Anybody know a good one?
I'm having trouble with my Blogger account...I hope this post will work as a note of explaination.
I'm still here, just temporarily paralized with technical difficulties.
My other blog, The Redneck Gourmet, is spazzing out and only partially comes up with the profile and links and hit counter missing. WTF?
I'll keep working on things and hopefully get something decent written and posted.
Wish me luck
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Chemistry Class
I was a smart little bastard when I was growing up.
By using the term “bastard” I don’t mean that I was illegitimate--I had a father that was happily married to and lived at home with my mother for 38 years--I mean I acted like a little bastard some of the time.
Our family had a strict code of conduct and a rigorous policy of corporal punishment—after surviving a summer break there were generally no useable switches within 50 yards of my house by the time I began the new school term each fall, and I EARNED it.
So as I said, I was a little bastard…and I knew things.
Things that would get kids kicked out of school today—possibly without “Zero Tolerance” rules.
Things that could possibly get adults put into jail today.
Take explosives, for example.
When I was about ten or eleven I got my first chemistry set. Some of you out there might not remember chemistry sets because our popular culture today has decided that kids are too stupid (or are little bastards like me) to have chemistry sets.
Not me…
My chemistry set came in a metal box. It had a set of scales that the drug dealers would envy. It had a real alcohol burning Bunsen burner. It had test tubes and beakers and ….finally…it had…get ready…REAL CHEMICALS.
Not only that, but some of the local stores had displays similar to grocery store spice racks selling a virtual cornucopia of chemicals, just in case you ran out of the chemicals that came in your chemistry set, or just in case a little bastard like me found out some new mischief to be had by combining some different assortment of chemicals that weren’t included in the original inventory of your chemistry set.
Using my chemistry set, I learned how to make things…things like gunpowder.
Actually black powder, not smokeless powder like that used in today’s modern ammunition. It was fun, and I don’t think that it was against the law back then.
A little Sulfur, a little Potassium Nitrate, and a little charcoal (carbon), and you had yourself a whole afternoon of fun with the fire ant hills in the back yard and in the woods.
The other thing I learned how to do was take innocent little fireworks, you know—things like lady fingers and “Black Cats”, and twist them open and dump the gunpowder out of them and get myself a real big batch of powder. You could also take “sparklers” and break the magnesium powder coating off of them with a HAMMER (I was so stupid) and make yourself another pile of fun powder.
Then you packaged it all up in a tennis ball cut in half or a spay paint can lid taped closed with masking tape, took that sucker out in the woods to a convenient ant hill, and fired that sucker off.
Fire ants flew dozens of yards.
I didn’t think that fire ants could fly, but those son-of-a-guns sure did. The important thing is that I didn’t use my knowledge against other peoples’ property, other people, and I wasn’t stupid enough to do (most of) it at school.
I think that you will find that our modern society’s homes and businesses are full of substances that, when misused, can produce disastrous results. Mix a little household ammonia and some Clorox bleach together and see how long you keep breathing in your bathroom while cleaning the old toilet bowl. (Please don’t try that.)
Georgia just passed a law forcing pharmacies to place common antihistamines like Pseudofed and Actifed behind the counter because the “speed freaks” and drug dealers are using the substances to make Crystal Meth, a powerful and addictive stimulant.
Regarding explosives, the Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVey, taught the general public that diesel fuel and common fertilizer, combined in the right proportions and quantities, could knock down an entire building.
Didn’t they kill his miserable ass recently?
I think so, but I won’t waste my time Googling his name tonight.
After the 9/11 attack in NY City, my fellow amateur model rocketers have been prohibited by the Homeland Security Act from purchasing and possessing substantial quantities of Ammonium Perchlorate and launching rockets with solid rocket motors containing over 62.5 grams of propellant.
Why?
Because they (Washington) are afraid that someone, operating under the guise of a “model rocketeer” will build their own “anti-aircraft” rocket and shoot down a 747. I say that’s a bunch of horse hockey…that it would be one of the luckiest shots in the world, and with all of the RPG’s and other shoulder mounted weapons available on the black market, it is ridiculous to have a bunch of nerds with their toy rockets limited by Washington’s ATF black suits.
Yet that is reality today.
Now the latest wild eyed, towel headed, Islamo Fascist bombers actions in London are going to end up making the purchase of drain cleaner (sulfuric acid), paint thinner (acetone), and hydrogen peroxide (sore toe cleanser) illegal, or at least cause you to risk receiving a visit from the ATF agents. (I’ll save you the Google search and give you the link to the recipe here) I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, passing new laws outlawing minute details (like gun control and hate crimes) when the core behavior is already against the law is futile. You don’t want smart guys like my friend Tripp and I losing our minds, deciding to break the law, and coming after you with the intent to kill or otherwise harm you, regardless of what the weapon is.
Shoe laces, light bulbs, pork chops, the list is endless of the ways I could hurt you--the shelves at Wal mart would be empty if we don't all get a grip. If we keep going with the legislation, the game of baseball will ultimately be illegal--because it could be illegal to own a baseball bat without a federal license one day…
Know what I mean?
By using the term “bastard” I don’t mean that I was illegitimate--I had a father that was happily married to and lived at home with my mother for 38 years--I mean I acted like a little bastard some of the time.
Our family had a strict code of conduct and a rigorous policy of corporal punishment—after surviving a summer break there were generally no useable switches within 50 yards of my house by the time I began the new school term each fall, and I EARNED it.
So as I said, I was a little bastard…and I knew things.
Things that would get kids kicked out of school today—possibly without “Zero Tolerance” rules.
Things that could possibly get adults put into jail today.
Take explosives, for example.
When I was about ten or eleven I got my first chemistry set. Some of you out there might not remember chemistry sets because our popular culture today has decided that kids are too stupid (or are little bastards like me) to have chemistry sets.
Not me…
My chemistry set came in a metal box. It had a set of scales that the drug dealers would envy. It had a real alcohol burning Bunsen burner. It had test tubes and beakers and ….finally…it had…get ready…REAL CHEMICALS.
Not only that, but some of the local stores had displays similar to grocery store spice racks selling a virtual cornucopia of chemicals, just in case you ran out of the chemicals that came in your chemistry set, or just in case a little bastard like me found out some new mischief to be had by combining some different assortment of chemicals that weren’t included in the original inventory of your chemistry set.
Using my chemistry set, I learned how to make things…things like gunpowder.
Actually black powder, not smokeless powder like that used in today’s modern ammunition. It was fun, and I don’t think that it was against the law back then.
A little Sulfur, a little Potassium Nitrate, and a little charcoal (carbon), and you had yourself a whole afternoon of fun with the fire ant hills in the back yard and in the woods.
The other thing I learned how to do was take innocent little fireworks, you know—things like lady fingers and “Black Cats”, and twist them open and dump the gunpowder out of them and get myself a real big batch of powder. You could also take “sparklers” and break the magnesium powder coating off of them with a HAMMER (I was so stupid) and make yourself another pile of fun powder.
Then you packaged it all up in a tennis ball cut in half or a spay paint can lid taped closed with masking tape, took that sucker out in the woods to a convenient ant hill, and fired that sucker off.
Fire ants flew dozens of yards.
I didn’t think that fire ants could fly, but those son-of-a-guns sure did. The important thing is that I didn’t use my knowledge against other peoples’ property, other people, and I wasn’t stupid enough to do (most of) it at school.
I think that you will find that our modern society’s homes and businesses are full of substances that, when misused, can produce disastrous results. Mix a little household ammonia and some Clorox bleach together and see how long you keep breathing in your bathroom while cleaning the old toilet bowl. (Please don’t try that.)
Georgia just passed a law forcing pharmacies to place common antihistamines like Pseudofed and Actifed behind the counter because the “speed freaks” and drug dealers are using the substances to make Crystal Meth, a powerful and addictive stimulant.
Regarding explosives, the Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVey, taught the general public that diesel fuel and common fertilizer, combined in the right proportions and quantities, could knock down an entire building.
Didn’t they kill his miserable ass recently?
I think so, but I won’t waste my time Googling his name tonight.
After the 9/11 attack in NY City, my fellow amateur model rocketers have been prohibited by the Homeland Security Act from purchasing and possessing substantial quantities of Ammonium Perchlorate and launching rockets with solid rocket motors containing over 62.5 grams of propellant.
Why?
Because they (Washington) are afraid that someone, operating under the guise of a “model rocketeer” will build their own “anti-aircraft” rocket and shoot down a 747. I say that’s a bunch of horse hockey…that it would be one of the luckiest shots in the world, and with all of the RPG’s and other shoulder mounted weapons available on the black market, it is ridiculous to have a bunch of nerds with their toy rockets limited by Washington’s ATF black suits.
Yet that is reality today.
Now the latest wild eyed, towel headed, Islamo Fascist bombers actions in London are going to end up making the purchase of drain cleaner (sulfuric acid), paint thinner (acetone), and hydrogen peroxide (sore toe cleanser) illegal, or at least cause you to risk receiving a visit from the ATF agents. (I’ll save you the Google search and give you the link to the recipe here) I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, passing new laws outlawing minute details (like gun control and hate crimes) when the core behavior is already against the law is futile. You don’t want smart guys like my friend Tripp and I losing our minds, deciding to break the law, and coming after you with the intent to kill or otherwise harm you, regardless of what the weapon is.
Shoe laces, light bulbs, pork chops, the list is endless of the ways I could hurt you--the shelves at Wal mart would be empty if we don't all get a grip. If we keep going with the legislation, the game of baseball will ultimately be illegal--because it could be illegal to own a baseball bat without a federal license one day…
Know what I mean?
The Lovely Peaceful Religion Is At It Again
Something happened in London’s Subway system again this morning.
I wonder who’s responsible this time?
Shall we guess?
I wonder who’s responsible this time?
Shall we guess?
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
The Star Trek Family Loses Another Member (Updated)
"He could fix anything..."
James Doohan, the loveable, thick accented Chief Engineer Mr. Scott in the 1960’s version of the TV show Star Trek died today at the age of 85.
I watched the show every week when it was on in the mid 1960’s and pause to watch the shows in reruns even today.
Lines like “I can’t get more power captain…” are instantly recognized, even by people born 20 years after the shows first aired
It saddens me to know that no longer can we all say “Beam me up Scotty…”
She'll Break...Captain...
Aye..Captain
James Doohan, the loveable, thick accented Chief Engineer Mr. Scott in the 1960’s version of the TV show Star Trek died today at the age of 85.
I watched the show every week when it was on in the mid 1960’s and pause to watch the shows in reruns even today.
Lines like “I can’t get more power captain…” are instantly recognized, even by people born 20 years after the shows first aired
It saddens me to know that no longer can we all say “Beam me up Scotty…”
She'll Break...Captain...
Aye..Captain
36 Years Ago
July 20, 1969
It almost seems like yesterday.
On this day in 1969 the world was glued to the television watching fuzzy black and white pictures as Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin landed the LEM on the moon while Michael Collins flew orbits around it in the Apollo command/service module.
It’s sad that today we barely have the ability to launch men into orbit and NASA has no way to replace the ageing shuttles in the near future and no plans to produce a rocket with the ability to leave earth orbit with men on board—possibly ever.
Even sadder is that the official NASA Website doesn’t even mention the event's anniversary.
So much for the heady predictions of Arthur C. Clark’s 2001 A Space Odyssey.
I’m almost embarrassed…
It almost seems like yesterday.
On this day in 1969 the world was glued to the television watching fuzzy black and white pictures as Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin landed the LEM on the moon while Michael Collins flew orbits around it in the Apollo command/service module.
It’s sad that today we barely have the ability to launch men into orbit and NASA has no way to replace the ageing shuttles in the near future and no plans to produce a rocket with the ability to leave earth orbit with men on board—possibly ever.
Even sadder is that the official NASA Website doesn’t even mention the event's anniversary.
So much for the heady predictions of Arthur C. Clark’s 2001 A Space Odyssey.
I’m almost embarrassed…
Give Me And My Eyes A Break
Pluuueseee…
If I haven’t said it often enough before or you are a new reader to my blog, I have to tell you that in the course of a day I read and hear A LOT of news.
I guess I’m what some people call a NEWS JUNKY.
My girl Pat comes into the room in mid-morning most weekdays and finds me looking at FOX news on TV, reading the Internet on my computer, writing my cooking and political blogs, working on my book(s), and listening to talk radio—all at the same time.
She just shakes her head and leaves the room to go watch “ER” and “Judging Amy” on TV in between bouts of answering her business E-mails and handling HIPAA issues.
Sometimes I have a hard time keeping my blog writing from becoming too serious and technical although I do like working up a nice batch of in-depth research and writing a nice dissertation every now and then just to prove that my mind is still functioning.
I can’t say that is true tonight, however.
I was looking around and found this little ditty titled ”Community Proposes Banning Sex Offenders from Beaches.” DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. -- A community in Central Florida is proposing a law that would ban sex offenders from the beach, according to Local 6 News.
Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Greg Northrup's proposed ordinance would ban sex offenders from buying or renting property within 2,500 feet of the coastline. It would essentially ban sex offenders from living any where on the beach side of the community.
Northrup said the move is necessary following a series of sexual assaults and murders in Central Florida.
Northrup said pedophiles are coming to the beach for sex, Local 6 News reporter Tarik Minor said.
On a serious note, I don’t believe that Jessica Lundsford or any other kid attacked in central Florida in the past months, if not years, was taken in a bathing suit from a beach location, by someone that lived on or near the beach.
Is it just me, or does this seem to be just another case of political hyperbole?
On a humorous note, I would hope that Florida would focus their well intended efforts on banning the sales of bikini and thong bathing suits to women weighing over 300 pounds and eliminating the sales of Speedo’s and tank tops to grossly overweight guys that refuse to wax their backs (if I keep cooking, I might be considered to be in this category soon.)
Talk about offending on a SEXUAL basis…after seeing some of the sights I’ve seen wandering around down here on the beach and at our pool, I might be permanently injured and never be able to have sex again.
My eyeballs are seared with horrible images…..AAAAHHHHHHHH
If I haven’t said it often enough before or you are a new reader to my blog, I have to tell you that in the course of a day I read and hear A LOT of news.
I guess I’m what some people call a NEWS JUNKY.
My girl Pat comes into the room in mid-morning most weekdays and finds me looking at FOX news on TV, reading the Internet on my computer, writing my cooking and political blogs, working on my book(s), and listening to talk radio—all at the same time.
She just shakes her head and leaves the room to go watch “ER” and “Judging Amy” on TV in between bouts of answering her business E-mails and handling HIPAA issues.
Sometimes I have a hard time keeping my blog writing from becoming too serious and technical although I do like working up a nice batch of in-depth research and writing a nice dissertation every now and then just to prove that my mind is still functioning.
I can’t say that is true tonight, however.
I was looking around and found this little ditty titled ”Community Proposes Banning Sex Offenders from Beaches.” DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. -- A community in Central Florida is proposing a law that would ban sex offenders from the beach, according to Local 6 News.
Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Greg Northrup's proposed ordinance would ban sex offenders from buying or renting property within 2,500 feet of the coastline. It would essentially ban sex offenders from living any where on the beach side of the community.
Northrup said the move is necessary following a series of sexual assaults and murders in Central Florida.
Northrup said pedophiles are coming to the beach for sex, Local 6 News reporter Tarik Minor said.
On a serious note, I don’t believe that Jessica Lundsford or any other kid attacked in central Florida in the past months, if not years, was taken in a bathing suit from a beach location, by someone that lived on or near the beach.
Is it just me, or does this seem to be just another case of political hyperbole?
On a humorous note, I would hope that Florida would focus their well intended efforts on banning the sales of bikini and thong bathing suits to women weighing over 300 pounds and eliminating the sales of Speedo’s and tank tops to grossly overweight guys that refuse to wax their backs (if I keep cooking, I might be considered to be in this category soon.)
Talk about offending on a SEXUAL basis…after seeing some of the sights I’ve seen wandering around down here on the beach and at our pool, I might be permanently injured and never be able to have sex again.
My eyeballs are seared with horrible images…..AAAAHHHHHHHH
" Poof " The Magic Dragon...
...just watch the Karl Rove story disappear...
Let the Supreme Court Stupidity Debating Championships begin....
And the Rove/Plame/Wilson non-story????
It will quickly pass into the anus...er...I mean annals of Democratic Hysteria and biased Mainstream Media Stupidity.
"pay no attention to the man behind the curtain..."
Let the Supreme Court Stupidity Debating Championships begin....
And the Rove/Plame/Wilson non-story????
It will quickly pass into the anus...er...I mean annals of Democratic Hysteria and biased Mainstream Media Stupidity.
"pay no attention to the man behind the curtain..."
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
It's John G. Roberts, Jr..
President Bush kept his cool and walked out to the news conference tonight with John G. Roberts, Jr.
They each spoke briefly in making the announcement, then turned and walked away without taking any questions from the audience and reporters.
That is about as close as the President could come to flinging a finger at the press and Senator Chuck Shumer who immediately started criticizing the appointment.
I'm still extremely pissed off that the nomination was leaked, and if Congress wants to do an investigation on leaks, forget Karl Rove, I want to know who the hell leaked this item this evening.
They each spoke briefly in making the announcement, then turned and walked away without taking any questions from the audience and reporters.
That is about as close as the President could come to flinging a finger at the press and Senator Chuck Shumer who immediately started criticizing the appointment.
I'm still extremely pissed off that the nomination was leaked, and if Congress wants to do an investigation on leaks, forget Karl Rove, I want to know who the hell leaked this item this evening.
They Interrupted Jeopardy
I'm sitting here minding my own business, and NBC news had to interrupt the "Double Jeopardy" round at about 7:45 PM to breathlessly announce that someone had "leaked" President Bush's appointment for the US Supreme Court. I don't even remember the guy's name and I'm not going to google it to tell you.
The sad thing is, President Bush was going to tell us himself tonight at 9:00 PM.
After spending all day telling us that it was going to be a woman, now the media has to break the story and doesn't have the patience and virtue to wait ONE HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES.
I hope that they were wrong, and I would love it if Bush would lift his middle finger and tell all of the White House media to get the hell out. Also, if I were the President, I would find the idiot that leaked the news and shove his head up Ted Kennedys ass.
That will teach them...
The sad thing is, President Bush was going to tell us himself tonight at 9:00 PM.
After spending all day telling us that it was going to be a woman, now the media has to break the story and doesn't have the patience and virtue to wait ONE HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES.
I hope that they were wrong, and I would love it if Bush would lift his middle finger and tell all of the White House media to get the hell out. Also, if I were the President, I would find the idiot that leaked the news and shove his head up Ted Kennedys ass.
That will teach them...
"Mr. Truthful" Speaks Out on Karl Rove
"Christmas in Cambodia...that memory is seared in my mind"
There is an old saying about being smart in "keeping your enemies close by your side." To this end, a month or so ago I signed up to get E-mails from Senator John Kerry's website.
I've been laughing my rear end off every since at the predictable nature of the stuff Kerry (or his staff) chooses to send out to millions of Americans, using his own discredited name.
I've thus far not included any of Kerry's rambling in my blog, but I thought that you just had to read today's missive:
"Dear Friend,
How many more times will Karl Rove make President Bush eat his words and shred his credibility before Karl Rove does the honorable thing and leaves the White House?
Yesterday the President furiously backpedaled from his promise to fire anyone involved in leaking the identity of a covert CIA agent to the press. Now that it's known that Rove and Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis Libby were involved, the President has lowered the bar and now says he'll only fire someone who is convicted of a crime.
President Bush is setting a terrible standard of leadership in the White House by protecting insubordinate aides who refused to come forward when the President demanded to know who in his administration leaked Valerie Plame's identity -- and he's sending a disturbing message about our national security.
The President should not wait to find out whether Rove is convicted in the end for his leak. Either Rove lied to the President about this matter of national security, which means he should be fired immediately, or the President is not being straight with the American people about his own involvement in this case.
With all the dissembling coming out of the White House, it's clear that the only way the American people can get to the bottom of this is through full Congressional hearings. I will call for hearings this week -- and you can strengthen this call by adding your name to our petition today:
http://www.johnkerry.com/firerove
With both the House and Senate in Republican hands it will be difficult to force Congressional hearings on the Bush White House. Having as many statements as possible from people in every state will help my colleagues and me show that this is what America wants. According to a poll released yesterday by ABC News, 75% of Americans believe that Karl Rove should be fired if he leaked classified information.
More than 300,000 people have signed on so far -- help us double our numbers by forwarding this email to your friends asking them to sign:
http://www.johnkerry.com/firerove
Thank you,
John Kerry"
John Kerry continues to prove to me, each and every day, with every single utterance from his twisted, pompous, eliteist mouth, that he is a complete and total partisan idiot and worse, that he can't even get his own party to back him in his insanities.
Thank God we didn't elect this man.
There is an old saying about being smart in "keeping your enemies close by your side." To this end, a month or so ago I signed up to get E-mails from Senator John Kerry's website.
I've been laughing my rear end off every since at the predictable nature of the stuff Kerry (or his staff) chooses to send out to millions of Americans, using his own discredited name.
I've thus far not included any of Kerry's rambling in my blog, but I thought that you just had to read today's missive:
"Dear Friend,
How many more times will Karl Rove make President Bush eat his words and shred his credibility before Karl Rove does the honorable thing and leaves the White House?
Yesterday the President furiously backpedaled from his promise to fire anyone involved in leaking the identity of a covert CIA agent to the press. Now that it's known that Rove and Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis Libby were involved, the President has lowered the bar and now says he'll only fire someone who is convicted of a crime.
President Bush is setting a terrible standard of leadership in the White House by protecting insubordinate aides who refused to come forward when the President demanded to know who in his administration leaked Valerie Plame's identity -- and he's sending a disturbing message about our national security.
The President should not wait to find out whether Rove is convicted in the end for his leak. Either Rove lied to the President about this matter of national security, which means he should be fired immediately, or the President is not being straight with the American people about his own involvement in this case.
With all the dissembling coming out of the White House, it's clear that the only way the American people can get to the bottom of this is through full Congressional hearings. I will call for hearings this week -- and you can strengthen this call by adding your name to our petition today:
http://www.johnkerry.com/firerove
With both the House and Senate in Republican hands it will be difficult to force Congressional hearings on the Bush White House. Having as many statements as possible from people in every state will help my colleagues and me show that this is what America wants. According to a poll released yesterday by ABC News, 75% of Americans believe that Karl Rove should be fired if he leaked classified information.
More than 300,000 people have signed on so far -- help us double our numbers by forwarding this email to your friends asking them to sign:
http://www.johnkerry.com/firerove
Thank you,
John Kerry"
John Kerry continues to prove to me, each and every day, with every single utterance from his twisted, pompous, eliteist mouth, that he is a complete and total partisan idiot and worse, that he can't even get his own party to back him in his insanities.
Thank God we didn't elect this man.
Emily Lyons
Infamous "Olympics Bomber" Eric Robert Rudolph was sentenced to life in prison yesterday.
I lived in Atlanta back in 1996 when he blew up the Olympics and a Gay Bar, before going to Birmingham, Alabama and changing Emily Lyons life forever.
I'm not pro-abortion, but I'm also not pro-bombing. We're a nation of laws, and changing Roe versus Wade should be done through state elections and the federal judiciary, not with bombs full of nails and by shooting abortion doctors.
I think that Mr. Rudolph got off light.
I lived in Atlanta back in 1996 when he blew up the Olympics and a Gay Bar, before going to Birmingham, Alabama and changing Emily Lyons life forever.
I'm not pro-abortion, but I'm also not pro-bombing. We're a nation of laws, and changing Roe versus Wade should be done through state elections and the federal judiciary, not with bombs full of nails and by shooting abortion doctors.
I think that Mr. Rudolph got off light.
Here’s What We’re Up Against
I just got my morning E-mail from The Washington Times and my jaw hit the floor when I read this story:
BOMBAY -- Hard-line Islamic clerics in a northern Indian village have declared that a woman's 10-year-old marriage was nullified when her father-in-law raped her -- and ordered the mother of five to marry the rapist.
The fatwa, or religious edict, was issued by Darool Uloom Deoband, South Asia's most powerful Islamic theological school known for promoting a radical brand of Islam that is said to have inspired the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The decision has outraged both Muslim and Hindu leaders and prompted a fierce debate that has dominated the front pages of national newspapers across India.
The fatwa ordered Imrana Ilahi, 28, to separate from her husband and treat him as her son because she had sex with his father.
"She had a physical relationship with her father-in-law, and it nullifies her marriage," said Mohammad Masood Madani, a cleric at the theological school. He said it made no difference whether the sex was consensual or forced. The village council then decreed that Mrs. Ilahi would have to marry her father-in-law.
I seriously wonder if the US can ever reach a peaceful military relationship with such a prehistoric bunch of drooling mouth breathers like “Darool Uloom Deoband” and his merry band of fellow towel head "leaders".
BOMBAY -- Hard-line Islamic clerics in a northern Indian village have declared that a woman's 10-year-old marriage was nullified when her father-in-law raped her -- and ordered the mother of five to marry the rapist.
The fatwa, or religious edict, was issued by Darool Uloom Deoband, South Asia's most powerful Islamic theological school known for promoting a radical brand of Islam that is said to have inspired the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The decision has outraged both Muslim and Hindu leaders and prompted a fierce debate that has dominated the front pages of national newspapers across India.
The fatwa ordered Imrana Ilahi, 28, to separate from her husband and treat him as her son because she had sex with his father.
"She had a physical relationship with her father-in-law, and it nullifies her marriage," said Mohammad Masood Madani, a cleric at the theological school. He said it made no difference whether the sex was consensual or forced. The village council then decreed that Mrs. Ilahi would have to marry her father-in-law.
I seriously wonder if the US can ever reach a peaceful military relationship with such a prehistoric bunch of drooling mouth breathers like “Darool Uloom Deoband” and his merry band of fellow towel head "leaders".
Deja Vu All Over Again
If you have the time, go read the LA Times story about General Westmoreland.
If you don’t have the time, here is a critical excerpt:
"Meanwhile, as more Americans were leaving for Vietnam in uniforms and returning in body bags, the antiwar movement in the United States gathered steam. The first demonstrators were students, but they soon were joined by clergymen, teachers, journalists and politicians.
"The antiwar movement was alien to Westmoreland, and so were the people in it," a former staff officer told Westmoreland biographer Samuel Zaffiri. "He wanted to be a hero. Instead, he found himself being vilified."
During a trip to the United States in the spring of 1967, Westmoreland told journalists that he and his men were "dismayed by recent unpatriotic acts here at home." He said these acts "inevitably will cost lives" of U.S. troops and were handing the enemy successes that "he cannot match on the battlefield."
Although some politicians and editorial writers defended Westmoreland's comments, far more condemned him as an opponent of free speech."
Sound familiar?
If you don’t have the time, here is a critical excerpt:
"Meanwhile, as more Americans were leaving for Vietnam in uniforms and returning in body bags, the antiwar movement in the United States gathered steam. The first demonstrators were students, but they soon were joined by clergymen, teachers, journalists and politicians.
"The antiwar movement was alien to Westmoreland, and so were the people in it," a former staff officer told Westmoreland biographer Samuel Zaffiri. "He wanted to be a hero. Instead, he found himself being vilified."
During a trip to the United States in the spring of 1967, Westmoreland told journalists that he and his men were "dismayed by recent unpatriotic acts here at home." He said these acts "inevitably will cost lives" of U.S. troops and were handing the enemy successes that "he cannot match on the battlefield."
Although some politicians and editorial writers defended Westmoreland's comments, far more condemned him as an opponent of free speech."
Sound familiar?
A Great Man Passes Away
During my participation in Navy ROTC at Georgia Tech back in the late 1970’s, I had the opportunity to personally meet a number of important military figures when they came to deliver speeches to our group of midshipmen. Georgia Tech alumni and former President Jimmy Carter, former Chief of naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, and General William Westmoreland are the three that I remember most.
Admiral Zumwalt died in 2000 and communist-dictator-loving ex-president Jimmy Carter is still alive and kicking, but I was saddened to learn this morning that General Westmoreland passed away yesterday in a Charleston, South Carolina nursing home.
In death as in life, General Westmoreland is hounded by the media for his management of US Army forces during the Vietnam war.
The NY Times says:
“Gen. William C. Westmoreland, who commanded the United States forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968, overseeing the vast troop buildup and the height of the fighting, died last night in a retirement home in Charleston, S.C., his son, James Ripley Westmoreland, announced. The general was 91.”
The Chicago Sun Times opens with this:
"Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, who commanded American troops in Vietnam -- the nation's longest, most divisive conflict and the only war America lost -- died Monday night. He was 91."
The Baltimore Sun agrees:
"Gen. William Westmoreland, the World War II hero who was later vilified for his leadership of the United States' failed war in Vietnam, died last night in Charleston, S.C. He was 91."
Notice anything uniquely consistent in all of the obituary articles?
Here's a hint...
The media continues to overshadow General Westmoreland’s decorated service in WWII and the Korean conflict in favor of blaming him for the "massive troop buildup" and the US's “loss in Vietnam.”
In my mind General Westmoreland couldn’t possibly be held responsible for “losing the Vietnam War” because the command of US Army ground forces was taken away from him in 1968—long before the war ended in 1972.
Today Bush is accused of not having enough troops in Iraq, but in 1968 Westmoreland had too many troops in Vietnam and it cost him his job.
Talk about a double standard...
And for your information, just in case you were born since 1972 and rely on school textbooks and newspapers to teach you history, the US didn’t lose the war in Vietnam, we were forced TO QUIT by the same leftist idiots and main stream media that today wants us to pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan and end our current war on terrorism.
If the US were forced to pull out of Iraq tomorrow, I suppose that in 20 or 30 years, upon his death, the news headlines would say General Norman H Schwarzkopf, Jr. was the leader of the US Army ground forces in the second war that the US lost (Iraq)—even though Schwarzkopf left the army in 1991.
All I have to say is: “Been there, done that, got the T-shirt…”
Admiral Zumwalt died in 2000 and communist-dictator-loving ex-president Jimmy Carter is still alive and kicking, but I was saddened to learn this morning that General Westmoreland passed away yesterday in a Charleston, South Carolina nursing home.
In death as in life, General Westmoreland is hounded by the media for his management of US Army forces during the Vietnam war.
The NY Times says:
“Gen. William C. Westmoreland, who commanded the United States forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968, overseeing the vast troop buildup and the height of the fighting, died last night in a retirement home in Charleston, S.C., his son, James Ripley Westmoreland, announced. The general was 91.”
The Chicago Sun Times opens with this:
"Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, who commanded American troops in Vietnam -- the nation's longest, most divisive conflict and the only war America lost -- died Monday night. He was 91."
The Baltimore Sun agrees:
"Gen. William Westmoreland, the World War II hero who was later vilified for his leadership of the United States' failed war in Vietnam, died last night in Charleston, S.C. He was 91."
Notice anything uniquely consistent in all of the obituary articles?
Here's a hint...
The media continues to overshadow General Westmoreland’s decorated service in WWII and the Korean conflict in favor of blaming him for the "massive troop buildup" and the US's “loss in Vietnam.”
In my mind General Westmoreland couldn’t possibly be held responsible for “losing the Vietnam War” because the command of US Army ground forces was taken away from him in 1968—long before the war ended in 1972.
Today Bush is accused of not having enough troops in Iraq, but in 1968 Westmoreland had too many troops in Vietnam and it cost him his job.
Talk about a double standard...
And for your information, just in case you were born since 1972 and rely on school textbooks and newspapers to teach you history, the US didn’t lose the war in Vietnam, we were forced TO QUIT by the same leftist idiots and main stream media that today wants us to pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan and end our current war on terrorism.
If the US were forced to pull out of Iraq tomorrow, I suppose that in 20 or 30 years, upon his death, the news headlines would say General Norman H Schwarzkopf, Jr. was the leader of the US Army ground forces in the second war that the US lost (Iraq)—even though Schwarzkopf left the army in 1991.
All I have to say is: “Been there, done that, got the T-shirt…”
Monday, July 18, 2005
What Do We Need To Do?
To get some people a clue…
I was just sitting here vegetating, looking at the internet with one eyeball and peeking over the laptop screen at FOX News with the other eye, happy that Hurricane Emily is going to spare much if not all of the US this week.
FOX’s “sacrificial lamb” hurricane reporter on the scene in Cancun Mexico was being interviewed by Geraldo Rivera. I can’t stand Geraldo, but FOX continues to expand his role in their on-air programming so I just cringe my way through it, all the time wishing that someone would wax his eyebrows and trim his moustache and nose hair.
Then they ran some videotaped interviews with tourists that were stranded there in Cancun at the hotel and were being forced to face the storm.
There was actually some man on their tape that said something to the effect that “duuuuhhh, I just flew in here yesterday and...I guess that I should have watched the news because I didn’t know that there was a Hurricane coming…”
I have a question…
HOW THE HECK CAN ANYONE FLY TO THE CARRIBEAN IN JULY AND NOT WATCH THE NEWS OR THE WEATHER CHANNEL OR SOMETHING IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS PRIOR TO LEAVING HOME?
Having asked that, another question comes to mind…
WE LET IDIOTS LIKE THIS VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS?
I was just sitting here vegetating, looking at the internet with one eyeball and peeking over the laptop screen at FOX News with the other eye, happy that Hurricane Emily is going to spare much if not all of the US this week.
FOX’s “sacrificial lamb” hurricane reporter on the scene in Cancun Mexico was being interviewed by Geraldo Rivera. I can’t stand Geraldo, but FOX continues to expand his role in their on-air programming so I just cringe my way through it, all the time wishing that someone would wax his eyebrows and trim his moustache and nose hair.
Then they ran some videotaped interviews with tourists that were stranded there in Cancun at the hotel and were being forced to face the storm.
There was actually some man on their tape that said something to the effect that “duuuuhhh, I just flew in here yesterday and...I guess that I should have watched the news because I didn’t know that there was a Hurricane coming…”
I have a question…
HOW THE HECK CAN ANYONE FLY TO THE CARRIBEAN IN JULY AND NOT WATCH THE NEWS OR THE WEATHER CHANNEL OR SOMETHING IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS PRIOR TO LEAVING HOME?
Having asked that, another question comes to mind…
WE LET IDIOTS LIKE THIS VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS?
Sunday, July 17, 2005
We Have A New Pet
Patricia has been after me for a couple of years for us to get some kind of pet.
Don't get me wrong here..I LOVE animals, but since my last two cats died--Patches and Hoover--I just can't bring myself to take on the commitment that properly caring for a pet dictates.
I like to travel too much and I don't want to have to leave someone (the pet) alone at home or at a kennel and I worry about the psychological effects of separation (me and my pet.) Further, it is just hard to travel with a pet if you choose to take him or her with you and it limits your options during the trip in so many ways.
Well, I've suffered a bit of spontaneous weakness, I hereby announce that Pat is getting her wish--I 've found this cute little bugger that I just couldn't pass up.
Here is his (its) picture:
BooBoo
Actually, here is the true story:
BRISTOL, Great Britain -- 'Kintana' is the first captive bred aye-aye, an arboreal nocturnal lemur, Daubentonia madagascariensis, a native to Madagascar, to be born in the United Kingdom. Bristol Zoo Gardens announced that it is the first UK zoo to successfully breed and hand-rear an aye-aye, the largest nocturnal primate in the world and one of the strangest mammals on the planet. (04/15/05 AP photo)
Pat will be so happy, and we don't have to worry about the neighbors stealing him...
Don't get me wrong here..I LOVE animals, but since my last two cats died--Patches and Hoover--I just can't bring myself to take on the commitment that properly caring for a pet dictates.
I like to travel too much and I don't want to have to leave someone (the pet) alone at home or at a kennel and I worry about the psychological effects of separation (me and my pet.) Further, it is just hard to travel with a pet if you choose to take him or her with you and it limits your options during the trip in so many ways.
Well, I've suffered a bit of spontaneous weakness, I hereby announce that Pat is getting her wish--I 've found this cute little bugger that I just couldn't pass up.
Here is his (its) picture:
BooBoo
Actually, here is the true story:
BRISTOL, Great Britain -- 'Kintana' is the first captive bred aye-aye, an arboreal nocturnal lemur, Daubentonia madagascariensis, a native to Madagascar, to be born in the United Kingdom. Bristol Zoo Gardens announced that it is the first UK zoo to successfully breed and hand-rear an aye-aye, the largest nocturnal primate in the world and one of the strangest mammals on the planet. (04/15/05 AP photo)
Pat will be so happy, and we don't have to worry about the neighbors stealing him...
