"THE old saying tells us that one can never convince anyone who doesn't wish to be convinced. The makers of "Syriana" are preaching to the converted, if only because an extraordinarily large number of Arabs are comfortable in the certainty of their victimhood. Long before "Syriana" hit the screen, those Arabs were convinced that whatever misfortune has befallen them is due to some conspiracy by a perfidious Western power.
In North Africa, where France ruled for more than a century, every shortcoming, and every major crime, is blamed on the French. From Egypt to the Indian Ocean, all was the fault of the British . . . until the Americans emerged as a more convincing protagonist in the fantasyland of conspiracy theories. In Libya, where Italy ruled for a while last century, even the fact that the telephones don't work in 2006 is blamed on the Italians.
Would it change anything if one were to remind the conspiracy theorists that none of the two dozen or so high-profile political murders in the Arab world over the past century had anything to do with the United States or any other foreign power?"
Nope. Hollywood giveth then taketh away just as easily. It's good that cave dwellers the world over get to see a real democracy in action, because it might very well stimulate them to push for the same type of freedom. And it's bad that cave dwellers the world over get to see a democracy in action because when Hollywood wants to take a political stand they do so bereft of logic and reason and, duh, facts. Here's more:
"The self-loathing party in the United States, which includes a disturbingly large part of the elite, is doing three things.
First, it says that America, being the evil power it is, is a legitimate target for revenge attacks by Arab radicals and others.
Second, it tells the American people that all this talk about democracy is nonsense, if only because major decisions are ultimately taken by a cabal of businessmen, and politicians and lawyers in their pay.
Lastly, and perhaps without realizing it, the self-loathing Americans reduce the Arabs to the level of mere objects in their history. In the "Syriana" view, it is the almighty America that decides every single detail of Arab life with the Arabs as, at best, onlookers and, at worst, victims of American violence. The Arabs are even denied the dignity of their own terrorist acts as "Syriana" shows that it is not they but the CIA that decides who kills whom and where.
Pretending to be sympathetic to the "Arab victims of American Imperialism," the film is, in fact, an example of ethnocentrism gone wild. Its message is: The Arabs are nothing, not even self-motivated terrorists, but mere puppets manipulated by us in the United States."
Now, it was just a movie, after all, and movies are made to escape reality not to prolong it. Man bites dog MUST be the focus or the flick becomes ho hum. Folks WANT to see fantasy, but the problem arises when the ignorant start to believe what they see on the big screen. Happens all the time. Crank out enough science fiction flicks during the early 50's and UFO nuts the world over began spying them everywhere, and to up the ante began being abducted by them too. Each and every story MUST be more fanciful than it's predecessor, and that's why we have a rating system. Some tales are too persuasive for the immature, but what to do when the immature are in their 30's and 40's?
Call them liberal loons, let them have their say, and hope they eventually grow up. Problem arises when they blow up instead of grow up, and that's a bad thing if you happen to be in the general vicinity of a hapless youth when he or she decides to make a point by fight back against the evil alien abductors. A point taken from a fantasy story.
New York Post Online Edition: postopinion
Sunday, January 08, 2006
On a roll with the NY Post this day...
An interesting story from an Iraq war veteran.
"Last year, despite a media that overemphasizes the negative aspects of the war and an organized anti-recruitment effort, the Marine Corps exceeded its recruiting goals by 2 percent. The Navy and Air Force met their goals. The Army, which fell short of expectations last year, is exceeding them in Fiscal Year 2006 (which started in October).
Fortunately for the United States, a turncoat blowhard like Murtha won't stop the tens of thousands of good men and women inspired to serve this great nation."
And let us not disremember that the reason the Army fell short was because the bar was raised to a level most felt was far too high, but done so to stimulate recruitment efforts. The Army in fact was quite pleased with the number of recruits in 2005 but the yellowstream media will never tell you that.
New York Post Online Edition: postopinion
"Last year, despite a media that overemphasizes the negative aspects of the war and an organized anti-recruitment effort, the Marine Corps exceeded its recruiting goals by 2 percent. The Navy and Air Force met their goals. The Army, which fell short of expectations last year, is exceeding them in Fiscal Year 2006 (which started in October).
Fortunately for the United States, a turncoat blowhard like Murtha won't stop the tens of thousands of good men and women inspired to serve this great nation."
And let us not disremember that the reason the Army fell short was because the bar was raised to a level most felt was far too high, but done so to stimulate recruitment efforts. The Army in fact was quite pleased with the number of recruits in 2005 but the yellowstream media will never tell you that.
New York Post Online Edition: postopinion
I DID Mention George, Didn't I...
And, since I excoriated Mr. Will on one hand, let me then pat his back with the other for the following:
"As strongly as social conservatives deplore commercialized sex, liberals deplore cigarettes, Big Macs, firearms, fur coats, SUVs, pornography not printed on recycled paper, pornographic movies produced by nonunion studios, holiday trees provocatively labeled "Christmas trees," and much more.
But do we really want to march down this road paved with moral pronouncements? When government uses subsidies to moralize, as with tax preferences for bonds that can be used to finance this but not that, government is speaking. It is expressing opinions about what is and is not wholesome. And once government starts venting such opinions, how does it stop?
Government could spare itself the stress of moralizing about so many things if it decided that the choices people make with their money is their, not its, business. And government could avoid having opinions about so many things if it would quit subsidizing so many things.
When, for example, the valuation and allocation of money through bonds is left to the market, government can be reticent. And reticent government sounds wonderful."
Government speaks all the time about what is and is not wholesome, George, but I get your point. Morality is the single most important thing TO legislate because it means so very many things to so very many different people. Venting opinions is fine when it's Honest Abe, but ludicrous when it's Dishonest Bill, so the only way to watchdog precisely what the government is coddling is to elect people of admirable virtue to fill in for us at decision making time when we're too busy making the money to run the whole shebang.
Problem is, they're good at lying to us and we're good at believing lies. How else do you explain the extravagant homes occupied by used-car salesmen?
"As strongly as social conservatives deplore commercialized sex, liberals deplore cigarettes, Big Macs, firearms, fur coats, SUVs, pornography not printed on recycled paper, pornographic movies produced by nonunion studios, holiday trees provocatively labeled "Christmas trees," and much more.
But do we really want to march down this road paved with moral pronouncements? When government uses subsidies to moralize, as with tax preferences for bonds that can be used to finance this but not that, government is speaking. It is expressing opinions about what is and is not wholesome. And once government starts venting such opinions, how does it stop?
Government could spare itself the stress of moralizing about so many things if it decided that the choices people make with their money is their, not its, business. And government could avoid having opinions about so many things if it would quit subsidizing so many things.
When, for example, the valuation and allocation of money through bonds is left to the market, government can be reticent. And reticent government sounds wonderful."
Government speaks all the time about what is and is not wholesome, George, but I get your point. Morality is the single most important thing TO legislate because it means so very many things to so very many different people. Venting opinions is fine when it's Honest Abe, but ludicrous when it's Dishonest Bill, so the only way to watchdog precisely what the government is coddling is to elect people of admirable virtue to fill in for us at decision making time when we're too busy making the money to run the whole shebang.
Problem is, they're good at lying to us and we're good at believing lies. How else do you explain the extravagant homes occupied by used-car salesmen?
Read all of Mr Will by clicking the following:
Why Have All Of The "Bad-Workers-Wanting-A-Handout" Stories Quieted Down...
No, it isn't strange at all that George Will and those who emulate him haven't picked on the miners unions when bitching about "entitlement" programs for active and retired workers. Blue collar guys. Guys who leave their youth and health and bodies at work and don't eat, sleep, or walk very well when they hit the ripe old age of 55 or so. There was a time when people understood that a lot of industrial jobs ripped a man apart body and soul, and the only way, or the only moral and decent way to treat such workers was to pay them well, give them the best health benefits possible, and assure that their retirement years were looked after. The miners, the steel workers, the plant workers all over the country who age faster than any of us doing what most of us wouldn't even consider.
It somehow isn't an entitlement for a doctor or lawyer or big business wig to demand, and get, ridiculous wages and benefits because they paid their dues in a classroom. During these same formative years the blue collar guys and gals were paying their dues in pits and factories but somehow a "professional" person is given the heads up when he places 10% of his annual salary of millions of dollars in a retirement fund and the working man is called a beggar for doing the same and not able to make ends meet because society values his work far differently.
For some folks seeing the agony of a dozen men dying so that we can flick on our lights is a wakeup call. And even the ultra conservatives will hush up for a time, and not caterwaul about providing good benefits and wages to those that lay it on the line for us each and every day.
But when the smoke clears and the last note from the last dead miner is read and soon forgotten, the heartless bastards will return to begrudging the working class for daring to ask for a piece of the American pie.
There is no logical reason for Randal McCloy Jr. to have survived the tragedy at Sago Mine. Notes from other men suggest that they began to perish at least 24 hours before help arrived, yet somehow Randal clung to life. Granted, his is a worse case scenario, but if you believe that millions of the working class don't spend their retirement years as less than half the person they were before breaking themselves for their jobs, then you need to get out of the classroom and back to the real deal. Randal suffered extensive brain damage and for the rest of his life will be provided the best society has to offer because his is a media inspired incident. I've met many other men from his field who began feeling the cumulative effect of such deplorable working conditions when in their 40's or 50's and cannot add 10 plus 10 without a calculator. Or when they finally retired wondered just when it was they forgot how to tie a good knot in the laces of their work boots without the wife's teasing assistance. Hard work destroys muscles and ligaments and bones and minds. Always has, always will.
Try to have a little compassion for the working class the next time someone is bitching about their entitlements. That's all.
It somehow isn't an entitlement for a doctor or lawyer or big business wig to demand, and get, ridiculous wages and benefits because they paid their dues in a classroom. During these same formative years the blue collar guys and gals were paying their dues in pits and factories but somehow a "professional" person is given the heads up when he places 10% of his annual salary of millions of dollars in a retirement fund and the working man is called a beggar for doing the same and not able to make ends meet because society values his work far differently.
For some folks seeing the agony of a dozen men dying so that we can flick on our lights is a wakeup call. And even the ultra conservatives will hush up for a time, and not caterwaul about providing good benefits and wages to those that lay it on the line for us each and every day.
But when the smoke clears and the last note from the last dead miner is read and soon forgotten, the heartless bastards will return to begrudging the working class for daring to ask for a piece of the American pie.
There is no logical reason for Randal McCloy Jr. to have survived the tragedy at Sago Mine. Notes from other men suggest that they began to perish at least 24 hours before help arrived, yet somehow Randal clung to life. Granted, his is a worse case scenario, but if you believe that millions of the working class don't spend their retirement years as less than half the person they were before breaking themselves for their jobs, then you need to get out of the classroom and back to the real deal. Randal suffered extensive brain damage and for the rest of his life will be provided the best society has to offer because his is a media inspired incident. I've met many other men from his field who began feeling the cumulative effect of such deplorable working conditions when in their 40's or 50's and cannot add 10 plus 10 without a calculator. Or when they finally retired wondered just when it was they forgot how to tie a good knot in the laces of their work boots without the wife's teasing assistance. Hard work destroys muscles and ligaments and bones and minds. Always has, always will.
Try to have a little compassion for the working class the next time someone is bitching about their entitlements. That's all.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Sometimes I really fucking hate semi-automatics. It's my fault and not the design of any particular gun. I have this freakazoid penchant for learning to assemble and disassemble my firearms in the dark, and while most of the times it's a-okay, some of the times, as in just yesterday, I fuck something up.
And because it's dark, I don't know what. I've got one of the Glocks apart and am reassembling the little shit when all of a sudden everything comes to a screeching halt. The slide won't go back on and fer chrissake the recoil rod is sticking out of the front of the gun like the spring got caught on something and compressed but didn't let the rod ride along with it.
Any sane person turns on a light but not in this house. Gotta be by feel. What if I was blinded. What if I grew up and had a brain.
So I fumble and click things and compress things and slide things and all of a sudden the frickin slide is on the right way. I illuminate the work area and all is well. I do not do this with revolvers. I feel as if they are my friend, I guess, and wouldn't fail me in the middle of a pitch-black firefight so I don't frig with them this way. And revolvers are a bitch to get apart in the dark anyways so I don't try. Any more. Not a lot.
So what kind of gun does this shit but an automatic. Spring springing, sproingy things sproinging, metal things clakitting and plastic things clikitting. More than once Lisa has entered the room, and flicked on a light to find me on hands and knees feeling out ahead of me for the missing whatever. She excuses herself and leaves, knowing full well that my night vision has now been ruined and if charlie had made it into the wire I'd be a sitting duck. Rather than a crawling idjit.
Friends have often told me that I don't have hobbies. I have excuses to piss myself off. But some people are not meant for hobby shit. If I took up knitting it wouldn't be all that long before Lisa entered a room and saw me sitting there trying to make a scarf. Wearing a blindfold. She's cool about being with me. As long as there's not a lot of blood flowing she goes about her business without commenting. None of this, you'll poke your eye out stuff. She just knows that if I did I'd slap it back in and try to make like nothing happened because if it's one thing I hate worse than being an old fool is being told so.
Gotta scoot. Fricking rifle has been shooting to the left and it ain't me so apart the bastard comes.
And because it's dark, I don't know what. I've got one of the Glocks apart and am reassembling the little shit when all of a sudden everything comes to a screeching halt. The slide won't go back on and fer chrissake the recoil rod is sticking out of the front of the gun like the spring got caught on something and compressed but didn't let the rod ride along with it.
Any sane person turns on a light but not in this house. Gotta be by feel. What if I was blinded. What if I grew up and had a brain.
So I fumble and click things and compress things and slide things and all of a sudden the frickin slide is on the right way. I illuminate the work area and all is well. I do not do this with revolvers. I feel as if they are my friend, I guess, and wouldn't fail me in the middle of a pitch-black firefight so I don't frig with them this way. And revolvers are a bitch to get apart in the dark anyways so I don't try. Any more. Not a lot.
So what kind of gun does this shit but an automatic. Spring springing, sproingy things sproinging, metal things clakitting and plastic things clikitting. More than once Lisa has entered the room, and flicked on a light to find me on hands and knees feeling out ahead of me for the missing whatever. She excuses herself and leaves, knowing full well that my night vision has now been ruined and if charlie had made it into the wire I'd be a sitting duck. Rather than a crawling idjit.
Friends have often told me that I don't have hobbies. I have excuses to piss myself off. But some people are not meant for hobby shit. If I took up knitting it wouldn't be all that long before Lisa entered a room and saw me sitting there trying to make a scarf. Wearing a blindfold. She's cool about being with me. As long as there's not a lot of blood flowing she goes about her business without commenting. None of this, you'll poke your eye out stuff. She just knows that if I did I'd slap it back in and try to make like nothing happened because if it's one thing I hate worse than being an old fool is being told so.
Gotta scoot. Fricking rifle has been shooting to the left and it ain't me so apart the bastard comes.
Moxie Would Blog Some Mores
If people would stop by some mores. I try not to miss a day of clicking into the sassy one's site, and it's the chicken or the egg deal. She'd blog more if folks dropped by more and folks would stop by more if she blogged more. Trifling matters to the real world but next to curling up with a good book, Mox and several others I pitstop at are my fave way of relaxing. Shame that those who can write so very well get so little recognition. Pisses me off to no end how the godzilla blogs get people to stop by just because they've grown accustomed to doing so, and not because there's much of interest going on, or if there is, it's done so poorly as to make it a dreadful experience.
She's the real deal dammitall and you've only yourself to blame for not urging her on. I know, I know, I should scoot over there and leave more comments as well. Real writers love it when people care enough to post something. And I'm not talking about the 700 enema splooges that LGF gets per topic. Charles prolly only checks in now and again to see if someone has said something too poopy-faced to leave unedited. Let's face it, were I not happily in unabashed love I'd have already met with the Moxinator, scared the shit out of her of course, but at least proved that a big ugly guy can be a gentleman. Doesn't cost a thing. And pays trememendous dividends.
She's the real deal dammitall and you've only yourself to blame for not urging her on. I know, I know, I should scoot over there and leave more comments as well. Real writers love it when people care enough to post something. And I'm not talking about the 700 enema splooges that LGF gets per topic. Charles prolly only checks in now and again to see if someone has said something too poopy-faced to leave unedited. Let's face it, were I not happily in unabashed love I'd have already met with the Moxinator, scared the shit out of her of course, but at least proved that a big ugly guy can be a gentleman. Doesn't cost a thing. And pays trememendous dividends.
Letters, we get letters...
Got an email from an old friend. One of those sorry I'm late but happy holidays deals, and for as many as I've been sending I fully understand. Some folks use things like email address books and the like but email from me to you has always been a private affair because I'm just not a mass-mailing kind of guy.
Anyhow, Tim is recovering well from some health problems and remains a testament to live how you want because you're gonna die anyway. Exercises each day, has his meals prepared by a dietician, doesn't smoke, drinks only socially, yadda blah.
And has a heart attack once every couple years.
Scared the crap out of us at first, but most of his friends have come to the conclusion that heart attacks for Tim are severe cases of the flu for other people, and we take the news of each of his stays at one hospital or another with crossed fingers, a hale & hearty get-well-quick card, and forget about it.
Tim is independantly wealthy and for years raced cars as a hobby. Made some money doing it too, but to him it was nothing more than pocket money because we're talking seriously loaded here. Got his own plane a decade or so back and his email caused me to remember the first time I flew with him.
Beautiful day to fly. Crisp, bright and fresh. We get into this small contraption with wings, don't ask me what kind of plane as I am too lazy to look it up and do not remember, and fasten ourselves into what had to have been an 8-point harness rather than the flimsy little seatbelt-shoulder harness yahoos. He's letting the engine warm and tells me that if I need it, there's a motorcycle helmet behind my seat.
?
"A lot of guys get killed being tossed from the plane," he tells me, "and head injuries are a bitch."
Okay. So we take off and I'm looking for the special PUT HELMET ON NOW blinking light but never found one. We're humming along, and as we get over the no mans land areas far away from cities he begins to descend.
"You know I like speed." He tells me. "Going way low gives me that whoosh feeling, ya know?"
I knew. I was beginning to get the whoosh feeling myself but he paid little attention and went lower and lower still.
"Almost crashed the damn thing not too far from here one time," he went on, "didn't think anyone was around but...what the hell was that?"
I answered that it was just a cow, Tim, and he continued with one dreadful flying story after another. We landed just swell thank you, and he didn't even need the landing gear to be fixed that time.
Here's to Tim and his deathwish. May he never get it, and most of all, may I never be with him if he does.
Anyhow, Tim is recovering well from some health problems and remains a testament to live how you want because you're gonna die anyway. Exercises each day, has his meals prepared by a dietician, doesn't smoke, drinks only socially, yadda blah.
And has a heart attack once every couple years.
Scared the crap out of us at first, but most of his friends have come to the conclusion that heart attacks for Tim are severe cases of the flu for other people, and we take the news of each of his stays at one hospital or another with crossed fingers, a hale & hearty get-well-quick card, and forget about it.
Tim is independantly wealthy and for years raced cars as a hobby. Made some money doing it too, but to him it was nothing more than pocket money because we're talking seriously loaded here. Got his own plane a decade or so back and his email caused me to remember the first time I flew with him.
Beautiful day to fly. Crisp, bright and fresh. We get into this small contraption with wings, don't ask me what kind of plane as I am too lazy to look it up and do not remember, and fasten ourselves into what had to have been an 8-point harness rather than the flimsy little seatbelt-shoulder harness yahoos. He's letting the engine warm and tells me that if I need it, there's a motorcycle helmet behind my seat.
?
"A lot of guys get killed being tossed from the plane," he tells me, "and head injuries are a bitch."
Okay. So we take off and I'm looking for the special PUT HELMET ON NOW blinking light but never found one. We're humming along, and as we get over the no mans land areas far away from cities he begins to descend.
"You know I like speed." He tells me. "Going way low gives me that whoosh feeling, ya know?"
I knew. I was beginning to get the whoosh feeling myself but he paid little attention and went lower and lower still.
"Almost crashed the damn thing not too far from here one time," he went on, "didn't think anyone was around but...what the hell was that?"
I answered that it was just a cow, Tim, and he continued with one dreadful flying story after another. We landed just swell thank you, and he didn't even need the landing gear to be fixed that time.
Here's to Tim and his deathwish. May he never get it, and most of all, may I never be with him if he does.
There Outta Be A Law
"A warning that consumers shouldn't use a heat gun that produces temperatures of 1,000 degrees as a hairdryer has won an anti-lawsuit group's award for the wackiest label of the year.
The Wacky Warning Label Contest, in its ninth year, is conducted by Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch as part of an effort to show the effects of lawsuits on warning labels.
"When judges see it as their job to dismiss cases that are rooted in frivolous theories, we'll see fewer wacky labels and more fairness in the courts," said Robert B. Dorigo Jones, the group's president.
The $500 first prize went to Tom Brunelle of Holland, who spotted the heat gun warning.
The $250 second prize award went to Jam Sardar of Grand Rapids for a label on a kitchen knife that warns: "Never try to catch a falling knife."
Third prize of $100 went to Alice Morgan of La Junta, Colo. She found a cocktail napkin with a map of the waterways around Hilton Head Island, S.C., printed on it that cautioned: "Not to be used for navigation."
The Wacky Warning Label Contest, in its ninth year, is conducted by Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch as part of an effort to show the effects of lawsuits on warning labels.
"When judges see it as their job to dismiss cases that are rooted in frivolous theories, we'll see fewer wacky labels and more fairness in the courts," said Robert B. Dorigo Jones, the group's president.
The $500 first prize went to Tom Brunelle of Holland, who spotted the heat gun warning.
The $250 second prize award went to Jam Sardar of Grand Rapids for a label on a kitchen knife that warns: "Never try to catch a falling knife."
Third prize of $100 went to Alice Morgan of La Junta, Colo. She found a cocktail napkin with a map of the waterways around Hilton Head Island, S.C., printed on it that cautioned: "Not to be used for navigation."
All Hands...Marine Corps Martial Arts Program News...
I know, I know...this isn't a military blog but Colonel Joe is the toughest son of a bitch on the face of god's green earth, and when he "asks", those with even a modicum of common sense respond. They don't call the man CYBORG for nothing. That aside, I'll of course be attending on and off as a spectator and overall ass kicker as needed.
If Lisa lets me go.
The schedule for the MAIT courses this year is still solid:
The first seven-week MAIT course starts on 13 Feb and graduates on 31 Mar;
The first five-week MAIT course for black belt I’s only starts on 24 Apr and graduates on 26 May;
The second seven-week MAIT course starts on 12 June and graduates on 28 July;
The second five-week MAIT course for black belt I’s only starts on 14 Aug and graduates on 15 Sep.
Please help get the word out to ALL Marines qualified to attend. If your command needs extra quotas, please get those requests into the MACE ASAP so we can assist your command accordingly.
If you desire to augment any of the upcoming courses given at the MACE, contact MGySgt Franklin at the numbers provided below.
And since the Top doesn't need troll mail, I of course will forward any requests to him.
If Lisa lets me go.
Martial Arts Center of Excellence
Newsletter: 6 January 2006
“Live as if everything you do will eventually be known.”
Hugh Prather
“Life without risks is not worth living.”
Charles Lindbergh
Instructor Trainers, Instructors, and Commanders:
Happy belated Holidays-the MACE Marines hope everyone had a healthy and enjoyable time off with their loved ones.
As we kick off the New Year I’d like to reiterate to please share these Newsletters with all Marines, especially other I’s, IT’s, and Commanders. These Newsletters are designed to keep all Marines up to date with changes and at the same time keeping MCMAP Marines in contact with the MACE. If you’ve moved to a new billet, please also send us your new email address so we can keep you connected.
Newsletter: 6 January 2006
“Live as if everything you do will eventually be known.”
Hugh Prather
“Life without risks is not worth living.”
Charles Lindbergh
Instructor Trainers, Instructors, and Commanders:
Happy belated Holidays-the MACE Marines hope everyone had a healthy and enjoyable time off with their loved ones.
As we kick off the New Year I’d like to reiterate to please share these Newsletters with all Marines, especially other I’s, IT’s, and Commanders. These Newsletters are designed to keep all Marines up to date with changes and at the same time keeping MCMAP Marines in contact with the MACE. If you’ve moved to a new billet, please also send us your new email address so we can keep you connected.
The schedule for the MAIT courses this year is still solid:
The first seven-week MAIT course starts on 13 Feb and graduates on 31 Mar;
The first five-week MAIT course for black belt I’s only starts on 24 Apr and graduates on 26 May;
The second seven-week MAIT course starts on 12 June and graduates on 28 July;
The second five-week MAIT course for black belt I’s only starts on 14 Aug and graduates on 15 Sep.
Please help get the word out to ALL Marines qualified to attend. If your command needs extra quotas, please get those requests into the MACE ASAP so we can assist your command accordingly.
If you desire to augment any of the upcoming courses given at the MACE, contact MGySgt Franklin at the numbers provided below.
And since the Top doesn't need troll mail, I of course will forward any requests to him.
Body-Armor Gaps Are Shown to Endanger Troops
"Pentagon Studies Call Deaths Preventable"
Interesting story from the Washington Post, but take it with a grain of salt. ALL military deaths are preventable one way or another, and protecting the men on the ground requires a constant look at the technology that helps resist the impact from bullets or shrapnel. One just doesn't say, okay, here's a more resistant jacket, try it on. Takes months and even years to find the right balance of protection, comfort, and realiability, and quite often before the tests are even completed someone comes along with another system that might be better so it's off to the races once again.
This has been beaten to death since knights wore shining armor. How heavy, how flexible, how much does it impeded movement, and for what sized person is it intended for. Can you imagine the hue and cry if all the Pentagon had to do was make something for a 200 pound man and smaller statured individuals began dying because they did not have access to the better stuff?
There's no magic bullet and there's no magic body armor. This "endangering the troops" nonsense is typical of the Post attempting to cloud the facts with emotions, and know what? It works. Or they wouldn't be doing it.
Just don't let them fool YOU.
"Pentagon Studies Call Deaths Preventable"
Interesting story from the Washington Post, but take it with a grain of salt. ALL military deaths are preventable one way or another, and protecting the men on the ground requires a constant look at the technology that helps resist the impact from bullets or shrapnel. One just doesn't say, okay, here's a more resistant jacket, try it on. Takes months and even years to find the right balance of protection, comfort, and realiability, and quite often before the tests are even completed someone comes along with another system that might be better so it's off to the races once again.
This has been beaten to death since knights wore shining armor. How heavy, how flexible, how much does it impeded movement, and for what sized person is it intended for. Can you imagine the hue and cry if all the Pentagon had to do was make something for a 200 pound man and smaller statured individuals began dying because they did not have access to the better stuff?
There's no magic bullet and there's no magic body armor. This "endangering the troops" nonsense is typical of the Post attempting to cloud the facts with emotions, and know what? It works. Or they wouldn't be doing it.
Just don't let them fool YOU.
Ted Nugent Takes On New York...
'I go for walks late at night in high-crime districts, and just hope," says Ted Nugent, gun nut, guitar legend and would-be Michigan governor.
New York Daily News - Home - Ben Widdicombe's Gatecrasher: Nuge shoots off his mouth
Nugent - a four-term NRA director who's a Michigan sheriff and a Texas constable - says he wants to take another shot at the Lansing governor's mansion in 2010.
"I could have won in '06," he said of the election, won by Democrat Jennifer Granholm ("She is not doing an ugly job, but as the perfect woman, she is scrotumless.")
Apart from the sexism and homophobia (gays get likened to drug addicts and devil worshipers), there's also plenty of stuff that wouldn't pass Al Sharpton's smell test. Nuge doesn't like "the pimps and whores and welfare brats" who think they've "got the right to my [money] because Jesse Jackson represents [them]."
"The average person who qualifies under the poverty level in America has [bleep]ing cell phones!" he continues. "And Tommy Hilfiger clothes! And bling-bling! I've seen them ... gold and jewelry and crack and meth! This is poverty?
"A topless grandmother in a sofa surrounded by dog feces? If you're poor, you can't have a dog! You start by eating the [bleep]ing pets! Am I out of my mind?"
Nah. Just another celebrity that can't seem to find the middle, or high ground for that matter. Not that Nugent lies. But shouting out the worst possible example of what you dislike is what loons everywhere do to make a point. Somewhat akin to the tired canard that disliking gays makes one a homophobe. Because liberals fear pretty much everything they imagine that something that isn't embraced is feared rather than merely an object of disgust. After years of trying, I still do not like steamed snails and it has nothing to do with being afraid of them. People are actually allowed to dislike something, you know, but they run the risk of being referred to as a something-phobe because only one opinion counts and that's the moonbat one from the far daft. OR the wingnut one from the far right.
Nuge is a hero to the gun folks, and while I do appreciate the things he does to help preserve the Bill of Rights, in my opinion he simply goes too far. Whoops. Guess that makes me a Nugaphobe. But then again Ben Widdicombe of the Daily News is a hoplophobe*, so we're even.
*hoplophobe: one evincing an irrational fear of guns.
New York Daily News - Home - Ben Widdicombe's Gatecrasher: Nuge shoots off his mouth
Nugent - a four-term NRA director who's a Michigan sheriff and a Texas constable - says he wants to take another shot at the Lansing governor's mansion in 2010.
"I could have won in '06," he said of the election, won by Democrat Jennifer Granholm ("She is not doing an ugly job, but as the perfect woman, she is scrotumless.")
Apart from the sexism and homophobia (gays get likened to drug addicts and devil worshipers), there's also plenty of stuff that wouldn't pass Al Sharpton's smell test. Nuge doesn't like "the pimps and whores and welfare brats" who think they've "got the right to my [money] because Jesse Jackson represents [them]."
"The average person who qualifies under the poverty level in America has [bleep]ing cell phones!" he continues. "And Tommy Hilfiger clothes! And bling-bling! I've seen them ... gold and jewelry and crack and meth! This is poverty?
"A topless grandmother in a sofa surrounded by dog feces? If you're poor, you can't have a dog! You start by eating the [bleep]ing pets! Am I out of my mind?"
Nah. Just another celebrity that can't seem to find the middle, or high ground for that matter. Not that Nugent lies. But shouting out the worst possible example of what you dislike is what loons everywhere do to make a point. Somewhat akin to the tired canard that disliking gays makes one a homophobe. Because liberals fear pretty much everything they imagine that something that isn't embraced is feared rather than merely an object of disgust. After years of trying, I still do not like steamed snails and it has nothing to do with being afraid of them. People are actually allowed to dislike something, you know, but they run the risk of being referred to as a something-phobe because only one opinion counts and that's the moonbat one from the far daft. OR the wingnut one from the far right.
Nuge is a hero to the gun folks, and while I do appreciate the things he does to help preserve the Bill of Rights, in my opinion he simply goes too far. Whoops. Guess that makes me a Nugaphobe. But then again Ben Widdicombe of the Daily News is a hoplophobe*, so we're even.
*hoplophobe: one evincing an irrational fear of guns.
Friday, January 06, 2006
What's she got under the hood...
Back to a somewhat normal version of Friday's Fetching Fems.
A Glock-27 never looked so good. Well; there's a pic of Lisa with one but she'd frickin' kill me.
So you say "enough with high cheekbones and great cans?"
Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler » Blog Archive » Friday Babe-o-Licious Pic
Some of what may be found at Misha's joint.
Wonkette Writes
...sort of. Never a fan of her reports of anal intrusions that passed for blogging, I was happy to see her leave the venue, and also happy to hear that her "book" sucks.
So did Steve and at his place he posted a link to a Newsweek review that contains the following:
"For someone who had a pretty original voice on her blog, Cox’s writing in her novel is surprisingly cliché. The pain is “searing,” the instincts are “base,” the linings are “silver” and the jujitsu is “verbal.” When things come apart “at the seams,” the characters are “left to their own devices.” But they step “gingerly,” and laugh “in spite of” themselves, which works “like a charm,” makes “time fly” and is, you guessed it, a “breath of fresh air.” To be fair, I did count three phrases that were well-written. The first is Melanie watching a “pantomime of flirtation” through a window. The second is when Cox describes a reporter with a notebook as “holstering his pen in its spiral.” And this: “Clothes hung out of Melanie’s suitcase like they had been shot trying to escape.” Regardless, you won’t want to touch this book “with a ten foot pole.”
Heady stuff. Just shows to go ya that lots of folks were right all along when they said that tits will get you into the arena, but you will not suddenly awake one morning with more talent than you went abed with simply because you've made it in blogdom. Did I hate her because she was a liberal loon, or a bad writer? Bad writer. People are entitled to their opinions but what sucks, sucks when it comes to writing.
Oh yeah; The chick on the right is some prostitute named Jessica Cutler who had her 15 minutes of fame banging half of Washington, and Ana Marie Cox is the one on the left who had HER moment in the sun fucking the brains out of the internet.
Here's the response I get from google after publishing then clicking "open blog in a new window"
Forbidden
You don't have permission to access / on this server.
Do they practice at being incompetent or does it come naturally?
You don't have permission to access / on this server.
Do they practice at being incompetent or does it come naturally?
To stop a thief...
Or...sometimes I spend far too much time perusing the gun boards...
I was leaving for work one morning when a speeding truck squealed to a stop in front of my house. A burly man leapt from the passengers side, raced across my lawn, and proceeded to carry away my personal property.
This is what I took all of those self-defense classes, I said to myself as I drew the Glock from it's holster, took careful aim, and emptied the magazine into his fleeing back.
He staggered, stumbled a step or two, then jerked upright before spiraling down to the dewy grass. I approached him, inserting a fresh magazine as I made a smaller and smaller circles around his sprawled form.
A twitch. Then another. Suddenly he bolted to a sitting position and let out a groan that must have awoken half of the neighborhood. I quickly chambered another round and was glad I did as the miscreant actually seemed to shrug off his injuries and began to pull himself erect.
Not a chance, I thought. I fired again. And again, and this time he fell to the ground and stayed there.
And that, your honor, is how I came to kill the garbage man.
I was leaving for work one morning when a speeding truck squealed to a stop in front of my house. A burly man leapt from the passengers side, raced across my lawn, and proceeded to carry away my personal property.
This is what I took all of those self-defense classes, I said to myself as I drew the Glock from it's holster, took careful aim, and emptied the magazine into his fleeing back.
He staggered, stumbled a step or two, then jerked upright before spiraling down to the dewy grass. I approached him, inserting a fresh magazine as I made a smaller and smaller circles around his sprawled form.
A twitch. Then another. Suddenly he bolted to a sitting position and let out a groan that must have awoken half of the neighborhood. I quickly chambered another round and was glad I did as the miscreant actually seemed to shrug off his injuries and began to pull himself erect.
Not a chance, I thought. I fired again. And again, and this time he fell to the ground and stayed there.
And that, your honor, is how I came to kill the garbage man.
Inside Their Pajamas...
Overkill?
An Unsealed Room
"Already, a backlash has begun against the 24-hour broadcasts on the condition of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Already this morning, journalist Ron Ben-Ishai was complaining about the canonization of a controversial figure like Sharon, who simply wasn't the saintly type -- similar to the complaints regarding the transformation of Yitzhak Rabin's image after his death.
Continue reading at An Unsealed Room
No thanks. I've seen enough "already's" already. The above is the lead story of today's Pajama Party. And to have selected such a downer in discussing the imminent passing of such a great leader is beyond comprehension. What's on tomorrow's agenda ya think? The fact that he was probably only the third best general Israel ever had so let's not get carried away with his death?
Second to the plate is some boring fluff about some electronics show, and this is filler not front page material.
Something about how the Brits shouldn't eat chocolate oranges comes in third, and this should be relegated to the lighter-side-of-the-news stuff. But someone found a cool pic so they ran with it above the fold.
Roger Simon bats cleanup and I haven't the slightest idea what he's talking about because Roger is prone to writing dialogue not sentences.
And there's lots more as you scroll. If you scroll. I didn't wanna. Wasn't anything of interest. No oomph. No heart and soul. No ranting.
In other words, it's not a blog.
No mention of LGF's Idiotarian of the Year Award, and even the Wall Street Journal's Best of the Web had a plug for that. But James Tarento must be embarrassed to refer to Little Green Footballs so he just said "Blogger Charles Johnson..."
An Unsealed Room
"Already, a backlash has begun against the 24-hour broadcasts on the condition of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Already this morning, journalist Ron Ben-Ishai was complaining about the canonization of a controversial figure like Sharon, who simply wasn't the saintly type -- similar to the complaints regarding the transformation of Yitzhak Rabin's image after his death.
Continue reading at An Unsealed Room
No thanks. I've seen enough "already's" already. The above is the lead story of today's Pajama Party. And to have selected such a downer in discussing the imminent passing of such a great leader is beyond comprehension. What's on tomorrow's agenda ya think? The fact that he was probably only the third best general Israel ever had so let's not get carried away with his death?
Second to the plate is some boring fluff about some electronics show, and this is filler not front page material.
Something about how the Brits shouldn't eat chocolate oranges comes in third, and this should be relegated to the lighter-side-of-the-news stuff. But someone found a cool pic so they ran with it above the fold.
Roger Simon bats cleanup and I haven't the slightest idea what he's talking about because Roger is prone to writing dialogue not sentences.
And there's lots more as you scroll. If you scroll. I didn't wanna. Wasn't anything of interest. No oomph. No heart and soul. No ranting.
In other words, it's not a blog.
No mention of LGF's Idiotarian of the Year Award, and even the Wall Street Journal's Best of the Web had a plug for that. But James Tarento must be embarrassed to refer to Little Green Footballs so he just said "Blogger Charles Johnson..."
Chuckie gets no respect in his own building. Guess there wasn't enough GRAVITAS.
Vegas In Full Frontal Whinge...Courtesy of Clueless Reid...
From Best of the Web:
"U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid called for the resignation of Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff on Wednesday, one day after the government dropped Las Vegas from a list of cities considered potential high-risk targets eligible for special anti-terrorism grants," reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
"Anyone who can't see that Las Vegas is a high-risk area doesn't deserve to serve in a position like that," Reid said.
"We had more visitors on New Year's Eve than they had in Times Square and we're not a high-risk area? For heaven's sakes."
We wanted to send Reid an e-mail expressing our support for his position, so we went to the "E-Mail Form" on his Web site. The form includes a pull-down menu to select the "general topic of your message." There are 29 topics, but homeland security is not among them."
Funny as all hell. Reid being so very dumb isn't news, but reading what he has to say is always a great way to wind down from a hctic day. To say they had more people in the entire city than NY did in 6 or 7 square blocks is true. And that's it. Lots more folks in the greater metropolitan area than Vegas. Lots. And lots more targets that are appealing to terrorists.
Obviously.
To waste the time and effort to protect a town dead last on the list of places that would be in danger is silly. But that's what Vegas specializes in so none of this surprises me.
"U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid called for the resignation of Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff on Wednesday, one day after the government dropped Las Vegas from a list of cities considered potential high-risk targets eligible for special anti-terrorism grants," reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
"Anyone who can't see that Las Vegas is a high-risk area doesn't deserve to serve in a position like that," Reid said.
"We had more visitors on New Year's Eve than they had in Times Square and we're not a high-risk area? For heaven's sakes."
We wanted to send Reid an e-mail expressing our support for his position, so we went to the "E-Mail Form" on his Web site. The form includes a pull-down menu to select the "general topic of your message." There are 29 topics, but homeland security is not among them."
Funny as all hell. Reid being so very dumb isn't news, but reading what he has to say is always a great way to wind down from a hctic day. To say they had more people in the entire city than NY did in 6 or 7 square blocks is true. And that's it. Lots more folks in the greater metropolitan area than Vegas. Lots. And lots more targets that are appealing to terrorists.
Obviously.
To waste the time and effort to protect a town dead last on the list of places that would be in danger is silly. But that's what Vegas specializes in so none of this surprises me.
Wow
This is so cool. Though not for Tom of course...
Wire services:
Jan. 6, 2006 "Former Wal-Mart Vice Chairman Thomas Coughlin has agreed to plead guilty to federal wire-fraud and tax-evasion charges, according to people familiar with the proposed plea agreement. Coughlin left the company last year amid accusations that he misappropriated as much as $500,000."
Actually received email from old Tom. Must have been 5 years or so back when a company I was involved with was trying to do business with Wal-Mart.
To be able to say you've gotten email from a bigshot corporate felon is, ah, being able to say you've gotten email from a bigshot corporate felon.
Real nice guy, too.
Shame.
Wire services:
Jan. 6, 2006 "Former Wal-Mart Vice Chairman Thomas Coughlin has agreed to plead guilty to federal wire-fraud and tax-evasion charges, according to people familiar with the proposed plea agreement. Coughlin left the company last year amid accusations that he misappropriated as much as $500,000."
Actually received email from old Tom. Must have been 5 years or so back when a company I was involved with was trying to do business with Wal-Mart.
To be able to say you've gotten email from a bigshot corporate felon is, ah, being able to say you've gotten email from a bigshot corporate felon.
Real nice guy, too.
Shame.
The End To Any Real Blogging In China...
No, it's not what you think. Pajamas Media has not cut a deal with the Chinese government, Microsoft has, and that's nearly as bad.
Microsoft Shuts Down Chinese Blog - Yahoo! News
BEIJING - "Microsoft Corp. has shut down the Internet journal of a Chinese blogger that discussed politically sensitive issues, including a recent strike at a Beijing newspaper.
Microsoft's Web log-hosting service shut down the blog at the Chinese government's request, said Brooke Richardson, group product manager with Microsoft's MSN online division at company headquarters in Redmond, Wash.
"When we operate in markets around the world, we have to ensure that our service complies with global laws as well as local laws and norms," Richardson said.
Richardson said the blog was shut down Dec. 30 or Dec. 31 for violating Microsoft's code of conduct, which states that users must be in compliance with local laws in the country in which the user is based."
Laws. China. Put those two words together in a sentence at your own peril. All we hear is how strong the anti-government factions are becoming, and how the people won't stand for so totalitarian a government much longer, and how powerful the middle class Chinese are soon to become. Bullshit.
Such bilgewater began surfacing in earnest back in '89 during the Tianamen Square ruckus, and the only thing that has changed is the fact that videos of tanks pushing aside the citizenry doesn't stand a chance of making it to anyone's 6 O'Clock news. I mean, what do you expect from a country so incapable of modern manufacturing that they're forced to buy weapons from France? The single best thing that could EVER happen to China would be for them to lose a war to us.
Microsoft Shuts Down Chinese Blog - Yahoo! News
BEIJING - "Microsoft Corp. has shut down the Internet journal of a Chinese blogger that discussed politically sensitive issues, including a recent strike at a Beijing newspaper.
Microsoft's Web log-hosting service shut down the blog at the Chinese government's request, said Brooke Richardson, group product manager with Microsoft's MSN online division at company headquarters in Redmond, Wash.
"When we operate in markets around the world, we have to ensure that our service complies with global laws as well as local laws and norms," Richardson said.
Richardson said the blog was shut down Dec. 30 or Dec. 31 for violating Microsoft's code of conduct, which states that users must be in compliance with local laws in the country in which the user is based."
Laws. China. Put those two words together in a sentence at your own peril. All we hear is how strong the anti-government factions are becoming, and how the people won't stand for so totalitarian a government much longer, and how powerful the middle class Chinese are soon to become. Bullshit.
Such bilgewater began surfacing in earnest back in '89 during the Tianamen Square ruckus, and the only thing that has changed is the fact that videos of tanks pushing aside the citizenry doesn't stand a chance of making it to anyone's 6 O'Clock news. I mean, what do you expect from a country so incapable of modern manufacturing that they're forced to buy weapons from France? The single best thing that could EVER happen to China would be for them to lose a war to us.
Check out the Japanese. The ONLY asian country modern enough to do business on an even footing with the West.
And it sure didn't happen because the Emporer said make-it-so.
And if you're looking into your crystal ball, you'll find this: the day after REAL anti-ICBM technology becomes a reality is the day China no longer exists as a threat to anyone; economically or militarily. Then, and only then will the people take the country for themselves. With tons of help from a West that isn't afraid of pissing off the despots in Peking.
The Ridiculous And The Sublime...
...short takes on incredible stupidity...
From www.bobparks.org
PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINE: YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A GRINCH.
"Last week's WN (What's New) item on the new vaccine drew a lot of mail from readers who found it hard to believe that there is opposition to its use. After all, human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection in the U.S., and thecause of almost all cervical cancers. At least half of U.S. adults have been infected, though not all with the deadliest strains. It's even more serious in developing countries where screening is not available. Nevertheless, New Scientist magazine quotes Bridget Maher of the Family Research Council, a leading Christian lobby group: "Giving the HPV vaccine to young women could be potentially harmful because they may see it as a licence to engage in premarital sex." While hailing the vaccine as agreat medical advance, the Family Research Council is concerned that widespread inoculation would infringe on parental consent or perhaps it would infringe on divine retribution."
There's nothing divine about such intervention, sublime stupidity is more like it. The new vaccine will be available for those smart enough to avail themselves of it's benefits. Which means that dumb people will perish in greater numbers and pass along fewer dumb people genes. Survival of the smartest is slowly but surely replacing survival of the fittest as science marches on.
From www.bobparks.org
PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINE: YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A GRINCH.
"Last week's WN (What's New) item on the new vaccine drew a lot of mail from readers who found it hard to believe that there is opposition to its use. After all, human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection in the U.S., and thecause of almost all cervical cancers. At least half of U.S. adults have been infected, though not all with the deadliest strains. It's even more serious in developing countries where screening is not available. Nevertheless, New Scientist magazine quotes Bridget Maher of the Family Research Council, a leading Christian lobby group: "Giving the HPV vaccine to young women could be potentially harmful because they may see it as a licence to engage in premarital sex." While hailing the vaccine as agreat medical advance, the Family Research Council is concerned that widespread inoculation would infringe on parental consent or perhaps it would infringe on divine retribution."
There's nothing divine about such intervention, sublime stupidity is more like it. The new vaccine will be available for those smart enough to avail themselves of it's benefits. Which means that dumb people will perish in greater numbers and pass along fewer dumb people genes. Survival of the smartest is slowly but surely replacing survival of the fittest as science marches on.
Looking for a flick where the earth is overrun by brutal apes...
...then you'll love movies about Martin Luther King, and Tina Turner...
"Wal-Mart stirred outrage yesterday when its Web site suggested that shoppers who wanted to buy a "Planet of the Apes" DVD would be interested in biopics of famous black Americans like Martin Luther King Jr.
When visitors to Walmart.com plug in the name of a movie they want, the site also pulls up the name of several other "similar items" they might like.
But in the case of "Planet of the Apes," consumers who clicked on the DVD of the original TV series - a cult classic in which the Earth is ruled by gorillas - were routed to four movies about King, actress Dorothy Dandridge, boxer Jack Johnson and singer Tina Turner."
All one need do is check out Google's ads to see that computer cross referencing of content is ludicrous and doesn't work worth a damn, so folks should be upset. But not for the reasons concerning the "Apes" snafu.
"It's outrageous. I've never heard of anything like that," the Rev. Al Sharpton said when he was told of the pairings."
Don't get out much, do you, Al? Try writing a staunchly conservative blog and having leftwing propaganda ads bombarding your readers and you'll see lots of "anything like that." After a while you realize how funny it is that such ads drive away the folks the idjits were trying to lure, but in your case there's always room for more paranoia that'll make you a few bucks, so sic 'em.
"Wal-Mart stirred outrage yesterday when its Web site suggested that shoppers who wanted to buy a "Planet of the Apes" DVD would be interested in biopics of famous black Americans like Martin Luther King Jr.
When visitors to Walmart.com plug in the name of a movie they want, the site also pulls up the name of several other "similar items" they might like.
But in the case of "Planet of the Apes," consumers who clicked on the DVD of the original TV series - a cult classic in which the Earth is ruled by gorillas - were routed to four movies about King, actress Dorothy Dandridge, boxer Jack Johnson and singer Tina Turner."
All one need do is check out Google's ads to see that computer cross referencing of content is ludicrous and doesn't work worth a damn, so folks should be upset. But not for the reasons concerning the "Apes" snafu.
"It's outrageous. I've never heard of anything like that," the Rev. Al Sharpton said when he was told of the pairings."
Don't get out much, do you, Al? Try writing a staunchly conservative blog and having leftwing propaganda ads bombarding your readers and you'll see lots of "anything like that." After a while you realize how funny it is that such ads drive away the folks the idjits were trying to lure, but in your case there's always room for more paranoia that'll make you a few bucks, so sic 'em.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Chairman Ann Speaketh
Ann's response to the how-DARE-we-wiretap-our-enemies tempest that has moonbats the world over quivering in fear whenever a phone rings...
"The Democratic Party has decided to express indignation at the idea that an American citizen who happens to be a member of al-Qaida is not allowed to have a private conversation with Osama bin Laden. If they run on that in 2008, it could be the first time in history a Republican president takes even the District of Columbia. On this one, I'm pretty sure Americans are going with the president. If the Democrats had any brains, they'd distance themselves from the cranks demanding Bush's impeachment for listening in on terrorists' phone calls to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. (Then again, if they had any brains, they'd be Republicans.)
In the 20 years preceding the attack of 9/11, the FISA court did not modify — much less reject — one single warrant request. But starting in 2001, the judges "modified 179 of the 5,645 requests for court-ordered surveillance by the Bush administration." In the years 2003 and 2004, the court issued 173 "substantive modifications" to warrant requests and rejected or "deferred" six warrant requests outright.
What would a Democrat president have done at that point? Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack. Also, perhaps as a gesture of inclusion and tolerance, hold an Oval Office reception for the suspected al-Qaida operatives. After another terrorist attack, I'm sure a New York Times reporter could explain to the victims' families that, after all, the killer's ties to al-Qaida were merely "dubious" and the FISA court had a very good reason for denying the warrant request.
Every once in a while the nation needs little reminder of why the Democrats can't be trusted with national security. This is today's lesson."
"The Democratic Party has decided to express indignation at the idea that an American citizen who happens to be a member of al-Qaida is not allowed to have a private conversation with Osama bin Laden. If they run on that in 2008, it could be the first time in history a Republican president takes even the District of Columbia. On this one, I'm pretty sure Americans are going with the president. If the Democrats had any brains, they'd distance themselves from the cranks demanding Bush's impeachment for listening in on terrorists' phone calls to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. (Then again, if they had any brains, they'd be Republicans.)
In the 20 years preceding the attack of 9/11, the FISA court did not modify — much less reject — one single warrant request. But starting in 2001, the judges "modified 179 of the 5,645 requests for court-ordered surveillance by the Bush administration." In the years 2003 and 2004, the court issued 173 "substantive modifications" to warrant requests and rejected or "deferred" six warrant requests outright.
What would a Democrat president have done at that point? Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack. Also, perhaps as a gesture of inclusion and tolerance, hold an Oval Office reception for the suspected al-Qaida operatives. After another terrorist attack, I'm sure a New York Times reporter could explain to the victims' families that, after all, the killer's ties to al-Qaida were merely "dubious" and the FISA court had a very good reason for denying the warrant request.
Every once in a while the nation needs little reminder of why the Democrats can't be trusted with national security. This is today's lesson."
In France, You See, Rape Is Only A Crime When The Paperwork Has Been Submitted...
Or the offenders happen to be islamic thugs.
"...a pack of about 30 'youths' - specifically, young men apparently from the banlieus and at least in part of north African (Moroccan) descent - got on a train at Nice and proceeded to rob, beat and sexually assault passengers.
The French police arrived at the Les Arcs station but refused to enter the train because no formal complaint had been lodged. Passengers were afraid of retaliation so did not complain formally. One person who was at the station says the 20 year old female was sexually assaulted - from the wording, it would appear "gang raped" - while the authorities waited outside."
You read it right...they WAITED OUTSIDE while a woman was gang banged. Our own cops long ago gave up the legal pretense of providing protection, but for the love of god even the New Orleans police would have stepped in here. Read it all, but not on a full stomach.
Thanks to Misha for the heads-up on this one.
"...a pack of about 30 'youths' - specifically, young men apparently from the banlieus and at least in part of north African (Moroccan) descent - got on a train at Nice and proceeded to rob, beat and sexually assault passengers.
The French police arrived at the Les Arcs station but refused to enter the train because no formal complaint had been lodged. Passengers were afraid of retaliation so did not complain formally. One person who was at the station says the 20 year old female was sexually assaulted - from the wording, it would appear "gang raped" - while the authorities waited outside."
You read it right...they WAITED OUTSIDE while a woman was gang banged. Our own cops long ago gave up the legal pretense of providing protection, but for the love of god even the New Orleans police would have stepped in here. Read it all, but not on a full stomach.
Thanks to Misha for the heads-up on this one.
Pat Robertson And The Wrath Of His God...
From sources too numerous to list...
"The Reverend Pat Robertson says Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's massive stroke could be God's punishment for giving up Israeli territory. The founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network told viewers of "The 700 Club" that Sharon was "dividing God's land," even though the Bible says doing so invites "God's enmity."
Robertson added, "I would say woe to any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course." He noted that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. Robertson said God's message is, "This land belongs to me. You'd better leave it alone."
Sharon's stroke has been described as massive, while Robertson appears to be suffering from tiny leaks that occasionally cause him to pop a gasket and say something incredibly dumb. And the scary thing is that all over America, men, women, and children are saying, "Amen" to this populist putz disguised as a preacher.
"The Reverend Pat Robertson says Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's massive stroke could be God's punishment for giving up Israeli territory. The founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network told viewers of "The 700 Club" that Sharon was "dividing God's land," even though the Bible says doing so invites "God's enmity."
Robertson added, "I would say woe to any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course." He noted that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. Robertson said God's message is, "This land belongs to me. You'd better leave it alone."
Sharon's stroke has been described as massive, while Robertson appears to be suffering from tiny leaks that occasionally cause him to pop a gasket and say something incredibly dumb. And the scary thing is that all over America, men, women, and children are saying, "Amen" to this populist putz disguised as a preacher.
As The Herm Squirms...
Football is no longer the working mans sport. Not since the punks began perfecting then parading their punknicity, and the broadcast networks provided us with giggling fools to praise such antics. The ratings plummet but the game remains a rich mans plaything so it endures. That and gambling. Take away the Sunday morning spread, shut down the Vegas football pools, and the NFL would lose a third of it's audience overnight.
In 1969 I made a bet with a friend who didn't make it back from the rice paddies. If the Jets won the Super Bowl I'd root for them the rest of my life. That's how sure I was they'd be creamed, that's why I follow them to this day, and that's why the latest coaching fiasco is dreadful.
Herm Edwards, Mr. Clueless, is leaving the Jets and were I still in NYC I'd throw him the going away party of going away parties. The Jets and Kansas City Chiefs are working on a fair price for his services, so expect the Jets to receive a bag of slightly used balls and a half-season supply of Gatorade as compensation for his skiping town and moving to Arrowhead Stadium.
The reason the Jets are the way they are? No home games. No feeling of permanence. No brick and mortar to call their own. They rent space from the Giants and play "home" games in Giant-Stadium. All the other teams fire THEIR coaches, but the men who design the Jet X's and O's leave on their own. Everyone likes having a place that's all theirs, and college football stars that make it into the NFL are particularly prone to the dearth of rah-rah that permeates the tradition laden stadiums of other teams. And until the Jets get a building with their name on it, they'll continue to be the hobo's of the league and players and coaches will come and go as they please, with nary a look in the rearview.
New York Daily News - Home - Gang ready to Jettison Herm
In 1969 I made a bet with a friend who didn't make it back from the rice paddies. If the Jets won the Super Bowl I'd root for them the rest of my life. That's how sure I was they'd be creamed, that's why I follow them to this day, and that's why the latest coaching fiasco is dreadful.
Herm Edwards, Mr. Clueless, is leaving the Jets and were I still in NYC I'd throw him the going away party of going away parties. The Jets and Kansas City Chiefs are working on a fair price for his services, so expect the Jets to receive a bag of slightly used balls and a half-season supply of Gatorade as compensation for his skiping town and moving to Arrowhead Stadium.
The reason the Jets are the way they are? No home games. No feeling of permanence. No brick and mortar to call their own. They rent space from the Giants and play "home" games in Giant-Stadium. All the other teams fire THEIR coaches, but the men who design the Jet X's and O's leave on their own. Everyone likes having a place that's all theirs, and college football stars that make it into the NFL are particularly prone to the dearth of rah-rah that permeates the tradition laden stadiums of other teams. And until the Jets get a building with their name on it, they'll continue to be the hobo's of the league and players and coaches will come and go as they please, with nary a look in the rearview.
New York Daily News - Home - Gang ready to Jettison Herm
George Will On The Censorship That Passes For Academic Free Speech
New York Post Online Edition: postopinion
"Censorship — e.g., campus speech codes — often are academic liberalism's preferred instrument of social improvement, and now the NCAA's censors say: The Chief must go, as must the university's logo of a Native American in feathered headdress. Otherwise the NCAA will not allow the university to host any postseason tournaments or events.
In 1972, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst replaced the nickname Redmen with Minutemen. White men carrying guns? If some advanced thinkers are made miserable by this, will the NCAA's censors offer relief? Scottsdale Community College in Arizona was wise to adopt the nickname "Fighting Artichokes." There is no grievance group representing the lacerated feelings of artichokes. Yet."
Tempest in a wigwam, noteworthy only to promote gails of laughter from any discussion of the politically correct and their relationship with reality. Read and enjoy.
"Censorship — e.g., campus speech codes — often are academic liberalism's preferred instrument of social improvement, and now the NCAA's censors say: The Chief must go, as must the university's logo of a Native American in feathered headdress. Otherwise the NCAA will not allow the university to host any postseason tournaments or events.
In 1972, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst replaced the nickname Redmen with Minutemen. White men carrying guns? If some advanced thinkers are made miserable by this, will the NCAA's censors offer relief? Scottsdale Community College in Arizona was wise to adopt the nickname "Fighting Artichokes." There is no grievance group representing the lacerated feelings of artichokes. Yet."
Tempest in a wigwam, noteworthy only to promote gails of laughter from any discussion of the politically correct and their relationship with reality. Read and enjoy.
Dave Versus Bill
New York Post Online Edition: news
"But this 'fair and balanced' — I don't think that you represent an objective viewpoint," Letterman said calmly.
"You have to give me an example if you're going to make those claims," O'Reilly retorted.
To which Letterman replied coolly, "I don't watch your show, so that would be impossible."
__________________________________
Hmm. Lots more people watch O'Reilly than Dave's so perhaps Letterman has a point in not contributing to someone else's high ratings as opposed to his low and dismal ones. Like him or not, O'Reilly rules his roost, and Letterman will always be second fiddle to Leno, so were I Bill I wouldn't let what Mr. Second Place says bother me all that much.
I mean, come on now. He's a talk show host. Late night. On network. Broadcasting from the second most liberal city in the country. He picks up the talking points from the Move-On idjits and has nothing of substance to offer. The loons don't debate, they whine, accuse, and spout slogans in place of ideas. For ANYONE to agree with Cindy the sea-sick she-serpent means they haven't thought very much on how her incessant bitching depletes the morale of the ones doing the heavy lifting for us. To lend credence to her vitriol that suggests our servicemen and women are the real terrorists is to sign up for a trip on the little bus to hell. This is what happens when an entertainer tosses his two cents into the pot. It's all most of them have to gamble with and are easily trumped by others not as morally bankrupt.
And to posit that someone is not fair, then admit to have never partaken of their offerings is the mark of a complete fool. Perhaps Dave would be so kind as to appear on O'Reilly's show and go tit for tat in depth.
Fat chance.
"But this 'fair and balanced' — I don't think that you represent an objective viewpoint," Letterman said calmly.
"You have to give me an example if you're going to make those claims," O'Reilly retorted.
To which Letterman replied coolly, "I don't watch your show, so that would be impossible."
__________________________________
Hmm. Lots more people watch O'Reilly than Dave's so perhaps Letterman has a point in not contributing to someone else's high ratings as opposed to his low and dismal ones. Like him or not, O'Reilly rules his roost, and Letterman will always be second fiddle to Leno, so were I Bill I wouldn't let what Mr. Second Place says bother me all that much.
I mean, come on now. He's a talk show host. Late night. On network. Broadcasting from the second most liberal city in the country. He picks up the talking points from the Move-On idjits and has nothing of substance to offer. The loons don't debate, they whine, accuse, and spout slogans in place of ideas. For ANYONE to agree with Cindy the sea-sick she-serpent means they haven't thought very much on how her incessant bitching depletes the morale of the ones doing the heavy lifting for us. To lend credence to her vitriol that suggests our servicemen and women are the real terrorists is to sign up for a trip on the little bus to hell. This is what happens when an entertainer tosses his two cents into the pot. It's all most of them have to gamble with and are easily trumped by others not as morally bankrupt.
And to posit that someone is not fair, then admit to have never partaken of their offerings is the mark of a complete fool. Perhaps Dave would be so kind as to appear on O'Reilly's show and go tit for tat in depth.
Fat chance.
Thursdays STOP THE ACLU Blogburst...
This week I've been ranting at pajamas and featuring guns and mams but every Thursday, at least, it is time to fight the good fight against the ACLU.
"We have been focused on the two prominent co-founders Roger Baldwin and Crystal Eastman; but the truth is that there were 7 others. People like Upton Sinclair and Clarence Darrow just to name a couple. But the most notorious of the founding "fathers" of the American Civil Liberals Union (no I didn't spell that wrong) was Elizabeth "Gurley" Flynn.Ms. Flynn was the co-founder who ended up being the National Chairman of the Communist Party in the US. A devout Communist who made several trips to the Soviet Union after the denunciation of Communism by Roger Baldwin in 1940. A move which had motives other than those publicized."
Uh huh, the red menace. The reason I and those of my generation learned how to squeeze under our desks during mock Soviet-Attack-Drills. Most of us matured into individuals vowing to never forget the insidious communists who caused many an ink well to topple, some of us went on to Southeast Asia to fight the bastards there, but unfortunately not a few decided to join the ranks of they that would topple more than what we filled our fountain pens from. It was and remains artsy to preach communism, at least to those who've never had first hand experience with the atrocities such regimes always bring to the table, and while the battle against this monstrosity of a political belief has been overshadowed by the call to arms against radical Islam, there are many of us who will never forget.
And keeping alive the memory of what communism is remains part of the reason I ask you to read and support STOP.
"We have been focused on the two prominent co-founders Roger Baldwin and Crystal Eastman; but the truth is that there were 7 others. People like Upton Sinclair and Clarence Darrow just to name a couple. But the most notorious of the founding "fathers" of the American Civil Liberals Union (no I didn't spell that wrong) was Elizabeth "Gurley" Flynn.Ms. Flynn was the co-founder who ended up being the National Chairman of the Communist Party in the US. A devout Communist who made several trips to the Soviet Union after the denunciation of Communism by Roger Baldwin in 1940. A move which had motives other than those publicized."
Uh huh, the red menace. The reason I and those of my generation learned how to squeeze under our desks during mock Soviet-Attack-Drills. Most of us matured into individuals vowing to never forget the insidious communists who caused many an ink well to topple, some of us went on to Southeast Asia to fight the bastards there, but unfortunately not a few decided to join the ranks of they that would topple more than what we filled our fountain pens from. It was and remains artsy to preach communism, at least to those who've never had first hand experience with the atrocities such regimes always bring to the table, and while the battle against this monstrosity of a political belief has been overshadowed by the call to arms against radical Islam, there are many of us who will never forget.
And keeping alive the memory of what communism is remains part of the reason I ask you to read and support STOP.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
The "3-Step-Rule"
Otherwise known as the Yeti of handgun regulations. I've used shooting ranges in more states then I can remember, and invariably run into a law enforcement officer or officers, or gunshop ninja's that are happy to feed you as much misinformation as humanly possible.
In the case of the infamous 3-Step, they proclaim that as long as your weapon is 3 steps, or stages away from being fired, it's quite legal to carry it in your car. AS in...Step one unzip or open an otherwise closed container, Step two insert a magazine or load a revolvers cylinder, and Step 3 remove whatever safeties are present and prepare to fire.
Bullshit. Old wives tale. Call it what you will but it's wrong. Now, different states have different regs regarding carrying in a vehicle, but Florida says it's fine and dandy as long as it's in the glove box or encased somewhere other than your immediate person. And that is without having a concealed carry permit. WITH the permit, you can shove the bloody thing where the sun don't shine, but even without one you can still keep a loaded gun close at hand. And I bring this up because today I heard a man telling another all about how he should carry his pistol when driving and I did so want to interject but controlled the impulse to go shake the idjit till his dentures said nice-ta-meetcha to the pavement. Bad advice can move you in harms way. Harms way with the bad guys as well as harms way with the good guys. Read, as in find the correct information and even if you have to move your lips as you follow along, READ what your local laws are and follow them.
Simple. When in doubt, go to www.packing.org and look up your state. DO NOT ask the cop on the beat because they usually know little about the letter of the law and can pass along as much bad scoop as anyone. If the information from a particular state's website is confusing you, then call the local prosecutor's office, but get the word from the horses mouth, not the horses ass.
And as always, you should you or any member of your IM force be killed or captured, Messenger will disavow any knowledge of your true identity. But we WILL throw your dead ass one helluva send off.
In the case of the infamous 3-Step, they proclaim that as long as your weapon is 3 steps, or stages away from being fired, it's quite legal to carry it in your car. AS in...Step one unzip or open an otherwise closed container, Step two insert a magazine or load a revolvers cylinder, and Step 3 remove whatever safeties are present and prepare to fire.
Bullshit. Old wives tale. Call it what you will but it's wrong. Now, different states have different regs regarding carrying in a vehicle, but Florida says it's fine and dandy as long as it's in the glove box or encased somewhere other than your immediate person. And that is without having a concealed carry permit. WITH the permit, you can shove the bloody thing where the sun don't shine, but even without one you can still keep a loaded gun close at hand. And I bring this up because today I heard a man telling another all about how he should carry his pistol when driving and I did so want to interject but controlled the impulse to go shake the idjit till his dentures said nice-ta-meetcha to the pavement. Bad advice can move you in harms way. Harms way with the bad guys as well as harms way with the good guys. Read, as in find the correct information and even if you have to move your lips as you follow along, READ what your local laws are and follow them.
Simple. When in doubt, go to www.packing.org and look up your state. DO NOT ask the cop on the beat because they usually know little about the letter of the law and can pass along as much bad scoop as anyone. If the information from a particular state's website is confusing you, then call the local prosecutor's office, but get the word from the horses mouth, not the horses ass.
And as always, you should you or any member of your IM force be killed or captured, Messenger will disavow any knowledge of your true identity. But we WILL throw your dead ass one helluva send off.
Paleswine Version Of Ferris Bueller's Day Off..
Palestinians Enter Egypt After Border Smash
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hundreds of angry Palestinians streamed into Egypt on Wednesday after militants with stolen bulldozers broke through a border wall, and two Egyptian troops were killed and 30 were wounded by gunfire in the rampage.
Elsewhere, Palestinian gunmen burst into a Rafah house early Wednesday and tried to kidnap the parents of Rachel Corrie, who was killed in 2003 as she protested the impending demolition of a house in the southern Gaza town, according to a witness.
The five gunmen appeared to be affiliated with the Fatah movement, according to Samir Nasrallah, the Corries' host. The gunmen eventually relented after being told who their targets were, he said.
Corrie, of Olympia, Wash., was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003 as she tried to stop it from demolishing Nasrallah's house. Her parents, Craig and Cindy, have repeatedly visited Nasrallah since their daughter's death. They left Gaza safely after the attempted kidnapping, Nasrallah said.
Also Wednesday, Palestinians fired at least six rockets from Gaza at Israel, the military said.
_________________________________
Where does one begin. They steal some dozers and drive them through a security fence so they can take a few pot-shots at the prison where one of their muckety mucks is being held. Would have been so frickin cool if he was in the workout yard when they did the random bullets are everywhere deal the moslems love so very much, and the dude took a few across the bowels. Then they try and kidnap the parents of that incredibly dumb broad who got herself killed jumping in the way of Israeli bulldozers, and didn't ANYONE tell them that these folks are on THEIR side? They cap the day by shooting some rockets into Israel.
Is the PJ Media Gang advising these detweillers on how NOT to be popular?
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hundreds of angry Palestinians streamed into Egypt on Wednesday after militants with stolen bulldozers broke through a border wall, and two Egyptian troops were killed and 30 were wounded by gunfire in the rampage.
Elsewhere, Palestinian gunmen burst into a Rafah house early Wednesday and tried to kidnap the parents of Rachel Corrie, who was killed in 2003 as she protested the impending demolition of a house in the southern Gaza town, according to a witness.
The five gunmen appeared to be affiliated with the Fatah movement, according to Samir Nasrallah, the Corries' host. The gunmen eventually relented after being told who their targets were, he said.
Corrie, of Olympia, Wash., was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003 as she tried to stop it from demolishing Nasrallah's house. Her parents, Craig and Cindy, have repeatedly visited Nasrallah since their daughter's death. They left Gaza safely after the attempted kidnapping, Nasrallah said.
Also Wednesday, Palestinians fired at least six rockets from Gaza at Israel, the military said.
_________________________________
Where does one begin. They steal some dozers and drive them through a security fence so they can take a few pot-shots at the prison where one of their muckety mucks is being held. Would have been so frickin cool if he was in the workout yard when they did the random bullets are everywhere deal the moslems love so very much, and the dude took a few across the bowels. Then they try and kidnap the parents of that incredibly dumb broad who got herself killed jumping in the way of Israeli bulldozers, and didn't ANYONE tell them that these folks are on THEIR side? They cap the day by shooting some rockets into Israel.
Is the PJ Media Gang advising these detweillers on how NOT to be popular?
Charles Finally Gets A By-Line...
But still hasn't written anything.
Ariel Sharon in critical condition
Charles Johnson, Little Green Footballs
At Mere Rhetoric Omri Ceren is translating Hebrew and web updates on the condition of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon; the situation is critical.
Check out the comments on this post at Little Green Footballs
__________________________
This is some weird shit, gang. The Pajama Party's second lead story is a link to Little Green Footballs linking to Mere Rhetoric, AND LGF's comment section.
A link to the same link and we get to hear what the LGF lizardoids are saying about the matter? Now, I know Charles doesn't do the writing thang, but linking to his commentors that often DO have something interesting to say...is ripping THEM off, isn't it? Sure, I know that what you leave on a blog becomes the property of the blog unless you suggest otherwise, but a link to 53 comments...THIS is the contribution Charles gets to make? His readers take?
Know what? You can use MY link to LGF anytime you want to have a gander at what the folks there are saying. You can use any one of hundreds of links to LGF at hundreds of blogs, so why go to PJ just to get what's available elsewhere?
Am I missing something? Is this the only way Chuckie gets to see HIS name on something? That's sad. And lame.
Someone gave them millions of dollars to link. To reader comments. Having their very own comment section would what...be too expensive? Displace the GRAVITAS? Or...scare the shit out of the investors when they saw what people were really thinking about such a fiasco. People other than the Scintillating 70. Or the lizardoids at LGF.
Ariel Sharon in critical condition
Charles Johnson, Little Green Footballs
At Mere Rhetoric Omri Ceren is translating Hebrew and web updates on the condition of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon; the situation is critical.
Check out the comments on this post at Little Green Footballs
__________________________
This is some weird shit, gang. The Pajama Party's second lead story is a link to Little Green Footballs linking to Mere Rhetoric, AND LGF's comment section.
A link to the same link and we get to hear what the LGF lizardoids are saying about the matter? Now, I know Charles doesn't do the writing thang, but linking to his commentors that often DO have something interesting to say...is ripping THEM off, isn't it? Sure, I know that what you leave on a blog becomes the property of the blog unless you suggest otherwise, but a link to 53 comments...THIS is the contribution Charles gets to make? His readers take?
Know what? You can use MY link to LGF anytime you want to have a gander at what the folks there are saying. You can use any one of hundreds of links to LGF at hundreds of blogs, so why go to PJ just to get what's available elsewhere?
Am I missing something? Is this the only way Chuckie gets to see HIS name on something? That's sad. And lame.
Someone gave them millions of dollars to link. To reader comments. Having their very own comment section would what...be too expensive? Displace the GRAVITAS? Or...scare the shit out of the investors when they saw what people were really thinking about such a fiasco. People other than the Scintillating 70. Or the lizardoids at LGF.
"There Were Errors"
Google's unreasonably facsimile of a blogging service should just change it's name to There Were Errors and be done with it. To change my links I had to call in Messengers IT person, and after each and every little tweak, let along actually adding something, the entire blog must be republished and it is IM-FRICKIN-POSSIBLE to republish without receiving error messages. Which is why I don't do it. I pay the IT gal big bucks to maintain these systems and she takes the heat so I can blissfully go about my other daunting tasks without being exposed to abject nonsense coupled with the incompetency generated by total idiots of unimaginable hamhandedness.
NOTHING to do with computers or the internet works very well. Bill Gates should have been executed long ago and the minions at AOL along with him for foisting such unbelieveable trash upon us. Goggle is another story entirely, as they SHOULD have seen the pitfalls along the way and provided certain services that actually performed as advertised.
Not a chance. They remain the only shoddy games in town so they can be as error prone as they wish. If I'd have done MY job as poorly I'd be long dead. And if these latrine cleaners masquerading as technical service providers continue to do THEIR jobs as poorly, well, veterans HAVE been known to snap.
Anyways, the lovely Lisa added several new links to the Messenger must-read lineup worthy of your undivided attention, and when a six-foot drop-dead-gorgeous blonde takes the time to present something for your perusal the least you can do is to click into the frickin things.
Oh yeah, almost forgot. Booger can take 5 hours or so to add a comma in place of a semi-colon, so who knows when these changes will be available.
NOTHING to do with computers or the internet works very well. Bill Gates should have been executed long ago and the minions at AOL along with him for foisting such unbelieveable trash upon us. Goggle is another story entirely, as they SHOULD have seen the pitfalls along the way and provided certain services that actually performed as advertised.
Not a chance. They remain the only shoddy games in town so they can be as error prone as they wish. If I'd have done MY job as poorly I'd be long dead. And if these latrine cleaners masquerading as technical service providers continue to do THEIR jobs as poorly, well, veterans HAVE been known to snap.
Anyways, the lovely Lisa added several new links to the Messenger must-read lineup worthy of your undivided attention, and when a six-foot drop-dead-gorgeous blonde takes the time to present something for your perusal the least you can do is to click into the frickin things.
Oh yeah, almost forgot. Booger can take 5 hours or so to add a comma in place of a semi-colon, so who knows when these changes will be available.
More Lies From NYC
New York Daily News - Home - Gun lovers take potshots at Mike
Gun lovers take potshots at Mike
BY HELEN KENNEDY and DAVID SALTONSTALLDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
"Mayor Bloomberg's national call to stop the flow of illegal guns isn't playing too well down in Dixie, where many of the firearms used to commit crimes in the city originate.
"Why don't he take care of his own problems first?" scoffed Marion Hammer, executive director of Unified Sportsmen of Florida, the Sunshine State's chapter of the National Rifle Association.
Hammer was responding to Bloomberg's pledge, made at his inaugural on Sunday, to bring his fight for stricter gun control "to Albany, to Washington and to every capital of every state that permits guns to flow freely across its borders."
NYPD officials say that 70% of guns used to commit crimes in the city in the first half of 2005 came from six states - Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Pennsylvania, all of which have looser gun laws than New York.
Victims included NYPD Officer Dillon Stewart, who was gunned down by a 9-mm. Glock stolen in Florida and later used to shoot up a Brooklyn nightclub.
But Bloomberg can expect plenty of political flak once he ventures south of the Mason-Dixon line, Hammer and others said yesterday.
"If he wants to come to the state capital and lecture my legislature, his message is going to fall on deaf ears," Hammer said. "I think they'd stop him at the state line."
"This is all politically motivated," added Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. "He's trying to look like he's doing something, but he's not doing anything but pass the buck."
But Bloomberg yesterday showed no signs of backing down, expressing horror at how some bullets these days are marketed as "vest piercing."
"The last time I saw a deer wearing an armored vest was a long time ago," he said."
_______________________________
And he lied. It's a canard, an urban legend and something liberals drag out of the closet to scare the sheeple. Armor piercing handgun ammunition is as illegal as illegal can be, and the few special-forces/law enforcement types of such munitions are strictly accounted for. Mayor Mike HAD to have seen marketing aimed at the NYPD or perhaps even the bogus leftwing fakes that are seemingly everywhere. ANY decent hunting rifle can pierce ANY vest of your average cop on the street, and it's interesting to see his Dis-Honor switching from the evil guns to the evil ammunition when it suits him to fabricate something for his political agenda.
And believe the 70% of criminal guns used in half the activity coming from six states at your peril, too. They fudge the numbers as it suits them. Yes, a lot more guns are stolen from states that HAVE a lot more guns. It's akin to saying that 70% of the stolen automobiles used in drunk driving tragedies come from NYC and therefore cars from New York should be banned.
And instead of going after the criminals who steal then kill, politicians take the easy route and want to confiscate the properties of people who have broken no laws. It's called shooting fish in a barrel. Makes nifty headlines. And keeps the minorities voting for you.
Gun lovers take potshots at Mike
BY HELEN KENNEDY and DAVID SALTONSTALLDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
"Mayor Bloomberg's national call to stop the flow of illegal guns isn't playing too well down in Dixie, where many of the firearms used to commit crimes in the city originate.
"Why don't he take care of his own problems first?" scoffed Marion Hammer, executive director of Unified Sportsmen of Florida, the Sunshine State's chapter of the National Rifle Association.
Hammer was responding to Bloomberg's pledge, made at his inaugural on Sunday, to bring his fight for stricter gun control "to Albany, to Washington and to every capital of every state that permits guns to flow freely across its borders."
NYPD officials say that 70% of guns used to commit crimes in the city in the first half of 2005 came from six states - Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Pennsylvania, all of which have looser gun laws than New York.
Victims included NYPD Officer Dillon Stewart, who was gunned down by a 9-mm. Glock stolen in Florida and later used to shoot up a Brooklyn nightclub.
But Bloomberg can expect plenty of political flak once he ventures south of the Mason-Dixon line, Hammer and others said yesterday.
"If he wants to come to the state capital and lecture my legislature, his message is going to fall on deaf ears," Hammer said. "I think they'd stop him at the state line."
"This is all politically motivated," added Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. "He's trying to look like he's doing something, but he's not doing anything but pass the buck."
But Bloomberg yesterday showed no signs of backing down, expressing horror at how some bullets these days are marketed as "vest piercing."
"The last time I saw a deer wearing an armored vest was a long time ago," he said."
_______________________________
And he lied. It's a canard, an urban legend and something liberals drag out of the closet to scare the sheeple. Armor piercing handgun ammunition is as illegal as illegal can be, and the few special-forces/law enforcement types of such munitions are strictly accounted for. Mayor Mike HAD to have seen marketing aimed at the NYPD or perhaps even the bogus leftwing fakes that are seemingly everywhere. ANY decent hunting rifle can pierce ANY vest of your average cop on the street, and it's interesting to see his Dis-Honor switching from the evil guns to the evil ammunition when it suits him to fabricate something for his political agenda.
And believe the 70% of criminal guns used in half the activity coming from six states at your peril, too. They fudge the numbers as it suits them. Yes, a lot more guns are stolen from states that HAVE a lot more guns. It's akin to saying that 70% of the stolen automobiles used in drunk driving tragedies come from NYC and therefore cars from New York should be banned.
And instead of going after the criminals who steal then kill, politicians take the easy route and want to confiscate the properties of people who have broken no laws. It's called shooting fish in a barrel. Makes nifty headlines. And keeps the minorities voting for you.
Instantaneously...Wrong
Held on to this because something smelled fishy. Reports were jumbled and I went to sleep agonizing over whether or not to publish. Correct, or in error, we can be instantaneous but I was too sleepy to make a rational decision.
"Share with your readers!
http://stoptheaclu.com/archives/2006/01/04/12-miners-found-alive/
It is a miracle!
Twelve miners caught in an explosion in a coal mine were found alive Tuesday night, more than 41 hours after the blast, family members said.
Bells at a church where relatives had been gathering rang out as family members ran out screaming in jubilation.
Relatives were yelling "They're alive!"
Got the Fox News Alert, then the above from STOP, and 10 minutes later yet another email from someone relatively close to the scene telling me that it was all a mistake and it looked like one of the miners was going to make it but that the other 11 were gone.
Messenger shares in the grief and sorrow of these families, and it's a tragedy the earlier news wasn't accurate.
"Share with your readers!
http://stoptheaclu.com/archives/2006/01/04/12-miners-found-alive/
It is a miracle!
Twelve miners caught in an explosion in a coal mine were found alive Tuesday night, more than 41 hours after the blast, family members said.
Bells at a church where relatives had been gathering rang out as family members ran out screaming in jubilation.
Relatives were yelling "They're alive!"
Got the Fox News Alert, then the above from STOP, and 10 minutes later yet another email from someone relatively close to the scene telling me that it was all a mistake and it looked like one of the miners was going to make it but that the other 11 were gone.
Messenger shares in the grief and sorrow of these families, and it's a tragedy the earlier news wasn't accurate.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Moxie's On A Roll...
moxie
She (as well as some of my other favorite writers, hint) doesn't post nearly enough to sate Mr. Insatiable, but when Ms Mox serves the fare is more than palatable.
She (as well as some of my other favorite writers, hint) doesn't post nearly enough to sate Mr. Insatiable, but when Ms Mox serves the fare is more than palatable.
Time to take down the tree?
Meaning the Stop The ACLU banner on the lefthand side of the page. Means going into the code and whatnot and I don't give good full frontal whatnot so I think I'll leave it there for a bit. Anyhoot, I remain in the spirit of things, for I am one of those disgusting persons who loves the holidays and will each year truthfully proclaim that this was the best Christmas ever, etc, so the banner stays the same.
And justifying laziness has always been a forte. Maybe even a fivete.
And justifying laziness has always been a forte. Maybe even a fivete.
Enough BOOBS, Dammit, Where's The Guns...
Best thing about carrying a Glock 27 is it's small size but potent bark. Worst thing about taking the little sucker to the range is capping out 10 rounds then switching to another mag, and on and on. Thinking of getting a spacer as seen in the pic so I can use 12 or 15 round magazines when putting holes in paper and not have the longer mags stick out like a sore thumb. Yeah, I know, it's the friggin range so who should care, but to my eye they look cool. Not for carry though. If I can't TCB with 10 shots then frig it. Real life isn't like those dumbass gun schools where they teach you to fire magazine after magazine like the 1st Marine Division suddenly went evil on your ass and you're fighting off one squad rush after another. Last 100 years or so the average gunfight saw 5 rounds exchanged, and far be it for me to think real world shit but I get like that sometimes.
And Since Den Is A Jamie Lee Fan...
She always looked way better with long hair, then became famous and cut it. Bummer.
UPDATE
Dennis the Peasant is featuring a trip down mammary lane, and makes a valid point about not bitching about hairstyle or lack thereof when speaking of our fave hollyweird wetdreamers. Cute is one thing but vivacious is something else entirely and hair, to a guy at least, plays but the smallest of parts in determining the hit-it factor. I'd go on and on about how a nice hank of hair is something swell to hold onto when...nah, won't go there.
And a big HEYA to the Peasant gangsta's who've been stopping by.
Anyone who reads Dennis should know by now that he and Roger and Chuckie would have been oil and friggin water had they not screwed his ass and went ahead with the deal without him. Even Dennis wouldn't have been capable of bringing much excitement to the somber GRAVITAS unfit to adorn the bottom of a cyber birdcage that they're calling the Pajama Party, but the fireworks would have been way cool to watch.
Anyone who reads Dennis should know by now that he and Roger and Chuckie would have been oil and friggin water had they not screwed his ass and went ahead with the deal without him. Even Dennis wouldn't have been capable of bringing much excitement to the somber GRAVITAS unfit to adorn the bottom of a cyber birdcage that they're calling the Pajama Party, but the fireworks would have been way cool to watch.
MOST of the time, asswipe mainstream groups are at least smart enough to try and hide their lunatic leanings, but not the ASSociated Press Gang. It's lightyears beyond biased when these crude hut dwellers pass along such absolute bullshit, and not a damned media outlet will call them on it but us nobody frickin' blogs.
"Um Nidal, mother of three Palestinian martyrs delivering a speech at a celebration at the18th foundation anniversary of Palestinian militant group, Hamas, on Friday Dec.30, 2005, in the Syrian capital, Damascus."
Martyrs? Referring to these murdering thugs as martyrs is akin to describing the apes-in-mens-clothing who flew those planes into the WTC as bad drivers.
And you know that the rules have changed when I once again sya something unflattering about a woman, a mother no less, because this witch needs to visit Paris and fall asleep in a parked car on a Saturday night. In a disenfranchised part of town.
For Cat Lovers Only...
DAY 752 My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.
Have yourself a visit over to Gut Rumbles and read the whole thing. Frickin hilarious.
Had a few cats in my day, and it's all how you raise them. Every last one, and especially the Siamese, turned into something far more closely resembling what one would come to think of as a dog and that's becaue I treat all animals fair and only spoil women.
Have yourself a visit over to Gut Rumbles and read the whole thing. Frickin hilarious.
Had a few cats in my day, and it's all how you raise them. Every last one, and especially the Siamese, turned into something far more closely resembling what one would come to think of as a dog and that's becaue I treat all animals fair and only spoil women.
Old Dogs And New Tricks
Steve has decided he'd going to be a tool maven, and I wish him well. There was a time when I had aspirations towards becoming a master builder but I waited too long. Kinda like the guy who decides to play baseball in his early 20's and learns that no matter how much raw talent is there, if you don't learn certain things before a certain age you'll never be great. All of the master mechanics, expert metal workers, and real carpenters I've known had been doing it all the live long day since they can remember, and none of the later in lifers have been able to get past the lookee here, nice bird house huh?
Same goes for my life's work and hobby, and at times I forget why the newbees will never know jack shit about firearms. Simply can't hop onboard past a certain age and ever expect a masters-classification in spite of how pretty you can make holes in paper, because the easiest thing to learn about shooting is how to shoot and the hardest thing to learn about shooting is how to really shoot. I frequent a lot of the gun boards and not a day goes by without some expert making reference to something that's so wrong as to be the epitome of wrong, and these dudes make tons of cash teaching the yokels how to defend themselves. The real deal goes something like this; most folks when under stress can't hit anything. Cops miss their targets when it hits the fan 80-85 percent of the time not because they haven't been schooled in the use of guns, but because they're simply not gunsters, no matter how much they've practiced. They've all been told all the wrong things about what happens to you when it's shit or go blind time, and they shrink to the level of their expectations rather than rising to the level of their physiology. Adrenaline is a good thing. Makes you stronger, faster, improves distance vision, but the word about town these days is that it'll turn you into a quivering mass of clumsiness and that's just what happens when the go-juice kicks in.
Also, some people just aren't cut out to draw a weapon and coldly kill another person, and it HAS to be in cold blood or you'll fuck it up. But that's something you cannot learn from a book or a friend or watching a cool video, it's something you've learned along the way or forget about it. Ask a master builder why he's doing something a certain way and a lot of times he or she will have to stop and think about it before they can answer. And you can't think and do good work at the same time, no one can. Multi-tasking is for the easy stuff, not life and death, OR making a beautiful chest of drawers. The work, the art if you will, flows from the heart not the head. All the head does is fuck things up. Thinking takes us to the higher level that makes being an animal or a Da Vinci quite impossible.
Not that some day I wouldn't mind breaking out the old circular saw or trying to recall who last borrowed the welder. But I've gotten over being satisfied with half ass because it's a cool hobby, and always return to what I do best. And you either know exactly what I'm talking about or never will.
Same goes for my life's work and hobby, and at times I forget why the newbees will never know jack shit about firearms. Simply can't hop onboard past a certain age and ever expect a masters-classification in spite of how pretty you can make holes in paper, because the easiest thing to learn about shooting is how to shoot and the hardest thing to learn about shooting is how to really shoot. I frequent a lot of the gun boards and not a day goes by without some expert making reference to something that's so wrong as to be the epitome of wrong, and these dudes make tons of cash teaching the yokels how to defend themselves. The real deal goes something like this; most folks when under stress can't hit anything. Cops miss their targets when it hits the fan 80-85 percent of the time not because they haven't been schooled in the use of guns, but because they're simply not gunsters, no matter how much they've practiced. They've all been told all the wrong things about what happens to you when it's shit or go blind time, and they shrink to the level of their expectations rather than rising to the level of their physiology. Adrenaline is a good thing. Makes you stronger, faster, improves distance vision, but the word about town these days is that it'll turn you into a quivering mass of clumsiness and that's just what happens when the go-juice kicks in.
Also, some people just aren't cut out to draw a weapon and coldly kill another person, and it HAS to be in cold blood or you'll fuck it up. But that's something you cannot learn from a book or a friend or watching a cool video, it's something you've learned along the way or forget about it. Ask a master builder why he's doing something a certain way and a lot of times he or she will have to stop and think about it before they can answer. And you can't think and do good work at the same time, no one can. Multi-tasking is for the easy stuff, not life and death, OR making a beautiful chest of drawers. The work, the art if you will, flows from the heart not the head. All the head does is fuck things up. Thinking takes us to the higher level that makes being an animal or a Da Vinci quite impossible.
Not that some day I wouldn't mind breaking out the old circular saw or trying to recall who last borrowed the welder. But I've gotten over being satisfied with half ass because it's a cool hobby, and always return to what I do best. And you either know exactly what I'm talking about or never will.
A half page ad for Google, Iraq the Model, and something about New Year's predictions. That's todays opening front page for the Pajama Party kids.
Enough already. We know it's been nothing but an Iowahawk take-off on what would happen if bad writers got together with bad web page designers so get to the punchline before you've wasted the whole 7 mill and someone else comes along and actually DOES the thing the right way.
Pajamas Media
Enough already. We know it's been nothing but an Iowahawk take-off on what would happen if bad writers got together with bad web page designers so get to the punchline before you've wasted the whole 7 mill and someone else comes along and actually DOES the thing the right way.
Pajamas Media
Monday, January 02, 2006
The Antique Road Show...
No, not me driving my old Buick. The one on PBS, and this one old guy just had a sword appraised at $200,000. An 1847 award from Congress to someone in the military. $200,000. Sweet geez. When my great grandfather passed on he left me a trunk full of some neat old stuff, and I was so bloody honored that he'd think of leaving me anything. Tons of grandchildren, etc, and I drag this thing home and it was chockerblock with interesting memorabilia.
Don't know how much Jimmy Hoffa's wallet is worth, probably a decent buck to the right bidder, but I think I'll hold on to it.
Don't know how much Jimmy Hoffa's wallet is worth, probably a decent buck to the right bidder, but I think I'll hold on to it.
Time For Some Eye Candy
And who better to unruffle the old feathers than Ms Barbeau. This is what all red blooded American men do when something gets under their skin, and today's political fare had me needing both respite and nepenthe.
If heroes are just larger than life versions of the people who consider them heroic...
..how low does that make the racists assholes who voted for this cretin?
Michelle Malkin: FARRAKHAN WINS A PRIZE
"BET.com users have selected Minister Louis Farrakhan as the 2005 Person of the Year."
Pretty friggin low. Read it and weep.
Michelle Malkin: FARRAKHAN WINS A PRIZE
"BET.com users have selected Minister Louis Farrakhan as the 2005 Person of the Year."
Pretty friggin low. Read it and weep.
And the first murder victim of the new year was killed with...
New York Post Online Edition: news
January 2, 2006 -- "A beaming Carlos Cintron rang in the New Year with his family and then told his girlfriend how much he loved her.
Two hours later, the well-liked Queens teen was the first murder victim of 2006, viciously stabbed to death as he played Good Samaritan trying to bust up a booze-fueled fight between two friends."
So where are the Knife-Control freaks? And with all of this cry for more gun control, precisely how many people are killed by firearms as opposed to other methods of mayhem? Here's a clue; not a day goes by without someone in the Big Apple getting run over by a drunken driver or some nutcase looking for revenge. Not a day goes by without someone being stabbed, or bludgeoned, or strangled, or thrown from a rooftop. The SYSTEM sucks, people, not the inanimate objects that criminals use to hurt people.
January 2, 2006 -- "A beaming Carlos Cintron rang in the New Year with his family and then told his girlfriend how much he loved her.
Two hours later, the well-liked Queens teen was the first murder victim of 2006, viciously stabbed to death as he played Good Samaritan trying to bust up a booze-fueled fight between two friends."
So where are the Knife-Control freaks? And with all of this cry for more gun control, precisely how many people are killed by firearms as opposed to other methods of mayhem? Here's a clue; not a day goes by without someone in the Big Apple getting run over by a drunken driver or some nutcase looking for revenge. Not a day goes by without someone being stabbed, or bludgeoned, or strangled, or thrown from a rooftop. The SYSTEM sucks, people, not the inanimate objects that criminals use to hurt people.
Half the drivers in the city can't control their oversized pigmobiles; they know it, the powers that be know it, but que sera sera. Personal freedom don't'cha know. The best mass transit in the world and the freedom of owning something 3 times the size of what you need just as a status symbol is okay, but get a gun to protect yourself and it's whinging and whining time in the city that never sleeps.
And betcha the knife that was used to eviscerate Mr. Cintron was made in China, not Florida or Georgia.
The Empire Tries To Fight Back...
Answering Back to the News Media, Using the Internet
"In this new world, the audience and sources are publishers," Mr. Rosen said. "They are now saying to journalists, 'We are producers, too. So the interview lies midpoint between us. You produce things from it, and we do, too.' From now on, in a potentially hostile interview situation, this will be the norm."
All these developments have forced journalists to respond in a variety of ways, including becoming more open about their methods and techniques and perhaps more conscious of how they filter information.
"To the extent that you know there's someone monitoring every word, it probably compels you to be even more careful, which is a good thing," said Chris Bury, the "Nightline" correspondent whose interview was published by the Discovery Institute. "But readers and viewers need to realize that one interview is only one part of the story, that there are other interviews and other research and that this is just a sliver of what goes into a complete report."
__________________________________
You know what's going to happen when the NY TIMES has a say on blogging, and that's what all this folderol is about. Defending the mainstream media against the internet newsmongers by whinging to the high heavens about how much "fact-checking" goes into each and every story, as if it were all a bother to begin with but hey, we do it and you guys can't.
Bullshit. Sure we don't have the logistics to put boots in the field but fact checking is what brought down Dan Rather and his compatriots when they tried to pull a fast one and rig the last election. The truth about fact checking is that the media sucks at it; always has, always will. Have some asshole of a Mayor let thousands of his people get caught in a raging flood and every word out of the mans mouth was considered pure gold by the jerkwads who call themselves reporters, so we were all preparing for many, many deaths just because these same reporters weren't doing their job of telling us whats in the news. That's because the real job of the modern day newspaper person has NOTHING to do with facts and EVERYTHING to do with titilation, exaggeration, and misdirection. Modern news is just another arm of the entertainment division but blogging isn't. Not yet. And you can't use PJ Media as an example because that isn't an example of real blogging.
What the muckety mucks are TRYING to say is that we're all just a gaggle of unprofessional wannabes who couldn't find their ass with two hands and a GPS system, but all their whinging protestation proves is that they simply don't get it. We want the REAL deal, not some politicized agenda. We want the news, not the newscover. Now maybe Chris Bury feels that Baba Wawa doing a special on heaven is news, but I sure don't. Maybe Chris thinks that Rather got the short end of the stick, too, in fact he must feel this way or why make such a ridiculous comment about the networks being fact checkers par exellance.
They do the demographics and decide how to tailor a piece to fit the largest audience, case closed. And the facts be damned.
And the NY TIMES, the downhill NY TIMES, the soon to be a fading memory NY TIMES, is in the mess they're in because they exert the effort to defend their positions and not a scintilla of it to understand why their readership is deserting in droves. They really don't know that half a story won't cut it any more, or are SO intent on presenting the liberal viewpoint of everything that they'll go down rather than change.
Blogs will never put the mainstream media out of business. But blogs WILL put most of the newspaper media out of big business, and force television into more and more fluff pieces because who wants to REALLY get the facts straight.
Or as Ms Walters would put it, "If you were a twee, what kind of twee would you be..."
"In this new world, the audience and sources are publishers," Mr. Rosen said. "They are now saying to journalists, 'We are producers, too. So the interview lies midpoint between us. You produce things from it, and we do, too.' From now on, in a potentially hostile interview situation, this will be the norm."
All these developments have forced journalists to respond in a variety of ways, including becoming more open about their methods and techniques and perhaps more conscious of how they filter information.
"To the extent that you know there's someone monitoring every word, it probably compels you to be even more careful, which is a good thing," said Chris Bury, the "Nightline" correspondent whose interview was published by the Discovery Institute. "But readers and viewers need to realize that one interview is only one part of the story, that there are other interviews and other research and that this is just a sliver of what goes into a complete report."
__________________________________
You know what's going to happen when the NY TIMES has a say on blogging, and that's what all this folderol is about. Defending the mainstream media against the internet newsmongers by whinging to the high heavens about how much "fact-checking" goes into each and every story, as if it were all a bother to begin with but hey, we do it and you guys can't.
Bullshit. Sure we don't have the logistics to put boots in the field but fact checking is what brought down Dan Rather and his compatriots when they tried to pull a fast one and rig the last election. The truth about fact checking is that the media sucks at it; always has, always will. Have some asshole of a Mayor let thousands of his people get caught in a raging flood and every word out of the mans mouth was considered pure gold by the jerkwads who call themselves reporters, so we were all preparing for many, many deaths just because these same reporters weren't doing their job of telling us whats in the news. That's because the real job of the modern day newspaper person has NOTHING to do with facts and EVERYTHING to do with titilation, exaggeration, and misdirection. Modern news is just another arm of the entertainment division but blogging isn't. Not yet. And you can't use PJ Media as an example because that isn't an example of real blogging.
What the muckety mucks are TRYING to say is that we're all just a gaggle of unprofessional wannabes who couldn't find their ass with two hands and a GPS system, but all their whinging protestation proves is that they simply don't get it. We want the REAL deal, not some politicized agenda. We want the news, not the newscover. Now maybe Chris Bury feels that Baba Wawa doing a special on heaven is news, but I sure don't. Maybe Chris thinks that Rather got the short end of the stick, too, in fact he must feel this way or why make such a ridiculous comment about the networks being fact checkers par exellance.
They do the demographics and decide how to tailor a piece to fit the largest audience, case closed. And the facts be damned.
And the NY TIMES, the downhill NY TIMES, the soon to be a fading memory NY TIMES, is in the mess they're in because they exert the effort to defend their positions and not a scintilla of it to understand why their readership is deserting in droves. They really don't know that half a story won't cut it any more, or are SO intent on presenting the liberal viewpoint of everything that they'll go down rather than change.
Blogs will never put the mainstream media out of business. But blogs WILL put most of the newspaper media out of big business, and force television into more and more fluff pieces because who wants to REALLY get the facts straight.
Or as Ms Walters would put it, "If you were a twee, what kind of twee would you be..."
Podhoretz Weighs In On RINO Mike's Speechifyin'
"New York City is not in crisis, as it was when Rudy Giuliani took office. It is not "in mourning," as Bloomberg rightfully said yesterday it was when he took office only months after 9/11. It's in pretty good shape, and yesterday he said he was going to try his best to be a pretty good mayor for the next four years.
Which is nice. Just don't give Liza a microphone again. Ever. Or I will be making a citizen's arrest."
John Podhoretz played softball with this one, complaining about Minnelli rather than getting to the heart of the matter, but that's all one can expect from a mainstream writer that identifies himself as a Republican. Can't mess with the vanilla NRO gig, so play it safe. And John, one thing, pal; Can't make a citizens arrest in NYC. That'd be putting power in the hands of the people. The disarmed people who are being placed in harms way each and every day because the local government plays footsie with the minority groups.
Which is nice. Just don't give Liza a microphone again. Ever. Or I will be making a citizen's arrest."
John Podhoretz played softball with this one, complaining about Minnelli rather than getting to the heart of the matter, but that's all one can expect from a mainstream writer that identifies himself as a Republican. Can't mess with the vanilla NRO gig, so play it safe. And John, one thing, pal; Can't make a citizens arrest in NYC. That'd be putting power in the hands of the people. The disarmed people who are being placed in harms way each and every day because the local government plays footsie with the minority groups.
More Gun Control Nonsense...
This time from the RINO mayor of NYC:
Pledge to carry gun battle across nation
"With the shooting deaths of two NYPD cops still weighing on the city - and with his confidence as a political player clearly rising - Bloomberg promised in his second term to fight the fight over illegal handguns in every forum that matters.
"We will take our message to Albany, to Washington and to every capital of every state that permits guns to flow freely across its borders," said Bloomberg.
When the mayor talked last month about the need to tighten gun laws after the shooting death of NYPD Officer Dillon Stewart - by a gun stolen in Florida - NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said it was "despicable" for Bloomberg to inject politics into the debate.
Others said Bloomberg's plan to take the fight to states where most of New York's illegal guns originate - with Florida and Georgia being prime culprits - was right on.
"He needs to go to Florida and say, 'You sell thousands of guns that end up on our streets every year, and one of them killed a police officer in New York. What are you going to do about that?'" said Jackie Kuhls, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence."
No, dearie, what are YOU going to do about that? NYC has the most lenient penalties for illegal guns, that's ILLEGAL guns, dearie, in the country because weepy little shit for brains such as yourself can't stand the thought of sending minorities to jail. Of COURSE it's the virtual clearing house for illegal guns, you twit, and it has nothing to do with Georgia or Florida. Over 95% of ALL handguns used to kill people are STOLEN, oh clueless one, stolen from places all over the country and making political hay while cops are being killed is despicable , and should be below even the likes of yourself. I, or anyone else for that matter can travel to upstate NY, or Vermont or ANYWHERE in the Northeast and purchase as many weapons as I want, then turn around and sell them on the streets of NY as long as I am carrying less than 19 weapons at a time. Less than 19 is tantamount to a speeding ticket and the gangstas know this, so guess what...they DO THIS.
Police yourselves before preaching to other states you imbeciles. And start saving your OWN cops' lives by sending the thugs away, not back on the street after a slap on the wrist.
And I won't even comment on Bloomberg as he is so far beneath my contempt as to be insignificant.
This time from the RINO mayor of NYC:
Pledge to carry gun battle across nation
"With the shooting deaths of two NYPD cops still weighing on the city - and with his confidence as a political player clearly rising - Bloomberg promised in his second term to fight the fight over illegal handguns in every forum that matters.
"We will take our message to Albany, to Washington and to every capital of every state that permits guns to flow freely across its borders," said Bloomberg.
When the mayor talked last month about the need to tighten gun laws after the shooting death of NYPD Officer Dillon Stewart - by a gun stolen in Florida - NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said it was "despicable" for Bloomberg to inject politics into the debate.
Others said Bloomberg's plan to take the fight to states where most of New York's illegal guns originate - with Florida and Georgia being prime culprits - was right on.
"He needs to go to Florida and say, 'You sell thousands of guns that end up on our streets every year, and one of them killed a police officer in New York. What are you going to do about that?'" said Jackie Kuhls, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence."
No, dearie, what are YOU going to do about that? NYC has the most lenient penalties for illegal guns, that's ILLEGAL guns, dearie, in the country because weepy little shit for brains such as yourself can't stand the thought of sending minorities to jail. Of COURSE it's the virtual clearing house for illegal guns, you twit, and it has nothing to do with Georgia or Florida. Over 95% of ALL handguns used to kill people are STOLEN, oh clueless one, stolen from places all over the country and making political hay while cops are being killed is despicable , and should be below even the likes of yourself. I, or anyone else for that matter can travel to upstate NY, or Vermont or ANYWHERE in the Northeast and purchase as many weapons as I want, then turn around and sell them on the streets of NY as long as I am carrying less than 19 weapons at a time. Less than 19 is tantamount to a speeding ticket and the gangstas know this, so guess what...they DO THIS.
Police yourselves before preaching to other states you imbeciles. And start saving your OWN cops' lives by sending the thugs away, not back on the street after a slap on the wrist.
And I won't even comment on Bloomberg as he is so far beneath my contempt as to be insignificant.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Top 10 Junk Science Fiascos Of 2005...
1. Obese Statistics Get Liposuction. After years of alarming the American public with ever-scarier estimates of obesity-related deaths, the Centers for Disease Control finally backed away from its exaggerated 2004 claim of 400,000 deaths annually and made a 93 percent downward adjustment to just 25,814 deaths. It’s not clear that even that number can stand up to scrutiny. Read more...
2. Cruelty to Students. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was permitted to incorporate its radical animal rights school curriculum throughout America via its “education” arm known as TeachKind. PETA’s “learning materials” claim that such innocuous behavior as drinking milk is an example of “animal cruelty,” which their Web site repeatedly claims is an unmistakable predictor of future adult psychopathy. Read more…
3. U.N.-natural disasters? In a bid to blame alleged global warming for hurricanes and tsunamis and, ultimately, to force the deep-pocket U.S. government, businesses and taxpayers to pick up the tab for damages from such climatic phenomena, the United Nations conspicuously dropped the word “natural” from the title of its annual conference on natural disasters. Read more…
4. Burger Baloney. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, looking into whether beef consumption could be linked to increased risk of colon cancer, published a study in January with apparently alarming conclusions. Closer examination, however, revealed more creative slicing and dicing of data by a few researchers at the NCI who seem to have a history of publishing anti-meat research. Read more…
5. Franken-movie, not Franken-food. An anti-biotech “crockumentary” entitled “The Future of Food” opened in small movie theaters around the country, resuscitating environmentalists’ long-discredited claims about the “dangers” of biotech crops, one of the most thoroughly tested and regulated technologies ever developed.
Tragically, the Green’s anti-biotech mania continues to doom millions in the Third World to blindness caused by nutritional deficiency. Read more…
6. Afraid-iation? In July, a National Academy of Sciences research panel ominously announced that there is no safe exposure to radiation. While this may sound intuitively plausible, the panel ignored a host of facts, including that 82 percent of the average person’s exposure to ionizing radiation is natural and unavoidable – coming at low levels from the universe and the ground – and that, other than slightly higher cancer rates among the Japanese atomic bomb survivors, there are no data to support the idea that typical exposures are dangerous. Read more…
7. Warning: This Label Based on Junk Science. In July, the Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the FDA to require warning labels on soft drinks. It seems the “food police,” who have no credible scientific data on which to base their petition, are out to demonize just about every food other than soy milk and bulgar wheat. Read more…
8. Stem Cell Fast-One. August headlines touted the latest breakthrough in stem cell research – Harvard researchers announced they had discovered a way to fuse adult skin cells with embryonic stem cells, effectively bypassing the ethical concerns surrounding stem cell research by not having to produce or destroy human embryos.
In reality, the hype was not only premature — since the new cells were still contaminated with embryonic genetic material — it appears to have been an exercise in political science as the Senate neared consideration of a bill that would circumvent President Bush’s funding limitations for embryonic stem cell research. Read more…
9. The Lone-Tree Theory. It nearly took an act of Congress to get the researcher behind the notorious “hockey stick” graph, which purports to show a steep rise in global temperature in the 20th century following a millennium of stable temperatures, to release his publicly funded data and computer code. Among other dubious presumptions, the graph is derived from data that bases climate estimates for the entire 15th century on the tree ring measurements of a single tree. Read more…
10. Baby Bottle Battle. In introducing a bill to ban toys and child care articles made with the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), California State Assemblywoman Wilma Chan fell prey to an environmentalist-perpetuated myth that had long ago been debunked. The “endocrine disruptor” scare has been perpetuated by the unsubstantiated and irreproducible scientific claims of an activist-researcher long-determined to frighten the public away from perfectly safe products. Read more…
And on it goes. Hey, as the population rises there are simply more bottom feeders available to believe such crap, and even if the crazies won't fall for a certain scam or two, there's always the U.N.
2. Cruelty to Students. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was permitted to incorporate its radical animal rights school curriculum throughout America via its “education” arm known as TeachKind. PETA’s “learning materials” claim that such innocuous behavior as drinking milk is an example of “animal cruelty,” which their Web site repeatedly claims is an unmistakable predictor of future adult psychopathy. Read more…
3. U.N.-natural disasters? In a bid to blame alleged global warming for hurricanes and tsunamis and, ultimately, to force the deep-pocket U.S. government, businesses and taxpayers to pick up the tab for damages from such climatic phenomena, the United Nations conspicuously dropped the word “natural” from the title of its annual conference on natural disasters. Read more…
4. Burger Baloney. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, looking into whether beef consumption could be linked to increased risk of colon cancer, published a study in January with apparently alarming conclusions. Closer examination, however, revealed more creative slicing and dicing of data by a few researchers at the NCI who seem to have a history of publishing anti-meat research. Read more…
5. Franken-movie, not Franken-food. An anti-biotech “crockumentary” entitled “The Future of Food” opened in small movie theaters around the country, resuscitating environmentalists’ long-discredited claims about the “dangers” of biotech crops, one of the most thoroughly tested and regulated technologies ever developed.
Tragically, the Green’s anti-biotech mania continues to doom millions in the Third World to blindness caused by nutritional deficiency. Read more…
6. Afraid-iation? In July, a National Academy of Sciences research panel ominously announced that there is no safe exposure to radiation. While this may sound intuitively plausible, the panel ignored a host of facts, including that 82 percent of the average person’s exposure to ionizing radiation is natural and unavoidable – coming at low levels from the universe and the ground – and that, other than slightly higher cancer rates among the Japanese atomic bomb survivors, there are no data to support the idea that typical exposures are dangerous. Read more…
7. Warning: This Label Based on Junk Science. In July, the Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the FDA to require warning labels on soft drinks. It seems the “food police,” who have no credible scientific data on which to base their petition, are out to demonize just about every food other than soy milk and bulgar wheat. Read more…
8. Stem Cell Fast-One. August headlines touted the latest breakthrough in stem cell research – Harvard researchers announced they had discovered a way to fuse adult skin cells with embryonic stem cells, effectively bypassing the ethical concerns surrounding stem cell research by not having to produce or destroy human embryos.
In reality, the hype was not only premature — since the new cells were still contaminated with embryonic genetic material — it appears to have been an exercise in political science as the Senate neared consideration of a bill that would circumvent President Bush’s funding limitations for embryonic stem cell research. Read more…
9. The Lone-Tree Theory. It nearly took an act of Congress to get the researcher behind the notorious “hockey stick” graph, which purports to show a steep rise in global temperature in the 20th century following a millennium of stable temperatures, to release his publicly funded data and computer code. Among other dubious presumptions, the graph is derived from data that bases climate estimates for the entire 15th century on the tree ring measurements of a single tree. Read more…
10. Baby Bottle Battle. In introducing a bill to ban toys and child care articles made with the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), California State Assemblywoman Wilma Chan fell prey to an environmentalist-perpetuated myth that had long ago been debunked. The “endocrine disruptor” scare has been perpetuated by the unsubstantiated and irreproducible scientific claims of an activist-researcher long-determined to frighten the public away from perfectly safe products. Read more…
And on it goes. Hey, as the population rises there are simply more bottom feeders available to believe such crap, and even if the crazies won't fall for a certain scam or two, there's always the U.N.
Here's an incredibly dumb statement from Chuck Schumer, courtesy of Fox News.
NSA Leak Outrage Grows on Capitol Hill
Bush defends domestic spying
"Sen. Schumer, D-N.Y., says probe should focus on source's motive for exposing top secret program."
Duh X 2. The source wanted to make some quick cash while embarassing the administration, you putz. But Schumer is too canny a politician to make such a stupid remark, so dollars to doughnuts he knows something. Rumors are a'swirlin' and Chuckie the Shoe smells blood somewhere.
NSA Leak Outrage Grows on Capitol Hill
Bush defends domestic spying
"Sen. Schumer, D-N.Y., says probe should focus on source's motive for exposing top secret program."
Duh X 2. The source wanted to make some quick cash while embarassing the administration, you putz. But Schumer is too canny a politician to make such a stupid remark, so dollars to doughnuts he knows something. Rumors are a'swirlin' and Chuckie the Shoe smells blood somewhere.
Ruminations upon a desultory phillipic...
As I reflect upon the past year, one of the truly heinous scams to come down the pike was the stem cell fiasco. From the get go we said that if there was anything real about this research, private industry would be dumping tons of cash into it, and always, ALWAYS take a hard look at something that's going to be the next best thing since sliced bread BUT will only work if the government spends the money.
The koreans were lying, and loons the world over should be apologizing to the unfortunates they led to believe were awaiting a cure if only the Bush administration would act. It was nothing but a political con job, but the worst sort of con imagineable. Remember Johnny Boy Edwards promising cripples that they would someday walk if only people would vote for him and the traitor?
Boggles the mind that ANYONE could be so easily fooled by these cretins, and since THEY won't apologize, take my sincere regret that me and others like me didn't fight hard enough to expose these assholes. I tried, others tried, but then went on to other things to complain about. Can't fight every injustice every day, but shit like this pisses me off.
The koreans were lying, and loons the world over should be apologizing to the unfortunates they led to believe were awaiting a cure if only the Bush administration would act. It was nothing but a political con job, but the worst sort of con imagineable. Remember Johnny Boy Edwards promising cripples that they would someday walk if only people would vote for him and the traitor?
Boggles the mind that ANYONE could be so easily fooled by these cretins, and since THEY won't apologize, take my sincere regret that me and others like me didn't fight hard enough to expose these assholes. I tried, others tried, but then went on to other things to complain about. Can't fight every injustice every day, but shit like this pisses me off.
Open Thread
.jpg)
Sorry. No gods awful picture of a bicycle tire overlooking muddy water under a cloudy sky so this'll have to do.
Meanwhile, To ring In The New Year, The Disenfrenchised Molsem Yutes...
...Did nothing? They waste thousands of cars and places of business and schools, and when the time comes for the grandiose celebration they stay home?
Let's see what we have here...all of the services are leading with the car bombs in Iraq that injured a couple dozen folks and may have overturned a fishtank in Baghdad, but nothing about Fra...
Ah...here we go
425 cars torched in New Year's unrest in France - Europe - International Herald Tribune
Just KNEW that those little fuckers couldn't have behaved like civilized folks, no how, no way Jose. 425 vehicles, and here I thought it bad when the local disenfranchised youths were climbing fences to toss firecrackers and scare the white folks.
Let's see what we have here...all of the services are leading with the car bombs in Iraq that injured a couple dozen folks and may have overturned a fishtank in Baghdad, but nothing about Fra...
Ah...here we go
425 cars torched in New Year's unrest in France - Europe - International Herald Tribune
Just KNEW that those little fuckers couldn't have behaved like civilized folks, no how, no way Jose. 425 vehicles, and here I thought it bad when the local disenfranchised youths were climbing fences to toss firecrackers and scare the white folks.
Top 10 Predictions For Pajamas Media And Those Who Love Them
1. PJ Media will get worse.
2. The liberal bloggers associated with the PJ's will soon discover that the restroom doors of the White House appear to be thinner than those of previous administrations and launch a series of attacks condemning the Bush administration for eavesdropping on innocent handwashers. Several months after being found to have been in error, a previously unheard of columnist will then be front-paged to examine what went wrong, and, by the way, should we surrender the internet to the Europeans.
3. Pictures will surface of Roger Simon without a hat and the entire blogosphere will unite in demanding he never take it off again. Both sides of the aisle coming together will be a first in the annals of politics, and while pressure to split to their individual corners will be fast and furious, the cries of NEVER AGAIN will keep them at least on speaking terms.
4. Iowahawk will come to the conclusion that his satire pales in comparison to what passes for real stories at the place they're calling the Pajama Party, but be convinced to stay onboard because some of the readers can actually tell the difference and that's a good start.
5. Charles Johnson over at LGF will run at least one unsubstantiated story per week on commercial airliners being fired upon by rockets while circling O'Hare, and publish a holiday feature claiming that most of the fireworks being set off on July 4 are in reality islamic jihad terrorist attacks gone sour. But, by years end PJ Media will have not featured even one of his "essay's" and the straw will have broken the camel's back when he discovers that Roger has hired a real photographer who has been replacing the incomprehensibly horrid photo's at LGF with ones that show objects which can actually be identified at first glance. Dennis the Peasant persuades Charles to join him in his crusade to crush the Pajamadeen, but at the last moment it falls apart when Charles refuses to back down over his demands that Dennis change the name of the blog to Little Green Peasants.
6. John Cole will at long last realize that whining is not the same as debating, but don't hold your breath on this one.
7. By years end, ALL of the Scintillating-70 will have operating ads. By years end, ALL of the Scintilatting-70 will become overwhelmed by the shame of taking an investors money only to be part of the worst thing to hit the internet since Al Gore took credit for inventing it.
8. The Lizardoids over at LGF will continue to bombard Michelle Malkin's blog with hit after hit to prove to the PJ investors that she's worth the money, but smart folks will inquire as to why the average visit to her site averages just under 4 seconds and begin to think this one over.
9. Ann Althouse will log on to find NO derogatory, sexist, thug-driven comments on her blog from the unathletic supporters of the Open Sores gang, and spend many weeks wondering how she failed, even for a day, to be honest.
10. PJ Media will get even worse.
2. The liberal bloggers associated with the PJ's will soon discover that the restroom doors of the White House appear to be thinner than those of previous administrations and launch a series of attacks condemning the Bush administration for eavesdropping on innocent handwashers. Several months after being found to have been in error, a previously unheard of columnist will then be front-paged to examine what went wrong, and, by the way, should we surrender the internet to the Europeans.
3. Pictures will surface of Roger Simon without a hat and the entire blogosphere will unite in demanding he never take it off again. Both sides of the aisle coming together will be a first in the annals of politics, and while pressure to split to their individual corners will be fast and furious, the cries of NEVER AGAIN will keep them at least on speaking terms.
4. Iowahawk will come to the conclusion that his satire pales in comparison to what passes for real stories at the place they're calling the Pajama Party, but be convinced to stay onboard because some of the readers can actually tell the difference and that's a good start.
5. Charles Johnson over at LGF will run at least one unsubstantiated story per week on commercial airliners being fired upon by rockets while circling O'Hare, and publish a holiday feature claiming that most of the fireworks being set off on July 4 are in reality islamic jihad terrorist attacks gone sour. But, by years end PJ Media will have not featured even one of his "essay's" and the straw will have broken the camel's back when he discovers that Roger has hired a real photographer who has been replacing the incomprehensibly horrid photo's at LGF with ones that show objects which can actually be identified at first glance. Dennis the Peasant persuades Charles to join him in his crusade to crush the Pajamadeen, but at the last moment it falls apart when Charles refuses to back down over his demands that Dennis change the name of the blog to Little Green Peasants.
6. John Cole will at long last realize that whining is not the same as debating, but don't hold your breath on this one.
7. By years end, ALL of the Scintillating-70 will have operating ads. By years end, ALL of the Scintilatting-70 will become overwhelmed by the shame of taking an investors money only to be part of the worst thing to hit the internet since Al Gore took credit for inventing it.
8. The Lizardoids over at LGF will continue to bombard Michelle Malkin's blog with hit after hit to prove to the PJ investors that she's worth the money, but smart folks will inquire as to why the average visit to her site averages just under 4 seconds and begin to think this one over.
9. Ann Althouse will log on to find NO derogatory, sexist, thug-driven comments on her blog from the unathletic supporters of the Open Sores gang, and spend many weeks wondering how she failed, even for a day, to be honest.
10. PJ Media will get even worse.
A GIRL'S GUIDE TO GUNS
January 1, 2006 -- "WHAT should a woman do when attacked by a criminal? Should she behave passively? Use pepper spray? A gun?
Most people hope they'll get lucky and never be attacked. For those who want to think ahead, there is Paxton Quigley's new book, "Stayin' Alive."
It turns out that pepper spray may not do you a lot of good when it is raining or snowing. A woman is just as likely to disable herself as the attacker when it's windy or when using the spray indoors."
Read the entire article, as it debunks some bad advice long held to be gospel, and points the way towards a very good book by Paxton Quigley titled "Stayin' Alive."
Pepper sprays simply do not work on certain people, and even the taser-like devices can be useless against an aggressor high on drugs. My choice for the diminutive individual has always been a small, hammerless if possible, revolver, and for so very many reasons I could write my own book on the subject. Most women are not gunsters and keeping it simple means keeping it far more user friendly. Purchase a firearm you can become proficient with (too much gun is worse than not enough gun), use modern ammunitions, live-fire at least once a month and dry-fire every day. The world is a better place with you in it and the bad guy out of it.
January 1, 2006 -- "WHAT should a woman do when attacked by a criminal? Should she behave passively? Use pepper spray? A gun?
Most people hope they'll get lucky and never be attacked. For those who want to think ahead, there is Paxton Quigley's new book, "Stayin' Alive."
It turns out that pepper spray may not do you a lot of good when it is raining or snowing. A woman is just as likely to disable herself as the attacker when it's windy or when using the spray indoors."
Read the entire article, as it debunks some bad advice long held to be gospel, and points the way towards a very good book by Paxton Quigley titled "Stayin' Alive."
Pepper sprays simply do not work on certain people, and even the taser-like devices can be useless against an aggressor high on drugs. My choice for the diminutive individual has always been a small, hammerless if possible, revolver, and for so very many reasons I could write my own book on the subject. Most women are not gunsters and keeping it simple means keeping it far more user friendly. Purchase a firearm you can become proficient with (too much gun is worse than not enough gun), use modern ammunitions, live-fire at least once a month and dry-fire every day. The world is a better place with you in it and the bad guy out of it.
And the neighorhood is awash with the sound of gunfire...
But not from guns, just the type of fireworks here in Florida. The kids have been setting off string after string of firecrackers designed to sound like automatic weaponry, and I must admit it sounds pretty close to the real thing.
In Iowa, Sioux City to be precise, the sound of one firecracker going off drew enough police cars to patrol Times Square, but here the roadside stands sell the stuff and I haven't seen one cop yet. The "children" are as far as I can tell 100% black, and have been shouting screaming and getting drunk since around 6 this afternoon, and I've yet to see an adult male. Let me put it another way, I haven't seen a father-type; there have been plenty of 18 and aboves staggering around but nary a one of them supervising the kids.
My bad. We moved without taking a look at what the neighborhood was like at night, plus one of the nearby apartment complexes was just turned over to welfare housing. Great looking places too, or they were a couple months back. We'll be getting out of here in a bit, just as soon as the evil little prick who forgot to mention that the area was "changing" gets us into a safer house. And by changing I don't mean the color scheme, frig that. I mean the hoodlums that the police don't police.
Lisa is asleep, thankfully the bedroom is far enough away from the area the gangsta-wannabes are terrorizing so she can conk off without being jolted by the sound of one machine gun after another going off. When I was a kid we'd open the windows at midnight and bang pots and pans to beat the band. That went on for a few minutes and I can never recall one person in the neighborhood complaining. Hey, it's New Years. So I'm being far more tolerant than usual in not going outside and tracking these little assholes down. I figure they'll get tired in an hour or so and nature will take it's course. The ones that survive will crawl home and into bed and the ones that don't will be remembered as being good kids that just got in the way of bad kids. They howl back and forth to one another long into the night, and where they find the energy is beyond me.
In Iowa, Sioux City to be precise, the sound of one firecracker going off drew enough police cars to patrol Times Square, but here the roadside stands sell the stuff and I haven't seen one cop yet. The "children" are as far as I can tell 100% black, and have been shouting screaming and getting drunk since around 6 this afternoon, and I've yet to see an adult male. Let me put it another way, I haven't seen a father-type; there have been plenty of 18 and aboves staggering around but nary a one of them supervising the kids.
My bad. We moved without taking a look at what the neighborhood was like at night, plus one of the nearby apartment complexes was just turned over to welfare housing. Great looking places too, or they were a couple months back. We'll be getting out of here in a bit, just as soon as the evil little prick who forgot to mention that the area was "changing" gets us into a safer house. And by changing I don't mean the color scheme, frig that. I mean the hoodlums that the police don't police.
Lisa is asleep, thankfully the bedroom is far enough away from the area the gangsta-wannabes are terrorizing so she can conk off without being jolted by the sound of one machine gun after another going off. When I was a kid we'd open the windows at midnight and bang pots and pans to beat the band. That went on for a few minutes and I can never recall one person in the neighborhood complaining. Hey, it's New Years. So I'm being far more tolerant than usual in not going outside and tracking these little assholes down. I figure they'll get tired in an hour or so and nature will take it's course. The ones that survive will crawl home and into bed and the ones that don't will be remembered as being good kids that just got in the way of bad kids. They howl back and forth to one another long into the night, and where they find the energy is beyond me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)