: Win-2 Lose-2
Red Sox: Win-2 Lose-2

Play Ball!

Icon Wars

Wanna know what your computer is doing when you aren't there to monitor your monitor? Icon has the answer Go and chuckle.

Tip of the Chapeaux to HB at ShadesofGray

King Of The Blogs - The Last Coronation

For the third and final competition I was lucky enough to be crowned King of the Blogs. It wasn't easy, as in prior contests, this was one tough set of competetors and minor errors carried the day more than my efforts such as they were. I think I just made fewer errors. The two other sites, Jaded Sunburns and He Says-She Says have beautiful sites and their writing is top rate. I'm glad they were competetors and I hope that both blogs will continue in the competition. These are good people so go visit them often. I especially want to thank the Judges, Ogre, Smarter Cop and Songstress for all the work they put in on this contest week, after week, after week. They are fair, impartial and always give great tips to make your blog better. Thanks too to Nick Queen and Christweb for their efforts and of course the King of Fools as the Commissioner. Thanks to all my supporters and the great folk that linked back for me as well. And now dear readers, the dynasty sign goes on the sidebar and I retire to enjoy other kingly activities. Cheers.

The Narcissist In All Of Us

Dr. Pat Santy over at Dr. Sanity has an excellent post on Narcissism, and this is only part one. I can't wait for part II. As is typical of the good doctor, she is both eloquent and on target. A sample:

"But what is not generally or readily seen (either on the Left or Right) is the flip side of "selfish" or "grandiose" Narcissism-- and that is what I will call Narcissism rooted in idealism, rather than selfishness, or "idealistic" Narcissism. This second kind of Narcissism (the flip side of the coin, if you will) is less obvious to an observer, since it is disguised with a veneer of concern for others. But it is equally�if not more�destructive and causative of human suffering, death and misery. Both kinds of Narcissism are a plague on the world; and both are well-travelled avenues for limiting freedom and imposing tyranny. The "grandiose" Narcissism is the stimulus for individual tyrants, while the "idealistic" Narcissism leads to groups imposing their will on others. We will talk more of this in Part II."

I await the second part with bated breath. You will too. Go read the whole thing!!!!

UPDATE: While reading the comments to Dr. Pat's article, I came across another site posted by a "Shrink" in ShrinkWrapped - A Psychoanalyst Attempts to Understand Our World. As does Dr. Pat, the author of this site has a great take on the subject. Go read it too. You'll be glad you did.

Sy Hersh: Truth Teller Or Serial Liar?

IIn the summer of '04 Ed Cone noted that in a speech Seymour Hersh described:

"...videotapes of boys being sodomized at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

"The worst is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking," the reporter told an ACLU convention last week. Hersh says there was "a massive amount of criminal wrongdoing that was covered up at the highest command out there, and higher."

Cone has the speech on livestream here and notes that Hersh begins at about 1:07:50. I listened to the whole thing just to make sure my reporting was accurate. Cone nailed it.

The only problem is is that the story isn't true. Hersh "pulled" at the truth so to speak. Cone then points to Chris Suellentrop's article in the New York Magazine Cone says that Suellentrop's article is a "not-very-flattering look" at Hersh. I'd say that is an understatement.

The lede passage from Suellentrop's article: "

Since the Abu Ghraib story broke eleven months ago, The New Yorker’s national-security correspondent, Seymour Hersh, has followed it up with a series of spectacular scoops. Videotape of young boys being raped at Abu Ghraib. Evidence that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may be a “composite figure� and a propaganda creation of either Iraq’s Baathist insurgency or the U.S. government. The active involvement of Karl Rove and the president in “prisoner-interrogation issues.� The mysterious disappearance of $1 billion, in cash, in Iraq. A threat by the administration to a TV network to cut off access to briefings in retaliation for asking Laura Bush “a very tough question about abortion.� The Iraqi insurgency’s access to short-range FROG missiles that “can do grievous damage to American troops.� The murder, by an American platoon, of 36 Iraqi guards.

Not one of these exclusives appeared in the pages of The New Yorker, however. Instead, Hersh delivered them in speeches on college campuses and in front of organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and on public-radio shows like “Democracy Now!� In most cases, Hersh attaches a caveat�such as “I’m just talking now, I’m not writing��before unloading one of his blockbusters, which can send bloggers and reporters scurrying for confirmation."

"I'm just talking..." In other words; "If I'm writing I'll always to try to tell the truth, but if I'm TALKING, welllll........."

Read the whole article. If that doesn't set you back on your haunches, I don't know what will. I've never particularly liked Hersh, looks as if my gut instinct was right all along.

Tip of the Chapeaux to Instapundit

No Delay In The War On DeLay!

The Main Stream Media (and assorted lefties) are at war. The object of their war is the defeat of one Tom Delay (R-Texas) currently (but for how long?) Majority Leader in the United States House of Representatives.

DeLay had the unmitigated gall to play politics just as the Democrats have played politics for years. How dare he? Just "who in tarnation" does he think he is? Harry Reid? The current batch of "ethics" charges against DeLay include having relatives on the payroll and taking junkets paid for by someone else. This is, according to the MSM, unacceptable, totally unacceptable. After all, those acts taken by a Republican are absolute proof of corruption. Whereas those same acts taken by a Democrat really don't mean anything.

Proof? OK, let us try this on for size (from The Beltway Buzz):

The Los Angeles Times correctly notes that numerous members of Congress have family members on the payroll. But Harry Reid truly leads by example. In the words of the LAT:

“Harry Reid is in a class by himself. One of his sons and his son-in-law lobby in Washington for companies, trade groups and municipalities seeking Reid's help in the Senate. A second son has lobbied in Nevada for some of those same interests, and a third has represented a couple of them as a litigator.�

“In the last four years alone, their firms have collected more than $2 million in lobbying fees from special interests that were represented by the kids and helped by the senator in Washington.�

“So pervasive are the ties among Reid, members of his family and Nevada's leading industries and institutions that it's difficult to find a significant field in which such a relationship does not exist.�

Note the numerous children's vocational choices, note the "...more than $2 million in lobbying fees..." Does that sound like a reason to "convict" DeLay? Or does it sound like a reason to take an equally close look at Senator Reid?

Of course, the MSM can't do this alone, they must have "Republican" allies or it won't seem to be a bi-partisan effort. And sure enough, they will find them among Republicans who are more interested in "being liked" than in standing up to the MSM or who are more interested in keeping their Democratic Votes in their races than in backing their own Party. Witness one Christopher Shays (R-Conneticut) piles on with:

"Do I think Tom DeLay will be the majority leader by the end of this term? No," Shays said. "I don't think Tom DeLay is going to survive. He goes to the edge and he goes beyond . . . Even knowing there's a microscope on him, he continues to do these things."

Way to go Shays, keep your seat in a Democrat Leaning District by piling on a fellow Republican. In fact, The Moderate Voice has this and more. Thoughts Online also calls for DeLay's head (and the Moderate Voice is sure to point out that TO is a "conservative blogger." On the other side however, is PoliPundit's Jason who notes:

"I’d call Rep. Shays a “media whore,� but, quite frankly, that would be an insult to whores."

Shays, MV and TO aren't the only ones either, the MSM is doing everything it can to find other centrist or left leaning RINO's to pile on as well. Robert Novak writing in Real Clear Politics has the goods on the MSM also The NYTimes, greylady, newspaper of record and all that stuff tried to get a fellow Republican Bob Livingston to castigate DeLay:

"On March 24, former Congressman Bob Livingston was sent an e-mail by a New York Times editorial page staffer suggesting he write an op-ed essay. Would Livingston, who in 1998 gave up certain elevation to be House speaker because of a sexual affair, write about how Majority Leader Tom DeLay should now act under fire? In a subsequent conversation, it was made clear the Times wanted the prominent Republican to say DeLay should step aside for the good of the party.

Livingston in effect declined by responding that if he wrote anything for the Times, it would be pro-DeLay. But this remarkable case of that august newspaper fishing for an op-ed piece makes it appear part of a calculated campaign to bring down the single most powerful Republican in Congress. The Democratic establishment and left-wing activists have targeted DeLay as the way to end a decade of Republican control of the House."

Stay tuned folks, this is going to get nasty.

Tip of the Chapeaux to Dr. Pat at Dr. Sanity

Iraqi Thoughts On The Last Two Years.

Under most circumstances bloggers like me quote paragraphs and bit's and pieces of other items in the news or on the web. But this time I'm going to do something different, I'm posting the entire lede from Democracy In Iraq (Is Here!) After you read below, come back here click on the link and read the whole thing, read all of the comments too and the next time you hear one of the Nay-Sayers, send them Here

"Sunday, March 20, 2005 2 Years It has been now two years since the United States, UK and other countries invaded our nation. It has been two years since Iraqis have had to live with daily violent attacks and rampant terrorism. It has been two years since our nation began being turned upside down. It has been two years since the road to democracy began.

It has been a very hard two years. So many people have died, so much has been destroyed, so many drops of tears and blood have been shed, so many have been robbed of loved ones, and so many words have been spoken about Iraq, it's future, and this war.

Two years...seems like yesterday that I was awoken by bombs going off in Baghdad, and the realisation that my life and that of my country was going to change. That very day I remember being scared that my house might be destroyed by a bomb, or that my relatives who were forcibly put into the Iraqi army might be killed.

Two years since Saddam came on TV, and pledged that Iraq would never fall. Little did he know, he surrendered like a rat in a whole only months later. Two years since my father had a heart."

A Tip of the Chapeaux to SmarterCop and with gratitude for the efforts of The Watchers Council

Blogging Hiatus

Heading for Austin, Texas to attend a wedding in a few hours. Will be away from blogging (I need to get that laptop) until late Sunday night. Until then, you dear readers be very careful and have a great week end. The Groom (Seph) and Bride (Lorraine) have put together a very cute little website. Go here and look around. Sign the guest book and give them your best wishes.

SLIPPERY SLOPE - Revisited

Not too long ago, in fact just last week, a woman was starved to death. "Court ordered", said the people. "Right to die," said the people. "Her husband is following her wishes," said the people. "This is WRONG," said the rest of us, "morally and ethically wrong!"

Before long it will come to pass that any one who is not wanted or is "useless" will be euthanized, starved, unhooked, and will die, unwanted, maybe even unloved. "Oh no," said the people. "That will never happen," said the people.

Well folks, it is happening and you can find the story here, here, and here. Good Lord I never wanted to be one to use "I told you so." But, I told you so!

Thanx to Songstress for the tip.

Update: More here, here amd here.

THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE - PART II

Yes friends, the Democrats MSM have once again flipped "TRUTH" But I was wrong, I should have said that the MSM flipped honest reporting.

Honest Reporting

Honest Reporting

The motto of this website is "This Is The Place Where Truth, Honesty and Integrity Are Honored Above All Else!" I meant that when I put it up, and I mean it now.

OK, the memo did in fact exist, it was apparently written by a Republican Staffer and it was not as portrayed in the MSM as a memo distributed to Repubs by the GOP leadership.

Joshua Claybourn writing IN THE AGORA blog notes:

The Raw Story claims to have obtained a leaked AP story about the controversial "Talking Points Memo" alleged to have circulated among Republican leadership.

Martinez told the AP's Matt Yancey and other news organizations in a written statement "he discovered Wednesday that the memo had been written by an aide in his office."

"It is with profound disappointment and regret that I learned today that a senior member of my staff was unilaterally responsible for this document," Martinez said.

According to the story, Sen. Harkin asked Sen. Martinez for information about the Schiavo bill. Martinez then "pulled a one-page document from his coat pocket and handed to Harkin." The Senator explains: "Unbeknownst to me, I had given him a copy of the now infamous memo." Martinez has supposedly asked for the staffer's resignation. It remains unclear why Sen. Martinez would hand a document to another Senator on the floor without first ensuring what it says.

If this story is true, ABC News, the Washington Post, and virtually every news outlet that ran the infamous story should now publish a retraction. Unlike what ABC and the Post reported, the memo did not originate from Senate Republican leadership. At most it came from one Senator, Martinez, and if we are to believe Martinez it was simply a foolish, sloppy aide. Either way the real turn of events appears to be much different than the one portrayed by most media outlets.

So, the mystery memo (MM from now on) did exist except that it wasn't from the GOP leadership it was from one aide. It wasn't generally distributed, it was distributed to only one, (not 55 GOP Senators) and it was inadvertently given to Senator Harkin (who is no doubt the source to the news since he is the only Democrat to receive it) by mistake.

Still, the MSM jumped all over the story and it has gone on now for almost 3 weeks. To the MSM, it seems to me, this was more important than Sandy Berger "fessing up" to the "accidental" theft and destruction of archive documents. But then, Sandykins is a Dem and Martinez is a Repub.

To the extent that I mislead my readers I apologize. I hope this sets the story a right. I'm waiting for the MSM to correct the MM story, but I won't hold my breath.

Thanks to Joshua Claybourn for the e-mail to shed more light on this topic.

Powerline has a great update too, and another one here

Michele Malkin also has a good take.

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