They're doing it to us again!!!
Gas prices jumped from $2.94 a gallon up to $3.15 a gallon overnight due to the possibility of Tropical Storm Chris heading toward the Gulf Coast.
There was no disruption in the oil supply, no oil platforms or oil refineries were damaged or destroyed, and there was no increase in demand. And the storm is going away. This means gas prices should immediately return to $2.94 a gallon, correct??!
Of course not. They'll take three weeks to drop the prices down again, making more windfall profits along the way.
Revolting.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Media And Public Need to Leave Gibson Alone So He Can Focus on His Alcohol Rehab Program
Mel Gibson released a second statement yesterday, clarifying his first statement and acknowledging his tirade against Jews, and asked for forgiveness.
Now that that's out of the way, will people leave Gibson alone so he can focus all of his attention on his rehab program? In order for the treatment to work properly, he has to focus all of his attention and energy on getting better.
He can explain himself AFTER he's completed his treatment program.
Now that that's out of the way, will people leave Gibson alone so he can focus all of his attention on his rehab program? In order for the treatment to work properly, he has to focus all of his attention and energy on getting better.
He can explain himself AFTER he's completed his treatment program.
Monday, July 31, 2006
People Should Remember that Mel Gibson is Fighting a Battle with Alcoholism (and Losing So Far): Tirade Was Alcohol Speaking
People have been very quick to get on the "Everybody Against Mel Gibson" bandwagon and that is a mistake.
Gibson is an admitted alcoholic. And following his arrest for driving under the influence, he entered a rehab program that deals with addictions.
It's an understood fact that when someone is drunk, they sometimes say things that are very offensive. That's the alcohol doing most of the talking. So when I hear that Mel Gibson went on an anti-Jewish tirade when he was extremely intoxicated, that's not the real Mel Gibson speaking.
Point: many are angry at Israel for bombing so many innocent civilians in their war against Hezbollah. I've expressed that kind of anger at Israel for all the collatoral damage they're causing on this blog. Alcohol is an an amplifier and if Gibson was feeling anger at Israel too, the alcohol impairment might well have amplified that anger and caused it to come out in the form of an unfortunate verbal assault on Jewish people.
He's also fighting to get out of a very long shadow cast by his father's anti-Semetic comments. He probably worries about what his dad is going to say next all the time, and the alcohol probably brought that out of him too.
I cannot condone what he said, but my understanding of alcoholism has increased exponentially in recent weeks and how alcohol treatment programs work. I understand a great deal more about it now having observed someone going through it.
Most of Gibson's tirade is the alcohol talking; when he's in the rehab program he will need to confront things he's said and done while under the influence of alcohol. This will be a part of it. And his fellow recovering alcoholics in AA will keep him honest too.
He may well come out after his treatment is done and come clean about how he feels about things. I will reserve my judgment until then. The press and Hollywood probably should too.
Gibson is an admitted alcoholic. And following his arrest for driving under the influence, he entered a rehab program that deals with addictions.
It's an understood fact that when someone is drunk, they sometimes say things that are very offensive. That's the alcohol doing most of the talking. So when I hear that Mel Gibson went on an anti-Jewish tirade when he was extremely intoxicated, that's not the real Mel Gibson speaking.
Point: many are angry at Israel for bombing so many innocent civilians in their war against Hezbollah. I've expressed that kind of anger at Israel for all the collatoral damage they're causing on this blog. Alcohol is an an amplifier and if Gibson was feeling anger at Israel too, the alcohol impairment might well have amplified that anger and caused it to come out in the form of an unfortunate verbal assault on Jewish people.
He's also fighting to get out of a very long shadow cast by his father's anti-Semetic comments. He probably worries about what his dad is going to say next all the time, and the alcohol probably brought that out of him too.
I cannot condone what he said, but my understanding of alcoholism has increased exponentially in recent weeks and how alcohol treatment programs work. I understand a great deal more about it now having observed someone going through it.
Most of Gibson's tirade is the alcohol talking; when he's in the rehab program he will need to confront things he's said and done while under the influence of alcohol. This will be a part of it. And his fellow recovering alcoholics in AA will keep him honest too.
He may well come out after his treatment is done and come clean about how he feels about things. I will reserve my judgment until then. The press and Hollywood probably should too.
Nazi Aircraft Carrier Located on the Bottom of the Baltic Sea
One of World War II's secrets was finally revealed to the world last week with the discovery of the Nazi aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin on the bottom of the Baltic.
She was constructed in 1938 but never saw combat and was captured by the Soviets in 1945. The ship was roughly the same size as the largest American carriers of the war. When the German shipbuilding yards were about to be captured by Soviet forces in April 1945, the Nazis scuttled her.
But the Soviets refloated the ship, repaired it and used it as a ferry to haul German and Polish equipment back to the Soviet Union until at least 1947, when Western spies photographed her and witnessed what happened to her next.
According to recently released KGB documents and reports from the Western agents, the Soviet Navy and Red Air Force used her for target practice and sank her with bombs, gunfire and torpedoes. It was thought by Soviet officials that knowing how to sink a state-of-the-art aircraft carrier would be useful (if they ever had to fight the U.S. Navy) and was a valuable state secret, so the Soviets kept the exact location of the wreck of the Graf Zeppelin quiet for decades.
All of that changed last week when a team of oil explorers were doing a sounding on the bottom of the Baltic and detected the wreck. No one is sure which nation has control over the wreck, but the discovery has shed light on what was one of World War II's most facinating secrets.
She was constructed in 1938 but never saw combat and was captured by the Soviets in 1945. The ship was roughly the same size as the largest American carriers of the war. When the German shipbuilding yards were about to be captured by Soviet forces in April 1945, the Nazis scuttled her.
But the Soviets refloated the ship, repaired it and used it as a ferry to haul German and Polish equipment back to the Soviet Union until at least 1947, when Western spies photographed her and witnessed what happened to her next.
According to recently released KGB documents and reports from the Western agents, the Soviet Navy and Red Air Force used her for target practice and sank her with bombs, gunfire and torpedoes. It was thought by Soviet officials that knowing how to sink a state-of-the-art aircraft carrier would be useful (if they ever had to fight the U.S. Navy) and was a valuable state secret, so the Soviets kept the exact location of the wreck of the Graf Zeppelin quiet for decades.
All of that changed last week when a team of oil explorers were doing a sounding on the bottom of the Baltic and detected the wreck. No one is sure which nation has control over the wreck, but the discovery has shed light on what was one of World War II's most facinating secrets.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Hezbollah Won't Honor Any Cease-Fire: Another Solution is Needed to Stop Mideast Fighting
The talk of an immediate cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah/Lebanon is only that: talk.
Does anyone out there REALLY think that Hezbollah will stop fighting Israel because of a U.N. resolution? They're a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Israel and have no desire to live alongside it.
And they don't care about who they sacrifice in the process. Remember: they're the ones who are placing their military hardware next to apartment buildings and houses in southern Lebanon and daring Israel to defend themselves, knowing full well that collatoral damage will destroy Lebanese property and lives.
Hezbollah's handlers in Tehran and Damascus aren't interested in allowing Israel to exist either and are even less inclined than Hezbollah to see an end to the open warfare. And they don't care if all of Lebanon is blown to kingdom come in the process.
The world knows full well that Hezbollah will continue to rain rockets down on Israeli cities but don't want Israel to fire back. Hezbollah must be disarmed or destroyed.
For all the noise that diplomats from around the world are making, I'm not seeing those nations volunteering troops for a U.N. force in southern Lebanon either. A cease-fire will hold only if the international community has the brass to back it up with boots on the ground. They should put up or shut up.
It's laughable that they want Israel to sacrifice their national treasure (their people who continue to die from Hezbollah rockets) in the name of peace while refusing to risk any of their own to insure that the peace is kept. And the U.S. shouldn't bail the world out on this either by contributing fifty times the amount of troops that the smallest donor nation provides either.
World complaints require a world fix. And if they're not part of the solution, then they're part of the problem.
Does anyone out there REALLY think that Hezbollah will stop fighting Israel because of a U.N. resolution? They're a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Israel and have no desire to live alongside it.
And they don't care about who they sacrifice in the process. Remember: they're the ones who are placing their military hardware next to apartment buildings and houses in southern Lebanon and daring Israel to defend themselves, knowing full well that collatoral damage will destroy Lebanese property and lives.
Hezbollah's handlers in Tehran and Damascus aren't interested in allowing Israel to exist either and are even less inclined than Hezbollah to see an end to the open warfare. And they don't care if all of Lebanon is blown to kingdom come in the process.
The world knows full well that Hezbollah will continue to rain rockets down on Israeli cities but don't want Israel to fire back. Hezbollah must be disarmed or destroyed.
For all the noise that diplomats from around the world are making, I'm not seeing those nations volunteering troops for a U.N. force in southern Lebanon either. A cease-fire will hold only if the international community has the brass to back it up with boots on the ground. They should put up or shut up.
It's laughable that they want Israel to sacrifice their national treasure (their people who continue to die from Hezbollah rockets) in the name of peace while refusing to risk any of their own to insure that the peace is kept. And the U.S. shouldn't bail the world out on this either by contributing fifty times the amount of troops that the smallest donor nation provides either.
World complaints require a world fix. And if they're not part of the solution, then they're part of the problem.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Corporal Joe Micks---1983-2006---Rest in Peace Friend
I've just learned that a friend of mine from Scout camp and brother Eagle Scout was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
His name was Joe Micks and he was from Rapid River, Michigan. We served on Camp Hiawatha staff together. For a time he worked under me as a lifeguard on my waterfront staff. His brother Andy was also a staff member at Camp Hiawatha.
Two of his Army comrades were also killed in the bombing.
Joe's funeral was last week. I didn't find out until tonight due to time and distance. I'm very saddened by Joe's death and will always remember a young man with a sense of humor who knew what he wanted to do with his time and his skills.
Goodbye, Joe, and thank you.
Attack on U.N. Building in South Lebanon Was Hezbollah's Fault: They Were Using the Base as Cover for Rocket Launchings
How quickly the story changes.
It's being reported that the U.N. base that came under Israeli attack was being used as a shield to launch Hezbollah rockets into northern Israel. Apparently Hezbollah was inside the compound launching rockets at the time of the air attack and the damage to the U.N. compound was collatoral damage, as Hezbollah had hoped would happen.
This was a Hezbollah ploy from the get-go.
The peacekeepers won't use force to keep others out of their compound, so Hezbollah was running amok on the base.
It's time to pull the rest of the peacekeepers out until a cease-fire is established and definite rules of engagement against the terrorists are in place.
It's being reported that the U.N. base that came under Israeli attack was being used as a shield to launch Hezbollah rockets into northern Israel. Apparently Hezbollah was inside the compound launching rockets at the time of the air attack and the damage to the U.N. compound was collatoral damage, as Hezbollah had hoped would happen.
This was a Hezbollah ploy from the get-go.
The peacekeepers won't use force to keep others out of their compound, so Hezbollah was running amok on the base.
It's time to pull the rest of the peacekeepers out until a cease-fire is established and definite rules of engagement against the terrorists are in place.
Dean Should Practice What He Preaches: Calls for End to Divisiveness While Comparing Opponent to Stalin
Howard Dean's hypocricy knows no bounds.
The Democratic Party chairman issued a statement calling for an end to divisiveness in Washington politics, while at the same time comparing Florida GOP Senate hopeful Katherine Harris to Stalin and calling her a "crook."
This comes on the heels of his proclaiming traditional marriage as "outmoded and bigoted" following court losses on gay marriage in Georgia and New York. (In those cases, the courts declined to rule on gay marriage, deferring to the respective state legislatures.)
Come on, Mr. Dean, practice what you preach.
The Democratic Party chairman issued a statement calling for an end to divisiveness in Washington politics, while at the same time comparing Florida GOP Senate hopeful Katherine Harris to Stalin and calling her a "crook."
This comes on the heels of his proclaiming traditional marriage as "outmoded and bigoted" following court losses on gay marriage in Georgia and New York. (In those cases, the courts declined to rule on gay marriage, deferring to the respective state legislatures.)
Come on, Mr. Dean, practice what you preach.
As Bad as Middle East Looks, We Have to Remember that We Have Two Wars Going On Ourselves
We've been distracted from our ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq ever since fighting broke out in the Middle East and we need to refocus some of our attention on where it's needed.
It's being reported that a family in Texas has lost both of their sons in combat. One was killed two years ago in Iraq, the other recently died in Afghanistan.
Losing one son would be bad enough, but losing both? I cannot begin to imagine the pain that this family is going through.
Before we commit to joining any more foreign adventures, we need to conclude our business in Iraq and Afghanistan. We owe it to the fallen and their families to finish the job that they started and then get out of there.
So perish the thought of U.S. troops being peacekeepers in Lebanon. If we do go over there, it'll be to fight Hezbollah, not keep them away from Israel. Hezbollah has the blood of 241 U.S. Marines on their hands from the 1983 Beruit barracks bombing that they have yet to answer for.
It's being reported that a family in Texas has lost both of their sons in combat. One was killed two years ago in Iraq, the other recently died in Afghanistan.
Losing one son would be bad enough, but losing both? I cannot begin to imagine the pain that this family is going through.
Before we commit to joining any more foreign adventures, we need to conclude our business in Iraq and Afghanistan. We owe it to the fallen and their families to finish the job that they started and then get out of there.
So perish the thought of U.S. troops being peacekeepers in Lebanon. If we do go over there, it'll be to fight Hezbollah, not keep them away from Israel. Hezbollah has the blood of 241 U.S. Marines on their hands from the 1983 Beruit barracks bombing that they have yet to answer for.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Another Security Breach: 540,000 New Yorkers at Risk of Identity Theft
Oh, not again.
A computer containing names, addresses and social security numbers of some 540,000 disabled residents of New York may have gone missing. It was an insurance company that reported the computer missing.
When are these companies (and governments) going to do a better job of protecting people's privacy and identities?
A computer containing names, addresses and social security numbers of some 540,000 disabled residents of New York may have gone missing. It was an insurance company that reported the computer missing.
When are these companies (and governments) going to do a better job of protecting people's privacy and identities?
Cargo Vessel from Singapore in MAJOR Trouble off Alaska
A cargo ship carrying 5,000 cars to Vancouver from overseas is floundering off the coast of Alaska at this late hour.U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force units are enroute to the stricken vessel to try to save the crew and possibily the cargo ship, but it's taking on water and listing nearly 90 degrees to starboard. How this happened is unknown, but it got into trouble sometime on Sunday and began sending out distress calls.
Amazing photo.
Lebanon Rejects Secretary Rice's Peace Plan: No Surprise There
News came today that the Lebanese rejected Secretary of State Rice's plan for peace in the Israeli-Hezbollah-Lebanon war which entered Day 12 today.
It's hard to talk peace when one's country is being blown to smithereens. That's how the Lebanese reacted to talk of dealing with Hezbollah while the bombs continue to fall. It's unfortunate that all sides are being so bull-headed about a simple cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel.
Here's an alternative cease-fire deal that Secretary Rice should offer to Israel and Lebanon:
Lebanon and Israel should agree to stop shooting at each other directly. No more Israeli bombing of central and northern Lebanon, and the Lebanese forces stay out of southern Lebanon where Hezbollah's fighters are. Lebanon allows Israel a free hand to deal with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon until the rockets stop coming across the border and the fate of Israel's missing soldiers are determined. Israel promises to focus it's firepower against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon exclusively.
This would allow Israel to effectively harness it's military power and get on with sending more Hezbollah terrorists to hell where they belong.
This plan is far more effective than the ones being floated by the U.S., Israel and Lebanon so far. The politicians really need to get their heads out of the sand and pay attention to what's really going on around them.
It's hard to talk peace when one's country is being blown to smithereens. That's how the Lebanese reacted to talk of dealing with Hezbollah while the bombs continue to fall. It's unfortunate that all sides are being so bull-headed about a simple cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel.
Here's an alternative cease-fire deal that Secretary Rice should offer to Israel and Lebanon:
Lebanon and Israel should agree to stop shooting at each other directly. No more Israeli bombing of central and northern Lebanon, and the Lebanese forces stay out of southern Lebanon where Hezbollah's fighters are. Lebanon allows Israel a free hand to deal with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon until the rockets stop coming across the border and the fate of Israel's missing soldiers are determined. Israel promises to focus it's firepower against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon exclusively.
This would allow Israel to effectively harness it's military power and get on with sending more Hezbollah terrorists to hell where they belong.
This plan is far more effective than the ones being floated by the U.S., Israel and Lebanon so far. The politicians really need to get their heads out of the sand and pay attention to what's really going on around them.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Hezbollah Social Services: Public Face for Terrorists and Murderers
Sickening.
Some in the media over here are trying to humanize the Hezbollah movement for their works of charity over in Lebanon.
We'll be sure to include that in their collective obituary along with the following: THEY'VE KIDNAPPED PEOPLE and are FIRING ROCKETS AT ISRAEL.
Here's how the equation works: no kidnappings + no rockets = no Israeli military action.
Those in the know should get it into their heads that Hezbollah is erasing their own good works with the evil that they are committing in the name of God.
If Hezbollah REALLY wanted to do good things for the people of Lebanon, they'd sell their weapons back to the Iranians and Syrians, renounce terrorism and use the money from the weapons sales to fund their charities. Until they do, it's just a public face that they use while attempting to murder people miles away.
Some in the media over here are trying to humanize the Hezbollah movement for their works of charity over in Lebanon.
We'll be sure to include that in their collective obituary along with the following: THEY'VE KIDNAPPED PEOPLE and are FIRING ROCKETS AT ISRAEL.
Here's how the equation works: no kidnappings + no rockets = no Israeli military action.
Those in the know should get it into their heads that Hezbollah is erasing their own good works with the evil that they are committing in the name of God.
If Hezbollah REALLY wanted to do good things for the people of Lebanon, they'd sell their weapons back to the Iranians and Syrians, renounce terrorism and use the money from the weapons sales to fund their charities. Until they do, it's just a public face that they use while attempting to murder people miles away.
Vague Language on Cruise Ship Accident Leaves Many Questions
An Associated Press story came in this morning about a cruise ship unexpected listing to port after suffering a "steering failure." Hundreds were thrown about by the sudden movement, water drained out of the swimming pool and the occupants of the pool suddenly found themselves sliding down the wet deck into whatever was in their way. Dozens of injuries were reported. Windows were broken, furniture was destroyed, TVs were thrown from their perches and broken and all sorts of other damage was inflicted on the ship.
The cruise ship was the month-old Crown Princess and displaces 113,000 tons of water with its huge bulk.
Parts of this story don't make sense.
The story quoted a passenger as saying that "several of the upper decks were flooded with seawater." Look at how high the upper decks are on the ship in the photo above. If several of the upper decks were flooded with seawater, exactly how far over did the ship go?
Now, if some of the LOWER decks were flooded with seawater, then that would make more sense, but the UPPER decks? What kind of steering failure would push the ship nearly onto it's side?
And the damage all over the ship? People were violently thrown about and were quoted in the story as "hanging onto stuff for dear life." They also indicated all of this happened very quickly; far too quickly for a steering problem to have this kind of widespread impact all over the Crown Princess.
It sounds like this ship was hit by a rogue wave. What's really going on here?
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Potential U.N. Cease-Fire Will Not Hold: Hezbollah is a TERRORIST Group, Not a Nation and Not a Member of the United Nations
Israel is taking military action on three fronts, not two as is widely accepted.
They are going after Hamas, Hezbollah and Lebanon. The first two are vicious enemies of democracy where no U.N.-brokered cease-fire will hold. The third has a weak government whose military is significantly weaker than Hezbollah and would be defeated if sent against Hezbollah. They would blow the Lebanese army away.
Hamas and Hezbollah need to be destroyed, and Israel is making it happen. That's the bottom line.
I'm not too happy about Israel bombing civilian targets in Gaza and in Lebanon, but chances are good that a cease-fire will be worked out between the governments of Lebanon and Israel within a couple of weeks.
But the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel will continue indefinitely; southern Lebanon will become a no-man's land for the immediate future.
And after giving it a great deal more thought, I do think that the Lebanese government is hoping that Hezbollah gets taken off the Lebanese map so that the democratically elected government of Lebanon can get down to the business of establishing control over all of Lebanon, and not just the north and central parts of the country.
They don't need the Iranians and Syrians sticking their noses into Lebanese business through Hezbollah either. Peace will be easier to achieve without Hezbollah being around to screw things up.
They are going after Hamas, Hezbollah and Lebanon. The first two are vicious enemies of democracy where no U.N.-brokered cease-fire will hold. The third has a weak government whose military is significantly weaker than Hezbollah and would be defeated if sent against Hezbollah. They would blow the Lebanese army away.
Hamas and Hezbollah need to be destroyed, and Israel is making it happen. That's the bottom line.
I'm not too happy about Israel bombing civilian targets in Gaza and in Lebanon, but chances are good that a cease-fire will be worked out between the governments of Lebanon and Israel within a couple of weeks.
But the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel will continue indefinitely; southern Lebanon will become a no-man's land for the immediate future.
And after giving it a great deal more thought, I do think that the Lebanese government is hoping that Hezbollah gets taken off the Lebanese map so that the democratically elected government of Lebanon can get down to the business of establishing control over all of Lebanon, and not just the north and central parts of the country.
They don't need the Iranians and Syrians sticking their noses into Lebanese business through Hezbollah either. Peace will be easier to achieve without Hezbollah being around to screw things up.
Monday, July 17, 2006
International Community Begins to Float Some Good Ideas to Stop Middle East Fighting: Syria and Iran Continue to Destablize Situation
The international community seems to be getting it together. The G-8 issued a statement yesterday blaming militants for starting the conflict, for Hamas and Hezbollah to cease fire and return Israel's captured soldiers, and for Israel to show "utmost restraint" in their attacks if they have to defend themselves.
Tony Blair and UN Secretary-General Annan are floating a plan to send peacekeepers into the Middle East. This is not a bad idea at all, provided it doesn't involve U.S. troops as they are a magnet for terrorist attacks themselves and that Hezbollah and Hamas are our enemies too. The U.S. would rather see Hezbollah and Hamas destroyed.
On the other side of the coin, Iran is threatening Israel with "unimaginable losses" if Israel attacks Syria. despite the fact that Israel could turn Iran into glass at a moment's notice with its arsenal of nuclear weapons. Iran is banking on what it sees as Israeli reluctance to use Israeli nuclear arms, but the Israeli government has never been afraid to use their military anywhere in the world for any reason.
Syria appears to be supplying Hezbollah with Qassam rockets. The giveaway is the steel ball bearings that are in the rocket's warhead. These are unique to Syrian weapons and are designed to scatter at high speed following the rocket's impact and to hit unarmored targets...like people. Hundreds of the steel balls have been recovered by Israeli authorities as well as being pulled out of people hit by these terror weapons.
What is yet to come?
Tony Blair and UN Secretary-General Annan are floating a plan to send peacekeepers into the Middle East. This is not a bad idea at all, provided it doesn't involve U.S. troops as they are a magnet for terrorist attacks themselves and that Hezbollah and Hamas are our enemies too. The U.S. would rather see Hezbollah and Hamas destroyed.
On the other side of the coin, Iran is threatening Israel with "unimaginable losses" if Israel attacks Syria. despite the fact that Israel could turn Iran into glass at a moment's notice with its arsenal of nuclear weapons. Iran is banking on what it sees as Israeli reluctance to use Israeli nuclear arms, but the Israeli government has never been afraid to use their military anywhere in the world for any reason.
Syria appears to be supplying Hezbollah with Qassam rockets. The giveaway is the steel ball bearings that are in the rocket's warhead. These are unique to Syrian weapons and are designed to scatter at high speed following the rocket's impact and to hit unarmored targets...like people. Hundreds of the steel balls have been recovered by Israeli authorities as well as being pulled out of people hit by these terror weapons.
What is yet to come?
Tsunami Hits Indonesia Following 7.2 Magnitude 'Quake: Extent of Casualties and Damage Unknown
As if there wasn't enough going on in the world right now, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast off of Java this morning and generated a tsunami that slammed into Indonesia's coastline.
This was definitely not a repeat of the monster tsunami that struck the region in December 2004 that killed over 229,000 people, but still, the waves were enough to obliterate some structures along the coastline of Java Island.
Tsunami warnings are posted for neighboring countries for the next several hours.
This was definitely not a repeat of the monster tsunami that struck the region in December 2004 that killed over 229,000 people, but still, the waves were enough to obliterate some structures along the coastline of Java Island.
Tsunami warnings are posted for neighboring countries for the next several hours.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Israel Uses a Sledgehammer to Kill a Mosquito: Major Disaster in the Making and the Bush Administration is Acting as the Israeli "Yes-Man."
Missiles and rockets are flying in both directions over the Israeli/Lebanese border as Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continue to mix it up.
One has to wonder why the Israelis targeted a power plant in Gaza and why the fledgling democratic Lebanese government has been targeted by Israeli bombs and missiles. Israel knows where Hezbollah is firing their rockets from, and they also know where Hamas is doing it from as well. Yet Israeli bombs and missiles are hitting civilian targets as well as legitimate terrorist targets in both Gaza and in Lebanon.
By the way, the power plant that was destroyed in Gaza was insured....by a U.S. government agency. So the U.S. taxpayer will be replacing the plant that Israel wrecked.
And why isn't the U.S. offering alternative U.N. Security Council resolutions to the ones that have been proposed so far? Lebanon is asking for a cease-fire, which the Israelis and the U.S. both rejected. What does Lebanon have to do, offer to unconditionally surrender to beg Israel to stop targeting civilian assets?
Israel does have a right to defend itself, but not to punish noncombatant civilians who have nothing to do with Israel's missing soldiers. Bombing civilian airports, power plants, bridges, and roads to hurt Hezbollah actually hurts ordinary civilians more.
Remember, Israel has invaded a fledgling democracy that is still struggling to emerge from the shadow of Syria. This is a country that was hailed only a few short months ago as a shining example of the Lebanese people choosing democracy over foreign military occupation. Yet President Bush quickly turned on Lebanon to support Israel's right to self-defense. This could be a very costly decision.
The weak Lebanese government may be toppled by this war launched by Israel. What's going to replace it? Has President Bush or the Israeli Prime Minister considered that?
Israel should limit itself to fighting Hezbollah and Hamas, and the U.S. should be insisting on that point instead of handing the Israelis a blank check and a permission slip to do what it wants in the name of self-defense.
One has to wonder why the Israelis targeted a power plant in Gaza and why the fledgling democratic Lebanese government has been targeted by Israeli bombs and missiles. Israel knows where Hezbollah is firing their rockets from, and they also know where Hamas is doing it from as well. Yet Israeli bombs and missiles are hitting civilian targets as well as legitimate terrorist targets in both Gaza and in Lebanon.
By the way, the power plant that was destroyed in Gaza was insured....by a U.S. government agency. So the U.S. taxpayer will be replacing the plant that Israel wrecked.
And why isn't the U.S. offering alternative U.N. Security Council resolutions to the ones that have been proposed so far? Lebanon is asking for a cease-fire, which the Israelis and the U.S. both rejected. What does Lebanon have to do, offer to unconditionally surrender to beg Israel to stop targeting civilian assets?
Israel does have a right to defend itself, but not to punish noncombatant civilians who have nothing to do with Israel's missing soldiers. Bombing civilian airports, power plants, bridges, and roads to hurt Hezbollah actually hurts ordinary civilians more.
Remember, Israel has invaded a fledgling democracy that is still struggling to emerge from the shadow of Syria. This is a country that was hailed only a few short months ago as a shining example of the Lebanese people choosing democracy over foreign military occupation. Yet President Bush quickly turned on Lebanon to support Israel's right to self-defense. This could be a very costly decision.
The weak Lebanese government may be toppled by this war launched by Israel. What's going to replace it? Has President Bush or the Israeli Prime Minister considered that?
Israel should limit itself to fighting Hezbollah and Hamas, and the U.S. should be insisting on that point instead of handing the Israelis a blank check and a permission slip to do what it wants in the name of self-defense.
Friday, July 07, 2006
U.N. Security Council Needs Major Housecleaning: Five Permanent Seats Should Be Turned Into Rotating Seats
The United Nations Security Council is cracking again, and it's because of the veto-holding members who hold the permanent seats.
Three permanent members of the council plus the majority of the non-permanent member states want sanctions against North Korea for their reckless firing of ICBMs and Scud-type missiles, but Russia and China don't. And because they don't, the motion auto-fails.
Here we go again with the Security Council quivering under stress.
They really need to look at permanently abolishing the permanent seats on the Security Council and replacing them with rotating seats so that they match the rest of the council. A two thirds majority should be able to pass motions pertaining to things like North Korean aggression and dealing with issues like Darfur or Rwanda.
The Russians and Chinese refusing to budge on North Korea is simply another indication that the Security Council needs to be revamped.
Three permanent members of the council plus the majority of the non-permanent member states want sanctions against North Korea for their reckless firing of ICBMs and Scud-type missiles, but Russia and China don't. And because they don't, the motion auto-fails.
Here we go again with the Security Council quivering under stress.
They really need to look at permanently abolishing the permanent seats on the Security Council and replacing them with rotating seats so that they match the rest of the council. A two thirds majority should be able to pass motions pertaining to things like North Korean aggression and dealing with issues like Darfur or Rwanda.
The Russians and Chinese refusing to budge on North Korea is simply another indication that the Security Council needs to be revamped.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
North Korean Counterfeiting of U.S. Money Deserves Sanctions: Kim Jong-Il's Government Doesn't Deserve to Exist
North Korea's protesting U.S. economic policy toward them is laughable. They brought U.S. ire down on themselves.
Pyongyang suspended it's participation in six-nation nuclear talks because of their anger with the U.S. government going after international banks that were aiding and abetting North Korean government counterfeiting of U.S. dollars among other things.
In fact, the recent changes in how our money looks is an effort to curb North Korean counterfeiting of U.S. dollars. So the next time you have an orange-back $10 bill in your hand, it's (in large part) because of North Korea's illegal activities.
Kim Jong-Il's officials use their counterfeit U.S. money to maintain an extravagant lifestyle while their destitute people STARVE to death.
This North Korean government must disappear from the face of the Earth and it's members prosecuted for allowing so many of their own people to suffer and die while Kim Jong-Il and his brood get fat at the costly expense of so many others.
Here's a historical context to put this in as provided by Claudia Rosett of USA Today in Friday's USA Today:
In 1994, when Kim Jong Il took over from his late father, North Korea was pursuing the nuclear bomb. Hoping to coax Kim into the civilized fold, the United States led the way in setting up a nuclear-freeze deal, in which a consortium of nations sent North Korea fuel and food, and began building Kim two modern nuclear reactors.
Pyongyang suspended it's participation in six-nation nuclear talks because of their anger with the U.S. government going after international banks that were aiding and abetting North Korean government counterfeiting of U.S. dollars among other things.
In fact, the recent changes in how our money looks is an effort to curb North Korean counterfeiting of U.S. dollars. So the next time you have an orange-back $10 bill in your hand, it's (in large part) because of North Korea's illegal activities.
Kim Jong-Il's officials use their counterfeit U.S. money to maintain an extravagant lifestyle while their destitute people STARVE to death.
This North Korean government must disappear from the face of the Earth and it's members prosecuted for allowing so many of their own people to suffer and die while Kim Jong-Il and his brood get fat at the costly expense of so many others.
Here's a historical context to put this in as provided by Claudia Rosett of USA Today in Friday's USA Today:
In 1994, when Kim Jong Il took over from his late father, North Korea was pursuing the nuclear bomb. Hoping to coax Kim into the civilized fold, the United States led the way in setting up a nuclear-freeze deal, in which a consortium of nations sent North Korea fuel and food, and began building Kim two modern nuclear reactors.
Kim pocketed the aid for his military, starved to death an estimated 1 to 2 million North Koreans, test-fired a missile in 1998 over Japan, sold missiles to the Middle East and cheated on the nuclear freeze. When U.S. diplomats finally confronted North Korea in 2002 over its secret uranium enrichment program, Kim's regime declared it had every right to nuclear weapons, fired up its old Yongbyon nuclear plant, renounced the non-proliferation treaty, threatened the United States, Japan and South Korea with a "sea of fire" and "total war," and in 2004 invited a U.S. delegation to come gaze upon a sample of plutonium.
The U.N. Security Council ought to get busy and start securing North Korea's cooperation by any means necessary. And if that means imposing sanctions, then they should DO IT!Wednesday, July 05, 2006
North Korea Launches Seventh Missile Today; More Expected
International outrage is continuing to grow over North Korea's missile barrage that has taken place over the course of two days. The U.N. Security Council is meeting at this hour to decide what to do about North Korea's blatant act of aggression.
A seventh missile was launched today.
It's become apparent that North Korea should be completely disarmed as they are too immature to be trusted with ANY military equipment. Why do they need a 900,000-man army? To enslave their own people? To stop a South Korean invasion? To aid in Afghanistan or Iraq? NOT!!
They should be putting all their military money into buying fuel and food for their starving masses instead of buying armor and armament.
North Korea is it's own worst enemy and that scenario is playing out right in front of us. Their stunt is going to backfire.
A seventh missile was launched today.
It's become apparent that North Korea should be completely disarmed as they are too immature to be trusted with ANY military equipment. Why do they need a 900,000-man army? To enslave their own people? To stop a South Korean invasion? To aid in Afghanistan or Iraq? NOT!!
They should be putting all their military money into buying fuel and food for their starving masses instead of buying armor and armament.
North Korea is it's own worst enemy and that scenario is playing out right in front of us. Their stunt is going to backfire.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
North Korean Missile Launches Continue
Unbelievable...North Korea launched a sixth missile 30 minutes ago.
They're in so much trouble already and they're still firing away.
They're in so much trouble already and they're still firing away.
Missiles Fly over Sea of Japan: North Korea Launches Combination of Medium and Long Range Missiles
The little North Korean runt Kim Jong Il is acting up again, defying the international community and test-firing an ICBM as well as a number of shorter-range missiles to act as decoys.
The ICBM exploded 35-40 seconds after launch, but it doesn't really matter. North Korea is going to get slapped around now via economic sanctions and other non-military means.
It's good that the missile malfunctioned and didn't crash down on Japanese territory. The repercussions would have been grave as the Japanese might have retaliated by launching air strikes against the base from which the missile had originated, as would have been their right.
The other missiles splashed down in the sea of Japan some 300+ miles off the coast of Japan.
This was clearly planned to coincide with our Independence Day celebrations, though the launch of the shuttle Discovery was not something that the North Koreans anticipated. But the North Koreans probably saw that as icing on the cake. But if they're looking for a comparison of their rocket technology to ours, then they have quite a ways to go if their rocket exploding was any indication.
No North Korean runt will rain on our parade. North Korea will get slapped around by it's neighbors and the U.N. while our Independence Day fireworks will go on as scheduled.
North Korea's splash was only as big as their missile hitting the water.
The ICBM exploded 35-40 seconds after launch, but it doesn't really matter. North Korea is going to get slapped around now via economic sanctions and other non-military means.
It's good that the missile malfunctioned and didn't crash down on Japanese territory. The repercussions would have been grave as the Japanese might have retaliated by launching air strikes against the base from which the missile had originated, as would have been their right.
The other missiles splashed down in the sea of Japan some 300+ miles off the coast of Japan.
This was clearly planned to coincide with our Independence Day celebrations, though the launch of the shuttle Discovery was not something that the North Koreans anticipated. But the North Koreans probably saw that as icing on the cake. But if they're looking for a comparison of their rocket technology to ours, then they have quite a ways to go if their rocket exploding was any indication.
No North Korean runt will rain on our parade. North Korea will get slapped around by it's neighbors and the U.N. while our Independence Day fireworks will go on as scheduled.
North Korea's splash was only as big as their missile hitting the water.
Discovery Lifts Off from Florida: So Far, So Good
NASA successfully launched space shuttle Discovery this afternoon. At first look, there appeared to be no damage done to the shuttle, though there was foam falloff as expected. NASA engineers are looking over tons of camera footage to make certain that it will be safe for Discovery to return to Earth safely in two weeks.
They really need to get the foam inside the tank somehow; that would eliminate this needless risk from a shuttle program that already has enough risks that go along with it.
Congratulations to NASA on a spectacular 4th of July launch.
They really need to get the foam inside the tank somehow; that would eliminate this needless risk from a shuttle program that already has enough risks that go along with it.
Congratulations to NASA on a spectacular 4th of July launch.
Happy Independence Day
Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July!
Remember...drinking and fireworks definitely don't mix.
Remember...drinking and fireworks definitely don't mix.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Surprise, Surprise: NASA Engineers Find Five Inch Crack in Discovery's External Fuel Tank Foam
The space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank foam is cracking and it hasn't even launched yet.
Are NASA managers getting the message yet? FIX THE PROBLEM.
Are NASA managers getting the message yet? FIX THE PROBLEM.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
NASA Delays Shuttle Launch a Second Time; NASA Still Has Time to Stop a Terrible Mistake From Happening
Follow the train of thought, if you will.
If you put a fox into a henhouse, he's going to have chicken for dinner EVERY time.
If you don't fix a recurring problem on a space shuttle blasting it's way out of the Earth's atmosphere, the problem will be repeated EVERY time.
So why is NASA insisting on putting the shuttle into space without solving the problem of foam coming off the external fuel tank? As things stand right now, the foam will begin falling off as soon as there is upward thrust from the solid rocket boosters. A one-pound piece of foam hit the Columbia at over 500mph and blew a hole in the shuttle's wing, compromising the heat shield and dooming the shuttle. Discovery narrowly avoided the same fate last year when foam came off the fuel tank but just missed hitting the spacecraft.
NASA is rushing into things and endangering the entire shuttle program. If the Discovery is lost, they're going to start dismantling the shuttles Atlantis and the Endeavor before the day is out.
The new safety features that they've installed on the Discovery will keep the crew alive this time, but still, what happens if the Discovery is damaged and they have to send up the Atlantis on a rescue mission and that spacecraft gets damaged by the foam falloff problem? Are they going to rush the Endeavor back into service to bring back TWO shuttle crews knowing that the foam could strike and cripple Endeavor too? And will there be enough food and air on the International Space Station to support THREE shuttle crews who are trapped in space?
The chance of all this happening is remote, but if Discovery is deemed unsafe for atmospheric interface due to foam compromising the shuttle's structural integrity, they have already stated that they will send Atlantis up on a rescue mission within 25 days; there's no way that they can diagnose the problem and fix it in that time.
If the engineers think they need more time to fix the problem, NASA should give it to them.
If you put a fox into a henhouse, he's going to have chicken for dinner EVERY time.
If you don't fix a recurring problem on a space shuttle blasting it's way out of the Earth's atmosphere, the problem will be repeated EVERY time.
So why is NASA insisting on putting the shuttle into space without solving the problem of foam coming off the external fuel tank? As things stand right now, the foam will begin falling off as soon as there is upward thrust from the solid rocket boosters. A one-pound piece of foam hit the Columbia at over 500mph and blew a hole in the shuttle's wing, compromising the heat shield and dooming the shuttle. Discovery narrowly avoided the same fate last year when foam came off the fuel tank but just missed hitting the spacecraft.
NASA is rushing into things and endangering the entire shuttle program. If the Discovery is lost, they're going to start dismantling the shuttles Atlantis and the Endeavor before the day is out.
The new safety features that they've installed on the Discovery will keep the crew alive this time, but still, what happens if the Discovery is damaged and they have to send up the Atlantis on a rescue mission and that spacecraft gets damaged by the foam falloff problem? Are they going to rush the Endeavor back into service to bring back TWO shuttle crews knowing that the foam could strike and cripple Endeavor too? And will there be enough food and air on the International Space Station to support THREE shuttle crews who are trapped in space?
The chance of all this happening is remote, but if Discovery is deemed unsafe for atmospheric interface due to foam compromising the shuttle's structural integrity, they have already stated that they will send Atlantis up on a rescue mission within 25 days; there's no way that they can diagnose the problem and fix it in that time.
If the engineers think they need more time to fix the problem, NASA should give it to them.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Why Do They Get Themselves Into These Situations? USA TODAY Backs Away From Wiretap Report
USA TODAY appears to be the latest newspaper to make extravagant pronouncements about gloom and doom government actions in the war on terror, then retracts part or all of the story when they can't back up their original reports with hard facts upon closer examination.
One would have thought that they would have learned their lesson from works of fiction from CBS News and Time magazine among others.
They really need to go back to Journalism 101 with regards to sourcing and not relying too much on speculation or rumor as hard fact.
One would have thought that they would have learned their lesson from works of fiction from CBS News and Time magazine among others.
They really need to go back to Journalism 101 with regards to sourcing and not relying too much on speculation or rumor as hard fact.
Supreme Court Rules That Military Tribunals Are Unconstitutional and al-Qaeda is Protected by the Geneva Convention: What Will Happen Next
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has clipped the Administration's wings a bit by ruling that military tribunals are unconstitutional and that the Geneva Convention applies to al-Qaeda prisoners, look for one of these things to happen next with regards to the Geneva Convention itself:
The former would be a better solution, but it would very likely be rejected by other members of the U.N. who dislike current U.S. treatment of prisoners and want Camp Delta at Guantanamo Bay closed.
One question that concerns me a great deal: did the Supreme Court look to international laws to decide on the status of al-Qaeda prisoners under the Geneva Convention, or did they look to American law to determine that the prisoners deserved Convention protections?
The U.S. Supreme Court is NOT an international court. They can only look to American law and American precidence to judge American legal questions, not international standards which are sometimes contrary to our Constitution.
One would hope that they looked at American law to make their determination.
- The U.S. will attempt to modify the Geneva Convention so that terrorists captured on a battlefield are not prisoners of war since they are not uniformed members of a national army OR
- The U.S. will pull out of the Geneva Convention as they pulled out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
The former would be a better solution, but it would very likely be rejected by other members of the U.N. who dislike current U.S. treatment of prisoners and want Camp Delta at Guantanamo Bay closed.
One question that concerns me a great deal: did the Supreme Court look to international laws to decide on the status of al-Qaeda prisoners under the Geneva Convention, or did they look to American law to determine that the prisoners deserved Convention protections?
The U.S. Supreme Court is NOT an international court. They can only look to American law and American precidence to judge American legal questions, not international standards which are sometimes contrary to our Constitution.
One would hope that they looked at American law to make their determination.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
VA May Have Dodged HUGE Bullet: Missing Laptop With Veterans' Information Recovered
The Veterans Administration may have dodged a major bullet.
A laptop containing up to 26 million records containing former and active military veteran's addresses, social security numbers and other highly sensitive information has been recovered. Someone turned it in to the FBI and they are conducting intensive tests on the hard drive to see if the data was accessed.
Finally, some good news on this story.
A laptop containing up to 26 million records containing former and active military veteran's addresses, social security numbers and other highly sensitive information has been recovered. Someone turned it in to the FBI and they are conducting intensive tests on the hard drive to see if the data was accessed.
Finally, some good news on this story.
Israel Needs to Settle Down: Military Action is Targeting the Wrong People
What does Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip's only power generating station have to do with rescuing their missing soldier? The Palestinan people will be feeling the effects of the power outage for many weeks to come, regardless of the outcome of the missing Israeli soldier situation.
Taking half the Palestinian government prisoner isn't the smartest idea either, nor is buzzing the Syrian President's summer home with Israeli Air Force fighters. All they've done is decapitate what remains of the Palestinian not-government and put half the Syrian Air Force into the air on high alert, raising tensions along the border.
Israel should probably fight one battle at a time.
Taking half the Palestinian government prisoner isn't the smartest idea either, nor is buzzing the Syrian President's summer home with Israeli Air Force fighters. All they've done is decapitate what remains of the Palestinian not-government and put half the Syrian Air Force into the air on high alert, raising tensions along the border.
Israel should probably fight one battle at a time.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
New York Times Was Wrong to Publish Specific Details About Terror Finance Tracking Program: They Should Have Let It Go
The New York Times is under heavy fire from the Administration and GOP for publishing specific details about a federal surveilance program designed to watch where terrorist money is going.
Specific details about the program were published last week and revealed the entire program in detail, negating the government of another tool to track terrorist money around the world.
It's no secret that the government was watching specific transactions: it said so itself. But specific details about how they did it were kept under wraps to keep the terror money-handlers guessing as to how it was being watched. Now everyone knows the details if they read the Times.
It was enough to know that the government was watching, but that wasn't good enough for the Times.
It's being said that the information was leaked, so there will be another costly investigation into who did it and why. Some Times people will probably go to jail to protect their sources.
And al-Qaeda money will go off the radar screen. It's too bad that this paper will publish anything to waylay the current government, including revealing information that has helped to monitor terrorist financial transactions. Their open partisanship is disappointing.
If this was a liberal Democratic government asking them to kill this story, they would have done it in a heartbeat, but because the government is under the control of the other side in an election year, they published in a heartbeat.
Specific details about the program were published last week and revealed the entire program in detail, negating the government of another tool to track terrorist money around the world.
It's no secret that the government was watching specific transactions: it said so itself. But specific details about how they did it were kept under wraps to keep the terror money-handlers guessing as to how it was being watched. Now everyone knows the details if they read the Times.
It was enough to know that the government was watching, but that wasn't good enough for the Times.
It's being said that the information was leaked, so there will be another costly investigation into who did it and why. Some Times people will probably go to jail to protect their sources.
And al-Qaeda money will go off the radar screen. It's too bad that this paper will publish anything to waylay the current government, including revealing information that has helped to monitor terrorist financial transactions. Their open partisanship is disappointing.
If this was a liberal Democratic government asking them to kill this story, they would have done it in a heartbeat, but because the government is under the control of the other side in an election year, they published in a heartbeat.
Limbaugh Viagra Flap: Some Privacy Issues Need to Be Addressed
As the national media has been reporting, Rush Limbaugh was stopped at a Florida airport and briefly detained for having Viagra in his carry-on luggage. The problem that the inspectors had was that Limbaugh's name wasn't on the bottle; the doctor's name was. According to news reports, doctors sometimes do this to protect a person's privacy as Viagra has only one function.
The question I have is this: why was this information released to the media? Viagra falls under a person's medical privacy rights and the media gleefully splashed it all over their news reports and web sites.
Even celebrities have medical confidentiality rights and the airport and the media stomped all over Limbaugh's.
The question I have is this: why was this information released to the media? Viagra falls under a person's medical privacy rights and the media gleefully splashed it all over their news reports and web sites.
Even celebrities have medical confidentiality rights and the airport and the media stomped all over Limbaugh's.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Accused Murderer and Rapist of Children Doesn't Want His Surviving Victim to Take the Stand
Revolting!
One year ago the attention of the nation was riveted on a horrifying murder/kidnapping in Montana. A family was attacked in their home, several members were beaten to death with a hammer, and their daughter and son kidnapped.
For seven weeks, the children were missing. The country prayed and hoped for the best, but were preparing for the worst. Then a miracle happened: the girl turned up at a restaurant with her presumed kidnapper and was positively identified by alert employees who called the police. The girl was rescued.
The joy at the return of the girl was tempered by news of the murder of her brother. She also reported that the both of them had been sexually abused by the accused (whose name I will not utter here) repeatedly.
A year later, the animal remains behind bars as he awaits trial. The girl's father, Steven Groene, has said that he will not allow his daughter to testify, which is probably a good idea. She went through so much and shouldn't be forced to relive the terror and the misery that this scumbag unleashed on her family, her brother and her. Her brother's remains were burned and dismembered; the animal may have videotaped the murder.
Now the accused has spoken up from jail, indicating he would prefer not to have her on the stand either, out of concern for her well-being.
WHO THE HELL CARES WHAT HE WANTS??! If he was so concerned about his victim's welfare, he shouldn't have done what he did. He should have gone back to Minnesota and faced the music there for stuff he had already done. And he would confess to whatever else he did while he was in other states as well.
One year ago the attention of the nation was riveted on a horrifying murder/kidnapping in Montana. A family was attacked in their home, several members were beaten to death with a hammer, and their daughter and son kidnapped.
For seven weeks, the children were missing. The country prayed and hoped for the best, but were preparing for the worst. Then a miracle happened: the girl turned up at a restaurant with her presumed kidnapper and was positively identified by alert employees who called the police. The girl was rescued.
The joy at the return of the girl was tempered by news of the murder of her brother. She also reported that the both of them had been sexually abused by the accused (whose name I will not utter here) repeatedly.
A year later, the animal remains behind bars as he awaits trial. The girl's father, Steven Groene, has said that he will not allow his daughter to testify, which is probably a good idea. She went through so much and shouldn't be forced to relive the terror and the misery that this scumbag unleashed on her family, her brother and her. Her brother's remains were burned and dismembered; the animal may have videotaped the murder.
Now the accused has spoken up from jail, indicating he would prefer not to have her on the stand either, out of concern for her well-being.
WHO THE HELL CARES WHAT HE WANTS??! If he was so concerned about his victim's welfare, he shouldn't have done what he did. He should have gone back to Minnesota and faced the music there for stuff he had already done. And he would confess to whatever else he did while he was in other states as well.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
If North Korean Missile Even Comes Close to U.S. or Allied Territory, It Should Be Blown Out of the Sky
North Korea seems to be getting ready to fire an ICBM as part of a ploy to escalate tensions between the communist regime and the U.S.
U.S. intelligence agencies have been watching the North Koreans get the launch pad ready, fuel the missile and make ready to launch it to destination unknown. In response the U.S. activated it's missile shield defense system and has moved military assets into the area to track any North Korean missile launch.
I am of the opinion that if the missile is launched and the trajectory analysis confirms that the missile will come within 1,000 miles of U.S. territory that the military should do everything in it's power to shoot the damned thing down.
Pyongyang says they have the right to fire their missiles over other people's back yards whenever they wish; if that's the case then we have the right to shoot their toys down whenever they feel the need to fire missiles over Japan or South Korea or toward us.
If it splashes down off our coastline or hits near Japan or South Korea, I think that the base from which the missile was launched should be turned into a parking lot. They're playing with fire and will get burned.
This is a no-win situation for North Korea. They ought to REALLY think about what they're doing and what they hope to accomplish with this foolishness.
U.S. intelligence agencies have been watching the North Koreans get the launch pad ready, fuel the missile and make ready to launch it to destination unknown. In response the U.S. activated it's missile shield defense system and has moved military assets into the area to track any North Korean missile launch.
I am of the opinion that if the missile is launched and the trajectory analysis confirms that the missile will come within 1,000 miles of U.S. territory that the military should do everything in it's power to shoot the damned thing down.
Pyongyang says they have the right to fire their missiles over other people's back yards whenever they wish; if that's the case then we have the right to shoot their toys down whenever they feel the need to fire missiles over Japan or South Korea or toward us.
If it splashes down off our coastline or hits near Japan or South Korea, I think that the base from which the missile was launched should be turned into a parking lot. They're playing with fire and will get burned.
This is a no-win situation for North Korea. They ought to REALLY think about what they're doing and what they hope to accomplish with this foolishness.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Space Shuttle Launch Set for July 1; NASA Overrides Chief Engineer and Safety Engineer Who Wanted to Delay Launch
NASA is jumping the gun again, preparing to launch the space shuttle Discovery on July the 1st.
In doing so, they seem hell-bent on ignoring the chief engineer and the safety engineer who wanted to delay the problem to deal with the foam problem that led to the destruction of the Columbia in 2003 and the endangerment of the Discovery one year ago when foam broke off the solid fuel tank but missed hitting the shuttle.
As I understand it they've improved the foam, but not in the areas on the tank where it seems to be breaking off from.
If they insist on launching the shuttle, then perhaps they ought to take a chapter from the Soviet playbook and make the mission unmanned. The Soviets did it with their space shuttle Buran back in 1988. It did everything they wanted, including landing itself. And they ought to take a look at the foam system that the Soviets used too as the design may well have been superior to NASA's design on the shuttle fuel tank.
The head of NASA is saying he will do everything in his power to kill the shuttle program if another shuttle is lost. If that's the case, then why are they going to risk losing seven more astronaughts too?
No, they don't have their act together yet. They should delay the launch and fix the problems like they were supposed to before they launched the shuttle a year ago. They were lucky that the foam that came off during the launch didn't hit the shuttle like what happened to the Columbia.
Their chief engineer is right. Hopefully his fears won't come to pass; it'll be the end of the shuttle program if it does.
In doing so, they seem hell-bent on ignoring the chief engineer and the safety engineer who wanted to delay the problem to deal with the foam problem that led to the destruction of the Columbia in 2003 and the endangerment of the Discovery one year ago when foam broke off the solid fuel tank but missed hitting the shuttle.
As I understand it they've improved the foam, but not in the areas on the tank where it seems to be breaking off from.
If they insist on launching the shuttle, then perhaps they ought to take a chapter from the Soviet playbook and make the mission unmanned. The Soviets did it with their space shuttle Buran back in 1988. It did everything they wanted, including landing itself. And they ought to take a look at the foam system that the Soviets used too as the design may well have been superior to NASA's design on the shuttle fuel tank.
The head of NASA is saying he will do everything in his power to kill the shuttle program if another shuttle is lost. If that's the case, then why are they going to risk losing seven more astronaughts too?
No, they don't have their act together yet. They should delay the launch and fix the problems like they were supposed to before they launched the shuttle a year ago. They were lucky that the foam that came off during the launch didn't hit the shuttle like what happened to the Columbia.
Their chief engineer is right. Hopefully his fears won't come to pass; it'll be the end of the shuttle program if it does.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
$1.4 Billion Stolen From Hurricane Relief Funds By Idiots
I cannot believe this. Click to read.
As much as 16% of all FEMA money that was designated to help in hurricane relief operations for those whose lives were disrupted by the hurricanes was stolen by people who didn't need the assistance or misused it.
Would someone please post the names and addresses of these people so that everyone can send mail to every last one of them?
People who REALLY got hurt got hurt again by their fellow Americans. What a damned shame.
As much as 16% of all FEMA money that was designated to help in hurricane relief operations for those whose lives were disrupted by the hurricanes was stolen by people who didn't need the assistance or misused it.
Would someone please post the names and addresses of these people so that everyone can send mail to every last one of them?
People who REALLY got hurt got hurt again by their fellow Americans. What a damned shame.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
It's Happening: Armed Robber Sues His Victims for... "Restraint of Trade"---??!
This just takes the cake.
In the last couple of days a story came across the news wires that a convicted felon failed to rob his intended victims by gunpoint, so is trying to collect from them through his attorney.
DUH!!
The story is that he walked into an Auto Zone, held up employees at gunpoint and demanded money. They instead chose to turn on him and beat him with a pipe, causing him to lose his gun and run for his useless life. He was captured within a week by police, was prosecuted and sentenced to a long term in prison.
Now he's suing them for emotional pain and suffering from behind bars. Hey, pal, live by the sword, die by the sword.
It could be argued that the Auto Zone employees were trying to effect a citizens arrest outside the store but he resisted them.
This case really needs to get thrown into the garbage can by the judge.
In the last couple of days a story came across the news wires that a convicted felon failed to rob his intended victims by gunpoint, so is trying to collect from them through his attorney.
DUH!!
The story is that he walked into an Auto Zone, held up employees at gunpoint and demanded money. They instead chose to turn on him and beat him with a pipe, causing him to lose his gun and run for his useless life. He was captured within a week by police, was prosecuted and sentenced to a long term in prison.
Now he's suing them for emotional pain and suffering from behind bars. Hey, pal, live by the sword, die by the sword.
It could be argued that the Auto Zone employees were trying to effect a citizens arrest outside the store but he resisted them.
This case really needs to get thrown into the garbage can by the judge.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Iraq's Most Wanted Terrorist----Dead
A great day for Iraq and the coalition. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. air strike yesterday north of Baghdad. The most brutal killer in Iraq is no more. Seven other leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq were with him and also perished.
One of his own men may have betrayed him.
Good riddance al-Zarqawi. How far behind is bin-Laden?
One of his own men may have betrayed him.
Good riddance al-Zarqawi. How far behind is bin-Laden?
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
U.N. Official Launches Assault on U.S. Bill of Rights, Limbaugh, Fox News and Middle America in One Speech
What was this guy thinking?
The deputy UN Secretary General screwed up very badly when he attacked the First Amendment, Rush Limbaugh, Fox News and Middle America in general in a speech he made on Tuesday.
Someone needs to explain to him that the U.S. Constitution reigns in this country and that the First Amendment right to free speech allows for citizens to criticize the government openly and freely, as well as NGO (non-government organizations) like the United Nations.
If he wants to stop criticism of the U.N., then perhaps they ought to quit screwing up. If he doesn't like that, he can go home to momma and cry. Waaaaah! Or perhaps he should quit crying and kick some tail at the U.N. and get things straightened out over there.
Americans want to see results, not listen to bellyaching. We get enough excuses from our own people; why in the hell should we listen to U.N. bellyaching too?
The deputy UN Secretary General screwed up very badly when he attacked the First Amendment, Rush Limbaugh, Fox News and Middle America in general in a speech he made on Tuesday.
Someone needs to explain to him that the U.S. Constitution reigns in this country and that the First Amendment right to free speech allows for citizens to criticize the government openly and freely, as well as NGO (non-government organizations) like the United Nations.
If he wants to stop criticism of the U.N., then perhaps they ought to quit screwing up. If he doesn't like that, he can go home to momma and cry. Waaaaah! Or perhaps he should quit crying and kick some tail at the U.N. and get things straightened out over there.
Americans want to see results, not listen to bellyaching. We get enough excuses from our own people; why in the hell should we listen to U.N. bellyaching too?
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Military Identity Theft Nightmare: Info on 80% of All Active Military Personnel Files Compromised by Theft
Would the party who stole a CD with the identities of 2.2 million active military personnel please return it unmolested, please?
The Veterans Affairs data theft story continues to worsen as the days go by. Now the VA is saying that files on at least 2,200,000 active duty soldiers was stolen, not 50,000 as was first reported.
This is in addition to files of 26.5 million soldiers and sailors who have been discharged from the military since 1975 which were also stolen in the same incident.
The VA has really fallen down on the job in protecting their data files. Now all of these names, birthdates, social security numbers and other critical information is in the hands of people who may not know what he or she or they has/have. And they can start leeching off the hard work of others.
The gloves need to be taken off and some severe punishments need to occur and SOON! And some major changes need to happen so that this NEVER happens again!
The Veterans Affairs data theft story continues to worsen as the days go by. Now the VA is saying that files on at least 2,200,000 active duty soldiers was stolen, not 50,000 as was first reported.
This is in addition to files of 26.5 million soldiers and sailors who have been discharged from the military since 1975 which were also stolen in the same incident.
The VA has really fallen down on the job in protecting their data files. Now all of these names, birthdates, social security numbers and other critical information is in the hands of people who may not know what he or she or they has/have. And they can start leeching off the hard work of others.
The gloves need to be taken off and some severe punishments need to occur and SOON! And some major changes need to happen so that this NEVER happens again!
6/6/06 is Just Another Day: Get Over It
It's really offensive that people seem to be glamorizing the fact that it's 6/6/06.
So what? Get over it. It's just another day. The fact that three sixes appear in the date is a bah humbug event. The only thing of interest today related to the numbers is the fact that they're releasing a new version of "The Omen." I'm not going to see it in any event. There is another "Left Behind" book coming out today, too, but I haven't read any of them before, and I see no reason to start now.
By the way, civilization has survived other 6/6/06's in every century since time began.
666 is a reference to Emperor Nero. It was common practice to use code numbers instead of names to attack people in writing in those days. For instance, if I decided to criticize Willowby the Gorilla in writing, I'd give it the number....314. And then I'd write that 314 was heard belching and farting in her cage and that it was probably loud enough to scare the feathers off every bird in North America and the air so foul that it caused the paint to peel off the walls in Chicago.
The article above says that the actual number of the beast may be 616, which was a reference to Emperor Claudius, who put a statue of himself in the Temple of Jerusalem, and was harshly criticized for it.
The Book of Revelations is wide-open to interpretation. Don't buy into the hysteria just yet. People seem to forget that Revelations establishes that good triumphs over evil and that a golden age of peace follows. If people strive to live their lives according to the Bible, proclaim the Gospels and keep their faith in God, good things will follow.
Revelations is the beginning, not the end. So in the big picture, 6/6/06 isn't in it.
So what? Get over it. It's just another day. The fact that three sixes appear in the date is a bah humbug event. The only thing of interest today related to the numbers is the fact that they're releasing a new version of "The Omen." I'm not going to see it in any event. There is another "Left Behind" book coming out today, too, but I haven't read any of them before, and I see no reason to start now.
By the way, civilization has survived other 6/6/06's in every century since time began.
666 is a reference to Emperor Nero. It was common practice to use code numbers instead of names to attack people in writing in those days. For instance, if I decided to criticize Willowby the Gorilla in writing, I'd give it the number....314. And then I'd write that 314 was heard belching and farting in her cage and that it was probably loud enough to scare the feathers off every bird in North America and the air so foul that it caused the paint to peel off the walls in Chicago.
The article above says that the actual number of the beast may be 616, which was a reference to Emperor Claudius, who put a statue of himself in the Temple of Jerusalem, and was harshly criticized for it.
The Book of Revelations is wide-open to interpretation. Don't buy into the hysteria just yet. People seem to forget that Revelations establishes that good triumphs over evil and that a golden age of peace follows. If people strive to live their lives according to the Bible, proclaim the Gospels and keep their faith in God, good things will follow.
Revelations is the beginning, not the end. So in the big picture, 6/6/06 isn't in it.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Kids Endanger Themselves By Revealing Personal Information in Chat Rooms
I just got off the tanks247 multiplayer flash wargame site, which features moderated chatting along with two dimensional tank shooting, in the vein of the popular game Scorched Earth.
The players choose between several rooms from Newbies to a specific area of the world, such as Africa, Pacific, etc. I chose Newbies since I was a newbie to that particular game, and was taken to the general chat area of that particular room.
Then the instant messages started appearing. The names were what I would have expected from college students or at least high school students. BIGBOOBS. SEXYGIRL. SUICIDE. And forty other various names, some more nasty than others. The language was as harsh as any flame war chat room that I've ever been on.
I was almost immediately challenged by someone with the handle of "KILLERS." He was very polite and started volunteering information (I didn't ask him anything). He wanted to be friends. My shields went up and I told him that I was way too old. He asked how old I was and I said "30+" and he said he was nine years old. NINE and he's in a chat room like that with that kind of vile language being thrown around??!
I politely said goodbye and logged off.
A short time later I logged in under another handle and was challenged by someone handled SEXYGIRL. My shields went up again and she volunteered that she was 13. I said "bye" and logged off the site immediately.
PARENTS!!! PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOUR KIDS ARE DOING AND SAYING ONLINE!!
If these were kids, they're making very bad mistakes by giving out e-mail addresses, phone numbers, addresses and other pertinent information that someone with bad intentions and half a brain could use. And in plain sight too, where everyone can see and read the information. At least one person gave out their e-mail address for all to see.
I hope law enforcement is monitoring sites like this.
I'll stick to Scorched Earth, thank you very much.
The players choose between several rooms from Newbies to a specific area of the world, such as Africa, Pacific, etc. I chose Newbies since I was a newbie to that particular game, and was taken to the general chat area of that particular room.
Then the instant messages started appearing. The names were what I would have expected from college students or at least high school students. BIGBOOBS. SEXYGIRL. SUICIDE. And forty other various names, some more nasty than others. The language was as harsh as any flame war chat room that I've ever been on.
I was almost immediately challenged by someone with the handle of "KILLERS." He was very polite and started volunteering information (I didn't ask him anything). He wanted to be friends. My shields went up and I told him that I was way too old. He asked how old I was and I said "30+" and he said he was nine years old. NINE and he's in a chat room like that with that kind of vile language being thrown around??!
I politely said goodbye and logged off.
A short time later I logged in under another handle and was challenged by someone handled SEXYGIRL. My shields went up again and she volunteered that she was 13. I said "bye" and logged off the site immediately.
PARENTS!!! PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOUR KIDS ARE DOING AND SAYING ONLINE!!
If these were kids, they're making very bad mistakes by giving out e-mail addresses, phone numbers, addresses and other pertinent information that someone with bad intentions and half a brain could use. And in plain sight too, where everyone can see and read the information. At least one person gave out their e-mail address for all to see.
I hope law enforcement is monitoring sites like this.
I'll stick to Scorched Earth, thank you very much.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage is Unnecessary: Let the States Decide for Themselves
President Bush is calling for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
It's not necessary. Constitutional amendments to restrict personal freedoms of Americans should be opposed, no matter what form they take.
What they should be pushing for is a constitutional amendment that guarantees each state has final say as to whether or not gay "marriage" is permitted within the individual state's borders or not. This is a state matter that the federal government should allow the states to deal with as they please.
Any amendment should make it clear that the state Supreme Court has final jurisdiction and that federal courts have no say. It'll keep future administrations, Congress and activist federal courts from tampering with the definition of marriage as being a union between a man and a woman and forcing other definitions of marriage on those states which stand by the conservative definition of marriage (and have voted that way).
Setting rules for marriage is a reserved power for the states as it isn't mentioned in the Constitution as a federal power. Let's keep it that way.
It's not necessary. Constitutional amendments to restrict personal freedoms of Americans should be opposed, no matter what form they take.
What they should be pushing for is a constitutional amendment that guarantees each state has final say as to whether or not gay "marriage" is permitted within the individual state's borders or not. This is a state matter that the federal government should allow the states to deal with as they please.
Any amendment should make it clear that the state Supreme Court has final jurisdiction and that federal courts have no say. It'll keep future administrations, Congress and activist federal courts from tampering with the definition of marriage as being a union between a man and a woman and forcing other definitions of marriage on those states which stand by the conservative definition of marriage (and have voted that way).
Setting rules for marriage is a reserved power for the states as it isn't mentioned in the Constitution as a federal power. Let's keep it that way.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
New Orleans is Sinking Faster Than Originally Thought: Levee System Will Keep Cracking and Breaking As City Sinks into the Gulf of Mexico
I'm in the process of reading the 6,000 page report from the Army Corps of Engineers on what went wrong with the levee system in and around New Orleans and I am struck by a few things:
- They've come to realize that New Orleans is sinking faster than previously estimated. Some areas are sinking more than an inch per year.
- The report says that cracks in the barriers themselves from the uneven sinking occurred and that the ground behind the barriers was unstable, allowing the Gulf waters to simply push the levees back and create huge breaches along the entire line.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Alleged Marine Slaughter of Iraqi Civilians: Media & Murtha Vs. U.S. Legal Procedures
The Iraq War keeps getting stranger and stranger.
The media is reporting that U.S. Marines slaughtered two dozen Iraqi civilians, including women and children last November.
The American public does not like it when adults deliberately hurt or murder children. They hate it, in fact.
The current backlash going on in the U.S. against sex offenders should be proof enough of that. So is anyone really surprised to hear that there's building anger at allegations of U.S. adults gunning down unarmed children?
The American public also hates cover-ups and the media is leading the charge in saying that this particular Marine unit may have engaged in one, telling their superiors that the dead were killed by a roadside bomb.
The investigations are ongoing, but it is clear that the media and Representative Murtha would rather skip the investigation and trial. They would rather condemn the Marines that may have been involved. They need to be reminded that in this country all suspects are innocent until they are found guilty in a COURT OF LAW, not in the court of public opinion to which their opinions belong.
Nothing good is going to come of this. It will be a disaster if the media reports are correct; but they ought to give the Marines a fair shake before sending them to the gallows.
The media is reporting that U.S. Marines slaughtered two dozen Iraqi civilians, including women and children last November.
The American public does not like it when adults deliberately hurt or murder children. They hate it, in fact.
The current backlash going on in the U.S. against sex offenders should be proof enough of that. So is anyone really surprised to hear that there's building anger at allegations of U.S. adults gunning down unarmed children?
The American public also hates cover-ups and the media is leading the charge in saying that this particular Marine unit may have engaged in one, telling their superiors that the dead were killed by a roadside bomb.
The investigations are ongoing, but it is clear that the media and Representative Murtha would rather skip the investigation and trial. They would rather condemn the Marines that may have been involved. They need to be reminded that in this country all suspects are innocent until they are found guilty in a COURT OF LAW, not in the court of public opinion to which their opinions belong.
Nothing good is going to come of this. It will be a disaster if the media reports are correct; but they ought to give the Marines a fair shake before sending them to the gallows.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Murtha's Wrong Again: Marine Scandal Won't Shake the World As Much as Iraq Prison Sex Scandal Did
Representative Murtha's tooting his own horn again.
Now he's saying that the recent Marine Corps "atrocity" involving the slaughter of Iraqi civilians will inflame the Muslim world and undermine U.S. goals in Iraq more than the Abu Gharib sex scandal did.
No it won't.
As bad as this appears to be, it could quite easily have been another party that killed the Iraqis and not the Marines. There are no clear-cut photos of the Marines slaughtering the civilians as there were of U.S. military personnel sexually abusing Iraqi prisoners, nor of U.S. troops burning bodies of dead enemy bodies. There's tons of circumstancial evidence, but none of it has been officially confirmed.
Murtha is rushing to judgment before everything has been investigated. He needs to tone down his rhetoric and let the process work.
Sometimes it's too bad that the military is forbidden (by law) to say what's really on their minds about the civilian leadership. Some of the Marines want to give both parties a piece of their minds.
Now he's saying that the recent Marine Corps "atrocity" involving the slaughter of Iraqi civilians will inflame the Muslim world and undermine U.S. goals in Iraq more than the Abu Gharib sex scandal did.
No it won't.
As bad as this appears to be, it could quite easily have been another party that killed the Iraqis and not the Marines. There are no clear-cut photos of the Marines slaughtering the civilians as there were of U.S. military personnel sexually abusing Iraqi prisoners, nor of U.S. troops burning bodies of dead enemy bodies. There's tons of circumstancial evidence, but none of it has been officially confirmed.
Murtha is rushing to judgment before everything has been investigated. He needs to tone down his rhetoric and let the process work.
Sometimes it's too bad that the military is forbidden (by law) to say what's really on their minds about the civilian leadership. Some of the Marines want to give both parties a piece of their minds.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Gonzales's Stock Has Shot Way Up: He Threatened to Resign if the White House Impeded the Congressman Jefferson Investigation
U.S. Attorney General Gonzales and other top law enforcement officials threatened to resign if the White House ordered him to return documents seized in a raid on Congressman Jefferson's Washington office.
Now that's the type of independence and tenacity that I like to see from an attorney general. He's finally established the lines between his friendship with President Bush and what is required of him to uphold the law.
Attorney General Gonzales's stock has gone way up with me. He needs to stick to his guns; he's absolutely right in protecting the integrity of a criminal case...even one against a member of the Washington elite.
This is about criminal law, not Congressional privileges. Congress ought to remember that before they go rushing to the defense of one of their own who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. How many other Congressional hands are in that same cookie jar, I wonder? That's what this is really about.
Now would be a good time to give the "come to Jesus" speech to Congress.
Now that's the type of independence and tenacity that I like to see from an attorney general. He's finally established the lines between his friendship with President Bush and what is required of him to uphold the law.
Attorney General Gonzales's stock has gone way up with me. He needs to stick to his guns; he's absolutely right in protecting the integrity of a criminal case...even one against a member of the Washington elite.
This is about criminal law, not Congressional privileges. Congress ought to remember that before they go rushing to the defense of one of their own who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. How many other Congressional hands are in that same cookie jar, I wonder? That's what this is really about.
Now would be a good time to give the "come to Jesus" speech to Congress.
Instructional Series: What to Do If You Get Threatening E-mails from "PayPal"
I've received two fradulant e-mails from someone claiming to be PayPal in the last twelve hours.
The fake e-mails will ask for you to enter or update your personal information. If you should get one like this from paypal, you should forward the e-mail AS-IS to spoof@paypal.com
Do not add commentary. Just forward the thing, then they will e-mail you back and tell you if it's a fake or a legitimate e-mail. They NEVER ask for personal information in an e-mail...that's how to tell if it's a fake.
Do not click on any of the links in these e-mails. They will take you to a fake paypal web site, then will have you enter your user name and password. That's the danger...they then have your account information and can start spending your money.
If you give them your social security number and birthdate as well, you can kiss your identity goodbye. Someone else will take over your life and it'll take YEARS to straighten out.
The fake e-mails will ask for you to enter or update your personal information. If you should get one like this from paypal, you should forward the e-mail AS-IS to spoof@paypal.com
Do not add commentary. Just forward the thing, then they will e-mail you back and tell you if it's a fake or a legitimate e-mail. They NEVER ask for personal information in an e-mail...that's how to tell if it's a fake.
Do not click on any of the links in these e-mails. They will take you to a fake paypal web site, then will have you enter your user name and password. That's the danger...they then have your account information and can start spending your money.
If you give them your social security number and birthdate as well, you can kiss your identity goodbye. Someone else will take over your life and it'll take YEARS to straighten out.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Does $70 Billion Tax Cut Translate into $70 Billion Less in Congressional Pork?
NOT!! Tax cuts should translate directly into government spending cuts and, specifically, pork spending cuts.
Will it happen? It should, but past experience says that it definitely won't.
Riders are killing the federal budget and the Republican tax cuts without corresponding cuts in federal spending are ill-advised. At current spending and income levels, it is being projected that we will hit the $10 trillion debt mark soon.
We're going to drown if they don't get their spending under control.
Will it happen? It should, but past experience says that it definitely won't.
Riders are killing the federal budget and the Republican tax cuts without corresponding cuts in federal spending are ill-advised. At current spending and income levels, it is being projected that we will hit the $10 trillion debt mark soon.
We're going to drown if they don't get their spending under control.
Letter From Iran Also Ignores Pre-9/11 Bush Isolationism: Bush Was Happy to Step Back from World Stage Until 9/11 Forced Him Back Onto It
Does anyone remember a time when President Bush was focused more on domestic agenda items than international ones?
In the time period between the election fiasco of 2000 and the events of 9/11, people in this country and around the world thought that the U.S. was entering an isolationist era. President Bush's overseas trips were few and far in between.
Then 9/11 happened. Shortly afterwards, President Bush ramped up U.S. involvement overseas in a huge way and the country was set on it's current course.
People blame Bush for the current state of international/U.S. affairs, but it should be noted that if 9/11 hadn't been carried out by al-Qaeda, we would still be at peace. But the terrorists intervened and it paved the way to where we are today.
And Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. Their hands are drenched in the blood of innocents. So they don't have too much room to talk either, and especially in God's name. The tone of the Iranian President's letter is appalling in that way.
They need to change their tune and fast.
In the time period between the election fiasco of 2000 and the events of 9/11, people in this country and around the world thought that the U.S. was entering an isolationist era. President Bush's overseas trips were few and far in between.
Then 9/11 happened. Shortly afterwards, President Bush ramped up U.S. involvement overseas in a huge way and the country was set on it's current course.
People blame Bush for the current state of international/U.S. affairs, but it should be noted that if 9/11 hadn't been carried out by al-Qaeda, we would still be at peace. But the terrorists intervened and it paved the way to where we are today.
And Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. Their hands are drenched in the blood of innocents. So they don't have too much room to talk either, and especially in God's name. The tone of the Iranian President's letter is appalling in that way.
They need to change their tune and fast.
Iranian President's Letter to President Bush Provides Plenty of Topics for Good Sermons at a Mosque, But Does Nothing to Address Nuclear Crisis
One would have thought that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's eighteen page letter to President Bush would devote at least one paragraph to a political settlement of Iran's troublesome nuclear problem.
There was not a single paragraph that addressed the issue. In fact, there was not a single word about it. The word "nuclear" is used once and it is used to criticize Washington's wariness of Iran's potential nuclear capability.
The Bush Administration examined the letter for any proposals that would have given both nations a foundation for talking and then rejected it when they failed to find anything useful in it.
A one-page letter from Ahmadinejad proposing a halt to Iran's nuclear program, an immediate termination of Iranian support of international terrorism and an abandonment of fiery rhetoric against Israel in exchange for a non-aggression pact would have led to immediate talks between Washington and Tehran. It could have also lead to an eventual exchange of ambassadors between the two countries.
Ahmadinejad fails to grasp that this is not a religious matter with a religious solution. This problem requires a political solution.
In fact, religious discussions are a separate issue from the nuclear issue entirely. So are the failings (in the Iranian President's own words) of liberalism and democracy. As a teacher, Ahmadinejad should remember that despotism and theocracies precede gigantic body counts, as Nazi Germany, Armenia, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Darfur and Saddam's Iraq have shown us.
This nuclear crisis is entirely of his making. He's the one who wants nuclear arms, not Bush.
President Bush should write back a one-page response with some kind of political solution to Ahmadinejad and his mullah overseers, who are the true rulers of Iran and see what happens. Let the scholars debate Islam and democracy and the politicians negotiate.
There was not a single paragraph that addressed the issue. In fact, there was not a single word about it. The word "nuclear" is used once and it is used to criticize Washington's wariness of Iran's potential nuclear capability.
The Bush Administration examined the letter for any proposals that would have given both nations a foundation for talking and then rejected it when they failed to find anything useful in it.
A one-page letter from Ahmadinejad proposing a halt to Iran's nuclear program, an immediate termination of Iranian support of international terrorism and an abandonment of fiery rhetoric against Israel in exchange for a non-aggression pact would have led to immediate talks between Washington and Tehran. It could have also lead to an eventual exchange of ambassadors between the two countries.
Ahmadinejad fails to grasp that this is not a religious matter with a religious solution. This problem requires a political solution.
In fact, religious discussions are a separate issue from the nuclear issue entirely. So are the failings (in the Iranian President's own words) of liberalism and democracy. As a teacher, Ahmadinejad should remember that despotism and theocracies precede gigantic body counts, as Nazi Germany, Armenia, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Darfur and Saddam's Iraq have shown us.
This nuclear crisis is entirely of his making. He's the one who wants nuclear arms, not Bush.
President Bush should write back a one-page response with some kind of political solution to Ahmadinejad and his mullah overseers, who are the true rulers of Iran and see what happens. Let the scholars debate Islam and democracy and the politicians negotiate.
Political Apointees in Defense Department Should Have Served in Military so that They Have an Idea as to What the Military Needs to Fight a War
The supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution, makes it clear that command of the U.S. military resides with the elected civilian leadership of the government, and not solely with the military brass itself. That is how it should be.
But common sense says that political apointees to the top leadership positions at the Defense Department should have military experience so that they understand military strategy and provide what the military needs to fight and win a war.
Given the dangerous times we live in, future Presidents should nominate qualified people for these positions and not someone because of their political connections (though they are useful) or to reward a political favor as has happened in the past. (I'm not referring to Rumsfeld--he's a former Navy pilot). And the Senate, when confirming the leadership of the Pentagon, should be asking the kinds of questions that will prevent such an event from happening.
But common sense says that political apointees to the top leadership positions at the Defense Department should have military experience so that they understand military strategy and provide what the military needs to fight and win a war.
Given the dangerous times we live in, future Presidents should nominate qualified people for these positions and not someone because of their political connections (though they are useful) or to reward a political favor as has happened in the past. (I'm not referring to Rumsfeld--he's a former Navy pilot). And the Senate, when confirming the leadership of the Pentagon, should be asking the kinds of questions that will prevent such an event from happening.
Jury Awards $2.25 Million to Innocent Man Who Came Within Nine Days of Being Executed: Case Highlights Troubled Death Penalty System
Back at the beginning of May, news broke that a Virginia jury had awarded $2.25 million to a man who was wrongfully convicted of a heinous crime and came within nine days of being executed for that crime.
DNA evidence cleared him and tied a convicted rapist to the 1982 murder.
This is no poster boy for the anti-death penalty movement, but it again calls into question a system that rends an ultimate solution before all the evidence is properly looked at and new technology is brought to bear on questionable evidence. In the case of Earl Washington, the evidence itself was fabricated. He spent nearly ten years on death row.
How many more cases like this are out there?
DNA evidence cleared him and tied a convicted rapist to the 1982 murder.
This is no poster boy for the anti-death penalty movement, but it again calls into question a system that rends an ultimate solution before all the evidence is properly looked at and new technology is brought to bear on questionable evidence. In the case of Earl Washington, the evidence itself was fabricated. He spent nearly ten years on death row.
How many more cases like this are out there?
White House Report on Bird Flu Pandemic Paints a Bleak Picture: Doomsday Scenario Projects 2 Million American Dead & Up to 1/3 of Work Force Sick
The White House recently released a study on what it's plan would be if the U.S. were to be hit by a pandemic bird flu. The paper included three hundred recommendations.
It projects two million American dead, widescale labor shortages, travel bans, voluntary quarantines, closure of public gathering places, National Guard deployments to deliver food and medicines, use of flu masks and gloves and an array of other ideas. Employers are being encouraged to allow people to work from home if possible.
It also says federal involvment would be mininal and that communities and states would be on their own. That's a little troubling. Hopefully the CDC would stay involved on all levels in developing a vaccine if such an outbreak were to hit.
It projects two million American dead, widescale labor shortages, travel bans, voluntary quarantines, closure of public gathering places, National Guard deployments to deliver food and medicines, use of flu masks and gloves and an array of other ideas. Employers are being encouraged to allow people to work from home if possible.
It also says federal involvment would be mininal and that communities and states would be on their own. That's a little troubling. Hopefully the CDC would stay involved on all levels in developing a vaccine if such an outbreak were to hit.
Catch Up
Going to be doing quite a bit of catch-up. In the time I haven't been posting, I've been writing stuff in my journal for eventual posting on this blog.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Republicans in Congress Object to FBI Search of Accused Congressman's Office
Lawmakers up on Capitol Hill are screeching about an FBI search of Congressman William J. Jefferson's Washington offices as part of an FBI corruption investigation.
House Majority Leader Hastert told President Bush that the search was unconstitutional and was a violation of the separation of powers clause of the Constitution.
Huh??!
According to reports, the FBI had probable cause to believe that Congressman Jefferson had been hiding information from them in his Washington office after smuggling certain items out of his New Orleans home after Hurricane Katrina roared ashore. They got a valid search warrant from a judge in good standing and executed the warrant.
If Congressman Jefferson was using his office to hide stuff from the FBI, then the FBI had every right to search the office for those materials. Furthermore, that would make it a law enforcement matter, not an executive branch "invasion" of the legislative branch as the screeching Congressional leadership have been bellyaching about. The FBI's search warrant spelled out exactly what they were looking for, so other confidential records would not have been seized.
Do members of Congress really think they're above the law? If they do, then they ought to do the noble thing and RESIGN! They're the same as everyone else in all matters, including criminal law.
The Constitution does NOT excuse Congress from following the law.
House Majority Leader Hastert told President Bush that the search was unconstitutional and was a violation of the separation of powers clause of the Constitution.
Huh??!
According to reports, the FBI had probable cause to believe that Congressman Jefferson had been hiding information from them in his Washington office after smuggling certain items out of his New Orleans home after Hurricane Katrina roared ashore. They got a valid search warrant from a judge in good standing and executed the warrant.
If Congressman Jefferson was using his office to hide stuff from the FBI, then the FBI had every right to search the office for those materials. Furthermore, that would make it a law enforcement matter, not an executive branch "invasion" of the legislative branch as the screeching Congressional leadership have been bellyaching about. The FBI's search warrant spelled out exactly what they were looking for, so other confidential records would not have been seized.
Do members of Congress really think they're above the law? If they do, then they ought to do the noble thing and RESIGN! They're the same as everyone else in all matters, including criminal law.
The Constitution does NOT excuse Congress from following the law.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
More Mexican Government Hypocrisy: Illegals Barred From Employment in Mexico
Mexico is so concerned about it's citizens being able to gain U.S. citizenship and hold U.S. jobs that they've stuck their nose in at every opportunity. Yet in their own country, non-native born people cannot get a job.
Here's the story. It's a really interesting read.
So not only does Mexican law exclude illegals, but it also excludes Mexican citizens who came from elsewhere but have gone through the Mexican naturalization process. It's a racist and xenophobic policy. That's exactly what they're saying about our system while ignoring their own shortfalls.
Perhaps Mexico should practice what it preachs to others who threaten THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
Here's the story. It's a really interesting read.
So not only does Mexican law exclude illegals, but it also excludes Mexican citizens who came from elsewhere but have gone through the Mexican naturalization process. It's a racist and xenophobic policy. That's exactly what they're saying about our system while ignoring their own shortfalls.
Perhaps Mexico should practice what it preachs to others who threaten THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Defense/Katrina Bill Needs to Be Split Into It's Main Components: What Does the Iraq War Have to Do With Hurricane Katrina Relief Operations?
The Defense/Hurricane Katrina bill making it's way through Congress should have been considered separately and not combined with a potential Farm Aid bill.
In addition, the entire package is now playing host to an additional $14 billion in pork added by some Senators.
The rape of the system continues unabated. Have they no shame?
In addition, the entire package is now playing host to an additional $14 billion in pork added by some Senators.
The rape of the system continues unabated. Have they no shame?
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Predictions Are Coming True: U.S. Tells Mexico That National Guard Deployment Along Border Will Be Temporary
President Bush has told Mexican President Fox that any National Guard deployment along the U.S./Mexico border will be temporary. How temporary is temporary? A week? A month? Until after the November elections?
This Administration doesn't appear to be serious about securing the southern border.
They should either commit the troops to a long-term stay, or keep them home. It would be a waste of time, money and resources to deploy them and then pull them off the line a short time later.
More election year nonsense.
This Administration doesn't appear to be serious about securing the southern border.
They should either commit the troops to a long-term stay, or keep them home. It would be a waste of time, money and resources to deploy them and then pull them off the line a short time later.
More election year nonsense.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Plan to Put National Guard on Border With Mexico Under Current Administration is Probably Not a Good Idea
There have been reports that President Bush is considering putting the National Guard on the border with Mexico to stem the tide of inbound illegal border crossers.
It would probably be a waste of money from this Administration, given the fact that they are still pushing for a guest worker program and the Administration is in lock-step with at least half the Senate over granting amnesty for illegals. If that's true, then the troops may well be under orders not to interfere with illegal border crossings.
The Bush Administration's track record on illegal immigration hasn't exactly been stellar and they are reacting to the public backlash instead of being proactive and dealing with the problem. The proof will be if the President announces amnesty for the illegals already here during the President's Oval Office speech on Monday.
This move is more electioneering to prop up a faltering Presidency and a failing Senate.
It would probably be a waste of money from this Administration, given the fact that they are still pushing for a guest worker program and the Administration is in lock-step with at least half the Senate over granting amnesty for illegals. If that's true, then the troops may well be under orders not to interfere with illegal border crossings.
The Bush Administration's track record on illegal immigration hasn't exactly been stellar and they are reacting to the public backlash instead of being proactive and dealing with the problem. The proof will be if the President announces amnesty for the illegals already here during the President's Oval Office speech on Monday.
This move is more electioneering to prop up a faltering Presidency and a failing Senate.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Diplomatic Relations With Mexico Should Be Temporarily Severed to Register U.S. Displeasure with Mexican Government Interference in U.S. Affairs
Mexico's flagrant violations of U.S. sovereignty over securing our side of the border must be checked immediately and the best way to do so is to sever diplomatic relations with Mexico--at least temporarily.
They must be made to understand that their continued interference in our internal affairs is unacceptable. Here's a current list of Mexican transgressions currently in progress or that have already happened, and the stories below are a small sample of what's been happening:
Mexican Government Targets Arizona Law Against Human Smuggling
Mexican Lawmakers Join Protests in Los Angeles
Mexican Government Slams Georgia Anti-Illegal Alien Law
Mexican Ads Push Immigration Reform
Mexican Government Denounces Fees on Illegal Immigrant Wire Transfers
Chertoff Promotes Guest Worker Program With Mexican Lawmakers in Tow
We don't need foreign interference from a government that treats all illegal immigrants in Mexico as felons and does a fair amount of human rights violations itself.
Stay out of our business, Mexico.
They must be made to understand that their continued interference in our internal affairs is unacceptable. Here's a current list of Mexican transgressions currently in progress or that have already happened, and the stories below are a small sample of what's been happening:
Mexican Government Targets Arizona Law Against Human Smuggling
Mexican Lawmakers Join Protests in Los Angeles
Mexican Government Slams Georgia Anti-Illegal Alien Law
Mexican Ads Push Immigration Reform
Mexican Government Denounces Fees on Illegal Immigrant Wire Transfers
Chertoff Promotes Guest Worker Program With Mexican Lawmakers in Tow
We don't need foreign interference from a government that treats all illegal immigrants in Mexico as felons and does a fair amount of human rights violations itself.
Stay out of our business, Mexico.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
U.S. Decision to Tell Corrupt Mexican Government Where Minutemen Patrols Are Actually Increases Danger Along Border Area
The Minutemen project has been continuing in the Arizona desert with Minuteman patrols interdicting illegal border crossers since the beginning of April.
In the last couple of days, it has emerged that U.S. authorities have been informing their Mexican counterparts of Minutemen movements, where they are, and what they are doing. This is not a good decision and here's why:
During the first Minuteman project, it emerged that Mexican and Hispanic gangs were going to go to the border area to kill as many Minutemen as they could find. MS-13 was one of the gangs threatening to do precisely that. The Brown Beret gang was another.
The Mexican government has a huge corruption problem.
Who is to say that any information passed to Mexican authorities won't end up in the hands of the very ones who are threatening violence to stop the Minutemen? The drug cartels and gangs have friends in the Mexican government. And they have vowed to "teach the Minutemen a lesson."
When an entire group of Minutemen get gunned down in a hail of bullets from Mexican gangs in the Arizona desert and who have the precise location of the Minutemen patrols courtesy of the U.S. and Mexican governments, whose fault will it be? And what will follow? A border war? Armed vigilantes crossing the border in both directions seeking revenge? The Rio Grande turning into a river of blood?
The odds are that this decision will lead to American deaths on our side of the border. There HAS to be a better way to deal with this.
In the last couple of days, it has emerged that U.S. authorities have been informing their Mexican counterparts of Minutemen movements, where they are, and what they are doing. This is not a good decision and here's why:
During the first Minuteman project, it emerged that Mexican and Hispanic gangs were going to go to the border area to kill as many Minutemen as they could find. MS-13 was one of the gangs threatening to do precisely that. The Brown Beret gang was another.
The Mexican government has a huge corruption problem.
Who is to say that any information passed to Mexican authorities won't end up in the hands of the very ones who are threatening violence to stop the Minutemen? The drug cartels and gangs have friends in the Mexican government. And they have vowed to "teach the Minutemen a lesson."
When an entire group of Minutemen get gunned down in a hail of bullets from Mexican gangs in the Arizona desert and who have the precise location of the Minutemen patrols courtesy of the U.S. and Mexican governments, whose fault will it be? And what will follow? A border war? Armed vigilantes crossing the border in both directions seeking revenge? The Rio Grande turning into a river of blood?
The odds are that this decision will lead to American deaths on our side of the border. There HAS to be a better way to deal with this.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Tony Snow as White House Press Secretary Was a Good Choice: Now He'll Get to Tangle with the Washington Press Directly
President Bush made a good selection in choosing former Fox News commentator Tony Snow as his Press Secretary.
He's got a tough job ahead of him and the Washington press may not give him much of a honeymoon as is traditional with new press secretaries.
But it stands to reason that he won't need much of one.
His talk-show radio and interview demeanor will allow him to take on everyone in that press room and come away with his armor intact. His predecessor's armor was in tatters almost from day one and the press drew blood on him daily.
Snow will run the show. The only thing that he has to watch out for is if he injects his own personal opinions (which sometimes runs contrary to the White House as has been covered in the media lately) into the question and answer sessions.
This is something that has caused the downfall of at least one press secretary over the years, but I think Tony Snow will do just fine.
He's got a tough job ahead of him and the Washington press may not give him much of a honeymoon as is traditional with new press secretaries.
But it stands to reason that he won't need much of one.
His talk-show radio and interview demeanor will allow him to take on everyone in that press room and come away with his armor intact. His predecessor's armor was in tatters almost from day one and the press drew blood on him daily.
Snow will run the show. The only thing that he has to watch out for is if he injects his own personal opinions (which sometimes runs contrary to the White House as has been covered in the media lately) into the question and answer sessions.
This is something that has caused the downfall of at least one press secretary over the years, but I think Tony Snow will do just fine.
Band-Aid Fix to Severe Bleeding: Bush Moves on Oil Won't Fix the Problem with Oil Speculators
President Bush's latest moves to affect the prices at the gas pumps don't address what's causing the price of a barrel of oil to hit around the $70 per barrel range and the price of refined transportation to hit $100 a barrel or more.
A major part of the problem is oil speculators.
Who regulates them?
They react to fear of future events, while largely ignoring the current level of supply, demand and reserves that the oil companies are waiting to process.
A single problem in a single oil field which might affect the flow of oil by a miniscule amount is enough to cause the speculators to panic and drive the cost of oil up.
The current list of excuses include fear of Iran and fear of what the West might do about Iran's nuclear program; fear of terrorist acts in Nigeria; fear of violence in the Middle East, fear of Willowby the Gorilla farting in his cage; and every lame-brained excuse that grabs a headline. For example, over the weekend Iran's president threatened to attack Israel if the West attacks Iran; the price of a barrel of oil almost immediately hit close to $75.
And then when those fears of oil disruption go unrealized, the price goes down slowly, compared to the fast jump upward in prices. Gas prices should fall just as fast as they increase.
But it's not happening because the system is being abused. As a result, the price of oil and gas is overvalued by at least 40%.
And on that point, the ongoing investigations will not yield any results, because the problems are happening outside the box, while the investigations are focused INSIDE the box. What good is an investigation if it only focuses on the tail end of the industry? They need to go after the speculators, too, where they'll find what they're looking for.
A major part of the problem is oil speculators.
Who regulates them?
They react to fear of future events, while largely ignoring the current level of supply, demand and reserves that the oil companies are waiting to process.
A single problem in a single oil field which might affect the flow of oil by a miniscule amount is enough to cause the speculators to panic and drive the cost of oil up.
The current list of excuses include fear of Iran and fear of what the West might do about Iran's nuclear program; fear of terrorist acts in Nigeria; fear of violence in the Middle East, fear of Willowby the Gorilla farting in his cage; and every lame-brained excuse that grabs a headline. For example, over the weekend Iran's president threatened to attack Israel if the West attacks Iran; the price of a barrel of oil almost immediately hit close to $75.
And then when those fears of oil disruption go unrealized, the price goes down slowly, compared to the fast jump upward in prices. Gas prices should fall just as fast as they increase.
But it's not happening because the system is being abused. As a result, the price of oil and gas is overvalued by at least 40%.
And on that point, the ongoing investigations will not yield any results, because the problems are happening outside the box, while the investigations are focused INSIDE the box. What good is an investigation if it only focuses on the tail end of the industry? They need to go after the speculators, too, where they'll find what they're looking for.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Former WWE Standout Nikolai Volkoff Running for Maryland House of Delegates
Fans of the former World Wrestling Federation (WWF) remember the name Nikolai Volkoff well.
Before every WWF/WWE match, he would enrage the fans in the arena and those watching on TV by insisting that fans rise to their feet amd show respect as he sang the Soviet National Anthem, while dressed in Soviet-style ring attire and waving the Soviet flag around. He became one of the most despised villians in wrestling history while taking on the likes of Hulk Hogan, Sgt. Slaughter, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, the Junkyard Dog and other popular wrestlers, while teaming with the equally-despised Iranian Iron Sheik.
In later years, he became a fan favorite and on occasion would sing the U.S. National Anthem.
He became a U.S. citizen about ten years ago and is currently a code inspector in and around Baltimore. He's also running for a seat for the Maryland House of Delegates as a Republican.
Nikolai is considered to be an underdog in the race, but he's hoping to follow in the footsteps of his friend Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who became the Governor of Minnesota. Good luck Nikolai.
Before every WWF/WWE match, he would enrage the fans in the arena and those watching on TV by insisting that fans rise to their feet amd show respect as he sang the Soviet National Anthem, while dressed in Soviet-style ring attire and waving the Soviet flag around. He became one of the most despised villians in wrestling history while taking on the likes of Hulk Hogan, Sgt. Slaughter, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, the Junkyard Dog and other popular wrestlers, while teaming with the equally-despised Iranian Iron Sheik.
In later years, he became a fan favorite and on occasion would sing the U.S. National Anthem.
He became a U.S. citizen about ten years ago and is currently a code inspector in and around Baltimore. He's also running for a seat for the Maryland House of Delegates as a Republican.
Nikolai is considered to be an underdog in the race, but he's hoping to follow in the footsteps of his friend Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who became the Governor of Minnesota. Good luck Nikolai.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
False Valor: Fake Medals of Honor Cheapen the Real Ones
There's a growing problem with people claiming to have been awarded the Medal of Honor and wearing the medals (that are fakes or belong to someone else).
There are at present 113 living Medal of Honor recipients. The government knows who they are, where they live, and what they did to receive our nation's highest military honor.
Unfortunately, according to reports, the real heroes are vastly outnumbered by the liars who claim to be among their number. What a sad state of affairs.
There's a high price to be paid for falsely wearing a Medal of Honor. The current punishment is one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 aims to make it a crime to wear any military medal and claim to be a recipient when one is not. It will also make it clear that those honors belong solely to our brave former and active military personnel who have/are getting shot at, bombed, and whatever else takes place in the war zones.
This is a good act and should be acted upon soon.
There are at present 113 living Medal of Honor recipients. The government knows who they are, where they live, and what they did to receive our nation's highest military honor.
Unfortunately, according to reports, the real heroes are vastly outnumbered by the liars who claim to be among their number. What a sad state of affairs.
There's a high price to be paid for falsely wearing a Medal of Honor. The current punishment is one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 aims to make it a crime to wear any military medal and claim to be a recipient when one is not. It will also make it clear that those honors belong solely to our brave former and active military personnel who have/are getting shot at, bombed, and whatever else takes place in the war zones.
This is a good act and should be acted upon soon.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Cost of Neo-Nazi Rally Still Being Tallied, but It's Close to $250,000 So Far
The bill to local and state governments for providing protection during last weekend's neo-Nazi rally in Lansing is still being tallied, but latest estimates put the total price tag at close to $250,000 so far.
Here are the numbers being reported by various departments and agencies:
Michigan State Police----$171,000
City of Lansing---$75,000
Other Assisting Police Departments--Still Unknown
The next time the neo-Nazis come to town, they ought to send a certified check for $500,000 first and let them pay the bills. Why should the taxpayers be left to pay the bill?
The police did a great job in keeping order downtown. Their careful planning and execution of the plan kept a potentially explosive situation under control and they should be recognized for their hard work.
More to follow on this.
Here are the numbers being reported by various departments and agencies:
Michigan State Police----$171,000
City of Lansing---$75,000
Other Assisting Police Departments--Still Unknown
The next time the neo-Nazis come to town, they ought to send a certified check for $500,000 first and let them pay the bills. Why should the taxpayers be left to pay the bill?
The police did a great job in keeping order downtown. Their careful planning and execution of the plan kept a potentially explosive situation under control and they should be recognized for their hard work.
More to follow on this.
Boycott the Boycott: Hold a National Shopping Day on Monday
People hold off shopping this weekend and do it on Monday to defy the pro-illegal crowd that has threatened to grind the economy to a halt with their protests that very day.
And Congress had better not buckle under the pressure either. Any member of Congress who does should be voted out of office at the next opportunity for bowing to demands from illegals who refuse to follow the rules.
No amnesty for lawbreakers. It's not fair to immigrants who go through the system properly.
And Congress had better not buckle under the pressure either. Any member of Congress who does should be voted out of office at the next opportunity for bowing to demands from illegals who refuse to follow the rules.
No amnesty for lawbreakers. It's not fair to immigrants who go through the system properly.
Friday, April 28, 2006
"Nuestro Himno" Is Not The U.S. National Anthem in Spanish--It's Simply A New Version of "We Shall Overcome"
There's been a lot of hooplah the last few days over the so-called Spanish-version of the "Star Spangled Banner."
Few points here.
First of all, this is a immigrant rights song, not the U.S. National Anthem. Every movement has some sort of an anthem. In the civil rights movement, the song titled "We Shall Overcome" was and is seen as a civil rights theme song.
If it was a Spanish version of the U.S. National Anthem, then it would have been the exact translation to the "Star-Spangled Banner." But the words are not the same; hence it is not associated to the official U.S. National Anthem.
This new song shares the melody to the "Star-Spangled Banner," but in actuality, it's a new version of "We Shall Overcome" and other "official" themes to movements.
I don't find anything wrong with it, so long as it is not held up on the same level as the official U.S. National Anthem, because clearly it isn't the same.
Few points here.
First of all, this is a immigrant rights song, not the U.S. National Anthem. Every movement has some sort of an anthem. In the civil rights movement, the song titled "We Shall Overcome" was and is seen as a civil rights theme song.
If it was a Spanish version of the U.S. National Anthem, then it would have been the exact translation to the "Star-Spangled Banner." But the words are not the same; hence it is not associated to the official U.S. National Anthem.
This new song shares the melody to the "Star-Spangled Banner," but in actuality, it's a new version of "We Shall Overcome" and other "official" themes to movements.
I don't find anything wrong with it, so long as it is not held up on the same level as the official U.S. National Anthem, because clearly it isn't the same.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Checks From Government for Fuel Rebate? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
Some senators are pushing around the idea that the U.S. government should write out checks to every taxpayer for $100 as a kind of gasoline "rebate" while gas prices are so high.
This idea should be dropped immediately.
Where are they going to get the money to do this? And what happens the next time? Will they do it again? For that matter, why are they even considering using taxpayer money to fix an oil industry problem?
Now, if they were going to collect the money from the oil industry first, that would be different. But out and out using federal money? No way.
This is pure electioneering.
This idea should be dropped immediately.
Where are they going to get the money to do this? And what happens the next time? Will they do it again? For that matter, why are they even considering using taxpayer money to fix an oil industry problem?
Now, if they were going to collect the money from the oil industry first, that would be different. But out and out using federal money? No way.
This is pure electioneering.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
75 Nazis Show Up at Rally; 800 Counter-Demonstrators Do Too; Another 800-1000 Attend Diversity Rally
The collective IQ of the Lansing area has shot back up with the departure of the National Socialist Movement protestors yesterday following their rally.
Approximately 75 neo-Nazis showed up out of 200 expected, around 800 counter-demonstrators participated in the Noise Blockade, and around 900 were at the diversity rally that the neo-Nazis did leave alone following their own rally. Other news agencies are reporting similar numbers.
By my count, that's approximately 75 NSM members vs. approximately 1,700 Noise Blockade demonstrators and diversity participants. For some reason, the rest of the Nazis stayed home.
It was too bad that people broke part of the fence down and went after the NSM members; it was unnecessary. Sixteen individuals were arrested. It seemed like some in the crowd wanted to fight the police because they could, but backed down.
Hate to tell the Nazis "I told you so" (thhhp!!), but I DID tell them so.
So much for the largest white power rally of 2006. Good riddance.
Approximately 75 neo-Nazis showed up out of 200 expected, around 800 counter-demonstrators participated in the Noise Blockade, and around 900 were at the diversity rally that the neo-Nazis did leave alone following their own rally. Other news agencies are reporting similar numbers.
By my count, that's approximately 75 NSM members vs. approximately 1,700 Noise Blockade demonstrators and diversity participants. For some reason, the rest of the Nazis stayed home.
It was too bad that people broke part of the fence down and went after the NSM members; it was unnecessary. Sixteen individuals were arrested. It seemed like some in the crowd wanted to fight the police because they could, but backed down.
Hate to tell the Nazis "I told you so" (thhhp!!), but I DID tell them so.
So much for the largest white power rally of 2006. Good riddance.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Duke Rape Case Seriously Flawed: What is Really Going On?
The recent lacrosse team rape scandal at Duke University has thrown an uncomfortable spotlight into how election year politics can screw up a case as badly as this one has been.
We have witnesses to the alleged crime changing their stories. We have two team members charged with rape (one of whom wasn't there when it allegedly happened). We have a prosecutor trying the case in the media. The defense team is doing the same thing.
We have DNA results that do not support the charges; the prosecutor is now saying that the FBI crime lab is unreliable and is having a private company do the testing. There is now open discussion that the accuser isn't being honest. On the other side, the team hasn't helped its own cause by refusing to cooperate. And the mud-flinging is well underway from both sides.
There's a technical term for a court case like this: fiasco.
Why proper procedures were not followed in investigating a very serious crime should be looked at when the dust settles.
Also, why all the team players' names were released to the media even though they were not charged with a crime was a poor decision.
It's been one blunder after another. When will it end?
We have witnesses to the alleged crime changing their stories. We have two team members charged with rape (one of whom wasn't there when it allegedly happened). We have a prosecutor trying the case in the media. The defense team is doing the same thing.
We have DNA results that do not support the charges; the prosecutor is now saying that the FBI crime lab is unreliable and is having a private company do the testing. There is now open discussion that the accuser isn't being honest. On the other side, the team hasn't helped its own cause by refusing to cooperate. And the mud-flinging is well underway from both sides.
There's a technical term for a court case like this: fiasco.
Why proper procedures were not followed in investigating a very serious crime should be looked at when the dust settles.
Also, why all the team players' names were released to the media even though they were not charged with a crime was a poor decision.
It's been one blunder after another. When will it end?
Friday, April 21, 2006
Neo-Nazis Are In For a Shock at Their Rally: Heavy Turnout at Noise Blockade Expected
I learned today that many MSU professors are giving extra credit to students who go to the neo-Nazi rally and join the Noise Blockade of the Nazi rally in Lansing tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon. In addition, many ministers are pushing for their congregations to attend the Noise Blockade, or go to the diversity rally at a local high school fieldhouse.
In another good sign, the NSM has announced that it will not crash the diversity rally and that they would stay in the capitol. That's very good news; they may have gotten wind of the potentially huge turnout of counter-demonstrators in and around the capitol.
Something that made the news tonight caught my attention: state police bus service to and from the rally has been set up for the neo-Nazis into the designated protest area. I don't think I like this idea very much, but if it keeps the protesters apart, then so be it.
The fence is all but set up; I couldn't get downtown to take a good look tonight. Too many road closure signs out and Friday nighters down there. The police are already out in force, making sure that the capitol is secure and ready for tomorrow's rally and counter-rally.
While I loathe the neo-Nazi message and how they choose to express it, they are exercising their First Amendment rights to say what they want. But they should be reminded that inciting to riot is not protected speech; nor is using violence against others to further their hate message.
Look at it this way: the sooner they say their piece, the sooner they'll leave.
And the counter-demonstrators should keep their cool and keep it verbal. The Nazis definitely wouldn't mind a huge free-for-all (as was demonstrated in Toledo last year). Don't give it to them. Violence is unnecessary.
In another good sign, the NSM has announced that it will not crash the diversity rally and that they would stay in the capitol. That's very good news; they may have gotten wind of the potentially huge turnout of counter-demonstrators in and around the capitol.
Something that made the news tonight caught my attention: state police bus service to and from the rally has been set up for the neo-Nazis into the designated protest area. I don't think I like this idea very much, but if it keeps the protesters apart, then so be it.
The fence is all but set up; I couldn't get downtown to take a good look tonight. Too many road closure signs out and Friday nighters down there. The police are already out in force, making sure that the capitol is secure and ready for tomorrow's rally and counter-rally.
While I loathe the neo-Nazi message and how they choose to express it, they are exercising their First Amendment rights to say what they want. But they should be reminded that inciting to riot is not protected speech; nor is using violence against others to further their hate message.
Look at it this way: the sooner they say their piece, the sooner they'll leave.
And the counter-demonstrators should keep their cool and keep it verbal. The Nazis definitely wouldn't mind a huge free-for-all (as was demonstrated in Toledo last year). Don't give it to them. Violence is unnecessary.
Calling a Spade a Spade: Security Fence Is There for The Protection of the Neo-Nazis, Not the Community
Preparations for this weekend's neo-Nazi rally moved into full swing as the various police departments began erecting a fence around the planned Nazi protest site.
The National Socialist Movement (NSM) had gone to court to prevent the fence from being put up, but a judge decided to let the Lansing and Michigan State police departments do their jobs and keep the Nazis and everyone else from tearing one another apart. This was a wise decision by the court.
The NSM court action is more proof that the group wants to maximize the possibility of an outbreak of violence during the protest and that they have nothing but bad intentions in holding their rally in Lansing. Why else would they want a fence that's there for their protection removed?
It's going to be funny to watch the Nazis have their message drowned out by the Noise Blockade, which the anti-Nazi demonstrators are (rightly) calling their rally.
The National Socialist Movement (NSM) had gone to court to prevent the fence from being put up, but a judge decided to let the Lansing and Michigan State police departments do their jobs and keep the Nazis and everyone else from tearing one another apart. This was a wise decision by the court.
The NSM court action is more proof that the group wants to maximize the possibility of an outbreak of violence during the protest and that they have nothing but bad intentions in holding their rally in Lansing. Why else would they want a fence that's there for their protection removed?
It's going to be funny to watch the Nazis have their message drowned out by the Noise Blockade, which the anti-Nazi demonstrators are (rightly) calling their rally.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Mexico's Hypocrisy Knows No Bounds: Mexico Mistreats It's Own Illegal Migrant Population While Criticizing U.S. Debate on Same Issue
Typical.
Mexico has been an outspoken critic of the U.S. debate on illegal immigration, while at the same time mistreating it's own illegal population. Illegals in Mexico are felons!
Perhaps Mexico should get it's own house in order before telling us how to run ours. As troubled as our system is in dealing with illegal migrants, it's still better than Mexico's.
Mexico has been an outspoken critic of the U.S. debate on illegal immigration, while at the same time mistreating it's own illegal population. Illegals in Mexico are felons!
Perhaps Mexico should get it's own house in order before telling us how to run ours. As troubled as our system is in dealing with illegal migrants, it's still better than Mexico's.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
British Approach to Dealing with Iran May Be the Correct One: Bush Administration Should Listen to What They're Saying
Tony Blair seems to have indicated that Britain would be unable to provide military support for an assault on Iran due to Britain's current international commitments.
Some of the Prime Minister's cabinet members are suggesting that an approach similar to what brought Libya back into the international community would be more beneficial than if a Western coalition were to turn Iran into a parking lot.
The British suggestion raises some excellent points.
We've learned from past experience (Iraq) that when the West starts making demands, war follows. When deadlines are set, war follows. When sketchy intelligence is taken for the gospel truth, or is ignored, war follows. When claims of enemy WMDs ready to be launched within minutes are issued by coalition governments, war follows. When this Administration says "trust us--we're right about this", and they turn out to be wrong, how can this Administration expect us to trust them this time with Iran?
The Bush Administration says it doesn't know how far away Iran is from making an atomic bomb. But again, we are faced with statements coming out of the Administration that Iran must comply with it's demands or else. It's the "or else" part that is particularly alarming, especially when "regime change" is again being touted in Washington. And again, we see the UN Security Council splintering under pressure.
We don't need another war; we need a solution that doesn't involve the U.S. military as the primary instrument for a political resolution.
Given all of this, the British strategy seems sound. Working with Iranians outside the current radical government and in key locations inside Iran could well turn the situation around.
Hopefully Bush listens to his closest international ally and not to the Bush cowboys (Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Chertoff & Gonzales) when formulating a strategy to deal with Iran. No disrespect to Condi Rice intended in that last sentence. But she's part of the problem too.
Hopefully President Bush is listening to the ideas coming out of Britain.
Some of the Prime Minister's cabinet members are suggesting that an approach similar to what brought Libya back into the international community would be more beneficial than if a Western coalition were to turn Iran into a parking lot.
The British suggestion raises some excellent points.
We've learned from past experience (Iraq) that when the West starts making demands, war follows. When deadlines are set, war follows. When sketchy intelligence is taken for the gospel truth, or is ignored, war follows. When claims of enemy WMDs ready to be launched within minutes are issued by coalition governments, war follows. When this Administration says "trust us--we're right about this", and they turn out to be wrong, how can this Administration expect us to trust them this time with Iran?
The Bush Administration says it doesn't know how far away Iran is from making an atomic bomb. But again, we are faced with statements coming out of the Administration that Iran must comply with it's demands or else. It's the "or else" part that is particularly alarming, especially when "regime change" is again being touted in Washington. And again, we see the UN Security Council splintering under pressure.
We don't need another war; we need a solution that doesn't involve the U.S. military as the primary instrument for a political resolution.
Given all of this, the British strategy seems sound. Working with Iranians outside the current radical government and in key locations inside Iran could well turn the situation around.
Hopefully Bush listens to his closest international ally and not to the Bush cowboys (Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Chertoff & Gonzales) when formulating a strategy to deal with Iran. No disrespect to Condi Rice intended in that last sentence. But she's part of the problem too.
Hopefully President Bush is listening to the ideas coming out of Britain.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Neo-Nazi Comments on This Blog Explored: Blaming Others for Their Problems is Their Trademark
I seem to have touched a nerve with my last posting.
A prominent neo-Nazi took notice of my last entry and decided to post a comment, to which I responded in the same way.
He said some things in his comments that I thought about overnight and throughout the day today. After sharing his comments with some close friends out here, I've decided to make some points here based on his comments in addition to the comments I made in my initial response.
His entry was based on my stated belief that many people will be attending the National Socialist Movement to protest the neo-Nazi rally...quite probably in the thousands. I think he thought I was talking about thousands of people attending the diversity rally, rather than the neo-Nazi rally.
I'm not hearing about anyone going to the diversity rally; they'd rather protest the NSM rally. And that's what everyone is gearing up for. The Lansing Coalition Against Nazis (LCAN) and the Anti-Racist Action Network (ARA) have been very busy getting volunteers together to protest the skinhead presence.
His comments in their entirety:
Thousands?
LOL
Thousands haven't turned out for a "diveristy celebration" in years.
About 100 angry kids will attend the "militant anti-Nazi" demonstration, and as many people as the City can afford to pay will attend the diversity rally. Then, the press will at least double their actual numbers and report that they "outnumbered" us.
LOL
Any other belief about what will happen shows a deep immersion in fantasy that is probably not in the best interest of your mental health.
I found it interesting that he thought that it would be angry kids attending the anti-Nazi demonstration. There will more than likely be at least that and many more. He's also forgetting about the MSU turnout as well as the church turnout.
And his comment that the city of Lansing would pay people to attend the counter-protest was REAL interesting. If he was keeping up on Lansing-area news, he would have known that the city is facing an $11 million shortfall in the current budget and can't afford to pay people to be there---except the police of course. The mayor has enough political enemies on the city council that something like that happening would raise a major screaming match and everyone would know about it. In advance.
So I find it laughable that they're already making up excuses for being outnumbered at their own rally (which hasn't even happened yet).
The last comment he made about fantasy was very amusing to me. He should practice what he preaches: after putting forth conspiracy theories about the city of Lansing paying people to go to the diversity rally, about the press inflating the numbers of people who were actually there, of only angry kids attending the anti-Nazi rally, and his worrying about my mental health (thank you), perhaps he should focus on his own mental health instead.
Blazing hatred of others causes more mental problems than fantasy does. I'll take fantasy over neo-Nazi propaganda and excuses EVERY time.
A prominent neo-Nazi took notice of my last entry and decided to post a comment, to which I responded in the same way.
He said some things in his comments that I thought about overnight and throughout the day today. After sharing his comments with some close friends out here, I've decided to make some points here based on his comments in addition to the comments I made in my initial response.
His entry was based on my stated belief that many people will be attending the National Socialist Movement to protest the neo-Nazi rally...quite probably in the thousands. I think he thought I was talking about thousands of people attending the diversity rally, rather than the neo-Nazi rally.
I'm not hearing about anyone going to the diversity rally; they'd rather protest the NSM rally. And that's what everyone is gearing up for. The Lansing Coalition Against Nazis (LCAN) and the Anti-Racist Action Network (ARA) have been very busy getting volunteers together to protest the skinhead presence.
His comments in their entirety:
Thousands?
LOL
Thousands haven't turned out for a "diveristy celebration" in years.
About 100 angry kids will attend the "militant anti-Nazi" demonstration, and as many people as the City can afford to pay will attend the diversity rally. Then, the press will at least double their actual numbers and report that they "outnumbered" us.
LOL
Any other belief about what will happen shows a deep immersion in fantasy that is probably not in the best interest of your mental health.
I found it interesting that he thought that it would be angry kids attending the anti-Nazi demonstration. There will more than likely be at least that and many more. He's also forgetting about the MSU turnout as well as the church turnout.
And his comment that the city of Lansing would pay people to attend the counter-protest was REAL interesting. If he was keeping up on Lansing-area news, he would have known that the city is facing an $11 million shortfall in the current budget and can't afford to pay people to be there---except the police of course. The mayor has enough political enemies on the city council that something like that happening would raise a major screaming match and everyone would know about it. In advance.
So I find it laughable that they're already making up excuses for being outnumbered at their own rally (which hasn't even happened yet).
The last comment he made about fantasy was very amusing to me. He should practice what he preaches: after putting forth conspiracy theories about the city of Lansing paying people to go to the diversity rally, about the press inflating the numbers of people who were actually there, of only angry kids attending the anti-Nazi rally, and his worrying about my mental health (thank you), perhaps he should focus on his own mental health instead.
Blazing hatred of others causes more mental problems than fantasy does. I'll take fantasy over neo-Nazi propaganda and excuses EVERY time.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Big Trouble: Neo-Nazis May Crash City Diversity Celebration
A planned neo-Nazi rally in downtown Lansing and a planned diversity rally designed to counter the presence of the neo-Nazis in the state capitol may now be on a major collision course as the skinheads announced that they may attend the diversity rally so that the public can "help them celebrate their white heritage."
There goes the neighborhood.
No matter what excuse the neo-Nazis make for invading other parts of the city, all they are doing is looking for trouble. They've already got trouble in the form of thousands who are planning on turning out to protest against the National Socialist Movement rally.
Hopefully someone is telling the neo-Nazis that inciting to riot is not protected speech. They should hold their damned rally and then get out of dodge peaceably. And the people who are going to protest ought to let them leave without making a bad situation worse.
If things get out of hand, there's no telling where everything will end up.
There goes the neighborhood.
No matter what excuse the neo-Nazis make for invading other parts of the city, all they are doing is looking for trouble. They've already got trouble in the form of thousands who are planning on turning out to protest against the National Socialist Movement rally.
Hopefully someone is telling the neo-Nazis that inciting to riot is not protected speech. They should hold their damned rally and then get out of dodge peaceably. And the people who are going to protest ought to let them leave without making a bad situation worse.
If things get out of hand, there's no telling where everything will end up.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Who Cares if Millions March in Support of Pro-Immigration? Millions WON'T!
One overlooked note of interest on the immigration protests happening in major cities across the nation: while hundreds of thousands or millions may march in protest to show support for illegal immigrants, millions WON'T show up because they don't support our borders being violated and the law being broken.
Just because large turnouts happen at these rallies doesn't mean that everyone feels the same way about it. The voices of dissent are being overlooked or ignored to further the cause of the pro-illegal crowd.
Those who are speaking up are being labeled bigots by the pro-illegal crowd. That isn't right or accurate either.
Everyone has to follow the rules. There are no exceptions; but some people would break with procedure to allow 12 million people who are here without permission and without documentation to stay here. How can they do this without knowing anything about the people that they're trying to make into citizens?
And what happens the next time around?
Just because large turnouts happen at these rallies doesn't mean that everyone feels the same way about it. The voices of dissent are being overlooked or ignored to further the cause of the pro-illegal crowd.
Those who are speaking up are being labeled bigots by the pro-illegal crowd. That isn't right or accurate either.
Everyone has to follow the rules. There are no exceptions; but some people would break with procedure to allow 12 million people who are here without permission and without documentation to stay here. How can they do this without knowing anything about the people that they're trying to make into citizens?
And what happens the next time around?
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Kid of Courage Remembered
Today is the 16th anniversary of the death of AIDS activist and pioneer Ryan White.He fought to make the world realize that AIDS was not restricted to one segment of the population; that it was a worldwide threat and that casual contact wouldn't pass the disease from person to person.
I had an opportunity to visit his grave seven years ago in Cisero, Indiana, and was struck by the beauty of the site, the incredible headstone and the words inscribed on it. It was a fitting monument to the titanic fight that Ryan put up to educate others as he fought to be allowed to go to school like everyone else.
We remember Ryan's courage and inspiration that he gave to others.
Senate Failure to Reach Agreement on Immigration Bill is Actually the Best Thing That Could Have Happened
The Senate's inability to reach agreement on the immigration bill is a perfect illustration of why they should table the entire issue until a new Congress is seated in January as I said in an earlier post.
It's all election year politics. When you mix an election year into the normal flow of business through Congress and the White House, it makes for potentially very bad laws that come out of the process; then we're stuck with them.
Way to go, Senate!!
It's all election year politics. When you mix an election year into the normal flow of business through Congress and the White House, it makes for potentially very bad laws that come out of the process; then we're stuck with them.
Way to go, Senate!!
Friday, April 07, 2006
Gore's Off the Point (Again): Global Warming Has Happened, Global Warming WILL Happen Again
It's pretty much been established that global warming has happened repeatedly in the past, and that it will happen again. Global warming is inevitable, and all we can do is move out of the way of the changes that are to come.
After all, if there wasn't global warming, Earth would still be in the last Ice Age from 18,000 years ago, wouldn't it?
Al Gore and the environmentalist left need to shift gears away from stopping global warming, and begin talking about what to do WHEN global warming really starts to hit. They just don't seem to be getting it: if we were to stop all atmospheric pollution today, it would probably delay the onset of global warming, but it wouldn't stop it. That's the science and the only fact that really matters.
We can do what the environmentalists and Al Gore are doing and waste time blaming man's excesses for causing (yeah, right) global warming, or we can deal with the real issues that lay in front of us.
Here's what the establishment needs to be considering and talking about: what we're going to do about the East, West and Gulf Coasts where cities will be underwater and the oceans will be further inland from where they are now. Or when the world starts to cool off following a period of global warming, where growing seasons will be shorter, the days cooler and the winters harsher.
How do we save New York, Boston, Washington DC, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle and countless lesser cities and towns/villages at the water's edge from the rising oceans? Do we build barriers around them to keep the water out? Do we abandon them and evacuate the people who live there? Do we move the cities inland? That's the kind of thinking that we need now.
Every ocean-side nation on the planet must adopt similar lines of thinking as well.
According to liberal think-tanks, the oceans will rise 20 feet by the year 2100. By that measure, that's plenty of time to create a plan and execute it. But will we?
After all, if there wasn't global warming, Earth would still be in the last Ice Age from 18,000 years ago, wouldn't it?
Al Gore and the environmentalist left need to shift gears away from stopping global warming, and begin talking about what to do WHEN global warming really starts to hit. They just don't seem to be getting it: if we were to stop all atmospheric pollution today, it would probably delay the onset of global warming, but it wouldn't stop it. That's the science and the only fact that really matters.
We can do what the environmentalists and Al Gore are doing and waste time blaming man's excesses for causing (yeah, right) global warming, or we can deal with the real issues that lay in front of us.
Here's what the establishment needs to be considering and talking about: what we're going to do about the East, West and Gulf Coasts where cities will be underwater and the oceans will be further inland from where they are now. Or when the world starts to cool off following a period of global warming, where growing seasons will be shorter, the days cooler and the winters harsher.
How do we save New York, Boston, Washington DC, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle and countless lesser cities and towns/villages at the water's edge from the rising oceans? Do we build barriers around them to keep the water out? Do we abandon them and evacuate the people who live there? Do we move the cities inland? That's the kind of thinking that we need now.
Every ocean-side nation on the planet must adopt similar lines of thinking as well.
According to liberal think-tanks, the oceans will rise 20 feet by the year 2100. By that measure, that's plenty of time to create a plan and execute it. But will we?
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