Evidently, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is unable to find an editor for its newspaper who has the cojones necessary to simply reject crap.
So instead, readers of the rag (no, I don't subscribe, and have NOT for at least 20 years) get treated to this manure:
full-page op-ed by Fr. Bryan Massingale asserting that the possibility that the amendment might adversely effect health insurance coverage for unmarried couples raised issues under Church teaching justifying a "no" vote. [Quotation from The Provincial Emails]
We've pointed out that the clouds of smoke issued by the HomosexMarriage crowd are baseless, including the claim above.
It would seem that Fr Massingale has a serious problem with the concept of 'right order.' Let's get this straight: if Massingale is attempting to pull some sort of "comparative values" game here (proportionalism) then he's missing the point. Natural law (and the Bible's injunctions) trump "health insurance." His hysterics over health insurance for unmarried couples raises a question: is Fr. Massingale educated beyond his intelligence?
As we have pointed out, The Amendment would prevent companies (and the State, and its subsidiarities) from being forced to provide "partner" health benefits (which, by the way, are very expensive.) However, it would NOT prevent such entities from providing them voluntarily, or under the terms of a negotiated labor contract.
As for the rag itself, I agree with The Provincial Emails' opinion:
Why is Archbishop Dolan condemning Maguire when he's got Massingale on the payroll doing the same damage in the Archdiocesan newspaper?
Here's a suggestion for Abp. Dolan. Either find an editor who understands Catholicism in toto and runs the newspaper that way, or dump the silly rag into Lake Michigan.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
These Yellowjackets Mean Business
Talk about "big, big, big, big..."
To the bafflement of insect experts, gigantic yellow jacket nests have started turning up in old barns, unoccupied houses, cars and underground cavities across the southern two-thirds of Alabama.
Specialists say it could be the result of a mild winter and drought conditions, or multiple queens forcing worker yellow jackets to enlarge their quarters so the queens will be in separate areas. But experts haven't determined exactly what's behind the surprisingly large nests.
Auburn University entomologists, who say they've never seen the nests so large, have been fielding calls about the huge nests from property owners from Dothan up to Sylacauga and over into west-central Alabama's Black Belt.
At one site in Barbour County, the nest was as large as a Volkswagen Beetle, said Andy McLean, an Orkin pesticide service manager in Dothan who helped remove it from an abandoned barn about a month ago.
HT: ClayCramer
To the bafflement of insect experts, gigantic yellow jacket nests have started turning up in old barns, unoccupied houses, cars and underground cavities across the southern two-thirds of Alabama.
Specialists say it could be the result of a mild winter and drought conditions, or multiple queens forcing worker yellow jackets to enlarge their quarters so the queens will be in separate areas. But experts haven't determined exactly what's behind the surprisingly large nests.
Auburn University entomologists, who say they've never seen the nests so large, have been fielding calls about the huge nests from property owners from Dothan up to Sylacauga and over into west-central Alabama's Black Belt.
At one site in Barbour County, the nest was as large as a Volkswagen Beetle, said Andy McLean, an Orkin pesticide service manager in Dothan who helped remove it from an abandoned barn about a month ago.
HT: ClayCramer
Feingold: "NO" on the Fence
Not surprising at all--Feinie (D-AlQuaeda) was one of 19 who voted against the fence.
Surprising: Herb Kohl inveighed AGAINST the fence, and voted FOR it, as did BarbieBoxer, the Hildebeeste, and Schumer.
HT: Captain's Quarters
Surprising: Herb Kohl inveighed AGAINST the fence, and voted FOR it, as did BarbieBoxer, the Hildebeeste, and Schumer.
HT: Captain's Quarters
Keep Your Maps for 2011
Regrets to you Techno-Addictive Wonks, but those cute little GPS devices may fail a lot in 2011:
Navigation, power and communications systems that rely on GPS satellite navigation will be disrupted by violent solar activity in 2011, research shows.
A study reveals Global Positioning System receivers to be unexpectedly vulnerable to bursts of radio noise produced by solar flares, created by explosions in the Sun's atmosphere.
When solar activity peaks in 2011 and 2012, it could cause widespread disruption to aircraft navigation and emergency location systems that rely heavily on satellite navigation data.
This may be a problem for aircraft navigation. The FAA uses GPS receivers for air traffic control, which Kintner says "will certainly fail" during these intense solar flare radio bursts, which could cause signals to drop by up to 90%, for hours at a time. Although planes can fly without GPS, outages force the FAA to increase the distance between aircraft and slow take-offs and landings, delaying flights.
GPS is also used for emergency rescues and also to synchronise power grids and cellphone networks. One solution, says Kintner, would be to increase the strength of GPS signals. But this would mean redesigning GPS satellite hardware and software
Remedial Map-Reading courses will still be available.
Navigation, power and communications systems that rely on GPS satellite navigation will be disrupted by violent solar activity in 2011, research shows.
A study reveals Global Positioning System receivers to be unexpectedly vulnerable to bursts of radio noise produced by solar flares, created by explosions in the Sun's atmosphere.
When solar activity peaks in 2011 and 2012, it could cause widespread disruption to aircraft navigation and emergency location systems that rely heavily on satellite navigation data.
This may be a problem for aircraft navigation. The FAA uses GPS receivers for air traffic control, which Kintner says "will certainly fail" during these intense solar flare radio bursts, which could cause signals to drop by up to 90%, for hours at a time. Although planes can fly without GPS, outages force the FAA to increase the distance between aircraft and slow take-offs and landings, delaying flights.
GPS is also used for emergency rescues and also to synchronise power grids and cellphone networks. One solution, says Kintner, would be to increase the strength of GPS signals. But this would mean redesigning GPS satellite hardware and software
Remedial Map-Reading courses will still be available.
"Catholic" Group Resurrects Bernardin Lie
Back a number of years ago, Cdl. Bernardin of Chicago pasted together something called the "Seamless Garment" theory, which justified voting for pro-abortion candidates. The Cardinal was wrong.
But his theory refuses to die. After all, it offers cover for such vermin as Dave Obey (D-WI) and John Kerry--and may even secure their continuing election.
The group perpetrating this moral fraud this time around is "Catholic in Alliance for the Common Good" (CACG) a group headed up by Alexia Kelley who in 2004 worked as a religion advisor to John Kerry in the closing weeks of his campaign.
An initial printing of one million copies of "Voting for the Common Good: A Practical Guide for Conscientious Catholics" will be distributed nationwide through on-the-ground organizers and partner networks in all 50 states, says CACG.
...The new voter guide has been described as "slick" by the Catholic League for its deceptive wording which falsely leads Catholics to consider abortion as just one of many important social justice issues to be taken into account when electing politicians.
"Slick" is the right term. "A Pack of Lies" would be another:
The Catholic Democrats' guide contradicts the guidance of Cardinal Ratzinger prior to his election to the papacy. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger wrote a doctrinal note, approved by then-Pope John Paul II, which stated: "[A] well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals." The doctrinal note added, "laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death . . . Analogously, the family needs to be safeguarded and promoted based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman."
As Bishop Rene Henry Gracida, of Corpus Christi Texas, explained in September 2004, it is not enough to make a mental reservation that a voter is not supporting a pro-abortion politician because of his stand on abortion. The reasons to support the politician must be objectively 'proportionate.' He further states that the usual reasons cited, a candidate's stand "on war, or taxes, or the death penalty, or immigration, or a national health plan, or Social Security, or AIDS, or homosexuality, or marriage," are not important enough. They are, he says, "simply lacking in proportionality."
Fortunately, the Wisconsin Bishops have already made perfectly clear their support of The Amendment (which would ban homosex-marriage in Wisconsin.) They have also made VERY clear their opposition to Embryonic Stem-Cell Research (albeit a couple of years ago.)
So should some long-haired, maggot-infested, good-time-Charlie rock'n'roll type attempt to jam one of those slick brochures into your hand in the parking lot after Mass, gently but firmly advise the creep to put the brochure where the sun doesn't shine.
But his theory refuses to die. After all, it offers cover for such vermin as Dave Obey (D-WI) and John Kerry--and may even secure their continuing election.
The group perpetrating this moral fraud this time around is "Catholic in Alliance for the Common Good" (CACG) a group headed up by Alexia Kelley who in 2004 worked as a religion advisor to John Kerry in the closing weeks of his campaign.
An initial printing of one million copies of "Voting for the Common Good: A Practical Guide for Conscientious Catholics" will be distributed nationwide through on-the-ground organizers and partner networks in all 50 states, says CACG.
...The new voter guide has been described as "slick" by the Catholic League for its deceptive wording which falsely leads Catholics to consider abortion as just one of many important social justice issues to be taken into account when electing politicians.
"Slick" is the right term. "A Pack of Lies" would be another:
The Catholic Democrats' guide contradicts the guidance of Cardinal Ratzinger prior to his election to the papacy. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger wrote a doctrinal note, approved by then-Pope John Paul II, which stated: "[A] well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals." The doctrinal note added, "laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death . . . Analogously, the family needs to be safeguarded and promoted based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman."
As Bishop Rene Henry Gracida, of Corpus Christi Texas, explained in September 2004, it is not enough to make a mental reservation that a voter is not supporting a pro-abortion politician because of his stand on abortion. The reasons to support the politician must be objectively 'proportionate.' He further states that the usual reasons cited, a candidate's stand "on war, or taxes, or the death penalty, or immigration, or a national health plan, or Social Security, or AIDS, or homosexuality, or marriage," are not important enough. They are, he says, "simply lacking in proportionality."
Fortunately, the Wisconsin Bishops have already made perfectly clear their support of The Amendment (which would ban homosex-marriage in Wisconsin.) They have also made VERY clear their opposition to Embryonic Stem-Cell Research (albeit a couple of years ago.)
So should some long-haired, maggot-infested, good-time-Charlie rock'n'roll type attempt to jam one of those slick brochures into your hand in the parking lot after Mass, gently but firmly advise the creep to put the brochure where the sun doesn't shine.
Hire Illegals, Get Sued Under RICO
Here's an interesting little action:
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that one of the world's largest carpet makers can be sued under racketeering laws over allegations of hiring thousands of illegal immigrants and depressing wages.
...Former and current workers at Dalton-based Mohawk Industries claim they received lower wages than workers at other companies in the Dalton area, which is known as the"Carpet Capital of the World"and home to carpet plants for Shaw Industries, Interface and other companies.
"Other companies in the area not hiring illegal workers pay significantly more,"Foster said.
Attorneys said they would pursue class-action status, which could include any worker employed by Mohawk between when the case was filed in January 2000 and the time the case goes to trial.
...The key question in this case, which has also been raised in others, is whether a corporation that contracts out a service can be part of an illegal"enterprise"under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970. The _ commonly referred to as RICO _ is a federal law originally designed to fight organized crime. RICO.
In 1996, Congress expanded the anti-racketeering law's reach beyond organized crime to include violations of immigration law, such as the hiring of illegal workers.
The red highlight above is a little vague--did Mohawk use a contractor to obtain and maintain its labor force? What "contracting out a service" is involved here?
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that one of the world's largest carpet makers can be sued under racketeering laws over allegations of hiring thousands of illegal immigrants and depressing wages.
...Former and current workers at Dalton-based Mohawk Industries claim they received lower wages than workers at other companies in the Dalton area, which is known as the"Carpet Capital of the World"and home to carpet plants for Shaw Industries, Interface and other companies.
"Other companies in the area not hiring illegal workers pay significantly more,"Foster said.
Attorneys said they would pursue class-action status, which could include any worker employed by Mohawk between when the case was filed in January 2000 and the time the case goes to trial.
...The key question in this case, which has also been raised in others, is whether a corporation that contracts out a service can be part of an illegal"enterprise"under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970. The _ commonly referred to as RICO _ is a federal law originally designed to fight organized crime. RICO.
In 1996, Congress expanded the anti-racketeering law's reach beyond organized crime to include violations of immigration law, such as the hiring of illegal workers.
The red highlight above is a little vague--did Mohawk use a contractor to obtain and maintain its labor force? What "contracting out a service" is involved here?
Friday, September 29, 2006
Red China: Escalating, Escalating...
As found in Neo-Con's blog:
China has secretly fired powerful laser weapons designed to disable American spy satellites by "blinding" their sensitive surveillance devices, it was reported yesterday.
The hitherto unreported attacks have been kept secret by the Bush administration for fear that it would damage attempts to co-opt China in diplomatic offensives against North Korea and Iran.
Sources told the military affairs publication Defense News that there had been a fierce internal battle within Washington over whether to make the attacks public. In the end, the Pentagon's annual assessment of the growing Chinese military build-up barely mentioned the threat.
"After a contentious debate, the White House directed the Pentagon to limit its concern to one line," Defense News said.
What the story does NOT say is whether the Commies' attacks on our satellites were successful. I guess we'll find out someday, maybe, kinda...
For whatever reason, GWB's Boyzzz have been playing patty-cake with Red China for quite a while--allowing them to manipulate trade regulations and currency in their favor (eviscerating the industrial base of the USA in the process,) and pretending that Red China will be a really nice ally when everyone there becomes a rich capitalist.
Meanwhile, PRC's slavemasters/nomenklatura continue to traffic in human body-parts and slaughter or imprison "internal enemies" such as Roman Catholic priests and Falun Gong believers.
Tell us about "human rights" again, please...
China has secretly fired powerful laser weapons designed to disable American spy satellites by "blinding" their sensitive surveillance devices, it was reported yesterday.
The hitherto unreported attacks have been kept secret by the Bush administration for fear that it would damage attempts to co-opt China in diplomatic offensives against North Korea and Iran.
Sources told the military affairs publication Defense News that there had been a fierce internal battle within Washington over whether to make the attacks public. In the end, the Pentagon's annual assessment of the growing Chinese military build-up barely mentioned the threat.
"After a contentious debate, the White House directed the Pentagon to limit its concern to one line," Defense News said.
What the story does NOT say is whether the Commies' attacks on our satellites were successful. I guess we'll find out someday, maybe, kinda...
For whatever reason, GWB's Boyzzz have been playing patty-cake with Red China for quite a while--allowing them to manipulate trade regulations and currency in their favor (eviscerating the industrial base of the USA in the process,) and pretending that Red China will be a really nice ally when everyone there becomes a rich capitalist.
Meanwhile, PRC's slavemasters/nomenklatura continue to traffic in human body-parts and slaughter or imprison "internal enemies" such as Roman Catholic priests and Falun Gong believers.
Tell us about "human rights" again, please...
Uniform? WHAT Uniform?
In the 'land of fast horses and pretty women,' (often referred to with reversed nouns) the National Guard evidently ran short of some stuff:
U.S. Army officials are taking a close look at whether women in a Kentucky National Guard unit posed nude for pictures with their M-16s and other military equipment, authorities said.
A local newspaper reported that it had a disc containing 232 of the photos, which they did not publish, and do not plan to publish, E&P has learned. Andrew Wolfson, who disclosed the existence of the disc in the Louisville Courier-Journal today, told E&P it came from an "anonymous" source.
"This is not the kind of activity condoned by the command leadership of the Kentucky National Guard," Lt. Col. Phil Miller, a spokesman for the Kentucky Guard, told the newspaper. The allegations were reported to the commander of the 410th Quartermaster unit a week or so before the company shipped out for Iraq on Aug. 26 from Camp Shelby, Miss.
The newspaper reported a compact disc contained 232 photographs of at least a half-dozen nude and seminude women in various poses with military rifles and covering their breasts with American flag decals. An e-mail said the women photographed were from the Kentucky Guard.
Used to be that weekend drills were, ah, utterly boring...
U.S. Army officials are taking a close look at whether women in a Kentucky National Guard unit posed nude for pictures with their M-16s and other military equipment, authorities said.
A local newspaper reported that it had a disc containing 232 of the photos, which they did not publish, and do not plan to publish, E&P has learned. Andrew Wolfson, who disclosed the existence of the disc in the Louisville Courier-Journal today, told E&P it came from an "anonymous" source.
"This is not the kind of activity condoned by the command leadership of the Kentucky National Guard," Lt. Col. Phil Miller, a spokesman for the Kentucky Guard, told the newspaper. The allegations were reported to the commander of the 410th Quartermaster unit a week or so before the company shipped out for Iraq on Aug. 26 from Camp Shelby, Miss.
The newspaper reported a compact disc contained 232 photographs of at least a half-dozen nude and seminude women in various poses with military rifles and covering their breasts with American flag decals. An e-mail said the women photographed were from the Kentucky Guard.
Used to be that weekend drills were, ah, utterly boring...
Another Reason to Vote YES on The Amendment--and to Elect JB VanHollen
A while ago, 6 lesbians sued the State of Wisconsin, demanding benefit coverage of their live-ins. The Legislature and several municipalities sought to intervene in the case, arguing that they had standing based on the fact that such benefits would have financial impact on the State and municipalities.
They also argued that "Keg" Lautenschlaeger would not vigorously defend the interests of the State and the municipalities.
Yesterday, an appeals court denied the request for intervention, meaning that the State Attorney General's office will be the only representation against this ludicrous suit.
The Amendment will prevent silliness like these claims for benefits from going forward. JB Van Hollen will certainly apply all the resources and legal expertise available to defend the State and its subsidiaries from this action.
They also argued that "Keg" Lautenschlaeger would not vigorously defend the interests of the State and the municipalities.
Yesterday, an appeals court denied the request for intervention, meaning that the State Attorney General's office will be the only representation against this ludicrous suit.
The Amendment will prevent silliness like these claims for benefits from going forward. JB Van Hollen will certainly apply all the resources and legal expertise available to defend the State and its subsidiaries from this action.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Bill Buckley Gets SOME of the Answer
Bill Buckley has long been a dissenter from the Catholic Church in which he was raised (and still, IIRC, professes to belong.) Thus, it's rather ironic to see Bill Buckley pontificating--
The talk over the weekend concerning the pope's blunder had to do with his under-instruction in diplomacy. Several matters were cited, among them that he had, for lack of intelligent concern, dispatched his principal Arabist to Cairo on a trivial diplomatic mission. The assumption is that if His Holiness had had his ship in order, somebody would have told him that the little paragraph about Islam in his forthcoming speech at the University of Regensburg would bring on a major diplomatic foofaraw.
So far, so good. There were a lot of chipmunks in the media (and within the Church) who bemoaned the Pope's apparent lack of intellectual and political firepower. They were wrong, of course...but that's another topic.
...Substantially lost in the caterwauling was the pope's objective in his speech, which was to bemoan the dissipation of faith and efforts to separate it from reason. The paragraph quoting the Byzantine emperor's words about Islam was intended to remark historical accretions in religion that the pope was deploring as undesirable developments. He might also have remarked the crusading days of the Christian church as a regrettable historical development.
Here, Bill's half-right. The "crusading days" of the Roman Catholic church were not totally offensive actions; early on, they were justifiable, and defensive. But we quibble.
...The great unanswered question in modern political thought is: Who speaks for Muhammad?
True.
...But who is to say, nowadays, what is the authentic voice of the Islamic exegesis? There is no Islamic Council that can speak with authority in these matters. And surely what the pope was attempting to say, or should have been attempting to say, was that behavior of certain kinds has no warrant to excuse itself simply by citing someone's interpretation of the Quran.
But to delve into that question becomes, ironically, more difficult rather than less since the pope's speech at Regensburg, and for this the pope could legitimately apologize.
False. The Pope put the question on the table for a very good reason having nothing to do with the "difficulty" of addressing it. He put it on the table because someone had to ask in order to get the (so far, very silent) majority of Muslims to do likewise--ask.
And, presumably, begin to find both courage AND voice to stifle the terrorists. This is part of a larger strategy: to tell the Muslim fanatics that they will not have a place at a civilized table and to, once again, reconcile reason with theology.
It's both theological and practical--things with which Benedict XVI is very good, indeed.
The talk over the weekend concerning the pope's blunder had to do with his under-instruction in diplomacy. Several matters were cited, among them that he had, for lack of intelligent concern, dispatched his principal Arabist to Cairo on a trivial diplomatic mission. The assumption is that if His Holiness had had his ship in order, somebody would have told him that the little paragraph about Islam in his forthcoming speech at the University of Regensburg would bring on a major diplomatic foofaraw.
So far, so good. There were a lot of chipmunks in the media (and within the Church) who bemoaned the Pope's apparent lack of intellectual and political firepower. They were wrong, of course...but that's another topic.
...Substantially lost in the caterwauling was the pope's objective in his speech, which was to bemoan the dissipation of faith and efforts to separate it from reason. The paragraph quoting the Byzantine emperor's words about Islam was intended to remark historical accretions in religion that the pope was deploring as undesirable developments. He might also have remarked the crusading days of the Christian church as a regrettable historical development.
Here, Bill's half-right. The "crusading days" of the Roman Catholic church were not totally offensive actions; early on, they were justifiable, and defensive. But we quibble.
...The great unanswered question in modern political thought is: Who speaks for Muhammad?
True.
...But who is to say, nowadays, what is the authentic voice of the Islamic exegesis? There is no Islamic Council that can speak with authority in these matters. And surely what the pope was attempting to say, or should have been attempting to say, was that behavior of certain kinds has no warrant to excuse itself simply by citing someone's interpretation of the Quran.
But to delve into that question becomes, ironically, more difficult rather than less since the pope's speech at Regensburg, and for this the pope could legitimately apologize.
False. The Pope put the question on the table for a very good reason having nothing to do with the "difficulty" of addressing it. He put it on the table because someone had to ask in order to get the (so far, very silent) majority of Muslims to do likewise--ask.
And, presumably, begin to find both courage AND voice to stifle the terrorists. This is part of a larger strategy: to tell the Muslim fanatics that they will not have a place at a civilized table and to, once again, reconcile reason with theology.
It's both theological and practical--things with which Benedict XVI is very good, indeed.
Darwin Award Nominees
From USAToday:
At least seven men in five states have been fatally electrocuted since July while hacking through power lines to steal wire made of copper, which has been commanding near-record prices, police say.
“It is a growing problem with the rise in the price of metals,” says Lt. Shea Smith of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina. Smith says one thief died Aug. 30 and another July 7. Both were found with wire cutters and other tools that suggested their intent. He says at least 30 more copper thefts have occurred in the county so far this year.
Nationwide, police report copper thieves stealing wires from air conditioning units, exposed pipes from underneath homes, vases from graveyards in Sumter, S.C., and bells from a church in Yonkers, N.Y.
...Thieves don't always take precautions.
“It's a Russian roulette kind of situation. If they cut the wrong wire, they're at risk,” says Stan Partlow, director of physical security for American Electric Power, a utility with 5 million customers in 11 states.
He says a rise in thefts from its power lines and substations has left the public and utility workers with power outages, loose wires or exposed equipment and has caused the deaths of two thieves in Boone County, W.Va., and Pike County, Ky.
I thought that only squirrels were stupid enough to carve up high-tension wires...
HT: Caveman
At least seven men in five states have been fatally electrocuted since July while hacking through power lines to steal wire made of copper, which has been commanding near-record prices, police say.
“It is a growing problem with the rise in the price of metals,” says Lt. Shea Smith of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina. Smith says one thief died Aug. 30 and another July 7. Both were found with wire cutters and other tools that suggested their intent. He says at least 30 more copper thefts have occurred in the county so far this year.
Nationwide, police report copper thieves stealing wires from air conditioning units, exposed pipes from underneath homes, vases from graveyards in Sumter, S.C., and bells from a church in Yonkers, N.Y.
...Thieves don't always take precautions.
“It's a Russian roulette kind of situation. If they cut the wrong wire, they're at risk,” says Stan Partlow, director of physical security for American Electric Power, a utility with 5 million customers in 11 states.
He says a rise in thefts from its power lines and substations has left the public and utility workers with power outages, loose wires or exposed equipment and has caused the deaths of two thieves in Boone County, W.Va., and Pike County, Ky.
I thought that only squirrels were stupid enough to carve up high-tension wires...
HT: Caveman
Dick Armey: AWOL Before, Wrong Now
Dick Armey was a Member of Congress from 1984-2002, and was an author of the Homeland Security Act. A Forbes-school political economist, he actively despises the "Fair Tax" proposal and promotes the "Flat Tax." He says a lot of funny things. And he was initially elected as a Democrat, undergoing a conversion later to the "R" label. It's fair to state that Armey was a Congressman from the Fortune 500.
Now he talks like a sausage.
Former House Republican leader Dick Armey recalled that President Ronald Reagan wanted to tear down walls, not build them.
"Political discourse many times is captured by -- what should I say -- the most primitive thought process," Armey said at a press conference. "This has been rallied up by a lot of people that are very visible and make a lot of noise, but have never been guilty of any deep thinking."
Armey added that he was "really surprised and disappointed in Jim Sensenbrenner."
Here's "deep thinking" Dick Armey's border-control plan, which he actively espoused in Congress:
(You're right. It's a blank space.)
The "Deep Thinking" Dick Armey attempted to hand off his seat to his son. Failed there, too, despite an overwhelming (R) voter-advantage in his district.
Great record, Dick. No wonder you sound embittered.
Now he talks like a sausage.
Former House Republican leader Dick Armey recalled that President Ronald Reagan wanted to tear down walls, not build them.
"Political discourse many times is captured by -- what should I say -- the most primitive thought process," Armey said at a press conference. "This has been rallied up by a lot of people that are very visible and make a lot of noise, but have never been guilty of any deep thinking."
Armey added that he was "really surprised and disappointed in Jim Sensenbrenner."
Here's "deep thinking" Dick Armey's border-control plan, which he actively espoused in Congress:
(You're right. It's a blank space.)
The "Deep Thinking" Dick Armey attempted to hand off his seat to his son. Failed there, too, despite an overwhelming (R) voter-advantage in his district.
Great record, Dick. No wonder you sound embittered.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
URL's That Shouldn't Have Happened
From an email:
The top 10 unintentionally worst company URLs
Attn: Entrepreneurs
Everyone knows that if you are going to operate a business in today's world you need a domain name. It is advisable to look at the domain name selected as others see it and not just as you think it looks. Failure to do this may result in situations such as the following (legitimate) companies who deal in everyday humdrum products and services but clearly didn't give their domain names enough consideration:
1. A site called 'Who Represents' where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name... wait for it...is www.whorepresents.com < http://www.whorepresents.com/ >
2. Experts Exchange a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at www.expertsexchange.com < http://www.expertsexchange.com/ >
3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at www.penisland.net < http://www.penisland.net/ >
4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at www.therapistfinder.com< http://www.therapistfinder.com/ >
5. Then of course, there's the Italian Power Generator company...www.powergenitalia.com < http://www.powergenitalia.com/ >
6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New SouthWales: www.molestationnursery.com < http://www.molestationnursery.com/ >
7. If you're looking for computer software, there's always www.ipanywhere.com < http://www.ipanywhere.com/ >
8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website is www.cummingfirst.com < http://www.cummingfirst.com/ >
9. Then, of course, there's these brainless art designers, and their whacky website: www.speedofart.com < http://www.speedofart.com/ >
10.Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website at www.gotahoe.com < http://www.gotahoe.com/ >
This list is rated PG.
The top 10 unintentionally worst company URLs
Attn: Entrepreneurs
Everyone knows that if you are going to operate a business in today's world you need a domain name. It is advisable to look at the domain name selected as others see it and not just as you think it looks. Failure to do this may result in situations such as the following (legitimate) companies who deal in everyday humdrum products and services but clearly didn't give their domain names enough consideration:
1. A site called 'Who Represents' where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name... wait for it...is www.whorepresents.com < http://www.whorepresents.com/ >
2. Experts Exchange a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at www.expertsexchange.com < http://www.expertsexchange.com/ >
3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at www.penisland.net < http://www.penisland.net/ >
4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at www.therapistfinder.com< http://www.therapistfinder.com/ >
5. Then of course, there's the Italian Power Generator company...www.powergenitalia.com < http://www.powergenitalia.com/ >
6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New SouthWales: www.molestationnursery.com < http://www.molestationnursery.com/ >
7. If you're looking for computer software, there's always www.ipanywhere.com < http://www.ipanywhere.com/ >
8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website is www.cummingfirst.com < http://www.cummingfirst.com/ >
9. Then, of course, there's these brainless art designers, and their whacky website: www.speedofart.com < http://www.speedofart.com/ >
10.Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website at www.gotahoe.com < http://www.gotahoe.com/ >
This list is rated PG.
Republican by Marriage? UPDATED
Listening to Savage in the afternoon gives one the opportunity to learn something.
Here's an interesting little item:
When the Census Bureau released in October its first-ever state-by-state analysis of the links between marriage, fertility and other socioeconomic characteristics, it was hard not to notice the familiar red- and blue-state divisions. The top 11 states with most births per 1,000 women were carried by Republican President George W. Bush in 2004. Of the bottom 11 states, eight were won by Democratic Sen. John Kerry.
[That's not exactly news. But the following IS]:
In the Northeast, the Democratic Party's stronghold, men and women marry later, on average, than in any other region, and the Northeastern states feature some of the highest levels of unmarried-couple households in the nation. Marriage rate data reveal similarly stark distinctions: Red states dominate the top of the chart while blue states are clustered at the low end.
These figures would be nothing more than curiosities if they weren't so portentous. Democratic strength is concentrated in states with low fertility and low marriage rates, which wouldn't be a problem if these places were attracting large numbers of new residents. But most are not, at least when compared with the fastest-growing states, and that will have consequences after the next decennial census when congressional seats (and thus electoral votes) are reallocated according to population. Based on 2004 population estimates, Poli-data of Lake Ridge, Va., a political data analysis firm, projects that nine states will lose House seats after the next census - all but two of them voted for Kerry. Seven will gain seats - all but one of them carried by Bush. In 2012, even if every state voted the same way it did in 2004, there would be a net gain of six electoral votes for the GOP ticket based on these projections.
Mapping out Census projections two decades from now, the picture gets even more stark: Eight of the top 10 population gainers ranked by projected percentage change between 2000 and 2030 were Bush states in 2004.
...the Census Bureau's marriage data should be more worrisome [for Democrats] than trends in population growth. For if it seems that the Democratic Party is struggling to speak to married people, it might be because it does not represent enough of them to truly understand how that demographic thinks...
Democrats are not only concentrated in low-marriage states but also in low-marriage congressional districts. Consider this: As of 2002, 55 of the top 60 congressional districts ranked by percentage of married people were represented by Republicans.
In other words if you are a Republican, make SURE that your District's residents are getting married. If you're a Democrat, work hard on easy-divorce legislation, or attempt to prevent your constituents from getting married in the first place.
UPDATE: HT GOP3, here's a link to the USAToday story on the same study. Seems Gwen Moore's District fits the general profile above.
Another observation can be made: seems like crime infests "non-married" Districts.
Here's an interesting little item:
When the Census Bureau released in October its first-ever state-by-state analysis of the links between marriage, fertility and other socioeconomic characteristics, it was hard not to notice the familiar red- and blue-state divisions. The top 11 states with most births per 1,000 women were carried by Republican President George W. Bush in 2004. Of the bottom 11 states, eight were won by Democratic Sen. John Kerry.
[That's not exactly news. But the following IS]:
In the Northeast, the Democratic Party's stronghold, men and women marry later, on average, than in any other region, and the Northeastern states feature some of the highest levels of unmarried-couple households in the nation. Marriage rate data reveal similarly stark distinctions: Red states dominate the top of the chart while blue states are clustered at the low end.
These figures would be nothing more than curiosities if they weren't so portentous. Democratic strength is concentrated in states with low fertility and low marriage rates, which wouldn't be a problem if these places were attracting large numbers of new residents. But most are not, at least when compared with the fastest-growing states, and that will have consequences after the next decennial census when congressional seats (and thus electoral votes) are reallocated according to population. Based on 2004 population estimates, Poli-data of Lake Ridge, Va., a political data analysis firm, projects that nine states will lose House seats after the next census - all but two of them voted for Kerry. Seven will gain seats - all but one of them carried by Bush. In 2012, even if every state voted the same way it did in 2004, there would be a net gain of six electoral votes for the GOP ticket based on these projections.
Mapping out Census projections two decades from now, the picture gets even more stark: Eight of the top 10 population gainers ranked by projected percentage change between 2000 and 2030 were Bush states in 2004.
...the Census Bureau's marriage data should be more worrisome [for Democrats] than trends in population growth. For if it seems that the Democratic Party is struggling to speak to married people, it might be because it does not represent enough of them to truly understand how that demographic thinks...
Democrats are not only concentrated in low-marriage states but also in low-marriage congressional districts. Consider this: As of 2002, 55 of the top 60 congressional districts ranked by percentage of married people were represented by Republicans.
In other words if you are a Republican, make SURE that your District's residents are getting married. If you're a Democrat, work hard on easy-divorce legislation, or attempt to prevent your constituents from getting married in the first place.
UPDATE: HT GOP3, here's a link to the USAToday story on the same study. Seems Gwen Moore's District fits the general profile above.
Another observation can be made: seems like crime infests "non-married" Districts.
Don't Like Rape? Get a Gun
Worked in Liberia--so why not in, say, Milwaukee?
Now consider the contrasting experience with women in Liberia. Some were abused, and some were not. The reason some were not is most instructive.
The first report states: “U.N. peacekeepers sexually abused and exploited local women and girls in Liberia.” The allegations ranged from “the exchange of goods, money or services for sex to the sexual exploitation of minors.” Repeating a now-familiar refrain, the article noted: “Currently, U.N. troops and employees accused of wrongdoing are sent home to be dealt with by their own government but are often never punished.”....
Counter to the stories of exploitation by both locals and U.N. peacekeepers, a number of women in Liberia found that by arming themselves and uniting into combat units, they were able to protect their personal sovereignty during that country’s civil war:
“Black Diamond, 22, says she joined the rebel forces after being gang-raped by the notoriously ill-disciplined and unpaid forces loyal to former President Charles Taylor in the northern Lofa county in 1999.
...Not only are the women able to move about in relative security––considering this is a war zone––they were respected as fighters as well. Most importantly, they had the means to defend the honor of their fighting comrades as well as other female victims:
“Liberia's Health Minister Peter Coleman has met many women fighters during the 14 years of warfare and says they are prized by their senior commanders.
“ ‘They don’t get drunk and they take their mission very seriously,’ he said.
“ ‘I saw a woman shoot another officer because he raped a woman.’”
Joining a combat group gave the women access to rifles and pistols.
AMAZING how those little tools work!
HT: Of Arms and the Law
Now consider the contrasting experience with women in Liberia. Some were abused, and some were not. The reason some were not is most instructive.
The first report states: “U.N. peacekeepers sexually abused and exploited local women and girls in Liberia.” The allegations ranged from “the exchange of goods, money or services for sex to the sexual exploitation of minors.” Repeating a now-familiar refrain, the article noted: “Currently, U.N. troops and employees accused of wrongdoing are sent home to be dealt with by their own government but are often never punished.”....
Counter to the stories of exploitation by both locals and U.N. peacekeepers, a number of women in Liberia found that by arming themselves and uniting into combat units, they were able to protect their personal sovereignty during that country’s civil war:
“Black Diamond, 22, says she joined the rebel forces after being gang-raped by the notoriously ill-disciplined and unpaid forces loyal to former President Charles Taylor in the northern Lofa county in 1999.
...Not only are the women able to move about in relative security––considering this is a war zone––they were respected as fighters as well. Most importantly, they had the means to defend the honor of their fighting comrades as well as other female victims:
“Liberia's Health Minister Peter Coleman has met many women fighters during the 14 years of warfare and says they are prized by their senior commanders.
“ ‘They don’t get drunk and they take their mission very seriously,’ he said.
“ ‘I saw a woman shoot another officer because he raped a woman.’”
Joining a combat group gave the women access to rifles and pistols.
AMAZING how those little tools work!
HT: Of Arms and the Law
Milwaukee Aldermen Swallow Propaganda, Vote Wrong
You wonder if these guys can actually read.
The [Milwaukee] Common Council voted 14-1 to urge Congress to defeat the bill, HR 5005, which would prohibit federal authorities from releasing information that local police could use to trace guns used in crimes back to the dealers who sold them.
Of course, 5005 does nothing of the sort:
Under H.R. 5005, if information on a gun sold in New Jersey is relevant to investigating a crime in New York, there's no reason it couldn't be disclosed to a New York agency.
What is NOT allowed is fishing for information for a civil action (read: lawsuit.)
Milk-Carton Tommy and Bloomie of New York City are opposed because their agenda (as well as that of the anti-gun lobby) is to sue the gun industry out of business.
The [Milwaukee] Common Council voted 14-1 to urge Congress to defeat the bill, HR 5005, which would prohibit federal authorities from releasing information that local police could use to trace guns used in crimes back to the dealers who sold them.
Of course, 5005 does nothing of the sort:
Under H.R. 5005, if information on a gun sold in New Jersey is relevant to investigating a crime in New York, there's no reason it couldn't be disclosed to a New York agency.
What is NOT allowed is fishing for information for a civil action (read: lawsuit.)
Milk-Carton Tommy and Bloomie of New York City are opposed because their agenda (as well as that of the anti-gun lobby) is to sue the gun industry out of business.
Sensenbrenner Is a Federalist
Understanding the principles of Federalism does not necessarily win popularity contests:
A bill to toughen penalties for cockfighting and dogfighting sponsored by Rep. Mark Green is being held up in the House Judiciary Committee by chairman and fellow Wisconsin Republican Jim Sensenbrenner
...In a statement, Sensenbrenner said, "Animal fighting is an abhorrent practice but is best handled by those already working to combat its practice - state and local officials."
He's right, of course. Just because it Feels Good doesn't make it a Federal issue.
A bill to toughen penalties for cockfighting and dogfighting sponsored by Rep. Mark Green is being held up in the House Judiciary Committee by chairman and fellow Wisconsin Republican Jim Sensenbrenner
...In a statement, Sensenbrenner said, "Animal fighting is an abhorrent practice but is best handled by those already working to combat its practice - state and local officials."
He's right, of course. Just because it Feels Good doesn't make it a Federal issue.
Campaign Finance--the Doyle Slime-Way
This sounds kinda familiar, no?
The biggest beneficiaries have been Democrats, with Gov. Jim Doyle garnering the most of any candidate - about $926,000, including large sums from tribes funneled through Democratic Party committees in Washington.
Individual donations to Doyle accounted for only about $107,000 of the total. The rest flowed to national Democratic groups, who in turn have given to Doyle or the state party.
Tell me again why Green can't convert Federal campaign dollars to State campaign dollars.
There's a lotta money that goes to Washington (check) and then comes back into the State where it's used to support a particular candidate (check.)
Hmmmmmn.
The biggest beneficiaries have been Democrats, with Gov. Jim Doyle garnering the most of any candidate - about $926,000, including large sums from tribes funneled through Democratic Party committees in Washington.
Individual donations to Doyle accounted for only about $107,000 of the total. The rest flowed to national Democratic groups, who in turn have given to Doyle or the state party.
Tell me again why Green can't convert Federal campaign dollars to State campaign dollars.
There's a lotta money that goes to Washington (check) and then comes back into the State where it's used to support a particular candidate (check.)
Hmmmmmn.
Abercrombie & Fitch: Hefner's Successor?
A few years ago, Abercrombie & Fitch put out mailers/catalogs which were highly offensive--using teenaged models in compromising positions. It caused a stir.
Now they're back in the news:
Ashli Walker rifled through a rack of designer T-shirts one recent afternoon, pondering which one she should buy and wear the next day to Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George's County. The big black one that read, "TRUST ME..I'M SINGLE"? Or the snug white T-shirt emblazoned with, "I KNOW WHAT BOYS WANT"?
They're blatantly sexual, occasionally clever and often loaded with double meanings, forcing school administrators and other students to read provocations stripped across the chest, such as "yes, but not with u!," "Your Boyfriend Is a Good Kisser" and "two boys for every girl." Such T-shirts also are emblematic of the kind of sleazy-chic culture some teenagers now inhabit, in which status can be defined by images of sexual promiscuity that previous generations might have considered unhip
...One popular merchant of suggestive shirts is Hollister Co., a chain owned by Abercrombie & Fitch. Its shirts say such things as "two boys for every girl" and "FLIRTING MY WAY TO THE TOP."
Asked about the messages his company markets to teenagers, Thomas D. Lennox, Abercrombie & Fitch's vice president of corporate communications, said, "Our T-shirts are sometimes controversial, which we're fine with." He declined to elaborate.
Well, Mr. Lennox, you got your wish. Washington Post coverage. Enjoy!
Now they're back in the news:
Ashli Walker rifled through a rack of designer T-shirts one recent afternoon, pondering which one she should buy and wear the next day to Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George's County. The big black one that read, "TRUST ME..I'M SINGLE"? Or the snug white T-shirt emblazoned with, "I KNOW WHAT BOYS WANT"?
They're blatantly sexual, occasionally clever and often loaded with double meanings, forcing school administrators and other students to read provocations stripped across the chest, such as "yes, but not with u!," "Your Boyfriend Is a Good Kisser" and "two boys for every girl." Such T-shirts also are emblematic of the kind of sleazy-chic culture some teenagers now inhabit, in which status can be defined by images of sexual promiscuity that previous generations might have considered unhip
...One popular merchant of suggestive shirts is Hollister Co., a chain owned by Abercrombie & Fitch. Its shirts say such things as "two boys for every girl" and "FLIRTING MY WAY TO THE TOP."
Asked about the messages his company markets to teenagers, Thomas D. Lennox, Abercrombie & Fitch's vice president of corporate communications, said, "Our T-shirts are sometimes controversial, which we're fine with." He declined to elaborate.
Well, Mr. Lennox, you got your wish. Washington Post coverage. Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Cheney's Memory Problem; Allbaugh's New Business
He's an engaging guy, punchy speaker, and ...well...maybe Alzheimer's?
Joan Didion has a few paragraphs on Dick Cheney:
If the case for war lacked a link between September 11 and Iraq, the Vice President would repeatedly cite the meeting that neither American nor Czech intelligence believed had taken place between Mohamed Atta and Iraqi intelligence in Prague: "It's been pretty well confirmed that [Atta] did go to Prague and he did meet with a senior official of the Iraqi intelligence service in Czechoslovakia last April, several months before the attacks," he would say on NBC in December 2001. "We discovered...the allegation that one of the lead hijackers, Mohamed Atta, had, in fact, met with Iraqi intelligence in Prague," he would say on NBC in March 2002. "We have reporting that places [Atta] in Prague with a senior Iraqi intelligence officer a few months before the attacks on the World Trade Center," he would say on NBC in September 2002. "The senator has got his facts wrong," he would then say while debating Senator John Edwards during the 2004 campaign. "I have not suggested there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11."
This was not a slip of memory in the heat of debate. This was dishonest, a repeated misrepresentation, in the interests of claiming power, so bald and so systematic that the only instinctive response (Did too!) was that of the schoolyard. By June 2004, before the debate with Edwards, Cheney had in fact begun edging away from the Prague story, not exactly disclaiming it but characterizing it as still unproven, as in, on a Cincinnati TV station, "That's true. We do not have proof that there was such a connection." It would be two years later, March 2006, before he found it prudent to issue a less equivocal, although still shifty, version. "We had one report early on from another intelligence service that suggested that the lead hijacker, Mohamed Atta, had met with Iraqi intelligence officials in Prague, Czechoslovakia," he told Tony Snow on Fox News. "And that reporting waxed and waned where the degree of confidence in it, and so forth, has been pretty well knocked down at this stage, that that meeting ever took place. So we've never made the case, or argued the case, that somehow [Saddam Hussein] was directly involved in 9/11. That evidence has never been forthcoming."
Get the impression that Cheney established Plausible Deniability no matter what?
Well, OK. Maybe Cheney didn't mean what he actually sort-of said.
But Joe Allbaugh's story will grow a new cynical hair or two on your head:
In February 2001, Joe Allbaugh, whose previous experience was running the governor's office for Bush in Texas, became head of FEMA, where he hired Michael D. ("Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job") Brown. In December 2002, Allbaugh announced that he was resigning from FEMA, leaving Brown in charge while he himself founded New Bridge Strategies, LLC, "a unique company," according to its Web site, "that was created specifically with the aim of assisting clients to evaluate and take advantage of business opportunities in the Middle East following the conclusion of the US-led war in Iraq."
Bad enough that he left FEMA to Michael Brown, noted horse-trader. But look again at the date of Allbaugh's departure AND the website's description of his new practice. As Dreher says:
Got that? Allbaugh left government service to cash in on his connections to profit from a war THAT HADN'T EVEN BEGUN YET!
Maybe Allbaugh is a visionary.
Joan Didion has a few paragraphs on Dick Cheney:
If the case for war lacked a link between September 11 and Iraq, the Vice President would repeatedly cite the meeting that neither American nor Czech intelligence believed had taken place between Mohamed Atta and Iraqi intelligence in Prague: "It's been pretty well confirmed that [Atta] did go to Prague and he did meet with a senior official of the Iraqi intelligence service in Czechoslovakia last April, several months before the attacks," he would say on NBC in December 2001. "We discovered...the allegation that one of the lead hijackers, Mohamed Atta, had, in fact, met with Iraqi intelligence in Prague," he would say on NBC in March 2002. "We have reporting that places [Atta] in Prague with a senior Iraqi intelligence officer a few months before the attacks on the World Trade Center," he would say on NBC in September 2002. "The senator has got his facts wrong," he would then say while debating Senator John Edwards during the 2004 campaign. "I have not suggested there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11."
This was not a slip of memory in the heat of debate. This was dishonest, a repeated misrepresentation, in the interests of claiming power, so bald and so systematic that the only instinctive response (Did too!) was that of the schoolyard. By June 2004, before the debate with Edwards, Cheney had in fact begun edging away from the Prague story, not exactly disclaiming it but characterizing it as still unproven, as in, on a Cincinnati TV station, "That's true. We do not have proof that there was such a connection." It would be two years later, March 2006, before he found it prudent to issue a less equivocal, although still shifty, version. "We had one report early on from another intelligence service that suggested that the lead hijacker, Mohamed Atta, had met with Iraqi intelligence officials in Prague, Czechoslovakia," he told Tony Snow on Fox News. "And that reporting waxed and waned where the degree of confidence in it, and so forth, has been pretty well knocked down at this stage, that that meeting ever took place. So we've never made the case, or argued the case, that somehow [Saddam Hussein] was directly involved in 9/11. That evidence has never been forthcoming."
Get the impression that Cheney established Plausible Deniability no matter what?
Well, OK. Maybe Cheney didn't mean what he actually sort-of said.
But Joe Allbaugh's story will grow a new cynical hair or two on your head:
In February 2001, Joe Allbaugh, whose previous experience was running the governor's office for Bush in Texas, became head of FEMA, where he hired Michael D. ("Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job") Brown. In December 2002, Allbaugh announced that he was resigning from FEMA, leaving Brown in charge while he himself founded New Bridge Strategies, LLC, "a unique company," according to its Web site, "that was created specifically with the aim of assisting clients to evaluate and take advantage of business opportunities in the Middle East following the conclusion of the US-led war in Iraq."
Bad enough that he left FEMA to Michael Brown, noted horse-trader. But look again at the date of Allbaugh's departure AND the website's description of his new practice. As Dreher says:
Got that? Allbaugh left government service to cash in on his connections to profit from a war THAT HADN'T EVEN BEGUN YET!
Maybe Allbaugh is a visionary.
Wasserman: Some Good Stuff Here
Although the Milwaukee DA race is not directly my concern, there is a race.
As Wagner (via Jessica) points out, the hit-job done by the SpiceBoyzzz had all the elements of a Christofferson/Xoff campaign trick: ignore the issues, go for the personal attacks.
Here's an interesting excerpt from a Wasserman email:
Re drug "amnesty," I first want to say that unlike Chisholm I firmly believe that there is no such thing as a "non-violent drug dealer." All drug dealers (almost 100%) are members of some conspiracy to deal drugs, meaning that there are levels within the organization that are willing to use violence, and do use violence, to sustain the conspiracy. OK, maybe on this day this defendant doesn't use violence or possess a weapon, but he's still a member of a conspiracy to distribute drugs that always has as a component the use of gun violence. So no such thing as a "non-violent drug dealer." But we lost the battle 40 years ago over the use of small amounts of THC, and now it would seem cocaine.
Many offenders, in personal possession cases, should be assessed to see if they can be held accountable in the community, rather then while incarcerated. (Already, Chisholm has moved to the left of this position). Exceptions: where the drug use occurs in the home where there are kids. That ups the ante, and removal of the offender, and maybe the kids, through a chips action, is appropriate.
Wasserman makes an excellent point. The old 1960's "sex-drugs-rock'n'roll" Harmless Hippie dealer is mythology, or at least history. There is NO SUCH THING as a "Harmless Hippie" drug-dealer. Period.
As Wagner (via Jessica) points out, the hit-job done by the SpiceBoyzzz had all the elements of a Christofferson/Xoff campaign trick: ignore the issues, go for the personal attacks.
Here's an interesting excerpt from a Wasserman email:
Re drug "amnesty," I first want to say that unlike Chisholm I firmly believe that there is no such thing as a "non-violent drug dealer." All drug dealers (almost 100%) are members of some conspiracy to deal drugs, meaning that there are levels within the organization that are willing to use violence, and do use violence, to sustain the conspiracy. OK, maybe on this day this defendant doesn't use violence or possess a weapon, but he's still a member of a conspiracy to distribute drugs that always has as a component the use of gun violence. So no such thing as a "non-violent drug dealer." But we lost the battle 40 years ago over the use of small amounts of THC, and now it would seem cocaine.
Many offenders, in personal possession cases, should be assessed to see if they can be held accountable in the community, rather then while incarcerated. (Already, Chisholm has moved to the left of this position). Exceptions: where the drug use occurs in the home where there are kids. That ups the ante, and removal of the offender, and maybe the kids, through a chips action, is appropriate.
Wasserman makes an excellent point. The old 1960's "sex-drugs-rock'n'roll" Harmless Hippie dealer is mythology, or at least history. There is NO SUCH THING as a "Harmless Hippie" drug-dealer. Period.
RIP a Good Man Who Shot Straight
Via Grim, via Geek, we learn with sadness that Col. Jeff Cooper, founder of Gunsite, has died.
May he rest in peace.
May he rest in peace.
Shari'a vs. Schoenberg and Heavy Metal
Actually, for some Western music, this is appropriate. Here's Shari'a on music:
...that he heard the Prophet saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection."
Where was Allah during the 'dodecaphonic' portion of Schoenberg's composing career? Where was Allah when 'heavy metal' was loosed upon the Earth?
HT: DhimmiWatch
...that he heard the Prophet saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection."
Where was Allah during the 'dodecaphonic' portion of Schoenberg's composing career? Where was Allah when 'heavy metal' was loosed upon the Earth?
HT: DhimmiWatch
Monday, September 25, 2006
New Papal Letterhead
It's rumored that THIS will be the new Papal letterhead for all correspondence with Middle Eastern folks:
HT: NeoConTastic
HT: NeoConTastic
New Green Campaign Poster
SLIME STINKS!
SLIME SPREADS!
SLIME STICKS TO EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES!
WHAT TO DO ABOUT SLIME????
AVAILABLE AT YOUR BALLOT BOX NOVEMBER 7, 2006
VOTE GREEN FOR GOVERNOR!!!
Like this? Feel free to copy/paste!!
HT: NeoConTastic
Vox: Right Proposals, Wrong Fundamentals
Vox Populi discusses Stupid Police Tricks (which are sometimes fatal to innocents, as well). He begins with a quote from Reason magazine:
...Last year Baltimore County police shot and killed Cheryl Lynn Noel, a churchgoing wife and mother, during a no-knock raid on her home after finding some marijuana seeds while sifting through the family’s trash.
There are dozens more examples. And a botched raid needn’t end in death to do harm. It’s hard to get a firm grip on just how often it happens—police tend to be reluctant to track their mistakes, and victims can be squeamish about coming forward—but a 20-year review of press accounts, court cases, and Kraska’s research suggests that each year there are at least dozens, perhaps hundreds, of “wrong door” raids. And even when everything goes right, it’s overkill to use what is essentially an urban warfare unit to apprehend a nonviolent drug suspect.
Criminal charges against police officers who accidentally kill innocent people in these raids are rare. Prosecutors almost always determine that the violent, confrontational nature of the raids and the split-second decisions made while conducting them demand that police be given a great deal of discretion. Yet it’s the policy of using volatile forced-entry raids to serve routine drug warrants that creates those circumstances in the first place.
Worse, prosecutors are much less inclined to take circumstances into account when it comes to pressing charges against civilians who make similar mistakes. When civilians who are innocent or who have no history of violence defend their homes during a mistaken raid, they have about a one in two chance of facing criminal charges if a policeman is killed or injured. When convicted, they’ve received sentences ranging from probation to life in prison to, in Maye’s case, the death penalty.
Then he makes a few common-sense proposals:
1. Any civilian defending an erroneously targeted home shall be immune to all criminal prosecution for all of his actions relating to the no-knock raid.
2. Any police officer guilty of injuring an innocent civilian will be suspended from the force for a year. Any police officer responsible for "accidentally" killing a civilian in a no-knock raid will be removed from the force, lose 50 percent of his pension and be charged with a crime ranging from manslaughter to murder one depending on the circumstances..
3. The individual responsible for ordering the no-knock raid will be jailed for twenty years to life.
Unfortunately, Vox bases his thoughts on his belief that drugs should be legalized--just like Bill Buckley. They're both wrong on the premise, but the remedies apply regardless.
...Last year Baltimore County police shot and killed Cheryl Lynn Noel, a churchgoing wife and mother, during a no-knock raid on her home after finding some marijuana seeds while sifting through the family’s trash.
There are dozens more examples. And a botched raid needn’t end in death to do harm. It’s hard to get a firm grip on just how often it happens—police tend to be reluctant to track their mistakes, and victims can be squeamish about coming forward—but a 20-year review of press accounts, court cases, and Kraska’s research suggests that each year there are at least dozens, perhaps hundreds, of “wrong door” raids. And even when everything goes right, it’s overkill to use what is essentially an urban warfare unit to apprehend a nonviolent drug suspect.
Criminal charges against police officers who accidentally kill innocent people in these raids are rare. Prosecutors almost always determine that the violent, confrontational nature of the raids and the split-second decisions made while conducting them demand that police be given a great deal of discretion. Yet it’s the policy of using volatile forced-entry raids to serve routine drug warrants that creates those circumstances in the first place.
Worse, prosecutors are much less inclined to take circumstances into account when it comes to pressing charges against civilians who make similar mistakes. When civilians who are innocent or who have no history of violence defend their homes during a mistaken raid, they have about a one in two chance of facing criminal charges if a policeman is killed or injured. When convicted, they’ve received sentences ranging from probation to life in prison to, in Maye’s case, the death penalty.
Then he makes a few common-sense proposals:
1. Any civilian defending an erroneously targeted home shall be immune to all criminal prosecution for all of his actions relating to the no-knock raid.
2. Any police officer guilty of injuring an innocent civilian will be suspended from the force for a year. Any police officer responsible for "accidentally" killing a civilian in a no-knock raid will be removed from the force, lose 50 percent of his pension and be charged with a crime ranging from manslaughter to murder one depending on the circumstances..
3. The individual responsible for ordering the no-knock raid will be jailed for twenty years to life.
Unfortunately, Vox bases his thoughts on his belief that drugs should be legalized--just like Bill Buckley. They're both wrong on the premise, but the remedies apply regardless.
Fence It, Frist, You Gutless Wonder
Kaus thinks Frist, the feckless Majority Follower of the Senate, is backing out on the border fence.
Commenting on Feckless' appearance on Stephanopoulos' show:
But then, with a guilty, knowing grin,** he added: "Right now I got a feeling the Democrats may obstruct it."
The grin was the giveaway. It's easy to let the fence bill drop and blame Democrats. Wink, wink. But a forceful majority leader who actually wanted either a) a vote or b) a sharpened issue against the Dems wouldn't give up just like that. He'd call a press conference to demand that the Democrats allow a vote. Put a spotlight on the issue. Make Harry Reid come up with an equally well-publicized explanation for why the Democrats oppose this popular common-denominator measure. That would be hard for Reid to do without hurting Dem election chances, and he might not do it--resulting in a Democratic cave-in and a vote. And the fence Frist says he wants.
Why isn't Frist doing this? Is he as feckless as he seems? Makes a big deal of the border fence one day--drops it a few days later. Or did someone get to him--someone from the "pro-comprehensive" White House, perhaps, who doesn't want to pass the popular parts of reform this year for fear the unpopular semi-amnesty parts might not pass next year? Or maybe Sen. McCain, another GOP "comprehensive" champion, told him that if he went ahead with the fence, he'd never be McCain's running mate. (At the moment, such a VP slot looks like Frist's main hope of a continued career in elective politics.)
No question the White House is working against The Fence. As to "electoral possibilities," we ask: "WHAT 'electoral possiblities'"? His first mistake is thinking that McPain will actually get nominated by anyone besides McPain's own John-Andersonesque Personal Party...
HT: PowerLine
Commenting on Feckless' appearance on Stephanopoulos' show:
But then, with a guilty, knowing grin,** he added: "Right now I got a feeling the Democrats may obstruct it."
The grin was the giveaway. It's easy to let the fence bill drop and blame Democrats. Wink, wink. But a forceful majority leader who actually wanted either a) a vote or b) a sharpened issue against the Dems wouldn't give up just like that. He'd call a press conference to demand that the Democrats allow a vote. Put a spotlight on the issue. Make Harry Reid come up with an equally well-publicized explanation for why the Democrats oppose this popular common-denominator measure. That would be hard for Reid to do without hurting Dem election chances, and he might not do it--resulting in a Democratic cave-in and a vote. And the fence Frist says he wants.
Why isn't Frist doing this? Is he as feckless as he seems? Makes a big deal of the border fence one day--drops it a few days later. Or did someone get to him--someone from the "pro-comprehensive" White House, perhaps, who doesn't want to pass the popular parts of reform this year for fear the unpopular semi-amnesty parts might not pass next year? Or maybe Sen. McCain, another GOP "comprehensive" champion, told him that if he went ahead with the fence, he'd never be McCain's running mate. (At the moment, such a VP slot looks like Frist's main hope of a continued career in elective politics.)
No question the White House is working against The Fence. As to "electoral possibilities," we ask: "WHAT 'electoral possiblities'"? His first mistake is thinking that McPain will actually get nominated by anyone besides McPain's own John-Andersonesque Personal Party...
HT: PowerLine
Benedict XVI Ups the Ante
While 'warmly greeting' emissaries from Moslem lands, Benedict XVI reminded them that "religious freedom" goes BOTH ways:
Pope Benedict XVI told Muslim diplomats Monday that ''our future'' depends on dialogue between Christians and Muslims, an attempt to ease relations strained by his recent remarks about Islam and violence.
The pontiff quoted from his predecessor, John Paul II, who had close relations with the Muslim world, when he described the need for ''reciprocity in all fields,'' including religious freedom. Benedict spoke in French to a roomful of diplomats from 21 countries and the Arab League in his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo in the Alban Hills near Rome.
As observed by the Captain, the Saudis and Egyptians regularly persecute Catholics (and other Christians)--and as reported almost continually, the US Government will not protect US citizens from religious persecution in Saudi Arabia.
HT: Captain's Quarters
Pope Benedict XVI told Muslim diplomats Monday that ''our future'' depends on dialogue between Christians and Muslims, an attempt to ease relations strained by his recent remarks about Islam and violence.
The pontiff quoted from his predecessor, John Paul II, who had close relations with the Muslim world, when he described the need for ''reciprocity in all fields,'' including religious freedom. Benedict spoke in French to a roomful of diplomats from 21 countries and the Arab League in his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo in the Alban Hills near Rome.
As observed by the Captain, the Saudis and Egyptians regularly persecute Catholics (and other Christians)--and as reported almost continually, the US Government will not protect US citizens from religious persecution in Saudi Arabia.
HT: Captain's Quarters
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Free Elections and Free Speech
Wigderson, a giant among bloggers and a fearsome wit, has now posted his 9,000th blog-entry condemning the voters of Delafield for electing an individual who's moving there. This is called "Democracy," although Wigderson just doesn't like it.
It's hard to figure out what Wiggy's problem is with Newcomer. The guy ran a clean campaign, worked hard, and got elected by the residents of the District.
Nonetheless, Wigderson continues to harp on the topic. That's his right. It's called Free Speech. He can belittle the voters of that District all he wants.
James also sent a late-night letter to members of the blogosphere, and wrote a post containing similar language to that in his letter, calling for an email- and phone-call campaign against a speaking appearance by one Joe Sobran.
Wigderson maintains that Sobran is an "anti-Semite" and thinks that no Conservative should have any truck with such a person.
Some on the Right side of the blogosphere recall George Washington's admonition to 'keep out of foreign entanglements,' and Ike's similar warnings about 'the military-industrial complex'--which could easily be read as more focused, but similarly-directed admonition. We can choose to ignore these statements. And we do, regularly.
But when some columnist dares question US policy vis-a-vis the State of Israel on a regular basis, that columnist earns the soubriquet "anti-Semite." Thus, private organizations which ask him to speak are Roundly Condemned by the ....the... Those Who Speak For Conservatives.
That's it. "Those Who Speak For Conservatives."
The very same Those-Who-Speak who cannot abide the exercise of democracy in Delafield, WI. Curious. We are spending a LOT of money to emplant "democracy" in Iraq. Can't we have it here, James?
Sobran has never, ever, attacked the Jewish people. He has remarked, with raised eyebrow, on the State of Israel's ability to garner money and favorable policy from the USA. Perhaps Sobran should have mentioned that the USA spends a helluvalotta money on Egypt, too--but he didn't.
We also spend a helluvalotta money on Robert Byrd monuments. Sobran HAS mentioned them.
In fact, it's clear that Joe Sobran has a lot more respect for the Constitution than does Robert Byrd.
Joe Sobran's views on the Middle East deserve a hearing. One may conclude that he is wrong. But here's a warning: if one concludes that Joe Sobran is right, it will not take long for one to be called an "anti-Semite."
It's also possible to listen to Sobran and examine the "facts and circumstances" which are current--and reach NO conclusion. You can still be called an anti-Semite--as I was, on another forum.
It's hard to figure out what Wiggy's problem is with Newcomer. The guy ran a clean campaign, worked hard, and got elected by the residents of the District.
Nonetheless, Wigderson continues to harp on the topic. That's his right. It's called Free Speech. He can belittle the voters of that District all he wants.
James also sent a late-night letter to members of the blogosphere, and wrote a post containing similar language to that in his letter, calling for an email- and phone-call campaign against a speaking appearance by one Joe Sobran.
Wigderson maintains that Sobran is an "anti-Semite" and thinks that no Conservative should have any truck with such a person.
Some on the Right side of the blogosphere recall George Washington's admonition to 'keep out of foreign entanglements,' and Ike's similar warnings about 'the military-industrial complex'--which could easily be read as more focused, but similarly-directed admonition. We can choose to ignore these statements. And we do, regularly.
But when some columnist dares question US policy vis-a-vis the State of Israel on a regular basis, that columnist earns the soubriquet "anti-Semite." Thus, private organizations which ask him to speak are Roundly Condemned by the ....the... Those Who Speak For Conservatives.
That's it. "Those Who Speak For Conservatives."
The very same Those-Who-Speak who cannot abide the exercise of democracy in Delafield, WI. Curious. We are spending a LOT of money to emplant "democracy" in Iraq. Can't we have it here, James?
Sobran has never, ever, attacked the Jewish people. He has remarked, with raised eyebrow, on the State of Israel's ability to garner money and favorable policy from the USA. Perhaps Sobran should have mentioned that the USA spends a helluvalotta money on Egypt, too--but he didn't.
We also spend a helluvalotta money on Robert Byrd monuments. Sobran HAS mentioned them.
In fact, it's clear that Joe Sobran has a lot more respect for the Constitution than does Robert Byrd.
Joe Sobran's views on the Middle East deserve a hearing. One may conclude that he is wrong. But here's a warning: if one concludes that Joe Sobran is right, it will not take long for one to be called an "anti-Semite."
It's also possible to listen to Sobran and examine the "facts and circumstances" which are current--and reach NO conclusion. You can still be called an anti-Semite--as I was, on another forum.
Clinton Deceives Again--to Wallace, on Fox
About a half hour after watching tonight's NBC News, which replayed the Clinton/Wallace unpleasantness, I came across a direct contradiction of Clinton's finger-pointing, table-pounding assertion that 'I came within 2 hours of nailing Bin Laden--we missed him by 2 hours.'
Really?
It was fall 1998 and the National Security Council (NSC) and the “intelligence community” were tracking the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, the shadowy mastermind of terrorist attacks on American targets overseas. “They’ve successfully triangulated his location,” yelled a “Sit Room” watch stander. “We’ve got him.”
...Berger ambled down the stairwell and entered the Sit Room. He picked up the phone at one of the busy controller consoles and called the president. Amazingly, President Clinton was not available. Berger tried again and again. Bin Laden was within striking distance. The window of opportunity was closing fast. The plan of attack was set and the Tomahawk crews were ready. For about an hour Berger couldn’t get the commander in chief on the line. Though the president was always accompanied by military aides and the Secret Service, he was somehow unavailable. Berger stalked the Sit Room, anxious and impatient.
Care to speculate where X42 may have been?
Finally, the president accepted Berger’s call. There was discussion, there were pauses—and no decision. The president wanted to talk with his secretaries of defense and state. He wanted to study the issue further. Berger was forced to wait. The clock was ticking. The president eventually called back. He was still indecisive. He wanted more discussion. Berger alternated between phone calls and watching the clock. The NSC watch officer was convinced we had the right target. The intelligence sources were conclusive. The president, however, wanted a guaranteed hit or nothing at all. This time, it was nothing at all. We didn’t pull the trigger. We “studied” the issue until it was too late—the window of opportunity closed. Al-Qaeda’s spiritual and organizational leader slipped through the noose.
("Buzz" Patterson, Dereliction of Duty, Regnery) Patterson was Clinton's "football" carrier.
Clinton was not referring to the above event when he attempted to deceive Wallace. He was referring to the failed missile attack of August 20, 1998--where Clinton famously ordered a number of Tomahawks to be fired at suspected camps in Afghanistan ('shoving missiles up camels' asses' is the phrase used...)
In the meantime, a number of dresses were cleaned.
Really?
It was fall 1998 and the National Security Council (NSC) and the “intelligence community” were tracking the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, the shadowy mastermind of terrorist attacks on American targets overseas. “They’ve successfully triangulated his location,” yelled a “Sit Room” watch stander. “We’ve got him.”
...Berger ambled down the stairwell and entered the Sit Room. He picked up the phone at one of the busy controller consoles and called the president. Amazingly, President Clinton was not available. Berger tried again and again. Bin Laden was within striking distance. The window of opportunity was closing fast. The plan of attack was set and the Tomahawk crews were ready. For about an hour Berger couldn’t get the commander in chief on the line. Though the president was always accompanied by military aides and the Secret Service, he was somehow unavailable. Berger stalked the Sit Room, anxious and impatient.
Care to speculate where X42 may have been?
Finally, the president accepted Berger’s call. There was discussion, there were pauses—and no decision. The president wanted to talk with his secretaries of defense and state. He wanted to study the issue further. Berger was forced to wait. The clock was ticking. The president eventually called back. He was still indecisive. He wanted more discussion. Berger alternated between phone calls and watching the clock. The NSC watch officer was convinced we had the right target. The intelligence sources were conclusive. The president, however, wanted a guaranteed hit or nothing at all. This time, it was nothing at all. We didn’t pull the trigger. We “studied” the issue until it was too late—the window of opportunity closed. Al-Qaeda’s spiritual and organizational leader slipped through the noose.
("Buzz" Patterson, Dereliction of Duty, Regnery) Patterson was Clinton's "football" carrier.
Clinton was not referring to the above event when he attempted to deceive Wallace. He was referring to the failed missile attack of August 20, 1998--where Clinton famously ordered a number of Tomahawks to be fired at suspected camps in Afghanistan ('shoving missiles up camels' asses' is the phrase used...)
In the meantime, a number of dresses were cleaned.
Shari'a: What a Crock!
Benedict XVI addressed the very high-level problem with Muslim theology--that it disjoins faith from reason, leading to horrific results.
On a more practical plane, we are reminded that Mohamet wrote some other wacko "laws:"
For a rape trial to go ahead in Pakistan, [and Saudi Arabia, inter alia] four adult Muslim men, 'all of a pious and trustworthy nature', must have witnessed the attack and be willing to testify. Evidence from female and non-Muslim witnesses is considered worthless. A woman who can't produce those witnesses can be prosecuted for fornication and alleging a false crime, the penalties for which are stoning, lashings or prison.
Needless to say, rape is a commonplace in Sharia-lands.
On a more practical plane, we are reminded that Mohamet wrote some other wacko "laws:"
For a rape trial to go ahead in Pakistan, [and Saudi Arabia, inter alia] four adult Muslim men, 'all of a pious and trustworthy nature', must have witnessed the attack and be willing to testify. Evidence from female and non-Muslim witnesses is considered worthless. A woman who can't produce those witnesses can be prosecuted for fornication and alleging a false crime, the penalties for which are stoning, lashings or prison.
Needless to say, rape is a commonplace in Sharia-lands.
Clinton: It Was All the NEOCONS' Fault! (Shoulda Said LAWYERS.)
From the transcript of the FoxNews/Clinton interview:
WALLACE: …but the question is why didn’t you do more, connect the dots and put them out of business?
CLINTON: OK, let’s talk about it. I will answer all of those things on the merits but I want to talk about the context of which this…arises. I’m being asked this on the FOX network…ABC just had a right wing conservative on the Path to 9/11 falsely claim that it was based on the 911 commission report with three things asserted against me that are directly contradicted by the 9/11 commission report. I think it’s very interesting that all the conservative Republicans who now say that I didn’t do enough, claimed that I was obsessed with Bin Laden. All of President Bush’s neocons claimed that I was too obsessed with finding Bin Laden when they didn’t have a single meeting about Bin Laden for the nine months after I left office. All the right wingers who now say that I didn’t do enough said that I did too much. Same people.
X42, former Liar-in-Chief, was obviously having a hard time spinning his way out of the question.
Clinton's worldview began and ended with "civil law." He, his Rasputin (Hildebeeste) and their gaggle of slimebucket-advisers were by and large attorneys. Thus, rather than understanding that the country was at war, they understood that there were some "vandalism problems."
Even Les Aspin understood differently--Aspin wanted desperately to bring in the troops and equipment necessary to win in Mogadishu/Somalia.
But the "lawyers," including the Commander-in-Chief, said no.
The same cockamamie lawyer-mentality, now pushed principally by (D) lawyers and judges, is making Bush's life difficult in prosecuting the war effectively and efficiently. Application of ordinary "civil rights" to illegal combatants and terrorists is simply suicidal.
I suppose that's the neocons' fault, too...
WALLACE: …but the question is why didn’t you do more, connect the dots and put them out of business?
CLINTON: OK, let’s talk about it. I will answer all of those things on the merits but I want to talk about the context of which this…arises. I’m being asked this on the FOX network…ABC just had a right wing conservative on the Path to 9/11 falsely claim that it was based on the 911 commission report with three things asserted against me that are directly contradicted by the 9/11 commission report. I think it’s very interesting that all the conservative Republicans who now say that I didn’t do enough, claimed that I was obsessed with Bin Laden. All of President Bush’s neocons claimed that I was too obsessed with finding Bin Laden when they didn’t have a single meeting about Bin Laden for the nine months after I left office. All the right wingers who now say that I didn’t do enough said that I did too much. Same people.
X42, former Liar-in-Chief, was obviously having a hard time spinning his way out of the question.
Clinton's worldview began and ended with "civil law." He, his Rasputin (Hildebeeste) and their gaggle of slimebucket-advisers were by and large attorneys. Thus, rather than understanding that the country was at war, they understood that there were some "vandalism problems."
Even Les Aspin understood differently--Aspin wanted desperately to bring in the troops and equipment necessary to win in Mogadishu/Somalia.
But the "lawyers," including the Commander-in-Chief, said no.
The same cockamamie lawyer-mentality, now pushed principally by (D) lawyers and judges, is making Bush's life difficult in prosecuting the war effectively and efficiently. Application of ordinary "civil rights" to illegal combatants and terrorists is simply suicidal.
I suppose that's the neocons' fault, too...
Another Really Good Shooter
The guy deserves his props:
Puente, a 13-year [Milwaukee PD] veteran, won first place in the U.S. Practical Shooting Association competition in Oregon, where he outshot a fellow firearms teacher from New Jersey. He holds the title of grand master limited.
Puente shot three weapons used by Milwaukee police: a .40-caliber Glock handgun, an AR-15 rifle and a Benelli .12-gauge shotgun. He fired at stationary and moving targets from between 3 feet and 400 yards away, changing weapons depending on the target. He used an iron sight on the weapons but no optical scope.
(Clearly, the JS writer has no idea what's going on in shooting...)
Obviously, Officer Puente is not a "spray and pray" shooter. We should have more like him.
Puente, a 13-year [Milwaukee PD] veteran, won first place in the U.S. Practical Shooting Association competition in Oregon, where he outshot a fellow firearms teacher from New Jersey. He holds the title of grand master limited.
Puente shot three weapons used by Milwaukee police: a .40-caliber Glock handgun, an AR-15 rifle and a Benelli .12-gauge shotgun. He fired at stationary and moving targets from between 3 feet and 400 yards away, changing weapons depending on the target. He used an iron sight on the weapons but no optical scope.
(Clearly, the JS writer has no idea what's going on in shooting...)
Obviously, Officer Puente is not a "spray and pray" shooter. We should have more like him.
Mike Ellis Was Wrong
The JSOnline makes its dutiful hit on Republicans to show that it is "fair."
The article questions the Assembly leadership's blocking of an "ethics reform" bill written by the eccentric and somewhat wacky Mike Ellis--who has the resources, like Herb Kohl, to be "nobody's senator".
Ellis' proposal would have established another layer of "elections oversight" which had powers to both investigate AND prosecute election-law violations. Sorry, Mike. That simply doesn't play. We don't need any more prosecutors than we have already.
An online-accessible, weekly, standardized-format reporting system which clearly identifies all contributors to a political campaign (and which requires identification of all officers and Directors of groups making contributions) would be a giant step.
(The "standardized format" system would eliminate another of Diamond Jim's little tricks--sending his reports in 'gibberish' format to frustrate news organizations AND opponents.)
The article questions the Assembly leadership's blocking of an "ethics reform" bill written by the eccentric and somewhat wacky Mike Ellis--who has the resources, like Herb Kohl, to be "nobody's senator".
Ellis' proposal would have established another layer of "elections oversight" which had powers to both investigate AND prosecute election-law violations. Sorry, Mike. That simply doesn't play. We don't need any more prosecutors than we have already.
An online-accessible, weekly, standardized-format reporting system which clearly identifies all contributors to a political campaign (and which requires identification of all officers and Directors of groups making contributions) would be a giant step.
(The "standardized format" system would eliminate another of Diamond Jim's little tricks--sending his reports in 'gibberish' format to frustrate news organizations AND opponents.)
Doyle: Still in the 1960's on Energy
As one might have suspected, Diamond Jim doesn't want efficient and clean energy:
Doyle, who has supported construction of coal-fired power plants and worked with Republicans in the Legislature to push construction of wind turbines and other forms of renewable energy, supports the ban.
"There hasn't been a nuclear plant built anywhere in the country in the past three decades, and Wisconsin certainly isn't going to be the first state to break that trend," he said.
Whereas Green wants our State to have electricity in the future:
"I believe the key to meeting our future energy needs is through a diverse mix of energy sources, including renewable fuels and nuclear power," said Green, who wants the ban [on new nukes] lifted.
And an opportunist speaks up:
Earlier this month, however, the head of the nation's leading operator of nuclear plants came to Madison. John Rowe of Chicago-based Exelon Corp. said he expects to see three or four new plants announced in the next several years.
Rowe said Wisconsin regulators made the right call more than a generation ago to block construction of nuclear plants at a time when the cost to build the plants was soaring.
But Rowe, who grew up on a dairy farm not far from Madison, added, "I would be very pleased if my home state, which was among the first to question continued nuclear investment in the '70s and '80s, now became among the first to revisit the issue in a post 9-11, post-climate-change world."
Doyle's Luddite inanity is a sop to the wackos. Green understands the future. Rowe's "they were too expensive" comment is a gloss on history which is merely self-serving.
Doyle, who has supported construction of coal-fired power plants and worked with Republicans in the Legislature to push construction of wind turbines and other forms of renewable energy, supports the ban.
"There hasn't been a nuclear plant built anywhere in the country in the past three decades, and Wisconsin certainly isn't going to be the first state to break that trend," he said.
Whereas Green wants our State to have electricity in the future:
"I believe the key to meeting our future energy needs is through a diverse mix of energy sources, including renewable fuels and nuclear power," said Green, who wants the ban [on new nukes] lifted.
And an opportunist speaks up:
Earlier this month, however, the head of the nation's leading operator of nuclear plants came to Madison. John Rowe of Chicago-based Exelon Corp. said he expects to see three or four new plants announced in the next several years.
Rowe said Wisconsin regulators made the right call more than a generation ago to block construction of nuclear plants at a time when the cost to build the plants was soaring.
But Rowe, who grew up on a dairy farm not far from Madison, added, "I would be very pleased if my home state, which was among the first to question continued nuclear investment in the '70s and '80s, now became among the first to revisit the issue in a post 9-11, post-climate-change world."
Doyle's Luddite inanity is a sop to the wackos. Green understands the future. Rowe's "they were too expensive" comment is a gloss on history which is merely self-serving.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Phelonious Assault? Nope. Just Common Sense
The Confidentials brings us some VERY good news from Dallas:
About a dozen residents of a Dallas neighborhood beat a man after reports that he had been showing pornographic pictures to children on a playground, police said.
Brandon Scott Burke, 20, showed up Wednesday at an Oak Cliff apartment complex and was alleged to have shown a magazine with pictures of naked women to some of the children playing there, police said.
When one of the mothers saw him and asked Burke what he was doing, he tried to run and the woman started screaming, said Elizabeth Williams, the mother of another child. According to a police report, Burke said about 15 men "jumped him and hit him repeatedly on the face with their fists." He suffered minor injuries, police said.
At least four children saw the nude pictures, police said. Burke was arrested on suspicion of harmful display to a minor.
Phelony, who is Confidential, speculates that some of the residents will be prosecuted for assault/battery.
Frankly, I doubt it.
About a dozen residents of a Dallas neighborhood beat a man after reports that he had been showing pornographic pictures to children on a playground, police said.
Brandon Scott Burke, 20, showed up Wednesday at an Oak Cliff apartment complex and was alleged to have shown a magazine with pictures of naked women to some of the children playing there, police said.
When one of the mothers saw him and asked Burke what he was doing, he tried to run and the woman started screaming, said Elizabeth Williams, the mother of another child. According to a police report, Burke said about 15 men "jumped him and hit him repeatedly on the face with their fists." He suffered minor injuries, police said.
At least four children saw the nude pictures, police said. Burke was arrested on suspicion of harmful display to a minor.
Phelony, who is Confidential, speculates that some of the residents will be prosecuted for assault/battery.
Frankly, I doubt it.
Jessica Finds Another Target
This IS interesting, no?
In one of his emails to an Elections Board member about the Green money transfer, Doyle campaign attorney Mike Maistelman, made this intriguing reference:
I have also been told that the Gov's campaign and the Dem party and others will give you cover on this in the media - not like what happened on HAVA same day registration.
She then raises an interesting question:
I'd love to see the emails flying back and forth then. Were they rigging the process to allow more Democratic votes in November? Was it orchestrated and then the Elections Board was left hanging to take the heat?
Maybe that "hard-line Rightist" Milwaukee JS will dispatch a reporter to FOIA the SEB's email accounts prior to that decision--if the US Attorney doesn't already have them...
Right?
In one of his emails to an Elections Board member about the Green money transfer, Doyle campaign attorney Mike Maistelman, made this intriguing reference:
I have also been told that the Gov's campaign and the Dem party and others will give you cover on this in the media - not like what happened on HAVA same day registration.
She then raises an interesting question:
I'd love to see the emails flying back and forth then. Were they rigging the process to allow more Democratic votes in November? Was it orchestrated and then the Elections Board was left hanging to take the heat?
Maybe that "hard-line Rightist" Milwaukee JS will dispatch a reporter to FOIA the SEB's email accounts prior to that decision--if the US Attorney doesn't already have them...
Right?
Kill the F*&^'n MESSENGER!
In a rant directed at the "conservative" MilwaukeeJS, Folkbum gives away the game in his first paragraph.
A couple of years back, during the 2004 election season, I got an email from a reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel who could not believe, as he called it, the "hard right in its political coverage this fall. [. . .] Every day gets sadder. The only way its going to stop is if someone calls the editors on it, and that's not something that's going to happen from inside the paper."
So the anonymous reporter establishes credibility by referring to the "hard right" political coverage? Umnnnnhhh...yah.
Maybe newspaper reporters should simply serve as Doylie/WEAC/AFSCME stenographers?
Or begin each news story with a favorable reference to the ACLU?
Puleeeze.
A couple of years back, during the 2004 election season, I got an email from a reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel who could not believe, as he called it, the "hard right in its political coverage this fall. [. . .] Every day gets sadder. The only way its going to stop is if someone calls the editors on it, and that's not something that's going to happen from inside the paper."
So the anonymous reporter establishes credibility by referring to the "hard right" political coverage? Umnnnnhhh...yah.
Maybe newspaper reporters should simply serve as Doylie/WEAC/AFSCME stenographers?
Or begin each news story with a favorable reference to the ACLU?
Puleeeze.
Why the 2nd Amendment? More Good Thoughts
Following on the post below, here are some other thoughts about the 2A's raison d'etre:
If it should be decided to reject a standing army for the military branch of the government of the United States, as possessing too fierce an aspect, and being hostile to the principles of liberty, it will follow that a well constituted militia ought to be established (George Washington)
In that passage, Washington favored a militia rather than a standing army. Why?
President Washington wrote that in 1790, arguing that a standing army was "hostile to the principles of liberty" and the militia was the only safe alternative. Why? Because Whig political philosophy taught that standing armies followed the orders of the government, not necessarily of the people; militias were the people, and were therefore safer than a standing army. The militia's primary function was external defense--but the alternative, a professional standing army, was dangerous, and the purpose of the militia was to keep the government afraid of the people. (Think about Jim Doyle...)
Republicans in 1798 saw the standing army as an instrument of political oppression.
Representative Albert Gallatin observed that proponents of this enlarged standing army "speak not only of the danger of an invasion, but of the danger of a revolution—-of an oversetting of the Government...” Gallatin suggested that the enlarged standing army would be used in response to "fictitious conspiracies, pop-gun plots, and every other party artifice which has been practiced in England." Representative Joseph McDowell argued that the army proposed would "answer the like purposes to which a similar force had been raised in England and Ireland. And what have they been used for there but to suppress political opinion? The military force is there riding over the people, and dragging husbands and fathers from their wives and children to prison, merely because they have taken the liberty to think."
Hmmmmmm.......I rather like this stuff, as you can see from this post, wherein we discussed the P-Mac v From Where I Sit kerfuffle.
(Use the same link as provided below to access the article.)
If it should be decided to reject a standing army for the military branch of the government of the United States, as possessing too fierce an aspect, and being hostile to the principles of liberty, it will follow that a well constituted militia ought to be established (George Washington)
In that passage, Washington favored a militia rather than a standing army. Why?
President Washington wrote that in 1790, arguing that a standing army was "hostile to the principles of liberty" and the militia was the only safe alternative. Why? Because Whig political philosophy taught that standing armies followed the orders of the government, not necessarily of the people; militias were the people, and were therefore safer than a standing army. The militia's primary function was external defense--but the alternative, a professional standing army, was dangerous, and the purpose of the militia was to keep the government afraid of the people. (Think about Jim Doyle...)
Republicans in 1798 saw the standing army as an instrument of political oppression.
Representative Albert Gallatin observed that proponents of this enlarged standing army "speak not only of the danger of an invasion, but of the danger of a revolution—-of an oversetting of the Government...” Gallatin suggested that the enlarged standing army would be used in response to "fictitious conspiracies, pop-gun plots, and every other party artifice which has been practiced in England." Representative Joseph McDowell argued that the army proposed would "answer the like purposes to which a similar force had been raised in England and Ireland. And what have they been used for there but to suppress political opinion? The military force is there riding over the people, and dragging husbands and fathers from their wives and children to prison, merely because they have taken the liberty to think."
Hmmmmmm.......I rather like this stuff, as you can see from this post, wherein we discussed the P-Mac v From Where I Sit kerfuffle.
(Use the same link as provided below to access the article.)
New Hampshire's Model Amendment
This is pretty good stuff:
[Art.] 10. [Right of Revolution.] Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government. The doctrine of nonresistance ag ainst arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.
Kinda makes you think those old NewHampshire-ites got the drift, eh?
HT: ClayCramer
[Art.] 10. [Right of Revolution.] Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government. The doctrine of nonresistance ag ainst arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.
Kinda makes you think those old NewHampshire-ites got the drift, eh?
HT: ClayCramer
The REAL Location of "Mental Illness"
Some student at UW-M takes exception to the Pedophile Roundups of John Mercure at Channel 4. She objects to Mercure's language in referring to these cretins as "disgusting" and "perverted."
In order to defend her position, she cites the American Psychiatric Association's diagnosis that pedophiles are "mentally ill."
Pooooooooorrrrrr babies!!
I would suggest that the APA is 'mentally ill,' and that pedophiles are disgusting perverts. That's what we call 'calling a spade a spade.'
HT: BadgerBlogger
In order to defend her position, she cites the American Psychiatric Association's diagnosis that pedophiles are "mentally ill."
Pooooooooorrrrrr babies!!
I would suggest that the APA is 'mentally ill,' and that pedophiles are disgusting perverts. That's what we call 'calling a spade a spade.'
HT: BadgerBlogger
Bend Over, Waukesha County...Lucy's Moving the Football
Dan Vrakas, a protege of Scott Jensen, didn't really mean all that stuff about "reducing taxes."
That's the only way to read his comments and those of other Waukesha County Board members in yesterday's paper.
In recent weeks, Vrakas and his top staffers have signaled that the 2007 budget proposal would include a property tax increase around 2%, which would amount to $1.8 million.
[Tax-increase opponent] Lufter pointed out that the county executive campaigned last year by promising to "reduce your tax burden" and enact "real property tax relief" - phrases that were featured in his campaign literature and still appear on his Web site.
"No matter how he wants to slice and dice that after the election, he campaigned on freezing taxes," she said. "He needs to come forward with a zero- increase budget."
Vrakas, of course, sees it differently:
Under criticism from some who felt betrayed, the 50-year-old county executive turned to his sports analogy, saying he would move the county toward tax relief slowly rather than attempt one dramatic maneuver known in football as a "hail Mary pass."
So, at some undefined point in the future, Waukesha County's tax-take will stop increasing, maybe, kinda, sorta.
I have a sports analogy, too:
Charlie Brown's difficulty with Lucy's hold.
That's the only way to read his comments and those of other Waukesha County Board members in yesterday's paper.
In recent weeks, Vrakas and his top staffers have signaled that the 2007 budget proposal would include a property tax increase around 2%, which would amount to $1.8 million.
[Tax-increase opponent] Lufter pointed out that the county executive campaigned last year by promising to "reduce your tax burden" and enact "real property tax relief" - phrases that were featured in his campaign literature and still appear on his Web site.
"No matter how he wants to slice and dice that after the election, he campaigned on freezing taxes," she said. "He needs to come forward with a zero- increase budget."
Vrakas, of course, sees it differently:
Under criticism from some who felt betrayed, the 50-year-old county executive turned to his sports analogy, saying he would move the county toward tax relief slowly rather than attempt one dramatic maneuver known in football as a "hail Mary pass."
So, at some undefined point in the future, Waukesha County's tax-take will stop increasing, maybe, kinda, sorta.
I have a sports analogy, too:
Charlie Brown's difficulty with Lucy's hold.
"Safe Spinach"--But What About Beans?
The FDA advises that spinach grown anywhere but the Salinas Valley is probably OK to eat.
Great.
What the FDA did not tell us, however, is what else is grown in the Salinas.
Beans? Lettuce? Mangoes? Garlic? Onions?
Great.
What the FDA did not tell us, however, is what else is grown in the Salinas.
Beans? Lettuce? Mangoes? Garlic? Onions?
Homosex "Marriage" STILL Not Legal in Massachusetts
This is an interesting situation.
The Massachusetts SupremeClowns Court ruled a while back that refusing to issue marriage licenses to homosex couples was contrary to the Mass. Constitution. The Court directed the Mass. legislature to "fix" the law.
The Legislature did not do so. Rather, Mitt Romney, (now running for the (RINO) nomination for President) issued an executive order directing municipal clerks to issue licenses to homosex couples instead.
Now a group of lawyers claim that such issuance is illegal.
“No argument for the legality of homosexual marriage in Massachusetts can survive an examination either of the state constitution or of the Supreme Judicial Court’s own case law,” said lawyers in a statement to the head of the Washington D.C.-based Family Research Council, Mr. Tony Perkins.
“The Massachusetts Constitution emphatically denies the judiciary the power to strike down laws or to suspend their enforcement or to assume any of the policy-making responsibilities of the elected branches,” the lawyers stated.
“[A]nyone asserting that the [Supreme Judicial Court] decision ‘legalized’ homosexual marriage in Massachusetts is fundamentally wrong about one of the clearest and most forceful parts of the state constitution.”
In fact, the lawyers said, the Supreme Court ruling acknowledged the limitation of judicial power and left it to the legislature to strike down the original marriage statute which excluded homosexual marriage. “Only a constitutional amendment by the people would be allowed to change the constitutional meaning of the term marriage.”
“How did Mitt Romney get the authority to strike down a law that he had sworn to uphold and that the court said would remain in force until the Legislature repealed it?” the lawyers said. “Is Mitt Romney a one-man legislature? The Executive has no legal authority to enforce laws that do not exist.”
This also creates a defense to the "full faith-and-credit" clause of the US Constitution. Since the Mass. "permits" are legally invalid according to these attorneys, there is no Federal Constitutional requirement to recognize these "marriages" in other States.
And the Romniacs in the (R) party will have a small problem, too...
The Massachusetts Supreme
The Legislature did not do so. Rather, Mitt Romney, (now running for the (RINO) nomination for President) issued an executive order directing municipal clerks to issue licenses to homosex couples instead.
Now a group of lawyers claim that such issuance is illegal.
“No argument for the legality of homosexual marriage in Massachusetts can survive an examination either of the state constitution or of the Supreme Judicial Court’s own case law,” said lawyers in a statement to the head of the Washington D.C.-based Family Research Council, Mr. Tony Perkins.
“The Massachusetts Constitution emphatically denies the judiciary the power to strike down laws or to suspend their enforcement or to assume any of the policy-making responsibilities of the elected branches,” the lawyers stated.
“[A]nyone asserting that the [Supreme Judicial Court] decision ‘legalized’ homosexual marriage in Massachusetts is fundamentally wrong about one of the clearest and most forceful parts of the state constitution.”
In fact, the lawyers said, the Supreme Court ruling acknowledged the limitation of judicial power and left it to the legislature to strike down the original marriage statute which excluded homosexual marriage. “Only a constitutional amendment by the people would be allowed to change the constitutional meaning of the term marriage.”
“How did Mitt Romney get the authority to strike down a law that he had sworn to uphold and that the court said would remain in force until the Legislature repealed it?” the lawyers said. “Is Mitt Romney a one-man legislature? The Executive has no legal authority to enforce laws that do not exist.”
This also creates a defense to the "full faith-and-credit" clause of the US Constitution. Since the Mass. "permits" are legally invalid according to these attorneys, there is no Federal Constitutional requirement to recognize these "marriages" in other States.
And the Romniacs in the (R) party will have a small problem, too...
Friday, September 22, 2006
ZING!!! Maistelman Takes Another Hit
From Random 10 comes the aphorism of the week, discussing the career of Maistelmen:
"Pay to play and paid to say are clearly quite compatible."
From Henry V: "First thing, let's kill all the lawyers."
"Pay to play and paid to say are clearly quite compatible."
From Henry V: "First thing, let's kill all the lawyers."
How About that 6.8mm Round?
There's been discussion about the efficacy of the 5.56mm Nato (.223) cartridge--specifically, whether it's fatal enough in dealing with today's warfare environment.
In brief, the 5.56 Nato was designed for 200-300 yard encounters (the Cold War/Euro-battle environment) whereas today's engagements are often at greater distances (300-500+ yards--think Afghanistan, or non-urban Iraq.)
Plenty of noise has been made by the folks who want to return to the 7.62mm (.30 cal), (M-1, M-14 cartridge) but the Army and Marines just don't like the idea.
NOW we find noises being made about the 6.8mm (.270), which may be an interesting compromise. The most recent edition of Guns and Ammo (my wife's subscription, wink-wink) has a long article about the virtues of the .270 as a hunting cartridge--and one of the virtues includes relatively long-distance (400 yard) accuracy and hitting-power.
Hmmmm.
More here, HT Arms and the Law
I am among those who maintain that the .30 (whether 30-06 or .308) is the single most potent and flexible round available. But you need a lot of rifle-weight to counter the kick from the '-06, which has an effect on ground-pounders.
In brief, the 5.56 Nato was designed for 200-300 yard encounters (the Cold War/Euro-battle environment) whereas today's engagements are often at greater distances (300-500+ yards--think Afghanistan, or non-urban Iraq.)
Plenty of noise has been made by the folks who want to return to the 7.62mm (.30 cal), (M-1, M-14 cartridge) but the Army and Marines just don't like the idea.
NOW we find noises being made about the 6.8mm (.270), which may be an interesting compromise. The most recent edition of Guns and Ammo (my wife's subscription, wink-wink) has a long article about the virtues of the .270 as a hunting cartridge--and one of the virtues includes relatively long-distance (400 yard) accuracy and hitting-power.
Hmmmm.
More here, HT Arms and the Law
I am among those who maintain that the .30 (whether 30-06 or .308) is the single most potent and flexible round available. But you need a lot of rifle-weight to counter the kick from the '-06, which has an effect on ground-pounders.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Argumentation by Forgetting Reality
Folkbum, a proponent of gay "marriage" and the WEAC/MTEA Party Line on everything, quotes somebody:
The real solutions to creating strong schools and strong communities are providing adequate funding for our schools, implementing research-based reforms like small class sizes and early education opportunities, and providing professional development to help teachers improve their practice."
...in attempting to discredit Mark Green's education proposals.
Curious, no?
See, Folkbum, when he's rational and NOT spewing the Party Line, will be happy to admit that watchful and interested PARENTS are "the real solution to creating strong schools and strong communities."
Which we all knew, anyway.
The real solutions to creating strong schools and strong communities are providing adequate funding for our schools, implementing research-based reforms like small class sizes and early education opportunities, and providing professional development to help teachers improve their practice."
...in attempting to discredit Mark Green's education proposals.
Curious, no?
See, Folkbum, when he's rational and NOT spewing the Party Line, will be happy to admit that watchful and interested PARENTS are "the real solution to creating strong schools and strong communities."
Which we all knew, anyway.
Convict Picture Here. Says He's "Progressive"
Here's a nice picture of a convict.
He calls himself a "Progressive."
He was Chuck Chvala's Right-Hand-Slimeball.
HT: York
He calls himself a "Progressive."
He was Chuck Chvala's Right-Hand-Slimeball.
HT: York
"Big, Big, Big, Big." And Now Dead
Talk about Toys for Boys:
When a mining shovel named Silver Spade was built in South Milwaukee in the early 1960s, it took 250 railroad cars to send the behemoth to a coal field in Ohio.
Weighing 14 million pounds, Silver Spade was shipped in pieces. Its bucket could lift 300,000 pounds of dirt in a single scoop. Its boom stood 20 stories tall.
Silver Spade was built by Bucyrus International Inc., then called Bucyrus-Erie. It took about 38,000 engineering hours just to design the mining shovel at the company's South Milwaukee headquarters.
From 1965 until this spring, Silver Spade dug 607 million cubic yards of earth at Ohio strip mines. By comparison, the Panama Canal required 405 million cubic yards of excavation.
I'd post a picture, but it won't fit into Blogger.
When a mining shovel named Silver Spade was built in South Milwaukee in the early 1960s, it took 250 railroad cars to send the behemoth to a coal field in Ohio.
Weighing 14 million pounds, Silver Spade was shipped in pieces. Its bucket could lift 300,000 pounds of dirt in a single scoop. Its boom stood 20 stories tall.
Silver Spade was built by Bucyrus International Inc., then called Bucyrus-Erie. It took about 38,000 engineering hours just to design the mining shovel at the company's South Milwaukee headquarters.
From 1965 until this spring, Silver Spade dug 607 million cubic yards of earth at Ohio strip mines. By comparison, the Panama Canal required 405 million cubic yards of excavation.
I'd post a picture, but it won't fit into Blogger.
CPA Auditors Miss about, oh, $1.2 MILLION
...ballpark.
How the hell does THIS happen?
...an accounting firm has agreed to pay the Oconomowoc Area School District a settlement totaling $290,476 for inaccurately reporting the district's deficit in a fall 2003 audit at $188,000 when it actually was $1.3 million.
Yah, I know: transposition error.
How the hell does THIS happen?
...an accounting firm has agreed to pay the Oconomowoc Area School District a settlement totaling $290,476 for inaccurately reporting the district's deficit in a fall 2003 audit at $188,000 when it actually was $1.3 million.
Yah, I know: transposition error.
Lawyer Lies!!! Maistelman Exposed
See, Jim Doyle hires an attorney (Maistelman) to give the Elections Board their marching orders.
A lawyer for Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's campaign repeatedly lobbied three Democratic members of the State Elections Board before they voted with the majority to order Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green to divest $467,844 in donations from out-of-state political action committees, records show.
That's perfectly legal.
So WHY does the JSOnline run the story using the term "lobbied", which is accurate, but a pejorative?
Because Maistelman lied to the JS reporters.
Maistelman was present on Aug. 30 when the Elections Board took its action against Green's campaign and talked to some board members before the vote. The same day, he denied that he was there working for the Doyle campaign.
It's noteworthy that the Green campaign attorney did NOT lobby the Commission.
By the way, Counselor: now you HAVE the "publicity" you sought. Happy??
A lawyer for Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's campaign repeatedly lobbied three Democratic members of the State Elections Board before they voted with the majority to order Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green to divest $467,844 in donations from out-of-state political action committees, records show.
That's perfectly legal.
So WHY does the JSOnline run the story using the term "lobbied", which is accurate, but a pejorative?
Because Maistelman lied to the JS reporters.
Maistelman was present on Aug. 30 when the Elections Board took its action against Green's campaign and talked to some board members before the vote. The same day, he denied that he was there working for the Doyle campaign.
It's noteworthy that the Green campaign attorney did NOT lobby the Commission.
By the way, Counselor: now you HAVE the "publicity" you sought. Happy??
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Don't Like Spinach Disease? Try Irradiation
This stuff works:
Treating raw meat and poultry with irradiation at the slaughter plant could eliminate bacteria commonly found on raw meat and raw poultry, such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. These organisms currently cause millions of infections and thousands of hospitalizations in the United States every year. Irradiating prepared ready-to-eat meats like hot dogs and deli meats, could eliminate the risk of Listeria from such foods. Irradiation could also eliminate parasites like Cyclospora and bacteria like Shigella and Salmonella from fresh produce. The potential benefit is also great for those dry foods that might be stored for long times and transported over great distances, such as spices and grains. Animal feeds are often contaminated with bacteria like Salmonella. Irradiation of animal feeds could prevent the spread of Salmonella and other pathogens to livestock through feeds.
Of course, the LeftyLoons hear the word "irradiation" and go all wacko...figuring their food may grow arms and legs or something...
But it works.
Treating raw meat and poultry with irradiation at the slaughter plant could eliminate bacteria commonly found on raw meat and raw poultry, such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. These organisms currently cause millions of infections and thousands of hospitalizations in the United States every year. Irradiating prepared ready-to-eat meats like hot dogs and deli meats, could eliminate the risk of Listeria from such foods. Irradiation could also eliminate parasites like Cyclospora and bacteria like Shigella and Salmonella from fresh produce. The potential benefit is also great for those dry foods that might be stored for long times and transported over great distances, such as spices and grains. Animal feeds are often contaminated with bacteria like Salmonella. Irradiation of animal feeds could prevent the spread of Salmonella and other pathogens to livestock through feeds.
Of course, the LeftyLoons hear the word "irradiation" and go all wacko...figuring their food may grow arms and legs or something...
But it works.
George Weigel: An Intelligent Commentary
Weigel (unlike the Jebby below) actually understands what's going on with B-16's talk:
The pope's first point was that all the great questions of life, including social and political questions, are ultimately theological. How we think (or don't think) about God has much to do with how we judge what is good and what is wicked, and with how we think about the appropriate methods for advancing the truth in a world in which there are profound disagreements about the truth of things.
...The pope's second point, which flows from the first, was that irrational violence aimed at innocent men, women and children "is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the [human] soul." If adherents of certain currents of thought in contemporary Islam insist that the suicide bombing of innocents is an act pleasing to God, then they must be told that they are mistaken: about God, about God's purposes and about the nature of moral obligation.
The pope's third point — which has been almost entirely ignored — was directed to the West. If the West's high culture keeps playing in the sandbox of postmodern irrationalism — in which there is "your truth" and "my truth" but nothing such as "the truth" — the West will be unable to defend itself. Why? Because the West won't be able to give reasons why its commitments to civility, tolerance, human rights and the rule of law are worth defending. A Western world stripped of convictions about the truths that make Western civilization possible cannot make a useful contribution to a genuine dialogue of civilizations, for any such dialogue must be based on a shared understanding that human beings can, however imperfectly, come to know the truth of things.
Weigel will be appearing in Milwaukee in November at a benefit dinner. Good food will be served. If you want tix, indicate so in the comments.
The pope's first point was that all the great questions of life, including social and political questions, are ultimately theological. How we think (or don't think) about God has much to do with how we judge what is good and what is wicked, and with how we think about the appropriate methods for advancing the truth in a world in which there are profound disagreements about the truth of things.
...The pope's second point, which flows from the first, was that irrational violence aimed at innocent men, women and children "is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the [human] soul." If adherents of certain currents of thought in contemporary Islam insist that the suicide bombing of innocents is an act pleasing to God, then they must be told that they are mistaken: about God, about God's purposes and about the nature of moral obligation.
The pope's third point — which has been almost entirely ignored — was directed to the West. If the West's high culture keeps playing in the sandbox of postmodern irrationalism — in which there is "your truth" and "my truth" but nothing such as "the truth" — the West will be unable to defend itself. Why? Because the West won't be able to give reasons why its commitments to civility, tolerance, human rights and the rule of law are worth defending. A Western world stripped of convictions about the truths that make Western civilization possible cannot make a useful contribution to a genuine dialogue of civilizations, for any such dialogue must be based on a shared understanding that human beings can, however imperfectly, come to know the truth of things.
Weigel will be appearing in Milwaukee in November at a benefit dinner. Good food will be served. If you want tix, indicate so in the comments.
Twit Jebby Tom Michel Has the Answers for B-16
Some Jesuit who lost his Vatican job gives us the "woulda/coulda/shoulda" answer:
Jesuit Father Tom Michel, who served on the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue from 1981 to 1994 as the Vatican's top expert on Islam, writing in the Turkish political journal Yeni Asya this week said "the deeper question is, why did the pope say what he did in Regensburg?"
...One of his "most useful tasks" while serving on the pontifical council, he said, "was to look over the late Pope John Paul II's speeches to Muslims to see if there was anything that might be considered offensive in them, and if there was something of that nature, to propose changes for the Pope."
...Father Michel also pointed out that John Paul II "had trained scholars in Islamic studies on his staff," citing Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald as well as himself. Archbishop Fitzgerald was president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue until Pope Benedict reassigned him earlier this year as nuncio to Egypt and the Arab League.
(Duhhh...THAT was a hint to Abp. Fitzgerald, twit...)
Some observers say "the Pope did not intend to offend Muslims," Father Michel noted. He too believes this, but it is "beside the point," he said.
"Most of the time when we offend others, we do not intend to do so," he explained. "Rather, we do so because of ignorance or lack of sensitivity. In such cases, an apology is required." For this reason, "it is also proper for the Pope to ask forgiveness for his offensive remarks, even though, as I believe, he did not intend to offend."
(Gee, THANKS!!!, Father)
As our most Protestant blogger Owen said yesterday--(I paraphrase) 'now and then you expect the Pope to call a spade a spade. That's his job.'
Not Fr. Michel's job, we note....
HT: Amy
Jesuit Father Tom Michel, who served on the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue from 1981 to 1994 as the Vatican's top expert on Islam, writing in the Turkish political journal Yeni Asya this week said "the deeper question is, why did the pope say what he did in Regensburg?"
...One of his "most useful tasks" while serving on the pontifical council, he said, "was to look over the late Pope John Paul II's speeches to Muslims to see if there was anything that might be considered offensive in them, and if there was something of that nature, to propose changes for the Pope."
...Father Michel also pointed out that John Paul II "had trained scholars in Islamic studies on his staff," citing Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald as well as himself. Archbishop Fitzgerald was president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue until Pope Benedict reassigned him earlier this year as nuncio to Egypt and the Arab League.
(Duhhh...THAT was a hint to Abp. Fitzgerald, twit...)
Some observers say "the Pope did not intend to offend Muslims," Father Michel noted. He too believes this, but it is "beside the point," he said.
"Most of the time when we offend others, we do not intend to do so," he explained. "Rather, we do so because of ignorance or lack of sensitivity. In such cases, an apology is required." For this reason, "it is also proper for the Pope to ask forgiveness for his offensive remarks, even though, as I believe, he did not intend to offend."
(Gee, THANKS!!!, Father)
As our most Protestant blogger Owen said yesterday--(I paraphrase) 'now and then you expect the Pope to call a spade a spade. That's his job.'
Not Fr. Michel's job, we note....
HT: Amy
No Crisis Here
From today's News Briefs:
A Milwaukee man was shot and killed in the backyard of his home during an armed robbery Tuesday morning, Milwaukee police said.
The homicide occurred in the 11100 block of W. Langlade St. about 2:30 a.m.
Mayor Tommy "Milk-Carton" issued a statement from a conference in Washington DC, stating that this is all Sensenbrenner's fault.
A Milwaukee man was shot and killed in the backyard of his home during an armed robbery Tuesday morning, Milwaukee police said.
The homicide occurred in the 11100 block of W. Langlade St. about 2:30 a.m.
Mayor Tommy "Milk-Carton" issued a statement from a conference in Washington DC, stating that this is all Sensenbrenner's fault.
GMC's Taylor: NOT a Candidate for CPA Exam
Julia Taylor's history at the YWCA wasn't real inspiring--so she's taken her "spend it all" theory to the GMC, and now seems to be endorsing utter stupidity.
The Alliance to Protect the Public Good suggests a [Milwaukee County] pension fund payment of $40 million instead of the $59 million that actuaries for the pension fund have said is needed.
The alliance - consisting of county unions, faith-based organizations, social service agencies and civic groups - is convening a rally tonight at the county-operated Mitchell Park Domes to outline its prescription for avoiding major program cuts and job losses.
Among the scheduled speakers at the event is Julia Taylor, president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, a leading civic organization that issued its own county financial plan last week.
Well, Julia & Co., exactly when should Milwaukee County meet its legally-binding obligations for the pension plan? And exactly how?
Will AFSCME members voluntarily give up say, 30% of their pensions?
I know. Pigs fly.
The Alliance to Protect the Public Good suggests a [Milwaukee County] pension fund payment of $40 million instead of the $59 million that actuaries for the pension fund have said is needed.
The alliance - consisting of county unions, faith-based organizations, social service agencies and civic groups - is convening a rally tonight at the county-operated Mitchell Park Domes to outline its prescription for avoiding major program cuts and job losses.
Among the scheduled speakers at the event is Julia Taylor, president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, a leading civic organization that issued its own county financial plan last week.
Well, Julia & Co., exactly when should Milwaukee County meet its legally-binding obligations for the pension plan? And exactly how?
Will AFSCME members voluntarily give up say, 30% of their pensions?
I know. Pigs fly.
School Administrators' Alliance--Another Bloodsucker Bunch?
Who are these people and why does their leader lie?
"It seems to me that the sum total of the Green agenda is a dramatic reduction in the resources devoted to educating Wisconsin public school children," said John Forester, director of government relations for the School Administrators Alliance. Green has been reluctant to commit to the state's continued payment of two-thirds of school costs, which amounted to $5.6 billion last year, while promising property tax relief, Forester said.
WHAT "two-thirds" Mr. Forester? DiamondJim didn't deliver "2/3rds" in the current budget and has NOT promised to do so (if he's in office) on the next one.
Who are you trying to kid, Forester? What "dramatic reduction"?
Green also kicked around the possibility of incentive pay for good teachers. Stan Johnson, a reliable source of inanity, had a comment:
Stan Johnson, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union, called teacher merit pay plans unproven and expensive.
"If you're going to have to have a complete plan . . . you're going to have to fund it as though everybody could get it," said Johnson, whose organization has endorsed Doyle. "And that's always a problem."
Say what? How do you KNOW that it has to be 'funded as though everyone could get it'? And how do you know the plan is "expensive" if it is "unproven"?
Just keep throwing the stuff at the wall, boys. SOMETHING'S gotta stick.
"It seems to me that the sum total of the Green agenda is a dramatic reduction in the resources devoted to educating Wisconsin public school children," said John Forester, director of government relations for the School Administrators Alliance. Green has been reluctant to commit to the state's continued payment of two-thirds of school costs, which amounted to $5.6 billion last year, while promising property tax relief, Forester said.
WHAT "two-thirds" Mr. Forester? DiamondJim didn't deliver "2/3rds" in the current budget and has NOT promised to do so (if he's in office) on the next one.
Who are you trying to kid, Forester? What "dramatic reduction"?
Green also kicked around the possibility of incentive pay for good teachers. Stan Johnson, a reliable source of inanity, had a comment:
Stan Johnson, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union, called teacher merit pay plans unproven and expensive.
"If you're going to have to have a complete plan . . . you're going to have to fund it as though everybody could get it," said Johnson, whose organization has endorsed Doyle. "And that's always a problem."
Say what? How do you KNOW that it has to be 'funded as though everyone could get it'? And how do you know the plan is "expensive" if it is "unproven"?
Just keep throwing the stuff at the wall, boys. SOMETHING'S gotta stick.
Local Muslim Condemns Violence, Slaps up Pope
Othman Atta, President of the local Islamic Society, gets his priorities wrong, and "forgets" all about Muslim wars of conquest, but manages to say the right thing.
Eventually.
Pope Benedict XVI's decision to quote "a not very peaceful medieval Christian emperor," his failure to qualify its anti-Muslim message, and his belated explanation that the emperor's words did not reflect his own opinion played into "a discredited and false, yet persistent belief among many in the West that Islam is a faith that preaches violence," Othman Atta, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said in an e-mail interview.
(Umm, Mr. Atta--the Pope's statement was VERY clear. A quotation does NOT imply agreement. Further, Mr. Atta, the 'emperor' in question was under siege by "religion of peace" armies at the time he made the statement. You expected the emperor to make nicey-nice?)
"Unfortunately, those who have a deep hatred for Islam and Muslims seek to define Islam by the actions of those extremists who defile and violate the faith which they claim to espouse," Atta added. "Credible scholars, including many Catholic scholars, have condemned this unfair and bigoted practice of using an infinitesimally small group of extremists to define an entire faith tradition. Although such dishonest and hypocritical rhetoric is common among leaders of the 'Christian' right wing, it was highly unusual and unexpected coming from the Pope.
Those "extremists" which comprise an "infinitesimally small group" happen to include Mahomet himself, Mr. Atta. Not to mention the Suleiman Turks, and the bunch which, BY SWORD, took all of North Africa, half of Spain, and a corner of Southeastern Europe.
So, Mr. Atta, how "infinitesimally small" WAS that group?
"Although Muslims have a right to express their disappointment with the comments of Pope Benedict, the Muslim community unqualifiedly condemns the attempts by Muslim extremists to use this incident as a tool to preach their own message of hate and violence. We also condemn those who engage in any act of violence against Christians and their houses of worship, for such violent actions betray the principles of the Islamic faith and the respectful practices of Prophet Muhammad."
Nice of you to get around to it, Mr. Atta.
Eventually.
Pope Benedict XVI's decision to quote "a not very peaceful medieval Christian emperor," his failure to qualify its anti-Muslim message, and his belated explanation that the emperor's words did not reflect his own opinion played into "a discredited and false, yet persistent belief among many in the West that Islam is a faith that preaches violence," Othman Atta, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said in an e-mail interview.
(Umm, Mr. Atta--the Pope's statement was VERY clear. A quotation does NOT imply agreement. Further, Mr. Atta, the 'emperor' in question was under siege by "religion of peace" armies at the time he made the statement. You expected the emperor to make nicey-nice?)
"Unfortunately, those who have a deep hatred for Islam and Muslims seek to define Islam by the actions of those extremists who defile and violate the faith which they claim to espouse," Atta added. "Credible scholars, including many Catholic scholars, have condemned this unfair and bigoted practice of using an infinitesimally small group of extremists to define an entire faith tradition. Although such dishonest and hypocritical rhetoric is common among leaders of the 'Christian' right wing, it was highly unusual and unexpected coming from the Pope.
Those "extremists" which comprise an "infinitesimally small group" happen to include Mahomet himself, Mr. Atta. Not to mention the Suleiman Turks, and the bunch which, BY SWORD, took all of North Africa, half of Spain, and a corner of Southeastern Europe.
So, Mr. Atta, how "infinitesimally small" WAS that group?
"Although Muslims have a right to express their disappointment with the comments of Pope Benedict, the Muslim community unqualifiedly condemns the attempts by Muslim extremists to use this incident as a tool to preach their own message of hate and violence. We also condemn those who engage in any act of violence against Christians and their houses of worship, for such violent actions betray the principles of the Islamic faith and the respectful practices of Prophet Muhammad."
Nice of you to get around to it, Mr. Atta.
The Smell of Publicity Stunts
Well, they got publicity--which seems to be all they really wanted.
A woman from Canada had sexual relations with a priest. Pregnancy ensued. The priest's order is paying child support per court orders.
A larger settlement has been offered and, with a few minor tweaks, will be accepted.
Not good enough for Peter Isely. He needs publicity!
Umnnhhh..did I mention that the woman had sexual relations? Outside of marriage?
And that Isely needs publicity?
A woman from Canada had sexual relations with a priest. Pregnancy ensued. The priest's order is paying child support per court orders.
A larger settlement has been offered and, with a few minor tweaks, will be accepted.
Not good enough for Peter Isely. He needs publicity!
Umnnhhh..did I mention that the woman had sexual relations? Outside of marriage?
And that Isely needs publicity?
Busalacchi Knows Enough to Shut Up
The "gimme" season is on--various State of Wisconsin agencies are assembling their budget requests.
Corrections wants more than $1Bn, estimating that GPS tracking of sex offenders will cost $24 million in the first biennium.
Health and Family Services wants $443 million.
But DOT will survive without increasing the gas tax (now only 32.7 cents/gallon) AND without a registration-fee increase from the current $55.00.
Gee. Thought DOT was going to starve to death. Highways would crumble into dust. Potholes would swallow semi-trailers. The End of the World would commence right here in Wisconsin, probably on a State highway....
Corrections wants more than $1Bn, estimating that GPS tracking of sex offenders will cost $24 million in the first biennium.
Health and Family Services wants $443 million.
But DOT will survive without increasing the gas tax (now only 32.7 cents/gallon) AND without a registration-fee increase from the current $55.00.
Gee. Thought DOT was going to starve to death. Highways would crumble into dust. Potholes would swallow semi-trailers. The End of the World would commence right here in Wisconsin, probably on a State highway....
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Another Hole in the Pro-Gay-"Marriage" Argument
One of the arguments that the pro-gay-"marriage" folks like to use is that the proposed Wisconsin amendment will make prosecution of "domestic violence" impossible.
That's a matter yet to be determined; I find it hard to believe that a good DA will simply ignore a domestic violence complaint, with or without the benefit of marriage.
But there's also this blog from Tampa, FL. The author (see the sidebar) is a lesbian (albeit with conservative/Libertarian leanings)--and an unabashed proponent of armed self-defense. She has some interesting thoughts on DV:
The main point of it was this: Don’t give him any sense of satisfaction for his efforts. Never answer his calls, even if it’s one out of 50 or one in 100.Eventually, he’ll look for someone else. Have a plan in place for personal safety, and try not to go out alone.
...But prosecutors have trouble because charges are dropped, the victims refuse to testify, and ask for "no contact" orders to be lifted. If you don't help the system, don't expect that it will be able to keep you safe.
The blogger is very clear:
I am firmly opposed to blaming the victim in most cases. But I will make an exception. If you drop charges, ignore the terms of a restraining order and see your ex even though they have proven to be violent in the past, then you bear some of the responsibility for what happens. If someone hits me - the first time it may be a sucker punch. But there will only ever be a first time. Then the next time I see that person they are automatically assigned to the Threat Category. Any move on their part that could be construed as a reasonable threat of violence (death or grave bodily injury violence) will be dealt with accordingly, and in compliance with Florida law. (That is I will blow their fucking head off.)
Her conclusion?
Since these cases NEVER end with an apology, dropping charges is tantamount to agreeing to what comes next. It isn't your fault if he hits you. It is your fault if you stick around after that.
That's a matter yet to be determined; I find it hard to believe that a good DA will simply ignore a domestic violence complaint, with or without the benefit of marriage.
But there's also this blog from Tampa, FL. The author (see the sidebar) is a lesbian (albeit with conservative/Libertarian leanings)--and an unabashed proponent of armed self-defense. She has some interesting thoughts on DV:
The main point of it was this: Don’t give him any sense of satisfaction for his efforts. Never answer his calls, even if it’s one out of 50 or one in 100.Eventually, he’ll look for someone else. Have a plan in place for personal safety, and try not to go out alone.
...But prosecutors have trouble because charges are dropped, the victims refuse to testify, and ask for "no contact" orders to be lifted. If you don't help the system, don't expect that it will be able to keep you safe.
The blogger is very clear:
I am firmly opposed to blaming the victim in most cases. But I will make an exception. If you drop charges, ignore the terms of a restraining order and see your ex even though they have proven to be violent in the past, then you bear some of the responsibility for what happens. If someone hits me - the first time it may be a sucker punch. But there will only ever be a first time. Then the next time I see that person they are automatically assigned to the Threat Category. Any move on their part that could be construed as a reasonable threat of violence (death or grave bodily injury violence) will be dealt with accordingly, and in compliance with Florida law. (That is I will blow their fucking head off.)
Her conclusion?
Since these cases NEVER end with an apology, dropping charges is tantamount to agreeing to what comes next. It isn't your fault if he hits you. It is your fault if you stick around after that.
Sensenbrenner's Gun Bill
Here's the report (excerpted) from CNS News:
Legislation expected before the U.S. House this week would give the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) greater flexibility to punish federally licensed firearms dealers and limit the agency's actions at gun shows. Another bill would forbid the ATF to release so-called crime gun trace data to cities, counties or states for use in lawsuits against the gun industry
...The Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act (H.R. 5005) is a catch-all bill designed to make permanent numerous regulations that have been signed into law over the years at the end of the appropriations process. As Cybercast News Service previously reported, a coalition of anti-gun groups came together on the anniversary of 9/11 to condemn the legislation and to try to tie its defeat to counter-terrorism efforts.
"After 9/11, we criticized law enforcement and intelligence agencies for not connecting the dots," said Joe Vince, former director of ATF's Crime Gun Analysis branch. "So what are we doing now taking the dots off the paper?"
While critics argue that the bill would prevent the ATF from sharing gun trace data with law enforcement agencies the plain language of the bill belies that claim.H.R. 5005 states that ATF trace data "shall not be admissible as evidence, and testimony or other evidence relying on the information shall not be admissible, in any civil action in a State or Federal court, or in any administrative proceeding other than a proceeding commenced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives." (Emphasis added.)
Note the emphasis above on CIVIL. CRIMINAL prosecutions are not hindered by the bill.
Attorney and firearms law expert Richard Gardiner told Cybercast News Service in a previous interview that "the bill says information can be released to law enforcement agencies -- federal, state or local -- in connection with a bona fide criminal investigation or prosecution, so law enforcement still would have access to the records if they request it."
In other words, the concerns of Jessica and the lefty wackos are met satisfactorily by the language of the bill.
But it still leaves Mayor Milk-Carton Tommy with a crisis--and there's not much the Feds can do about that, is there?
Legislation expected before the U.S. House this week would give the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) greater flexibility to punish federally licensed firearms dealers and limit the agency's actions at gun shows. Another bill would forbid the ATF to release so-called crime gun trace data to cities, counties or states for use in lawsuits against the gun industry
...The Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act (H.R. 5005) is a catch-all bill designed to make permanent numerous regulations that have been signed into law over the years at the end of the appropriations process. As Cybercast News Service previously reported, a coalition of anti-gun groups came together on the anniversary of 9/11 to condemn the legislation and to try to tie its defeat to counter-terrorism efforts.
"After 9/11, we criticized law enforcement and intelligence agencies for not connecting the dots," said Joe Vince, former director of ATF's Crime Gun Analysis branch. "So what are we doing now taking the dots off the paper?"
While critics argue that the bill would prevent the ATF from sharing gun trace data with law enforcement agencies the plain language of the bill belies that claim.H.R. 5005 states that ATF trace data "shall not be admissible as evidence, and testimony or other evidence relying on the information shall not be admissible, in any civil action in a State or Federal court, or in any administrative proceeding other than a proceeding commenced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives." (Emphasis added.)
Note the emphasis above on CIVIL. CRIMINAL prosecutions are not hindered by the bill.
Attorney and firearms law expert Richard Gardiner told Cybercast News Service in a previous interview that "the bill says information can be released to law enforcement agencies -- federal, state or local -- in connection with a bona fide criminal investigation or prosecution, so law enforcement still would have access to the records if they request it."
In other words, the concerns of Jessica and the lefty wackos are met satisfactorily by the language of the bill.
But it still leaves Mayor Milk-Carton Tommy with a crisis--and there's not much the Feds can do about that, is there?
Got AIM? Be Very Careful
When using AIM, you may get a message from someone on your "buddy" list:
...when AIM users click on a Web link that appears to have been sent to them by someone on their buddy list. They receive a message along the lines of, "Hey, would it be okay if I upload this picture of you to my blog?" If the recipient clicks on the link, an executable file that looks like a JPEG will download into a Windows folder, according to researchers at security company FaceTime Communications Inc.
The file can then execute a number of different attacks...
This critter is a W32 worm. It can then take over your email port and begin sending spam, or implant a rootkit that you REALLY don't want.
One of the most dangerous aspects of the worm is that it can also connect to remote file-upload sites, which Boyd believes the worm authors' use as "staging sites" where they can continuously download new infections.
Oh, neat-o!
...when AIM users click on a Web link that appears to have been sent to them by someone on their buddy list. They receive a message along the lines of, "Hey, would it be okay if I upload this picture of you to my blog?" If the recipient clicks on the link, an executable file that looks like a JPEG will download into a Windows folder, according to researchers at security company FaceTime Communications Inc.
The file can then execute a number of different attacks...
This critter is a W32 worm. It can then take over your email port and begin sending spam, or implant a rootkit that you REALLY don't want.
One of the most dangerous aspects of the worm is that it can also connect to remote file-upload sites, which Boyd believes the worm authors' use as "staging sites" where they can continuously download new infections.
Oh, neat-o!
Is Jim O'Beirne a Complete Idiot?
Jim O'Beirne apparently is an idiot.
After the fall of Saddam Hussein's government in April 2003, the opportunity to participate in the U.S.-led effort to reconstruct Iraq attracted all manner of Americans -- restless professionals, Arabic-speaking academics, development specialists and war-zone adventurers. But before they could go to Baghdad, they had to get past Jim O'Beirne's office in the Pentagon.
...To pass muster with O'Beirne, a political appointee who screens prospective political appointees for Defense Department posts, applicants didn't need to be experts in the Middle East or in post-conflict reconstruction. What seemed most important was loyalty to the Bush administration
...Many of those chosen by O'Beirne's office to work for the Coalition Provisional Authority, which ran Iraq's government from April 2003 to June 2004, lacked vital skills and experience. A 24-year-old who had never worked in finance -- but had applied for a White House job -- was sent to reopen Baghdad's stock exchange. The daughter of a prominent neoconservative commentator and a recent graduate from an evangelical university for home-schooled children were tapped to manage Iraq's $13 billion budget, even though they didn't have a background in accounting.
The CPA had the power to enact laws, print currency, collect taxes, deploy police and spend Iraq's oil revenue. It had more than 1,500 employees in Baghdad at its height, working under America's viceroy in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, but never released a public roster of its entire staff.
There's plenty more at the link.
Obviously, the US could not send 1800+ genuine, certified experts in ALL the disciplines required to re-establish a complete economy, government, and military. So some of the people who went to the CPA had to be willing and bright enough to be decent functionaries.
But really...how stupid IS Jim O'Beirne?
After the fall of Saddam Hussein's government in April 2003, the opportunity to participate in the U.S.-led effort to reconstruct Iraq attracted all manner of Americans -- restless professionals, Arabic-speaking academics, development specialists and war-zone adventurers. But before they could go to Baghdad, they had to get past Jim O'Beirne's office in the Pentagon.
...To pass muster with O'Beirne, a political appointee who screens prospective political appointees for Defense Department posts, applicants didn't need to be experts in the Middle East or in post-conflict reconstruction. What seemed most important was loyalty to the Bush administration
...Many of those chosen by O'Beirne's office to work for the Coalition Provisional Authority, which ran Iraq's government from April 2003 to June 2004, lacked vital skills and experience. A 24-year-old who had never worked in finance -- but had applied for a White House job -- was sent to reopen Baghdad's stock exchange. The daughter of a prominent neoconservative commentator and a recent graduate from an evangelical university for home-schooled children were tapped to manage Iraq's $13 billion budget, even though they didn't have a background in accounting.
The CPA had the power to enact laws, print currency, collect taxes, deploy police and spend Iraq's oil revenue. It had more than 1,500 employees in Baghdad at its height, working under America's viceroy in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, but never released a public roster of its entire staff.
There's plenty more at the link.
Obviously, the US could not send 1800+ genuine, certified experts in ALL the disciplines required to re-establish a complete economy, government, and military. So some of the people who went to the CPA had to be willing and bright enough to be decent functionaries.
But really...how stupid IS Jim O'Beirne?
Italian Muslim Comments on Jihad Against the Pope
Via Blosser, the following very interesting editorial, written by a leading Italian Muslim:
It is sad and worrying that Muslims have given birth to a united international front to attack the Pope and ask for public apologies. From Bin Laden to the Muslim Brotherhood, from Pakistan to Turkey, from al Jazeera to al Arabiya, the transversal and universal alliance, which has already come into being following the Danish cartoons affair, has reappeared. Reaffirming very clearly that the root of evil is like a blind and prevailing ideology which outrages the faith and darkens the minds of many Muslims.
Why do not Muslims, especially the so called moderates, react with such strength and intensity against the real and eternal desecrators of Islam, that is, the Islamic terrorists who kill other Muslims in the name of the same God, radical Muslims who legitimize the destruction of Israel and teach the faith on Islamic “martyrdom?” Why do they now believe they must start a kind of Islamic “holy war” against the Chief of the Church who does have the right to express his views about Islam, with respect but at the same time with all clarity due to the natural difference between the two religions?
... It is time that both the West and Christianity stop thinking that they are the cause of all that happens, either good or evil, inside Islam and all over the world. The ideology of hate is an ancestral reality inside Islam, since its early beginnings, due to his refusal to recognize and respect the plurality of religious communities which are natural since in Islam the relationship between the believer and God is personal and there is no unique spiritual guide who embodies the absolute dogmas of faith.
And for Folkbum, Feingold (D-AlQuaeda) and the other reality-deniers:
...Nevertheless the problem is inside Islam itself, an Islam that extremists turned from a faith in God into an ideology aiming at the imposition of a theocratic and totalitarian power on everyone who is not like them.
"Totalitarian/theocratic." Can you say "IslamoFascist"???
It is sad and worrying that Muslims have given birth to a united international front to attack the Pope and ask for public apologies. From Bin Laden to the Muslim Brotherhood, from Pakistan to Turkey, from al Jazeera to al Arabiya, the transversal and universal alliance, which has already come into being following the Danish cartoons affair, has reappeared. Reaffirming very clearly that the root of evil is like a blind and prevailing ideology which outrages the faith and darkens the minds of many Muslims.
Why do not Muslims, especially the so called moderates, react with such strength and intensity against the real and eternal desecrators of Islam, that is, the Islamic terrorists who kill other Muslims in the name of the same God, radical Muslims who legitimize the destruction of Israel and teach the faith on Islamic “martyrdom?” Why do they now believe they must start a kind of Islamic “holy war” against the Chief of the Church who does have the right to express his views about Islam, with respect but at the same time with all clarity due to the natural difference between the two religions?
... It is time that both the West and Christianity stop thinking that they are the cause of all that happens, either good or evil, inside Islam and all over the world. The ideology of hate is an ancestral reality inside Islam, since its early beginnings, due to his refusal to recognize and respect the plurality of religious communities which are natural since in Islam the relationship between the believer and God is personal and there is no unique spiritual guide who embodies the absolute dogmas of faith.
And for Folkbum, Feingold (D-AlQuaeda) and the other reality-deniers:
...Nevertheless the problem is inside Islam itself, an Islam that extremists turned from a faith in God into an ideology aiming at the imposition of a theocratic and totalitarian power on everyone who is not like them.
"Totalitarian/theocratic." Can you say "IslamoFascist"???
DiamondJim Continues to Buy Votes With OUR Money
Say WHAT? Jimbo??
Owen reports via the Triumvirate that Jimbo now wants to grant in-State tuition rates to illegal aliens.
I'm confused. By definition, illegal aliens cannot vote. (Wink, wink)
So why's Jim spending our money?
(Wink, wink...)
Owen reports via the Triumvirate that Jimbo now wants to grant in-State tuition rates to illegal aliens.
I'm confused. By definition, illegal aliens cannot vote. (Wink, wink)
So why's Jim spending our money?
(Wink, wink...)
Monday, September 18, 2006
The Same Goes for the Gay "Marriage" Crowd
Dreher finds all kinds of interesting stuff.
Quoting George Will's review of a new book by Edsall:
Edsall notes that one-third of American children -- and almost 70 percent of African American children -- are born to unmarried mothers. Then, in an astonishing passage about this phenomenon, which is the cause of most social pathologies, from crime to schools that cannot teach, he explains how Americans differ concerning what he calls "freedom from the need to maintain the marital or procreative bond." (You know, that Man-Woman "Marriage" stuff...)
"To social conservatives," [Edsall] writes, "these developments have signaled an irretrievable and tragic loss. Their reaction has fueled, on the right, a powerful traditionalist movement and a groundswell of support for the Republican Party. To modernists, these developments constitute, at worst, the unfortunate costs of progress, and, at best -- and this is very much the view on the political left as well as of Democratic Party loyalists -- they constitute a triumph over unconscionable obstacles to the liberation and self-realization of much of the human race."
These "unconscionable obstacles" include the prohibition of Adam/Steve marriages, or other faux-marriage games. Next time you see the commercial produced for the HomosexMarriage crowd, remember the passage above...
Quoting George Will's review of a new book by Edsall:
Edsall notes that one-third of American children -- and almost 70 percent of African American children -- are born to unmarried mothers. Then, in an astonishing passage about this phenomenon, which is the cause of most social pathologies, from crime to schools that cannot teach, he explains how Americans differ concerning what he calls "freedom from the need to maintain the marital or procreative bond." (You know, that Man-Woman "Marriage" stuff...)
"To social conservatives," [Edsall] writes, "these developments have signaled an irretrievable and tragic loss. Their reaction has fueled, on the right, a powerful traditionalist movement and a groundswell of support for the Republican Party. To modernists, these developments constitute, at worst, the unfortunate costs of progress, and, at best -- and this is very much the view on the political left as well as of Democratic Party loyalists -- they constitute a triumph over unconscionable obstacles to the liberation and self-realization of much of the human race."
These "unconscionable obstacles" include the prohibition of Adam/Steve marriages, or other faux-marriage games. Next time you see the commercial produced for the HomosexMarriage crowd, remember the passage above...
Bainbridge on B-16's Remarks
Steve Bainbridge is a UCLA Law Prof, Catholic, and wine-nut. He's also well-informed. In his article (TCS Daily) on the (now-deadly) kerfuffle, he begins at the beginning with B-16's thoughts:
...in 2002, when presenting the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's Declaration "Dominus Iesus": On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church, the then-Cardinal condemned the belief that "all religions are equally valid roads to salvation for their followers." He explained:
"This is a widespread conviction today not only in theological environments, but also in ever greater sectors of Catholic and non-Catholic public opinion, especially those most influenced by the cultural orientation that prevails in the West today, which can be defined, without the fear of contradiction, by one word: relativism."
In turn, he argued, relativism leads ineluctably to the "refusal to identify the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth with the very reality of God, the living God."
In reality, Benedict XVI (then-Ratzinger) is no fan of relativism, nor of syncretism.
This is a "hard teaching," insofar as it is also a slap at the West's 'anything goes, just be nice' "theology."
But no one in Omaha or Nashville, or California has shot a nun, nor kidnapped a priest.
If rejecting the relativism constitutes a shot across Islam's bow, that shot also crosses any number of other bows. In the Regensburg speech, the Pope staked out a set of claims about the relationship of man and God that stand in opposition not only to the Islam of Ibn Hazn, but also that of the Protestant Reformers, the Jesus of History crowd, and (an area of particular concern for this pope) post-Christian Europe. The Pope renewed the claims of the Church Universal to have a truth that is transcendent, rather than culturally-bound:
"True, there are elements in the evolution of the early Church which do not have to be integrated into all cultures. Nonetheless, the fundamental decisions made about the relationship between faith and the use of human reason are part of the faith itself; they are developments consonant with the nature of faith itself."
Islam was not his only target. He said:
"A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion into the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures."
I read that line as a shot across the bow of post-Christian Europe -- a warning that Europe increasingly lacks the tools demanded to meet the threats of the day. Hence, the speech implicitly recalls what may be the ultimate goal of Benedict's pontificate; namely, calling Europe back to Christ.
There's a reason that Josef Ratzinger chose the name "Benedict." And Bainbridge just identified it.
...in 2002, when presenting the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's Declaration "Dominus Iesus": On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church, the then-Cardinal condemned the belief that "all religions are equally valid roads to salvation for their followers." He explained:
"This is a widespread conviction today not only in theological environments, but also in ever greater sectors of Catholic and non-Catholic public opinion, especially those most influenced by the cultural orientation that prevails in the West today, which can be defined, without the fear of contradiction, by one word: relativism."
In turn, he argued, relativism leads ineluctably to the "refusal to identify the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth with the very reality of God, the living God."
In reality, Benedict XVI (then-Ratzinger) is no fan of relativism, nor of syncretism.
This is a "hard teaching," insofar as it is also a slap at the West's 'anything goes, just be nice' "theology."
But no one in Omaha or Nashville, or California has shot a nun, nor kidnapped a priest.
If rejecting the relativism constitutes a shot across Islam's bow, that shot also crosses any number of other bows. In the Regensburg speech, the Pope staked out a set of claims about the relationship of man and God that stand in opposition not only to the Islam of Ibn Hazn, but also that of the Protestant Reformers, the Jesus of History crowd, and (an area of particular concern for this pope) post-Christian Europe. The Pope renewed the claims of the Church Universal to have a truth that is transcendent, rather than culturally-bound:
"True, there are elements in the evolution of the early Church which do not have to be integrated into all cultures. Nonetheless, the fundamental decisions made about the relationship between faith and the use of human reason are part of the faith itself; they are developments consonant with the nature of faith itself."
Islam was not his only target. He said:
"A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion into the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures."
I read that line as a shot across the bow of post-Christian Europe -- a warning that Europe increasingly lacks the tools demanded to meet the threats of the day. Hence, the speech implicitly recalls what may be the ultimate goal of Benedict's pontificate; namely, calling Europe back to Christ.
There's a reason that Josef Ratzinger chose the name "Benedict." And Bainbridge just identified it.
Flash Drive? Careful!!
You can screw up a flash-drive with multiple read/write cycles, too:
"Like mechanical disks, flash disks have their own technical limitations, so it will be wise to measure the fragmentation level on flash disks in order to avoid unnecessary writes on the media," he added.
Just as troublesome:
USB flash memory drives are experiencing an increase in product failures as a result of quality-control problems,
Upshot? Looks like the advice is to go with the higher-priced drive AND a small, rather than large, one. Buy a couple rather than trying to R/W the first one to death. It WILL die.
"Like mechanical disks, flash disks have their own technical limitations, so it will be wise to measure the fragmentation level on flash disks in order to avoid unnecessary writes on the media," he added.
Just as troublesome:
USB flash memory drives are experiencing an increase in product failures as a result of quality-control problems,
Upshot? Looks like the advice is to go with the higher-priced drive AND a small, rather than large, one. Buy a couple rather than trying to R/W the first one to death. It WILL die.
Trent Lott Needs a...
You can fill in the blank.
Courtesy of Captain Ed, we learn that ol' Hairpiece Trent, Hero of Railroads to Nowhere, has a very bad attitude about disclosure of political contributions.
In the next few weeks leading up to Election Day, money will pour into candidates' coffers and voters will be able to see which lobby groups are trying hardest to buy their lawmakers' favor.
Except if the candidates happen to be running for Senate. ...
As it is, almost all senators and Senate candidates deliver their reports on paper (even though those reports are written on computers). The paper filings are laboriously scanned and then key-punched into an electronic system, a procedure that often takes six weeks to finish and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
After the reports are submitted to the Secretary of the Senate (often well past published deadlines), they are placed onto the Federal Election Commission's Web site in a page-by-page format. The listings are not searchable, which makes it almost impossible for anyone to glean useful information Source: WaPost
(This happens to be almost identical to the DiamondJim Doyle reporting method, by the way...his gang of slimebuckets uses Word instead of Excel, making it almost impossible to find out who's getting the next several million in State contracts....)
The Senate has obviously approved tough disclosure rules for House and presidential campaigns, and rightly so. However, the upper chamber has never addressed openness in its own dealings with contributors, and apparently has no plans to do so now.
A bipartisan group approached Trent Lott in July, sending a letter requesting that his Committee on Rules and Administration address this hypocrisy, signed by the seven Republicans and four Democrats and spearheaded by Lott's Mississippi colleague Thad Cochran and Russ Feingold.
The eleven elicited no better response than did Birnbaum, who got stiffed by a Lott staffer when trying to get a comment for his article.
Isn't it about time that Trent Lott gets sent back to a cheerleading squad?
Courtesy of Captain Ed, we learn that ol' Hairpiece Trent, Hero of Railroads to Nowhere, has a very bad attitude about disclosure of political contributions.
In the next few weeks leading up to Election Day, money will pour into candidates' coffers and voters will be able to see which lobby groups are trying hardest to buy their lawmakers' favor.
Except if the candidates happen to be running for Senate. ...
As it is, almost all senators and Senate candidates deliver their reports on paper (even though those reports are written on computers). The paper filings are laboriously scanned and then key-punched into an electronic system, a procedure that often takes six weeks to finish and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
After the reports are submitted to the Secretary of the Senate (often well past published deadlines), they are placed onto the Federal Election Commission's Web site in a page-by-page format. The listings are not searchable, which makes it almost impossible for anyone to glean useful information Source: WaPost
(This happens to be almost identical to the DiamondJim Doyle reporting method, by the way...his gang of slimebuckets uses Word instead of Excel, making it almost impossible to find out who's getting the next several million in State contracts....)
The Senate has obviously approved tough disclosure rules for House and presidential campaigns, and rightly so. However, the upper chamber has never addressed openness in its own dealings with contributors, and apparently has no plans to do so now.
A bipartisan group approached Trent Lott in July, sending a letter requesting that his Committee on Rules and Administration address this hypocrisy, signed by the seven Republicans and four Democrats and spearheaded by Lott's Mississippi colleague Thad Cochran and Russ Feingold.
The eleven elicited no better response than did Birnbaum, who got stiffed by a Lott staffer when trying to get a comment for his article.
Isn't it about time that Trent Lott gets sent back to a cheerleading squad?
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Is the MSM the Cause of the Muslim Anti-B-16 Riots?
One of the advantages of blogging is that one reads news from different sources. For this blogger, that includes Zenit (the daily Vatican digest) as well as a number of specifically Roman Catholic blogs. (See the sidebar...)
Thus, my understanding of Benedict XVI's address at Regensburg is markedly different from the one spread about by the MSM--principally AP and Reuters.
The address was not terribly long, and the "Muslim" portion was only a few grafs within it. In general terms, the address was not about the Muslim faith. Rather, it was about the severance of faith and reason which became definitive through the work of Descartes.
The Pope had traced the faith/reason question from the time of the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) through Scholasticism, making a short excursion into the Muslim question, and then through modern times.
It's really a brilliantly concise history of philosophy and theology.
By the way, the Pope slapped up the current Western division between faith and reason, and mentioned that one of the concerns of the Muslims with the West was precisely this bifurcation--which the Muslims regard as un-natural, as do thinking Catholics, as well as some 'fundamentalist' sects:
We will succeed in doing so only if reason and faith come together in a new way, if we overcome the self-imposed limitation of reason to the empirically verifiable, and if we once more disclose its vast horizons. In this sense theology rightly belongs in the university and within the wide-ranging dialogue of sciences, not merely as a historical discipline and one of the human sciences, but precisely as theology, as inquiry into the rationality of faith.
But that's not what the AP and Reuters reported, is it?
From "Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex":
True to its nature, the western press has, in the last couple of days, stupidly and dangerously mischaracterized the Holy Father. They have, with a crudeness that surpasses credulity, tried to portray Benedict’s brilliant, recent lecture at Regensburg, to a group of scientists, as an attack on Islam. Clearly, the speech surpasses the intellectual ken of the typical journalist. It is one of the clearest, pithiest, most forceful expositions of the path that led to the separation of faith and reason in the West that I have ever read. For those who have not read it, here it is.
What was the AFP/Yahoo headline?
Pope enjoys private time after slamming Islam
Really?
From the article following the headline above, we get the following:
His address late Tuesday to academics at Regensburg University, in which he fleetingly criticised the Islamic concept of "Jihad" or holy war, hit the only political note of his six-day visit, during which his addresses have been almost entirely spiritual.
"Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul," said the pope, during a complex treatise on reason and faith.
At least the term "fleetingly" was correct. All the rest is utterly vapid and not even CLOSE to accurate.
Even my initial precis of the "Muslim/Christian differences" which DID focus on that portion of the speech gave a better sense of the context than does the above.
The NYTimes' story of today characterizes the speech accurately:
The speech was largely a scholarly address criticizing the West for submitting itself too much to reason, for walling belief in God out of science and philosophy.
...but the lead graf in the story is not quite accurate:
Pope Benedict XVI sought Sunday to extinguish days of anger and protest among Muslims by issuing an extraordinary personal apology for having caused offense with a speech last week that cited a reference to Islam as “evil and inhuman.”
Big difference.
It's clear that there is a reason for blogs. Keep reading them.
Thus, my understanding of Benedict XVI's address at Regensburg is markedly different from the one spread about by the MSM--principally AP and Reuters.
The address was not terribly long, and the "Muslim" portion was only a few grafs within it. In general terms, the address was not about the Muslim faith. Rather, it was about the severance of faith and reason which became definitive through the work of Descartes.
The Pope had traced the faith/reason question from the time of the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) through Scholasticism, making a short excursion into the Muslim question, and then through modern times.
It's really a brilliantly concise history of philosophy and theology.
By the way, the Pope slapped up the current Western division between faith and reason, and mentioned that one of the concerns of the Muslims with the West was precisely this bifurcation--which the Muslims regard as un-natural, as do thinking Catholics, as well as some 'fundamentalist' sects:
We will succeed in doing so only if reason and faith come together in a new way, if we overcome the self-imposed limitation of reason to the empirically verifiable, and if we once more disclose its vast horizons. In this sense theology rightly belongs in the university and within the wide-ranging dialogue of sciences, not merely as a historical discipline and one of the human sciences, but precisely as theology, as inquiry into the rationality of faith.
But that's not what the AP and Reuters reported, is it?
From "Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex":
True to its nature, the western press has, in the last couple of days, stupidly and dangerously mischaracterized the Holy Father. They have, with a crudeness that surpasses credulity, tried to portray Benedict’s brilliant, recent lecture at Regensburg, to a group of scientists, as an attack on Islam. Clearly, the speech surpasses the intellectual ken of the typical journalist. It is one of the clearest, pithiest, most forceful expositions of the path that led to the separation of faith and reason in the West that I have ever read. For those who have not read it, here it is.
What was the AFP/Yahoo headline?
Pope enjoys private time after slamming Islam
Really?
From the article following the headline above, we get the following:
His address late Tuesday to academics at Regensburg University, in which he fleetingly criticised the Islamic concept of "Jihad" or holy war, hit the only political note of his six-day visit, during which his addresses have been almost entirely spiritual.
"Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul," said the pope, during a complex treatise on reason and faith.
At least the term "fleetingly" was correct. All the rest is utterly vapid and not even CLOSE to accurate.
Even my initial precis of the "Muslim/Christian differences" which DID focus on that portion of the speech gave a better sense of the context than does the above.
The NYTimes' story of today characterizes the speech accurately:
The speech was largely a scholarly address criticizing the West for submitting itself too much to reason, for walling belief in God out of science and philosophy.
...but the lead graf in the story is not quite accurate:
Pope Benedict XVI sought Sunday to extinguish days of anger and protest among Muslims by issuing an extraordinary personal apology for having caused offense with a speech last week that cited a reference to Islam as “evil and inhuman.”
What the Pope ACTUALLY said is in the second graf:
“I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address,” the pope told pilgrims at the summer papal palace of Castel Gandolfo, “which were considered offensive.’’Big difference.
It's clear that there is a reason for blogs. Keep reading them.
Mitchell Bank Chairman Misrepresents Numbers
In an earlier post, we noted that the Chairman of Mitchell Bank stated that 'only 10,000 unskilled Mexicans are legally allowed into the US every year' during his "lecture" to the Peter Favre Forum a few months ago.
That number seemed very small to me--and if it were accurate, I opined that it was certainly worthy of study (for the purpose of increasing it.)
As it turns out, the number was very small--and VERY inaccurate.
Here's a US Immigration Service table (Excel) which gives MUCH larger numbers.
Looks as though the average is about 160,000/year from 1996-2005.
If the Chairman of a Bank has this sort of numbers-problem, perhaps he should use one of the Bank's calculators more frequently.
That number seemed very small to me--and if it were accurate, I opined that it was certainly worthy of study (for the purpose of increasing it.)
As it turns out, the number was very small--and VERY inaccurate.
Here's a US Immigration Service table (Excel) which gives MUCH larger numbers.
Looks as though the average is about 160,000/year from 1996-2005.
If the Chairman of a Bank has this sort of numbers-problem, perhaps he should use one of the Bank's calculators more frequently.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Earthbound Farms--Irony and E. Coli
The outfit which recalled all its spinach is Earthbound Farms, a 20-something company which has quite a reputation as an "organic foods" producer.
Here's a little blurb about their 26,000 acre operation:
This means that each year 8,400,000 pounds of synthetic fertilizer and 267,000 pounds of toxic and persistent pesticides are not introduced into our environment, your neighborhood, or our food.
From the AP report:
Earthbound Farm, the country's largest grower of organic produce, is facing unwelcome scrutiny after federal officials linked a nationwide E. coli outbreak to its bagged spinach
The company, also known by its legal name Natural Selection Foods LLC, recalled and stopped shipping all its spinach products after E. coli outbreaks killed one person and sickened more than 100 others in 19 states.
Well, whatever it is, at least it's not a "persistent pesticide."
Here's a little blurb about their 26,000 acre operation:
This means that each year 8,400,000 pounds of synthetic fertilizer and 267,000 pounds of toxic and persistent pesticides are not introduced into our environment, your neighborhood, or our food.
From the AP report:
Earthbound Farm, the country's largest grower of organic produce, is facing unwelcome scrutiny after federal officials linked a nationwide E. coli outbreak to its bagged spinach
The company, also known by its legal name Natural Selection Foods LLC, recalled and stopped shipping all its spinach products after E. coli outbreaks killed one person and sickened more than 100 others in 19 states.
Well, whatever it is, at least it's not a "persistent pesticide."
Muslims Asking for Real Trouble. GWB, Phone Home
The "religion of peace" is scoring big-time points here:
A HARDLINE cleric linked to Somalia’s powerful Islamist movement has called for Muslims to “hunt down” and kill Pope Benedict XVI for his controversial comments about Islam.
Sheikh Abubukar Hassan Malin urged Muslims to find the pontiff and punish him for insulting the Prophet Mohammed and Allah in a speech that he said was as offensive as author Salman Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses.
“We urge you Muslims wherever you are to hunt down the Pope for his barbaric statements as you have pursued Salman Rushdie, the enemy of Allah who offended our religion,” he said in Friday evening prayers.
“Whoever offends our Prophet Mohammed should be killed on the spot by the nearest Muslim,” Malin, a prominent cleric in the Somali capital, told worshippers at a mosque in southern Mogadishu.
“We call on all Islamic Communities across the world to take revenge on the baseless critic called the pope,” he said.
And here:
Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority, Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik, said in remarks published Saturday that the pope’s comments on Islam were “all lies.”
“These are all lies. The prophet (Muhammad), peace be upon him, came as a mercy to the world,” the daily al-Riyadh newspaper quoted al-Sheik as saying.
He said the pontiff’s remarks showed reconciliation between religions was impossible.
“Everybody should know by now that all claims about religions’ reconciliation have just been proven to be lies in reality,” al-Sheik said. “How can they think of reconciliation while insulting Islam and the prophet?”
Hope you mullahs remember a couple of names: Jan Sobieski and Lepanto. Except this time you may not get as far as Vienna, nor the Aegean.
Meantime, the silence from Foggy Bottom and the White House has been deafening.
A HARDLINE cleric linked to Somalia’s powerful Islamist movement has called for Muslims to “hunt down” and kill Pope Benedict XVI for his controversial comments about Islam.
Sheikh Abubukar Hassan Malin urged Muslims to find the pontiff and punish him for insulting the Prophet Mohammed and Allah in a speech that he said was as offensive as author Salman Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses.
“We urge you Muslims wherever you are to hunt down the Pope for his barbaric statements as you have pursued Salman Rushdie, the enemy of Allah who offended our religion,” he said in Friday evening prayers.
“Whoever offends our Prophet Mohammed should be killed on the spot by the nearest Muslim,” Malin, a prominent cleric in the Somali capital, told worshippers at a mosque in southern Mogadishu.
“We call on all Islamic Communities across the world to take revenge on the baseless critic called the pope,” he said.
And here:
Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority, Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik, said in remarks published Saturday that the pope’s comments on Islam were “all lies.”
“These are all lies. The prophet (Muhammad), peace be upon him, came as a mercy to the world,” the daily al-Riyadh newspaper quoted al-Sheik as saying.
He said the pontiff’s remarks showed reconciliation between religions was impossible.
“Everybody should know by now that all claims about religions’ reconciliation have just been proven to be lies in reality,” al-Sheik said. “How can they think of reconciliation while insulting Islam and the prophet?”
Hope you mullahs remember a couple of names: Jan Sobieski and Lepanto. Except this time you may not get as far as Vienna, nor the Aegean.
Meantime, the silence from Foggy Bottom and the White House has been deafening.
What's the Second Amendment REALLY There For?
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a debate!
From Where I Sit and P-Mac sorta-kinda-like Open Knowledge of Gun Ownership.
The NRA, Sensenbrenner, and I stand opposed, at least in some regards.
Much of the discussion is about utilization of registration data. P-Mac:
What this is really is an argument about is how gun-trace data can be used. Sensenbrenner backs a bill that generally limits federal gun-tracking data to law-enforcement use, strictly defined, while his critics say the data should be more widely available. Personally, I find merit on both sides, though I lean toward letting the federal data be more accessible rather than more restricted
Elliot/From Where:
I think we should do a much better job of tracking guns in this country. Just like I think we should be able to tell exactly who’s voting, I think we should be able to tell exactly who is responsible for any particular gun.
Currently, under Federal law, people who purchase handguns and long-guns (rifles) have to register their purchase with the dealer. (There's a myth that "gun shows" are a "loophole" to this requirement. The myth is perpetrated successfully on the wilfully ignorant...)
At any rate, the registration data is supposed to remain confidential--and removed from Federal records--after a period of time.
There have been problems. Rogue cops, rogue Mayors, and various do-gooder-crusaders have been able to get their hands on the data and have blatantly mis-used the stuff for various nefarious purposes. BATF agents have also been overly exuberant in "enforcement" of regulations. On the other hand, there have been successes (see Chisholm's story on McIlheran's blog entry.)
But the debate misses a larger point.
The Second Amendment was not written exclusively for deer-hunters, nor exclusively for those who wish to be armed as a matter of self-defense against criminals.
It was written for better reasons: the defense of the Country and the defense of the States against the Country (if necessary.) Recall that the Bill of Rights was added at the demand of various States and is largely concerned with "What the Feds Cannot Do." This list of "cannots" was facilitated at the point of a gun (as it were) by inclusion of the 2nd Amendment.
Finally, by implication, the 2nd was written to allow the citizens self-protection against not ONLY a rogue Federal Government, but also against rogue State Government(s.) In other words, the 2nd empowers responsible citizens with arms.
I am not among those who think that there is an imminent threat from the Feds, nor from the State, to establish some sort of Fascism.
But then, neither were the Jews of Germany and Poland in the 1920's. Nor were scores of settlers and natives in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in the 1960's. Nor citizens of Cambodia just before Pol Pot.
Acton's words about power and Absolute power are worth remembering in this debate, as is the REAL purpose of the 2nd.
From Where I Sit and P-Mac sorta-kinda-like Open Knowledge of Gun Ownership.
The NRA, Sensenbrenner, and I stand opposed, at least in some regards.
Much of the discussion is about utilization of registration data. P-Mac:
What this is really is an argument about is how gun-trace data can be used. Sensenbrenner backs a bill that generally limits federal gun-tracking data to law-enforcement use, strictly defined, while his critics say the data should be more widely available. Personally, I find merit on both sides, though I lean toward letting the federal data be more accessible rather than more restricted
Elliot/From Where:
I think we should do a much better job of tracking guns in this country. Just like I think we should be able to tell exactly who’s voting, I think we should be able to tell exactly who is responsible for any particular gun.
Currently, under Federal law, people who purchase handguns and long-guns (rifles) have to register their purchase with the dealer. (There's a myth that "gun shows" are a "loophole" to this requirement. The myth is perpetrated successfully on the wilfully ignorant...)
At any rate, the registration data is supposed to remain confidential--and removed from Federal records--after a period of time.
There have been problems. Rogue cops, rogue Mayors, and various do-gooder-crusaders have been able to get their hands on the data and have blatantly mis-used the stuff for various nefarious purposes. BATF agents have also been overly exuberant in "enforcement" of regulations. On the other hand, there have been successes (see Chisholm's story on McIlheran's blog entry.)
But the debate misses a larger point.
The Second Amendment was not written exclusively for deer-hunters, nor exclusively for those who wish to be armed as a matter of self-defense against criminals.
It was written for better reasons: the defense of the Country and the defense of the States against the Country (if necessary.) Recall that the Bill of Rights was added at the demand of various States and is largely concerned with "What the Feds Cannot Do." This list of "cannots" was facilitated at the point of a gun (as it were) by inclusion of the 2nd Amendment.
Finally, by implication, the 2nd was written to allow the citizens self-protection against not ONLY a rogue Federal Government, but also against rogue State Government(s.) In other words, the 2nd empowers responsible citizens with arms.
I am not among those who think that there is an imminent threat from the Feds, nor from the State, to establish some sort of Fascism.
But then, neither were the Jews of Germany and Poland in the 1920's. Nor were scores of settlers and natives in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in the 1960's. Nor citizens of Cambodia just before Pol Pot.
Acton's words about power and Absolute power are worth remembering in this debate, as is the REAL purpose of the 2nd.
My CHILDREN Weren't Treated This Well
P-Mac catches a good one:
“The politically correct regulations are unbelievable,” he writes in the New York Post. “Detainees are entitled to a full eight hours sleep and can't be woken up for interrogations. They enjoy three meals and five prayers per day, without interruption. They are entitled to a minimum of two hours of outdoor recreation per day.
My children were subject to interrogations at ANY TIME, for ANY REASON, and "outdoor recreation" was eliminated from their schedules, often--for various reasons. But they DID pray--for relief from interrogations, or that Dad/Mom wouldn't catch them, or figure out who was guilty...
“Interrogations are limited to four hours, usually running two -- and (of course) are interrupted for prayers. One interrogator actually bakes cookies for detainees, while another serves them Subway or McDonald's sandwiches. Both are available on base. (Filet o' Fish is an al Qaeda favorite.)
We fed the children. Once in a while, McDonald's or subway. Mom baked cookies for them (usually I ate them before the kids ever saw them...heh.) But they were also forced to clear the table, clean the utensils, load/unload the dishwasher--and occasionally actually had to eat REAL food--nutritious stuff, you know.
“Interrogations are not video or audio taped, perhaps to preserve detainee privacy.
We didn't tape the interrogations, either. That way the nosy child-welfare folks only had "he said/she said" evidence. Worked for us!!
“The politically correct regulations are unbelievable,” he writes in the New York Post. “Detainees are entitled to a full eight hours sleep and can't be woken up for interrogations. They enjoy three meals and five prayers per day, without interruption. They are entitled to a minimum of two hours of outdoor recreation per day.
My children were subject to interrogations at ANY TIME, for ANY REASON, and "outdoor recreation" was eliminated from their schedules, often--for various reasons. But they DID pray--for relief from interrogations, or that Dad/Mom wouldn't catch them, or figure out who was guilty...
“Interrogations are limited to four hours, usually running two -- and (of course) are interrupted for prayers. One interrogator actually bakes cookies for detainees, while another serves them Subway or McDonald's sandwiches. Both are available on base. (Filet o' Fish is an al Qaeda favorite.)
We fed the children. Once in a while, McDonald's or subway. Mom baked cookies for them (usually I ate them before the kids ever saw them...heh.) But they were also forced to clear the table, clean the utensils, load/unload the dishwasher--and occasionally actually had to eat REAL food--nutritious stuff, you know.
“Interrogations are not video or audio taped, perhaps to preserve detainee privacy.
We didn't tape the interrogations, either. That way the nosy child-welfare folks only had "he said/she said" evidence. Worked for us!!
Pakistan: Collapsing?
He's a scumbag, but he had been helpful in the WOT.
But Musharrat is beginning to lose control to the AlQuaeda gang. That will have repercussions; remember that Pakistan has nukes.
On Friday, the Telegraph published a distressing story that my intelligence sources have confirmed. Pakistan's descent into chaos (see my coverage of the government's surrender of the Waziristan region) is apparently continuing apace, with the latest incident being the release of 2,500 foreign fighters linked to the Taliban and al-Qaeda who were "detained by Pakistan after fleeing the battleground in Afghanistan." My intelligence sources indicate that this is a "done deal," as the prisoners were released early Friday morning.
...My intelligence sources indicate that this latest incident further demonstrates the weakness of Musharraf's government. Several of the released prisoners were reportedly linked to past assassination plots against Musharraf, so letting them go free is unlikely to buy the Pakistani president the security that he apparently desires. He is "running scared" according to my sources, and is putting very little thought into the various concessions that he's making to militant factions.
Another little item on GWB's worry-bead collection.
But Musharrat is beginning to lose control to the AlQuaeda gang. That will have repercussions; remember that Pakistan has nukes.
On Friday, the Telegraph published a distressing story that my intelligence sources have confirmed. Pakistan's descent into chaos (see my coverage of the government's surrender of the Waziristan region) is apparently continuing apace, with the latest incident being the release of 2,500 foreign fighters linked to the Taliban and al-Qaeda who were "detained by Pakistan after fleeing the battleground in Afghanistan." My intelligence sources indicate that this is a "done deal," as the prisoners were released early Friday morning.
...My intelligence sources indicate that this latest incident further demonstrates the weakness of Musharraf's government. Several of the released prisoners were reportedly linked to past assassination plots against Musharraf, so letting them go free is unlikely to buy the Pakistani president the security that he apparently desires. He is "running scared" according to my sources, and is putting very little thought into the various concessions that he's making to militant factions.
Another little item on GWB's worry-bead collection.
Jordahl's BRILLIANT Perception
This lady is dead-nuts-on.
In her discussion of the "See/Hear/Speak No Evil" attack on Jim Sensenbrenner, she observes:
...what really concerns the liberal establishment is not whether Jim Sensenbrenner's comments will hurt tourism. The sound they're afraid of is more levers being pulled for conservative, tough on crime candidates like Sheriff David Clarke
...or JB Van Hollen.
But I suspect that this is merely the tip of the iceberg.
Nationally, the 'generic' Republican has been rapidly gaining ground on the 'generic' Democrat in Republican districts and States which have open or contestable seats in Congress. (Gallup) It's a 40-point turnaround, and while these are (R) districts, and while this is attributed largely to "War on Terror" coat-tails of GWBush, I don't think that it is the only reason--and Jordahl (as well as Fraley) see a "law-and-order" trend, as well.
Obviously, they both read my post below before making their observations.
In her discussion of the "See/Hear/Speak No Evil" attack on Jim Sensenbrenner, she observes:
...what really concerns the liberal establishment is not whether Jim Sensenbrenner's comments will hurt tourism. The sound they're afraid of is more levers being pulled for conservative, tough on crime candidates like Sheriff David Clarke
...or JB Van Hollen.
But I suspect that this is merely the tip of the iceberg.
Nationally, the 'generic' Republican has been rapidly gaining ground on the 'generic' Democrat in Republican districts and States which have open or contestable seats in Congress. (Gallup) It's a 40-point turnaround, and while these are (R) districts, and while this is attributed largely to "War on Terror" coat-tails of GWBush, I don't think that it is the only reason--and Jordahl (as well as Fraley) see a "law-and-order" trend, as well.
Obviously, they both read my post below before making their observations.
Damn Good Shooting
We think that this officer is a REALLY cool cop with out-friggin-standing! shooting capabilities.
A 56-year-old man was shot by a Milwaukee police officer inside a home about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, after, police said, the man pointed a gun at the officer.
The man was hit twice in the arm and taken to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa. He was expected to survive.
Good shooting. The principle here is simple: a good cop should disable the threat--exactly what happened here. "Deadly force" should not have to result in death.
A 56-year-old man was shot by a Milwaukee police officer inside a home about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, after, police said, the man pointed a gun at the officer.
The man was hit twice in the arm and taken to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa. He was expected to survive.
Good shooting. The principle here is simple: a good cop should disable the threat--exactly what happened here. "Deadly force" should not have to result in death.
Tom Barrett: Here IS a Crisis
Milk Carton Tommy, you have a crisis:
By age 10, Leon had been referred to Milwaukee County Children's court four times, once for trying to sexually assault a 6-year-old relative. Now 15, he has been placed on probation five times, received mental health, mentoring and counseling services, and has been placed in multiple residential treatment centers and treatment foster homes, records show.
Four of the six juveniles charged [in the gang-rape crime], records show, had prior contact with the juvenile justice system in addition to some personal drug involvement, or a parent involved with drugs.
The Leftist establishment in this country (and particularly in Wisconsin) has been very effective in "understanding the pain" and "rehabilitating." Hell, the Democrat nominee for Attorney-General thinks that our jails are wasting space on druggies; that they should be on the streets, instead. They "just need a chance" to turn around.
Yah.
Tommy-boy's crisis was handed to him by several generations of Lefties who eviscerated the family, who legitimized sex before/outside of marriage, who have enshrined "make nice" as the only courtroom alternative for prosecutors and judges--who, in their determination to justify their Creed that a 'sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll' society is harmless (we call that "self-justification") have created a societal CRISIS.
The irony is that MilkCarton Tommy is a card-carrying member of that Left.
He just can't possibly admit it.
By age 10, Leon had been referred to Milwaukee County Children's court four times, once for trying to sexually assault a 6-year-old relative. Now 15, he has been placed on probation five times, received mental health, mentoring and counseling services, and has been placed in multiple residential treatment centers and treatment foster homes, records show.
Four of the six juveniles charged [in the gang-rape crime], records show, had prior contact with the juvenile justice system in addition to some personal drug involvement, or a parent involved with drugs.
The Leftist establishment in this country (and particularly in Wisconsin) has been very effective in "understanding the pain" and "rehabilitating." Hell, the Democrat nominee for Attorney-General thinks that our jails are wasting space on druggies; that they should be on the streets, instead. They "just need a chance" to turn around.
Yah.
Tommy-boy's crisis was handed to him by several generations of Lefties who eviscerated the family, who legitimized sex before/outside of marriage, who have enshrined "make nice" as the only courtroom alternative for prosecutors and judges--who, in their determination to justify their Creed that a 'sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll' society is harmless (we call that "self-justification") have created a societal CRISIS.
The irony is that MilkCarton Tommy is a card-carrying member of that Left.
He just can't possibly admit it.
Cedarburg
What a mess.
So happens I know a couple of Cedarburg schoolteachers--not well, but well enough. There's a very real and deep divide "in the ranks" of the teachers on this question, as well. One of them is a union activist, and based on my observations, damn near a moonbat-lefty. The other is neither.
The leftist predicted this outcome last year. He was absolutely certain that the teacher would be re-instated. The other guy feared that the re-instatement would occur.
The arbitrator managed to avoid the real question by adopting a "fairness" standard. Since another District employee had NOT been fired for cruising the Web on District machines, the porn-peeper should not be fired, either. But the other web-cruiser was looking for stock quotations, not TeenHotBabesWithBikinis.
Of course, the case should NOT be all about process. It SHOULD BE all about substance, as Nichols points out in today's JSOnline
The libertarian-crowd is neutered on this one. They will defend, to the death, the concept that pornpeepers are just fine to have around, so long as they don't touch.
After all, what's the harm in porn? It's just like prostitution, no? Willing parties, and all that...
Actually, there's a growing body of evidence that suggests there IS a problem, which comes as no surprise to Conservatives. Remember all those pervert priests? Most of them had porn-stashes. Many (not all) heterosex offenders (rapists and slut-chasers) have porn-stashes.
These are statistically-significant coincidences.
I don't make the claim that ALL porn-peepers act out. And I don't make the claim that all pervert-actors (hetero or homo) have porn stashes.
But the Catholic Church regards porn-viewing as a serious (mortal) sin, (given the usual conditions,) and I would guess that the WELS folks are of similar mind.
At some point, maybe not far down the track, this debate will get the serious attention it deserves.
So happens I know a couple of Cedarburg schoolteachers--not well, but well enough. There's a very real and deep divide "in the ranks" of the teachers on this question, as well. One of them is a union activist, and based on my observations, damn near a moonbat-lefty. The other is neither.
The leftist predicted this outcome last year. He was absolutely certain that the teacher would be re-instated. The other guy feared that the re-instatement would occur.
The arbitrator managed to avoid the real question by adopting a "fairness" standard. Since another District employee had NOT been fired for cruising the Web on District machines, the porn-peeper should not be fired, either. But the other web-cruiser was looking for stock quotations, not TeenHotBabesWithBikinis.
Of course, the case should NOT be all about process. It SHOULD BE all about substance, as Nichols points out in today's JSOnline
The libertarian-crowd is neutered on this one. They will defend, to the death, the concept that pornpeepers are just fine to have around, so long as they don't touch.
After all, what's the harm in porn? It's just like prostitution, no? Willing parties, and all that...
Actually, there's a growing body of evidence that suggests there IS a problem, which comes as no surprise to Conservatives. Remember all those pervert priests? Most of them had porn-stashes. Many (not all) heterosex offenders (rapists and slut-chasers) have porn-stashes.
These are statistically-significant coincidences.
I don't make the claim that ALL porn-peepers act out. And I don't make the claim that all pervert-actors (hetero or homo) have porn stashes.
But the Catholic Church regards porn-viewing as a serious (mortal) sin, (given the usual conditions,) and I would guess that the WELS folks are of similar mind.
At some point, maybe not far down the track, this debate will get the serious attention it deserves.
Second Grandchild!!
Yup. Spent a little time out of town last night to check out the newest addition to the family.
Oldest daughter delivered a very healthy son. Mom, Dad, and grandparents are fine.
More target-shooting lessons on the docket in about 6 or 7 years, eh?
Oldest daughter delivered a very healthy son. Mom, Dad, and grandparents are fine.
More target-shooting lessons on the docket in about 6 or 7 years, eh?
Free Speech Emerges!
Heh.
By the reporting, it seems that Doyle handled this as best he could (that's my positive comment about Diamond Jim for the year.)
A group of unidentified protesters disrupted a news conference Friday by Gov. Jim Doyle, drowning out some of his comments on an E. coli outbreak and on Zoo Interchange reconstruction.
The protesters, less than a dozen in number, carried homemade signs and at least one megaphone. They arrived at the Watertown Plank Road park-and-ride lot in Wauwatosa before the start of the news conference.
Doyle tried to wait them out, then started and stopped his comments a few times before deciding to ignore the protesters and press on.
The Green campaign stated that they had nothing to do with it.
Doyle's Slimer-in-Chief, however, uses tried-and-true New York campaign tactics:
Doyle campaign spokesman Anson Kaye said he did not buy the Green campaign's denial.
"A handful of goons show up at an event, regurgitating an ad Congressman Green just put up this morning," Kaye said. "It's pretty clear where they came from . . . "
Based on the reporting in the story, I suspect that the Green campaign is telling the truth. In fact, I have my own ideas about the genesis of this group.
By the reporting, it seems that Doyle handled this as best he could (that's my positive comment about Diamond Jim for the year.)
A group of unidentified protesters disrupted a news conference Friday by Gov. Jim Doyle, drowning out some of his comments on an E. coli outbreak and on Zoo Interchange reconstruction.
The protesters, less than a dozen in number, carried homemade signs and at least one megaphone. They arrived at the Watertown Plank Road park-and-ride lot in Wauwatosa before the start of the news conference.
Doyle tried to wait them out, then started and stopped his comments a few times before deciding to ignore the protesters and press on.
The Green campaign stated that they had nothing to do with it.
Doyle's Slimer-in-Chief, however, uses tried-and-true New York campaign tactics:
Doyle campaign spokesman Anson Kaye said he did not buy the Green campaign's denial.
"A handful of goons show up at an event, regurgitating an ad Congressman Green just put up this morning," Kaye said. "It's pretty clear where they came from . . . "
Based on the reporting in the story, I suspect that the Green campaign is telling the truth. In fact, I have my own ideas about the genesis of this group.
Green's REAL Challenge
Let's assume that Mark Green wins the race and becomes Governor of the State of Wisconsin early next year. (Let's also HOPE and WORK for that...)
He will have a problem:
The Legislature and Doyle both use bookkeeping that says the state will have a tiny surplus when the current budget cycle ends in mid-2007. But Green and others, including the non-profit Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, said more traditional accounting methods conclude that the imbalance between future spending and tax collections is more than $1 billion.
Basically, state spending in fiscal 2008 - the first budget the next governor must prepare - is $400 million out of balance, assuming state government continues to pay two-thirds of public school costs, continues to pay for rising Medicaid caseloads and gives state workers a 1.5% annual pay raise
The difficulty here is simple. There are plenty of (R) Leggies who like to spend Other People's Money. Not on WEAC, of course. They prefer highways and buildings, and maybe nursing homes.
But, as Rep. Lassee has tirelessly pointed out, IT'S THE SPENDING, STUPID!!!
Green will have to exercise a very firm hand to control the Pubbie spending-lobby. We can expect a great deal of internecine bloodshed should Green actually make the attempt.
He'll need support.
He will have a problem:
The Legislature and Doyle both use bookkeeping that says the state will have a tiny surplus when the current budget cycle ends in mid-2007. But Green and others, including the non-profit Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, said more traditional accounting methods conclude that the imbalance between future spending and tax collections is more than $1 billion.
Basically, state spending in fiscal 2008 - the first budget the next governor must prepare - is $400 million out of balance, assuming state government continues to pay two-thirds of public school costs, continues to pay for rising Medicaid caseloads and gives state workers a 1.5% annual pay raise
The difficulty here is simple. There are plenty of (R) Leggies who like to spend Other People's Money. Not on WEAC, of course. They prefer highways and buildings, and maybe nursing homes.
But, as Rep. Lassee has tirelessly pointed out, IT'S THE SPENDING, STUPID!!!
Green will have to exercise a very firm hand to control the Pubbie spending-lobby. We can expect a great deal of internecine bloodshed should Green actually make the attempt.
He'll need support.
China Is Our Friend, Part 45875
Yah. "The Workers' Paradise" alright.
Verité, the social compliance company, says workers were not properly paid for overtime work in 68 percent of the factories it audited last year, a figure virtually unchanged from previous years. Employees worked beyond the legal limit in two-thirds of the factories it audited. The company has performed about 400 audits in China since 2002
...Despite the spreading use of social compliance audits, department stores or the owners of major Western brands are sometimes unaware - or are willfully ignorant - of the scale of the abuses, said Daniella Gould, the top manager in East Asia for Impactt, a company that audits factories and offers training to Chinese managers
Actually, PRChina may well BE a "workers' paradise,"--but no PRC officials really care:
On the books, Chinese labor laws are strict. The workweek is 40 hours, after which generous overtime must be paid, ranging from 150 percent to 200 percent of base salary, until a total of 66 hours, the effective legal weekly limit. Workers are entitled to at least one day off a week. No one younger than 16 is allowed to work in a factory
The 'social audit' people who spoke for the record were very careful to point the finger of blame at the low-level "local" Commies who "are interested in economic development." Other reports from PRC indicate that ChiCom higher-ups (Politburo members and their families) are often investors in factories. In other words, the local yokels keep their hands off for a damn good reason: screwing up the Politburo's personal get-rich schemes can cost you your life, or at least your position and comfy home.
In the article, Apple is ID'd as a "good guy."
Let's hope that Apple is not the only one.
Verité, the social compliance company, says workers were not properly paid for overtime work in 68 percent of the factories it audited last year, a figure virtually unchanged from previous years. Employees worked beyond the legal limit in two-thirds of the factories it audited. The company has performed about 400 audits in China since 2002
...Despite the spreading use of social compliance audits, department stores or the owners of major Western brands are sometimes unaware - or are willfully ignorant - of the scale of the abuses, said Daniella Gould, the top manager in East Asia for Impactt, a company that audits factories and offers training to Chinese managers
Actually, PRChina may well BE a "workers' paradise,"--but no PRC officials really care:
On the books, Chinese labor laws are strict. The workweek is 40 hours, after which generous overtime must be paid, ranging from 150 percent to 200 percent of base salary, until a total of 66 hours, the effective legal weekly limit. Workers are entitled to at least one day off a week. No one younger than 16 is allowed to work in a factory
The 'social audit' people who spoke for the record were very careful to point the finger of blame at the low-level "local" Commies who "are interested in economic development." Other reports from PRC indicate that ChiCom higher-ups (Politburo members and their families) are often investors in factories. In other words, the local yokels keep their hands off for a damn good reason: screwing up the Politburo's personal get-rich schemes can cost you your life, or at least your position and comfy home.
In the article, Apple is ID'd as a "good guy."
Let's hope that Apple is not the only one.
Friday, September 15, 2006
The Muslims, the Gays
Here's Dreher on the Moslem scream over Benedict XVI's remarks:
How on earth are we ever supposed to be able to have a dialogue if the non-Muslim side has to walk on eggshells to avoid offending the wounded sensibilities of Muslim leaders, who seem very eager to take the gross offense at anything critical. ... Still, in my dealings with Muslim leaders in Dallas who have been offended by my critical writing, they rarely if ever have dealt with the substance of what I've written; they've gone apoplectic over the fact that I wrote anything critical at all. As if the only reason anyone could have anything critical to say about Islam is out of malicious or bigoted motive.
Substitute "homosexual agenda" for "Islam" in the highlight above...
How on earth are we ever supposed to be able to have a dialogue if the non-Muslim side has to walk on eggshells to avoid offending the wounded sensibilities of Muslim leaders, who seem very eager to take the gross offense at anything critical. ... Still, in my dealings with Muslim leaders in Dallas who have been offended by my critical writing, they rarely if ever have dealt with the substance of what I've written; they've gone apoplectic over the fact that I wrote anything critical at all. As if the only reason anyone could have anything critical to say about Islam is out of malicious or bigoted motive.
Substitute "homosexual agenda" for "Islam" in the highlight above...
Anent the CUF Advice
So what would Mr. Suprenant suggest when confronted with a greasy half-truth like this:
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has determined that in the United States, Holy Communion is received standing and that the appropriate sign of respect is a bow of the head before the Sacrament. The Diocese of Orange is obliged to observe this norm. (Bp Tod Brown via The Cafeteria Is Closed via Matt Abbott)
Yes, the Diocese is "obliged to observe" the norm. But the Faithful are NOT--as was made clear by a directive from Rome (whose authority on the matter supercedes that of Bp. Brown.) A member of the Faithful may choose to kneel and priests are required to administer Communion (all other things being equal.)
How about this one:
The participation of women as altar servers, cantors, and lectors, is a sign of the basic equality of every baptized member of Christ: we are all called to service in light of our God given gifts. It has also been determined in 1971 by the Bishop's Committee on the Liturgy in consultation with the Vatican, that this is a legitimate liturgical practice
In reality, "altar server" permission was granted by the Vatican MUCH later than 1971. Further, the BCL did not then, nor does it now, have the authority to license these practices.
Finally (this gets tiresome, you know)
It is the purview of the local administrator whether or not the celebrants at Masses should have the assistance of extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist and the placement and furnishings of the sanctuary.
But the "local administrator" (aka Bishop) is also required to faithfully follow the instructions of the Congregation for Rites. That Congregation has clearly stated that "extraordinary" ministers were to be used only if there would be "extraordinary" needs. That is to say that the PRIEST (and his assistant priests) are distributing communion--not sitting on a chair someplace.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has determined that in the United States, Holy Communion is received standing and that the appropriate sign of respect is a bow of the head before the Sacrament. The Diocese of Orange is obliged to observe this norm. (Bp Tod Brown via The Cafeteria Is Closed via Matt Abbott)
Yes, the Diocese is "obliged to observe" the norm. But the Faithful are NOT--as was made clear by a directive from Rome (whose authority on the matter supercedes that of Bp. Brown.) A member of the Faithful may choose to kneel and priests are required to administer Communion (all other things being equal.)
How about this one:
The participation of women as altar servers, cantors, and lectors, is a sign of the basic equality of every baptized member of Christ: we are all called to service in light of our God given gifts. It has also been determined in 1971 by the Bishop's Committee on the Liturgy in consultation with the Vatican, that this is a legitimate liturgical practice
In reality, "altar server" permission was granted by the Vatican MUCH later than 1971. Further, the BCL did not then, nor does it now, have the authority to license these practices.
Finally (this gets tiresome, you know)
It is the purview of the local administrator whether or not the celebrants at Masses should have the assistance of extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist and the placement and furnishings of the sanctuary.
But the "local administrator" (aka Bishop) is also required to faithfully follow the instructions of the Congregation for Rites. That Congregation has clearly stated that "extraordinary" ministers were to be used only if there would be "extraordinary" needs. That is to say that the PRIEST (and his assistant priests) are distributing communion--not sitting on a chair someplace.
Some Questions for CUF's Suprenant
Blosser notes that Leon Suprenant, President of Catholics United for the Faith (CUF) has advice for Catholics who have a hard time swallowing some of the antics of various priests and Bishops. He also notes that Dale Vree of New Oxford Review, has questions about Suprenant's answers.
1) "We can't control the actions of others, but we surely can take it upon ourselves to strive to become saints. At the judgment, we will not be asked about our bishop or pastor, but we will be accountable for what we did with our own talents." (Suprenant)
Pope Felix III said, "Not to oppose error is to approve of it." Again, as Edmund Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Yes, depending on our talents, God might ask us if we stood up to a cowardly bishop or a dissident or weak-kneed pastor. Suprenant seems to think that saints are mild and gentle. However, St. Paul rebuked St. Peter to his face. St. Catherine of Siena challenged her pope. St. Thomas Aquinas said, 'When the faith is in imminent peril, prelates ought to be accused by their subjects, even in public.' (Vree)
Since bishops and pastors are our spiritual fathers, we are commanded to honor them as such by the Fourth Commandment.... [and] encourage a healthy, positive loyalty and reverence toward ... our spiritual fathers (Suprenant)
Invoking the Fourth Commandment is quite a stretch! Two-thirds of our bishops did nothing about the priestly sex scandals; they just moved the pederast priests around. (Vree, in a point which hits home in Milwaukee...)
"No," [Vree] says, "silence is not golden; it's yellow."
So Blosser, the professor, sums:
Is that the bottom line, then? Is the betrayal of silence and complicity simply a betrayal of cowardice? Or is it something different? Is it a betrayal rooted in an erroneous conception of the role of the laity vis-a-vis the clergy and their respective obedience owed to the Church and, thus, to God? Or is this no betrayal of silence and complicity at all? Is this exactly what we should be doing and no more -- praying in silence for our clerics, for our Church, for better days, "offering up" the sufferings and abuses and scandals of our present times, waiting for the Lord to act in His time?
Good questions.
Blogging is at least part of the answer. This blog is surveyed, regularly, by two or three ISP's from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. We post bits and pieces of information about Diocesan and parish affairs (as well as info on arcana like musica sacra) regularly.
Some of that stuff is "news" to the Archbishop. And sometimes, he makes the Church's position clear.
1) "We can't control the actions of others, but we surely can take it upon ourselves to strive to become saints. At the judgment, we will not be asked about our bishop or pastor, but we will be accountable for what we did with our own talents." (Suprenant)
Pope Felix III said, "Not to oppose error is to approve of it." Again, as Edmund Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Yes, depending on our talents, God might ask us if we stood up to a cowardly bishop or a dissident or weak-kneed pastor. Suprenant seems to think that saints are mild and gentle. However, St. Paul rebuked St. Peter to his face. St. Catherine of Siena challenged her pope. St. Thomas Aquinas said, 'When the faith is in imminent peril, prelates ought to be accused by their subjects, even in public.' (Vree)
Since bishops and pastors are our spiritual fathers, we are commanded to honor them as such by the Fourth Commandment.... [and] encourage a healthy, positive loyalty and reverence toward ... our spiritual fathers (Suprenant)
Invoking the Fourth Commandment is quite a stretch! Two-thirds of our bishops did nothing about the priestly sex scandals; they just moved the pederast priests around. (Vree, in a point which hits home in Milwaukee...)
"No," [Vree] says, "silence is not golden; it's yellow."
So Blosser, the professor, sums:
Is that the bottom line, then? Is the betrayal of silence and complicity simply a betrayal of cowardice? Or is it something different? Is it a betrayal rooted in an erroneous conception of the role of the laity vis-a-vis the clergy and their respective obedience owed to the Church and, thus, to God? Or is this no betrayal of silence and complicity at all? Is this exactly what we should be doing and no more -- praying in silence for our clerics, for our Church, for better days, "offering up" the sufferings and abuses and scandals of our present times, waiting for the Lord to act in His time?
Good questions.
Blogging is at least part of the answer. This blog is surveyed, regularly, by two or three ISP's from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. We post bits and pieces of information about Diocesan and parish affairs (as well as info on arcana like musica sacra) regularly.
Some of that stuff is "news" to the Archbishop. And sometimes, he makes the Church's position clear.
Red China Is Our Friend!! Part 34523
The US State Department under Ms. Rice is unable to comprehend the terms of "MFN/PNTR" agreements--
Either that, or the US State Department and Ms. Rice don't really give a damn:
Another Chinese bishop has been arrested by the Communist authorities. Bishop Martin Wu Qinjing of Zhouzhi in the Shaanxi province was taken into custody. He was ordained a bishop last year, but not approved by the Communist government, which forbade him from exercising his ministry.
The Communist Chinese government requires Christians to worship only in state-controlled associations, including the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which eschews any connections to the Vatican or the Pope. Many Catholics worship in illegal, underground churches, following only bishops appointed by the Pope, although the divisions are not hard and fast. Many priests and laypeople, and even bishops, are members of the patriotic association in public, and of the underground Church, in secret.
All that "human rights" stuff in the treaties--irrelevant. We have the US Department of Commerce and certain members of the Fortune 500 to deal with.
What's more important?
Either that, or the US State Department and Ms. Rice don't really give a damn:
Another Chinese bishop has been arrested by the Communist authorities. Bishop Martin Wu Qinjing of Zhouzhi in the Shaanxi province was taken into custody. He was ordained a bishop last year, but not approved by the Communist government, which forbade him from exercising his ministry.
The Communist Chinese government requires Christians to worship only in state-controlled associations, including the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which eschews any connections to the Vatican or the Pope. Many Catholics worship in illegal, underground churches, following only bishops appointed by the Pope, although the divisions are not hard and fast. Many priests and laypeople, and even bishops, are members of the patriotic association in public, and of the underground Church, in secret.
All that "human rights" stuff in the treaties--irrelevant. We have the US Department of Commerce and certain members of the Fortune 500 to deal with.
What's more important?
Sensenbrenner on Sykes
Charlie caught a good one.
Jim Sensenbrenner stated, flatly, that it is up to the local government to control crime.
Not the Feds.
TommyBoy, the Washington-based Mayor of Milwaukee, wants more money from the Feds to put cops on the street in Milwaukee.
In other words, taxpayers from Sheboygan, Delafield, Antigo, Sioux Falls IA., and Front Royal VA., should be paying for Milwaukee beat coppers.
Yah, that makes sense. State of Wisconsin taxpayers provide lots of money to Milwaukee in direct and indirect aids now. So do Federal taxpayers.
TommyBoy and CrisisNan just want more. More. More.
Tommy--you wanted the job. Now DO IT!!
Jim Sensenbrenner stated, flatly, that it is up to the local government to control crime.
Not the Feds.
TommyBoy, the Washington-based Mayor of Milwaukee, wants more money from the Feds to put cops on the street in Milwaukee.
In other words, taxpayers from Sheboygan, Delafield, Antigo, Sioux Falls IA., and Front Royal VA., should be paying for Milwaukee beat coppers.
Yah, that makes sense. State of Wisconsin taxpayers provide lots of money to Milwaukee in direct and indirect aids now. So do Federal taxpayers.
TommyBoy and CrisisNan just want more. More. More.
Tommy--you wanted the job. Now DO IT!!
What Does HR 5092 Really DO?
Milk-Carton Barrett and the JS editors aside, here are the facts on HR 5092:
H.R. 5092--the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006”--will improve BATFE’s process for punishing the few FFLs who violate the law, and will establish guidelines for BATFE investigations. This bill was drafted in large part to address recent, blatant BATFE abuses at Richmond, VA-area gun shows highlighted in hearings before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. This legislation has passed out of committee and will be voted on in the full House during the week of September 18.
Yah. Sounds like "keeping secrets from local police" to me...
H.R. 5092--the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006”--will improve BATFE’s process for punishing the few FFLs who violate the law, and will establish guidelines for BATFE investigations. This bill was drafted in large part to address recent, blatant BATFE abuses at Richmond, VA-area gun shows highlighted in hearings before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. This legislation has passed out of committee and will be voted on in the full House during the week of September 18.
Yah. Sounds like "keeping secrets from local police" to me...
Jessica Returns with Good Stuff!
After a couple of days of very light blogging, Jess picks up where she left off--finding that Tammy Baldwin is a twit (!!!), that Doyle lies, and that illegal aliens commit more than a few crimes.
Good stuff.
Good stuff.
P-Mac Sums It With Irony
After quoting an individual who lived in Iraq under Saddam, who stated that yes, indeed, KerrySmoke aside, Saddam aided and assisted AlQuaeda, McIlheran goes on to sum up the position of the WackoLeft:
Which goes to the larger contention of the left, that you can’t link terrorists groups just because they all are filled with Muslim men who talk of jihad and toppling satanic America — no, they’re each to be regarded individually. And they’re active in every country from Morocco to Indonesia — except for Iraq, where they weren’t active at all.
Not letting facts get in the way, the Left screeches approval of the KerrySmoke report.
Which goes to the larger contention of the left, that you can’t link terrorists groups just because they all are filled with Muslim men who talk of jihad and toppling satanic America — no, they’re each to be regarded individually. And they’re active in every country from Morocco to Indonesia — except for Iraq, where they weren’t active at all.
Not letting facts get in the way, the Left screeches approval of the KerrySmoke report.
Mullahs Unhappy about Pope
We reported on Benedict XVI's remarks at Regensburg a few posts down. He quoted a 14th-century thinker:
...recounting a conversation between 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and an educated Persian on the truths of Christianity and Islam.
"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said.
"He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,'" he quoted the emperor as saying.
Umnnnnhhh--has anyone asked Steve Centanni about this?
The mullah went on:
In remarks to Turkey's state-owned Anatolia news agency, Bardakoglu said Thursday that he expected an apology from the pope and said it was the Christian church, not Islam, that popularized conversion by the sword.
"The church and the Western public, because they saw Islam as the enemy, went on crusades. They occupied Istanbul, they killed thousands of people. Orthodox Christians and Jews were killed and tortured," he said....
"They (the Christians) saw war against those outside the Christian world as a holy duty," Bardakoglu continued. "That's why the Western clerics always have in the back of their minds a crusade mentality and the idea of holy war," he claimed.
...conveniently forgetting the jihad which preceded (and triggered) the Crusades.
From DhimmiWatch:
From the Who's-Kidding-Whom Department: the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, from which has sprung Hamas and Al-Qaeda, and Sheikh Qaradawi, who has endorsed jihad-martyrdom suicide bombings, are demanding the Pope apologize for suggesting Islam is violent. And the Hizballah News Agency, aka Reuters, reports it all, of course, with a straight face.
The definitive "religion of peace" people have spoken.
...recounting a conversation between 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and an educated Persian on the truths of Christianity and Islam.
"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said.
"He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,'" he quoted the emperor as saying.
Umnnnnhhh--has anyone asked Steve Centanni about this?
The mullah went on:
In remarks to Turkey's state-owned Anatolia news agency, Bardakoglu said Thursday that he expected an apology from the pope and said it was the Christian church, not Islam, that popularized conversion by the sword.
"The church and the Western public, because they saw Islam as the enemy, went on crusades. They occupied Istanbul, they killed thousands of people. Orthodox Christians and Jews were killed and tortured," he said....
"They (the Christians) saw war against those outside the Christian world as a holy duty," Bardakoglu continued. "That's why the Western clerics always have in the back of their minds a crusade mentality and the idea of holy war," he claimed.
...conveniently forgetting the jihad which preceded (and triggered) the Crusades.
From DhimmiWatch:
From the Who's-Kidding-Whom Department: the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, from which has sprung Hamas and Al-Qaeda, and Sheikh Qaradawi, who has endorsed jihad-martyrdom suicide bombings, are demanding the Pope apologize for suggesting Islam is violent. And the Hizballah News Agency, aka Reuters, reports it all, of course, with a straight face.
The definitive "religion of peace" people have spoken.
E Coli: Where's YOUR Spinach From?
There have been 11 confirmed cases of E. coli in Milwaukee County, but only four have been linked to the national outbreak of E. coli O157:H7
The FDA said that, nationwide, 50 cases of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including eight cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome and the death in Wisconsin.
Other states involved in the outbreak are Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah, the FDA said Thursday evening. Late Thursday, Baker said Washington state had been added to the list of states affected.
There are several unanswered questions.
Where did this spinach come from? Which State or country?
Which producer(s) failed to ensure FDA processing standards, IF they are FDA-inspected?
Just asking.....
The FDA said that, nationwide, 50 cases of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including eight cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome and the death in Wisconsin.
Other states involved in the outbreak are Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah, the FDA said Thursday evening. Late Thursday, Baker said Washington state had been added to the list of states affected.
There are several unanswered questions.
Where did this spinach come from? Which State or country?
Which producer(s) failed to ensure FDA processing standards, IF they are FDA-inspected?
Just asking.....
Casino Jim Announces Nothing but Makes It Sound Good
Continuing his attempt to purchase votes (it works on him, why not the voters?) Diamond Jim Doyle has offered to rebuild the I-894/Hy 45/I-94 interchange beginning in 2012.
Doyle and his transportation chief say the move is driven not by politics but by the economic importance of the state's busiest freeway interchange, the crossroads of I-94, I-894 and U.S. Highway 45.
...Doyle noted that "the Zoo Interchange is a very important part of the overall transportation picture for the whole state" as a traffic link among the Milwaukee, Madison and Fox Valley regions.
Not to worry about funding this:
Doyle denied that his decision was political. He said he vetoed the earlier move because Republicans tried to undo his shift of transportation dollars to school spending.
The money's already been stolen. Now it's just a matter of using Visa to make up the loss, right, Jimbo?
Here's the real fun:
Busalacchi and Doyle said the preliminary engineering work also will be the basis for deciding whether the freeways that feed into the Zoo Interchange should be expanded from six lanes to eight, as the planning commission has recommended. That has been one of the most controversial aspects of freeway reconstruction, particularly within Milwaukee, because of the number of homes, businesses and graves that could be taken.
In other words, the "announcement" is meaningless. Milk-Carton Barrett will fight to the death (assuming he's in town) to keep I-94 at 6 lanes. The infighting alone will delay the project at least a couple of years.
Of course, Milk-Carton thinks that Diamond Jim will keep it to 6 lanes.
Doyle and his transportation chief say the move is driven not by politics but by the economic importance of the state's busiest freeway interchange, the crossroads of I-94, I-894 and U.S. Highway 45.
...Doyle noted that "the Zoo Interchange is a very important part of the overall transportation picture for the whole state" as a traffic link among the Milwaukee, Madison and Fox Valley regions.
Not to worry about funding this:
Doyle denied that his decision was political. He said he vetoed the earlier move because Republicans tried to undo his shift of transportation dollars to school spending.
The money's already been stolen. Now it's just a matter of using Visa to make up the loss, right, Jimbo?
Here's the real fun:
Busalacchi and Doyle said the preliminary engineering work also will be the basis for deciding whether the freeways that feed into the Zoo Interchange should be expanded from six lanes to eight, as the planning commission has recommended. That has been one of the most controversial aspects of freeway reconstruction, particularly within Milwaukee, because of the number of homes, businesses and graves that could be taken.
In other words, the "announcement" is meaningless. Milk-Carton Barrett will fight to the death (assuming he's in town) to keep I-94 at 6 lanes. The infighting alone will delay the project at least a couple of years.
Of course, Milk-Carton thinks that Diamond Jim will keep it to 6 lanes.
So NOW It's Vote Fraud?
Bibbity-Bobot, a loser of the Democratic persuasion, is unhappy:
Bobot added that he wants to demand a full recount in all races because of both the turnout error and other alleged ballot discrepancies he had heard about.
"Until they do that, I have no confidence in these results," said Bobot, who lost to Clarke in the city by a 2,600-vote margin out of 35,134 ballots cast and by about 3,700 votes countywide.
Tom Barrett did not demand that Bibbity show him "just one."
Barrett said later that he understood Bobot's frustration but hoped that Bobot would delay a decision on asking for a recount until after the hand count of ballots was over. He disputed Bobot's claims that the turnout error signaled other shoddy election handling.
"No one has suggested that individual races were affected," Barrett said.
In other words, it is not a "crisis."
Edman falls on her sword:
City Election Commission Executive Director Susan Edman on Thursday accepted full responsibility for the problem and blamed it on an isolated computer error caused by software programmed by her office. She said the hand count of all ballots was necessary - both to confirm how many ballots had actually been cast and to reassure the voting public that her office was responsibly managing the city's elections.
Barrett was asked why more had not been done to safeguard the September primary, given that history. He replied that the Election Commission staff felt it had gained experience with the new software, which was purchased in February, and would be ready for this week's voting.
Yah. That move saved a LOT of money.
Bobot added that he wants to demand a full recount in all races because of both the turnout error and other alleged ballot discrepancies he had heard about.
"Until they do that, I have no confidence in these results," said Bobot, who lost to Clarke in the city by a 2,600-vote margin out of 35,134 ballots cast and by about 3,700 votes countywide.
Tom Barrett did not demand that Bibbity show him "just one."
Barrett said later that he understood Bobot's frustration but hoped that Bobot would delay a decision on asking for a recount until after the hand count of ballots was over. He disputed Bobot's claims that the turnout error signaled other shoddy election handling.
"No one has suggested that individual races were affected," Barrett said.
In other words, it is not a "crisis."
Edman falls on her sword:
City Election Commission Executive Director Susan Edman on Thursday accepted full responsibility for the problem and blamed it on an isolated computer error caused by software programmed by her office. She said the hand count of all ballots was necessary - both to confirm how many ballots had actually been cast and to reassure the voting public that her office was responsibly managing the city's elections.
Barrett was asked why more had not been done to safeguard the September primary, given that history. He replied that the Election Commission staff felt it had gained experience with the new software, which was purchased in February, and would be ready for this week's voting.
Milk Carton had been out of town a lot.
The software firm helped the city in the April election, but the city office did the programming on its own this time around, according to Edman. She said the city went it alone in part to save money. She said she learned Thursday what the city's programming mistake was from calling a programmer at the software company.Yah. That move saved a LOT of money.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Another Wisconsin Diocese With Problems?
Having a blogsite is an educational experience.
A few posts down, we remarked on the situation in Massachusetts because it may preview difficulties in Wisconsin should The Amendment fail.
A very civil and polite fellow commented:
My experience locally has been the same. When my partner and I attended an adoption workshop hosted by a Catholic Church, Lutheran Social Services expressed great excitement to work with us. We didn't even approach the Catholic Charities table, but the staff there made a point of coming up to us to talk about their programming.
Rome recently issued a directive (CDF, if I recall correctly) which absolutely, positively vetoed Catholic participation in homosex-couple adoptions.
We certainly hope that LaCrosse, Madison, Green Bay, Superior, and Milwaukee Diocesan offices took that directive seriously.
A few posts down, we remarked on the situation in Massachusetts because it may preview difficulties in Wisconsin should The Amendment fail.
A very civil and polite fellow commented:
My experience locally has been the same. When my partner and I attended an adoption workshop hosted by a Catholic Church, Lutheran Social Services expressed great excitement to work with us. We didn't even approach the Catholic Charities table, but the staff there made a point of coming up to us to talk about their programming.
Rome recently issued a directive (CDF, if I recall correctly) which absolutely, positively vetoed Catholic participation in homosex-couple adoptions.
We certainly hope that LaCrosse, Madison, Green Bay, Superior, and Milwaukee Diocesan offices took that directive seriously.
GWB's Pick As His Successor
Just found this blog (TomRoeser.com) today, proving that indeed, I may be a blind pig. Ironically, Roeser has family in the Milwaukee area, and I am acquainted with them...
TR reports that GWB likes Mitt Romney. A lot.
TR reports that GWB likes Mitt Romney. A lot.
"The Amendment" Has Implications
Funded extremely well, the anti-amendment crowd in Wisconsin (calling itself "Fair Wisconsin" in an exquisitely ironic self-adulating chirp) mewls and moans that, if passed, The Amendment will interfere with all sorts of "rights" of non-married couples, both homo- and hetero-sexual.
We doubt that, with different reasons for different "rights" The Amendment would preclude. Most of their objections are fantasy--and most of the rest can and will be resolved through legislation.
But since those who want "Gay Marriage" don't concern themselves with facts and prefer the romantic oozing of "feelings," the ads will play on "feelings."
Here are some facts to consider:
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BOSTON made the announcement on March 10: It was getting out of the adoption business. "We have encountered a dilemma we cannot resolve. . . . The issue is adoption to same-sex couples."
...Massachusetts law prohibited "orientation discrimination" over a decade ago. Then in November 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordered gay marriage. The majority ruled that only animus against gay people could explain why anyone would want to treat opposite-sex and same-sex couples differently. That same year, partly in response to growing pressure for gay marriage and adoption both here and in Europe, a Vatican statement made clear that placing children with same-sex couples violates Catholic teaching.
...Cardinal O'Malley asked Governor Mitt Romney for a religious exemption from the ban on orientation discrimination. Governor Romney reluctantly responded that he lacked legal authority to grant one unilaterally, by executive order. So the governor and archbishop turned to the state legislature, requesting a conscience exemption that would allow Catholic Charities to continue to help kids in a manner consistent with Catholic teaching.
To date, not a single other Massachusetts political leader appears willing to consider even the narrowest religious exemption. Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, the Republican candidate for governor in this fall's election, refused to budge: "I believe that any institution that wants to provide services that are regulated by the state has to abide by the laws of the state," Healey told the Boston Globe on March 2, "and our antidiscrimination laws are some of our most important."
...It's worth underscoring that Catholic Charities' problem with the state didn't hinge on its receipt of public money. Ron Madnick, president of the Massachusetts chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, agreed with Garvey's assessment: "Even if Catholic Charities ceased receiving tax support and gave up its role as a state contractor, it still could not refuse to place children with same-sex couples."
Should The Amendment pass, homosexual couples will have the right to adopt, and that right will be Constitutional in Wisconsin.
How long will it take for Roman Catholic adoption agencies to be put out of business? Or Lutheran Social Services? Or any comparable Baptist, Greek Orthodox, or Orthodox Jewish agencies?
We doubt that, with different reasons for different "rights" The Amendment would preclude. Most of their objections are fantasy--and most of the rest can and will be resolved through legislation.
But since those who want "Gay Marriage" don't concern themselves with facts and prefer the romantic oozing of "feelings," the ads will play on "feelings."
Here are some facts to consider:
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BOSTON made the announcement on March 10: It was getting out of the adoption business. "We have encountered a dilemma we cannot resolve. . . . The issue is adoption to same-sex couples."
...Massachusetts law prohibited "orientation discrimination" over a decade ago. Then in November 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordered gay marriage. The majority ruled that only animus against gay people could explain why anyone would want to treat opposite-sex and same-sex couples differently. That same year, partly in response to growing pressure for gay marriage and adoption both here and in Europe, a Vatican statement made clear that placing children with same-sex couples violates Catholic teaching.
...Cardinal O'Malley asked Governor Mitt Romney for a religious exemption from the ban on orientation discrimination. Governor Romney reluctantly responded that he lacked legal authority to grant one unilaterally, by executive order. So the governor and archbishop turned to the state legislature, requesting a conscience exemption that would allow Catholic Charities to continue to help kids in a manner consistent with Catholic teaching.
To date, not a single other Massachusetts political leader appears willing to consider even the narrowest religious exemption. Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, the Republican candidate for governor in this fall's election, refused to budge: "I believe that any institution that wants to provide services that are regulated by the state has to abide by the laws of the state," Healey told the Boston Globe on March 2, "and our antidiscrimination laws are some of our most important."
...It's worth underscoring that Catholic Charities' problem with the state didn't hinge on its receipt of public money. Ron Madnick, president of the Massachusetts chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, agreed with Garvey's assessment: "Even if Catholic Charities ceased receiving tax support and gave up its role as a state contractor, it still could not refuse to place children with same-sex couples."
Should The Amendment pass, homosexual couples will have the right to adopt, and that right will be Constitutional in Wisconsin.
How long will it take for Roman Catholic adoption agencies to be put out of business? Or Lutheran Social Services? Or any comparable Baptist, Greek Orthodox, or Orthodox Jewish agencies?
Natural Law, Rationalism, and Benedict XVI
Believe it or not, the Pope was discussing exactly what we were discussing at the Drinking Right forum the other evening. (See the comments section.) Here's HIS take:
In the Western world it is widely held that only positivistic reason and the forms of philosophy based on it are universally valid. Yet the world’s profoundly religious cultures see this exclusion of the divine from the universality of reason as an attack on their most profound convictions. A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion into the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures. At the same time, as I have attempted to show, modern scientific reason with its intrinsically Platonic element bears within itself a question which points beyond itself and beyond the possibilities of its methodology. Modern scientific reason quite simply has to accept the rational structure of matter and the correspondence between our spirit and the prevailing rational structures of nature as a given, on which its methodology has to be based. [This last directly addressing Cantankerous' friend and my interlocutor, who sits at the right hand of a Blogger deity.]
Here's a line familiar to Cantankerous:
...For philosophy and, albeit in a different way, for theology, listening to the great experiences and insights of the religious traditions of humanity, and those of the Christian faith in particular, is a source of knowledge, and to ignore it would be an unacceptable restriction of our listening and responding. Here I am reminded of something Socrates said to Phaedo. In their earlier conversations, many false philosophical opinions had been raised, and so Socrates says: "It would be easily understandable if someone became so annoyed at all these false notions that for the rest of his life he despised and mocked all talk about being - but in this way he would be deprived of the truth of existence and would suffer a great loss".
The West has long been endangered by this aversion to the questions which underlie its rationality, and can only suffer great harm thereby. The courage to engage the whole breadth of reason, and not the denial of its grandeur – this is the programme with which a theology grounded in Biblical faith enters into the debates of our time.
For even more on the topic, see Elizabeth Powers' commentary on the Heather MacDonald/Michael Novak discussion. MacDonald's is a "secular" morality argument similar to what Cantankerous' pal offers, and has been widely disseminated.
Most likely there will be more discussion, now that GWB has brought up the "Third Awakening."
In the Western world it is widely held that only positivistic reason and the forms of philosophy based on it are universally valid. Yet the world’s profoundly religious cultures see this exclusion of the divine from the universality of reason as an attack on their most profound convictions. A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion into the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures. At the same time, as I have attempted to show, modern scientific reason with its intrinsically Platonic element bears within itself a question which points beyond itself and beyond the possibilities of its methodology. Modern scientific reason quite simply has to accept the rational structure of matter and the correspondence between our spirit and the prevailing rational structures of nature as a given, on which its methodology has to be based. [This last directly addressing Cantankerous' friend and my interlocutor, who sits at the right hand of a Blogger deity.]
Here's a line familiar to Cantankerous:
...For philosophy and, albeit in a different way, for theology, listening to the great experiences and insights of the religious traditions of humanity, and those of the Christian faith in particular, is a source of knowledge, and to ignore it would be an unacceptable restriction of our listening and responding. Here I am reminded of something Socrates said to Phaedo. In their earlier conversations, many false philosophical opinions had been raised, and so Socrates says: "It would be easily understandable if someone became so annoyed at all these false notions that for the rest of his life he despised and mocked all talk about being - but in this way he would be deprived of the truth of existence and would suffer a great loss".
The West has long been endangered by this aversion to the questions which underlie its rationality, and can only suffer great harm thereby. The courage to engage the whole breadth of reason, and not the denial of its grandeur – this is the programme with which a theology grounded in Biblical faith enters into the debates of our time.
For even more on the topic, see Elizabeth Powers' commentary on the Heather MacDonald/Michael Novak discussion. MacDonald's is a "secular" morality argument similar to what Cantankerous' pal offers, and has been widely disseminated.
Most likely there will be more discussion, now that GWB has brought up the "Third Awakening."
Guns: All You Need to Know and Do
It's on for September 30th!
Want to learn how to handle/shoot a handgun? Rifle? Shotgun?
Bring $14.00 for a day-pass and pay close attention--we'll get you up and shooting.
I'll have a couple of .22LR rifles, a GREAT .17 airgun rifle, and a good old-fashioned 9mm semiauto.
Print the following and bring it along:
THE RULES
1) Treat all guns as if they are loaded ALL the time.
2) Never let the muzzle of a gun point at anything you do not want to destroy or kill.
3) Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are "on target."
4) Be absolutely sure of your target, and what is behind it.
After that, it's easy!
Want to learn how to handle/shoot a handgun? Rifle? Shotgun?
Bring $14.00 for a day-pass and pay close attention--we'll get you up and shooting.
I'll have a couple of .22LR rifles, a GREAT .17 airgun rifle, and a good old-fashioned 9mm semiauto.
Print the following and bring it along:
THE RULES
1) Treat all guns as if they are loaded ALL the time.
2) Never let the muzzle of a gun point at anything you do not want to destroy or kill.
3) Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are "on target."
4) Be absolutely sure of your target, and what is behind it.
After that, it's easy!
Dirty Bomb Alarmism? Maybe. Maybe Not.
While driving to Drinking Right (is that like being driven to drink?) I heard Savage pulling out his hair over some IslamoFascist terrorist named Shukrijumah, who supposedly is very interested in a nuke detonation here in the US.
That merits a little attention.
Now while Savage is a very good alternative to the Milwaukee Afternoon Gasbag (who has already declared Falk the winner in the AG race,) Savage's middle name is "Alarmist." So you take his show with a half-pound of salt.
But now the Blogosphere's beginning to fill up with that name: Shukrijumah.
From Hot Air:
[a reporter], Mir had given [an interview] in which he identified Al Qaeda’s nuclear ambitions and even the operative they’ve entrusted to mastermind the attack — Adnan al-Shukrijumah, who inspired a special national terror APB by the FBI back in 2002.
The Blotter has run not one but two stories about Shukrijumah in the past five days. The only “news” in both stories was that the FBI is looking for him but still hasn’t found him.
Why would they run two stories when there’s no actual news to report?
The Blotter has good sources inside the intelligence community and likes to be ahead of the curve with terrorism scoops. Last month, they ran a piece on alleged UK terror plot mastermind Matiur Rehman the day before arrests were made and the plot was publicly revealed. Clearly they’d been tipped to the impending raids and wanted to get in on the ground floor of the story. The fact that they’re putting Shukrijumah’s name out there when there is, to all appearances, no new information about him makes me think their sources are very concerned about him right now, and Brian Ross and co. either don’t know why or they do know and are sitting on sensitive details while the feds try to break up the plot.
Hmmmm....
Riehl World:
There's been a recent alert in Trinidad / Guyana for an al-Qaeda operative linked to a possible Dirty Bomb attack in the US to coincide with Ramadan, which I believe begins September 24th.
Yesterday, Trinidad law enforcement officials said they were aware that Shukrijumah was in Trinidad and confirmed they were contacted by the FBI for assistance in the matter.
However, they declined to go further into the matter "because of its nature".
ONE OF THE WORLD'S most wanted terrorists, Al Qaeda operative Adnan Gulshair Muhammad el Shukrijumah, may be hiding in Trinidad and Tobago or Guyana and has, in his possession, a T&T passport.
Shukrijumah, 31, is one of the most wanted terrorists by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which said he was "wanted in connection with possible terrorist threats against the United States".
He has several "personal ties" to both Trinidad and Guyana, theFBI said, according to an Los Angeles Times Sunday. US law enforcement described the elusive terrorist as an "ultimate sleeper agent".
...According to Gertz in the Washington Times, he's been spotted in Canada allegedly in search of Dirty Bomb materials.
A key al Qaeda terrorism suspect was in Canada looking for nuclear material for a "dirty bomb," The Washington Times has learned.
Adnan El Shukrijumah is being sought by the FBI and CIA in connection with a plot to detonate a dirty bomb - a conventional explosive laced with radioactive material.
The Savage show was more pessimistic. He wasn't talking about "dirty bombs." He was talking about actual 10 kiloton nukes. There's a VERY big difference.
That merits a little attention.
Now while Savage is a very good alternative to the Milwaukee Afternoon Gasbag (who has already declared Falk the winner in the AG race,) Savage's middle name is "Alarmist." So you take his show with a half-pound of salt.
But now the Blogosphere's beginning to fill up with that name: Shukrijumah.
From Hot Air:
[a reporter], Mir had given [an interview] in which he identified Al Qaeda’s nuclear ambitions and even the operative they’ve entrusted to mastermind the attack — Adnan al-Shukrijumah, who inspired a special national terror APB by the FBI back in 2002.
The Blotter has run not one but two stories about Shukrijumah in the past five days. The only “news” in both stories was that the FBI is looking for him but still hasn’t found him.
Why would they run two stories when there’s no actual news to report?
The Blotter has good sources inside the intelligence community and likes to be ahead of the curve with terrorism scoops. Last month, they ran a piece on alleged UK terror plot mastermind Matiur Rehman the day before arrests were made and the plot was publicly revealed. Clearly they’d been tipped to the impending raids and wanted to get in on the ground floor of the story. The fact that they’re putting Shukrijumah’s name out there when there is, to all appearances, no new information about him makes me think their sources are very concerned about him right now, and Brian Ross and co. either don’t know why or they do know and are sitting on sensitive details while the feds try to break up the plot.
Hmmmm....
Riehl World:
There's been a recent alert in Trinidad / Guyana for an al-Qaeda operative linked to a possible Dirty Bomb attack in the US to coincide with Ramadan, which I believe begins September 24th.
Yesterday, Trinidad law enforcement officials said they were aware that Shukrijumah was in Trinidad and confirmed they were contacted by the FBI for assistance in the matter.
However, they declined to go further into the matter "because of its nature".
ONE OF THE WORLD'S most wanted terrorists, Al Qaeda operative Adnan Gulshair Muhammad el Shukrijumah, may be hiding in Trinidad and Tobago or Guyana and has, in his possession, a T&T passport.
Shukrijumah, 31, is one of the most wanted terrorists by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which said he was "wanted in connection with possible terrorist threats against the United States".
He has several "personal ties" to both Trinidad and Guyana, theFBI said, according to an Los Angeles Times Sunday. US law enforcement described the elusive terrorist as an "ultimate sleeper agent".
...According to Gertz in the Washington Times, he's been spotted in Canada allegedly in search of Dirty Bomb materials.
A key al Qaeda terrorism suspect was in Canada looking for nuclear material for a "dirty bomb," The Washington Times has learned.
Adnan El Shukrijumah is being sought by the FBI and CIA in connection with a plot to detonate a dirty bomb - a conventional explosive laced with radioactive material.
The Savage show was more pessimistic. He wasn't talking about "dirty bombs." He was talking about actual 10 kiloton nukes. There's a VERY big difference.
Barrett In Shootout--a Tale of the Old West
Ol' Tom Barrett pulled up his horse, tied her to the post, and swung down from his saddle, landing in a mud puddle on North Water Street. Barrett, the Leader of the notorious Milk-Carton Gang, had just returned from Washington DC, a favorite haunt.
He'd been mixin' withhis pals out there, lobbyists and Democrats, and by reports, he was blind drunk. Some say was SO blind that he could not see "a crisis" in the City of Milwaukee following a gang-rape, a drive-by shooting of a 13-year-old honor student, and the coldblooded murder of a Special Olympian--all in the space of three days.
From 600 miles away, it was hard for Milk-Carton Tom to see that crisis.
Surveying his fiefdom after getting off his horse, Mayor Tom noticed that Nan hadn't come out to help him get the horse to the stable. She'd been a little disgruntled lately, muttering 'crisis' to herself and the press--Mayor Tom thought she was mourning the loss of that alligator-guy. She could have been saying "crikey." But it was hard to hear her--Mayor Tom hadn't been in town much lately. He'd track her down at Eagan's Long Branch right after work; maybe they could work it out. He knew what he DIDN'T want to hear from her--the word "crisis."
He carefully stepped around the election pamphlet trash near the hitchin-post. Didn't seem to be any overflows of sewage while he was Out East, but there was a lot of election trash around. One here for a MacMac--crazy babe. Another for the Governor--"Dodgy" Jim Doyle. He knew Dodgy. Dodgy cheated at poker. Got away with it, too--so far.
He spit a bit of milk and strode up to his office. Clearing the cobwebs and dust from his desk, Mayor Tom saw that his old enemy "Two-Gun" Sensenbrenner, the leader of the West Suburban Gang, was up to no good. For years, Mayor Tom knew that the West Suburban gang was trouble. Mayor Tom's predecessor, "One-Eye" Maier darn near mowed 'em all down back in the '60's; but Two-Gun had survived and the West Suburban gang had been growing.
Now Two-Gun had stepped over the line. He was helping the NRA. Some of Milk-Carton's friends had experience with the NRA--just last week, "Switch" Bloomberg had been slammed into a courtroom wall by NRA and their New Jersey gun-pals. Cost "Switch" some money, too.
Mayor Tom didn't know anyone who belonged to NRA. Where he grew up, in Whitefish Bay, they didn't approve of people like that. Those NRA types were all in the West Suburban gang. This would be a rough fight.
Mayor Tom called his pals at "No Defense for YOUR Family" out East. He thought about it as the call went through--maybe it was just coincidence that Whitefish Bay was East, too---like Shorewood, where his pal "Doc"Hargarten came from.
Mayor Tom knew what he had to do. He had to make "Two Gun" look like...like "Texas" George and his pal "Hal" Cheney. Pure evil. They were notorious--and they owned guns--just like that NRA gang.
The connection to "No Defense" was bad, but Milk Carton got the main points--Two Gun would make it impossible for Nan to find the bad guys. The damn fool!! Two Gun hung up and called the paper. Thank God the paper was run by East suburb guys and gals.
They printed exactly what Milk Carton told them. Didn't print all that stuff about the Second Amendment, which was fine. Didn't print the part about his pal, Switch, getting his ass kicked out of the Federal Courts. He'd buy 'em a drink at Eagan's Long Branch later.
He also called his high-school buddy, "Silent" Chisholm. Got him to talk to the paper, too. "Silent" knew what he had to do to get anywhere in Milk Carton's town.
(To be Continued...)
He'd been mixin' withhis pals out there, lobbyists and Democrats, and by reports, he was blind drunk. Some say was SO blind that he could not see "a crisis" in the City of Milwaukee following a gang-rape, a drive-by shooting of a 13-year-old honor student, and the coldblooded murder of a Special Olympian--all in the space of three days.
From 600 miles away, it was hard for Milk-Carton Tom to see that crisis.
Surveying his fiefdom after getting off his horse, Mayor Tom noticed that Nan hadn't come out to help him get the horse to the stable. She'd been a little disgruntled lately, muttering 'crisis' to herself and the press--Mayor Tom thought she was mourning the loss of that alligator-guy. She could have been saying "crikey." But it was hard to hear her--Mayor Tom hadn't been in town much lately. He'd track her down at Eagan's Long Branch right after work; maybe they could work it out. He knew what he DIDN'T want to hear from her--the word "crisis."
He carefully stepped around the election pamphlet trash near the hitchin-post. Didn't seem to be any overflows of sewage while he was Out East, but there was a lot of election trash around. One here for a MacMac--crazy babe. Another for the Governor--"Dodgy" Jim Doyle. He knew Dodgy. Dodgy cheated at poker. Got away with it, too--so far.
He spit a bit of milk and strode up to his office. Clearing the cobwebs and dust from his desk, Mayor Tom saw that his old enemy "Two-Gun" Sensenbrenner, the leader of the West Suburban Gang, was up to no good. For years, Mayor Tom knew that the West Suburban gang was trouble. Mayor Tom's predecessor, "One-Eye" Maier darn near mowed 'em all down back in the '60's; but Two-Gun had survived and the West Suburban gang had been growing.
Now Two-Gun had stepped over the line. He was helping the NRA. Some of Milk-Carton's friends had experience with the NRA--just last week, "Switch" Bloomberg had been slammed into a courtroom wall by NRA and their New Jersey gun-pals. Cost "Switch" some money, too.
Mayor Tom didn't know anyone who belonged to NRA. Where he grew up, in Whitefish Bay, they didn't approve of people like that. Those NRA types were all in the West Suburban gang. This would be a rough fight.
Mayor Tom called his pals at "No Defense for YOUR Family" out East. He thought about it as the call went through--maybe it was just coincidence that Whitefish Bay was East, too---like Shorewood, where his pal "Doc"Hargarten came from.
Mayor Tom knew what he had to do. He had to make "Two Gun" look like...like "Texas" George and his pal "Hal" Cheney. Pure evil. They were notorious--and they owned guns--just like that NRA gang.
The connection to "No Defense" was bad, but Milk Carton got the main points--Two Gun would make it impossible for Nan to find the bad guys. The damn fool!! Two Gun hung up and called the paper. Thank God the paper was run by East suburb guys and gals.
They printed exactly what Milk Carton told them. Didn't print all that stuff about the Second Amendment, which was fine. Didn't print the part about his pal, Switch, getting his ass kicked out of the Federal Courts. He'd buy 'em a drink at Eagan's Long Branch later.
He also called his high-school buddy, "Silent" Chisholm. Got him to talk to the paper, too. "Silent" knew what he had to do to get anywhere in Milk Carton's town.
(To be Continued...)
Obey (D-Pig) Knows 3rd-Rate From Mirror
Dave Obey (D-Pig) states John Boehner (R) is "3rd-rate McCarthy."
Boehner should feel complimented--McCarthy has been proven correct. All Boehner has to do is try a bit harder.
As to "3rd rate," Obey knows that very well. He sees it every morning in his mirror.
Boehner should feel complimented--McCarthy has been proven correct. All Boehner has to do is try a bit harder.
As to "3rd rate," Obey knows that very well. He sees it every morning in his mirror.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
ID Theft Makes Your Day
Yah.
A friend of a friend suffered an ID theft.
One of the things he learned is that the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles has had a few problems with its employees selling (SELLING!!!!) your Social Security number to bad guys.
You will recall that WI/DMV began requiring your SSAN a few years back. There was a great deal of unhappiness with that requirement--Sykes, if I recall correctly, was vocal about it.
No matter, by Jiminy--the Feds told the State to get those numbers, and our State bent over.
Now, you TOO, can bend over, after the State's employees knock down a few bucks by misappropriating your SSAN.
What a Country!!
A friend of a friend suffered an ID theft.
One of the things he learned is that the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles has had a few problems with its employees selling (SELLING!!!!) your Social Security number to bad guys.
You will recall that WI/DMV began requiring your SSAN a few years back. There was a great deal of unhappiness with that requirement--Sykes, if I recall correctly, was vocal about it.
No matter, by Jiminy--the Feds told the State to get those numbers, and our State bent over.
Now, you TOO, can bend over, after the State's employees knock down a few bucks by misappropriating your SSAN.
What a Country!!
"Inculturation"--A Thought
From B-16's speech to the Regensburg faculty:
...I must briefly refer to the third stage of dehellenization, which is now in progress. In the light of our experience with cultural pluralism, it is often said nowadays that the synthesis with Hellenism achieved in the early Church was a preliminary inculturation which ought not to be binding on other cultures. The latter are said to have the right to return to the simple message of the New Testament prior to that inculturation, in order to inculturate it anew in their own particular milieux. This thesis is not only false; it is coarse and lacking in precision. The New Testament was written in Greek and bears the imprint of the Greek spirit, which had already come to maturity as the Old Testament developed. True, there are elements in the evolution of the early Church which do not have to be integrated into all cultures. Nonetheless, the fundamental decisions made about the relationship between faith and the use of human reason are part of the faith itself; they are developments consonant with the nature of faith itself.
Seems to me that the Pope has placed significant limits on the theory of "inculturation," by insisting that the synthesis of "Athens and Jerusalem" achieved by St John's Gospel be the underlying principle in both proselytizing AND teaching the Faith.
Wow.
About 15-20 years ago, I had remarked to a publisher-friend that the Church had better control the definition of "inculturation" or some strange things might result--and that comment was limited to the area of musica sacra.
This guy B-16 is so....really....GOOD at making sense, and reducing the complex to the understandable....
...I must briefly refer to the third stage of dehellenization, which is now in progress. In the light of our experience with cultural pluralism, it is often said nowadays that the synthesis with Hellenism achieved in the early Church was a preliminary inculturation which ought not to be binding on other cultures. The latter are said to have the right to return to the simple message of the New Testament prior to that inculturation, in order to inculturate it anew in their own particular milieux. This thesis is not only false; it is coarse and lacking in precision. The New Testament was written in Greek and bears the imprint of the Greek spirit, which had already come to maturity as the Old Testament developed. True, there are elements in the evolution of the early Church which do not have to be integrated into all cultures. Nonetheless, the fundamental decisions made about the relationship between faith and the use of human reason are part of the faith itself; they are developments consonant with the nature of faith itself.
Seems to me that the Pope has placed significant limits on the theory of "inculturation," by insisting that the synthesis of "Athens and Jerusalem" achieved by St John's Gospel be the underlying principle in both proselytizing AND teaching the Faith.
Wow.
About 15-20 years ago, I had remarked to a publisher-friend that the Church had better control the definition of "inculturation" or some strange things might result--and that comment was limited to the area of musica sacra.
This guy B-16 is so....really....GOOD at making sense, and reducing the complex to the understandable....
About That Pipe Organ
Liturgeists just hate it when we post stuff like this:
...Solemn sacred music, with choir, organ, orchestra and the singing of the people, is not an addition of sorts that frames the liturgy and makes it more pleasing, but an important means of active participation in worship.
The organ has always been considered, and rightly so, the king of musical instruments, because it takes up all the sounds of creation and gives resonance to the fullness of human sentiments. By transcending the merely human sphere, as all music of quality does, it evokes the divine. The organ’s great range of timbre, from piano through to a thundering fortissimo, makes it an instrument superior to all others. It is capable of echoing and expressing all the experiences of human life. The manifold possibilities of the organ in some way remind us of the immensity and the magnificence of God.
Psalm 150 speaks of trumpets and flutes, of harps and zithers, cymbals and drums; all these musical instruments are called to contribute to the praise of the triune God. In an organ, the many pipes and voices must form a unity. If here or there something becomes blocked, if one pipe is out of tune, this may at first be perceptible only to a trained ear. But if more pipes are out of tune, dissonance ensues and the result is unbearable. Also, the pipes of this organ are exposed to variations of temperature and subject to wear.
Now, this is an image of our community. Just as in an organ an expert hand must constantly bring disharmony back to consonance, so we in the Church, in the variety of our gifts and charisms, always need to find anew, through our communion in faith, harmony in the praise of God and in fraternal love. The more we allow ourselves, through the liturgy, to be transformed in Christ, the more we will be capable of transforming the world, radiating Christ’s goodness, his mercy and his love for others.
The great composers, each in his own way, ultimately sought to glorify God by their music. Johann Sebastian Bach wrote above the title of many of his musical compositions the letters S.D.G., Soli Deo Gloria – to God alone be glory. Anton Bruckner also prefaced his compositions with the words: Dem lieben Gott gewidmet – dedicated to the good God. May all those who enter this splendid Basilica, experiencing the magnificence of its architecture and its liturgy, enriched by solemn song and the harmony of this new organ, be brought to the joy of faith.
"The glorification of God and the sanctification and edification of the people"--purpose of sacred music, defined by Pius X, re-iterated by Pius XII and now B-16. "Pars integralis" just like it says in SC. "Immensity and magnificence of God"--not exactly a new thought, but a clear phrase.
Gittars, anyone? Pianos? Finger-cymbals?
How's your Haugen-Haas? Your StLouis Bubbas?
...Solemn sacred music, with choir, organ, orchestra and the singing of the people, is not an addition of sorts that frames the liturgy and makes it more pleasing, but an important means of active participation in worship.
The organ has always been considered, and rightly so, the king of musical instruments, because it takes up all the sounds of creation and gives resonance to the fullness of human sentiments. By transcending the merely human sphere, as all music of quality does, it evokes the divine. The organ’s great range of timbre, from piano through to a thundering fortissimo, makes it an instrument superior to all others. It is capable of echoing and expressing all the experiences of human life. The manifold possibilities of the organ in some way remind us of the immensity and the magnificence of God.
Psalm 150 speaks of trumpets and flutes, of harps and zithers, cymbals and drums; all these musical instruments are called to contribute to the praise of the triune God. In an organ, the many pipes and voices must form a unity. If here or there something becomes blocked, if one pipe is out of tune, this may at first be perceptible only to a trained ear. But if more pipes are out of tune, dissonance ensues and the result is unbearable. Also, the pipes of this organ are exposed to variations of temperature and subject to wear.
Now, this is an image of our community. Just as in an organ an expert hand must constantly bring disharmony back to consonance, so we in the Church, in the variety of our gifts and charisms, always need to find anew, through our communion in faith, harmony in the praise of God and in fraternal love. The more we allow ourselves, through the liturgy, to be transformed in Christ, the more we will be capable of transforming the world, radiating Christ’s goodness, his mercy and his love for others.
The great composers, each in his own way, ultimately sought to glorify God by their music. Johann Sebastian Bach wrote above the title of many of his musical compositions the letters S.D.G., Soli Deo Gloria – to God alone be glory. Anton Bruckner also prefaced his compositions with the words: Dem lieben Gott gewidmet – dedicated to the good God. May all those who enter this splendid Basilica, experiencing the magnificence of its architecture and its liturgy, enriched by solemn song and the harmony of this new organ, be brought to the joy of faith.
"The glorification of God and the sanctification and edification of the people"--purpose of sacred music, defined by Pius X, re-iterated by Pius XII and now B-16. "Pars integralis" just like it says in SC. "Immensity and magnificence of God"--not exactly a new thought, but a clear phrase.
Gittars, anyone? Pianos? Finger-cymbals?
How's your Haugen-Haas? Your StLouis Bubbas?
Rodham Family Tree (ALL IN FUN!!)
From Blosser:
Eugene Judy, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, a fellow lacking in character, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows.
On the back of the picture is this inscription:"Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889."
Judy e-mailed Hillary Clinton @NY.Gov for comments. Hillary's staff of professional image adjustors cropped Remus's picture, scanned it, enlarged the image, and edited it with image processing software so that all that's seen is a head shot.
The accompanying biographical sketch is as follows:
"Remus Rodham was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed."
That whole thing is fictional. But it IS enlightening. Wonder if Xoff could do as well with the spin?
Eugene Judy, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, a fellow lacking in character, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows.
On the back of the picture is this inscription:"Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889."
Judy e-mailed Hillary Clinton @NY.Gov for comments. Hillary's staff of professional image adjustors cropped Remus's picture, scanned it, enlarged the image, and edited it with image processing software so that all that's seen is a head shot.
The accompanying biographical sketch is as follows:
"Remus Rodham was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed."
That whole thing is fictional. But it IS enlightening. Wonder if Xoff could do as well with the spin?
Drank Right
Yah.
Drank right last night...
(I suppose that could be a country/western hit. Fill in the rest but NOT ON MY BLOG.)
Met an interesting fellow who does not believe in natural law (or inborn conscience)--and a delightful young ladyfriend of his who thinks he's nuts. She's right, but HE sits at the right hand of a Potentate du Bloggerdom. (She also knows her Plato/Phaedrus dialog and can distinguish Kant from previous post-Scholastic philosophers; impressive, as she doesn't look that old. As for the discussion, I erroneously brought up Kant but SHOULD have mentioned the Sohm-Harnack school.)
Talked with a fellow who's a distant relative of the folks who built a subsidiary of the late, lamented Milwaukee Cheese empire. I miss those pickles.
Visited with a favorite--AB, who rivals my annuation. We were the adults at the party, which may or may not be a good sign for the Republic.
Heard rumor that Chris called the Eagle/McMiller Right-Blog-Gun-Date for 9/30th. Trying to confirm.
Renewed acquaintance with beer-guzzling DCS and NeoConTastic who advised that two of their sisters will meet soon in Madistan for purposes of birthing, or some such.
Met the mysterious Confidentials lady who is a knockout. Too bad she's so ....mysterious.
Met Sean and renewed the debate. Ann Coulter rules, Sean. But she is NOT polite and she is NOT Jay Leno. She's actually Jim Sensenbrenner's alter ego.
Missed meeting Jeff Wagner who was being a sober election-results guy.
All the Big-Time Bloggers were attending Real Politician Events. Some were happy.
Missed other folks, as well. Maybe next time.
Drank right last night...
(I suppose that could be a country/western hit. Fill in the rest but NOT ON MY BLOG.)
Met an interesting fellow who does not believe in natural law (or inborn conscience)--and a delightful young ladyfriend of his who thinks he's nuts. She's right, but HE sits at the right hand of a Potentate du Bloggerdom. (She also knows her Plato/Phaedrus dialog and can distinguish Kant from previous post-Scholastic philosophers; impressive, as she doesn't look that old. As for the discussion, I erroneously brought up Kant but SHOULD have mentioned the Sohm-Harnack school.)
Talked with a fellow who's a distant relative of the folks who built a subsidiary of the late, lamented Milwaukee Cheese empire. I miss those pickles.
Visited with a favorite--AB, who rivals my annuation. We were the adults at the party, which may or may not be a good sign for the Republic.
Heard rumor that Chris called the Eagle/McMiller Right-Blog-Gun-Date for 9/30th. Trying to confirm.
Renewed acquaintance with beer-guzzling DCS and NeoConTastic who advised that two of their sisters will meet soon in Madistan for purposes of birthing, or some such.
Met the mysterious Confidentials lady who is a knockout. Too bad she's so ....mysterious.
Met Sean and renewed the debate. Ann Coulter rules, Sean. But she is NOT polite and she is NOT Jay Leno. She's actually Jim Sensenbrenner's alter ego.
Missed meeting Jeff Wagner who was being a sober election-results guy.
All the Big-Time Bloggers were attending Real Politician Events. Some were happy.
Missed other folks, as well. Maybe next time.
"We Must Get Rid of [Lunatic Conservative Christians]"
So intoned a typical Lefty professor at Penn State.
Penn State English prof Mel Seesholtz is not pleased at all that Arnold Schwarzenegger resisted a power play by gay activists by vetoing the euphemistically named "Bias-Free Curriculum Act," which called for indoctrinating California schoolchildren on the merits of homosexuality and transsexuality, starting in kindergarten.
Seesholtz blames the Governator's shockingly responsible behavior on the influence of the Left's most dreaded bogeyman, the Religious Right, i.e., conservative Christians. Here's what he has to say about them:
A very wise woman recently asked me "Who will rid us of the evil lunatics?"
We will. We must. Public education and a civil, civilized society depend upon it
The Professor did not declare how he would "rid us of the evil lunatics."
Let me suggest that he bring a knife...
Heh.
HT: Moonbattery
Penn State English prof Mel Seesholtz is not pleased at all that Arnold Schwarzenegger resisted a power play by gay activists by vetoing the euphemistically named "Bias-Free Curriculum Act," which called for indoctrinating California schoolchildren on the merits of homosexuality and transsexuality, starting in kindergarten.
Seesholtz blames the Governator's shockingly responsible behavior on the influence of the Left's most dreaded bogeyman, the Religious Right, i.e., conservative Christians. Here's what he has to say about them:
A very wise woman recently asked me "Who will rid us of the evil lunatics?"
We will. We must. Public education and a civil, civilized society depend upon it
The Professor did not declare how he would "rid us of the evil lunatics."
Let me suggest that he bring a knife...
Heh.
HT: Moonbattery
Elected Board to Control Non-Elected Tax/Spenders?
As usual, it's at the very bottom of the story:
The new report offers some broader, longer-term suggestions, including a study of having a single elected body govern the various non-elected boards that have taxing authority in Milwaukee County. Examples of such bodies include those overseeing the sewerage district, the convention center, Miller Park and Milwaukee Area Technical College. They are not accountable enough to taxpayers, the report says.
The report was authored by the Greater Milwaukee Committee.
GMC's recommendation of "a study" of taxation without representation is approximately 230 years late--that issue was, ah, discussed by the Colonies and King George in the late 1770's. The King lost.
It is noteworthy that these taxing Boards were emplaced by both Democratic AND Republican elected officials (as well as some "officially non-partisan" types) over the years.
Some ideas just can't be killed easily, eh?
The new report offers some broader, longer-term suggestions, including a study of having a single elected body govern the various non-elected boards that have taxing authority in Milwaukee County. Examples of such bodies include those overseeing the sewerage district, the convention center, Miller Park and Milwaukee Area Technical College. They are not accountable enough to taxpayers, the report says.
The report was authored by the Greater Milwaukee Committee.
GMC's recommendation of "a study" of taxation without representation is approximately 230 years late--that issue was, ah, discussed by the Colonies and King George in the late 1770's. The King lost.
It is noteworthy that these taxing Boards were emplaced by both Democratic AND Republican elected officials (as well as some "officially non-partisan" types) over the years.
Some ideas just can't be killed easily, eh?
Sad End for Bucher
Paul Bucher's hissy reaction:
"We were right on the issues - you know it and I know it," he told supporters. "We just ran short of money. And you know, that's disappointing that elections can be bought. And I wish J.B. well, but, you know, dumping that kind of money in the race in the last two weeks tells me Wisconsin's for sale."
It's possible that Bucher had too much to drink, or had a serious sleep-shortage problem.
Otherwise, that sort of crap is intolerable.
"We were right on the issues - you know it and I know it," he told supporters. "We just ran short of money. And you know, that's disappointing that elections can be bought. And I wish J.B. well, but, you know, dumping that kind of money in the race in the last two weeks tells me Wisconsin's for sale."
It's possible that Bucher had too much to drink, or had a serious sleep-shortage problem.
Otherwise, that sort of crap is intolerable.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Can YOU Do This?
Try landing the ass end of a 2-rotor on top of a shack on top of a small mountain in the middle of Afghanistan so corpsmen can load the wounded.
HT: The Crescat
HT: The Crescat
A Soldier Remembers 9/11
A day late, I know, but well-written...
I was off that day. I was working for a winery and had made tentative plans to go shooting with a friend in the morning and head into NYC to visit Windows on the World that afternoon. (Windows was the restaurant at the top of the WTC and where I received my certification as a sommelier back in 1997.)
My phone was ringing and I didn't want to answer it for fear of being called in to work. I looked at the caller ID and saw that it was my wife Dana, (then my fiancee), calling from work.
"Turn on the TV."
The picture came into focus. The second plane hit.
"Turn on the TV", 4 words that mark the end of one chapter in my life and the begning of another. 4 words that mark, in my mind, the end of so many lives before my eyes. As a reservist I also knew it was my job to be at my armory.
On the way up, I heard about the attack on the Pentagon and rumors of so many others. By the end of the day I was back on active duty. 5 years later I still wear the uniform and much has happened since then.
It was a loss of innocence. I associate that loss with the smell of Ground Zero. Something that I still remember as if I just got off of the helicopter that flew us in and out of the area. Fuel, dust, metal, and things I don't want to remember. I lost my innocence that day. I came home that night and punched the floor while I cried.
I'm watching my daughter play with Legos she just got for her birthday. She builds a tower and knocks it over. She giggles with delight. I don't think she understands why Dana and I hug her tight. She'll never see those towers that stood over the skyline of NYC like guardians. She'll never know an airport that isn't tense and security obsessed. She'll never know the world that I knew. Hopefully though, through the efforts of all who want a world where people live in freedom and not fear, she'll know a better one.
I was off that day. I was working for a winery and had made tentative plans to go shooting with a friend in the morning and head into NYC to visit Windows on the World that afternoon. (Windows was the restaurant at the top of the WTC and where I received my certification as a sommelier back in 1997.)
My phone was ringing and I didn't want to answer it for fear of being called in to work. I looked at the caller ID and saw that it was my wife Dana, (then my fiancee), calling from work.
"Turn on the TV."
The picture came into focus. The second plane hit.
"Turn on the TV", 4 words that mark the end of one chapter in my life and the begning of another. 4 words that mark, in my mind, the end of so many lives before my eyes. As a reservist I also knew it was my job to be at my armory.
On the way up, I heard about the attack on the Pentagon and rumors of so many others. By the end of the day I was back on active duty. 5 years later I still wear the uniform and much has happened since then.
It was a loss of innocence. I associate that loss with the smell of Ground Zero. Something that I still remember as if I just got off of the helicopter that flew us in and out of the area. Fuel, dust, metal, and things I don't want to remember. I lost my innocence that day. I came home that night and punched the floor while I cried.
I'm watching my daughter play with Legos she just got for her birthday. She builds a tower and knocks it over. She giggles with delight. I don't think she understands why Dana and I hug her tight. She'll never see those towers that stood over the skyline of NYC like guardians. She'll never know an airport that isn't tense and security obsessed. She'll never know the world that I knew. Hopefully though, through the efforts of all who want a world where people live in freedom and not fear, she'll know a better one.
B-16 on Muslim/Christian Theological Difference(s)
Well, there's only one outlined here, but it IS significant:
The Byzantine [Manuel II Paleologus] points out the surah which says, "There is no compulsion in religion" and asks the Persian to justify jihad in light of it. The Persian's [Muslim] response is that God is beyond everything and is not bound by anything:
The decisive statement in this argument against violent conversion is this: not to act in accordance with reason is contrary to God's nature. The editor, Theodore Khoury, observes: For the emperor, as a Byzantine shaped by Greek philosophy, this statement is self-evident. But for Muslim teaching, God is absolutely transcendent. His will is not bound up with any of our categories, even that of rationality. Here Khoury quotes a work of the noted French Islamist R. Arnaldez, who points out that Ibn Hazn went so far as to state that God is not bound even by his own word, and that nothing would oblige him to reveal the truth to us. Were it God's will, we would even have to practise idolatry.
At this point, B-16 poses the question:
As far as understanding of God and thus the concrete practice of religion is concerned, we find ourselves faced with a dilemma which nowadays challenges us directly. Is the conviction that acting unreasonably contradicts God's nature merely a Greek idea, or is it always and intrinsically true?
Here's his thought:
I believe that here we can see the profound harmony between what is Greek in the best sense of the word and the biblical understanding of faith in God. Modifying the first verse of the Book of Genesis, John began the prologue of his Gospel with the words: "In the beginning was the 'logos'". This is the very word used by the emperor: God acts with “logos.” “Logos” means both reason and word – a reason which is creative and capable of self-communication, precisely as reason. John thus spoke the final word on the biblical concept of God, and in this word all the often toilsome and tortuous threads of biblical faith find their culmination and synthesis. In the beginning was the “logos,” and the “logos” is God, says the Evangelist.
Therefore:
From the very heart of Christian faith and, at the same time, the heart of Greek thought now joined to faith, Manuel II was able to say: Not to act "with 'logos'" is contrary to God’s nature.
...the truly divine God is the God who has revealed himself as “logos” and, as “logos,” has acted and continues to act lovingly on our behalf.
God cannot act against His nature, the nature "Logos," (also identified by John as Christ.)
You may have to read this twice--or more. I certainly did.
HT: Amy
The Byzantine [Manuel II Paleologus] points out the surah which says, "There is no compulsion in religion" and asks the Persian to justify jihad in light of it. The Persian's [Muslim] response is that God is beyond everything and is not bound by anything:
The decisive statement in this argument against violent conversion is this: not to act in accordance with reason is contrary to God's nature. The editor, Theodore Khoury, observes: For the emperor, as a Byzantine shaped by Greek philosophy, this statement is self-evident. But for Muslim teaching, God is absolutely transcendent. His will is not bound up with any of our categories, even that of rationality. Here Khoury quotes a work of the noted French Islamist R. Arnaldez, who points out that Ibn Hazn went so far as to state that God is not bound even by his own word, and that nothing would oblige him to reveal the truth to us. Were it God's will, we would even have to practise idolatry.
At this point, B-16 poses the question:
As far as understanding of God and thus the concrete practice of religion is concerned, we find ourselves faced with a dilemma which nowadays challenges us directly. Is the conviction that acting unreasonably contradicts God's nature merely a Greek idea, or is it always and intrinsically true?
Here's his thought:
I believe that here we can see the profound harmony between what is Greek in the best sense of the word and the biblical understanding of faith in God. Modifying the first verse of the Book of Genesis, John began the prologue of his Gospel with the words: "In the beginning was the 'logos'". This is the very word used by the emperor: God acts with “logos.” “Logos” means both reason and word – a reason which is creative and capable of self-communication, precisely as reason. John thus spoke the final word on the biblical concept of God, and in this word all the often toilsome and tortuous threads of biblical faith find their culmination and synthesis. In the beginning was the “logos,” and the “logos” is God, says the Evangelist.
Therefore:
From the very heart of Christian faith and, at the same time, the heart of Greek thought now joined to faith, Manuel II was able to say: Not to act "with 'logos'" is contrary to God’s nature.
...the truly divine God is the God who has revealed himself as “logos” and, as “logos,” has acted and continues to act lovingly on our behalf.
God cannot act against His nature, the nature "Logos," (also identified by John as Christ.)
You may have to read this twice--or more. I certainly did.
HT: Amy
Are We REALLY Successful in Countering Domestic Terrorism?
Whatever else you may think of Vox Day, his mind comes up with provocative comments.
First he quotes Rich Lowry:
There has been one constant in the five years since the terror attacks of 9/11 — there has been no follow-up attack in the United States. It is the most blessed non-event in recent American history. Of course, that could change in an awful instant. It is nonetheless the signal accomplishment in the war on terror. While the smoke was still clearing from downtown Manhattan, no one would have said that the fight against terror should be judged on whether the U.S. is popular abroad or able to spread democracy. The standard was avoiding another attack in the U.S., and by that standard, the war on terror is a tentative success.
There are rival explanations for this success....
Then he offers a reality-check:
I note that he leaves out my explanation for this "success"... every time there is a terror attack, whether it is planes mysteriously falling apart over Long Island, Muslims shooting Jews in Seattle or massive explosions at oil refineries, it is loudly announced that what looks rather like a terrorist attack was, in fact, a mirage, an accident, nothing to look at, carry on about your business. Furthermore, it is an insult to the passengers of the Shoe Bomber flight to credit the government for their actions in saving their own lives.
The fact that airplanes have not flown into the Sears Tower, or that Mile High Stadium has not been hit with a dirty-nuke device, is not a sufficient measure of "terrorism attacks."
But that's merely rational thinking, right?
First he quotes Rich Lowry:
There has been one constant in the five years since the terror attacks of 9/11 — there has been no follow-up attack in the United States. It is the most blessed non-event in recent American history. Of course, that could change in an awful instant. It is nonetheless the signal accomplishment in the war on terror. While the smoke was still clearing from downtown Manhattan, no one would have said that the fight against terror should be judged on whether the U.S. is popular abroad or able to spread democracy. The standard was avoiding another attack in the U.S., and by that standard, the war on terror is a tentative success.
There are rival explanations for this success....
Then he offers a reality-check:
I note that he leaves out my explanation for this "success"... every time there is a terror attack, whether it is planes mysteriously falling apart over Long Island, Muslims shooting Jews in Seattle or massive explosions at oil refineries, it is loudly announced that what looks rather like a terrorist attack was, in fact, a mirage, an accident, nothing to look at, carry on about your business. Furthermore, it is an insult to the passengers of the Shoe Bomber flight to credit the government for their actions in saving their own lives.
The fact that airplanes have not flown into the Sears Tower, or that Mile High Stadium has not been hit with a dirty-nuke device, is not a sufficient measure of "terrorism attacks."
But that's merely rational thinking, right?
How to Prevail in the War
Frank Gaffney has a few ideas. Gaffney was (and remains) the principal force behind "Star Wars"--a successful anti-missle defense system and rational alternative to "M A D"--Mutually Assured Destruction--which is the Left's preferred method of nuclear combat.
At any rate, Gaffney's strategic smarts are pretty good. Here are a few of his thoughts on How to Win the War against Islamofascists:
"Devise, staff up, and begin executing a political warfare strategy. Countering the Islamofascist ideology must be its principal focus.
"De-legitimize Islamist extremism in the eyes of Muslims, and especially its potential supporters. We need to show that, although violent Islamism is certainly a problem for us in the West, it is a vastly greater problem for the Muslim community.
"Use our strengths. The good news is that Americans are among the world's experts at political warfare....The talent, creativity, ingenuity, and, yes, ruthlessness of top-flight political campaign strategists of both parties should be mustered for the purpose of fighting our enemies and helping our friends rather than fighting each other.
"Invest in the instruments of political warfare, including public diplomacy. Public diplomacy, intended to influence perceptions, attitudes, and actions abroad, must be viewed as a form of political warfare....An immediate and sweeping ramp-up of our international broadcasting capabilities is needed to provide high-quality programming.
"Reinforce and strengthen our friends. By demonstrating that there are not only consequences for opposing us, but also real and tangible benefits from supporting us, we can maximize the chances of our success. Critical in this regard is the American commitment to the continued survival of one of the most exposed countries of the Free World: Israel."
Imagine unleashing Xoff against the really bad guys, for example. I wouldn't trust him with a gun, but hey--a good old-fashioned Underwood...wow.
At any rate, Gaffney's strategic smarts are pretty good. Here are a few of his thoughts on How to Win the War against Islamofascists:
"Devise, staff up, and begin executing a political warfare strategy. Countering the Islamofascist ideology must be its principal focus.
"De-legitimize Islamist extremism in the eyes of Muslims, and especially its potential supporters. We need to show that, although violent Islamism is certainly a problem for us in the West, it is a vastly greater problem for the Muslim community.
"Use our strengths. The good news is that Americans are among the world's experts at political warfare....The talent, creativity, ingenuity, and, yes, ruthlessness of top-flight political campaign strategists of both parties should be mustered for the purpose of fighting our enemies and helping our friends rather than fighting each other.
"Invest in the instruments of political warfare, including public diplomacy. Public diplomacy, intended to influence perceptions, attitudes, and actions abroad, must be viewed as a form of political warfare....An immediate and sweeping ramp-up of our international broadcasting capabilities is needed to provide high-quality programming.
"Reinforce and strengthen our friends. By demonstrating that there are not only consequences for opposing us, but also real and tangible benefits from supporting us, we can maximize the chances of our success. Critical in this regard is the American commitment to the continued survival of one of the most exposed countries of the Free World: Israel."
Imagine unleashing Xoff against the really bad guys, for example. I wouldn't trust him with a gun, but hey--a good old-fashioned Underwood...wow.
The UTube You DON'T Want to See
Little Green Footballs has a UTube which includes people jumping from the WTC.
Not for the faint of heart.
Not for the faint of heart.
Another Suggestion for Mark Green
..when he's Governor, of course...
Governor Green (like that?): ABOLISH the Wisconsin Corporate Income Tax!!
"Burdens are measured in a numerical example by substituting factor shares and output shares that are reasonable for the U.S. economy. Given those values, domestic labor bears slightly more than 70 percent of the burden of the corporate income tax." (Congressional Budget Office report.)
You want a "competitive Wisconsin?" You want more companies moving here? You want thousands of new jobs for Wisconsin citizens?
Of course, it would be better if GWB got this message and took it national. But there's no reason to dally around waiting for HIM.
Governor Green (like that?): ABOLISH the Wisconsin Corporate Income Tax!!
"Burdens are measured in a numerical example by substituting factor shares and output shares that are reasonable for the U.S. economy. Given those values, domestic labor bears slightly more than 70 percent of the burden of the corporate income tax." (Congressional Budget Office report.)
You want a "competitive Wisconsin?" You want more companies moving here? You want thousands of new jobs for Wisconsin citizens?
Of course, it would be better if GWB got this message and took it national. But there's no reason to dally around waiting for HIM.
Anti-Gun Propaganda Begins...Again
The propaganda blast is beginning, again. Given the nature of propaganda campaigns, you can expect this stuff will be featured in the '08 election:
Experts said these increases buttress reports from the FBI and many mayors and police chiefs that violent crime is beginning to rise after a long decline. Bush administration officials expressed concern but stressed that it was too soon to tell if a new upward trend in violence had begun.
Last year, there were two violent gun crimes for every 1,000 individuals, compared with 1.4 in 2004, according to the department's Bureau of Justice Statistics. There were 2.6 robberies for every 1,000 persons, compared with 2.1 the year before.
"This report tells us more the serious events — robbery and gun crimes — increased and the FBI already told us homicides increased," said criminal justice professor James Alan Fox of Northeastern University.
The noise is present here in Milwaukee, too--ironically, the loudest drums are being beaten by the Conservative talkers...
Fortunately, John Lott provides measures which are grounded in reality:
...so that you can see that since the last full year of Clinton's administration, the violent crime rate has fallen by 23 percent (15 percent since 2001). Since so much weight is put on robbery, it has fallen by 19 percent since the end of Clinton (7 percent since 2001, though again I think that it is hard to see any pattern since 2001).
How does one use the violent crime numbers reported to justify the statement that experts believe that "violent crime is beginning to rise after a long decline"?
Violent Crime Rate: 1985 45.2 1990 44.1 1995 46 1998 35.9 1999 32 2000 27.3 2001 24.6 2002 22.7 2003 22.2 2004 21 2005 20.9
Umnnnhhhh...since 1985, "Violent Crime" has dropped from 45.2 to 20.9. THIS is ominous?
One could note that in every year SINCE 1985, more States have allowed Concealed-Carry. Only Illinois and Wisconsin prohibit CCW at this time (although some other States make it difficult.)
Now THERE's a trend-comparison which would be interesting--and fact-based.
Experts said these increases buttress reports from the FBI and many mayors and police chiefs that violent crime is beginning to rise after a long decline. Bush administration officials expressed concern but stressed that it was too soon to tell if a new upward trend in violence had begun.
Last year, there were two violent gun crimes for every 1,000 individuals, compared with 1.4 in 2004, according to the department's Bureau of Justice Statistics. There were 2.6 robberies for every 1,000 persons, compared with 2.1 the year before.
"This report tells us more the serious events — robbery and gun crimes — increased and the FBI already told us homicides increased," said criminal justice professor James Alan Fox of Northeastern University.
The noise is present here in Milwaukee, too--ironically, the loudest drums are being beaten by the Conservative talkers...
Fortunately, John Lott provides measures which are grounded in reality:
...so that you can see that since the last full year of Clinton's administration, the violent crime rate has fallen by 23 percent (15 percent since 2001). Since so much weight is put on robbery, it has fallen by 19 percent since the end of Clinton (7 percent since 2001, though again I think that it is hard to see any pattern since 2001).
How does one use the violent crime numbers reported to justify the statement that experts believe that "violent crime is beginning to rise after a long decline"?
Violent Crime Rate: 1985 45.2 1990 44.1 1995 46 1998 35.9 1999 32 2000 27.3 2001 24.6 2002 22.7 2003 22.2 2004 21 2005 20.9
Umnnnhhhh...since 1985, "Violent Crime" has dropped from 45.2 to 20.9. THIS is ominous?
One could note that in every year SINCE 1985, more States have allowed Concealed-Carry. Only Illinois and Wisconsin prohibit CCW at this time (although some other States make it difficult.)
Now THERE's a trend-comparison which would be interesting--and fact-based.
A Method Worth Consideration: "Muslims" or "Terrorists"?
Although this was pointed out in "The Path to 9/11" (the incident at the Vancouver/Seattle border) P-Mac cites a more credible and practiced authority:
Good story in the Jerusalem Post about some Israeli security guys saying that most countries have it all wrong: Banning box cutters or checking shoes presumes that you’re up against weapons carried by terrorists.
“The Western concept of searching for weapons is fundamentally flawed,” the paper quotes Shabtai Shoval, president and founder of Suspect Detection Systems in Tel Aviv. “If a person has the intention to carry out an attack, then the means is secondary. Someone who wants to carry out an attack will figure out a way to do it, whether it's with one thing or with another. The person is what is important; the weapon is marginal. In fact, the person is the weapon!”
Later, P-Mac frets a tiny bit:
...The methods are pushy and invasive: Israel prescreens passengers before they get to the airport, and everyone is interviewed by security agents. Aside from whether that works on American-style passenger volumes, it might clash with our more libertarian view toward government prying.
This begs a larger question: Who is "the enemy"?
Those on the Right have pointed out that most terror incidents over the last 20 years have been carried out by Muslim males aged 20-40. This is correct, of course. And for a variety of reasons, others have joined in pointing out the "Muslim" proper adjective--loudly, and often.
But as another matter of fact (less emphasized,) there are perhaps 10,000 terrorists who actually have carried out attacks--and that includes their mentors, logistical-supporters, and financiers. Even counting the irregular "armies" (really, large posses) it would be difficult to come up with more than 250,000 Muhajedeen worldwide.
So with a worldwide Muslim population in the several-hundred-million range, this is an infinitesimal count.
Thus, identifying "the enemy" simply cannot be reduced to "Muslim"--while at the same time, it is true that the perpetrators ARE "Muslim."
That presents a conundrum. Our President has generally failed to draw these lines clearly--but then, so has the Press and the Left, who have generally attempted to airbrush "Muslim" OUT of the definition--which simply flies in the face of experience.
So why point to the P-Mac blog? Simple. The Israelis define terrorist suspects by behavior and traits. And they are damn successful. El-Al does not HAVE a 'terrorist' problem.
Besides, this methodology comports better with the Western (Judeao-Christian) sense of justice, which is generally very uncomfortable with defining an evil person by affiliation.
More intrusive? Maybe. Contra "libertarianism"? So what? It is Conservative.
Good story in the Jerusalem Post about some Israeli security guys saying that most countries have it all wrong: Banning box cutters or checking shoes presumes that you’re up against weapons carried by terrorists.
“The Western concept of searching for weapons is fundamentally flawed,” the paper quotes Shabtai Shoval, president and founder of Suspect Detection Systems in Tel Aviv. “If a person has the intention to carry out an attack, then the means is secondary. Someone who wants to carry out an attack will figure out a way to do it, whether it's with one thing or with another. The person is what is important; the weapon is marginal. In fact, the person is the weapon!”
Later, P-Mac frets a tiny bit:
...The methods are pushy and invasive: Israel prescreens passengers before they get to the airport, and everyone is interviewed by security agents. Aside from whether that works on American-style passenger volumes, it might clash with our more libertarian view toward government prying.
This begs a larger question: Who is "the enemy"?
Those on the Right have pointed out that most terror incidents over the last 20 years have been carried out by Muslim males aged 20-40. This is correct, of course. And for a variety of reasons, others have joined in pointing out the "Muslim" proper adjective--loudly, and often.
But as another matter of fact (less emphasized,) there are perhaps 10,000 terrorists who actually have carried out attacks--and that includes their mentors, logistical-supporters, and financiers. Even counting the irregular "armies" (really, large posses) it would be difficult to come up with more than 250,000 Muhajedeen worldwide.
So with a worldwide Muslim population in the several-hundred-million range, this is an infinitesimal count.
Thus, identifying "the enemy" simply cannot be reduced to "Muslim"--while at the same time, it is true that the perpetrators ARE "Muslim."
That presents a conundrum. Our President has generally failed to draw these lines clearly--but then, so has the Press and the Left, who have generally attempted to airbrush "Muslim" OUT of the definition--which simply flies in the face of experience.
So why point to the P-Mac blog? Simple. The Israelis define terrorist suspects by behavior and traits. And they are damn successful. El-Al does not HAVE a 'terrorist' problem.
Besides, this methodology comports better with the Western (Judeao-Christian) sense of justice, which is generally very uncomfortable with defining an evil person by affiliation.
More intrusive? Maybe. Contra "libertarianism"? So what? It is Conservative.
P-Mac vs. Mr Plug-My-Ears
Folkbum rattles on about P-Mac(Ilheran)'s column which mentions John Lott's study.
Lott's study (which is clearly labeled 'not conclusive' BY THE AUTHOR) does show some interesting results: he maintains that the tougher the Voter ID requirements, the higher the voter turnout.
It's interesting. And it is antithetical to the Leftist position that there should be no Voter ID requirements whatsoever. It may expose folks like the "prominent lawyer-hospital administrator" who not only voted Democrat--he voted like a Democrat--more than once.
Here's a snippet from the column:
Mexico has required them since 1991. Turnout has risen since. In fact, Mexico is a harsh test. To vote, Mexicans must show a voter registration card, with photo, thumbprint and a magnetic strip with biometric data. It's got anti-counterfeiting measures, too, and you sign up by showing up at a registration office. They don't mail the card: You have to go pick it up later. Despite all this in a country with Third World stretches, Mexico's Federal Election Institute says 94.5% of eligible voters are registered. [. . .] The turnout, at about 60%, was uninjured.
Good turnout.
Folkie goes bananas:
So let's get this straight: Mexico's 60% turnout shows what a rousing success voter ID and strict registration requirements can mean. Wisconsin's turnout, despite not requiring strict registration or photo ID in 2004, was more than 25% higher than Mexico's, so . . . what, exactly?
Well, for starters, there are about 15 million Mexicans living in the USA illegally. Since they have to be physically present to vote in Mexico....
You do the math, Folkie.
And that super-duper Wisconsin turnout? Guess where those illegals ACTUALLY voted?
Beloit, Racine, Burlington, Milwaukee, Madison....
Lott's study (which is clearly labeled 'not conclusive' BY THE AUTHOR) does show some interesting results: he maintains that the tougher the Voter ID requirements, the higher the voter turnout.
It's interesting. And it is antithetical to the Leftist position that there should be no Voter ID requirements whatsoever. It may expose folks like the "prominent lawyer-hospital administrator" who not only voted Democrat--he voted like a Democrat--more than once.
Here's a snippet from the column:
Mexico has required them since 1991. Turnout has risen since. In fact, Mexico is a harsh test. To vote, Mexicans must show a voter registration card, with photo, thumbprint and a magnetic strip with biometric data. It's got anti-counterfeiting measures, too, and you sign up by showing up at a registration office. They don't mail the card: You have to go pick it up later. Despite all this in a country with Third World stretches, Mexico's Federal Election Institute says 94.5% of eligible voters are registered. [. . .] The turnout, at about 60%, was uninjured.
Good turnout.
Folkie goes bananas:
So let's get this straight: Mexico's 60% turnout shows what a rousing success voter ID and strict registration requirements can mean. Wisconsin's turnout, despite not requiring strict registration or photo ID in 2004, was more than 25% higher than Mexico's, so . . . what, exactly?
Well, for starters, there are about 15 million Mexicans living in the USA illegally. Since they have to be physically present to vote in Mexico....
You do the math, Folkie.
And that super-duper Wisconsin turnout? Guess where those illegals ACTUALLY voted?
Beloit, Racine, Burlington, Milwaukee, Madison....
Curious Kane Calls
Today's EK headline provoked my interest, so I read his column.
You should, too. Not because it is well-written, or makes a compelling point. Nope.
After reading it, I had a curious feeling that the columnist might not need as much voice-mail and email storage as he'd like us to believe.
Just sayin'...
You should, too. Not because it is well-written, or makes a compelling point. Nope.
After reading it, I had a curious feeling that the columnist might not need as much voice-mail and email storage as he'd like us to believe.
Just sayin'...
Monday, September 11, 2006
The Path to 9/11
Well, maybe ABC pulled some punches.
But the show was outstanding. Gripping. And not-for-profit.
They deserve some accolades.
But the show was outstanding. Gripping. And not-for-profit.
They deserve some accolades.
9/11 Filmed by a NYC Resident: Crystal Morning
It's home video, but it captures as much as anything else.
The tolling of the bell is particularly gripping.
HT: Dom Bet
The tolling of the bell is particularly gripping.
HT: Dom Bet
Attempting the Overthrow of Natural Law
Although this is mentioned below, it deserves its very own post.
At bottom, there's only one moral rulebook. As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Abolition of Man, the project of creating a morality independent of Natural Law is self-defeating:
"This thing which I have called for convenience the Tao, and which others may call Natural Law or Traditional Morality or the First Principles of Practical Reason or the First Platitudes, is not one among a series of possible systems of value. It is the sole source of all value judgements. If it is rejected, all value is rejected. If any value is retained, it is retained.
"The effort to refute it and raise a new system of value in its place is self-contradictory. There has never been, and never will be, a radically new judgement of value in the history of the world. What purport to be new systems or (as they now call them) 'ideologies', all consist of fragments from the Tao itself, arbitrarily wrenched from their context in the whole and then swollen to madness in their isolation, yet still owing to the Tao and to it alone such validity as they possess.
"... The human mind has no more power of inventing a new value than of imagining a new primary colour, or, indeed, of creating a new sun and a new sky for it to move in.
"Wrenching" a small bit of truth from its larger context and "swelling [it] to madness" is the very definition of heresy. Truth is a synthesis of many truths; it is indivisible. Although each portion may be examined in relative isolation, that portion cannot stand on its own as a Primary; it must be a portion of the whole.
Thus the utter folly of Islamic Jihad...for starters.
HT, again: CWN
At bottom, there's only one moral rulebook. As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Abolition of Man, the project of creating a morality independent of Natural Law is self-defeating:
"This thing which I have called for convenience the Tao, and which others may call Natural Law or Traditional Morality or the First Principles of Practical Reason or the First Platitudes, is not one among a series of possible systems of value. It is the sole source of all value judgements. If it is rejected, all value is rejected. If any value is retained, it is retained.
"The effort to refute it and raise a new system of value in its place is self-contradictory. There has never been, and never will be, a radically new judgement of value in the history of the world. What purport to be new systems or (as they now call them) 'ideologies', all consist of fragments from the Tao itself, arbitrarily wrenched from their context in the whole and then swollen to madness in their isolation, yet still owing to the Tao and to it alone such validity as they possess.
"... The human mind has no more power of inventing a new value than of imagining a new primary colour, or, indeed, of creating a new sun and a new sky for it to move in.
"Wrenching" a small bit of truth from its larger context and "swelling [it] to madness" is the very definition of heresy. Truth is a synthesis of many truths; it is indivisible. Although each portion may be examined in relative isolation, that portion cannot stand on its own as a Primary; it must be a portion of the whole.
Thus the utter folly of Islamic Jihad...for starters.
HT, again: CWN
"Path to 9/11"
Of COURSE we watched it.
Still haven't seen mention of Jamie Gorelick's contribution to the terrorists yet (the "wall" of separation between FBI and CIA information...)
And BlameBush has a paragraph worth repeating here:
In the spirit of national unity, ABC has agreed to remove any footage that makes Clinton or members of his cabinet look like ineffectual boobs. The new, more historically accurate movie will be five minutes long with 6 hours of commercials. In the drama's only scene, a senile, doddering Ronald Reagan is discouraged from capturing Osama Bin Laden by a domineering Nancy Reagan who, on the advice of her astrologer, instructs him instead to lay flowers on Hitler's grave and then beat up some queers for Jesus.
Still haven't seen mention of Jamie Gorelick's contribution to the terrorists yet (the "wall" of separation between FBI and CIA information...)
And BlameBush has a paragraph worth repeating here:
In the spirit of national unity, ABC has agreed to remove any footage that makes Clinton or members of his cabinet look like ineffectual boobs. The new, more historically accurate movie will be five minutes long with 6 hours of commercials. In the drama's only scene, a senile, doddering Ronald Reagan is discouraged from capturing Osama Bin Laden by a domineering Nancy Reagan who, on the advice of her astrologer, instructs him instead to lay flowers on Hitler's grave and then beat up some queers for Jesus.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Better Than Miller's "Alien Beer"
So long as Wiggy brought it up, here's proof in pictures:
Proceeds will NOT be used to fund either Jim Sensenbrenner OR "conferences" about immigration issues.
Proceeds will NOT be used to fund either Jim Sensenbrenner OR "conferences" about immigration issues.
The New Bar for Hypocrisy
From Joe Sobran (1997):
Under the new rules, you can be called a hypocrite for upholding old standards of virtue that you don't exemplify perfectly; but you can't be called a hypocrite for sinking into utter moral squalor, as long as you profess to believe there's nothing wrong with it.
So the defender of traditional morality is kept constantly on the defensive, since only he can be accused of hypocrisy.
It's quite a clever system, because it works entirely to the advantage of one side, while the other side has been slow to figure it out. But it boils down to something simple and obvious. I
Under the new rules, you can be called a hypocrite for upholding old standards of virtue that you don't exemplify perfectly; but you can't be called a hypocrite for sinking into utter moral squalor, as long as you profess to believe there's nothing wrong with it.
So the defender of traditional morality is kept constantly on the defensive, since only he can be accused of hypocrisy.
It's quite a clever system, because it works entirely to the advantage of one side, while the other side has been slow to figure it out. But it boils down to something simple and obvious. I