Today is officially the first day you can view my brand new site, GunControlPolicy.com, a resource I have started to gather and collect information on gun control policies and issues. The site is still under major construction but it's one you should bookmark. I'll use this blog to update the status of my new site as it develops. I am excited to get this new project off the ground.
How Shocking - Gun Control Doesn’t Work
Thursday, December 30, 2004
From WorldNetDaily:
The National Academy of Sciences issued a 328-page report based on 253 journal articles, 99 books, 43 government publications, a survey of 80 different gun-control laws and some of its own independent study. In short, the panel could find no link between restrictions on gun ownership and lower rates of crime, firearms violence or even accidents with guns.That most of the researchers favored gun control before the study began is a direct blow to the skeptics. It is just plain common sense that gun control is useless, doesn't work and can even be fatal when the criminal mind uses such restrictions to his advantage.
The panel was established during the Clinton administration and all but one of its members were known to favor gun control.
"Policy questions related to gun ownership and proposals for gun control touch on some of the most contentious issues in American politics: Should regulations restrict who may possess firearms? Should there be restrictions on the number or types of guns that can be purchased? Should safety locks be required? These and many related policy questions cannot be answered definitively because of large gaps in the existing science base," said Charles F. Wellford, professor in the department of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Maryland and chairman of the committee that wrote the report.
Meanwhile, a study released by the Justice Department suggesting background checks at gun shows would do little to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.
The study noted the number of criminals who obtained guns from retail outlets was dwarfed by the number of those who picked up their arms through means other than legal purchases. The report was the result of interviews with more than 18,000 state and federal inmates conducted nationwide. It found that nearly 80 percent of those interviewed got their guns from friends or family members, or on the street through illegal purchases.
Less than 9 percent were bought at retail outlets and only seven-tenths of 1 percent came from gun shows.
The Justice Department's interviews also showed so-called "assault weapons" are not a major cause of gun violence. Only about 8 percent of the inmates used one of the models covered in the now-expired assault weapons ban, signed into law by the Clinton administration in 1994.
Not My Friends
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Time for another issue of Not My Friends. Today's winners are:
Shri Lanka, for being picky about who sends them
disaster aid. Apparently a tsunami that resulted in over 60,000 deaths isn't catastrophic enough to accept aid from Jewish infidels.
U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland, for saying that rich nations have been sting in providing relief aid to the victims of the catastrophic tsunami. I guess our initial $1 billion pledge and private citizen contributions haven't been enough to satisfy the U.N.
Susan Sontag, a novelist and activist who passed away this morning leaving behind a long legacy, including this cute remark about the 9/11 attacks:
Where is the acknowledgment that this was not a 'cowardly' attack on 'civilization' or 'liberty' or 'humanity' or 'the free world' but an attack on the world's self-proclaimed superpower, undertaken as a consequence of specific American alliances and actions...In the matter of courage (a morally neutral virtue): Whatever may be said of the perpetrators of Tuesday's slaughter, they were not cowards.
In the NFL
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Peyton Manning broke Dan Marino's season touchdown record today with 49 against the San Diego Chargers in a thrilling game that ended in overtime. I was happy to see Manning break the record, as last week he decided to take a knee to end the game against the Baltimore Ravens when he could have tried to increase the lead even more by throwing a touchdown. Manning is all class and ranks with the best quarterbacks of all time. Marino's 48 TD record was set in 1984.
On a much sadder note, the Minister of Defense, Reggie White, died of heart attack this morning in his home at the age of 43. White played a total of 15 years with Philadelphia, Green Bay and Carolina. He retired after the 2000 season as the NFL's all-time leader in sacks with 198. The mark has since been passed by Bruce Smith.
White will surely be missed.
Merry Christmas
Saturday, December 25, 2004
May your Christmas be filled with joy and love in the company of close friends and family. Enjoy your presents, more so the ones you gave and less the ones you received, and may the PC-warriors, just for today, allow us to enjoy the greatest holiday of the year.
God bless you all.
Democrats Finally Getting it Right on Abortion?
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Of course outspoken organizations such as Planned Parenthood, which gives a lot of money to Democrats, will fight with everything they've got to keep the Democratic platform as liberal as possible.
Results from the last few elections suggest that wouldn't be such a good idea if they ever want to gain more power in Congress.
This is absolutely amazing news. Finally, the Democrats are finally realizing that the American people support the rights of unborn children and may soon revamp their platform to accommodate the morals and values that at least half of this country possesses. Of course, I'm sure the Democrats would also like to start winning elections again. From the Los Angeles Times:
After long defining itself as an undisputed defender of abortion rights, the Democratic Party is suddenly locked in an internal struggle over whether to redefine its position to appeal to a broader array of voters.No Democrat with any respect for his unraveling party would ever mention Howard Dean's name again. The fact that he didn't win a single primary outside his home state shows that the country does not embrace his radical liberalism.
The fight is a central theme of the contest to head the Democratic National, particularly between two leading candidates: former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who supports abortion rights, and former Indiana Rep. Tim Roemer, an abortion foe who argues that the party cannot rebound from its losses in the November election unless it shows more tolerance on one of society's most emotional conflicts.
Of course outspoken organizations such as Planned Parenthood, which gives a lot of money to Democrats, will fight with everything they've got to keep the Democratic platform as liberal as possible.
Results from the last few elections suggest that wouldn't be such a good idea if they ever want to gain more power in Congress.
No Peace at Christmas Time
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
An explosion ripped through a mess tent at a military base near Mosul today, where hundreds of U.S. troops had just sat down to lunch. More than 20 people were killed and at least 57 were wounded.
A military spokesman said 19 of the dead were American soldiers, which would make the attack the deadliest single strike against U.S. troops since the start of the Iraq war.
Guess the insurgents and Ansar al Sunna fundamentalists don't plan on letting up anytime soon for the holidays. Today's news has done anything but put me in the Christmas mood.
Which is perhaps why a Christmas party tonight may be just what I need. While I'm out with some friends you can check out my new column on the baby stealing story still making national news, and its significance on the abortion debate.
Merry Winter Solstice.
(Literally) Silent Night, Unholy Night
From Joseph Farah's brilliant column, Childhood's End:
Today, the radical secular jihad against even the most innocent expressions of faith in the public square continues with the American Civil Liberties Union in the vanguard of the unholy war.When I read about the California school teacher who was ordered to stop teaching the Declaration of Independence to his students because it refers to God, I about had a stroke. Secularists will stop at nothing to complete their goal of whitewashing every mention of religious significance from the writings of our founding fathers.
Kids are prevented from wearing green and red holiday colors in school. Kids are prevented from praying before lunch. Kids are prevented from acknowledging their God in school. Kids are told free speech is their right unless their words include Jesus or God.
All of this pales in comparison to other outrages being perpetrated on schoolkids all year long in these government concentration camps formerly known as public schools. Children can no longer be encouraged to read the Declaration of Independence in some districts because of the reference to a "Creator."
Children can no longer be required to say the Pledge of Allegiance because of the reference to God. Children can no longer hear contemporary or classical music performed that might in any way hint of Christian influence.
On a side note, the one part of the column I disagree with is that I don't believe children should be required to recite anything, but I wholeheartedly support the voluntary reading of the pledge on a daily basis before school begins.
In other sad news, the Maplewood Public School District in New Jersey has banned traditional Christmas music including instrumentals, a policy that affects such radical groups as the Martin Luther King Gospel Choir and the Brass Ensemble. For shame.
Rifles and Shotguns and Pistols Oh My!
Saturday, December 18, 2004
By the way, those 19 specific guns banned for the last ten years still haven't killed anybody. But let's arrest the gun dealers anyway. Wouldn't want someone with the knowledge and ability to defend innocent lives out on the streets now would we?
From The Mercury News:
An Orange County gun dealer was sentenced to 45 days in jail for possessing assault weapons after authorities seized 90 firearms from his store, prosecutors said.Nice. A man with no criminal record gets to spend more than a month in jail for possessing something Big Daddy Government says you can't have. Good thing I don't live in California. I had my hands on a beautiful semi-automatic assault rifle last night at a range & shop here in Florida; one that I wouldn't have had access to had the federal ban not expired just this last September.
Ilya Yampolsky, 39, was also sentenced Friday to three years' probation and given 45 days of community service, said Deputy District Attorney Paul Chrisopoulos.
Yampolsky was arrested in November last year after authorities seized assault rifles, shotguns and pistols, and grenade launchers at a Laguna Niguel shooting range and gun store he managed.
He faced up to 15 years in prison if convicted on 20 charges filed in connection with the raid. Yampolsky had no criminal record and there was no evidence he sold or fired illegal weapons, Chrisopoulos said.
California's ban on assault weapons went into effect in 1989, and a similar law was enacted at the federal level in 1994. The federal law expired earlier this year.
By the way, those 19 specific guns banned for the last ten years still haven't killed anybody. But let's arrest the gun dealers anyway. Wouldn't want someone with the knowledge and ability to defend innocent lives out on the streets now would we?
Old People Like the Weed
From the Associated Press:
Nearly three-fourths of older Americans support legalizing marijuana for medical use, according to a poll done for the nation's largest advocacy group for seniors.Where are all my conservative buddies who advocate states' rights over federal tyranny? C'mon. Why is the federal government nosing up to states that wish to have medical marijuana laws? I'd like a better argument than the typical response we always get from the Bush administration, stating, that allowing medical marijuana in California would undermine federal drug control programs, and that pot grown for medical use could end up on the illegal market and cross state lines.
AARP, with 35 million members, says it has no political position on medical marijuana and that its local branches have not chosen sides in the scores of state ballot initiatives on the issue in recent elections.
But with medical marijuana at the center of a Supreme Court case to be decided next year, and nearly a dozen states with medical marijuana laws on their books, AARP decided to study the issue.
Because we all know how effective federal drug control programs are. And to think, if marijuana is ever legalized then there won't be an illegal market. What a concept. You'd think we would have learned something from prohibition. Maybe one day.
How Dare I Bring up Abortion
Jen goes for my throat:
Dude Scott. I think you went a little too far this time. This isn't an abortion because it was not the mother MAKING THE CHOICE to end her pregnancy, it was a f*cking psycho who cut the premature child out of the mother and stole it. A fetus is a bundle of cells that wouldn't even had made a sound, but I am sure that this baby girl screamed her lungs out at the intrusion of this psycho. You are sitting there and making this horrible unthinkable event an argument to pro choicers? An abortion isn't simple. It is a long and hard decision that a women finds that she can only make alone. Sometimes women have to have partial birth abortions due to a still born fetus, a serious threat to the mother and or child. People are always attacking women. IT ISN'T EASY BEING THE ONE IN THE WORLD THE GIVES BIRTH.This isn't an attack on women. I never said a woman shouldn't be able to have a partial-birth abortion due to life or health threatening consequences. This is a major issue for me. That "bundle of cells" you are referring to feels pain, has a heartbeat and brain waves. Tell me that 21-week-year-old Samuel Armas pictured here grabbing the gloved finger of a surgeon is just a "bundle of cells."
Again, a life-threatening complication is another story. I'm not talking about that.
But people don't think about what the woman goes though otherwise it would be different and you wouldn't make this tragedy an argument. You are not a women Scott, you are never going to know that wait of the choices we make. How dare you. A women is dead so you have not right to sit there and start an argument with women who believe in pro choice. And it is f*cking Christmas too. These people just lost their daughter and that poor girl just lost her mother. You are f*cking sick. You don't care about these people, you just want to start a fight.I don't care? That's why I said, "I pray for the family of the 23-year-old woman. No one should have to die because some crazy nut wanted a child and decided to kill for it. If there's any good news in this story, it's that Victoria Jo will live on and carry her mother's memory." I do pray when I say I do. That may not mean much to certain individuals but it's important to me.
Don't say I don't care about these people. I care for these people, including the "bundle of cells." And don't resort to f-words and name-calling in your argument if you want me to respect your opinion next time. You have the first amendment right on my blog but that doesn't mean I'm going to tolerate hostile language.
It's perfectly appropriate to bring up the abortion debate in cases like this, just as the anti-gun lobby should be able to make points against guns when innocent victims are shot by them. Dialogue is a wonderful thing.
Woman Charged With Murder, Kidnapping Fetus-Thingy
From the Associated Press:
A baby girl who had been cut out of her mother's womb was found after a frantic search, and authorities arrested the woman they say strangled the mother and stole the child. The baby was in good condition Saturday.I don't understand how we can call this fetus-thing that was ripped from a mother's womb a "child" or "girl" in a society that sanctions partial-birth abortion. If you can't charge someone for killing a fetus via abortion during the eighth month, then surely you can't make a big deal about a woman who kidnapped a fetus that survived the knifing.
Lisa M. Montgomery, 36, of Melvern, Kan., was arrested later Friday and charged with kidnapping resulting in death. Bobbie Jo Stinnett, 23, was found Thursday in a pool of blood inside her small white home in Skidmore, a town in northwest Missouri.
Stinnett, who was eight months pregnant, had earlier been talking with her mother on the phone, and hung up saying a woman she had chatted with online had just arrived at her door, authorities said.
U.S. Attorney Todd Graves said Montgomery contacted Stinnett through an online message board, and authorities zeroed in on her using computer forensics. Montgomery was seeking to buy a dog from Stinnett, who raised rat terriers, he said.
According to the criminal complaint, Montgomery traveled about 40 miles to Topeka, Kan., on Thursday to go shopping. Her husband received a call from her saying she had gone into labor and given birth. The next day, authorities say, Montgomery confessed that she strangled Stinnett from behind, cut her open, removed the baby and cut her umbilical cord.
On a less-sarcastic note, I pray for the family of the 23-year-old woman. No one should have to die because some crazy nut wanted a child and decided to kill for it. If there's any good news in this story, it's that Victoria Jo will live on and carry her mother's memory. Question for the pro-choicers: Being that it isn't yet the ninth month, can we still charge the killer with kidnapping?
No 2nd Amendment in the Valley
San Francisco is apparently bored with just being the gay capital of America and is trying to muscle out Washington DC for the prestigious title of murder capital. It's possible, now that San Francisco officials have proposed a law that mimics the infamous DC gun ban. Columnist Michelle Malkin is one of the few columnists/bloggers who has picked up on the story.
As I said in a previous post it's all up to the voters.
Don’t Mind the Kids; Liberal Judges Know Best
The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled recently that children have an expectation of privacy at home and parents cannot eavesdrop on phone conversations.
The case involved 17-year-old Oliver Christensen, who told his 14-year-old girlfriend, Carmen Dixon, that he mugged an old lady and stole her purse after knocking her to the ground. Carmen's mother was listening on another phone line and promptly called the police. Oliver was convicted of a felony and served nine months in prison before the judges overturned the conviction, saying: "The right to individual privacy holds fast even when the individuals are teenagers." The court also said the mother was acting as an agent for the police.
Say what? So now parents in Washington State are powerless to get authorities involved if their child is having a relationship with potentially dangerous thugs, because there's a "right to privacy" between the parties and that includes teenagers. Nice. So when you overhear your 13-year-old daughter making arrangements with an adult drug dealer - or worse - don't expect help from the police.
This insane ruling by the Washington State Supreme Court is another attempt to move parental control away from parents and toward an activist judicial system. Fortunately Florida voters were smart enough to overwhelmingly pass a law this year requiring that parents be notified when their children try to get abortions.
The Florida law was a victory. The Washington Supreme Court ruling was a defeat. As long as courts are run by liberal activist judges you can expect these kinds of rulings. Fortunately the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to stay traditional for at least another four years and possibly longer.
Protect Yourself Not in San Francisco
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
So preserving property or life within the scope of self-defense and protection of the home is not allowed. No thanks. If the people vote for this measure it will be hard to sympathize with them when robbery and rape rates skyrocket, because burgulars will know homes are not guarded, and rapists will know the only thing stopping them from the victim they desire is their own inhibitions.
From the Associated Press:
City residents will vote next year on a proposed weapons ban that would deny handguns to everyone except law enforcement officers, members of the military and security guards.Quote of the day: "Firearms would be allowed only for police officers, security guards, members of the military, and anyone else actually employed and engaged in protecting and preserving property or life within the scope of his or her employment."
If passed next November, residents would have 90 days to give up firearms they keep in their homes or businesses. The proposal was immediately dismissed as illegal by a gun owners group.
Firearms would be allowed only for police officers, security guards, members of the military, and anyone else "actually employed and engaged in protecting and preserving property or life within the scope of his or her employment," according to the measure.
Gun Owners of California, a Sacramento-based lobbying group, quickly called the ban illegal. Sam Paredes, the group's executive director, said state law bars local governments from usurping the state's authority to regulate firearms.
"The amazing thing is they are going to turn San Francisco into ground zero for every criminal who wants to profit at their chosen profession," Paredes said.
Washington, D.C., is the only major American city that currently bans handgun possession by private citizens. Andrew Arulanandam, director of public affairs for the National Rifle Association, said San Francisco would be remiss to use that city as a model.
"If gun control worked, Washington, D.C., would be the beacon. However, it's the murder capital of the United States," he said.
If approved, the weapons ban would take effect in January 2006.
So preserving property or life within the scope of self-defense and protection of the home is not allowed. No thanks. If the people vote for this measure it will be hard to sympathize with them when robbery and rape rates skyrocket, because burgulars will know homes are not guarded, and rapists will know the only thing stopping them from the victim they desire is their own inhibitions.
A Night With Blade
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
"Blade: Trinity" opened second this week behind "Ocean's Twelve." I predict Blade will fall somewhere to five or six next week after word-of-mouth gets out to the masses. Was it really so bad? I’ve got the goods in my review.
One thing I'd like to point out on my blog is the scene where Jessica Biel's character puts on a pair of earphones and listens to her Ipod while slaying vampires. This didn't bother me because countless movies have exaggerated the abilities of blind characters when it comes to fighting. So if a blind man can fight, I figure so can one with eyes and a little techno blaring into her eardrums. Plus, Jessica Biel is ridiculously gorgeous and allowed to get away with that kind of stuff.
It's Just Armor
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld took part in a Q&A with the troops today that was anything but cozy. Disgruntled soldiers complained to Rumsfeld about long deployments and a lack of armored vehicles and other equipment. From the Associated Press:
"You go to war with the Army you have," Rumsfeld replied, "not the Army you might want or wish to have."Can't say that's the most comforting answer.
Spc. Thomas Wilson had asked the defense secretary, "Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to up-armor our vehicles?" Shouts of approval and applause arose from the estimated 2,300 soldiers who had assembled to see Rumsfeld.
"We do not have proper armored vehicles to carry with us north," Wilson, 31, of Nashville, Tenn., concluded after asking again.
Wilson, an airplane mechanic whose unit, the 278th Regimental Combat Team of the Tennessee Army National Guard, is about to drive north into Iraq for a one-year tour of duty, put his finger on a problem that has bedeviled the Pentagon for more than a year. Rarely, though, is it put so bluntly in a public forum.
Rumsfeld said the Army was sparing no expense or effort to acquire as many Humvees and other vehicles with extra armor as it can. What is more, he said, armor is not the savior some think it is.
"You can have all the armor in the world on a tank and a tank can (still) be blown up," he said.
The Real Dangerous Left
Now that you've gotten past the idea of 12-year-olds learning about oral sex and masturbation, consider this: left-handed people come out on top in fights.
At least that's one hypothesis mentioned in a study I found on Michelle Malkin's blog. Apparently left-handed people have survived this long by winning out fights against unsuspecting right-handers, because they never anticipated the left hook.
I've always said you have to watch out for us lefties...physically speaking that is. The left-minded have the uncanny ability to self-destruct on their own.
As Long as it's Education
I think it's time we reconsider the popular belief that our neighbor to the north is just like America but boring. From Cnews:
Parents opposed to New Brunswick's sex education curriculum say the program's resource material includes Internet links to pornographic websites.I'll say. I guess Beyond Basics is like Spanish II. Once you teach 12-year-olds how to perform oral sex and masturbate mutually it's only practical you give them the bedroom adventure gear to enhance the experience.
A group of parents met Tuesday with Education Minister Madeleine Dube to outline their objections to the sex-ed curriculum for grades 6, 7 and 8, which includes discussions on oral sex, mutual masturbation and sexual pleasure. The parents also presented Dube with a list of websites for youth from a reference document for the program, including one site that offers links to an online sex-toy store that sells "bedroom adventure gear."
"The resource document is entitled Beyond Basics," said Dr. Carolyn Barry, a Fredericton-area physician and one of the leading opponents of the new curriculum.
"It should be called beyond belief."
Talk Like Bill
If you like humor at Bill O'Reilly's expense then you might enjoy The Al Franken Show today as Franken is asking for listeners' impressions of the Fox News star. I guess they just don't understand the meaning of their own concept: 'Move On', but if I hear a good one I'll let you know.
Dare to Defend the KKK?
Monday, December 06, 2004
I understand that a law forcing Klan members who wish to march do so unmasked does not abridge one's right to free speech, but it certainly makes it more difficult if that person feels threatened when identified. And the reason why the law is in place is because of supposed "public safety" concerns. But the truth is that today's Klan marches are non-confrontational and non-violent, however defamatory their words may be towards the so-called "inferior races."
Unless there's an absolute need to identify someone (as was the case when a court ruled that a Florida woman couldn’t have her driver license photo taken while wearing a religious scarf that covered her face), then there's no reason to force that someone to march unmasked.
Anybody else want to join me on this side of the issue?
It's no surprise that the left-leaning ACLU is supporting the Ku Klux Klan in a recent legal battle. What is, however, is that I'm supporting them too. From Reuters:
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected on Monday a free-speech challenge to a New York law banning the wearing of masks at public gatherings by a group claiming ties to the Ku Klux Klan.It goes without saying that this is a racy issue and it's easy to support the ruling against the Klan, because...well, it’s the Klan! But let’s not forget that unpopular speech is just as protected by the First Amendment as any other form.
Without comment, the justices let stand a ruling by a U.S. appeals court that upheld the law as constitutional and rejected the challenge by the Church of the American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
In 1999, the American Knights filed a lawsuit arguing that the refusal of New York City police officials to allow it to conduct a rally wearing hooded masks violated its free-speech rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
A federal judge in 2002 ruled that the law violated the group's free-speech rights, but a U.S. appeals court early this year upheld the anti-mask law as constitutional.
"Since the robe and the hood alone clearly serve to identify the American Knights with the Klan, we conclude that the mask does not communicate any message that the robe and hood do not," the appeals court said.
I understand that a law forcing Klan members who wish to march do so unmasked does not abridge one's right to free speech, but it certainly makes it more difficult if that person feels threatened when identified. And the reason why the law is in place is because of supposed "public safety" concerns. But the truth is that today's Klan marches are non-confrontational and non-violent, however defamatory their words may be towards the so-called "inferior races."
Unless there's an absolute need to identify someone (as was the case when a court ruled that a Florida woman couldn’t have her driver license photo taken while wearing a religious scarf that covered her face), then there's no reason to force that someone to march unmasked.
Anybody else want to join me on this side of the issue?
Silly, Silly Stevie
Apparently Stevie Wonder isn't happy with Eminem's treatment of Michael Jackson in his latest music video, "Just Lose It." From Sky Showbiz:
[Stevie] Wonder said the white rapper was a hypocrite because he owed his success to poor and black people. Jackson has already attacked the video, which shows him on a bed with a group of children. The self-styled King of Pop is facing child molestation charges. Wonder told Billboard magazine he was "really disappointed" in Eminem.To begin with it's absurd that Eminem has been labeled a hypocrite for making fun of a black man…which Mr. "Kid-Friendly" Jackson isn't. Not even close. At least anymore. Second is the issue of to which demographic category he owes his success. It's not the "lower pay bracket" that's paving the way for Eminem, but mostly the urban white kids who like rap and now have someone to identify with.
He told the trade magazine: "Kicking someone when he's down is not a good thing.
"I have much respect for his work, though I don't think he's as good as the late rapper 2Pac. But I was disappointed that he would let himself go to such a level."
The musician added: "He has succeeded on the backs of people predominantly in that lower pay bracket, people of colour.
"So for him to come out like that is bull."
All points aside, there's nothing wrong with a little parody. Mr. Jackson is obviously not happy with it, but neither is the entire country for what Mr. Jackson has allegedly done to those children. Even comedian Chris Rock has said he's done defending Michael. He's on his own this time and people like Eminem have every right to make it more difficult.
Life-Saving Disease
Friday, December 03, 2004
Here's an incredible story about an unsung hero until now. From BBC News:
A retired Italian doctor has revealed for the first time how he invented a fictitious disease which fooled the Nazis during World War II. The trick of prescribing Jews with a mysterious illness terrified the Nazis and saved 45 Roman Jews.
Dr Vittorio Sacerdoti has told his remarkable tale on the 60th anniversary of liberation of Rome. Just 28 years old at the time, he used courage and ingenuity to save 45 people from certain death.
As other Jews were being rounded up, Dr Sacerdoti admitted anyone who could reach the hospital as patients - and diagnosed them with a dangerous disease.
"We would write on their medical forms that the patient was suffering from K Syndrome," he said. "We called it K after the German commander Kesserling - the Nazis thought it was cancer or tuberculosis, and they fled like rabbits."
K Syndrome saved his cousin, Luciana Sacerdoti, who was just 10 years old.
"The day the Nazis came to the hospital, someone came to our room and said: 'You have to cough, you have to cough a lot because they are afraid of the coughing, they don't want to catch an awful disease and they won't enter'."
The What Tree?
From the Monterey Herald:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took on the role of "Triminator" on Thursday, helping a disabled girl hang the final ornament on the state Christmas tree and ending a secular practice of calling it a "holiday tree."What the f*ck is a holiday tree? Apparently the Triminator himself doesn't know either, and has promised to keep it the 'Christmas' tree for as long as he's in office. It was given the name holiday tree four years ago by now-ousted governor Gray Davis when political correctness won the day.
Gun News: Assault Weapons are Fun, Sex Offenders Can't Own Guns
I'm in the process of creating a detailed Disclaimer page for the ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN CLOCK, as I'm still getting mail regarding the recent tragedy that resulted in the death of six hunters. As I pointed out, the weapon used in the slayings was never classified as an assault weapon under the Clinton ban.
And now that "assault" weapons are back on the market, interest in these misunderstood guns has grown tremendously (yet despite warning from anti-gun hysterics, there has not been a dramatic increase in sales). Here is well written article by a female reporter who got to fire an M1A rifle for the first time. From the article:
Before I know it, I've shot the beast of a weapon [M1A rifle], and its stock is slamming back into my shoulder, knocking loose my senses from their transfixed numbness. Only then does an ambiguous excitement tempered with relief begin to set in.In other news, the West Virginia Supreme Court upheld on Wednesday a state law banning convicted sex offenders from owning guns. I agree with this ruling as I'm generally reluctant to recognize any rights of convicted sex offenders.
One overwhelmingly unanimous opinion among gun enthusiasts is that Clinton's ban really didn't have a clear target. Most gun retailers despise the use of the term "assault weapon," often ridiculing it as a misnomer fabricated by politicians ignorant on the subject of firearms. Tamara Keel, a long-time salesperson at Randy's Guns and Knives, says, "The real inanity of the ban is that several legal shotguns were more powerful [than banned weapons] but had wooden stocks, so they didn’t look as scary."
Admittedly, the once-banned AR15, all black metal and plastic, does look a lot more sinister than the M1A, which has a wooden stock and would look homey on the mantle of a hunter's cabin.
Top 10 in Modern Rock
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Here's the Billboard list of the current tops in modern rock along with my letter grade and analysis:
1. Jimmy Eat World - Pain A
It took me awhile to come around to these guys. I didn't dig their radio hit, "The Middle" from their album Bleed American, and never paid much attention to them afterwards. However "Pain" has me listening a second time and reconsidering my judgment. The haunting voice of the lead singer is the main emphasis of this mesmerizing song and it's at the top of my rotation.
2. Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams A
One of the best songs off their awesome album American Idiot, this is grunge rock at its finest. Yes, the boys of Green Day have grown up. (Literally, they're all in their mid-30s.) No one can call themselves a Green Day fan if they don't have this CD in their players and this song stuck in their head.
3. U2 - Vertigo B
I don't care who you think you are, even if you came way before Nirvana along with Blondie when music was still on MTV -- you can't go from tres to catorce. Regardless, "Vertigo" is a catchy song with good beats proving that U2 still has the gas to make the charts after all these years.
4. Chevelle - Vitamin R B
The Red was a great album and title song for this rock band who at the time was still searching for an audience. While "Vitamin R" isn't as impressive as their 2002 hit, Chevelle continues to show they have a passion for music and instills it in every song, especially this one.
5. Crossfade - Cold A
Awesome song by a relatively unknown band. The lyrics are simple and straight forward, and I just love the harmonizing by this band. Any girl still mad at her boyfriend after being directed to this apologetic ballad is just a bitch. Plain and simple.
6. Breaking Benjamin - So Cold A-
With a hypnotizing and haunting melody, "So Cold" became a summer favorite of mine and I'm surprised this single is still hanging high on the charts. If there's a tune stuck in your head, you won't be miserable if it's to this song.
7. Modest Mouse - Ocean Breathes Salty B-
These guys give the term 'experimental' a whole new meaning. The lyrics, like those found in most of their songs, are quick and upbeat and you may find yourself clapping along whether you like the song or not. I'd be lying if I told you I was taking this song off my rotation.
8. Papa Roach - Getting Away With Murder B
Simple lyrics. Simple rhythm. Simple fun. I've never been a big P. Roach fan but I appreciate how much these guys get into their music. The whispering effect makes quite an impact. You believe it when they say they're addicted to your punishment and craving disaster.
9. The Killers - Mr. Brightside C+
The Killers emulate the 1980s panache of British rockers and they have a good sound, but Mr. Brightside is too fluffy -- so yeah, the title is rather fitting. The Killers will surely find a following in America, but "Mr. Brightside" isn't as fun as their earlier, trippy radio hit, "Somebody Told Me."
10. Velvet Revolver - Fall to Pieces B
These guys sound a lot like Saliva but are not nearly as hard. Velvet Revolver slows it down a bit with "Fall to Pieces," a track that's heavily dependant on repetitive guitar riffs. But when it sounds sweet that fact is not necessarily a negative.
Hitmen Playing Hitman
From the Associated Press:
Missouri's most violent criminals can no longer play video games that simulate murders, carjackings and the killing of police officers, a decision reached after prison officials were told about the content.How lovely. Makes you wonder what other activities are going on in prison that the administrators are obvious to.
"We didn't closely review these," Dave Dormire, superintendent of the Jefferson City Correctional Center, told The Kansas City Star. "We were told these games had more like cartoon violence."
The Star reported Thursday the state's new maximum-security prison pulled dozens of violent Sony PlayStation 2 games from its recreation center on Wednesday, after officials were alerted to their content by a reporter. Inmates had been using them for months.Why do I have a feeling that at least one inmate was clever enough to conceal a copy of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas before the confiscation took place?
In fact, the prison's PlayStation offerings included one of the most violent games on the market, "Hitman: Contracts," in which players use everything from meat hooks to silencer-equipped pistols to carry out brutal contract killings.
In all, 35 of the facility's more than 80 games were removed. Others remain, including science fiction and sports games.
Realizing the Dangers of Alcohol
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
But is the right solution being implemented? How will banning alcohol consumption in the dorms and frat houses reduce the likelihood of underage alcohol poisoning as minors aren't supposed to drink anyway? It appears the administration is out of touch and longing for practical solutions.
From the Associated Press:
Drinking will be banned at University of Oklahoma fraternities and residence halls under new policies announced Wednesday, two months after a 19-year-old student died of alcohol poisoning.Alcohol consumption, which is a major problem on college campuses across America despite the lack of mainstream media coverage, is finally being taken seriously by the University of Oklahoma and other big universities.
But is the right solution being implemented? How will banning alcohol consumption in the dorms and frat houses reduce the likelihood of underage alcohol poisoning as minors aren't supposed to drink anyway? It appears the administration is out of touch and longing for practical solutions.
Not to be Ignored
More than a few e-mails have come in wondering why I haven't remarked on the horrible hunting tragedy on Nov. 21 that left six people dead, and why I haven't updated the ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN COUNTER.
I didn't mean to wait this long and never intended to ignore the issue, but I have been extremely busy last week with Thanksgiving and everything that goes along with it. This is problem that needs to be addressed.
But as for the assault weapons ban issue, the man accused of the brutal killings, Chai Vang of St. Paul, Minn, used a Russian-built Saiga 7.62 mm, SKS semiautomatic rifle.
As this article points out, the SKS wasn't included on the list of banned weapons as part of the 10-year ban on certain "assault weapons" signed by President Clinton. The ban expired in September and at the time of this posting, no one has been killed by any one of those weapons since the ban expired.
But let's talk about this case, as I'm sure discussions have started and many want stronger gun control because of this freak incident. While the media use words like "military style," "assault" and "semiautomatic," the gun used in the slayings was not unlike a typical hunting rifle.
The SKS is a medium-powered carbine equipped with a 10-round magazine, just like the pistol I'm displaying in the photo on the left hand side of this blog. Banned weapons had capacities of more than 10 rounds; so like my small 9mm, the SKS was not classified as an "assault" weapon. So let's not center our discussion around the gun, let's talk about the person behind the trigger.
If convicted of the killings, Vang faces life in prison as Minnesota does not honor the death penalty. I look forward to Vang's conviction and I pray for the families of the victims. What happened was indefensible and justice must be served.
It's God we Exclude
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
It appears the link I posted to my column titled "It's God we Exclude" has mysteriously vanished. In the article I go over the hypocrisy of the secularists who bash religion because it supposedly excludes non-believers however they always ignore other aspects of daily public school life that excludes people in a much bigger way.
Opinions Not Welcome
Tommy Craft, a high school principal in Athens, Georgia, said he meant to provoke thought when he read a poem called "The New School Prayer" over the school's intercom last Tuesday before Thanksgiving break. As a result, some parents have complained saying he violated the principle of separation of church and state.
"The New School Prayer," which is not a prayer, points out the irony that exists in the public school system which calls for the distribution of condoms but shuns religion. Mr. Craft will most likely be chastised by the local school board for having the audacity to ask his students to think about something. I mean, it is a school...you know, a place for learning and thinking.
So not only is voluntary, non-religious specific prayer forbidden in school, but so is the pro-position of it. Here is the partial text from the prayer you can easily find online:
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
Don't You Know Drugs are Bad?
Monday, November 29, 2004
There is no better way to violate someone's "pursuit of happiness" than to keep them in a permanent state of unbearable pain; untreatable by even the most powerful prescription drugs.
From the Associated Press:
Angel Raich tried dozens of prescription medicines to ease the pain of a brain tumor and other illnesses before she took up another drug: pot. The 39-year-old mother of two has the support of her doctor and a California medical marijuana law when she uses a blend of a marijuana variety known as "Haze X" every few hours.It's funny how the victims of the "war on drugs" turn out to be terminally ill patients like Angel Raich. I doubt the severity of her pain has ever been shared by the proponents of federal laws that ban the use of medicinal marijuana even when prescribed by doctors.
Dozens of people camped out outside the Supreme Court, some with blankets, to hear justices debate Monday whether that's enough to protect Raich from the federal government, which makes no exceptions for the seriously ill in its war on drugs.
There is no better way to violate someone's "pursuit of happiness" than to keep them in a permanent state of unbearable pain; untreatable by even the most powerful prescription drugs.
Color Wars
Monday, November 22, 2004
Defeated liberals have responded to this year's election with a slew of faux graphs and statistics in a useless effort to prove that blue is better than red. To begin with, it's absolutely ridiculous that we’ve reduced ourselves to being a "red" or "blue" state in a unified nation, but the two sides are so vitriolic towards each other that blue and red now represent ideologues in the same way the also represent gangs.
The idiots on the Left are still trying to redeem themselves after America said "NO" to their unwanted ideology last election by pushing this graph showing that blue states are in fact smarter than red states. You may want to take note that the proprietor of this material is none other than the famed smut-peddler, Howard Stern, and that the disclaimer on the bottom of the page warns that it "should not be taken as fact."
In response to the 11-state shutout vote to end gay marriage, liberals found a way to assault the institution of marriage with this chart, claiming that blue states have a lower divorce rate than the red ones. Take that religious nutjobs.
Power Line isn't convinced and has no reason to wonder why that bit of evidence doesn't explain the low levels of marriage in those states which obviously affect divorce rates. If fewer people are getting married in Massachusetts than obviously fewer people will be getting divorced there as well.
Conservatives have responded with the Generosity Index, showing that red states are more charitable than blue states - though I doubt anyone is surprised that southerners are generally nicer people than their northern neighbors.
In response to the notion that blue states are smarter, Power Line points to this ACT table recognizing that Washington DC reports the lowest test scores in the country and is and always has been run by liberals.
Whether you're a reddie or a blue boy, these graphs and tables can been twisted in a number of ways to make you look "dumb" or "more likely to get divorced," and it's those who use them to make arguments that are applicable to such.
Porn Poison
Friday, November 19, 2004
Yes, because a bus ad is going to shed the light on johns who routinely spends $20 on aging, toothless and disease-infested hookers. Here's an idea, and it didn't cost a single tax penny: Porn is addicting because men like looking at naked women and the Internet makes it readily and freely available.
Okay, time to move on – unless we really need to go into solutions here. Although I too wish we could regulate everyone's personal lives and install taser guns on computer monitors that zap anyone who tries to access a porn site, they do have those pesky Constitutional rights which would forbid such measures.
And those strip clubs. We need to abolish them to because looking at beautiful naked women trying to make a buck (or a few thousand) is bad for the soul. Then we'll outlaw all R-rated films, rap/hard rock music, novels not suitable for the classroom, and finally we'll forbid all Americans from cursing in public. It's time to put Congress to work!
From SFGate:
Now this is what I call tax dollars at work. Let's "finance" a study to find out what makes porn addicting. Mary Anne Layden, co-director of a sexual trauma program at the University of Pennsylvania, has called for "billboards and bus ads warning people to avoid pornography, strip clubs and prostitutes."
Comparing pornography to heroin, researchers on Thursday called on Congress to finance studies on "porn addiction" and launch a public health campaign about the dangers.
Yes, because a bus ad is going to shed the light on johns who routinely spends $20 on aging, toothless and disease-infested hookers. Here's an idea, and it didn't cost a single tax penny: Porn is addicting because men like looking at naked women and the Internet makes it readily and freely available.
Okay, time to move on – unless we really need to go into solutions here. Although I too wish we could regulate everyone's personal lives and install taser guns on computer monitors that zap anyone who tries to access a porn site, they do have those pesky Constitutional rights which would forbid such measures.
And those strip clubs. We need to abolish them to because looking at beautiful naked women trying to make a buck (or a few thousand) is bad for the soul. Then we'll outlaw all R-rated films, rap/hard rock music, novels not suitable for the classroom, and finally we'll forbid all Americans from cursing in public. It's time to put Congress to work!
H.O.P.E. is Here
This is just too funny. From their website:
H.O.P.E. (Horrified Observers of Pedestrian Entertainment) and Rhino Records are offering the good people of America who have been duped into buying Ashlee Simpson's CD a reprieve; the opportunity to turn in her CD for one of a higher entertainment quality. Elvis Costello, The Ramones, X, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, Mr. Bungle, Ray Charles, Abe Lincoln Story, Grateful Dead, Neil Hamburger, Joni Mitchell, and Brian Wilson. Due to the overwhelming response, and the public's suggestions of other substandard artists for trade, this exchange will continue indefinitely and will be expanded to include other artists who are detrimental to the public's well being. Starting immediately we will also accept any Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Lachay, Jessica Simpson, Creed, Paris Hilton, Limp Bizkit, and any boy band albums for trade. If you're in a city outside NYC or L.A., contact Hopeinfilm@aol.com or visit www.hopeinamerica.com for an exchange.Too bad I don't own crap otherwise I might consider. Okay, I own a Limp Bizkit CD (Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavored Water), and I'm not about to give it up. Anyway, daily Aggressive-Voice readers know I've been especially hard on non-talents; just scroll down to read my review of two bad popular pop songs and check the October archives for my lauding of Ashlee Simpson. Several of you seem to agree with my analysis, and now is the chance to do something about it!
Michael Regan Reads my Blog
Either the son of former President Ronald Regan reads my blog like every good person should and got inspired, or his article, Get off their backs! is coincidentally similar to my blog post, Get Off Their Backs.
Both are a defense of the Marine who shot a wounded Iraqi after a fierce firefight erupted inside a mosque. I recommend Reagan’s article as it discusses the hidden agenda of the NBC photographer I’ve not covered.
O'Reilly's Marine Defense
Bill O'Reilly reiterates what we've been saying:
But the tape of the incident actually helps the Marine because you can clearly hear him yell to his squad, "He's (blanking) faking he's dead! He's (blanking) faking he's dead!" Then the soldier shoots. On the tape you can see the insurgent move before the soldier pulls the trigger.This is what I like about O'Reilly. He may not always be right or in touch with reality, but he's not afraid to speak his mind even if it goes against the status quo. I made the same points a few posts ago, and surprisingly most of the feedback -- comments and e-mail -- have been positive. That courageous Marine isn't going through this investigation alone.
One day earlier, another Marine in the same unit was killed by a booby trap which was strapped to a dead insurgent's body. The enemy in Iraq rejects all rules of warfare, and American troops know it. Iraqi insurgents and foreign terrorists routinely dress in civilian clothes, hide behind civilians while shooting, mount operations from inside Mosques, wear the uniforms of pro-American Iraqi police and National Guardsmen, attack civilians, and on and on and on.
But the so called "human rights" groups are all over the incident, calling it a "possible war crime." What a bunch of bull. The Marine made a decision that was reasonable. His own words before the fact clarified the danger he felt.
The war in Iraq as well as the war on terror is as ugly as it gets. Mistakes will be made. But this action is not one of them.
Hot Bods & Silly Sandals
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Conservatives have an inexplicable fetish for Hollywood-bashing, whenever the subject is a movie that isn't about Jesus.
Now don't get me wrong, I loved Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ and was just as amused by all the liberal critics who called it "too violent" days after praising Kill Bill 2, as I am over the conservatives' constant whining about bankrupt values and morals in Tinsel Town.
Yes, Oliver Stone's new movie, "Alexander," which opens next Wednesday (I should have an early review coming soon), is a biopic starring Colin Farrell who plays the legendary Macedonian emperor. And yes, he's -- gasp -- bisexual!
The conservative blogosphere has already started taking notes as they did with the exaggerated disaster film, The Day After Tomorrow, because it dared to pretend that global warming was a problem. "Alfred Kinsey" (unseen by me), the movie about the famed sex researcher is being protested, and "Alexander" is being met with the same resistance as if a secret homosexual agenda is in play. Powerline is obviously no fan of Oliver Stone:
I may be wrong, but I don't think this film stands to break Stone's streak of execrable movies dating back to 1986's agitprop bomb "Salvador."The public audience will determine next week whether or not "Alexander" is a good film, but until then there are more important things to gripe about than homosexuals in the movies.
Get Off Their Backs
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Add the tactic of booby-trapping your own dead to the effective suicide bombings, and it's clear to say that the Geneva Convention isn't on the minds of the insurgents. For that I believe the Marines should handle dead and wounded insurgents by any means necessary to ensure their own safety and prevent a possible ambush. I'm no fan of this war either, but it irks me to no end reading and listening to civilian opinions on how soldiers should conduct themselves in hostile war zones from their comfortable recliners.
To the world press and everyone else who despises the United States: You don't have to like our president or those operating this war, but get off the backs of the 18, 19 and 20 year-olds thrown into a situation you will never see or have to encounter. I've got too many friends in Iraq right now I want to see come home alive and well, and I will support them at every opportunity.
From Reuters:
U.S. Marines rallied round a comrade under investigation for killing a wounded Iraqi during the offensive in Falluja, saying he was probably under combat stress in unpredictable, hair-trigger circumstances.Of course the anti-American world press is jumping all over this story, casually omitting the fact that just a day earlier the marine in question lost a fellow soldier who was attending to a dead insurgent that was booby-trapped with explosives.
Marines interviewed on Tuesday said they didn't see the shooting as a scandal, rather the act of a comrade who faced intense pressure during the effort to quell the insurgency in the city.
"I can see why he would do it. He was probably running around being shot at for days on end in Falluja. There should be an investigation but they should look into the circumstances," said Lance Corporal Christopher Hanson.
"I would have shot the insurgent too. Two shots to the head," said Sergeant Nicholas Graham, 24, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "You can't trust these people. He should not be investigated. He did nothing wrong."
Add the tactic of booby-trapping your own dead to the effective suicide bombings, and it's clear to say that the Geneva Convention isn't on the minds of the insurgents. For that I believe the Marines should handle dead and wounded insurgents by any means necessary to ensure their own safety and prevent a possible ambush. I'm no fan of this war either, but it irks me to no end reading and listening to civilian opinions on how soldiers should conduct themselves in hostile war zones from their comfortable recliners.
To the world press and everyone else who despises the United States: You don't have to like our president or those operating this war, but get off the backs of the 18, 19 and 20 year-olds thrown into a situation you will never see or have to encounter. I've got too many friends in Iraq right now I want to see come home alive and well, and I will support them at every opportunity.
Speaking of Slutty
Friday, November 12, 2004
Ah, what a marvelous idea. Let's enroll our young pre-teen girls in a class that will teach them the art of seductive dancing. It will perfectly compliment the explicit sex-education they’re being taught. Finally a class that shows them *how to* remove their clothes before engaging in what is taught in the latter class.
The story gets better. The instructor defended the course, saying it was a "demanding activity which would improve fitness." Uh-huh. I guess the sport of gymnastics is outdated, and softball should just be available to those girls not endowed with the talents for the stage.
You’re not going to believe this. From AFP:
A plan to teach British children (12+) the risque art of pole dancing, usually the preserve of strip bars, has been cancelled (sp) after an uproar from child welfare groups, the teacher (Sarah Davis) said.Ya' think!
Ah, what a marvelous idea. Let's enroll our young pre-teen girls in a class that will teach them the art of seductive dancing. It will perfectly compliment the explicit sex-education they’re being taught. Finally a class that shows them *how to* remove their clothes before engaging in what is taught in the latter class.
The story gets better. The instructor defended the course, saying it was a "demanding activity which would improve fitness." Uh-huh. I guess the sport of gymnastics is outdated, and softball should just be available to those girls not endowed with the talents for the stage.
Something Different
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
So I could talk about President Bush's new Attorney General appointee. I could talk about his plan to privatize social security. But after having just witnessed two music videos by a couple of young, sexy bombshell singer-wannabes, I figure politics can take a break...at least until my next post.
First up on the review docket is Rumors by Lindsay Lohan. The video, an expensive production featuring glitzy nightclub sets and whizzing helicopters, is an outlet for the young Ms. Lohan to prove she's not daddy's little girl anymore. Wait...isn't every up-and-coming Disney channel actress trying to make that point? Doesn't matter here, because there's no stopping Ms. Lohan or her body from coming out of that skimpy outfit in this dance number.
As for the actual music, let's just say I'd rather ramble on about what she's (hardly) wearing. Rumors is your typical pop number with lyrics so abysmal...
Saturday steppin' into the club
And it makes me wanna tell the DJ
Turn It Up
I feel the energy all around
And my body can't stop moving to the sound
...that perhaps it's best for Ms. Lohan that she doesn't credit herself with the song writing. And it only gets worse with the added synthetic, electronic voice effects we're all familiar with.
The song is about Lindsay hitting up a club (god forbid one of these idolized pop stars would ever hit up a...oh, I don't know, a library or something) and trying to avoid the cameras so she could just dance, sing and hump every wall she dances past.
The video screams sex-appeal, or anything that takes the attention off the horrible song that's being sung by a computer and on the flashing lights and the gyrations of Ms. Lohan's body. Needless to say, Rumors does not get a passing grade from yours truly.
Next up is Tangled Up In Me by the lesser known Skye Sweetnam, a young pop star out of Canada looking to make it big in the States.
Her video debut, Tangled Up In Me, falls short of impressive, but at least in this video there's a visible band behind her. In the video, young Sweetnam is doing nothing more than getting herself tangling up in her microphone wire while selling herself to all the adolesant boys who can still be turned on after hearing such lines as I'm the girl who's kicking the coke machine and Can you see I want you by the way I push you away?
Yes, we get it, girls play hard to get and sometimes don't realize it until it's too late. From what I hear Skye writes some of her own music and that's a promising start to what could be a profitable career in the U.S. Hey, if Hilary Duff can do it...
Power Hungry
From the Associated Press:
Six years after the Supreme Court took away the president's (Clinton's) ability to veto specific parts of legislation, President Bush is asking Congress to bring back the line-item veto to let him make precision strikes against projects and tax provisions he doesn't like.There is something both very good and very bad about the line-item veto. At its best, it allows the president to cut out from important policy unnecessary pork baked into its language. President Clinton couldn't have been any giddier with his veto power; using the pen 82 times to cut out smaller and specific projects from larger spending bills. While the Republican-controlled Congress overrode 38 of his vetoes, Clinton managed to save $2 billion.
But the very, very, very bad thing about the line-item veto is that it completely negates the Constitution's delegation of the 'power of the purse' to Congress. The line-item veto, which was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court quickly after Clinton began using it, allows the president unilateral policy making authority which is a major violation of the important 'check' Congress has over the president. When a bill passes his desk, he must either sign it or reject the whole thing. There is no middle ground. There is nothing he can sign into law that hasn't first passed through Congress.
At a news conference, President Bush said he wanted a line-item veto that "passed constitutional muster," explaining it would help him work with lawmakers "to make sure that we're able to maintain budget discipline."
But if this new line-item veto is anything like the one Clinton once used, then pass constitutional muster it doesn't, not even close. If Mr. Bush wants to maintain budget discipline he should communicate effectively with Congress and threaten to veto entire bills that contain unnecessary pork and waste spending. Let's not continue abusing the Constitution. Hear that, presidential-hopeful Mr. Schwarzenegger?
Testing the Comments
I have decided after much deliberation to allow for comments on my blog. Up until now all feedback was submitted via e-mail and I would occasionally publish a few notes on my site.
However I recognize that some people may wish to comment on certain posts without going the distance of writing out a formal e-mail, so for at least a temporary period of time I will allow commenting and see how it goes. As long as the system isn't abused the feature will be enabled…otherwise you know how to reach me.
Quote of the Day
Let's see how many people appreciate this one:
"Question for graduates of the University of Phoenix: When you open your diploma, do pop-up ads come flying up?" -- Richard Roeper 11/09/04
Welcome to Your Centerfold
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
X-ray technology at London's Heathrow airport
I don't understand why they just don't have us all strip completely naked before boarding the plane at the terminal. It would both speed up the security process and eliminate any chance of grandma packing heat under that sweater she'll no longer be allowed to wear.
Besides, why should airport security personnel get to have all the fun?
X-ray technology at London's Heathrow airport
I don't understand why they just don't have us all strip completely naked before boarding the plane at the terminal. It would both speed up the security process and eliminate any chance of grandma packing heat under that sweater she'll no longer be allowed to wear.
Besides, why should airport security personnel get to have all the fun?
How Could 36% of America be so Dumb?
Monday, November 08, 2004
They're a minority, to be sure, but a large enough faction of uninformed individuals cannot go unnoticed, as futile as their efforts may be. From The Washington Times:
Most U.S. adults surveyed by the Gallup organization oppose laws banning private possession of handguns but support stricter laws governing gun sales.While the 63% figure is optimistic, I am absolutely flabbergasted that 36% of the people surveyed believe handguns should be banned. It doesn't matter how much university research you put in their laps proving that handguns are used far more for self-defense than to commit crimes, they won't budge. They see guns as evil and there are no two ways about it.
Sixty-three percent of the 1,012 adults over the age of 18 polled said they did not think there should be a law banning "the possession of handguns, except by the police and other authorized persons." Just 36 percent said there should be such a law.
Fifty-four percent of those surveyed Oct. 11-14, one month after the Clinton-era ban on the sale and ownership of certain types of so-called assault weapons expired, said laws covering the sales of firearms in the United States should be "more strict." Eleven percent said they should be "less strict" while 34 percent said the laws should remain as they are now.
Bill Maher Fans Support Yasser Arafat
Here is the part from the complete transcript of Friday night's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher that I was referring to in this post:
Now, someone else who apparently is leaving office: Yasser Arafat. [audience reacts] I know, he was such a great guy. [laughter] But apparently the PLO is in anarchy because Arafat never named a successor. And the problem is, there are very few people who have experience running a hated political organization. [laughter] Although Tom Daschle is available. [laughter] [applause]Unfortunately the transcript doesn't specifically say how the "audience reacts" but having seen the episode myself I can assure you that it was a sympathizing coo. You'd think the transcript would have read, "audience hoots and hollers," but that is reserved for jokes about President Bush and anyone right-of-center.
Evolution is Theory Fact
From the Associated Press:
ATLANTA - A trial opened Monday over whether a warning sticker in suburban Atlanta biology textbooks that says evolution is "a theory, not a fact" violates the separation of church and state by promoting religion.Well, evolution is a theory, not a fact; so what's wrong with including a sticker in a textbook that says so? Ah, because according to the secularists the school board is somehow "promoting religion."
The sticker reads, "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."
A 1987 Supreme Court ruling tells us that creationism is a religious belief, and, along with evolution, cannot be taught in public schools. The sticker does not "teach" creationism, therefore no violation has been committed. If anything, making a point that evolution is just a theory that should be "carefully and critically considered" balances out the possibility that evolution is taught. And that my friends, despite wishful thinking by the secularists, would be a violation of the Constitution.
Bill Maher's Audience Sad About Arafat's Impending Departure
Just to give you an idea of where the fans of Bill Maher stand, when the Real Time host announced at the beginning of his show tonight that the Jew-hating, terror enabling Yasser Arafat will "soon be leaving office" due to his recently reported ailments, the sympathizing crowd booed in condolence! A half-astonished Maher sarcastically replied back, "Yeah, like he was such a great guy!"
I'll have a link to the transcript when it becomes available. I still can't get over the fact that these people respect Yasser Arafat more than President Bush. A skit where Maher pretends to be an Abu Ghraib prisoner as a result of Bush's victory drew much laughter, as did his jokes implying that Bush (a true friend of Israel) is an enemy of civil liberties. Yeah, try telling that to a Jewish settler who's afraid to eat at a public restaurant in Tel Aviv because a suicide bomber belonging to Arafat's PLO party may strike at any moment.
Please Don't Hate Us
For the third straight Monday I must apologize for my absence and will once again consolidate a weekend's worth of updates into one short post.
Just minutes ago, history was made when Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens returned a 106-yard interception for a touchdown in front of an ecstatic home crowd. The Red Sox can probably endure another 86-year-long curse and still win another championship before we see another 106-yard interception return. It's amazing what you can see when you casually look up at the television screen from your reading at the right moment.
In other news, if you're still feeling bitter about last week's election, please feel free to upload a pathetic picture of yourself on the National Sorry Day website where disgruntled Bush-haters are asking the world for forgiveness. I don't have the heart to break it to these fools, but selling out and sucking up to our neighbors to the north will probably not make getting accepted any easier.
Guess the UK Wanted Kerry
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Let's ask them. Perhaps the margin of victory might not have been so wide had P. Diddy not put a gun to America's head on election day. Other European newspapers have displayed similar Page One titles, and I'm not at all surprised. Looks like those itching to leave the country have more places to consider now than just Canada.
The Daily Mirror asks its readers: How can 59,054,087 people be so DUMB?
Let's ask them. Perhaps the margin of victory might not have been so wide had P. Diddy not put a gun to America's head on election day. Other European newspapers have displayed similar Page One titles, and I'm not at all surprised. Looks like those itching to leave the country have more places to consider now than just Canada.
Cause I Just Had To
By now almost all the pumpkins that have been harvested for Halloween have deteriorated and been disposed of via household trashcan. Being that I'm a crazy gun-nut with a thirst for blood, however, I couldn't pass up on the wonderful opportunity to take our dying pumpkin out to the range with my roommate, Matt Stryker.
Here I am loading up the magazine with eight 9mm rounds that will soon pierce through the flesh of our decaying pumpkin that once served as a great centerpiece at our Halloween party.
And here is the damage one magazine did to the pumpkin. By the time Stryker and I unloaded 100 rounds into the chunk of produce, it completely crumbled into a heap of pulpy pumpkin bits with a slight scent of lead (most of the destruction came from the exit wounds not visible in this photo). I wish I could have gotten a picture of the final product. Notice the hole that resulted from a direct bulls-eye shot through the mouth. I can't recall which one of us made that perfect shot.
And in memory (and goofiness) of the pumpkin, I show this picture of him kicking Matt Stryker's ass in videogames just hours before he met his fate. Sigh, why must pumpkins have short life spans? At least we gave it a proper 100-round salute before its departure from this earth.
Home Sweet Canada?
I realize I've been laying it on thick when it comes to all the whiners who have emerged since President Bush claimed victory, and to be sure, I would have done the same to the conservatives had Kerry won. Believe me, I was looking forward to lauding the Bush cheerleaders and all those that make up the conservative blogosphere.
But it's Bush who won, so the hysterical liberals I will deride - and the fuel continues to flow through my fingers every time I read a news report such as this Associated Press story that suggests some citizens are so upset over Bush's victory that they're considering an exodus to Canada.
By all means, don't think twice about it. If you don't want to be here then pack up and leave. You can try, anyway. Americans are so despised worldwide (and have been long before Bush) that gaining legal status elsewhere is near impossible for average Americans.
As a defeated Kerry supporter/Bush hater you basically have three feasible options: Continue to whine and complain over how unfair our democratic process is, attempt a deflection to Canada, or you can shut up and move on so we as a lone nation can begin moving in promising directions. But please, if America isn't the Land you love then find a new home and never come back. It's time for the rest of us patriotic Americans to move on and be optimistic.
I know, I know, I was scared too when the Red Sox won but the sun came up the next morning as it did this morning as it will tomorrow morning.
Who Says Conservatives are Against Gays?
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
From Reuters:
DALLAS - Dallas County, the home to some of the biggest conservative supporters of President Bush, made history Tuesday night by electing an openly gay Hispanic woman as its sheriff.I wonder what Cher would have to say about this. As you may remember, it was Cher who made those lovely comments to a South Florida crowd, urging them to vote for Kerry because the conservatives would pack all the gays up and banish them from our society.
Classic Moments from LiveJournal Community II
From Jeiku (Again, feel free to leave comments):
Only one election under my belt and i've already lost faith in the system. I can't believe we're going to have four more years of that f*cking gnomish looking as*hole running things. If those f*cking SUV drivin, horn honkin, beer drinkin, support-our-f*cking-president-no-matter-what-dumbf*ckery-he-pulls-out-of-his-ass-next, cowboy hat wearin fraternity as*holes says word one to me about this, I just might have to write "Da moon rules #1" on their car, wita key. England is looking better and better these days.And don't let the door hit you on the way out. Leave soon, though. I hear Canada isn't so welcoming and I'm sure the UK isn't accepting many Americans with open arms anytime soon. But let us know if you need help vacating the country. We'll be glad to help.
Classic Moments from LiveJournal Community
From Ethan:
Well, America has decided. That is, the uneducated, misinformed, dogmatic Americans decided.So let's see what this "educated" Livejournal blogger has to say. Please feel free to leave comments in his journal:
Over the next four years we can look forward to...President Bush has never expressed an interest in forcing prayer in public schools. He didn't do it in the last four years and he won't start anytime soon. But I know how horrible God is to Liberals, so their fear is quite understandable.
1. Prayer in schools
2. Roe v. Wade overturnedOnly if a liberal justice resigns and a conservative one is appointed. This isn't guaranteed despite the gain in the Senate because the Democrats can still filibuster any appointments. I'm sure Ethan's knowledge of our government doesn't permit any further discussion on this issue.
3. Takeovers of Iran and anyone else with oil.Ah yes, the war for oil rant. Ethan and people who use this line spell their name I-D-I-O-T.
4. A fallout of the middle classBahahaha.
5. Our first amendment being strippedIn what way: speech, press, religion, assembly? It's actually the Left wanting to "strip" religion. Read #1.
6. Our second amendment being manipulated into moreI'm not going to even begin getting into this one. Fear them guns, though. We crazy Muther F*ckers!!
7. Lack of balance of power
As was the case since 1996 when President Clinton started the trend of convincing Americans to vote Red as Republicans gradually increased their control of government every time there was a congressional election.
8. Lots of dead young peopleBecause a President Kerry would have withdrawn every soldier, right? Wrong!
9. And much, much more!Call me crazy, but I'm feeling optimistic. Then again who knows what will happen after we finally get all that oil.
This One's for Bruce
Ann Coulter shares similar sentiments about the futile efforts of Big Liberals to defeat President Bush:
The Democrats threw everything they had at this election. They ran a phony Vietnam War hero and a phony Southerner. They had middle-aged women executives at MTV hawking "Rock the Vote" to entice the most uninformed young people to vote for Kerry. They had Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews and New York Times darling Eminem. They had documentaries, books, the universities, Hollywood (and the French!) on their side.Maybe next time around Bruce Springsteen will play a few more concerts in the swing states and not charge more than $100 a ticket.
The media campaigned heavily for Kerry with endless Abu Ghraib coverage, phony National Guard documents and, days before the election, false news reports that hundreds of tons of munitions had been looted in Iraq.
But for all their chicanery, vote-stealing, Hollywood starlets, fake polls and faux patriotism, the Democrats were wiped out on Election Day.
Bush won the largest popular vote in history with a 3.5 million margin. Indeed, simply by getting a majority of the country to vote for him – the left's most hated politician since Richard Nixon – Bush did something "rock star" Bill Clinton never did. Bush maintained or increased his vote in every state but Vermont. Republicans picked up seats in the House and Senate, and continue to dominate state governorships. Also making history of a sort, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle lost his election, marking the first time in half a century a Senate leader has been defeated.
To Michael Moore, George Soros, Terry McAuliffe, Dan Rather, Al Franken and the whole gang at Air America Radio – you were great, guys! Thanks for the help! We couldn't have done it without you!
As we now know, the most important issue to voters was not terrorism, but moral values. Marriage amendments won by lopsided majorities in all 11 states where they were on the ballot. Even in Oregon, the state targeted by gay marriage advocates as their best shot of defeating a marriage amendment, the amendment passed by 57 percent – a figure noticeable for being larger than the percentage of votes cast for Bush in Oregon. In the great state of Mississippi, the marriage amendment passed with 88 percent of the vote. Seventy percent to 80 percent of Americans oppose gay marriage and partial-birth abortion.
Just Disgraceful
Access to Michael Moore's site is still available despite an inaccurate report by Fox News' Brit Hume tonight. Branch pages are still online, such as the one I posted in the previous update, but going directly to michaelmoore.com brings you to a dead-end page that shows a collage of dead soldiers in the image of President Bush's face.
Now this may or may not come as a big surprise to many of you, but I've always had some parcel of respect for the documentarian. But this immature display of protest through the exploitation of fallen soldiers to make up the face of a commander and chief they most likely supported shows the true character of Michael Moore.
Moore Desperation
From Michael Moore's official site:
Dear Friends,Turnout was huge alright, huge for the wrong guy...by about 3.5 million votes.
We’ve only got two hours left on the East Coast! I am in Cleveland and the turnout is huge. It was the same this morning as we went to polling sites in Florida. People waited for three hours to vote, but no one was deterred. One man told me “I’d wait in this line three days if I had to.” It’s raining here in Ohio, we’ve got a big bus and we’re pulling people out of their homes (gently!) handing out free umbrellas, ponchos, and bottles of water (the last item being slightly unnecessary, considering how soaked all of us already are!). I’ve been getting early tracking results from across the country and things are looking good – very good. But anything can happen in the last few hours. People are just getting out of work. The lines are going to be enormous. Tell everyone you know – as long as you are IN LINE before the closing time, they HAVE TO let you vote.
Early word has it that it is very tight in Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and Iowa! Michigan – don’t let me down! If you haven’t voted, stop reading this and get down to the polls. Keep calling and e-mailing your address book.
This is it. The homestretch. Let’s do it!
Yours,
Michael Moore
We Got The Power!
So will President Bush take my advice and blast the "Vote for Change - We Got The Power" anthem at his victory celebration? I don't think Bruce Springsteen would appreciate that very much, nor will Cher who now fears that the gays will be banished from society, and Cameron Diaz, who must regard our country as a nation that supports rape.
I congratulate President Bush on his victory and look forward to his correcting the war on terrorism that is in dire need of improvement, among other policies of his administration and the newly strengthened House and Senate. Justice Rehnquist can finally step down and allow for a replacement without having to worry about giving control of the Court to the Left. It's been a good race. Let's move on and pray for little whining and litigation that's sure to come.
Sit Back and Enjoy the Show
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting a kick out of this election business. Being that I’m a dedicated third-party voter (with the real influential power in this election...you’ll soon know what I mean) I don’t have a dog in this race. I don’t have to scramble and make sure everyone I know gets out and votes. There is no suspense for me. I’m going to laugh at which ever camp looses, and be amused as they complain and cry foul; the college and Hollywood liberals if Bush wins, and the conservative blogosphere if Kerry wins.
Browsing both Republican and Democratic websites and blogs has convinced me that supporters on both sides are virtually identical to each other, but you’ll never get them to admit that. Both are optimistic their side will win, both quote pollsters from the other side saying their side will win, and both camps are documenting every story they can find or contrive that suggests the other side is guilty of fraud, conspiracy and voter intimidation.
Anyone want to guess how long it will take for the loser to concede or the litigation to end?
They Refuse to Reason
Monday, November 01, 2004
I wish I could have been at a Pub, or wherever these people convene, to see the reactions from all the Britons who read the Telegraph this morning (emphasis added):
Britain's gun laws are aimed at the wrong target, curbing and criminalising legal ownership while failing to tackle huge rises in shooting offences over the past few years, according to an international firearms legislation expert.It doesn't matter to these people that crime has skyrocketed since the irrational ban on private gun possession went into effect in Great Britain. Just as long as it's there, they feel safe.
Prof Gary Mauser said that Britain was making the same mistake as Canada and Australia in focusing on legal owners - a section of the law-abiding community where gun crimes, such as the Dunblane massacre, were aberrations.
The Home Office and police chiefs should instead tackle the possession of guns in criminal hands, said Prof Mauser, a member of the independent Fraser Institute in Canada. He has given evidence to select committees of the House of Commons and the Canadian Senate and predicted the escalation of gun crime on Britain's streets.
His warning comes as gun crime incidents are averaging about 29 a day in England and Wales, more than twice the level of when the Labour Government came to power in 1997. In the past two years, there have been cases of schoolchildren and a baby, killed or injured by guns.
"I believe that factors of political correctness are at work," he said. "Police crackdowns, Home Office initiatives and over-regulation of legally held weapons create froth and they may even fool the police themselves into believing they are doing something about gun crime."
Prof Mauser added: "The sad truth is that while the police officers are inspecting farmers' gun cabinets to see if they comply with regulations somewhere in the UK, someone, who has not filled in a firearms certificate form, will be smuggling a gun into the country or selling one to an inner city youth."
Recorded gun crime rose by three per cent to 10,590 incidents in the year to June. Two-thirds of gun crime takes place in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Quote of the Day
Perhaps I should be ashamed for laughing as hard as I did after reading this. Thanks, Pure Libel, I needed the laugh:
The one time you really need to meet with your academic advisor, she’s off for a few months on maternity leave. What an inconsiderate whore. Would it kill her to staple her legs shut until I graduate?
October's Last Weekend
Again I apologize for the lack of updates over the past few days and will use this space to recap a weekend that was both good and bad.
The Good:
On Friday a small group of friends and I attended a most-righteous Sister Hazel concert at Floyd's Music Store for the third straight, and for the third straight year I was blown away by one of my favorite live bands. Sister Hazel has a way of becoming intimate with the fans by brining them into the show. It's something you can always expect from these guys, unlike so many other performers, and is why I never miss a show when they're in town.
On Saturday we hosted what was for the most part a largely successful Halloween party -- save for the fake blood stains on the carpet and bathroom walls, a couple beer spills, unnecessary fights and the expected trashing of the kitchen and living room areas. Naturally, I dressed up as Hugh Hefner and took the role of making sure everyone was having a good time. I have yet to hear any complaints from any of the guests.
The Bad:
On Saturday the Seminoles were bested by unranked Maryland; effectively ending our chances at a national title this year. In addition, the quarterback controversy has once again debouched as Chris Rix almost took us to victory with his deep threat. Alas, too little too late was the case thanks to the inept Wyatt Sexton who has been our starter since replacing Rix earlier in the season. Fortunately the agony of defeat was blanketed somewhat by our Halloween party and I won't have to worry about Seminole Football until next Saturday.
On Sunday we saw "Saw" (review coming) and as expected I was less than satisfied. It was neither better nor worse than last week's "The Grudge" but the trailers beforehand dictate that the end of this year and the beginning of 2005 will bring us a large quantity of horror movies. If I enjoy one out of five considering the genre I can say it's worth it.
Fahrenheit 9/11 Teaching Tool
Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" is debouching in schools around the country to the dismay of many Republican officials. From The Seattle Times:
MILL CREEK — A high-school teacher's classroom showing of the controversial film "Fahrenheit 9/11" has some local Republicans fired up.The question here is: Should public school teachers be allowed to show "Fahrenheit 9/11" to their students when teaching the subject and tactics of propaganda?
Judy Baker, a teacher at Henry M. Jackson High School, showed the anti-Bush documentary last week to students in her government class as part of a lesson in propaganda and politics. She adhered to district policy that requires permission from both the principal and a parent for students to see the R-rated film.
"We're supposed to be training kids to be informed voters. It seems appropriate to help kids critically dissect information and analyze it," Principal Terry Cheshire said.
Only one parent opted for their child not to view the movie Thursday, but the local GOP headquarters received a call from a concerned parent and an e-mail about the movie, said Darcy Cheesman, coordinator for the Snohomish County Republican Party's get-out-the-vote campaign.
Surely no one will argue with the fact that there are better ways to teach subjects than to simply show films; it's a lazy method so many public school teachers have a penchant for, as was the case when a college professor of mine would show the movie "Braveheart" to demonstrate the cruelty of ancient justice systems.
But if displayed in the appropriate context, "Fahrenheit 9/11" is indeed an example of propaganda, and if the teacher in question makes sure to point out Moore's inaccuracies (which isn't hard to do) and the elements that make it propaganda, then I would not object to the screening -- that is unless there's an undisclosed agenda in play that Republicans may correctly be suspicious of.
A Motive Behind Everything
Friday, October 29, 2004
In related news, the folks at Things that make ya go..."What tha?!?!" have picked up on the story from my site and are commenting appropriately.
From NBC5:
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Katherine Zellner, the attorney representing Kevin Fox, said on Wednesday that she believes the timing of Fox's arrest was politically motivated, with the Will County State's Attorney Jeff Tomczak wanting to make a "big arrest" in the midst of a tight race in Will County.My, how everything is politically motivated. How dare the prosecutor arrest a suspected child rapist/murderer "in the midst of a tight race." Damn prosecutors only thinking about themselves.
In related news, the folks at Things that make ya go..."What tha?!?!" have picked up on the story from my site and are commenting appropriately.
Unspeakably Disgusting
Thursday, October 28, 2004
While brining up a story like this is never pleasant, it's important to be continually reminded of the scum that exists our society. From the Chicago Sun-Times:
She was sexually assaulted, her arms and mouth bound with duct tape, then 3-year-old Riley Fox was dumped alive into a secluded creek and left to drown, Will County authorities said Wednesday.Anyone who doesn't believe that this piece of white-trash deserves the death penalty upon conviction is encouraged to e-mail me with their best defense. I promise I won't go too hard on whomever takes up the challenge.
Her attacker was her 27-year-old father, Kevin Fox, who was arrested earlier in the day after allegedly giving a videotaped statement implicating himself, officials said during a news conference. He is expected to be formally charged today with assaulting and murdering his youngest child.
Another Zinger
As usual, I can always depend on Ann Coulter to give me a Quote of the Day on demand. From her most recent column:
White liberals have been indulging their fantasies of violence against conservatives lately – physically attacking conservatives, ransacking Bush-Cheney headquarters (though not any NRA headquarters, I note).It would be interesting to find out if any NRA headquarters has ever been the target of vandalism. Get the point?
Alright Already, You Guys Won
As hard as this is to do (go Yankees! sob…) I must congratulate the Boston Red Sox for finally winning the Big One that took 86 years to do - since it last won the World Series in a pre-Penicillin era. I personally think Major League Baseball should test Johnny Damon's hair for illegal performance enhancing substances. That guy single-handedly dominated the Yankees. It's got to be the hair. Of course the guys at Power Line couldn't resist making their congratulations post a political one, pointing out that pitcher Curt Schilling is a Bush fan.
Shoutouts
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Thanks to all who link to Aggressive-Voice Daily, most recently Niftyfingers and Ninja Monkeys…especially Ninja Monkeys for listing me under "Blogs That Kick Ass".
It's true, you know.
Mailbag: More on Wolves
barking dingo offers this:
What about the fact the Porter Goss, the man appointed by Bush to head the CIA, called for a reduction (note I said "reduction" and not "slashed") three times bigger than the one called for by the "liberals." You have to admit the ad is kind of hypocritical.You must be talking about this, and yes, nine years ago he proposed steeper budget cuts than Kerry, but that was before he was appointed head of the CIA, a position that doesn't have any power over budget cuts unlike his previous title of congressman.
But I see what you're getting at and perhaps there's a bit of hypocrisy at play, but like I said political ads are designed to be convincing and effective. That they're often dirty is just part of the game.
Rebuttal to Wolves
A reader pointed me to this Slate article that offers a rebuttal to Wolves, which I have dubbed the "coolest ad of the election season."
The author, Fred Kaplan, defends Kerry against the ad's claim that he voted to "slash" intelligence spending. Notice however that Mr. Kaplan does indeed conceded that over the years Kerry has voted to cut the intelligence budget, just not all at once the way the ad would have you believe and that it's not fair to say that Kerry "slashed" it. Mr. Kaplan also points out that while the ad mentions "liberals in Congress" responsible for "slashing" the budget, the sponsor of the Senate amendment was Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania. Right, but calling Arlen Specter a Republican is like calling Zell Miller a Democrat.
Is the ad misleading? Maybe, but no one ever said political ads were supposed to be fair. I still think it's a fair commercial and will have an impact on the undecided voters who are tired of the Michael Moore-types downplaying the threat of terrorism. Even if Kerry has a plan to keep America safe, he is not being helped by the many Hollywood liberals and celebrities preaching the "You can't hug with nuclear arms" line.
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